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League Cup: West Ham Knock Man. Utd Out, Chelsea, Tottenham Advance

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West Ham gained revenge for Sunday’s Premier League defeat against Manchester United by knocking their hosts out of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford.

Manuel Lanzini’s ninth-minute effort, his first goal in almost 12 months and only his second since May 2019, proved enough to take David Moyes’ men into the last 16.

Not even the second-half introductions of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood could swing the game the home side’s way in a performance that exposed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s pre-match chat about the strength of his squad as somewhat hollow.

Lanzini’s goal was just reward for West Ham’s flying start. Ryan Fredericks eased between Jadon Sancho and Alex Telles before cutting a low cross back to the Argentine, who finished into the bottom corner.

Three times in the final five minutes the visitors should have wrapped up victory, but Andriy Yarmolenko, Mark Noble and Jarrod Bowen all failed to hit the target. In the end though, it didn’t matter.

It was the first Old Trafford triumph for the Hammers since Carlos Tevez’s matchwinner in 2007 kept them in the Premier League – and their first in a cup competition since Paolo di Canio scored the only goal in an FA Cup meeting in 2001.

For Manchester United and Solskjaer it is an early end to their hopes of securing the first available silverware of the season, and ending the wait for a trophy that stretches back to 2017.

Man Utd’s fringe men fail to shine

Defeat came after Solskjaer picked a completely different side – all full internationals – to the one that was on duty at the London Stadium. He now has tough decisions to make about some of his fringe players, who will now have even fewer opportunities to play.

Anthony Martial was a peripheral figure in attack, Juan Mata was replaced by Fernandes in the second-half, while Lingard, who, like Mata has a contract that expires in the summer, failed to have a notable impact.

In addition, Dean Henderson didn’t do much on his first appearance of the season to suggest he is a threat in goal to David de Gea.

The doubts over Solskjaer will surface again too after last week’s Champions League defeat at Young Boys.

Not that any of this will bother Moyes and his West Ham team, who kept their hosts at bay in relative comfort. Mata did clip the bar from an acute angle and debutant keeper Alphonse Areola made a good save to deny Greenwood.

Manchester United play Aston Villa at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday, 25 September (12:30BST). West Ham visit Leeds on the same day (15:00BST).

‘Credit to David Moyes’

West Ham coach Stuart Pearce: “Delighted with the result. It is a really tough place to come. We started the game very well. Could have won by two goals to make the evening a bit easier.

“We were disappointed not to get something at the weekend. United are an outstanding team with a lot of talent. We are aspiring to challenge Man Utd.

“Credit to David [Moyes]. This is the first time he has beaten them since he left. He has been around for nearly 1,000 games, seen it all, done it all. He will take it in his stride. Not get washed away.”

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “It was a poor start and then when we decided that we wanted to join the game we played some good football, loads of shots, loads of pressure, very good attitude, but we lacked a bit.

“Every game is important but you can see by the team selection that we’ve always used this competition when I’ve been here at the club to give minutes for ones who need it, it’s a long, long season.

“I’ve never actually won this tournament, that hunt will keep going, it’s a trophy I’d like to have. But we’ve made decisions to get the squad up to speed.”

On Anthony Martial: “I don’t think it’s right to go into individual performances. Anthony was the same as the rest of the team, we played some nice football, we lacked some of that cutting edge and he knows what we want from him. He’ll keep working and get his chances.”

UNGA76: Buhari Announces Expansion Of Protected Areas, Parks’ Establishment

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, in New York, assured world leaders that Nigeria had initiated some specific actions to tackle and reverse the severe biodiversity loss that was affecting the world.

Buhari spoke in a video message to the hybrid High-Level event tagged “Transformative actions for Nature and People” on the margins of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly UNGA 76.

Aside championing regional and inter-regional cooperation to address the scourge, the Nigerian leader outlined other measures, including the establishment of more parks in the country.

“Expansion of protected areas including the establishment of ten new National Parks across the country as well as the creation of Marine Protected Areas pursuant to the 30X30 Agenda of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD).

“Also, the Nigerian government will domesticate relevant international agreements, conventions, as well as laws and policies for the protection and conservation of biodiversity,” he said

According to him, the country will leverage on the cooperation and partnerships of development partners as well as international organisations and coalitions for concrete action against deforestation and biodiversity loss.

He said that the Nigeria would implement more projects on deforestation, increased investments in climate-positive and nature-positive economy for a sustainable environment and land use practices.

He expressed gratitude to the President of Costa Rica, His Excellency Carlos Alvarado Quesada, whose country currently chairs the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) of which Nigeria is also a member and co-chair for the opportunity to be part of “this great event.”

Buhari arrived in New York on Sunday to participate in the ongoing 76th Session of the UN General Assembly.

He is scheduled to present Nigeria’s statement to the General Assembly on Friday.

Sequoia National Park’s Giant Forest Untouched By Wildfire

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The ancient massive trees of Sequoia National Park’s famed Giant Forest were unscathed even though a wildfire has been burning near them on the western side of California’s Sierra Nevada for nearly two weeks.

“As of right now we don’t have any damage to any of our trees,” said fire information officer Mark Garrett.

The KNP Complex, two lightning-sparked fires that merged, has spread over more than 39 square miles (101 square kilometers), feeding on other types of trees that also live on the high-elevation slopes of the mountain range.

Giant Forest is home to about 2,000 sequoias, including the General Sherman Tree, which is considered the world’s largest by volume and is a must-see for visitors to the national park.

The fire recently entered the perimeter of Giant Forest near a cluster of huge trees called the Four Guardsmen but their bases had been wrapped in fire-resistant material and crews had raked and cleared vegetation that could help spread the fire, Garrett said.

China, US Announce Separate Plans Towards Clean Energy

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The two biggest economies and largest carbon polluters in the world announced separate financial attacks on climate change.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country will no longer fund coal-fired power plants abroad, surprising the world on climate for the second straight year at the U.N. General Assembly.

That came hours after U.S. President Joe Biden announced a plan to double financial aid to poorer nations to $11.4 billion by 2024 so those countries could switch to cleaner energy and cope with global warming’s worsening impacts.

That puts rich nations close to within reach of its long-promised but not realized goal of $100 billion a year in climate help for developing nations.

Spanish Volcano: Residents Hope To Save Belongings

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The volcano on a small Spanish island in the Atlantic Ocean erupted on Sunday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.

Experts say the volcanic eruption and its aftermath on a Spanish island could last for up to 84 days.

The Canary Island Volcanology Institute said Wednesday it based its calculation on the length of previous eruptions on the archipelago.

A wall of lava up to 12 meters (40 feet) high bore down on a Spanish village Wednesday as islanders scrambled to save what they could before the molten rock swallowed up their homes following a volcanic eruption.

The lava, which was still spewing from Sunday’s eruption in the Canary Islands archipelago off northwest Africa, advanced slowly down hillsides of La Palma to the coast, where Todoque was the last village between it and the Atlantic Ocean.

Residents hoping to save some belongings queued up so they could be escorted briefly into the village.

In the distance, the lava grew thicker and slowed down to 4 meters (13 feet) per hour after reaching a plain.

Smoke poured out of its leading edge as it destroyed everything it touched.

Experts said the lava could either take several days to cover the remaining 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) to the sea or it could instead spread more widely on land, burying more residential areas and farmland.

Javier López said his house for the past three decades appeared to be in the lava’s path.

He and his relatives had been staying at a friend’s house with the few documents, photos and basic belongings they had grabbed Monday as they were evacuated

Joshua vs Usyk: Who Wins?

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Saturday September 25 sees Anthony Joshua defending his world heavyweight titles. It had been hoped his opponent would be WBC champion Tyson Fury. He’s fighting Deontay Wilder (again) so instead former cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk receives the chance to become heavyweight champion

Eddie Hearn confirms September 25 date for Anthony Joshua versus Oleksandr Usyk’s fight<br />Saturday September 25 sees Anthony Joshua defending his world heavyweight titles. It had been hoped his opponent would be WBC champion Tyson Fury. He’s fighting Deontay Wilder (again) so instead former cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk receives the chance to become heavyweight champion. x

It’s not what Joshua wants as his dream is to hold all four world heavyweight titles. The mere fact there are four is ridiculous but that’s a subject for another article. Joshua has to dispose of Usyk and then hopefully he’ll take on either Fury or Wilder in late 2021 or next year.

The British boxer has a professional record of 24 wins and a defeat (since avenged) by Andy Ruiz Jr. It’s five years since he first became a world heavyweight champion, when beating Charles Martin, just two years after turning professional.

His last title defence was in December of last year, beating Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds. Now he returns to the ring and it’s a fight he cannot afford to lose. If that happens, then he will get a return fight with Usyk but that fight for all the belts will be further delayed.

It’s a fight that is intriguing many a boxing fanaccording to this betting site as the contrasting styles makes this truly difficult to predict a winner, whilst also being of the most interesting matchups over the year. Joshua has been working hard in training to get ready for the challenge Usyk presents. He knows that his opponent doesn’t possess the kind of knock-out punch that someone like Fury or Wilder have. 

Instead, he’s up against a talented boxer but one that is relatively untested at this weight. Joshua will hope to knock him out but may need to rely on his boxing ability more than his power.

Brain Drain: United Kingdom Employs 353 Nigerian Doctors In 100 Days

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The United Kingdom (UK) registered about 353 Nigerian doctors in the last 100 days. This was according to data from the General Medical Council – the body which licenses and maintains the official register of medical practitioners in the UK.

The Vice-President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Julian Ojebo, said the rate of migration might double in the coming weeks since doctors were not given the right remuneration.

The website of the General Medical Council the body which licenses and maintains the official register of medical practitioners in the UK showed that the GMC licensed at least 353 Nigerian-trained doctors between June 10, 2021, and September 20, 2021.

The statistics also showed that between July 24, 2020, and September 21, 2021, about 862 Nigeria-trained doctors were licensed in the UK. Overall, 8, 737 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria currently practice in the UK.

He said it was unfortunate that the government had failed to address the plight of doctors and meet their conditions for calling off the strike which began on August 1, 2021.

Ex-Cameroon Striker Eto’o Targets Federation Presidency

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Samuel Eto’o is running in December’s election for the presidency of the Cameroon football federation, the former Barcelona star said on Wednesda

The role as football chief in the country set to host January’s Africa Cup of Nations became vacant when the incumbent Seidou Mbombo Njoya saw his tenure cancelled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Eto’o had supported Mbomo’s election campaign, but two years after his retirement from playing the 40-year-old says his passion for the game is driving him back.

“I am honoured and pleased to announce my candidacy for the Presidency of the Cameroon Football Federation. After careful considerations, I have decided to take this initiative out of love for Cameroon and passion for our football,” Eto’o said on social media.

“It would be an honour to be at the service of the establishment that has bestowed upon me all the accolades I’ve received so far.

“Waiting is not an option. It is time to rebuild our football. We can no longer delay the revamping of our number one sport because the rest of the world is moving on; it is progressing without us.”

Nigeria Moves To Recover Looted £200m In United States

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The Nigerian government has said it is making efforts to recover about 200 million pounds looted by former public officials and stashed in the United States.

Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, made the disclosure while speaking on the fight against corruption and illicit financial flow in Nigeria at an event of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“We are looking at the possibility of recovering further 200m pounds among others but then, that does not mean they are not other associated assets being pursued, in terms of other countries of the world inclusive of Ireland,” Malami said.

“We are pursuing a lot of assets across the globe and then we intend to coordinate further meetings relating to recovery in the United Kingdom which is associated with certain personalities.”

Malami, however, declined to disclose the strategy the federal government will use in making the recovery.

He noted that the “government is trying to gather international momentum associated with the processes and procedures, in terms of making things easier for countries to recover assets with ease”.

He added that the government is fully committed to its anti-corruption campaign and by extension spreading its dragnet to those who are in the custody of laundered or stolen funds.

Nigeria Senate Passes Bill to Control Sickle Cell Disease

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The senate has passed a bill seeking to improve the management of sickle cell disease in Nigeria.

The bill passed third reading after chairman of the committee on health, Sen. Yahaya Oloriegbe, presented a report.

The chairman in his presentation, explained that sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disorder of Haemoglobin (SS) from either or both parents of a child affecting nearly 100 million people globally.

Sen. Oloriegbe stated that World Health Organisation (W.H.O) in its report on Sickle Cell in 2006 ranks Nigeria first in the world as a sickle cell endemic country.

He warned that the disease had the potential of affecting Nigeria’s aspiration of attaining  Good Health and Well-being of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2020, unless special attention was paid to the prevention and management of the disease.

“The bill would establish the much needed legal framework for the prevention, control and management of the continuous spread of the disease, as well as avert early deaths and unnecessary medical expenses by families.

“The bill will strengthen existing structure, encourage and strengthen support groups and other groups to be able to assess the effectiveness or otherwise of the control strategies in place to eliminate sickle cell disease,” Sen. Yahaya Oloriegbe said.