Usman Eyes Two UFC Titles

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October 18, 2023

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has big plans in the UFC as he eyes both his former title and the middleweight crown.

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ has been out of action since a rematch with Leon Edwards in March. At UFC 286, Kamaru Usman suffered his second-straight loss to the Brit, this time by unanimous decision. Following the defeat, the former champion was linked to a matchup with Stephen Thompson.

However, he will instead move to middleweight this Saturday night to face Khamazat Chimaev. The Swedish fighter was originally slated to face Paulo Costa, but the Brazilian was pulled out due to an elbow injury. As a result, Usman chose to step up on less than two weeks’ notice to fight at UFC 294.

However, despite his upcoming debut at 185 pounds, Kamaru Usman isn’t done at welterweight revealing this in a recent interview with TMZ Sports.

Along with that, the Nigerian fighter stated that he planned to win gold at both weight classes, and then hinted at a retirement.

“Sean Strickland is a champion, I’ve already taken care of him,” Kamaru Usman stated in the interview discussing his champ-champ aspirations.

“Not to say he’s not better, he is. But I’ve got a mountain in front of me that I need to climb and scale so we’ll get through that first. Then we’ll worry about what’s next, but it’s a no-brainer. No (I’m not done at welterweight), absolutely not.”

“What a way to go out! I might mic drop. Grab the middleweight belt, go down, grab the welterweight. What a way to go out though. I want both! I’ve wanted champ-champ, but what a way. To go get the top one, then come back down and get it. Nobody has ever done that, it would be crazy.”

Israel Adesanya was initially expected to get an immediate title rematch against Strickland following his loss at UFC 293 but after the announcement of his hiatus, his compatriot, Usman has now gotten the shot.

Inter Consider Iheanacho Swoop Next Summer

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Emenike Agu

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October 18, 2023

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Serie A giants Inter Milan are eyeing a possible free transfer move for Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho next summer

The Nigeria international is one of the players who are due to be out of contract with The Foxes at the end of the season, meaning that he will be available on a free transfer should he not sign a new deal with the club.

The possibility to sign the 27-year-old on a free deal is said to have alerted the Nerazzurri to his availability.

According to FC Inter News, the Italian side have registered their interest in the striker, but are still not fully sure if they will make a move. The report states that the club is looking to make various assessments on the player before making a firm decision as they plan early for which free agents to move for in just under a year.

It’s not the first time that Inter have been linked with an interest in Iheanacho. The 27-year-old was said to have been identified as a possible option for the Serie A club before the start of the summer transfer window, although no move ever materialised.

Iheanacho remained at Leicester beyond the summer, despite his contract situation. He has shared the lone striker role with Jamie Vardy this season, with Iheanacho scoring four times in the Championship, with three of those goals coming in his last three games.

The striker has been with the Foxes since joining from Manchester City for £25m in the summer of 2017. He opened up about links away from City in the summer last month. “These discussions are always difficult when you have less time left at the football club, probably a year or two. I know the speculation, the report or ‘you want to stay, you want to leave’, I know that,” he told BBC Radio.

“Personally, I love Leicester City, it is a good place, a good football club. I’ve been here for a few years now and we went down, it’s not ideal, but we’re here now, fighting our way up. I’m here, concentrating on my football with Leicester. Hopefully, we can get back up and everyone will be happy, I didn’t get to move, I’m here now playing for Leicester City so we concentrate on that now.”

Iheanacho was in action fr the Super Eagles last Friday finding the net in the 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia. He came off the bench to score a thumping curler from outside the box in the 81st minute.

He was not part of the Eagles’ second friendly game against Mozambique on Monday as he was said to be attending to pressing personal issues.

Plumptre Scores Hat-Trick In Debut Game For Al Ittihad Ladies

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Emenike Agu

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October 18, 2023

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Super Falcons star Ashleigh Plumptre scored a hat-trick in her debut game for Al Ittihad Ladies, who defeated Eastern Flame 3-0 in their opening game in the Saudi Arabia women’s league on Saturday,

In goal for Eastern Flame was Plumptre’s Super Falcons teammate Tochukwu Oluehi.

Plumptre opened the scoring for Al Ittihad Ladies in the 28th minute.

In the 61st minute she got her second to put Al Ittihad Ladies 2-0 up.

On 66 minutes she completed her hat-trick to secure the comfortable win for her side.

Following the expiration of her contract at Leicester Plumptre signed for Al Ittihad on 13 September 2023.

She was part of the Super Falcons squad that reached the round of 16 at this year’s FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Uzoho Responds To Critics After Errors During Super Eagles International Friendly Games Vs Saudi Arabia And Mozambique

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Emenike Agu

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October 18, 2023

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Nigerian goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho has responded to critics after his errors in the International Friendly games vs Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

The Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus goalkeeper conceded four goals in both games, two of this number were considered errors and so generated criticism from fans.

Against Saudi Arabia, Uzoho was guilty of palming a Salman Al-Faraj free-kick into his own goal before failing to stop a feeble attempt by Cottamo, to hand Mozambique a first ever goal against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Whereas, the Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia game ended in a 2-2 draw, the Super Eagles laboured to a 3-2 lead over Mozambique in the second friendly game end a 15 game Friendly winless streak.

With the two games scheduled for the October International break done, under-fire Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho took to his X handle with a cryptic response for his critics.

Uzoho wrote on Tuesday, October 17, 2023;

” If E Easy, Go Do Am Make Oyibo Man Sign You. ”

That message did not sit well with Nigerian fans who ramped the Cyprus based goalkeepers comment section with more messages criticizing his performance and place in the Super Eagles squad.

Super Falcons Striker Ifeoma Onomunu Celebrated In The United States

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Emenike Agu

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October 18, 2023

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Super Falcons of Nigeria striker, Ifeoma Onomunu has been celebrated in the United States of America after she reached a century of caps for Gotham FC.

United States of America, National Women Soccer League – NWSL side Gotham FC presented Ifeoma Onomunu with a portrait to mark her 100th appearance.

The lanky Nigerian striker started her Professional football career at Boston Breakers in 2017 after a successful collegiate career.

Onomunu also represented Portland Thorns and Reign FC before agreeing a move to Gotham FC in 2020.

The Nigerian International hit a century of caps for Gotham FC on Monday, October 16, 2023.

At full international level, Ifeoma Onomunu has earned 14 caps for the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

The forward who has two International goals was part of the Nigeria Women’s National team team to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Zimbabwe Faces Teacher Exodus Over Low Pay

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Zoe Maven

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October 17, 2023

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Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association says the country is facing a significant teacher exodus, with around 300 educators leaving the country each month.

Further confirmation of the ongoing worker exodus comes from the UK, which eased entry rules last year to address skills shortages that followed its 2016 exit from the European Union and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

The primary cause of this departure is the comparatively low wages in Zimbabwe compared to other southern African nations and while salary increases are challenging due to economic constraints, the country must find ways to retain and attract teaching talent.

Emigration data released for the first time by Zimbabwe’s statistics agency in September last year showed 908,913 of the country’s estimated 16 million nationals were living abroad, and 85% of them were in South Africa.

Those numbers are likely an undercount, with frequent migration between neighboring countries making an accurate assessment tricky and undocumented foreigners unlikely to participate in population surveys.

Once a regional grain exporter and one of Africa’s best-educated nations, Zimbabwe went into free-fall in 2000 after then-President Robert Mugabe backed the seizure of land from White commercial farmers.

Mugabe was toppled in 2017 and his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa proclaimed the country “open for business,” yet less than one in 10 workers are formally employed and most of those that are struggle to make ends meet.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association estimates that 300 teachers are leaving their jobs each month, and has warned that their exit will take a heavy toll on education standards and the economy.

The average teacher in Zimbabwe earns a maximum of $350 per month, leading to a loss of qualified educators while budget constraints hinder the employment of additional teachers needed to support the country’s students.

For decades Zimbabwe’s education system was respected as one of the best on the continent – one of the few accomplishments of former president Robert Mugabe’s regime.

Kenyan Facebook Moderators Fault Meta Negotiation

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Zoe Maven

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October 17, 2023

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The lawyer representing 184 former Facebook content moderators based in Kenya that Meta has not been sincere in trying to reach an out-of-court settlement as agreed in the last court session.

Lawyer Mercy Mutemi said the talks had collapsed and the former moderators want to proceed with a contempt of court case against Meta.

The lawsuit is the first known court challenge of its kind against Facebook outside the United States. In 2020, Facebook agreed to pay $52 million to U.S. content moderators who filed a class action lawsuit after they were repeatedly exposed to beheadings, child and sexual abuse, animal cruelty, terrorism and other disturbing content.

Facebook and Sama have defended their employment practices.

The moderators were employed via Sama, a San Francisco subcontractor that describes itself as an ethical AI company, to work in its hub in the capital, Nairobi.

Their job entailed screening user content in 12 African languages and removing any uploads deemed to breach Facebook’s community standards and terms of service.

Some of the petitioners said their job required them to watch horrific content for eight hours a day which distressed many of them while being paid 60,000 Kenyan shillings.

They accused Sama of doing little to ensure post-traumatic professional counselling was offered and are seeking $1.6 billion in compensation.Meta and Sama lawyers told the court they thought the mediation was making good progress, with long hours involved, until the moderators’ lawyer wrote to them in protest.

Justice Nduma Nderi said the failed talks were a missed opportunity to find a balance between the parties involved as opposed to the court issuing an order. The parties will now appear at a hearing on Oct. 31 on the moderators’ application to find Meta and Sama in contempt of court.

Northern Mali: UN Peacekeepers Begin Sensitive Pull Out

By

Zoe Maven

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October 17, 2023

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The UN stabilisation mission in Mali, MINUSMA says they have started pulling out from two camps in the tense Northern Kidal region, being the Tessalit and Aguelhok camps.

Anticipating the UN disengagement, the Malian army landed two aircrafts at one of the camps at Tessalit, saying the aircrafts came under fire from rebels during the landing.

Taking so social media, the Army said a single plane came under fire but managed to land and leave without too much difficulty after enemy positions were neutralised by the air force.

The UN peacekeepers cited the shooting during the morning as illustrating “the rapid deterioration in security conditions for the lives of hundreds of soldiers for peace.

The withdrawal would be completed “as soon as possible, including if necessary by accelerating the withdrawal” from a third camp, at Kidal town itself, which had been planned for mid-November.

Mali’s ruling junta, which seized power in 2020, had in June demanded that the mission — which had been deployed since 2013 — depart the country despite being in the grip of jihadism and a deep multidimensional crisis.

The MINUSMA has transferred 4 camps to Malian authorities since August. However, it is the withdrawal from camps in the region of Kidal and in the eponymous city.

Northern Mali is the theatre of fighting between the Malian authorities, an alliance of groups seeking independence known as CMA and Al-Qaeda-linked group GSIM.

The UN withdrawal from northern Mali is supposed to end by December 31after 10 years of presence.

Camp departures have however exacerbated rivalries between armed actors in the region.

Lagos State Government Reopens Sealed Ladipo Market, Mushin

By

Angel Gimalo

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October 17, 2023

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The Lagos State Government has reopened Ladipo Market, Mushin, after meeting “the most essential criteria.”

The State government said business activities would commence at the popular spare parts market, after its recent closure for various environmental infractions.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Public Affairs Director in the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mrs Kadiri Folashade, on Monday.

She quoted the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, as saying that business activities would commence at the popular spare parts market, after its recent closure for various environmental infractions. Ronaldo v Messi Match Ticket Nets $2.6 Mln In Saudi Arabia

The Commissioner noted that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu priotised the issue of clean environment, public health, and safety in line with the THEMES Plus agenda, which informed the recent drive to enforce strict compliance with waste management best practice across markets in the state.

The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to environmental sustainability and public safety, particularly within markets and around business facilities, stressing that the goal was to ensure all markets in Lagos State, followed laid down environmental rules, resulting in a safer and healthier business environment for buyers and sellers. http://www.ln247.news

Gbadegesin urged the traders to support the efforts of the state government by adhering strictly to the environmental laws, as markets that runs foul risked indefinite closure.

Ladipo Market also known as Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market is a market located in Mushin local Government area of Lagos State.

In recent times, Ladipo Market has been the hub for political campaigns and social awareness gatherings due to the mass population of people in the market.

The market is situated at Ladipo Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos. The name was derived from its location, Ladipo Street. Ladipo market is located around Akinwunmi Lane, off Ladipo Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos.

It is from this area (Ladipo Street) that it infers its name now acclaimed in car circles. It is entirely open when you are coming from various areas in Lagos or different objections outside Lagos.

It is the greatest market for buying vehicle parts in the entirety of Africa.

It is a decent hotspot for both tokunbo (unfamiliar utilized) and new auto extra parts in Nigeria, and numerous clients result in these present circumstances market from Ghana, Ivory Coast, and different nations in Africa.

Abure Urges LP NASS Members To Reject SUVs

By

faith Jegede

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October 17, 2023

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A few days ago, news filtered that 360 members of the House of Assembly are to be gifted with vehicles worth about N160 million each.

In a statement released by the Labour Party, the party has said that they are shocked, saddened and disappointed at the level of insensitivity being displayed by the executive and the legislative arms of the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress administration.

Meanwhile, Members of both arms of the National Assembly, Senate and House of Representatives, have started receiving their brand new 2023 model Toyota Land Cruisers worth over N100 million each.

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In the statement, the party said it is “saddening that with deepening poverty among Nigerians the administration has decided to increase its appetite for a life of opulence to mock hardworking but underprivileged Nigerians.
The statement went further to say, “How else can any Government justify the bloated Federal Executive Council of 48 cabinet ministers, with each of them given three luxurious four-wheel drive vehicles on the first day in office, paid for and fueled by taxpayers? This is notwithstanding hundreds of presidential and ministerial aides, as well as numerous aides to the aides which are being funded by the Government.

These vehicles will be costing Nigerians about N57.6 billion and this is happening at a time when government claims it cannot afford to increase the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly to workers.
“A bag of 50 kg rice is today N50,000 and most families can’t afford two square meals a day, how insensitive can a Government become? This same government is still going round the world cap in hand seeking for loan, what a shame!
“We implore this government to in the interest of our dear nation retrace its step and give priority to revamping the economy instead of its current obsession with luxury living.
“We are also calling on the Labour Party legislators in the 10th Assembly to kick against this unnecessary wastage of resources in line with the ideology of the party which is social justice and equal opportunity for all. Nigerians will hold them responsible if they fail to live above board or give proper account of the electoral investment reposed in them.

Reacting to the issue, House spokesperson and Chairman, the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, said in a statement in Abuja: “It is important to make a few clarifications. The vehicles to be allocated to the offices of members are utility operational vehicles tied to their oversight functions in the discharge of their duties in the standing committees. They are not personal vehicles gifted to honorable members.

“For the duration of the 10th assembly 2023 – 2027, the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly. At the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place, members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the National Assembly.