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European Union backs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for WTO role
The European Union has endorsed former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation, Bloomberg reported. The business news outlet cited anonymous officials familiar with the matter that all the 27 EU member countries agreed on Monday in Brussels to support Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala. Bloomberg also reported that the United States has decided to back Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s trade minister, for the role. The position has been fiercely contested amongst candidates of different countries since Roberto Azevedo resigned in August. Last month, Okonjo-Iweala and Myung-hee were selected as the last two candidates in the contest. The EU’s endorsement is seen as a significant boost for Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy, with the final winner expected...
England Women cancel Germany friendly after positive test
England Women have cancelled Tuesday’s friendly in Germany following a positive coronavirus test. The fixture, which was due to take place behind closed doors at the Brita-Arena in Wiesbaden, was to be England’s first competitive fixture since the SheBelieves Cup in March. Phil Neville and the squad met up for a training camp at St George’s Park this week are were set to fly to Germany on Sunday but those plans have been shelved at the last minute. As hosts of the delayed 2021 European Championships, which will now take place in July 2022, England have not had any qualifying games to play. England have been set a target of winning the World Cup or European Championship by 2024 and have been keen to return to competitive action. Neville’s side disappointed at the SheBelieves Cup earlier thi...
Super Eagles forward Struggles as AC Milan beat Crotone away
Simy Nwankwo struggled as Crotone fell to a 2-0 home defeat against AC Milan at the Stadio Ezio Scida on Sunday. Nwankwo was in action for the entire duration of the game. The forward, who failed to register a shot on target in the contest is yet to open his goal for the season. The Nigeria international scored 20 goals to emerge top scorer in Serie B last season. Frank Kessie put AC Milan ahead from the spot on the dot of half-time. Brahim Diaz made the points save when he netted the second goal five minutes after the break. Crotone will face Sassuolo in their next Serie A game on Saturday. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet B...
Zinedine Zidane claims 100 La Liga wins as Real Madrid coach
Real Madrid’s win over Real Betis on Saturday was Zinedine Zidane’s 100th in charge of Real Madrid in La Liga Santander. The Frenchman has coached Los Blancos in 147 La Liga matches in total, with 55 at home and 45 away from home. In those games, Zidane’s sides have scored 342 goals and conceded 142. Only Miguel Munoz has won more La Liga matches in charge of Real Madrid than Zidane with 257. As well as his centenary of victories, the former Real Madrid midfielder has won two La Liga titles – in 2016/17 and 2019/20. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting...
Aston Villa interested in signing Liverpool youngster
Aston Villa are interested in signing the Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster this summer. The 20-year-old striker was on loan at Swansea City last season and he managed to score 11 goals for them. Brewster needs to leave the club in order to play regular first-team football and it will be interesting to see if the likes of Villa can agree on a fee with Liverpool in the coming weeks. According to Independent, Sheffield United are keen on signing the young striker as well and they have already spoken to the Reds regarding a move. Liverpool value the young striker at £25 million and they are hoping to insert a buy-back clause in the contract if Brewster is sold this summer. Such a deal would be ideal for Liverpool as it would allow the player to develop with the regular first-team football el...
Premier League terminate £490 million TV deal in China
The Premier League has terminated its TV rights deal with China, its biggest overseas contract, leaving a huge hole in clubs’ finances. The deal with Chinese broadcaster PPTV was worth around £490m and had lasted only one of its three years. The conflict is said to have been around a fee of £160m that the Premier League was owed in March but did not receive. “The Premier League confirms that it has today terminated its agreements for Premier League coverage in China with its licensee in that territory,” a spokesman said on Thursday. “The Premier League will not be commenting further on the matter at this stage.” It is not known if the conflict is based purely on money or involves the escalating political tensions between China and the UK government. Boris Johnson announced in July that Hua...
Bollywood star Aamir Khan under fire over China, Turkey links
Muslim Bollywood star Aamir Khan has long been a hate figure for India’s Hindu far-right, but now they have a new line of attack – his massive popularity in China. Khan, 55, is a brand ambassador for Chinese smartphone maker Vivo, and is also major draw on the mainland with films such as “Dangal” (2016). He even has 1.16 million followers on China’s Twitter-like platform Weibo. But this week the hardline Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Hindu group put the actor on the cover of its magazine, calling him “The Dragon’s favourite Khan”, a reference to China. Also criticising Khan’s ties with Turkey — which has slammed India over Kashmir — the article said he was “forging friendships with those that are considered enemies of India”. “Aamir seems to be the favourite of the Chinese Communist Party sy...
Mikel Obi wants to be father figure at Stoke City
Stoke City new signing John Mikel Obi hopes to help instil a long-lost winning mentality at the club and also help the Potters push for promotion to the Premier League next season. Mikel penned a one-year contract with Stoke City on Monday becoming the club’s fourth signing of the summer. The experienced midfielder spent 11 years at Chelsea helping the Blues land the Premier League title twice, as well as three FA Cups, the Champions League and Europa League. The former Super Eagles captain has also played in China and Turkey, with a brief stint at Championship club Stoke City. Mikel is determined to become a mentor to his new team-mates and help them at difficult times. “It is good when you come into a football club having won so much in the game,” he told the club’s official website. “Th...
Henry Onyekuru left out from Monaco pre season tour
The future of Super Eagles attacking winger, Henry Onyekuru, may be hanging in the balance after he was dropped from Monaco’s pre season training tour in Poland. Monaco coach Niko Kovac announced a 26-man squad for the tour on Monday with the name of the Nigerian missing. Although reasons for his exclusion were not disclosed, it appears that his services at the Principality club may not be needed by Kovac who just took over the reins. The player has been on loan with Turkey side Galatasaray after failing to cement regular playing time n his debut campaign in France. Monaco are due to play their third pre-season friendly on August 1 against German club Eintracht Frankfurt during their training stint in Poland. The new Ligue 1 season will kick off on August 22. Get more stories like this on ...
NIDCOM: More Nigerians stranded in Europe set to return home
The Federal Government has revealed that more Nigerians stranded in France and other European countries, due to the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world, are being evacuated to the country. This was disclosed on Sunday by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa via Twitter. Dabiri-Erewa explained that the citizens, who have departed Citizen Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, are expected back soon and will arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The evacuation exercise was coordinated by the Nigerian Mission in France under Ambassador Modupe Irele and monitored by the commission. Upon arrival, the Nigerian returnees are expected to proceed on a 14-day self-isolation as mandated by the Presidential Task Force on C...
Turkey and Russia put off talks expected to tackle Libya and Syria
Russia and Turkey have postponed ministerial-level talks which were expected to focus on Libya and Syria, where the two countries support opposing sides in long-standing conflicts. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov decided to put off the talks during a phone call on Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. “The two countries deputy ministers will continue contacts and talks in the period ahead. Minister-level talks will be held at a later date,” the ministry said in a statement. Lavrov and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had been set to visit Istanbul for the discussions. The Russian foreign ministry said discussion will be held on the date of the ministers’ meeting. The United Nations said this week that warring sides had begun ne...
Libya’s GNA says it is targeting retreating renegade strongman’s forces
Libya’s internationally recognised government has launched air strikes against forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar after his forces announced they were pulling back from Tripoli front lines. Air strikes by the Government of National Accord (GNA) targeted several locations in the west of the country, including in the Haftar stronghold of Tarhouna near the capital, Tripoli, according to GNA army spokesperson Colonel Mohamed Qanunu. In Tarhouna, two military vehicles and a vehicle carrying ammunition that belonged to Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) were destroyed, the spokesperson said. On Thursday, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said the GNA carried out five air operations against forces loyal to Haftar in the past 24 hours. A day earlier, the LNA announced it w...
