Trent Alexander-Arnold has been called up for Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence in Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England squad.
Alexander-Arnold, a right-back, left Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summer and was chosen for Tuchel’s previous team.
He will not be included in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Andorra.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, was not in the starting lineup for Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Real Oviedo on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford and Adam Wharton have been calleds, but Jordan Henderson, age 35, who has played in three of Tuchel’s four games as manager, is once more included along with Morgan Gibbs-White.
However, Ah-Ahli striker Ivan Toney and 35-year-old Kyle Walker cannot be replaced.
Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, and Bukayo Saka, all miss out due to injury.
On Saturday, September 6 at Villa Park (17:00 BST), England take on Andorra, who are ranked 174 in the world.
The senior team’s first visit to Aston Villa’s grounds since 2005’s goalless draw with the Netherlands.
Tuchel’s side then travels to Belgrade on September 9 (19: 45) to face Serbia.
England squad in its entirety
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, James Trafford, and Jordan Pickford.
Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, and Djed Spence are the defenders.
Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, and Declan Rice are the midfielders.
According to rising living costs and recent wage increases in the Imo and Ebonyi States, the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded a new minimum wage of N150, 000 for state employees.
Funmi Sesi, the chairperson of Lagos NLC, made the call on Thursday in response to the two states’ upward-pay review.
She claimed that Lagos employees currently receive the state’s highest minimum wage, which is 85, 000, and that they deserve an increase in pay in response to the state’s higher costs for housing, transportation, feeding, and utilities.
Ebonyi Increases the Minimum Wage For State Civil Servants To 90,000
“The minimum wage in Lagos needs to be revised.” Someone at least opened the space by taking the bull by the horns.
No one can blame Governor Sanwo-Olu for raising the wage for Lagos employees, as the country deserves better pay and decent working conditions that are comparable to those in Lagos.
She expressed hope that Imo and Ebonyi’s success will be emulated by all state governments.
Venue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 30 August Kick-off: 12:00 BST
Overview
Wales know they will have to cause a major upset if they are to keep their World Cup hopes alive this weekend.
They take on a giant of the women’s game in Canada, ranked second in the world and a team they have not beaten in almost 20 years.
Not many people are giving them a hope, especially after last weekend’s dismal display against Scotland.
Wales have come out with fighting talk this week – after all they have nothing to lose, they already have one foot on the bus home.
Their chances of making the quarter-finals are hanging by a thread, with Canada and Scotland very much in the driving seat to progress from Pool B.
Team news
Wales head coach Sean Lynn has stayed true to his word in basing selection on performance.
“If you’re not performing, you’re out”, he said ruthlessly at the team announcement.
He has made seven starting changes, six of which coming in the pack as Wales aim to get their set piece back on track and match Canada physically.
Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon and Sisilia Tuipulotu make up a front row with an average age of just 20, while the experienced Abbie Fleming is back at lock.
Georgia Evans re-takes her favoured position of number eight, while Bryonie King gets a rare start in the back row. Carys Cox, a standout player in the Six Nations, is the only change among the backs.
Co-captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams are both missing after picking up knocks against Scotland, which means Bethan Lewis will lead the side out for the first time on her 60th cap.
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Canada have also made changes. Head coach Kevin Rouet arguably put out his B side in their 11-try victory over against Fiji, while this week he has gone full strength.
McKinley Hunt and Emily Tuttosi are both promoted from the bench to start in the front row, while Karen Paquin is set for her fourth World Cup appearance in the back row.
Tyson Beukeboom comes in at lock and by winning her 80th cap she will equal Aaron Carpenter’s record as the most-capped Canadian rugby player in history.
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Views from the camps
Wales head coach Sean Lynn said there were some “tough conversations” during their Scotland review, but credited the players for their reaction.
“We need to make sure that we are training like we want to be playing and that’s what we’ve done this week and each individual is trying to get better over their opposite number.
“Canada are a very good side, second in the world. They love the offloading game, and they’ve got very good athletes in the forward pack and also in the back line.
“When there is an opportunity with these breakdowns, you’ve got to be really physical. We didn’t have that physicality, we just need to make sure defensively we are making the most in our one-on-one tackles.”
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Canada head coach Kevin Rouet was pleased with last weekend’s performance but is wary of a wounded Wales.
“We are starting to have rhythm so it’s good to see that. People know their role now, if you’re starting, finishing or there to prepare for the weekend,“ he said.
“It was a smooth week of preparation and we know what we need to face an angry Welsh team after their first game, so we will prepare for that.
“We have to expect a lot of fight, Wales is never an easy game for us, it’s always an 80-minute grind so we are prepared for the threat.
Commentator’s notes
BBC Radio Wales commentator Nick Webb said: “This feels like an Everest-scale challenge for Wales after the lacklustre opening against Scotland, with a few established names left on the sidelines either by choice or through injury.
“The hope will be that this side produces more accuracy and aggression upfront, and shows more shape behind than last week’s 15.
“It’s a young front row, and there’s less experience than usual in the back row, while it will be hoped teenage replacements Tilly Vucaj and Branwen Metcalfe show the fearlessness of youth in what could be an early changing of the guard for the Wales squad.
“There are fewer options behind the scrum, with only 13 backs chosen for the tournament, but Carys Cox has the chance to become a first choice as long-term skipper Hannah Dallavalle (formerly Jones) misses out.
“As for Canada, second ranking in the world speaks for itself, before you get to an unbeaten record this year. The pace and precision they showed wide out against Fiji will have to be smothered somehow.
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Match stats
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Line-ups
Canada: Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier, Asia Hogan-Rochester; Taylor Perry, Justine Pelletier; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin, Sophie de Goede, Tyson Beukeboom, Caroline Crossley, Karen Paquin, Gabrielle Senft
Zoe Ball, a former BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show host, has come out in agreement to doubt her decision to quit the program to spend more time with her family.
Zoe Ball asks, “Why did I quit?” after leaving my $ 9 500k Radio 2 job to concentrate on children
Zoe Ball has shared a hint of regret after quitting her £950,000 Radio 2 job last year in a bid to spend more time with her children.
Zoe, 54, announced the news to the audience that she would no longer be on the radio 2 Breakfast Show during the week starting December 20.
Her extended absence from the show over the summer following her mother’s passing early last year was the subject of the shock announcement at the time. Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin, two other radio hosts who later became Zoe’s permanent replacement, stepped in to help.
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After six years of early starts, Zoe admitted to wanting to spend more time with her children and family in a statement on air at the time. She did, however, confirm that after her exit, she would continue to work for Radio 2.
The much-loved radio host responded, “Ok, lovely bunch, I have some news. I’ve had fun for six years on the Breakfast Show, so I’ve decided it’s time to get up early and start a new chapter.
“You know I think the world of you all listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life’s little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn’t we?”
Zoe cried when she announced she would be leaving Radio 2 in November 2024(Image: BBC)
We’ve had a lot of fun, the good times, the tough times, and a lot of laughter, she continued. And cats, I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss my amazing, heartfelt Prod Squad.
“Already missing Mike, I’m going to miss Tina and Richie. They’ve all become like family to me, like you lot. But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest. So my last Breakfast show will be with you on the 20th of December and then its high kicks all the way to Christmas, gang.”
However, Zoe has a question to ask: “What did I give up on for this job, almost one year after leaving her highly sought-after Radio 2 job?” in a sincere confession.
Zoe is a proud mum to daughter Nelly, 15, and son, Woody, 24(Image: Instagram)
The radio personality has acknowledged that she has been questioned about leaving her Breakfast Show to pursue her 15-year-old daughter Nelly. The teenager is always out and about with her friends and is never at home.
After six years, Zoe sacrificed her £950,000 salary to “focus on family,” having son Woody, 24, and her ex-husband, Norman Cook. She is now considering her decision and admits to wondering whether it was worth it all.
The mother-of-two admitted to giving up work because she will take her GCSEs but she is never there when she appeared on Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s Parenting Hell podcast. She and her friends are out. I’m like, “I’ve given up my job for you.”
Zoe Ball shares her daughter Nelly with ex-husband Fatboy Slim(Image: Dave Benett/Formula 1 via Getty)
What did I give up on, I ask? Yes, I did because I had a rough time with Woody, but I was happy to have Nell back. “I don’t know,”
Zoe then went on to say that Nelly’s support during the most difficult teenage years was a part of the reason she left her job. For girls, 15 is booze and boys, she said on the podcast. It’s a nightmare. It is truly a mind-blowing experience.
“I’ve made sure I’m present at events like matches and shows.” I’ve only started doing the morning school run because I stopped watching the breakfast show, she continued.
Woody and Nelly are Zoe and Woody.
She’s 15 and doesn’t really want to talk, she says. If anything, she doesn’t really want you to drive her to school.
Zoe, who took over from Chris Evans in 2018, was revealed to be the highest paid female at the BBC in 2024, earning between £950,000 and £954,999, while Radio 1 breakfast show host Greg James was paid between £415,000 and £419,999.
Continue reading the article.
She was still someway behind Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who raked in between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 over the last 12 months.
Today, there is a greater nuclear threat than there has ever been since the Cold War. Unconstrained by the agreements that have long kept catastrophe at bay, the world is now in for a new arms race. Worldwide, it is estimated that there are 12, 241 nuclear warheads. Before our eyes, there is arms control unraveling: inspections under the last remaining arms control agreement between the United States and Russia are still being conducted, and there is no known successor to this agreement due to expiration in February 2026. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has not yet been implemented, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty has been abandoned, and the Open Skies Treaty has not yet been implemented. The geopolitical landscape of the world is also more volatile than ever.
Everyone is aware that nuclear weapons are a threat in the very beginning. We are aware of their destructive abilities, which include instant annihilation, radiation sickness, cancer, poisoned land, and generations of suffering. The notion that countries are safe is becoming more and more popular internationally. They can provide a shield of deterrence, as it is true at the level of geopolitics. They are, however, a sword of Damocles soaring over all of humanity on a global scale. The greater the chance that deterrence will fail one day as we continue to pretend to be secure. With more and more military technology being reliant on artificial intelligence, this danger is getting even more alarming.
I am aware of this danger well, both in my body and in the history of my nation. I was born without arms, a legacy of the Soviet Union’s nuclear tests in my birthplace of Kazakhstan. More than 450 nuclear tests were carried out at the Semipalatinsk test site between 1949 and 1989. More than a million people were directly exposed to radiation, which has had the effects of cancer, birth defects, environmental destruction, intergenerational trauma, and other causes. The human cost of supposedly pursuing “national security” is demonstrated by my own life. To prevent another country’s tragedy from occurring anywhere else, I became an activist and painter who painted with my feet and mouths.
My nation has been a strong supporter of nuclear disarmament because of what Kazakhstan went through since its independence. We voluntarily gave up the fourth-largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The Semipalatinsk test site will permanently be shut down. In order to provide a global response to nuclear fuel crises, we established the International Low-Enriched Uranium Bank in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Kazakhstan is currently preparing to construct its first nuclear power plant. This is a crucial distinction because our nation does not oppose nuclear energy, which can be peacefully used to meet the growing electricity demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the issue of nuclear weapons is entirely different. They only burn down homes; they don’t light them. The initiative of Kazakhstan at the UN, which was officially closed on August 29, was a result of this fact.
Kazakhstan has taken a stand. However, we are not the only ones fighting. If we want to reduce the threat posed by nuclear weapons, the world needs much more support. I understand that the utopian dream of a nuclear-free world may not be real right now. However, if only the will is found, the international community can take concrete steps right away to lessen the risk.
First, we must stop the absurdity of monitoring the behavior of thousands of warheads. Leaders are only given a few minutes to decide whether to unleash them, with about 2,100 still on short-notice alert. The risk of false alarms, technical issues, or even AI-driven misinterpretation increases intolerably in such a short amount of time. The most obvious near-term risk-reduction strategy is to stop these weapons from being present. Human survival shouldn’t depend solely on a quick decision.
Second, regardless of the political climate, nuclear-armed nations must publicly declare their end to the ban on nuclear testing. They should at least promise never to test again if they are unable to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at this time. The victims of previous testing, from Semey to the Pacific and beyond, are owed the absolute minimum.
Third, we must reiterate the humanitarian principle that nuclear weapons are by nature inhumane. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is founded on this principle. No state, no people, can ever adequately respond to the detonation of a nuclear device in a populated area, even if governments are unable to sign or ratify it.
Fourth, international pressure must be put to stop developing new nuclear-related frontiers. To ensure that space is free of these doomsday devices, we must reaffirm the ban on nuclear weapons in orbit. Additionally, every state should commit to ensuring that artificial intelligence will never be tasked with making nuclear use decisions.
Finally, forgetting is the biggest threat of all. On August 29, we should also commit to education and remembrance, as well as observe the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Every schoolchild should be aware of the events at Semey, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Bikini Atoll. Only when the world remembers our suffering, will it choose to end it once more?
It is possible, but it is not naive to envision a world without nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan reopened its nuclear arsenal and demonstrated what was still possible. Others can choose a nuclear-weapon-free path if a country that endured hundreds of nuclear tests. Is it still a question whether people have the guts to do it?
Coco Gauff was inspired by gymnast Simone Biles during a difficult US Open second-round match, and she was thrilled to have the chance to speak with the Olympic star.
Biles was watching Gauff defeat Donna Vekic 7-6(5), 6-2, at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night.
Gauff thanked Biles for being there and giving her a boost during her on-court interview, and she delivered the message face-to-face.
Gauff, a Florida native who has won two Grand Slam titles, said Biles’ idea of working on a balance beam gave her the confidence she needed to play tennis on a court.
Gauff, who repeatedly wiped away tears after the game, thanked him for pulling it out. Knowing her story and all the things she went through mentally, it gave me a little bit of calm.
Simone Biles, center, reacts after American gymnast Coco Gauff mentioned her following Donna Vekic’s [Frank Franklin II/AP]match.
Gauff mentioned Serena Williams and Biles among her Mount Rushmore athletes.
Biles claimed Gauff was the reason she left Flushing Meadows during an interview on ESPN’s telecast of the game.
She is “incredible, amazing, and it’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Biles said. It’s truly a privilege to witness her perform “Black girl magic” on her home turf.
Three years after restraining from some of the Tokyo Olympics due to a mental block known as “the twisties,” she was afraid to try some dangerous moves, she won four gold medals and one silver at the 2024 Paris Games.
Gauff praised Biles for “everything she went through on the mental side of things, which I followed closely and tried to learn from.”
Gauff remarked, “Seeing her there tonight kind of reminded me of something I needed.”
Biles applauded Gauff’s sincerity and compassion while also expressing sympathy for the choice to work with her biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan.
