Man Utd, Spurs Face Season-Defining Europa League Duel

Both Manchester United and Tottenham both want a golden ticket to the Champions League after historically unfavorable seasons, so they square off in the Europa League final on Wednesday in Bilbao.

The two Premier League sides have lost a total of 39 times, with Spurs and United, who are only one place above the relegation zone, ranking 16th overall.

Yet one of them will be ecstatic when the San Mames stadium’s final whistle blows — not just a European trophy but also a financial windfall worth up to $ 100 million ($134 million) in cash.

On the eve of the UEFA Europa League final football game between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 20, 2025, Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim (R) and his staff make a quick tour of the stadium. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

In his first season at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim acknowledges that victory won’t solve United’s long-standing and deep-rooted issues, but he also acknowledges that it would alter the mood.

Read more about Postecoglou’s fight to avoid Sack as Spurs take on Man Utd in the Europa League final.

On the eve of the game in northern Spain, the 40-year-old said, “We have bigger things to deal with than that. To put this club back to the top.”

However, he added that “if we win, people will view our team differently because it’s very important to win a European championship.”

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United play at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 20, 2025, with Manchester United’s players inspecting the pitch during a walkabout. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

Due to the club’s size and pulling power, the former Sporting Lisbon boss was keen to stress that the success of United depends not solely on the success of the Champions League.

However, Kieran Maguire, a professor of football finance, claims that it is “the most significant game in the club’s history” in terms of money.

United, who are struggling to balance the books and have access to vital funds for a squad rebuild, would benefit greatly from the enormous cash windfall from various revenue sources.

Postecoglou exit, and &nbsp

Whatever happens, the Portuguese manager’s job appears to be secure, despite the fact that United are on the verge of their worst league performance in 50 years.

Regardless of whether Ange Postecoglou, 59, ends Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought, many people believe the 59-year-old manager is heading for the exit door.

On the eve of the UEFA Europa League final football game between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 20, 2025, Welsh striker #22 Brennan Johnson (C) kicks at goal during a training session. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

Nothing is guaranteed in life, and nothing is guaranteed in sport, the former Australia and Celtic coach said to the young people from day one.

You just need to make sure you take advantage of every opportunity, which is what I’ve done my entire career.

In his second season with Spurs, Postecoglou feels that he has unfinished business in London and thinks winning the Europa League might represent a “turning point” for the club.

He said earlier this month, “Until you actually do it, then it’s fair game for people to say, Well, you’ve always kind of fluffed it on the big stage.”

Tottenham have won the Europa League twice in its former form, the UEFA Cup, but not since 1984, despite not winning silverware since the 2008 League Cup.

On the eve of the UEFA Europa League final football game between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on May 20, 2025, the players of Tottenham Hotspur gather in a circle to listen to Greek-Australian Head Coach Ange Postecoglou during a training session. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

The sixth all-English final in European football history is too close to calling.

This year, Spurs have defeated United three times, once in the Premier League and once in the League Cup.

However, three-time European champions United, who are chasing their first European victory since the 2016/17 Europa League, have recently won the League Cup and the FA Cup under former manager Erik ten Hag.

Since February 2, neither club has won any league games against rivals who are pursuing the Championship or each other.

Yet they remain undefeated in the Europa League.

With a 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Bilbao, United, the only team in continental competition this season, denied the Spanish side a fairytale final in their own stadium.

Bodo/Glimt, the Norwegian champions, lost 5-1 on aggregate to Tottenham.

Bruno Fernandes, United’s captain, and Casemiro, who has won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, are United’ standout players.

Lucas Bergvall, a midfielder, will not face United, according to Postecoglou, who confirmed it on Tuesday. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are also available.

Spike Lee Says Expensive For Music Artists To Speak Out

According to US director Spike Lee, today’s music stars are less politically active than they were in the 1970s because doing so will “hurt your pocketbook.”

After the Cannes Film Festival’s “Highest 2 Lowest” out of competition, he said, “If you speak out, it’s going to hurt your pocketbook,” he said on Tuesday.

Denzel Washington, a veteran actor, portrays a music mogul with a moral dilemma in his new film.

A wealthy businessman who believes his son’s son has been kidnapped is the subject of the loose adaptation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low.”

According to Variety’s review of the film, Lee’s version is “a soul-searching genre film that both raises the alarm about where culture might go.”

“I’m 68. And I was a child during the Vietnam War. The two-time Oscar winner, who was awarded for his work and 2018 “BlacKkKlansman,” said that artists “spoke out and commented on what is happening in the world.”

He continued, “I think that was more prevalent when I was growing up,” with the exception of US rock star Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen, he claimed, “has been on it.”

Springsteen claimed last week to a British concert audience that the country was now under the control of a “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration,” which caused US President Donald Trump to declare the rock star an “obnoxious JERK”.

Film industry figures at Cannes this year expressed concern for Trump’s administration, with Robert De Niro saying his nation was “fighting like hell” for democracy, and Todd Haynes calling his presidency “barbaric.”

Lee retaliated against the Republican president during his first term in Charlottesville, Virginia, after Trump refused to denounce violent far-right demonstrations.

Lee, whose most recent movie will be available on Apple TV + on September 5, said he was a musician growing up.

He explained that his father, Bill Lee, collaborated with Bob Dylan and that he was born in a music family.

It’s over with Baby Blue if you listen to that Bob Dylan album. He continued, “My father plays bass.”

However, Bob Dylan became enthralling. Everyone became enthralled. and my father objected to playing Fender bass.

Therefore, Lee’s mother had to work to provide for his four younger siblings.

“When I was younger, I was like, Daddy, can’t you just play electric bass”? He claimed that Mommy is putting herself to death.

World Leaders, Others Pledge Over $170m To WHO Ahead Of US Exit

In response to the escalating global health issues, international leaders have pledged to give the World Health Organization (WHO) at least an additional $170 million.

Leaders at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, where they reiterated their support for multilateral cooperation through contributions to the WHO’s Investment Round (IR), made the pledges at a high-level pledging event on Tuesday.

The Fourteenth General Programme of Work, WHO’s strategy for global health, is raising money to fund its potential saving of 40 million lives over the course of four years. Significant contributions have been made by both government and philanthropic partners as of today’s pledges.

Member states approved raising assessed contributions, adding a separate US $90 million in annual income, and completing another significant step in the direction of sustainable development.

“I’m appreciative of every partner and member state who contributed to the investment round. These funds will aid us in continuing our life-saving work in a challenging environment for global health, according to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. They demonstrate the viability of multilateralism.

The meeting attracted contributions from ELMA Philanthropies (with the WHO Foundation), Fondation Botnar, Laerdal Global Health (with the WHO Foundation), Nippon Foundation, Qatar, China, Gabon, Mongolia, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, and Nippon Foundation. The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation made a further US$ 13 million commitment to increase funding.

At least US $170 million is allocated for the Investment Round, which will help to support WHO’s base budget for the years 2025 to 2028. The most important type of funding, which eight donors have received, and four of them have been repeat donors.

Nearly 8000 people from all over the world have signed up as “Member Citizens” through the One World Movement, making almost US $600,000 in donations, many of them monthly. This is a powerful declaration of global solidarity and an affirmation that every voice counts.

Read more about the rising demand for gold, minerals, and other topics.

Contributor: A new funding round for WHO investment round

UBA Appoints Abiola Bawuah As First Female CEO For Africa Operations

Abiola Bawuah, CEO, UBA Africa

The Board of Directors of the United Bank for Africa Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, today announced the appointment of Mrs. Abiola Bawuah, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UBA Africa. Bawuah will also join the Group Board as an Executive Director, overseeing the Group’s operations across the African continent, outside Nigeria. UBA operates in 19 African countries beyond Nigeria, in addition to global operations in New York, London, Paris and the UAE. 

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Ado-Odo Set to Host Dignitaries for Final Burial Rites of Olofin Adimula Oodua

Oba Abdul Lateef Adeniran Akanni, Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo

Government officials, private sector leaders and Royal Fathers and Chiefs are some dignitaries expected to attend the final passage ceremony and 41-day prayer of the late Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdul Lateef Adeniran Akanni on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

The event, which will have the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR and his Deputy in attendance will hold at Alamuwa Grammar School, Ado Odo, Ogun State.

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Kennedy Uzoka lights up the UBA Foundation’s Garden Ahead of the Yuletide

l-r: Group Head, Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC), United Bank for Africa Plc, Prince Ayewoh; Group Head, Personal Banking and Retail Liabilities, Ogechi Altraide; Deputy Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr Kennedy Uzoka; Executive Director, Chiugo Ndubisi; MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta; Head, Commercial and Corporate Banking, Muyiwa Akinyemi; and Head of Operations, Alex Alozie, at the 2021 Christmas and New Year Light-Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation Garden

Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa, through its UBA Foundation, has been spreading joy across Africa for many years as they continue to give back to the underprivileged in the communities in which they operate.

At the UBA Foundation gardens in Lagos, where the bank is headquartered, a lights up ceremony was held to mark the start of the festive season. The garden lights were activated by UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, joined by other key management staff and some bank customers.

Uzoka, who is also the chairman of the UBA Foundation, emphasised that giving back was the main tenet of the UBA Foundation. He said, ‘We have over the years, engaged in various activities aimed at appreciating our host communities all around Africa and especially in countries where we operate and so for us, these lights symbolise hope for the future and all the goodness it will bring into people’s lives.

‘it is hard to believe that we have been in this pandemic for almost two years. People have lost friends and family members, and businesses decimated by the effects of the pandemic. There has been a general feeling of hopelessness, but we desire to fill people’s lives with hope once again.’ Continued Uzoka.

The UBA Foundation has been very active in combatting the spread of Covid -19 across Africa as the bank did not waste any time at the start of the pandemic, donating over $14m  to its communities across Africa to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the Foundation will be feeding tens of thousands of people across Africa through its annual Foodbank initiative. Food, hygiene products and other gifts items are handed over to those who have less, especially during the festive season.

The CEO, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, said that the light-up ceremony was important for the Foundation, adding: “This goes beyond lighting up the Marina and adorning the streets with beautiful colours. It reminds us as an institution of our promise to continue to touch lives and treat our communities with kindness. We are living in challenging times and a little gesture to put a smile on even one face goes a very long way. We should all endeavour to do whatever we can, within our power, to uplift others.”

Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr Kennedy Uzoka; flanked by Executive Director, Chukwuma Nweke; Head of Operations, Alex Alozie; MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, and other staff members at the  2021 Christmas and New Year Light-Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation Garden, at Marina, Lagos

The Lighting Ceremony, which observed all necessary Covid-19 protocols, was witnessed by members of staff and customers and featured Christmas carols by UBA’s CFC choir and a guided tour around the beautiful UBA Foundation Garden at the Lagos Marina.

UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the UBA Group, is committed to the socio-economic betterment of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in the areas of Education, the Environment, Economic Empowerment and other Special Projects.