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August 5, 2022 US Urges Russia To Accept Deal To Free Brittany Griner

US Urges Russia To Accept Deal To Free Brittany Griner

The US has urged the Russian government to accept a deal to free basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison.

The double Olympic winner was convicted of possession and smuggling drugs after admitting to possessing cannabis oil.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the US offer was "a serious proposal", but gave no details.

On Friday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is ready to discuss the topic.

US media reports suggest Washington is offering a prisoner swap involving a Russian arms trafficker named Viktor Bout - known as the "merchant of death", who is serving a 25 year-prison sentence in the US.

 Brittany Griner
US Urges Russia To Accept Deal To Free Brittany Griner

He could be transferred by Washington to the Russian authorities in exchange for Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan, the reports say.

Whelan, who has US, British, Canadian and Irish passports, was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in jail in Russia after being convicted of spying.

Mr Kirby told reporters that the duo were being wrongfully detained and needed to be let go.

31-year-old Griner told the court she had made an "honest mistake" and had not intended to break the law.

Considered one of the best female players in the world, she was detained in February at an airport near Moscow when vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. She had come to Russia to play club basketball during the US off-season.

Her defence team said they would appeal against the verdict.

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August 5, 2022 The English Premier League Returns For The 31st Season

The English Premier League Returns For The 31st Season

The English Premier League (EPL) marks it's return as fans are excited for the 38 weeks of undisputed football. The season gets underway on Friday, August 5, 2022, with a night football clash featuring Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park.

Arsenal, in their pre-season campaign, showed incredible form as they wrapped up the campaign with a 6-0 win over Sevilla on July 30, 2022.

New signing, Gabriel Jesus, is looking to be a good deal for Arsenal as he netted a hat trick in the match. But the Eagle boss, Patrick Vieira, will no doubt love to start with a win against the side he made history as a player.

Saturday will kick off with Fulham welcoming Mohammad Salah's Liverpool at Craven Cottage at 1:20pm. For Jurgen Klopp, the season's goal will include lifting the EPL cup after narrowly missing out on the title last season with just one point.

The Saturday games will continue with AFC Bournemouth welcoming Aston Villa. Wolverhampton will travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United. Newcastle will receive Nottingham Forest for their first EPL game in 23 years.

Antonio Conte will lead Tottenham Hotspur against their old rivals Southampton. Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son are expected to start the game as the duo continues their incredible partnership.

Saturday's games will end with a clash between Everton and Chelsea by 5:30pm. With the signing of Raheem Sterling, Chelseas's boss Thomas Tuchel believes the forward can help shape the club and close the gap Liverpool and Manchester City have created over the last five seasons.

Antonio Rudiger left for Real Madrid, and Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milian just a year after a club-record signing of £97.5 million. Chelsea is "rebuilding", and new signings Raheem Sterling, Senegalese centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly are expected to help the process.

Week one will end with super games on Sunday. Iheanacho Kelechi and his Nigerian teammate Wilfred Ndidi will welcome Brentford at King Power stadium. Leicester was on top of their form in their preseason campaign, winning five out of the six matches.

Iheanacho scored his first goal in preseason, while Wilfred Ndidi retired to action in their 3-1 win over Derby County.

At the theatre of Dreams, Erik Ten Hag will make his EPL debut when he welcomes Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday at 2.00pm. Manchester United started their preseason with a 4-0 win against Liverpool.

After missing out on the fourth position last season, the club will be looking forward to bouncing back to the glory old days, and Erik is showing signs of committing to the rebuilding process. While Cristiano Ronaldo's fate in the club is yet to be decided, he has returned to training, but Erik is unsure of his fitness after the 37-year-old missed out on almost all the club's preseason matches.

EPL champions Manchester City will travel to face West Ham United in a crucial match at London Stadium on Sunday. Pep Guardiola's side aim to lift the EPL title for the fifth time since he joined the club in 2016.

Erling Haaland, Stefan Ortega and Julian Alvarez have all been unveiled at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland is expected to replicate his goal-scoring streak, and fans are excited to watch his Premier League debut. 22-year-old striker Julian Alvarez is also anticipated to add his speed and agility to the City's forward.

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August 5, 2022 New World Record: Nwachukwu Goodness Wins Commonwealth Gold Medal

New World Record: Nwachukwu Goodness Wins Commonwealth Gold Medal

Nwachukwu also set a world record with her throw of 36.56m. Sarah Edminston of Australia came second while Naibili Vanutisolo of Fiji Island took the third position.

Nigeria's Nwachukwu Goodness won a gold medal in the women's E42.44/61.64 discus throw event at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Unless you're Goodness Nwachukwu, it's not often that you get to watch an athlete break a World Record (WR) on her first try in a field event while competing in front of a packed stadium at a big competition like the Commonwealth Games.

The para-athlete from Nigeria did put on a show for the audience at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, smashing not one but two world records in short succession to win her event at the Games.

In the women's Discus F42-44/61-64 event, Nwachukwu won the GOLD medal for Nigeria after delivering a dominant performance that distinguished her from the competition.

ALSO READ: CWG: Nigeria Win Discus Gold And Bronze

The 23-year-old, the only contestant from Nigeria in the Women's Discus Throw F42-44/61-64 competition, far outperformed her rivals, breaking records with her first two throws.

Prior to Thursday, Nwachukwu had the F42 World Record with the best mark of 33.35m, but she increased that mark with her first throw of 34.84m and her subsequent throw of 36.56m.

The Nigerian threw farther on her following efforts, yet she was met with thundering cheers from the Alexander Stadium crowd each time.

Nnamdi Innocent won the nation's bronze medal in the men's lightweight para powerlifting. Lifting 132.5 kg, the Nigerian. With a lift of 154.6 kg, Malaysia's Gustin Bonnie Bunyau won the gold medal. Swan Mark of England won the silver.

Nigeria's medal total has increased from eight to ten following its two victories on Thursday night.

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August 4, 2022 EPL Clubs To Stop Taking Knee Before Every Match

EPL Clubs To Stop Taking Knee Before Every Match

English Premier League football players said Wednesday they will no longer take the knee before every match in the upcoming season, following criticism that the anti-racism gesture was losing its impact.

In a Premier League statement, club captains said that instead, they would bend before selected games, “and in so doing we continue to show solidarity for a common cause”.

The league said it supported the captains’ decision, and would elevate anti-racism messaging as part of its “No Room for Racism” campaign – words that already feature on players’ sleeves.

Premier League players began taking the knee at the start of every game in June 2020, when the season resumed following a Covid shutdown, a month after the killing in the United States of George Floyd.

Ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick started kneeling to protest against racial injustice in 2016 and the gesture has become a familiar sight across a range of sports since Floyd’s murder by a US police officer.

But several Premier League players queried its continuing relevance – and some right-wing politicians in Britain have criticised its identification with the Black Lives Matter protest movement.

Wilfried Zaha, a black striker for Crystal Palace, was an early dissident, labelling the gesture “degrading” and opting to stand instead.

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