Category: NEWS

On October 13, US time, SpaceX conducted its fifth test flight of the “Starship” in Texas, according to various media reports. During this launch, SpaceX successfully captured the Super Heavy rocket as it returned to Earth using the mechanical arm on the launch tower.

When asked about the significance of this fifth test flight, a SpaceX representative noted that it represents a bold challenge: to catch the returning “Super Heavy” rocket using a structure referred to as “Chopsticks,” which is part of the massive launch platform. This approach differs from how SpaceX traditionally retrieves its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

The “Starship” rocket stands approximately 120 meters tall and has a diameter of about 9 meters. It consists of two main components: a 70-meter-long Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft itself, both designed for reuse. The primary mission of this rocket is to transport people and cargo to Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and even Mars.

So far, “Starship” has undergone four orbital test flights. The first flight in April 2023 ended in an explosion before the separation of the first and second stages. In the second flight in November 2023, both stages successfully separated, but both the booster and spacecraft exploded afterward. The third flight in March 2024 also saw successful separation; however, the booster disintegrated during a landing attempt, and the spacecraft lost communication upon re-entering the atmosphere. In the fourth flight in June 2024, both stages separated as planned, landing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Indian Ocean respectively.

UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the commencement of the 2024 edition of its annual National Essay Competition (NEC) with a Call for Entries in Nigeria.
Now in its 14th year, the annual National Essay Competition (NEC) is part of the UBA Foundation’s education initiative aimed at championing literacy and encouraging intellectual development among senior secondary school students across Nigeria and the African continent.
The 2024 edition, the bank said in a statement, will see increased participation from senior secondary school students across Nigeria as they can conveniently submit their entries from the comfort of their homes or schools via the UBA Foundation NEC digital submission portal at.
The essay topic for the call for entries is, “Discuss the Impact of Carbon Emission on Climate in Nigeria: Challenges and Solutions”. Students are expected to properly research, write, scan and upload their handwritten essays to the digital portal on or before November 8, 2024.
The Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta,who spoke ahead of the flag-off of this year’s completion, noted that despite the current global economic challenges, UBA Foundation remains steadfast in their commitment to educational excellence by significantly increasing the grant prizes this year
“We are aware of what families and parents are going through especially in the face of the current economic climate in Nigeria, and by raising the first-place prize to N7.5 million, with N5 million and N3.5 million for second and third places respectively, we are making a bold statement about our dedication to African education. The increase in grant prizes reflect our understanding of the rising costs of quality education and our determination to ensure that exceptional students can pursue their academic dreams without financial constraints,” Atta said

From Franco Mastantuono to Estêvão, we select some of the most talented players born in 2007. Check the progress of our classes of 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 … and look at the editions from further back
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On the morning of October 20, the inaugural “China-Europe Railway Express – CIIE Special Train” (referred to as “CIIE Special Train”) successfully arrived at the Shanghai Railway Logistics Center’s special line in Minhang, under the China Railway Shanghai Group Co. According to reports, the goods showcased at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) have been arriving in Shanghai via the China-Europe Railway Express for four consecutive years.

The primary purpose of the CIIE Special Train is to facilitate the transportation of products for the expo. This particular train carried cosmetics and machinery, departing from Duisburg, Germany. It passed through Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and entered China via the Alashankou Railway Port, covering over 11,000 kilometers in just 21 days. The train transported 76 standard containers (TEU) with a total cargo value of nearly 100 million RMB.

The China-Europe Railway Express is a flagship initiative of the Belt and Road Initiative, offering advantages such as all-weather service, large cargo capacity, green low-carbon options, and safety, making it a preferred choice amongst clients from various countries along the route. Since the launch of the first CIIE Special Train in 2021, it has been closely associated with the CIIE, providing a new channel for businesses from Europe and surrounding regions to exhibit their products in Shanghai, effectively transforming exhibit items into commodities. Over the past three years, Shanghai has organized four CIIE Special Train services, delivering exhibits for the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the expo.

This year marks the eleventh anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. To support the seventh CIIE, relevant departments plan to operate four CIIE Special Trains, which will carry approximately 300 containers with a value exceeding 380 million RMB, further amplifying the expo’s spillover effects. Currently, starting points for the CIIE Special Train include Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, as well as Malaszewicze in Poland, establishing a vital transportation link for European exhibits participating in the CIIE.

As of now, the Shanghai China-Europe Railway Express has successfully completed 244 trips (including routes towards Central Asia), transporting nearly 25,000 containers, with a total cargo weight of approximately 220,000 tons and a total value surpassing 8.5 billion RMB. The service connects over 120 cities across 13 countries in Europe and Asia, extending its reach to other nations along the way.

Although ordinarily, the ‘desilting’ of the Escravos Channel, a vital waterway in Nigeria’s Delta State, should be routine, it has been facing a recurring problem of clogging, threatening one of the country’s major economic arteries, writes Emmanuel Addeh.
The Excravos channel, which connects the Niger Delta to the Atlantic Ocean, plays a critical role in Nigeria’s oil and gas exports, as well as cargo transportation, but is now seemingly being abandoned by the concerned authorities.
Essentially, desilting is the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of the sea, lakes, rivers, harbours, and other water bodies as sedimentation-the natural process of sand and silt washing downstream – gradually fills channels and harbours.
It is often focused on maintaining or increasing the depth of navigation channels, anchorages, or berthing areas to ensure the safe passage of boats and ships.
This is because vessels require a certain amount of water in order to float and not touch bottom. But since massive ships carry the bulk of the goods imported into Nigeria, dredging plays a vital role in the nation’s economy.
In general, several factors have contributed to the clogging of the Escravos Channel, according to checks by THISDAY, including siltation, wherein the channel’s shallow depth and slow currents allow sediment to settle, reducing its navigability.
This challenge at the Excravos water route has further been worsened by poor maintenance as well as the much talked about climate change, leading to rising sea levels and increased storm frequency which worsen coastal erosion and sedimentation.
This severe clogging comes with its economic and environmental implications, including reduction of cargo capacity as vessels must lighten loads, thereby increasing transportation costs.
It also increases transit time, since, as expected, ships face delays, affecting supply chains, resulting in economic losses, reduced trade volumes and increased costs which have harmed local businesses.
Clogging up the Excravos Channel has also caused some environmental degradation and general disruptions to port operations, leading to job losses.
This issue has raised serious concerns among the users of the water route as they, and by extension, Nigeria, continue to lose huge revenues from their operations due to heavy build-up of silt on the waterway, hindering smooth passage of vessels.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the operators insist, has not been helping matters, thereby further compounding the problem. The NPA aside failing to do its job, they complained, is also delaying some players in the system who are interested in getting the job done in the interest of Nigeria.
THISDAY learnt that as a result of the slow paperwork for the ‘desilting’ of the channel by the NPA, the federal government agency that manages the operations around the affected area in the Warri axis of Delta state, many of the route users are now frustrated.
The NPA plays a crucial role in maintaining the nation’s waterways, including the Escravos Channel. Although there have been attempts in the past to address the, they have not borne the expected fruits, especially since it is not conducted regularly.
If the NPA does what is statutorily expected of it, this will improve navigation and reduce transit times, increase cargo capacity and reduce transportation costs, enhance economic growth and competitiveness as well as protect the environment by reducing sedimentation. But sources who chose to remain anonymous, said nothing has been done for years.
According to them, several vessels have been running aground in the channel, further compounding the mess, because the NPA, which should ensure the orderly movement of vessels around the area, has largely shirked its responsibility.
“Typically, this is the channel that allows access into the Warri port and there are multiple users. It is also a channel that provides access for the tankers that bring in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the country.
“NNPC is a key user because those are tankers that are commissioned by them. Now, with regards to crude oil production for the country, some of the assets in the western Niger Delta corridor also convey crude oil from the fields via mid-range tankers shuttling from the asset through the channel to offshore location for export.
“Now, this channel, over the years as is typical with nature has been silted. So, increasingly, it has been difficult for vessels to navigate and once aground will require assistance to re-float with high-powered tug boats, ” one of the tug boat providers said.
THISDAY checks showed that in the past , several ocean-going vessels owned by Matrix Energy and other ship owners/charterers including MV Adebomi 3, MT Matrix Triumph, MT Matrix Asa, and MV Zola had run aground within the same axis.
It was further learnt that since the maximum draft at the channel during high tide is about 6.2 meters, many vessels now routinely get stuck in the area, leading to loss of huge revenues, including expenditure on heavy machinery for towing the affected vessels.
Before they are towed, these vessels are said to block the entire channel, thereby making it impossible for other vessels to move along the route for sometimes as many as 10 days, leading to significant financial losses.
Aside the oil companies, including Chevron and Shell, which use the route, it was further understood that other local small scale endeavours also use the line to move bulk products.
To ensure sanity on the water route pending dredging, THISDAY learnt that the users have clamoured for NPA to maintain stricter oversight on the issue of draft restrictions in order to avoid the occurrence of blockage of the channel by overloaded vessels.
“You would expect that the responsible agency would ensure that it remains navigable because of its importance because these operators are providing a service, and they are supporting the country’ cash flow plans and revenue generation, whether through the production making its way to the terminals.
“But businesses are experiencing frustration and there’s a heightened sense of emergency to do something, anything at all, on that channel. There’s an agency there that governs or marshal out user rules and regulations.
“But you can imagine that people also play ‘try your luck’. They will load up their vessels, pass the acceptable rate for the draft, and will just try to see if they can find their way through. On the average, you could see vessels that are grounded for seven days or over 10 days.
“And what it means is that as soon as you have that, there are businesses that are suffering. There’s zero activity for the next seven days, and the ramifications or consequences is the inability to deliver service timely,” one user told THISDAY.
Another channel user added: “Every channel has a limit of six, seven, eight metres and there’s always a control tower that tells the vessels to come in at the right time, depending on their draft then.
“But what is happening now is that because that place is silted, and the chiefs in Abuja and Lagos are not making the right decisions, the harbour master in Warri and his team still give vessels green lights, even when he knows that their drafts are not accommodated by the channel.”
The user pointed out that once they get in there, they will run aground, then a tugboat will be sought for to pull it out. About three days ago, he stated that there were three blockages, which had taken an average of eight to nine days to open up. It seems this is another business for tugboat vendors which the operators are wondering what the motive is.
“So, you can understand that business activity in that axis has crumbled. And this is where you have oil production and other activities. This is the channel. There are two channels in Warri. One is the Escravos channel. One is the Forcados channel. They’ve allowed the Forcados channel to silt a long time ago. So, that one is abandoned.
“Now, this one, if they allow it to go this way, it means that it will get to a point where they will even abandon any marine economic activity in the Warri axis as well,” the source added.
According to the source, it is expected that parties move to urgently resolve the business challenge that is currently impacting business activities in the Niger Delta.
“We all are aware these could be another issue that leads to not improving the commercial and business activity in the Niger Delta.
“It seems the issue today is because as usual in Nigeria, everybody wants his interest to be covered, reason it’s taking NPA time to close the dredging mobilisation for such a critical national interest (what could be termed a water gateway) to deteriorate.
“NPA, if needed should explore initiative to fast track, including seeking the support of the users who ordinarily pay for the use of the channels. This is like a toll highway, as such funding shouldn’t be an issue.
“Clearly, the impact of this on the PMS distribution in the country is obviously from the long queues. The impact on production shut-in is almost a billion dollar in this time of below par production and shortage of Foreign Exchange for the country ,not to mention the added cost to the business due to long waiting of vessels at the channel ,” THISDAY was told.
In May this year, about seven daughter vessels carrying a combined total of 150 million litres of petrol were reported to have been trapped on the high sea at the Escravos channel, leading to a worsening of the fuel supply crises.
Also, with the channel having not been dredged for years, the fear of grounding has made heavy tonnage merchant ships to abandon the channel, throwing the ports in Warri, Koko and Sapele that are served by the channel into redundancy.
But in a response, the NPA listed the various efforts it had made to solve the problem, describing the Excravos Channel issue as ‘peculiar’.
“The Warri/Escravos Channel is quite peculiar in the sense that its dredging must of necessity be preceded by reconstruction of the Escravos breakwater which had collapsed and is resulting in unprecedented rate of silt at the entrance of the Channel.
“Fortunately the federal government has approved the Authority’s inclusion of the comprehensive rehabilitation of the breakwater in the Port Modernisation Programme which is to be implemented shortly,” the NPA said through its spokesman, Ikechukwu Onyemekara.
He added that the rehabilitation, once achieved, will pave the way for regular and routine maintenance dredging for the entire channel.
According to him, the last time a dredging campaign that specifically targeted the critical entrance area covering over 21.0 kilometres was in 2022.
The NPA spokesman recalled that the Authority made a case for urgent federal government intervention and had recently secured administrative approval to undertake maintenance dredging in the most critical section of the channel on an emergency basis.
“The contractor has concluded the in-survey and is already mobilising to site. It is expected that the campaign would be completed within 16 weeks.
“Once concluded, it would provide the much needed temporary respite pending the completion of the rehabilitation of the breakwater which would then be followed by regular/routine maintenance of the entire channel,” he added.
As a measure of ensuring business continuity, the Authority, he said, has approved the ‘lightering’ of vessels laden with products to minimise incidences of vessel grounding and facilitate easy evacuation where violations of the advertised draught results in grounding.
“In addition to the above is the Authority’s enhanced installation of navigational aids/buoys and robust stakeholder engagement with the host community and shipping lines to adhere to the ‘mitigatory’ measures being put in place to make the best of the situation,” he stated in the response.

Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF), C-130 Hercules aircraft yesterday delivered essential relief materials to flood victims in Borno State, as part of its continued commitment to provide aid to civil authority.
A statement by Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, said the relief supplies donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Initiative, were airlifted by the NAF’ platform from Abuja to Maiduguri.
The supplies, he said comprised food items, clothing, sanitary essentials as well as toys for children.
According to Akinboyewa, “These critical resources will provide much-needed succour to affected communities in Maiduguri, that were devastated by the 10 September flood disaster.
“The relief materials were received by senior NAF officers, led by the Air Component Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, before being handed over to the Borno State Government for distribution to the flood victims”.
This mission, the NAF spokesperson said highlighted the NAF’s dedication to providing timely humanitarian assistance, particularly in regions severely impacted by natural disasters.
He recalled that in addition to ongoing airlift missions, the NAF also launched a medical outreach programme to support flood victims and provided food for over 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons during the crisis.
Akinboyewa said the collaboration between the First Lady’s office and the NAF demonstrates the significance of collective effort to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the flood in Borno State.

On October 16, during a visit to the East China Normal University Museum, I had the opportunity to delve into the “Qin and Han Bronze Mirror Exhibition,” showcasing 100 exquisite bronze mirrors from the pre-Qin to the Qin and Han periods.

Bronze mirrors were essential everyday items used by ancient people for personal grooming. The variety of designs and the rich inscriptions on these mirrors serve as key carriers of ancient culture, art, philosophy, and social customs. They reflect the distinctive cultural characteristics and rich ideas of that era, and they play a significant role in promoting traditional Chinese culture and highlighting the essence of Chinese heritage.

The exhibition, organized by the museum, spans a considerable time frame from the Spring and Autumn period through the late Eastern Han and into the Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties. It includes a wide range of types and styles, featuring geometric patterns, animal motifs, and inscriptions.

The exhibition offers a glimpse into the evolution of bronze mirror design, from simple geometric patterns and animal motifs to more complex inscriptions. It highlights subtle differences among various designs such as the cord button, round button, and connected peaks, ultimately narrating the artistic characteristics and historical importance of bronze mirrors throughout the Qin and Han periods. These artifacts not only showcase the remarkable craftsmanship of ancient artisans but also embody a profound historical and cultural legacy, offering visitors a unique insight into the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

China’s history of bronze mirror casting dates back over 4,000 years to the Qijia culture. As a significant category within bronze ware, these mirrors were originally made from metals like copper, tin, and lead. The differences in their metallic composition, along with changes in preservation conditions over thousands of years, have influenced the various colors seen today, such as “red copper,” “green patina,” “peacock blue,” “black lacquer,” and “mercury seep.” Many of the inscriptions on these mirrors describe their raw materials.

Geometric patterns are typical of early bronze mirrors, with main types including cord patterns, connected arc patterns, and whirlpool cloud patterns. Among the exhibits are multiple mirrors featuring the connected arc pattern, illustrating the ancient art of mirror making, often seen in 8 or 16 connected arcs, with variations like 6 and 10 arc designs.

Animal motifs on bronze mirrors can be divided into mythical representations like dragons and phoenixes, as well as real animals like tigers. The dragon patterns, in particular, demonstrate the ancient reverence for this creature. Some mirrors display dragon heads in profile, showcasing intricate details such as the horns, eyes, and teeth, while others feature the dragon’s head and body entwined within a central diamond-shaped “thunder zone,” reminiscent of mythical dragons whose full forms remain elusive.

The inscriptions on these mirrors reflect the aspirations of ancient people for a better future. For instance, one featured mirror bears the inscription: “Longing for each other, do not forget, longing for wealth and happiness, joy remains endless.” Another carries the message of enduring happiness and prosperity.

Leiqili, a member of the Party Committee and Vice President of East China Normal University, expressed that this exhibition aims to help in the transmission and promotion of excellent traditional Chinese culture through the exploration of its historical context.

During the interview, I learned that the mirrors on display were generously donated by Wang Ganghuai, an expert in ancient Chinese bronze mirrors, and relevant organizations. Mr. Wang, who has devoted years to the collection and study of bronze mirrors, has published 31 works, including “Research on Qin Mirror Culture” and “Atlas of Han Mirror Inscriptions.” In support of educational efforts at East China Normal University, he donated 100 bronze mirrors along with related rubbings.

Xu Hui, a representative from the donor organization Zhida Group, expressed hope that this donation would spark students’ interest in history and broaden their academic horizons, aligning with the mission of invigorating enterprises through education and contributing to the nation.

Mao Hanqing, Mr. Wang’s granddaughter, articulated the significance of her grandfather’s collection and donation of the bronze mirrors, reflecting on her personal connection to these artifacts and her understanding of traditional Chinese culture.

Extra charge when paying using a card can add more than $12 to the cost of a school laptop, and $6.40 to a car service
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJonathan Barrett Senior business reporterTue 15 Oct 2024 10.00 EDTLast modified on Tue 15 Oct 2024 16.59 EDTShareIt might be chump change when it comes to buying a coffee, but the surcharge on debit purchases adds up to billions of dollars a year – and it could be about to disappear.
Australia’s payments sector could be overhauled amid a government pledge to reform a system of fee charges that is deeply unpopular with consumers already grappling with punishing living costs.
While the Albanese government has flagged its intention to ban debit card surcharges, it will also consider wider measures flowing out of a Reserve Bank review of the sector that started on Tuesday.
What happens next?

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Why is there a sudden focus on card fees?As the Independent Payment Forum notes, debit card fees can add more than $12 to the cost of a school laptop, and $6.40 to a car service.
Card payments now account for the lion’s share of transactions, with about 80% of consumer payments conducted via debit, credit, prepaid and charge cards, RBA data shows.
But a complicated system of opaque fees has long perplexed consumers, who might not know they are paying a surcharge until they tap their card. This disproportionately affects younger Australians, given they use cards more often than older cohorts.
Shoppers have also found they are often charged the same amount for a debit or credit transaction, even though they rightly assume the latter is more expensive to process.
All up, Australia’s banks, payment platforms and global card companies charge $6.9bn in fees a year, according to the Independent Payments Forum, which are costs either paid by businesses or passed to customers.
Transaction fees in Australia are higher than in several comparable economies such as the UK, but lower than in the US. The Biden administration is trying to combat high card charges as part of a wider campaign to tackle high consumer prices.

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What is the solution?While banning surcharges on debit transactions would be a relief to consumers, there are concerns businesses, especially smaller ones, will need to bear the transaction cost or raise their prices.
The RBA, which has regulatory powers over the payments sector, said in its discussion paper that the average transaction fee paid by small merchants is around three times that paid by larger ones.
Shoppers to no longer pay fees when using debit cards under new Albanese government planRead moreThis is because they generally cannot negotiate the same types of deals with payments networks as big businesses.
The ability for the government to ban debit surcharges therefore relies on broader reforms to lower transaction costs for small businesses.
“These two issues are linked as merchants would be less likely to surcharge consumers if card payment costs were lower,” the RBA says.
It says a debit surcharge ban may prompt payment platforms to price debit and credit card transactions differently. 
For consumers, this would mean debit transactions are free, and credit card payments are charged a higher rate. The measure could also stir competition among payment platforms to offer businesses more competitive rates on debit transactions, given merchants will no longer be able to pass the fees to their customers.
The RBA has invited feedback on whether all card surcharges should be banned, but notes that this could drive a shift towards more credit card transactions, which would also increase transaction costs for businesses.
The RBA is also considering making “least-cost routing”, a policy designed to process payments via the cheapest network – usually Eftpos – a default setting for merchants’ terminals, which should decrease costs.

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Who are the winners and losers?The government’s proposed ban sparked an immediate sell-off in payments platforms, with shares in SmartPay Holdings and Tyro Payments suffering double-digit share price falls on Tuesday. 
The Tyro chief executive, Jon Davey, said in a statement that consumers should not pay excessive surcharges, nor should businesses fund the consumer benefits that come with high-cost cards and loyalty programs. 
“We support any review that assesses the true cost of card acceptance, including both debit and credit, for the fair regulation of payment acceptance in Australia,” Davey said.
Many payment platforms, including the US company Square, design packages for businesses that blend fees for debit and credit charges, with the costs passed to customers.
This model could be disrupted by a ban on debit surcharges because it relies on subsidising credit card transactions by charging debit card users far more than the cost of the transaction.
It’s unclear what impact the government’s proposed ban would have on the major card networks, Visa and Mastercard, which were contacted for comment.
The RBA review, which is designed to increase transparency and competition in the payments sector, could fast-track a shift to alternative payment options such as “pay by bank”. This system is a type of direct debit which cuts card networks out of the process and should be cheaper for merchants.
Australia’s banking sector broadly supports a ban on debit surcharges, which means there is little opposition to the government banning the unpopular fees.
“This would be a win for consumers and lead to more clarity and certainty for them,” the Australian Banking Association CEO, Anna Bligh, said.

• Commences distribution of funds to victims
• Earmarks N2.9bn for emergency flood control
Francis Sardaunain Katsina
The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, Tuesday, said the state government has received N3 billion support from the Federal Government to tackle the devastating effect of flooding in the state.
Radda, who announced this while flagging off financial assistance to the flood victims in the state, said the widespread flood has ravaged several local government areas in the state.
He said homes, farmlands, roads and public utilities have been severely damaged by the devastating effect of the natural disaster, leaving thousands of residents homeless with worsening environmental degradation.
Governor Radda said: “Recognizing the calamity of the situation, the Federal Government has stepped in to provide more needed assistance as part of the Federal Government’s intervention of about N3 billion to the state government.This funding is aimed at providing relief to the victims and helping them rebuild their lives.”
He explained that after a careful verification process by the technical committee inaugurated by the state government to ascertain the effect of the flood, it was established that 1,067 persons were seriously affected by the natural disaster in the state.
Radda noted that out of the 1,067 victims, 439 whose homes were completely smashed by the flood would each receive N600,000 each, while 628 victims whose homes have significant damage would receive N300,000 respectively.
He added that the state government has procured N200 million worth of building materials to be distributed to 1,772 victims whose houses were partially damaged to build their homes and restore their livelihoods.
“The total financial support allocated to these victims stands at N451,800,000. In addition to monetary aid, the Katsina State government is equally committed to ensuring that those affected receive comprehensive support,” Radda added.
The governor, however, said his administration has also earmarked N2.9 billion for emergency flood and erosion control projects across several locations in the state.

Signs do not look good for Eidevall, Kirby could push way back into England’s squad and Terland’s focus brings reward
Suzanne Wrack, Sarah Rendell and Sophie DowneyMon 14 Oct 2024 07.21 EDTLast modified on Mon 14 Oct 2024 08.00 EDTShare

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1Can Eidevall turn things around at Arsenal?The “Jonas out” painted on a wall outside the ground and the mock P45 waved from the stands reflect the pressure on Arsenal’s manager, Jonas Eidevall, after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. That result alone hasn’t led to this level of discontent; it has been bubbling under the surface, getting closer to boiling over with every failure to break down a low block, every sloppily conceded goal and every indication that the plan just isn’t working. Two draws in the league, against Manchester City and Everton, a 5-2 loss to Bayern Munich, despite having twice taken the lead, and the manner of the goals conceded against Chelsea have played their part. The concession of the first goal on Saturday via a corner, shortly after Eidevall had been on the BBC talking about how much work they had done on defending set pieces in preparation, was symbolic of how wrong things are going. Can they turn it around? Of course. However, with the disconnect between the fans and the manager growing and several players looking disconsolate, the signs don’t look good. SW
Match report: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

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2Kirby key for resurgent BrightonAnother three points have put Brighton two wins from their tally of five across the whole of last season. That this has been achieved with such a high turnover of players and a new manager, Dario Vidosic, is hugely impressive. Sunday’s 1-0 victory at the WSL newcomers, Crystal Palace, was far from straightforward, the home team having more shots. However, while Palace accrued 13 shots to Brighton’s 11, they managed only three on target. The summer signing Fran Kirby and Barcelona’s on-loan forward Bruna Vilamala combined to give Brighton the points. Kirby’s resurgence under Vidosic has been hugely heartwarming, after her final years at Chelsea were blighted by illness and injury. Her assist for Vilamala was her first of the season but she also has two league goals. Her guile could be hugely impactful and should she stay fit and retain her place in the starting XI she has a strong chance of making the England squad for the Euros next summer. SW

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3Terland up and running at UnitedElisabeth Terland got her first two Manchester United goals in their 3-0 win over Tottenham. The Norway international, Brighton’s top scorer last season, netted in the 44th minute and wasted no time in getting her second five minutes later, in injury time. Marc Skinner had high praise for Terland, United’s manager saying: “She doesn’t dip off her focus. Whether it’s pressing or whatever the task is, she’s all in. I think she knows Erling Haaland personally [Terland’s brother is in a relationship with Haaland’s sister] and I don’t want to compare the two but the immense and intense action of both of them, that’s how she performs.” SR

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4Rock-bottom Everton need goalsEverton scored their first WSL goal of the season in their 1-1 draw against West Ham but it went down as an own goal, Melissa Lawley’s shot deflected in by Camila Sáez to cancel out Anouk Denton’s first-half strike. Everton’s lack of scoring prowess is a cause for concern. They are the first team since Reading in the 2021-22 campaign not to score in their opening three league games and goals will have to start flowing if Brian Sørensen’s side want a fighting chance of remaining in the top flight. They are bottom, level on points with Aston Villa, Leicester City and West Ham. Villa and Leicester have a superior goal difference and West Ham have scored more goals in their opening four games. SR
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View image in fullscreenMelissa Lawley’s deflected shot provides Everton with their first goal of the WSL season. Photograph: Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images

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5Shaw drags City to ‘ugly’ winThere are always a handful of moments which make or break your season. If Manchester City get their hands on the WSL trophy in May, they may look back at Khadija Shaw’s 92nd minute goal at Anfield on Sunday as season-defining. It was not the prettiest from Gareth Taylor’s side against a Liverpool who dug in deep and battled hard to frustrate them. This was probably to be expected from City after their triumphant exploits against Barcelona in midweek. Despite their domination of the ball, it was a story of mettle and perseverance, epitomised by no one more than Shaw. Their prolific centre-forward caused problems for Liverpool’s defence throughout and took the game by the scruff of the neck with her two goals to ensure her team came out with nothing less than victory. “Sometimes an ugly win is just as important for the three points,” Shaw said. “We just have to keep going.” SD

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6Villa left to rue lack of clinical edgeSunday’s goalless encounter between Aston Villa and Leicester at Villa Park was a prime example of two sides struggling to kickstart their season. Although there have been some positive signs in the first few weeks for the respective managers, Robert de Pauw and Amandine Miquel, this display illustrated how neither team have been able to find their feet. The hosts will be the more frustrated – they had more possession and creativity but lacked a clinical edge. Of the 16 chances they produced, only four were on target. It was marginally better than Leicester’s sole opportunity and the Foxes will be particularly grateful to their goalkeeper, Janina Leitzig. Her brilliant injury-time stop to deny Anna Patten ensured her team returned home with an important point, a foundation from which to build. SD
Pos Team P GD Pts 1 Man City Women 4 4 10 2 Chelsea Women 3 9 9 3 Man Utd Women 3 7 9 4 Brighton & Hove Albion Women 4 6 9 5 Liverpool FC Women 4 0 5 6 Arsenal Women 4 0 5 7 Tottenham Hotspur Women 4 0 4 8 Crystal Palace Women 4 -10 3 9 Aston Villa Women 4 -3 2 10 Leicester Women 4 -3 2 11 West Ham Women 4 -5 2 12 Everton Women 4 -5 2