Enyimba and Dolphins reach Federation Cup final

GOAL.COM

The two NPFL giants saw off the challenge of Giwa and Prime in Thursday’s matches to set up a tantalizing final match for August 16 in Lagos

Enyimba and Dolphinshave both reached the Federation Cup final after defeating Giwa FC and Prime FC by identical 1-0 margins in Thursday’s semi finals.

The two favourites will now face each other in the final on August 16 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Cameroonian forward Raphael Boumsong scored the lone goal for Enyimba at the Gateway Stadium in Abeokuta while Ebube Opokwu’s goal helped Dolphins to victory at the Fifa Goal Project pitch in Abuja.

Giwa and Prime each had a man sent off during the game. The Jos Elephants lost the services of Ifeanyi Anaemena for his poor tackle on the Aba Millionaires’ Chinonso Okonkwo.

The Ogbomosho side also had Abdullah Fatai sent off as their fairy tale run came to an end.

The Aba Elephants now have an opportunity to win back to back titles on August 16 when they face Dolphins who have reached the final for the first time in seven years.

Mourinho: Lukaku didn't want to fight for Chelsea career

GOAL.COM

The Portuguese coach has claimed that he allowed the striker to leave Stamford Bridge because of the Belgium international's unwillingness to prove his worth to him

Jose Mourinho has suggested that Romelu Lukaku lacked motivation at Chelsea prior to his €35 million move to Everton.

The Belgium international was unveiled as a Toffees player on Wednesday, Everton having agreed to pay a club-record fee to acquire the 21-year-old, who scored 15 goals during his original loan stay at Goodison Park in 2013-14.

And Mourinho has explained his reasons for allowing the prodigious youngster to leave, claiming he lacked the drive to become the club's first-choice striker.

“The thinking was, first of all, the fact that Romelu was always very clear with us that in his mentality and his approach he was not highly motivated to come to a competitive situation at Chelsea,” he said.

“He wanted to play for Chelsea but clearly only as the first choice striker - and at a club of our dimension it’s very difficult to promise a player that status.

“That reduced, immediately, his desire to come to us. After that Everton came with an important offer and because we want to be inside the Financial Fair Play rules, you have to analyse these situations.”

Chelsea spent €40m to sign Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid earlier this summer and also lured fan favourite Didier Drogba back to the club, thus pushing Lukaku down the pecking order.

And the striker has no regrets over his decision to leave the Blues, claiming Everton is the “best place to grow and develop as a footballer.”

“Roberto has been very influential in the deal,” he added at his unveiling. “He is someone who knows football and I want to learn from him and develop under him. He challenged me personally.

“I told him very quickly that I wanted to play under him. The rest was set up by the board and my agent. Now that I’m here I want to help my teammates.

“I decided very quickly that I wanted to come back here. I am 21, I need to play at a high level and with a good team. I needed to be in a place that felt right.

“I have the trust of the supporters here. I can grow and develop. I came back because I have a very good relationship with the players and the staff. I feel like I belong. 

"I haven’t seen any of the lads but I have been in touch with all of them over the last two months.”

Mourinho rules out Chelsea exit for Torres

GOAL.COM

With the Blues squad containing one too many foreign players, it had been speculated that the much-maligned striker would leave - but his manager wants to call upon three strikers

Jose Mourinho insists Fernando Torres will not be leaving Chelsea despite the club needing to lose an overseas player.

Premier League rules state that a 25-man squad must consist of no more than 17 foreign players, but Chelsea have one extra following the arrivals of Diego Costa, Didier Drogba, Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis.

Englishman Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole both left in the close-season, while Gary Cahill was the last high-profile home-grown player to join, but Mourinho is not interested in selling the much-maligned Torres.

"Three strikers is fundamental in the squad and we have three," he told Sky Sports News.

"'Nando [Torres] is one of them. We have a good squad. The perfect squad would be with this 18 players, not 17, but rules are rules and we are working hard, even here, to not have these kind of problems in the future.

"[We want] to have more English players in our squad which we are going to have in the future but in this moment we are still in the middle of this process.

"So at the moment we have to make a decision about one player not to be on that list."

Courtney Dike's brace inspires Falconets 4-3 comeback win

GOAL.COM

Peter Dedevbo’s girls incredibly recovered from three goals down to beat a Moncton-based age-grade male team to confirm their readiness for the World Cup in Canada

US-based Courtney Dike grabbed a brace in the Falconets' 4-3 comeback victory over Codiac AAA U16 boys in a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup preparatory friendly match at the Ricky Stone pitch, Moncton on Thursday.

A brace from Dike and a goal each from Halima Ayinde and Asisat Oshoala ensured the Falconets came out triumphant in their first warm-up match since arriving Canada on Sunday.

The Falconets began the encounter on the back foot as goals from Heritier Massimengo, Jonathan Kalulumia and Mariam Ibrahim’s own goal provided the hosts with a 3-0 lead in the first half.

Miraculously, the African ladies levelled up in the second half thanks to three successive penalties converted by the Falconets’ trio of Oshoala, Halima and Dike.

Luckily, the winning goal came through Dike at the final moments of the encounter to ensure 4-3 victory over the U16 male team.

Falconets’ head coach Peter Dedevbo singled out Oklahoma State University attacker Courtney for praises, stressing that his girls are ready for the tournament.

“It [was] a good match for the girls. It shows a sign of players that are ready for the world. The player from USA performed beyond my expectations.

“I liked the game as the young boys put the girls on their toes,” the team’s media officer Elizabeth Kar quoted the coach as saying.

Dedevbo further disclosed that the team will face an unnamed U16 boys before the competition starts.

The Falconets will open their campaign against Mexico on Wednesday August 6.

Courtney Dike's brace inspires Falconets 4-3 comeback win

GOAL.COM

Peter Dedevbo’s girls incredibly recovered from three goals down to beat a Moncton-based age-grade male team to confirm their readiness for the World Cup in Canada

US-based Courtney Dike grabbed a brace in the Falconets' 4-3 comeback victory over Codiac AAA U16 boys in a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup preparatory friendly match at the Ricky Stone pitch, Moncton on Thursday.

A brace from Dike and a goal each from Halima Ayinde and Asisat Oshoala ensured the Falconets came out triumphant in their first warm-up match since arriving Canada on Sunday.

The Falconets began the encounter on the back foot as goals from Heritier Massimengo, Jonathan Kalulumia and Mariam Ibrahim’s own goal provided the hosts with a 3-0 lead in the first half.

Miraculously, the African ladies levelled up in the second half thanks to three successive penalties converted by the Falconets’ trio of Oshoala, Halima and Dike.

Luckily, the winning goal came through Dike at the final moments of the encounter to ensure 4-3 victory over the U16 male team.

Falconets’ head coach Peter Dedevbo singled out Oklahoma State University attacker Courtney for praises, stressing that his girls are ready for the tournament.

“It [was] a good match for the girls. It shows a sign of players that are ready for the world. The player from USA performed beyond my expectations.

“I liked the game as the young boys put the girls on their toes,” the team’s media officer Elizabeth Kar quoted the coach as saying.

Dedevbo further disclosed that the team will face an unnamed U16 boys before the competition starts.

The Falconets will open their campaign against Mexico on Wednesday August 6.

Courtney Dike's brace inspires Falconets 4-3 comeback win

GOAL.COM

Peter Dedevbo’s girls incredibly recovered from three goals down to beat a Moncton-based age-grade male team to confirm their readiness for the World Cup in Canada

US-based Courtney Dike grabbed a brace in the Falconets' 4-3 comeback victory over Codiac AAA U16 boys in a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup preparatory friendly match at the Ricky Stone pitch, Moncton on Thursday.

A brace from Dike and a goal each from Halima Ayinde and Asisat Oshoala ensured the Falconets came out triumphant in their first warm-up match since arriving Canada on Sunday.

The Falconets began the encounter on the back foot as goals from Heritier Massimengo, Jonathan Kalulumia and Mariam Ibrahim’s own goal provided the hosts with a 3-0 lead in the first half.

Miraculously, the African ladies levelled up in the second half thanks to three successive penalties converted by the Falconets’ trio of Oshoala, Halima and Dike.

Luckily, the winning goal came through Dike at the final moments of the encounter to ensure 4-3 victory over the U16 male team.

Falconets’ head coach Peter Dedevbo singled out Oklahoma State University attacker Courtney for praises, stressing that his girls are ready for the tournament.

“It [was] a good match for the girls. It shows a sign of players that are ready for the world. The player from USA performed beyond my expectations.

“I liked the game as the young boys put the girls on their toes,” the team’s media officer Elizabeth Kar quoted the coach as saying.

Dedevbo further disclosed that the team will face an unnamed U16 boys before the competition starts.

The Falconets will open their campaign against Mexico on Wednesday August 6.

Nasarawa Impeachment: APC condemns PDP lawmakers for seeking dissolution of investigative panel -

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The APC said the call is “unreasonable, unconstitutional and way too late.” The All Progressives Congress, APC, has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members of the Nasarawa House of Assembly for demanding the dissolution of the seven-member panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe the impeachment charges against Governor Umaru Al-Makura. The APC said the call is “unreasonable, unconstitutional and way too late.” In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the demand by the lawmakers shows they either have a very poor understanding of the constitution or they are blinded by their desperation to impeach Mr. Al-Makura. ”Either way, they have boxed themselves into a tight corner. Holding an illegal sitting in Abuja with a fake mace is as ridiculous as the demand by the lawmakers for the dissolution of the panel set up by the Chief Judge. ”Section 188 (5) of the Constitution is clear: ‘Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall, at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provided in this section’. ”It is important to point out to the desperate lawmakers that the key words in that section is that the Chief Judge must appoint persons WHO IN HIS OPINION (emphasis ours) are of unquestionable integrity. At this juncture, it is neither the opinion of the Speaker nor that of the legislators that counts; it is the opinion of the Chief Judge. ”Therefore, neither the Speaker, the lawmakers nor the Chief Judge can dissolve the panel at this stage, and none of them can stop the impeachment process. Once the Chief Judge has appointed the panel under section 188 (5), he becomes ‘functus officio’, that is he has no further powers on the matter. This is the situation of things at present and the lawmakers can only await the report of the panel,” it said. The APC said it was not surprised by the ‘unwarranted and illegal’ call for the dissolution of the panel by the PDP members of the Nasarawa legislature, because, according to it, that call falls within the realm of the runaway impunity for which the PDP and the Jonathan Administration have become infamous. ”The Jonathan Administration, for one, is always scoring a first in the area of impunity. This is the first time in the history of our democracy that a House of Assembly is seeking to dissolve the panel of seven judges it requested to be set up. This is unacceptable and it will not fly. ”What the House is suffering from now is called boomerang. Against sound advice, it went ahead to initiate the impeachment process. Well, it must now follow it to its logical conclusion. The Chief Judge cannot be made to dissolve the seven-man panel because he simply lacks the power to so do,” the party said. The 19 PDP members of the 24-member Assembly had rejected the seven-member panel and asked the chief judge to dissolve it and reconstitute another one. 

Nigerians spend N1.8 billion on sports betting daily – NAN Investigation

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Mr. Ajekigbe said that about 60 million Nigerians placed bets on different matches daily across the country.

About 60 million Nigerians between 18 and 40 years of age may be spending up to N1.8 billion on sports betting daily, investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria reveals.

The investigation showed that they commit on the average N3,000 on sports betting daily.

Dotun Ajekigbe, a sports betting analyst, said that sport betting though risky was also rewarding.

Mr. Ajekigbe said that about 60 million Nigerians placed bets on different matches daily across the country.

He said that most unemployed youth have taken to online and other forms of sports betting to make a living.

According to him, from findings this group of people stake an average of N3,000 daily.

“Sport betting is gambling, not investing in bank shares. But almost everything in life is a gamble, more so with money matters. With gambling comes risks because it not 100 per cent guaranteed.

“However, you can dramatically reduce your risks by taking calculated risks only.

“When you take calculated risks, you base your decisions on sound research and evidence, not intuition.

“Sport betting is by chance. The better informed the player is, the better the chance he/she has of making money,” he said.

Ambrose Obialor, who runs Yobo Viewing Centre, Lagos, says that some people bet between N2,000, N10,000 and above, depending on the individual.

He said that some people denied themselves of food after spending all they had on a bet.

Afeez Adigun, an agent for 1960 Bet Company, Lagos, said that between 200 and 300 people visit his office to place bets on match days during football seasons while about 150 people bet at off-seasons.

According to him, a betting company can generate up to N20 million monthly and use between N5 million and N7 million to meet winners obligations in terms of payment.

He also described sports’ betting as very risky but highly rewarding business.

A representative of another betting company, Betting World, who did not want his name mentioned, said that sport betting companies have employed about 50 youth in Lagos.

He also said that betting outlets were always filled with countless young people between ages 18 and 40 who come to place their bets.

The representative said that most people borrow as much as 10,000 for their daily stakes, stressing that some of them win, while others lose but returned for the next day’s betting.

He said that most people did not like to place bets on Nigerian matches because they were highly predictable.

Lanre Gbajabiamila, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Lottery Board, said the lottery industry was very risky but also lucrative.

Mr. Gbajabiamila said that the board generated about N1 million in 2013 from about 11 sport betting companies in the state. He added that more revenue could be generated with more investment to develop the industry.

“The state government has been making efforts to provide an enabling environment for the lottery industry but only 40 per cent of the industry had been tapped into.

“We urge the Federal Government to create a more enabling environment for operators in the industry to increase revenue and create jobs for youths.

“The major needs of the operators are improved electricity and internet provision to boost the business,” he said.

He restated the commitment of the board to rid the state of illegal lottery operators.

EXCLUSIVE: How We’ll Fight Military Onslaught On Us – Sheikh El-Zakzaky -

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The sect was on a procession to mark the annual Quds day in Zaria when soldiers reportedly shot at them. But military authorities say the incident will be investigated before apportioning blames  Islamic cleric and leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has said his group would employ legitimate peaceful and legal means to challenge the killing of 35 of its members by the Nigerian military last Friday rather than resort to violence like the extremist Boko Haram sect. He said although the group was still bitter over the incident, it had accepted the incident as a spiritual test of the group and its leader. Mr. El-Zakzaky described Islam as a religion of peace and said being a movement of peace, his organisation would never be provoked into taking arms against the Nigerian state and its innocent citizens. The Islamic Movement of Nigeria is far too peaceful, mature and organised to take the law into its hand to foment trouble, he said. According to him, rather than resort to violence which could have fatal consequences on the country the group would take its case to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and other civl rights bodies for redress. The organisation will also seek legal redress in court if necessary, the Islamic cleric said. “We are very angry,” Mr. El-Zakzaky told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Wednesday. “Thirty-five members of our organisations were murdered by the military. It was a peaceful procession but they shot at our members unprovoked. “But in spite of the tragedy, we will remain peaceful. Islam is a religion of peace. And we are organised. We are matured, and nobody can provoke us into violence.” When asked if his angry members won’t be provoked into descending on the country like the Boko Haram sect, the cleric said his members are aware of examples of past Islamic prophets and leaders who were spiritually tested in various ways but who did not resort to violence or ungodly conducts. The Boko Haram sect took up arms against the Nigerian state when its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was extrajudicially murdered by the Nigeria Police. “So many things like that have happened to great servants of Allah in the past. Imam Khomeini’s (of Iran) sons were also killed, but he never lost focus. We will never lose focus. Why should we be provoked? We don’t attack, we only talk about faith and what we stand for. We are a peaceful people and no one can accuse us of ever instigating violence.” Members of the sect were on a procession to mark the annual Quds day in Zaria when soldiers reportedly shot at them at the popular PZ roundabout in the city. The crisis started when the soldiers allegedly tried to disperse the sect, which was denouncing Israeli’s attacks on Gaza. Mr. Zakzaky’s three biological sons, Mahmud, Ahmad and Hamid as well as 32 other members of the Islamic Movement were shot dead. Mahmud was a student of Almustapha University, Beirut, Ahmad a Chemical Engineering student of Shenyang University, China and Hamid an Aeronautical Engineering student of Xiang University, also in China. A fourth son of the cleric, Ali, was shot in the leg. He survived, and is in hospital. Mr. El-Zakzaky however told PREMIUM TIMES that five days after the incident neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor agents of the Federal Government has made public statements on the matter. “The government is yet to contact me. As you know the President is yet to make any public statement on the matter. The Minister of Defence is also yet to do that. What has happened has happened. And people have been coming to see me,” he said. He explained that his group was on a peaceful procession that day and did not in anyway provoke the soldiers. However, Defence spokesman, Chris Olukolade, a major general said the military would investigate the matter to establish who was wrong. He said soldiers do not take delight in killing anybody. Mr. Olukolade added, “The people from within that crowd shot at soldiers. We don’t want to be drawn into any controversy.  We are interested in ascertaining what really happened.” The defence spokesperson however rejected Mr. El-Zakzaky’s claim that the military and the government had not reached out to him. “On the day of the incident, the officers in Zaria met him, had discussions with him and even exchanged telephone numbers with him,” Mr. Olukolade said. “And we have since said we need to investigate what really happened that day so we know how to proceed.” When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said it was not true that the federal government had not contacted Mr. El-Zakzaky. “That’s not true,” Mr. Abati said. “The incident occured on Friday. The National Security Adviser contacted him on Saturday and condoled him. He also assured him that the incident would be thoroughly investigated. 

Ebola crisis: WHO to announce $100m emergency response

BBC NEWS

The head of the World Health Organization and leaders of West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak are to announce a joint $100m (£59m; 75m euro) response plan.

They will meet in Guinea on Friday to launch the initiative aimed at tackling a virus which has claimed 729 lives.

Sierra Leone's president has declared a public health emergency over the outbreak after 233 people died there.

Ebola spreads through human contact with a sufferer's bodily fluids.

Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.

Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected, with patients having a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.

'A new level'

WHO Director General Margaret Chan will meet West African presidents in the Guinean capital Conakry.

"The scale of the Ebola outbreak, and the persistent threat it poses, requires WHO and Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to take the response to a new level, and this will require increased resources, in-country medical expertise, regional preparedness and coordination," she said in a statement on Thursday.

"The countries have identified what they need, and WHO is reaching out to the international community to drive the response plan forward."

Key elements of the WHO's new plan are:

• Stopping transmission in the affected countries through "scaling up effective, evidence-based outbreak control measures"

• Preventing the spread of Ebola to "the neighbouring at-risk countries through strengthening epidemic preparedness and response measures"

Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma announced earlier that the epicentres of the outbreak in the east would be quarantined and he asked the security forces to enforce the measures.

Ebola virus disease (EVD)

• Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
• Fatality rate can reach 90%
• Incubation period is two to 21 days
• There is no vaccine or cure
• Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
• Fruit bats are considered to be virus' natural host

Gaza UN shelter attack 'totally unacceptable' - White House

BBC NEWS

The US has said the shelling of a UN shelter in Gaza is "totally unacceptable and totally indefensible".

In its strongest criticism yet of Israel's offensive in Gaza, the US also said the civilian casualties were "too high", and called on Israel to do more to protect civilian life.

The UN has also criticised Israel over the worsening situation in Gaza, saying people there are "facing a precipice".

Some 425,000 Palestinians have been displaced by fighting, the UN says.

Meanwhile a senior Israeli official told the BBC that the army had "neutralised" 70-80% of Hamas' offensive tunnel network into Israel.

Israel says it will not stop its operation in Gaza until all the tunnels - which militants use to infiltrate Israeli territory - have been destroyed.

Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on 8 July, 1,400 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

It said 173 people had been killed within the past 24 hours.

Some 58 Israelis have been killed in total, 56 soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died.

BREAKING NEWS

Local media

EBOLA VIRUS Victim found in Anambra State Nigeria

BREAKING NEWS

There could be up to 80 bodies still at MH17 crash site in Ukraine, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop tells CNN. 

Israel 'to destroy' Hamas Gaza tunnels - Netanyahu

BBC NEWS

Israel will not stop its operation in Gaza until the tunnels constructed by Hamas have been destroyed, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

Speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting, he said Israel was determined to destroy the tunnels - used to attack troops and towns - "with or without a ceasefire".

Some 425,000 people in Gaza have been displaced by fighting, the UN says.

That is as much as 25% of the population of the territory.

Israel began Operation Protective Edge on 8 July. Since then 1,390 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Some 58 Israelis have been killed, of which 56 were soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died.

Earlier on Thursday Israel called up 16,000 reservists, fuelling speculation that the ground campaign would be widened.

But the Israeli army told the BBC that the new reservists would relieve a similar number who were standing down.

The army said a total of 59,000 reservists were deployed in Gaza.

Tunnel threat

The operation began with a focus on Hamas' rocket-launching capability, but has since expanded to take in the threat from tunnels.

After air strikes began, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered an extensive network of tunnels leading from Gaza into Israel.

Hamas militants have launched several attacks from the tunnels, killing a number of Israeli soldiers.

Reports from Israel suggest the discovery of the tunnels - and the reality that infiltrators have used them to kill Israelis inside their own country - has shocked many Israelis and bolstered support for the operation.

It launched a ground operation to destroy the tunnels on the night of 17 July, and insists that any ceasefire deal includes the right to continue that mission.

"I won't agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel's security," Mr Netanyahu said.

The tunnels would allow Hamas to "abduct and murder civilians and IDF soldiers while simultaneously attacking from the tunnels penetrating our territory," he added.

Gaza 'desperate'

In Gaza, Israeli shelling continued on Thursday morning, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports.

Meanwhile, a series of rocket alert sirens sounded across southern Israel. Sirens in the town of Sderot sounded several times as Mr Netanyahu spoke.

Civilians in Gaza are braced for more strikes after a deadly day on Wednesday that saw more than 100 people die.

In the most controversial incident at least 16 people were killed when shells hit a UN-run school in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City.

The US and UN condemned the strike, with the UN secretary general saying "all available evidence" suggested Israeli artillery was the cause.

Spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC that Israel would apologise if it discovered it was responsible.

"We have a policy - we don't target civilians," he said.

"It's not clear to us that it was our fire but we know for a fact there was hostile fire on our people from the vicinity of the school."

Later on Wednesday at least 17 were killed in a strike on a busy market in Shejaiya - a district already badly damaged by Israeli artillery.

Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005.

Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border.

Hamas says it will not stop fighting until a blockade, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, is lifted.

England v India: Moeen Ali takes 6-67 as hosts win to level series

BBC NEWS

England ended a year-long wait for a Test win by wrapping up a 266-run victory over India in the third Test at Southampton.

After setting the tourists 445 to win, England took the six wickets required on the final day to bowl the tourists out for 178 and end a 10-match winless run.

Moeen Ali claimed his first Test-match five-wicket haul to finish with 6-47, while James Anderson picked up 2-24.

The result levels the five-match series at 1-1 going into the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which begins next Thursday.

The win also represents a personal triumph for home captain Alastair Cook, who had faced calls to quit after the second Test defeat at Lord's amid his own and his team's poor run of form.

Cook responded with 95 in the first innings and an unbeaten 70 in the second, while there were also strong showings from a trio of underperforming senior players - a century from Ian Bell and a combined 10 wickets for Anderson and Stuart Broad in the match.

Along with Joe Root, they are the only men who survive from England's previous win, which came in the fourth Test against Australia at Chester-le-Street in August 2013.

England's wait for a Test win since August 2013
5th Test v Aus (h) drawn	5th Test v Aus (a) lost by 281 runs
1st Test v Aus (a) lost by 381 runs	1st Test v SL (h) drawn
2nd Test v Aus (a) lost by 218 runs	2nd Test v SL (h) lost by 100 runs
3rd Test v Aus (a) lost by 150 runs	1st Test v India (h) drawn
4th Test v Aus (a) lost by 8 wkts	2nd Test v India (h) lost by 95 runs

While that victory sealed a third consecutive Ashes triumph for an experienced outfit accustomed to winning, this is a welcome success for a transitional team containing six members who had never been on the right end of a Test result.

Although the visitors been reduced to 112-4 last night, England might still have had concerns about India's long batting line-up - particularly as the home side themselves came within two balls of saving the second Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley in June after beginning the last day on 57-5.

But Anderson struck early to allay any fears, before Moeen took charge to spin England to victory.

Anderson faces an International Cricket Council hearing on Friday,where he will be banned for a minimum of two Tests if he is found guilty of pushing and verbally abusing India's Ravindra Jadeja during the first Test at Trent Bridge.

Swinging the ball at a full length, he provided a perfect illustration of the threat England would miss as, in the second over the day, he induced a thin edge from Rohit Sharma which was taken by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Four overs later, the Lancashire paceman produced an exact copy, which Mahendra Dhoni poked through to Buttler.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special
Listen to Geoffrey Boycott and Jonathan Agnew review the day on the TMS podcast
"That's the most remarkable turnaround in a week. The key was batting first and getting a good score - get runs on the board and scoreboard pressure is there. Jimmy Anderson was magnificent. He led the attack but they have all played their part. The senior players who had poor Tests at Lord's all arrived this week, and Buttler brought life to this team."

At the other end, Ajinkya Rahane was providing calm resistance to end unbeaten on 52, although he could do no more than look on as Moeen ran through the lower order.

Jadeja was bowled playing over a full delivery before, four balls on, Bhuvneshwar Kumar inside-edged on to his leg to be caught by Anderson, who had just been placed at gully.

Moeen, deceiving the tourists with variations of pace, length and flight, continued a remarkable spell of three wickets for one run in 12 balls by zipping one through the defence of Mohammed Shami.

England were briefly held up by the completion of Rahane's half-century and last man Pankaj Singh's slogging but, when Moeen skidded a straight one in to Pankaj's off stump, Cook and his men were able to celebrate victory for the first time in 354 days.

James Anderson struck twice early on, removing Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Dhoni cheaply

Ravindra Jadeja resisted for a while but was bowled to give Moeen Ali his fourth wicket of the innings

The victory was wrapped up 12 minutes before the scheduled lunch interval as the series was levelled at 1-1 with two Tests remaining

Attention now turns to Anderson, who faces a suspension if he is found guilty at an ICC misconduct hearing on Friday

Sierra Leone declares Ebola public health emergency

BBC NEWS 

Sierra Leone's president has declared a public health emergency to curb the deadly Ebola outbreak.

Ernest Bai Koroma said the epicentres of the outbreak in the east would be quarantined and asked the security forces to enforce the measures.

The UN says 729 people in West Africa have died of Ebola since February - 233 of them in Sierra Leone.

This includes Dr Sheik Umar Khan who led Sierra Leone's fight against the virus. His funeral is on Thursday.

Ebola is spread through human contact with an infected person's bodily fluids.

Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.

Airport screening

As part of the new measures to contain the viral haemorrhagic fever, travellers at airports will have to wash their hands with disinfectant and have their temperatures checked, President Koroma said in a statement.

All deaths must also be reported to the authorities before burial, he said.

His measures - to remain in place for between 60 and 90 days - follow tough anti-Ebola policies introduced this week in neighbouring Liberia, where schools have been closed and some communities are to be quarantined.

Both President Koroma and his Liberian counterpart Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have cancelled visits to Washington for the US-Africa summit next week because of the crisis.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia is to begin screening all passengers arriving from West Africa and Kenya has stepped up surveillance at all ports of entry.

In a statement, Ethiopian Airlines said ground and on-board staff would have also been sensitised on how to handle suspected cases of the virus.

Doctors educate volunteers on how to use protective equipment to avoid catching the virus in Liberia

However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday that it was not recommending any travel restrictions or border closures after consulting the World Health Organization, according to Reuters.

Any risks would be low in the rare event of an Ebola sufferer travelling by air, it adds.

Earlier this week, two airlines - Asky, a regional carrier, and Nigeria's Arik Air - suspended flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone Ebola doctor: "National hero"

Sheik Umar Khan, 39, was a leading doctor specialising in viral haemorrhagic fever who died after contracting Ebola while treating patients. When it was announced that he had been infected, the health minister called him a "national hero" for his tireless work.

"He'd become a real figurehead for the Ebola response so there's a sense of deep sadness in what's a very small community here in Freetown," his colleague Dr Oliver Johnson said.

"When the news first broke that he was sick, I think it added to fears amongst the many doctors and nurses about treating Ebola patients. People thought, if even Dr Khan can get sick, then any of us can get sick."

Profile: Dr Sheik Umar Khan

The outbreak - the world's deadliest to date - was first reported in Guinea in February. It then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone, and a person who travelled from Liberia to Nigeria died of the virus shortly after arriving in Lagos last week.

Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.

President Koroma said that in Sierra Leone there had been more than 130 survivors of the disease.

"This is why it is very necessary to get those with the virus to treatment centres not only to prevent others from contracting the virus, but also increasing their own chances of survival," he said.

Ebola virus disease (EVD)

• Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
• Fatality rate can reach 90%
• Incubation period is two to 21 days
• There is no vaccine or cure
• Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
• Fruit bats are considered to be virus' natural host