Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus waiting on Covid-19 test result ahead of Barcelona tie


Ronaldo last played for Juventus on 27 September, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw with Roma

Juventus are waiting on a Covid-19 test result to see if Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for their Champions League match against Barcelona on Wednesday.

Ronaldo, 35, has been self-isolating since testing positive for the virus on 13 Octoberand recorded another positive result last week.

#bbcsports

Manchester City: How front three set tone for dominant Champions League display in Marseille

Manchester City have had plenty of problems to deal with in the opening weeks of the season so their performance in Tuesday's win over Marseille was exactly what they needed.

Some patchy form has seen City drop points in three of their first five Premier League games, and they were without any fit strikers in France after injuries to Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.



But Pep Guardiola's side responded with an impressive display in a comfortable 3-0 victory that keeps them top of Group C and, as well as the result, there were plenty of positives all over the pitch.

No trouble this time vs five at the backThe graphic on the left shows where Marseille won the ball back - only three of their successful tackles (green triangles), interceptions (blue) and ball recoveries (yellow) took place in the City half. In contrast, 37% (23/62) of City's successful challenges took place in the Marseille half, including when Kevin de Bruyne (17) won possession on the edge of the home side's area to set up his side's first goal.

I was really impressed by the intensity of the whole City team against Marseille, and I think the way they went after the French side had a lot to do with their front three.

Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres and Phil Foden set the tone from the start with their energy, with and without the ball, and their dynamism helped City impose themselves on the game right from the start.

Yes, Marseille sat in and stayed deep with five at the back so a lot of the game was being played in their half, but what was noticeable was how fast the turnover was whenever City lost possession.

How far did City force Marseille's back-five back? During the first half, the average position of the touches of all 11 Marseille players was inside their own half. In contrast, even City's centre-backs Aymeric Laporte (14) and Ruben Dias (3) were near the halfway line.

They would react quickly and win the ball back because of the pressure they put Marseille under - and they scored their first goal by forcing a mistake on the edge of the home side's area.

It was very different to the way they struggled to make inroads against a similar formation in the first half of their draw with West Ham at the weekend - when Foden and Torres were both on the bench.

Heat maps of City's possession in the first half of their games against West Ham (left) and Marseille (right). City had 66% of possession before the break against the Hammers and 68.2% against Marseille - but they operated much higher up the pitch against the French side.No false nine role for Torres

To see Torres leading the line this time was a surprise, because I thought Sterling would get the job - and the Spaniard was no false nine either - his role was something different, which again was a bit unexpected.

Pep told him to go and stand on the shoulder of the Marseille centre-halves and use his pace try to get in behind their defence when he could.

It made perfect sense with Kevin de Bruyne on the pitch, because with a false nine who is dropping deep, the opposition defence can push right up, reducing the space for De Bruyne to operate in.

Instead, having someone fast playing as an actual number nine stretched the play and gave De Bruyne more room to maraud around in.

Torres did well in an unfamiliar position and the only thing I felt he was lacking was in the hold-up play City would get from Aguero or Jesus - although he did get better at it in the second half.

I'm not sure having him in that position would ever be seen as a long-term answer, but it certainly worked against Marseille.

I actually think Guardiola will mix things up with his attack while he is without Aguero and Jesus in the next few weeks, whether it's with Sterling in an identical role to the one Torres played here, or as a false nine.

In the past Pep has used De Bruyne further forward on his own, or along with Bernardo Silva, so he has plenty of options.

Sterling, for example, can play anywhere across that front three. Pep regularly plays him on the left so he can cut inside on to his right to finish, or allow space for his full-back to drive wide around him.

He is very good at it, but I enjoying seeing him on the right against Marseille and he had a productive evening.

De Bruyne made 58 passes against Marseille and 47 of them were successful (green arrows) including his two assists (blue arrows)

De Bruyne was also a pleasure to watch, on his first start for City since 3 October.

Without him, they have not been quite as good as usual going forward in recent weeks but, when he is fully fit and playing like this, they have nothing to worry about in attack.

A slick team performance

City's defence has been seen as suspect for a while now but they were so comfortable for the first hour or so on Tuesday that their centre-back pairing Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias could have put their slippers on.

It took Marseille until the final half hour to work out how to get past City's press but, when they did, Laporte and Dias were ready.

Dias made a couple of really important clearing headers when dangerous balls were put into the City area, and it was a really good sign that he did not let his concentration levels drop after such an easy opening to the game.

City are 13th in the Premier League after two wins, two draws and a defeat in their first five games but they are top of their Champions League group after beating Porto 3-1 and Marseille 3-0

Every City player had that kind of focus, though, and there just seemed a really nice balance to the whole team.

Once they realised Marseille were not coming out of their own half, Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko were allowed to get forward and join in with the attack.

It turned into a very slick team performance. In total, 760 of City's 821 passes were successful, which shows just how good they were, collectively as well as individually.

You have to remember that Marseille had lost their previous 10 Champions League games, so this was a game City were expected to win - but they made it look very easy.

#bbsports

Fact Check On Rumours Of President Buhari Being Fake

The absence of President Muhammadu Buhari in some situations coupled with his silence on salient issues have continued to fuel claims that he is 'dead' and has been replaced with a look-alike impostor from Sudan. Mr Buhari was terribly sick in 2017 till the point of spending three months medical leave in London. Members of the opposition and fake news peddlers rumoured that he died in London.

Some conspiracy theories were concocted to support the claims. Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of a secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPO has been at the forefront of pushing the narrative of cloning.

Comparing pictures and videos of Mr Buhari before and after the controversial medical leave, Mr Kanu pointed out some physical features of the President that have changed, suggesting a stronger backing of the cloning story. Several fact-checks done by Africa Check, Dubawa and AFP in the past have debunked these photos and had discredited the narrative propagated by the secessionist leader.

Meanwhile, in the build-up of the 2019 General election, President Buhari denied claims that he had died and was replaced by a Sudanese impostor. “It’s the real me, I assure you. I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I will still go strong,” Buhari told Nigerians in a town hall session in Poland, where he was attending a conference.

While everyone expected that his response had laid all controversies to rest, the claim resurfaced again, however in a new form.

How controversial claim resurfaced

During the heat of the #endsars protests that saw to the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian police, notorious for brutality, the already-laid-to-rest claim surfaced online.

It however went viral when some unarmed protesters were shot by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos state. Many were reported dead and scores sustained injuries. Prominent figures across the globe including the former US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, condemned the shooting.

However, it took President Buhari more than 24 hours to address this burning issue. In fact, in his eventual address, the President kept mum on the shooting of the unarmed protesters. In respect to this, many criticised his silence and chided the Presidency for being insensitive to the plight of the people.

Alongside the criticism was a viral video insinuating that Mr Buhari is 'dead' and African leaders paid a tribute by declaring a one-minute silence to mourn his demise.

According to the video, the leaders under the auspices of the African Union (AU) did this at its 28th ordinary session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).

The 55 seconds video clip captioned "AU leaders observe a minute silence for late President Muhammadu Buhari" was first posted on November 18, 2018, via Biafra Today, a YouTube channel linked to IPOB.

The video has so far garnered over 143,000 views and has generated varying reactions from viewers.

Also, several social media and blogs have published the same claim, referencing the Biafra Today video.

Verification

POLITICS NIGERIA in its support for accuracy and accountability in the media fact-checked the video. The footage is an edited motion graphics video containing still images and texts. While the picture might show an ongoing AU meeting, there was no evidence as to what was going on when the images were captured.

Also, the meeting of the Assembly in January 2017 was the 28th Ordinary session that was scheduled to run from January 22-31, 2017.

According to page 2 of the Guide for the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, which highlighted the programme of events, the Ordinary Session of the Assembly was held at the Nelson Mandela Hall from January 30 – 31 and not in February, as contained in the video.

Moreover, in the minute of the summit published on its official website, Mr Buhari’s name was never mentioned.

"Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 January 2017- The 28th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), officially opened today at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a strong call for unity to uphold the maintenance of peace and stability in the continent."

"The Nelson Mandela plenary hall was full to capacity with delegates and special invitees coming to witness the important event. They heard from distinguished speakers who took their turn on the podium to enlighten the world on the progress made so far in the continent and some of the challenges that Africa faces, as well as proposals for the way forward."

"The event this year is held under the AU theme: “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth”, " the minute read.

While Mr Buhari could not attend the summit because of ill-health, every other summit after the January 2017 edition was graced by Mr. Buhari.

In fact, it should be recalled that, on July 4, 2017, six months after the January summit, during the 29th Session of the AU, African leaders unanimously endorsed President Buhari to champion the fight against corruption on the continent.

Again, earlier this year, President Buhari was present at the 33rd Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

VERDICT

Politics Nigeria concludes that for want of evidence, veracity of previous fact checks and President Buhari's consistent denial of being replaced by an existing Sudanese impostor, the CLAIM is FALSE.

#punchng

FG Begins Payment Of N30,000 Grants To Artisans 

The Presidency on Tuesday said the payment of N30,000 one-time grant to 330,000 artisans across the country under the Economic Sustainability Plan has commenced.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled “Payment of N30,000 grants to 330,000 artisans under ESP begins.”

Akande said the payments were being made to sets of verified beneficiaries of the Artisan Support Scheme, a track under the MSMEs Survival Fund.

The statement read, “In the first stream of payments starting today (Tuesday), beneficiaries are being drawn from the FCT, Lagos, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, Kano, Bauchi, Anambra, Abia, Rivers, Plateau and Delta States.

“They form the first batch of applications for the scheme submitted between October 1 and October 10.

“The MSMEs Survival Fund scheme is a component of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan which was developed by an Economic Sustainability Committee established by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2020. The President asked his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to head the committee which produced and is overseeing the implementation of the plan.

“Under the ESP, the Survival Fund is generally designed to among other things, support vulnerable MSMEs in meeting their different obligations and safeguard jobs in the sector.”

Akande added that enumeration for the second stream of states under the scheme has also commenced with enumerators in various states compiling the lists of artisans through their association leaders.

He said all artisans are expected to liaise with their association leaders to document their details.

He added, “The registration of applicants for Stream 2 began on October 19, 2020. States under Stream 2 are: Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Enugu, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Taraba, Bayelsa

“In the same vein, enumeration and verification of the documents of applicants under the Survival Fund Payroll Support scheme is still ongoing. Dates for the commencement of payment would be announced in due course.

“The application process for the payroll support scheme, which began on September 21, had ended on October 15, 2020. Accepted applications are categorised by industry sectors, including Education and Hospitality, among other sectors.

“However, there may be an extension for applications for some states that have not met their quota on beneficiaries. The Artisan Support Scheme is to benefit about 9,000 Nigerians per state and FCT.”

#punchng

One Unavoidable fact that must happen in your Relationship.


YOU AND YOUR PARTNER WILL GROW AND CHANGE IN UNEXPECTED WAYS; EMBRACE IT

“Over the course of 20 years we both have changed tremendously. We have changed faiths, political parties, numerous hair colors and styles, but we love each other and possibly even more [than we once did]. Our grown kids constantly tell their friends what hopeless romantics we are. And the biggest thing that keeps us strong is not giving a **** about what anyone else says about our relationship.”

– Dotti

One theme that came up repeatedly, especially with those married 20+ years, was how much each individual will change as the decades roll on, and how ready each of you have to be to embrace these changes. One reader commented that at her wedding, an elderly family member told her, “One day many years from now, you will wake up and your spouse will be a different person–make sure you fall in love with that person, too.”

It follows that if there is a bedrock of respect for each individual’s interests and values underpinning the relationship, and each individual is encouraged to foster their own growth and development, that each person will, as time goes on, evolve in different and unexpected ways. It’s then up to the couple to communicate and make sure that they are consistently a) aware of the changes going on in their partner, and b) continually accepting and respecting those changes as they occur.

And I’m not talking about the small stuff; I’m talking some pretty serious life changes. Remember, if you’re going to spend decades together, some really heavy **** will hit (and break) the fan. Among major life changes people told me their marriages went through (and survived) were: changing religions; moving countries; death of family members (including children); supporting elderly family members; changing political beliefs; even changing sexual orientation; and in a couple cases, realigning gender identification.



Amazingly, these couples survived because their respect for each other allowed them to adapt and allow each person to continue to flourish and grow.

“When you commit to someone, you don’t actually know who you’re committing to. You know who they are today, but you have no idea who this person is going to be in five years, ten years. You have to be prepared for the unexpected, and truly ask yourself if you admire this person regardless of the superficial (or not-so-superficial) details, because I promise almost all of [those details] at some point are going to either change or go away.”

– Michael

Being open to this amount of change isn’t easy, of course; in fact, it will be downright soul-destroying at times. And that is why you need to make sure you and your partner know how to fight.

A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP MEANS TWO HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

“Understand that it is up to you to make yourself happy, it is NOT the job of your spouse. I am not saying you shouldn’t do nice things for each other, or that your partner can’t make you happy sometimes. I am just saying don’t lay expectations on your partner to make you happy. It is not their responsibility. Figure out as individuals what makes you happy as an individual, then you each bring that to the relationship.”

– Mandy

Everyone talks about “sacrifices” in a relationship. You’re supposed to keep the relationship happy by consistently sacrificing yourself to your partner and their wants and needs.

It’s true that every relationship requires each person to consciously choose to give something up at times. The problem comes when all of the relationship’s happiness is contingent on the other person, and both people are in a constant state of sacrifice. Just read that again. Doesn’t it sound horrible? A relationship based on constant and mutual sacrifices can’t be sustained and will eventually become damaging to both individuals.

“Shitty, codependent relationships have an inherent stability because you’re both locked in an implicit bargain to tolerate the other person’s bad behavior because they’re tolerating yours, and neither of you wants to be alone. On the surface, it seems like [a case of] “compromising in relationships because that’s what people do,” but the reality is that resentments build up, and both parties become the other person’s emotional hostage against having to face and deal with their own bull**** (it took me 14 years to realize this, by the way).”

– Karen

A healthy and happy relationship requires two healthy and happy individuals. Keyword here: “individuals.” That means two people with their own identities, their own interests and perspectives, and things they do by themselves, on their own time.

This is why attempting to control your partner (or submitting control over yourself to your partner) to make them “happy” ultimately backfires — it allows the individual identities of each person to be destroyed, those very identities that attracted each other and brought them together in the first place.

“Don’t try to change them. This is the person you chose. They were good enough to marry so don’t expect them to change now.”

– Allison

“Don’t ever give up who you are for the person you’re with. It will only backfire and make you both miserable. Have the courage to be who you are, and most importantly, let your partner be who they are. Those are the two people who fell in love with each other in the first place.”

– Dave

But how does one do this? The answer comes from something hundreds and hundreds of successful couples said in their emails:

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his entire board of directors resign


Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his entire board of directors resign
Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu and his entire board of directors have resigned following increasing pressure from fans and his public fall-out with the club's striker, Lionel Messi.



Bartomeu, who became president in 2014, was set to receive a vote of no confidence as fans tried to push for his removal.



At a press conference on Tuesday evening, October 27, in Nou Camp, he announced the decision to walk away following a board meeting on Monday in Catalonia after the 3-1 El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu announces the resignation of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors. pic.twitter.com/Xr9pBoUzHM


After the Monday meeting, Bartomeu had insisted that he would not step down, despite an impending vote of no confidence.



He said: 'There is no reason for me to resign. 'It's not an appropriate time to hand in my resignation. No one will be able to make the decisions if I decide to resign.



'The idea of stepping down has never crossed my mind. Never.'

An interim board will now take over and prepare for presidential elections.

Bartomeu was the centre of Lionel Messi's criticisms when he announced his shock transfer request to Barcelona earlier this summer.

The Barcelona captain accused the president of not keeping his words, saying: 'I told the president and, well, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay and in the end he did not keep his word.'

#lindaikeji

Soldiers Arrest Looters Of NYSC Camp Abuja