Brazilian game abandoned after 10 red cards

Brazilian footballers are traditionally known for their skill on the ball, but there wasn't much on show in the Bahia state championship match between Vitoria and Bahia.

After a feisty first half featuring six bookings and Denilson's goal for the hosts, things really got out of hand after the break.

Bahia were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute, and chaos ensued when Vinicius' celebrated scoring it by dancing in front of the home supporters.

Both sets of players piled in, punches were thrown, and - after a delay of 16 minutes to restore order - the referee sent off eight players.

Three red cards were shown to Vitoria players, and five to Bahia players, with Vinicius and three substitutes among those dismissed.

The match continued, but when Vitoria had two further players dismissed 11 minutes from time, it was abandoned, with Bahia likely to be awarded a 3-0 victory.

Champions League: Chelsea vs Barcelona: Team news, injuries, possible lineup

Antonio Conte’s Chelsea will continue their campaign for the UEFA Champions League title at home against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Conte will have to make some changes in defence with David Luiz and Tiemoue Bakayoko both currently dealing with injury problems.

Ross Barkley also remains out of the side with a hamstring problem, whilst Marcos Alonso is expected to return to the team after missing the last two Chelsea games.

Chelsea have struggled to repeat their performances of last season and Antonio Conte’s team currently sits 4th in the league, but they will be boosted by a convincing FA Cup win against Hull City on Friday.

However, Barcelona saw defender, Gerard Pique return to the side over the weekend after a brief stint on the sidelines and he is likely to start again against Chelsea. Thomas Vermaelen, who was expected to miss the game at the Stamford Bridge returns to the squad whilst Nelson Semedo is suspended.

January signing, Philippe Coutinho will miss the game, the Brazilian is cup-tied for the Champions League after featuring for Liverpool earlier this season.

The Catalan club have been in great form in the La Liga and manager, Ernesto Valverde has seen his side remain undefeated in the Spain topflight league.

Potential Chelsea starting XI (3-4-3):

GK: Courtois

Defense: Azpilicueta (RCB), Christensen (CB), Rudiger (LCB)

Midfield: Moses (RM), Fabregas (RCM), Kante (LCM), Zappacosta (LM)

Attack: Pedro (RW), Hazard (CF), Willian (LW)

Potential Barcelona starting XI (4-3-3):

GK: Ter Stegen

Defense: Roberto (RB), Pique (RCB), Umtiti (LCB), Alba (LB)

Midfield: Rakitic (RM), Busquets (CDM), Paulinho (CM), Iniesta (LM)

Attack: Messi (CF), Suarez (ST)

The Kick off time for the UEFA Champions League match is 8.45 pm Nigerian time.

Trump India 'dinner and chat' property offer criticised

Investors in a luxury property development in India are being offered the chance to have "conversation and dinner" with Donald Trump Jr.

The eldest son of the US president is visiting India this week and will promote the Trump Towers development near Delhi.

Critics say the Trump family is cashing in on the president's name.

But Mr Trump Jr has said he has been building relationships in India for years.

India importance

The full-page advertisement, which ran as the front cover of several Indian newspapers over the weekend, featured a picture of Mr Trump Jr together with text: "Trump is here. Are you invited?" and "Trump has arrived. Have you?"

Historian and biographer Patrick French was one of those criticising the advert:

The 47-storey towers in Gurgaon, close to the Indian capital, are being developed by the Trump Organisation and local partners - with some apartments selling for more than $1m.

The Trump Organisation, formerly headed up by President Donald Trump, is an umbrella company for hundreds of investments in businesses including real estate. Donald Jr is now its executive director.

India is the group's biggest property market outside the US, and in 2016 the Trump family earned up to $3m (£2.14m) in royalties from ventures in India, according to a financial disclosure report.

Trump brand defies comatose property market

Analysis by Devina Gupta, BBC News, Delhi

Selling two towers with 254 ultra-luxury flats might seem like a tall order. But if the brand name was not enough, offering buyers a chance to meet the US president's son seems to be working.
The company claims to have already done $77m worth of deals, with an average selling price of about $1.1m. This makes it the fastest-selling project in a comatose Indian property market.

Changes in tax rules and attempts to clamp down on corruption cooled India's real estate industry.

But in the case of the Trump Towers and its Indian partners that's not been the case, as they use the Trump name to target wealthy Indians living both inside and outside the country.

'Bizarre'

Daniel S Markey, who worked on South Asia policy for the State Department during the George W Bush administration, said he was surprised by the involvement of Mr Trump Jr in an Indian business deal.

"The idea that the president's son would be going and shilling the president's brand at the same time Donald Trump is president and is managing strategic and foreign relations with India - that is just bizarre," he told the New York Times.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) - a watchdog group - added the Indian promotion to a list of instances it believes show the Trump name being used for commercial gain.

In an interview last week, cited by The Guardian, Donald Trump Jr said he had spent nearly a decade "cultivating relationships in India" and that the firm was "now seeing the response of that effort".

He said his itinerary was designed to steer clear of politics.

However, he is listed as a keynote speaker at a global business conference, which will be attended by Indian politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some of India's business elite.

President Trump handed over control of his business empire to Donald Trump Junior and Eric Trump before his inauguration last year.

But the director of the US Office of Government Ethics said at the time that this did not go far enough to ensure there would be no conflict of interest between his politics and personal business.

Since taking office, critics have claimed the US president is continuing to profit from his family's business interests.

They have also accused the Trump family of playing up its connections with the White House in order to influence business deals.

In May last year, the company owned by the family of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, pulled out of a real estate presentation in China.

Kushner Companies had been scheduled to pitch opportunities

Kalu speaks on Tinubu’s role to reconcile aggrieved APC members

Orji Kalu, former Governor of Abia State, has urged Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to accelerate the mandate of reconciling aggrieved members of the party.

Addressing reporters in Abuja, on Sunday, the APC chieftain expressed confidence that the former Lagos State governor would settle the rift within the party.

The former governor also hinted on the possibility of President Muhammadu Buhari seeking re-election in 2019.

According to Kalu, “We need to thank Mr President in his wisdom in giving the mandate to the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the opportunity to reconcile members of the party . I am very excited that such a thing is happening.

“I am confident it will be a good beginning for me brother and friend, Tinubu to execute the reconciliation task very well. I am confident Tinubu will be blunt to settle feuding members of the APC.”

Describing Buhari as ‘an honest man,’ Kalu said the president would tell Nigerians at the right time whether he would seek re-election or not.

”Buhari is an honest man. If he is interested in running, he will tell Nigerians that he will run. You know Buhari is also a man of conscience , if he feels his health will not allow him to seek re- election he will not go ahead. But, if he feels he capable of running he will seek re- election. We pray that his health gets better and that his doctors give him a clean bill of health,” he added.

Gambia suspends death penalty en route to abolition

Gambian President Adama Barrow on Sunday announced a moratorium on the death penalty as the West African country rebuilds its international standing following the removal last year of its longtime authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh.

Capital punishment is on the decline across Africa, where governments executed 22 people in 2016 compared to 43 the previous year, according to Amnesty International.

“I will use this opportunity to declare a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in The Gambia, as a first step towards abolition,” Barrow said in a speech to mark the 53rd anniversary of the country’s independence from Great Britain.

Jammeh, who fled Gambia a year ago after losing his latest re-election bid, drew international criticism in 2012 when his government abruptly executed nine prisoners by firing squad.

Since taking office a year ago, Barrow has tried to repair damage done to Gambia’s reputation by Jammeh’s 23-year rule, which was marked by human rights abuses and spats with foreign governments.

Earlier this month, Gambia rejoined the Commonwealth, which Jammeh withdrew from in 2013, calling it a “neo-colonial institution”.

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What Kills Many Marriages In Our Generation Today Is Lack Of Undiluted Trust And Envy. Why Look Outside When You Can Make Things Happen In Your Home, That My Husband Has No Car Because I Earn So So Amount Monthly I Should Be Able To Get Him One Good Ride.... That My Wife Is Not That Beautiful Let Me Take Her For A Face Cleansing/ For A Shopping Get Her Good And Attractive Clothes To Your Own Taste. Instead We Go Out To Create Havoc in Our Homes Today.

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N400m fraud: Presidency speaks on Olisa Metuh’s appearance in court on stretcher

The Presidency has mocked Olisa Metuh, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for arriving an Abuja Federal High Court on a stretcher.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, described Metuh’s appearance in court as a scene from Nollywood movies.

The presidential aide also mocked the former ruling party for claiming it is strong, hale and hearty during its convention.

Onochie made the remarks while sharing photographs of Metuh’s arrival in court in an ambulance and been carried to the court room on a stretcher.

In a tweet via her social media, Onochie wrote: “NOLLYWOOD drama Starring Olisa Metuh. Act 2 scene 1.

“PDP CONVENTION: Strong, hale & hearty and even throwing punches!

“FRAUD TRIAL IN COURT: Weak, tired & bandaged to the neck on a stretcher & ambulance to complement the nollywood drama.”

Metuh, who is facing charges for allegedly collecting the sum of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, in 2015 appeared before the Justice Okon Abang-led Court on Monday on a stretcher