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5-star QB Bryce Underwood verbally commits to Michigan, flipping from LSU
On matchday five of the Champions League , Dinamo Zagreb will welcome inconsistent Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund to Stadion Maksimir on Wednesday. The Croatian champions are 16th in the Champions League table with seven points and triumphed 4-1 against Slovan Bratislava on November 5, whereas BVB are seventh with nine points and beat Sturm Graz 1-0 on November 5. © Imago Dinamo Zagreb fell behind against Slovan Bratislava after just five minutes, but equalised by the 10th minute and led 2-1 after just half an hour. Interestingly, despite winning 4-1 Wednesday's hosts struggled statistically in the first 45 minutes considering their figure of 0.5 xG was roughly three times less than their opponents' tally of 1.47 xG, but a resounding second-half showing helped steer them to victory. Head coach Nenad Bjelica 's side are currently third in their domestic league with 25 points from 14 matches and are four points from leaders Hajduk Split. Bjelica's team have only lost one of their last 11 games in all competitions, winning six and drawing four, and have also achieved victory in four of their six most recent outings. However, Dinamo Zagreb have failed to win their past three home fixtures and have kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches at Stadion Maksimir. © Imago Meanwhile, Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin was able to ease some of the pressure on his job with a 4-0 win against Freiburg last time out on November 23 in the Bundesliga. Sahin's side started their 2024-25 campaign with six victories in their first eight games, but BVB lost five of their subsequent nine. Dortmund are fifth in the German top flight with 19 points and have already lost four times in 11 games, though they are only one point from fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who occupy the division's final Champions League qualification spot. It is important to highlight that BVB have won three of their four most recent games, with their 3-1 defeat against Mainz 05 on November 9 being mitigated by the fact Emre Can was sent off in the 27th minute when the scoreline was 0-0. Against Sturm Graz, Wednesday's visitors accumulated 66% possession and produced nearly 2 xG but only claimed all three points thanks to Donyell Malen 's 85th-minute winner. Dortmund's form on the road is troubling given they have lost their last six matches away from home, conceding 18 times while scoring on just six occasions. © Imago Defensive midfielder Josip Misic was forced off last time out on November 23 against Rijeka and is unlikely to play on Wednesday, while fellow midfielder Petar Sucic is scheduled to return in late December. Lukas Kacavenda could start in the centre of the pitch alongside Maxime Bernauer and Martin Baturina . Forwards Bruno Petkovic and Juan Cordoba will not be available for selection, and Bjelica may field a front three consisting of Dario Spikic , Sandro Kulenovic and Marko Pjaca . As for the visitors, attacker Karim Adeyemi is nearing a return from a hamstring injury but is unlikely to feature, though striker Serhou Guirassy may make an appearance in some capacity. Should Guirassy fail to make the starting XI, Julian Brandt , Donyell Malen, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Maximilian Beier could be chosen to lead Dortmund's offensive line. Midfielder Kjell Watjen and centre-back Niklas Sule are also out as a result of injury, so expect Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck to appear in the heart of defence, shielded by a double pivot of Felix Nmecha and Emre Can. Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup: Zagorac; Ristovski, Theophile-Catherine, Torrente, Ogiwara; Kacavenda, Bernauer, Baturina; Spikic, Kulenovic, Pjaca Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup: Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Can; Malen, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Beier Dortmund are in better form of late and will go into their clash confident after their 4-0 win last time out. However, it is difficult to ignore the visitors' poor record on the road and it would be surprising if they managed to achieve victory against Dinamo Zagreb. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .Keir Starmer warned that pandering to ICC over call for Netanyahu’s arrest risks rift between UK & US
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CDC chief urges focus on health threats as agency confronts political changes
General Christopher Gwabin Musa, OFR, has been a transformative figure in Nigeria’s military landscape since he was appointed the 18th Chief of Defence Staff in June 2023. With his dedication to duty, patriotism, and people-oriented leadership style, General Musa has successfully evolved and transformed the Nigerian Armed Forces into a world-class institution, earning recognition globally for its effectiveness in addressing national security challenges. General Musa’s leadership has been marked by several outstanding achievements, including the successful rescue of 330 Chibok schoolgirls from Boko Haram terrorists and the accelerated amnesty program for repentant terrorists, which led to the surrender of over 47,975 terrorists and their families. He is not just reshaping the narratives but rewriting them. His fight against insurgency is model, impactful and dynamic, ever-evolving against the strategies and tactics emanating from the series of escalating security threats all over the world. A very forward-thinking and adroit strategist, General Christopher has shown mastery, dexterity and strategic insight in eliminating internal and external security threats, by evolving strategic insightful policies and building formidable resilience in the officers and men with very high capacity military readiness and enhanced operation capability and capacity, inter-agency coordination, and enduringly sustainable international collaborations. These fundamental and strategic policies also include the timely briefing and evolution of counter-strategies against all forms of insurgencies, criminalities against the State, terrorism, separatist tendencies and a highly formidable and robust intelligence-gathering mechanism capable of outmanoeuvring the strategies of the enemies. His role as the overall head of the Armed Forces also bestows on him the onerous responsibility of ensuring robust, formidable and responsive joint operational and integrative efforts of the Armed Forces. This collaboration has led to improved inter and intra-agency operations and resource optimizations, elimination of duplication of efforts, confidence building and the fostering of a united front against insurgents even among sister security agencies. Undoubtedly, General Musa’s wisdom, clout and congruence have led to various outstanding breakthroughs and victories in the areas of building the physical and social infrastructural capacities of the military, in such areas as the procurement of tools, equipment and modern sophisticated armaments, fortified and efficient state-of-the-art aerial surveillance units, and enhancement of cyber warfare capabilities. In the area of social infrastructures, he has empowered the forces with advanced technologies and skillsets through training and strategic partnerships which is central to this objective and a very robust motivational package. All these including consistent up-to-date training of personnel have greatly enhanced the Armed Forces in discharging its roles and also addressing the evolving complexities and growing international trends in asymmetrical warfare. General Musa’s role involves partnerships with international allies to augment Nigeria’s defensive apparatus, address capability gaps, and bolster the counterinsurgency repertoire. An apt and experienced soldier, his engagement of the minds and hearts of the insurgents, miscreants and urchins, coupled with other criminal elements with psycho-social measures has greatly led to successes in the de-radicalization programs, enhanced community engagement, and fostered socio-economic growth and development, thereby technically addressing the root causes of insurgency and discouraging recruitment into the camps of the insurgents as well reducing the allure of criminalities. This has progressively led to efforts aimed at countering the ideologies that feed insurgencies and separatist elements, which is as critical as the physical battlefield operations. His deft diplomatic engagements and multi-sectorial and multi-national counterterrorism initiatives have led to successes in reinforcing international solidarity and showcasing Nigeria’s resolve against terrorism, effectively rallying global support for combating insurgency, participation in multi-national counterterrorism initiatives, and navigating the security implications of international relations. At the sub-regional level, the CDS CG has increased advocacy for regional partnerships in the Lake Chad Basin and the ECOWAS region thereby solidifying collective action against shared security threats. He has also in a very tangible measure orchestrated the reformation of the Armed forces by making the Force amenable to civil governance, and evolving challenges as well as building capacity and capability to be able to navigate the complex nature of insurgencies as it relates to the undulating topography of the country. Equally strategic is his ability to fashion out and fuse a robust strategic vision, operational oversight, and inter-agency coordination aimed at eradicating the scourge of militancy and insurgency all over the country. Through an unabated and decisive commitment to proficiency, modernization, joint task formulation, and psychological operations, he can fashion a strategic and dependably sustainable bulwark against the tide of terrorism and insurgency contending against the nation. General Musa’s leadership has led to the evolution, and successful implementation of such operations as ‘Operation Hadin Kai,’ which was launched to replace the previous ‘Operation Lafiya Dole.’ This operation represented a shift in tactics, focusing on a doctrine that moves away from purely defensive posturing to more offensive operations aimed at decisively defeating the insurgents. Furthermore, there is the advancement of the concept of “Super Camps,” which consolidates military presence in strategic locations, thereby giving the forces the flexibility to launch swift and precise counterinsurgency strikes and also the added value of timely re-enforcement. Such tactics have reportedly led to several successful raids on insurgent camps and the neutralization of key figures in the groups. He has also re-enforced community partnership, through robust community engagement and intelligence gathering. Through this, there have been stronger relationships with local communities and collaboration with community leaders, the military has improved its intelligence-gathering capacities and capabilities, leading to more targeted and effective operations against insurgents. Another strategic reform is the enhancement of inter-agencies relationship which brings together various branches of the Nigeria security apparatchik to form a formidable whole. This is in recognition of the fact that the fight against insurgency is very complex. This integrated approach ensures that military operations are supported and complemented by the efforts of the police, intelligence services, and other security agencies. Interagency collaboration has been instrumental in disrupting the logistics networks of insurgents and curbing the flow of arms and funding to their operations. He strongly believes that if the police can get it right the war against insurgency will be over. A strong advocate of a working police system, General Musa has advocated a stronger police force capable of addressing the needs of the citizenry. He strongly also believes that a well-equipped police is a sure panacea for getting the problem of insecurity right in Nigeria. A man of intrinsic humility, humour, and selflessness at all times, it is generally believed that the tenure of General Musa CG, OFR, will provide the needed peace, stability and security that has escaped the nation for several decades. **Prince is a media practitioner and writes from AbujaAfter a far-right pro-Russia candidate secured a surprise lead in Romania's presidential election Monday, the eastern European NATO member is bracing for a high-stakes parliamentary vote on Sunday, amid fears it could bring about a strategic shift in the country. Calin Georgescu was in pole position with almost 23 percent after the first round of voting, a political earthquake in the country of 19 million people that has so far resisted nationalist appeals that have gained traction in Hungary and Slovakia. His victory ahead of centre-right mayor Elena Lasconi -- who scored 19.18 percent -- ended the hopes of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to compete for the presidency in the December runoff. After coming third at 19.15, Ciolacu said his Social Democratic Party (PSD) won't challenge the narrow result, and announced his resignation as party leader. Experts say the far right's surprise success could affect the parliamentary elections later this week, and even influence the chances of forming a future government. In the runoff ballot on December 8, Lasconi will face Georgescu, a NATO critic who in the past expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Georgescu's popularity surged ahead of the vote with a viral TikTok campaign calling for an end to aid for Ukraine, which shares a 650-kilometre (400-mile) border with Romania. In a first reaction on his YouTube channel, the 62-year-old independent candidate insisted "there is no East or West", stressing that neutrality was "absolutely necessary". "I am not an extremist, I am not a fascist -- I am a Romanian who loves his country," he said in reference to media reports that "tried to portray" him in a wrongful way. For his rival Lasconi, the upcoming runoff represents "an existential battle", "a historic confrontation" between those who wish to "preserve Romania's young democracy" and those who want to "return to the Russian sphere of influence". "We must not allow anger to throw us back into the past," she said to thunderous applause from her supporters, vowing to stand up for Europe and NATO. The political earthquake comes amid soaring inflation and mounting fears of Romania being potentially dragged into Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine, as the country has emerged as a key player on the alliance's eastern flank. More from this section In Sunday's vote, another far-right contender, AUR party leader George Simion, secured nearly 14 percent. Already pounding the campaign trail for this week's parliamentary elections, Simion said Romania now has "the chance to have a sovereign government and a sovereign president". Overall, the far right won more than a third of all votes in Sunday's presidential ballot. "The far right is by far the big winner of this election," political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP, predicting a possible "contagion effect" in the parliamentary vote. Extremist forces and Lasconi's centre-right party now have "wind in their sails", sociologist Gelu Duminica said, though "it remains to be seen if they know how to capitalise" on it. The PSD, which has shaped the country's politics for more than three decades, has never before been eliminated in the first round of a presidential election. The National Liberal Party (PNL) party, with whom the PSD currently governs, also suffered a defeat. While many expressed their disbelief over the poll in the streets of the capital Bucharest, others were enthused. Maria Chis, 70, said she was surprised by Georgescu's lead in the first round but had been impressed after watching his TikTok videos. "He seems a man of integrity, serious and patriotic. He inspires seriousness. I think only someone like him can bring change," said the pensioner, who was planning to vote for him in the second round. Alex Tudose, the owner of a construction company, was gloomy. "There is sorrow, disappointment, that after so many years in Euro-Atlantic structures we voted for a pro-Russian by over 20 percent," the 42-year-old said. "There is clearly a strong fragmentation both in society and in the political class, and I think we saw that yesterday," he said. ani-anb-kym/sbk
Unexpected savings have WPS on track to balance books: interim chief