French Federation Chief Le Graet Forced To Step Down After Zidane Controversies

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January 12, 2023

French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has been forced to stand down just weeks after France’s defeat in the World Cup final following a series of controversies, the body said on Wednesday.

The decision was taken following an emergency meeting of the FFF in Paris.

“Noel Le Graet, in agreement with the FFF executive committee gathered today in Paris, has chosen to step down from his role as president until the completion of the audit performed by the sports ministry,” the federation said.

Le Graet, whose mandate was due to run until 2024, had faced calls to resign after what he admitted were “clumsy remarks about Zinedine Zidane’s potential interest” in coaching the French national team.

The 81-year-old, who has been president of the FFF since 2011, had said in an interview with radio station RMC on Sunday that he “wouldn’t even have taken his call” when asked whether Zidane, a World Cup winner as a player and an all-time France great, had rung him to express an interest in taking over as coach from Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and oversaw their run to the Dec 18 final which they lost on penalties to Argentina, last weekend signed a new contract to stay as France coach until 2026.

The storm around Zidane followed a series of accusations of mistreatment by employees at the FFF, which led to the French government launching an audit of the federation and Le Graet being summoned to attend a hearing.

Le Graet denied those accusations, but on Tuesday his behaviour again came under the spotlight with a female football agent making further accusations of unwanted sexual advances by the veteran administrator in an interview with sports daily L’Equipe.

France’s Sports Minister, Amelie Oudea-Castera, had made clear that she wanted action taken against Le Graet when she called on the FFF’s executive committee to “take responsibility” when speaking to reporters on Monday.

With committee members taking the view that Le Graet’s position had become untenable, he has been replaced on an interim basis by Philippe Diallo, a vice-president of the organisation.

In addition the FFF’s director general, Florence Hardouin, has been suspended from her role.

Le Graet is a former socialist mayor of the small Brittany town of Guingamp who later oversaw the rise of the local football team that became a top-flight force during his time as club president.

He is the second high-profile French sporting administrator to be forced to step down in recent weeks.

French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte said he would offer to resign in December after being handed a two year suspended prison sentence on corruption charges.

Cristiano Ronaldo Sold His 2013 Ballon d’Or To Israel’s Richest Man For $600,000

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Emenike Agu

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January 12, 2023

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his 2013 Ballon d’Or trophy is no longer in Ronaldo’s possession

Cristiano Ronaldo is the second player with the most Ballons d’Or after Lionel Messi.

The Portuguese ace has five individual awards – the first of them he won while at Manchester United in 2008 and he subsequently won four more during his time at Real Madrid in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

However, behind the first Ballon d’Or he picked up with Real Madrid in 2013, there is an interesting story as the award is longer in his possession. Cristiano decided to donate the Ballon d’Or to charity and it was later auctioned off by the Make A Wish Foundation.

Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer won the auction to acquire the Ballon d’Or, which Cristiano handed over after receiving an exact replica, while the original was exhibited in his museum in Madeira.

The Israeli businessman, who has been involved in the world of soccer, acquired what was Cristiano’s second Ballon d’Or for $645,000, which went to the children’s organization, which grants life-changing wishes to children with serious illnesses and other problems.

Brazilian Collector Sues Detroit Museum To Obtain Van Gogh Painting

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Koko Lawrence

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January 12, 2023

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A Brazilian collector filed suit against the Detroit Institute of Arts, claiming that a van Gogh painting that he had been trying to find for years is currently hanging in a blockbuster show devoted to the artist at the museum.

The collector, Gustavo Soter, alleges that Une liseuse de romans (1888) is worth more than $5 million. It is right now featured in “Van Gogh in America,” an exhibition that toasts the DIA’s reputation as the first museum in the U.S. to purchase a work by the artist. In that show, Une liseuse de romans’s wall text says it is owned by a private collection in São Paulo.

Soter’s Miami-based limited liability company, Brokerarte Capital Partners, LLC, filed the suit on his behalf in the Eastern District Court of Michigan on Tuesday.

According to the suit, in 2017, Soter bought the painting for $3.7 million from Torrealba Holdings, Ltd., a company owned by Goncalo Borges Torrealba, a Brazilian who has invested in the thoroughbred breeding industry.

The painting’s value has depreciated over the years. Seven years before its sale to Soter, in 2010, Une liseuse de romans had sold at a Christie’s auction for $3.1 million. Five years before that, in 2005, also at Christie’s, the painting sold for a $4.3 million. In 2003, it had been bought for even more.

Other paintings by van Gogh have sold at auctions for far greater sums—one set a record for him in a recent sale of Paul Allen’s collection when it went for $117 million—but the work at DIA has appeared in previous van Gogh blockbusters held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Once Soter’s purchase went through, the painting was allegedly transferred to an unnamed third party. Soter “never transferred title to or any interest in the Painting to this third party,” the lawsuit says.

Soter is now seeking to keep the DIA from moving the work once the run of “Van Gogh in America” ends on January 22 and to allow him to take possession of the piece once more.

In a statement, a DIA spokesperson said, “This evening the DIA was made aware of a complaint filed with respect to a work of art currently on loan to the DIA. The DIA has not yet been served with the complaint and cannot comment on the matter.”

U.K. Strike: Train Operators Set To Make New Pay Offer To Unions

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Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2023

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Train operating companies are set to make a new offer to striking rail workers this week, after receiving a revised mandate from the government.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing the firms, needs government backing for any deal.

RDG chair Steve Montgomery said he had received a revised mandate, which would be “used” in talks with the TSSA and RMT unions on Thursday.

Details could not be shared for confidentiality reasons, he said.

Train operators and unions are at loggerheads over pay and conditions.

Last week strikes led to widespread service cancellations across the network and union leaders warned industrial action could continue for months. But currently no further strikes are scheduled.

U.S. Flights: Further Delays Expected After FAA Issue

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Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2023

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Normal air traffic operations are slowly resuming in the US after hours of delays, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

It follows a problem with the system that alerts pilots to potential hazards on flight routes.

The FAA had said flights would begin to take off again from 0900 ET (1400 GMT), though further delays are expected due to a backlog of flights.

Airports nationwide were affected, from Denver to Atlanta to New York City.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 5,800 flights in and out of the US had been delayed and more than 800 were cancelled.

One issue airlines are facing is trying to get planes in and out of crowded gates, which is causing further delays.

US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the FAA glitch, and the White House said there was no evidence of a cyberattack “at this point”.

Speaking to reporters, the president said the FAA “expect [that] in a couple of hours they’ll have a good sense of what caused it, and we’ll respond at that time”.

In a tweet, the White House Press Secretary said the president had called for a “full investigation”.

The FAA said the source of the problem was its Notice to Air Missions System.

Major US airlines said they were closely monitoring the situation. American Airlines, which carries the most passengers annually in North America, said it was working with the FAA to minimise customer disruption.

United Airlines said it would waive change fees and any difference in fare for customers rescheduling flights departing on or before 16 January, 2023.

Delta said it was “safely focused on managing our operation during this morning’s FAA ground stop for all carriers”, adding it would provide updates as soon as possible.

For international passengers, Air Canada – the foreign carrier with the most flights into the US – said the outage would impact on cross-border operations on Wednesday, but it couldn’t initially say to what degree. The carrier said it would put in place a “goodwill policy” so affected passengers can change their travel plans.

Meanwhile, airports in Paris – Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly – said they expect delays to US flights. Air France said it is monitoring the situation.

For UK passengers, British Airways said its flights to and from the US will operate as planned, and Virgin Atlantic said it was continuing to operate its schedule of US flights departing from the UK. However, some US departures, the airline said, may be affected by delays.

Germany’s Lufthansa and Spain’s Iberia said they are still operating flights to and from the US as normal for now.

Elon Musk Breaks World Record For Largest Loss Of Personal Fortune In History

By

Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2023

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Elon Musk has broken the world record for the largest loss of personal fortune in history.

From November 2021 to December 2022 he lost around $165bn, Guinness World Records said in a blog on its website.

The figures are based on data from publisher Forbes, but Guinness said other sources suggested Mr Musk’s losses could have been higher.

It follows a fall in value of shares in Mr Musk’s electric car firm Tesla after he bought Twitter last year.

His $44bn (£36bn) takeover of the social media company has sparked concerns among investors that Mr Musk is no longer giving Tesla enough attention.

Mr Musk’s losses since November 2021 could surpass the previous record of $58.6bn (£47bn), suffered by Japanese tech investor Masayoshi Son in 2000.

The estimated loss is based on the value of his shares, which could regain their value, meaning Mr Musk’s wealth would increase again.

In December, the Tesla boss lost his position as richest person in the world to Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of French luxury goods company LVMH, which owns fashion label Louis Vuitton.

The value of Tesla shares dropped around 65% in 2022, in part because of Tesla’s performance. The firm delivered just 1.3 million vehicles during the year, falling short of Wall Street expectations.

However, Mr Musk’s takeover of Twitter – where he has sparked controversy by firing large numbers of staff and changing content moderation policies – is behind most of the share slump.

Many Tesla investors believe he should be focusing on the electric vehicle company as it faces falling demand amid recession fears, rising competition and Covid-linked production challenges.

“Long-term fundamentals [at Tesla] are extremely strong. Short-term market madness is unpredictable,” Mr Musk tweeted after the stock markets closed for the year in December 2022.

Mr Musk is now worth about $178bn (£152bn), according to Forbes, while Bernard Arnault has an estimated value of $188bn (£155bn).

Nothing Can Stop 2023 Election- Lai Mohammed

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 11, 2023

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The Federal Government has insisted that no threat from any quarter can stop the conduct of the 2023 general election, which is just over a month away.

The Minister of Information Lai Mohammed made the Government’s position clear while responding to a claim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the elections might not be held in some states due to security threats by non-state actors.

While addressing a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Information minister made clear that ’’no amount of threat could stop the election as planned.’’

“The position of the Federal Government remains that the 2023 elections will be held as planned. Nothing has happened to change that position.

“We are aware that INEC is working with the security agencies to ensure that the elections are successfully held across the country.

“The security agencies have also continued to assure Nigerians that they are working tirelessly to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm,” Mohammed stated.

Exploring Zlatni Rat, Croatia

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Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2023

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Zlatni Rat is a spit of land on the island of Brač that ends up in the Adriatic Sea, located in the region of Dalmatia, the Republic of Croatia. As it extends into the Hvar Channel, it is a home to a strong currents, making the land form of white pebble beach, with a Mediterranean pine grove taking up the remainder.

The beaches which can be found on both sides, are some 634 metre (2,080 feet) altogether, however, the shape and the length always vary due to the tide, current and wind. Sometimes it can be “destroyed” by the sea, sometimes made from the sea.

The surrounding waters are usually cool and very clear, due to the current in the Hvar Channel. The current is mildly hazardous for swimmers who decide to venture far directly southwards from the tip towards the open sea, as it could be difficult to swim back west towards the beach.

The pine tree grove which borders the beach is home to the remnants of a Roman villa rustica, which included a swimming pool.

The westernmost edge of the beach, and several coves to the west of the main beach, are traditionally clothing-optional, which makes it really important and the promontory is protected as a geomorphological phenomenon.

Once Upon A Time – January 11 – 1838 – First Public Demonstration Of Telegraph Messages Sent Using Dots And Dashes

By

Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2023

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1599 – Jacob van Neck’s fleet leaves Bantam, Java in modern day Indonesia with 1 million pounds of pepper and cloves and a further half a ship full of nutmeg, mace and cinnamon

1838 – First public demonstration of telegraph messages sent using dots and dashes at Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New Jersey by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail

1879 – Anglo-Zulu War begins as British Lt-General Chelmsford invades Zululand in South Africa

1922 – Insulin first used on humans to treat diabetes, when Frederick Banting injects fellow Canadian Leonard Thompson, aged 14

1964 – First government report by US Surgeon General Luther Terry warning that smoking may be hazardous

More Historical Events

In Film & Tv

1927 – Louis B. Mayer head of film studio MGM announces creation of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

In Music

1963 – Beatles release single “Please Please Me” / “Ask Me Why”; peaks at #2 in UK, and #3 in US

In Sport

1960 – LaMar Clark sets pro boxing record of 44 consecutive knockouts

MORE FACTS

1569 – 1st recorded lottery in England is drawn in St Paul’s Cathedral

1949 – Snowfall 1st recorded in Los Angeles

Famous Weddings

1892 – Painter Paul Gauguin marries Teha’amana, a 13-year-old Tahitian girl

1911 – American actress Hattie McDaniel (16) weds pianist Howard Hickman (30) in Denver, Colorado

1924 – German-Swiss poet and novelist Hermann Hesse (36) weds Swiss soprano and painter Ruth Wenger (26); divorce in 1927

Flying Eagles Coach Invites Etu Francis Of Hjk Helsinki Football Club Finland

By

Emenike Agu

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January 11, 2023

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Head Coach of the Flying Eagles of Nigeria, Ladan Bosso has extend invitation to pacy winger, Etu Francis to reinforce the nation’s Under-20 team, ahead of the upcoming CAF Under-20 Nations Cup, to be hosted by Egypt.

The winger, who is also energetic, cut the fancy of Ladan Bosso, who is keen to fortify his current squad with a left footed winger, with deft ball skills.

The player according to his Agent Mr. Saula, newly signed for HJK Helsinki Football Club of Finland, champions of that country’s top flight league.

But the Finish champions will have no hesitation releasing him, this Wednesday, as the season in Finland is yet to start.

Etu Francis is seen by Bosso and his crew as a player with the requisite character to quickly adapt to the team, and add good value to it, as Nigeria, seven time champions at this level seek for an eight title, and one of the four slots, to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup to be staged in,
Ukraine.

The CAF Under-20 Afcon holds in Egypt, from February 19 to March 11, 2023; in three host cities – Cairo (Group A), Ismailia (Group B) and Alexandria (Group C).