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Five Scotland squad questions for Clarke to answer

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Nations League play-off: Greece v Scotland

Venue: Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, Piraeus Date: Thursday, 20 March Kick-off: 19: 45 GMT

After a four-month hiatus, Scotland will be back in action this month when they face Greece home and away in the Nations League play-offs – live on the BBC.

Win, and they stay in League A. Lose, and they drop down a division.

Steve Clarke is set to name his squad on Tuesday and, as ever, injuries will be giving him pause for thought.

Who is the first-choice goalkeeper?

Craig Gordon might be 42 years old but the Hearts goalkeeper is still performing at the highest level.

He was omitted from last summer’s Euro 2024 squad but has reclaimed the jersey in the autumn because of Angus Gunn’s injury problems.

The Norwich goalkeeper hurt a hamstring jumping over an advertising hoarding recently but, even if he is fit, surely Gordon had done enough to keep his place?

Have the right-back options improved?

Anthony Ralston has not let Clarke down when called upon, but the head coach will be keen to get Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson back sooner rather than later.

Hickey is slowly making his way back from long-term injury, having not played for Brentford since October 2023 away to Chelsea.

A serious hamstring problem, and a thwarted attempt to make it back in time for last summer’s Euros, mean the former Hearts prodigy has had to be patience personified.

Patterson’s manager at Everton, David Moyes, has warned the former Rangers defender he needs to “step up” if he’s to be involved at Goodison.

Is it Fergie time?

Lewis Ferguson celebrates scoring for Bologna against Roma in a Serie A match on 12 January 2025 Getty Images

Lewis Ferguson is another player Clarke would have loved to have available long before now.

His emergence as one of the leading midfielders in Serie A was brought to an abrupt halt by a knee injury towards the end of last season, causing him to miss the Euros.

When Callum McGregor decided to retire, many thought Ferguson’s opportunities would increase and he is now back playing with Bologna.

Where might the goals come from?

Scotland’s last three goals have come from midfield and defence, with John McGinn scoring the winner against Croatia and opener against Poland, and captain Andy Robertson’s netting a last-gasp winner in Warsaw.

The last time a striker scored for the national team was last June, when Lawrence Shankland headed in against Finland in a Hampden friendly.

What other options does Clarke have to boost his firepower?

Kevin Nisbet seems to have found his form at Aberdeen and has been in the mix before, and there has also been talk of a call-up for Ipswich Town’s George Hirst.

The son of the former Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst qualifies through a grandparent, and scored in front of Clarke in an FA Cup tie with Nottingham Forest.

How do you replace Doak?

Just when Clarke thought he’d found the answer to Scotland’s missing dynamism and unpredictability in Ben Doak, the young winger suffered what might prove a campaign-ending injury.

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick says it’s “hard to say” if he’ll return from parent club Liverpool to complete his season-long loan.

One thing is for sure – Scotland won’t be able to call upon his services this month.

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Syria announces end of military operation against al-Assad loyalists

Syria’s government has ended a security operation in the country’s western coastal region, home to loyalists of former leader Bashar al-Assad, the Ministry of Defence in Damascus reported.

Spokesperson Hassan Abdul Ghani made the announcement on Monday, saying in a statement on X that security threats had been neutralised in Latakia and Tartous provinces. Thousands, including many civilians, are reported to have been killed in days of deadly violence that prompted international concern.

“Having achieved]the neutralisation of the security threats] we announce the end of the military operation”, Ghani said. “We were able … to absorb the attacks of the remnants of the toppled regime and its officers” and push them from “vital” locations.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday that nearly 1, 500 people had been killed in the violence since Thursday.

The majority, the war monitor reported, were civilians killed by security forces and allied groups in the heartland of the Alawite minority, to which deposed President Bashar al-Assad belongs. Al Jazeera has not verified the report.

Syria’s interim leader President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) pledged on Sunday to hunt down the perpetrators of the violent clashes and said he would hold to account anyone who overstepped the new rulers ‘ authority.

Al-Sharaa’s office also said it was forming an independent committee to investigate the clashes and killings carried out by both sides.

Abdul Ghani added on Monday that the security forces would cooperate with the investigation committee, offering full access to uncover the circumstances of the events, verify the facts and ensure justice for the wronged.

“We were able to absorb the attacks from the remnants of the former regime and its officers. We shattered their element of surprise and managed to push them away from vital centres, securing most of the main roads”, he said.

Rising instability

“We are paving the way for life to return to normal and for the consolidation of security and stability”, Abdul Ghani said, adding that plans were in place to continue combating the remnants of the former government and eliminate any future threats.

However, following relative calm in the weeks following al-Assad’s fall in December, instability and violence are starting to grow in Syria.

Security forces reported that they had repelled an attack on a security checkpoint in the capital, Damascus, overnight.

Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from the capital, said two attackers, who were trying to target a government building, were arrested. Other gunmen managed to escape, the security forces told him.

“It’s still not clear if they are also part of the remnants of the old regime, or a separate group who wanted to attack”, Serdar&nbsp, said.

“It has been an intense week here in the heart of Damascus”.

The fighting on the Mediterranean coast began last week when pro-Assad forces coordinated deadly attacks on the new government’s security forces.

The ambush spiralled into revenge killings as thousands of armed supporters of Syria’s new leadership flocked to coastal areas.

Estimates suggest about 1, 000 civilians were killed amid indiscriminate attacks, including reports of brutal murders.

The government then sent reinforcements to Latakia and Tartous in order to regain control.

‘ 100 percent misleading ‘

Iran, a long-term al-Assad ally, denied on Monday any involvement in the violence.

Media reports including from the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV channel have suggested that Iran and allied groups in the region were behind the violence.

Al-Sharaa had blamed the violence on “attempts by the remnants of the toppled regime and foreign parties behind them to create renewed sedition and pull our country into civil war”.

Regional media had then followed up by pointing the finger at Tehran.

However, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the accusation and condemned attacks on minorities in Syria.

“This accusation is completely ridiculous and rejected, and we think that pointing the finger of accusation at Iran and Iran’s friends is wrongly addressed, a deviant trend, and a hundred percent misleading”, Esmaeil Baghaei said.

“There is no justification for the attacks on parts of the Alawite, Christian, Druze and other minorities, which have truly wounded the emotions and conscience of both the countries of the region and internationally”, he added.

Tehran helped to prop up al-Assad during the country’s long civil war and provided him with military advisers.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran has remained “an observer” of the situation in Syria since the takeover by HTS.

‘Modify NIN Only On Official Self-Service Portal’, NIMC Warns Nigerians

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has advised Nigerians to modify their National Identification Number (NIN) details only through its official self-service portal.

In a statement signed by Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, on Monday, said the caution note was to ensure data security and integrity.

The agency reassured Nigerians that its self-service portal is secure, reliable, and provides users with the convenience of updating their information from anywhere.

The commission emphasised that NIN modifications should only be done on SelfserviceModification. nimc. gov. ng, warning the public against using unauthorised websites.

It noted “The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) wishes to state that in order to ensure the security and integrity of your National Identification Number (NIN) data, modifications can only be done on the official NIMC self-service portal: Selfservicemodification. nimc. gov. ng”.

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It cautioned Nigerians against attempting to modify their NIN data on third-party platforms, stressing that such actions could expose personal information to fraudsters.

“Do not attempt to modify your NIN data on any unauthorized websites, as this may compromise your personal information and put you at risk of identity theft”, the statement read.

Highlighting the benefits of the new portal, NIMC noted that the platform ensures data integrity while allowing Nigerians to modify their details without visiting an enrollment center.

MOTD should show fewer highlights – BBC chairman

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Match of the Day should show fewer Premier League highlights and more analysis, says BBC chairman Samir Shah.

The BBC has a deal to show highlights of top-flight matches until the end of the 2028-29 season, with Match of the Day broadcast on Saturday evenings and MOTD2 on Sunday evenings.

Shah told the Sunday Times that many fans had watched Premier League goals and action before Match of the Day is broadcast.

Shah said the show “should not be built around highlights”.

He added: “It should be built around analysis and examination of the match to give viewers a deeper insight”.

The chair of the BBC is appointed by the government.

Match of the Day celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024.

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PDP Crisis: Supreme Court Reserves Judgment In Anyanwu’s Suit 

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the embattled Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, challenging his sack from office.

Anyanwu, in the appeal, is seeking to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, which upheld the Federal High Court judgment that removed him as the Secretary of the party.

In a ten-ground appeal filed through his counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), Anyanwu prayed the apex court to allow the appeal and overturn the decision of the lower court.

Listed as respondents in the appeal, marked SC/CV/82/2025, are Aniagu Emmanuel, PDP, Iliya Damagun (National Chairman), and Ali Odefa (National Vice Chairman, Southeast Zone, PDP) as first to fourth respondents, respectively.

In the appeal, Anyanwu challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, delivered on December 20, 2024, that affirmed the judgment of the High Court, which removed him from office as the PDP National Secretary and recognised Sunday Udey-Okoye.

Dissatisfied with the majority decision of the Court of Appeal, Anyanwu approached the Supreme Court to set aside the appellate court’s judgment.

Rivers

Anyanwu argued that the appellate court erred in law when it upheld the trial court’s jurisdiction over a matter dealing with the internal affairs of the PDP.

He contended that issues related to party leadership and membership are non-justiciable and fall outside the jurisdiction of any court.

Additionally, the appellant criticized the lower court for failing to rule on whether the plaintiff had complied with the mandatory internal dispute resolution mechanisms stipulated in the PDP constitution before filing the suit.

Anyanwu also faulted the court’s decision for holding that the plaintiff had the locus standi to institute the case, asserting that such issues are fundamental to the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate the case.

The appellant further contended that the lower court erred in interpreting Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022, arguing that he neither resigned nor was he removed from his position as National Secretary.

READ ALSO: Court Adjourns Natasha’s Suit Against Senate To March 25

He emphasised that the PDP constitution outlines specific procedures for vacating executive offices, which include removal or resignation.

A file photo of Sunday Udeh-Okoye

He also argued that Article 47 of the PDP constitution provides for a four-year single term for party officers, and there was no basis for the concurrent findings of the lower courts that deemed him to have vacated his office.

At the resumed hearing of the appeal, all parties in the suit adopted their processes, except for PDP and Damagun, who did not file any processes.

The respondents unanimously urged the court to dismiss the appellant’s appeal.

PDP flag. X/@officialKolaO

Specifically, citing Ali Modu Sheriff vs PDP, senior counsel Erokoro urged the apex court to depart from its earlier decision, which holds that political party issues are internal and no court has jurisdiction to entertain such matters.

He further stated that Anyanwu had resigned, and the trial court had already made a pronouncement on that.

He said, “The lower court says he has resigned because the constitution says you must resign if you are going to conduct an election”.

The apex court, however, questioned, “Does the court have the power to decide who should hold an office”?

On his part, Njemanze insisted that the lower courts did not have jurisdiction to entertain the suit, as it is an issue that borders on the internal affairs of the party.

Njemanze said, “My Lords, I have identified all the processes filed by the appellant. I adopt all these processes and, with the greatest respect, urge my Lords to allow this appeal.

” There are procedures for this sort of thing. My Lords, in all your judgments in the past year, you have consistently maintained that issues of leadership in political parties are not justifiable. The lower court and the trial court have no jurisdiction over the issue. “

Upon Njemanze’s submission, the five member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, proceeded to reserve the case for judgment.

She said”, Judgment is reserved to a date that will be communicated to the parties. “

Meanwhile, earlier, the apex court struck out Anyanwu’s motion for a stay of execution.

Erokoro had called the attention of the court to the motion.

At first, the apex Court held that the motion for the stay of execution could not be taken.

Erokoro, however, explained that” the stay of execution application is pending. It should be withdrawn so that it can be struck out. “

Upon his submission, Njemanze proceeded to apply for the motion to be withdrawn.

He said”, I apply to withdraw the application for a stay of execution filed on the 5th day of February 2025. “

Erokoro and the other respondents did not object to the withdrawal.

The apex court proceeded to strike it out.