Entertainments
now browsing by category
Nigeria provides 15 new lecturers to UTG
At least 15 new Nigerian professors and doctors have been deployed to the University of The Gambia on a two-year voluntary service.
The senior academics were deployed by the Nigerian Government as part of its Technical Aid Corp (TAC) programme to assist African and Caribbean countries with professionals in various fields to meet their manpower needs.
Under the arrangement, the Nigerian government will be responsible for the payment of monthly upkeep of the volunteer lecturers while the Gambia government caters for their accommodation, utilities and local transportation.
Mohammed Manu, the Nigerian High Commissioner to The Gambia, explained that the UTG has been the main beneficiary of the TAC scheme but other areas such as the judiciary and health sector also equally benefited. He said over 500 volunteers have been deployed since the start of the TAC. He revealed that the scheme has been a major part of Nigeria’s foreign policy to enhance the capacity of the African continent to achieve competence in various fields.
Manu said the 15 lecturers have come to replace the 14 volunteers that have just returned to Nigeria.
He encouraged them to behave well and think of themselves as ambassadors of Nigeria during their stay, adding that they must stay away from any negative activity.
Prof. Herbert Robinson, the Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, expressed delight at receiving yet another batch of lecturers from Nigeria.
He thanked the Nigeria High Commission for the new volunteers and praised the work of the last batch. The Vice Chancellor said relationship between The Gambia and Nigeria has been very long, and is a history of development cooperation between two very friendly countries. The 15 lecturers have since been distributed to their various departments of specialty.
Credit to:Olimatou Coker: Standard.gm
Former England Rugby star Will Greenwood takes on gruelling 70km Sierra Leone bike ride for education charity
‘We felt like we’d been on 180 in a fan assisted oven’, said England’s third-highest try scorer of all time
Around 800 runners took part in the 10th Sierra Leone marathon at the weekend, organised by UK charity Street Child, which helps children globally get back into education.
Dubbed the “craziest and most worthwhile marathon” in the world, the arduous race started in the early hours of Sunday in the northern town of Makeni.
For the first time nine cyclists aged 24 to around 60 – many of them “hobby cyclists” – undertook a 70km bike ride alongside the marathon, half-marathon, and other running events.
Among them was former World Cup and grand slam rugby star Greenwood.
The mercury rose to 30C, as the race took cyclists along dirt tracks, through jungle and rural villages, beneath the fierce African sun.
“It felt like being cooked,” Greenwood told the Standard from Sierra Leone. “We felt like we’d been on 180 in a fan assisted oven from about 11.30am.
“The last 10k was really tough, getting hot. But the group kept each other going.
“As someone who’s reasonably fit…the first three or four hours were ‘let’s stop and take photos, isn’t it amazing?’ The last two hours it was ‘how far? how long?’”
But he said the group “felt safe all the time” as they were accompanied by local escorts, as well as a medic and and a mechanic. They finished the 70km route in just under six hours.
Greenwood was accompanied on ride by several colleagues from AI firm Afiniti, where he is Chief Customer Officer, and described the experience as “bonding” and deeply satisfying.
Earlier in the week, he and the other athletes visited a school and small businesses in Sierra Leone that are helped by Street Child.
“They are working to try and maintain what so many of us take for granted – a child’s right to education,” Greenwood, who has 55 international caps and is England’s third-highest try scorer of all time, said of the charity.
“They are working with local communities to make educational establishments independent ecosystems of education.
“I get to go home now and see my kids. They’re at school and they’ve got a roof over their head and they’re well-fed, and they don’t have to walk seven miles to school and back in 35C heat.
“To see the work that Street Child are doing just in this location is one that just, makes you want to be like ‘how can I help?’”
Greenwood, who lives near Maidenhead, has worked as a presenter for Sky Sports and a sports journalist for The Telegraph since retiring from rugby in 2006.
He has previously led fundraising expeditions to summit Kilimanjaro and walked to the North Pole urged anyone keen for a fundraising challenge to consider taking part in the Sierra Leone events.
For more information about Street Child and how to sign up for next year’s marathon or bike ride, visit www.street-child.org.
US EXPLAINS REASONS FOR EXPELLING 4 GAMBIAN DIPLOMATS
The US Department of State has explained the decision behind the expulsion of four Gambian diplomats at the embassy in Washington.
The diplomats Abdu Cham, Pa Sako Darboe, Mustapha Sosseh and Alhagie Babou Joof were given until 17 July to leave the United States. The US State Department explains each diplomat’s situation as follows:
Abdu Cham
According to the Department of State, Abdu Cham, a counsellor at the Gambian Embassy in Washington, DC, is found wanting by the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) of striking his daughter, with a mop.
“The mop left markings on the daughter’s arms. The MCPD further reported that based on the victims’ injuries and evidence at the scene, had it not been for his diplomatic immunity, Mr Cham would have been arrested under state law and charged with second degree child abuse,” the State Department said.
Mr Cham’s case was referred to Child Protective Services (CPS) who provides recommendations and access to resources to assist families.
“The Department expects that the embassy help ensure the safety and wellbeing of its members and their dependents, including all the children who are residing in a principal’s household. The Department reminds the embassy that members of a foreign mission are expected to respect the laws of the United States. The Department takes this matter very seriously and considers such alleged behavior unacceptable for a member of a foreign mission,” the statement added.
The Department said it will continue to monitor the situation and will be in contact with the embassy as new information becomes available.
Pa Sako Darboe
On the case of Pa Sako Darboe, a first secretary, the Department of State said he is found wanting of taking into custody transfer documents for a thirteen-year-old girl, and a fourteen-year-old boy.
“A subsequent investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) determined that the custody transfer documents were fraudulent, and that Mr Darboe used these fraudulent documents to enroll the two children in school in Montgomery County, Maryland,” it added.
Alhagie Babou Joof
The DSS also found that, separately, Mr Alhagie Babou Joof, a finance attaché, had participated in visa fraud.
Mustapha Sosseh
“Finally, DSS found that Mustapha Sosseh, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy, had been associated with visa applications with fraudulent indicators and that the illicit schemes described above took place under his leadership.
Accordingly, pursuant to Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations, the above-named individuals and their dependents are required to depart the United States no later than July 17, 2023, at which point they will cease to enjoy any privileges and immunities,” the statement said.
The DSS also requested the Gambian Embassy to return all Department-issued documents for the above-named individuals, including their driver’s licenses, tax exemption cards, and identification cards, to the Department’s Office of Foreign Missions immediately.
“Further, the Department informs the embassy that the above-named individuals are unacceptable for future accreditation as members of The Gambia’s Mission to the United States,” it added.
The State Department documents were obtained from The Fatu Network.
Tinubu writes Senate, seeks confirmation of Service Chiefs
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking for the screening and subsequent confirmation of the new Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs.
Recall that President Tinubu had, last month, appointed Major General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Major General bTaoreed Lagbaja as the chief of Army Staff.
Tinubu also appointed Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla as the Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar as the Chief of Air Staff and Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye appointed the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
He urged the Red Chamber to consider his request expeditiously.
Akpabio, after reading the letter, referred the request to the Committee of the Whole as there was no Standing Committee on Armed Forces, just as this means
that the Service Chiefs would be screened on the floor of the Senate, not at the Committee level
Embarking on a journey into the new week
Monday arrives, and we step foot into the week with enthusiasm. The destination may be familiar, but the journey is unique. Each day presents a chance to explore new paths, encounter different experiences, and meet fascinating people. Just as travelers immerse themselves in the culture of a foreign land, we dive into the rich tapestry of opportunities that the week offers.
Burna Boy becomes first African to sell out stadium show in US
Grammy award-winning singer Burna Boy has become the first African musician to sell out a stadium show in the United States of America. The ‘Love Damini’ crooner sold out the 41,000-capacity Citi Field Stadium in NYC, USA, on Saturday.
The self-acclaimed ‘African Giant’ also brought out British rapper, Dave to perform their collaborative song ‘Location.’ Burna Boy performed ‘Ye’ and songs from his last four albums; ‘Outside’, ‘African Giant’, ‘Twice As Tall’, and ‘Love Damini’.
Credit to: thenationonlline.net
Chelsea Reject €25M Inter Milan Offer For Star Striker – Holding Out For €40M
Chelsea have rejected an initial bid of €25 million from Inter Milan for Romelu Lukaku, and are holding out for €40 million.
This according to Sky Sport Italia transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio, via FCInterNews, who also report that Juventus are interested in signing the Belgian international but that the player only wants Inter.
Inter are now ready to make a straight cash offer for Lukaku.
The Nerazzurri’s previous bids have all faced swift rejection because they’d previously only offered a loan deal. Chelsea are only interested in selling Lukaku on a permanent basis, by contrast.
However, Di Marzio reports, Inter have made a formal offer of €25 million for the Belgian.
However, this is not yet high enough for the Blues. According to Di Marzio, Chelsea have rejected Inter’s offer and countered with an asking price of €40 million.
Whilst the Premier League side hardly expect to recoup anything close to what they paid for Lukaku, they still aren’t ready to accept any low-ball bids.
Chelsea Striker Romelu Lukaku Only Wants Inter – No Interest In Juventus
Lukaku has always made his will clear – he wants to go back to Inter.
However, he is still waiting for the Nerazzurri to make a deal with Chelsea.
That still hasn’t happened, and as Di Marzio reports, Inter’s latest attempt has once again been unsuccessful.
Some reports suggest that Inter’s failure to complete a deal for Lukaku has left the door open for Juventus to make a shock move for the striker.
However, Di Marzio reports, this is not remotely a serious consideration for Lukaku.
Rather, the 30-year-old is fully prioritizing going back to the Nerazzurri. Di Marzio confirms that the Bianconeri have mulled over the idea of moving for Lukaku. But on the player’s side, there is no interest.
Meanwhile, Lukaku would reportedly be willing to reduce his wages to go back to Inter. He is fully committed to making the move happen.
Credit to: sempreinte
OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY RECEIVES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FROM LIFE FOR RELIEF DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
D5 Creation