Russia Successfully Launches Iranian Satellite Into Orbit

-

August 9, 2022

Long jumper, Ese Brume, hopes a gold rush by Nigeria’s women at the just-ended 2022 Commonwealth Games will inspire girls in the country to take up sports.

The 26-year-old reclaimed her long jump title Sunday, on a day when Tobi Amusan won 100m hurdles gold and they also triumphed in the women’s 4x100m relay.

That took Nigeria’s Games tally to 12 gold medals, making them Africa’s top performers in Birmingham, England and their best outing ever at the championships.

“I know this will be an inspiration for them (young girls),” Brume told BBC Sport Africa.

“Of course, when you see someone you look up to doing well, you want to definitely be like them. So this is going to motivate and inspire them. I hope it works.”

Three-time African champion Brume set a new Games record with a leap of 7.00m to win, adding a second Commonwealth gold to the one she claimed in Glasgow eight years ago.

After two jumps of 6.99m and one of 6.96m – which would all have been enough to secure top spot on the podium – Brume said her record jump demonstrated her consistency in her discipline.

“This is one thing I really wanted – to get the Games record,” she added.

“This is special for me, because it shows consistency. It shows the hard work of all those that have supported me, and my coach who has been backing me up.

“Sometimes it’s about how you’re able to show that what you’re doing is not a fluke.”

Sierra Leone law: Customary Land Rights Act, Land Commission Act Empowers Local Landowners

By

-

August 9, 2022

Sierra Leone’s parliament has passed two laws said to boost the rights of rural landowners and women.

The Customary Land Rights Act and the Land Commission Act, both enacted on the same day, empower local landowners to negotiate the value of their land with investors and prevent it from being leased out without their prior informed consent.

NGO, Action for Large-Scale Land Acquisition Transparency (ALLAT) reported that between 2009 and the end of 2012, foreign agribusiness investors had secured 50-year leases with possible extensions to 21.4% of Sierra Leone’s total arable land.

Although there is no firm data on the incidence of land disputes through courts, inter-family disputes, inter-village disputes and conflicts between landowners and companies were believed to be on the rise last decade.

“This is a win-win situation for both business and Sierra Leoneans including rural landowners,” Lands Minister Turad Senessie said.

One of the laws will also end a provision that bars descendants of freed slaves locally known as Creoles from owning land outside the capital, Freetown.

Serena Williams Announces Retirement From Tennis

By

-

August 9, 2022

United States tennis champion, Serena Williams, announced on Tuesday that ‘the countdown has begun’ to her retirement from the sport.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, added that a time has come in her life for her to move in a different direction.

The 40-year-old said in a post on Instagram that she has to focus on being a mum and achieve her spiritual growth.

She wrote, “There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis. But now, the countdown has begun.

“I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals, and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.

In an exclusive piece in Vogue magazine, Williams noted that she had never liked the word ‘retirement’ but would rather go with the word ‘evolution’.

She said, “I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people.

“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis toward other things that are important to me.

“A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family.”

Coal Imports: Experts Accuse Europeans Union Of Double Standards

By

-

August 9, 2022

In the first five months of this year, European countries imported more than 3.24 million tons of coal from South Africa, up over 40 percent from the total of 2021. South Africa has the largest coal resources in Africa.

Most of the thermal coal mined in South Africa is used for domestic electricity consumption, and only a small part is exported overseas, as the country relies on coal to generate electricity.

Developed European countries have long been able to consume more environmentally friendly energy sources such as natural gas because of their economic advantages.

Less developed African countries are relying more on local sources, as generating electricity with coal costs is lower.

However, in dealing with climate change and reducing carbon emissions, rich European countries, regardless of the practical problems of developing or less developed countries, frequently put pressure on African countries and imposed high “carbon tariffs” on African export products, hindering the economic development of African countries.

Caf Super Cup To Be Unveiled On Wednesday

By

-

August 9, 2022

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe will on Wednesday in Arusha, Tanzania, launch the eagerly-anticipated Africa Super League.

Sports Village Square gathered that 24 clubs will be eligible to feature in the competition. Among the teams expected to form the first set of participants are Enyimba of Nigeria, Al Ahly, Zamalek and Pyramids of Egypt; Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca of Morocco; Esperance, Etoile du Sahel and Club Africain of Tunisia; TP Mazembe and AS Vita of Congo; South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns;

It was first announced on 28 November 2019 by FIFA President, Gianni Infatino. The essence of holding this tournament is the huge financial returns that will exceed the barrier of 200 million dollars, which will be used to develop and improve stadiums, infrastructure and the promotion of football in Africa.

Travel Delays: Australian Airline Senior Executives To Temporarily Become Baggage Handlers

By

-

August 9, 2022

Air travel this summer has been plagued by delays across the world. Canadian airlines and airports have been particularly affected by staffing issues after the pandemic, making for long lines and lost luggage.

However, in Australia, the airline Qantas has come up with one way of trying to solve the problem.

The company is now asking its senior executives to temporarily become baggage handlers.

Staff who accept the temporary arrangement will be expected to sort and scan bags, load them into aircraft and drive them around the airport, among other responsibilities.

They will not be expected to carry out their ground handler role on top of their full-time positions.

KORAIL Conducts Successful Test Run Of 777 Meter-Long Grand Cargo Train

By

-

August 9, 2022

South Korea’s railroad operator has run a promising test of a new massive freight train that looks to prop up its revenue.

Coming out of the tunnel is a train of cargo cars pulled by two electric locomotives at the head.

Its heftiness makes surrounding vehicles and even other trains look miniature.

This train connecting 50 cargo-only cars is being called the “Grand Cargo Train”.

Reaching 777 meters in length, that’s just about twice the length of the KTX passenger train, which is 388 meters.

A successful test run of the Grand Cargo Train travelled 403.2 kilometers from Obong Station in Uiwang City, Gyeonggido Province to Busansinhang Station.

The cargo cars carried actual export goods and parts like electronics and car parts that the cargo train would actually be used to transport once it becomes commercialized.

KORAIL said that they pushed for the launch of this cargo train as they hope to reverse their annual loss of more than some 152.8 1million U.S. dollars in logistics.

Cargo trains that have been in operation have 33 cars and expanding train to 50 cars is expected to improve transportation capacity by 52 percent.

KORAIL will analyze results from the test operation and make any necessary improvements with the goal of putting the Grand Cargo Train into commercialized operation by the first half of 2023.

Birmingham 2022 Winners, Australia First To Hit 1000 Gold Milestone

By

-

August 9, 2022

As the curtain fell on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Australia, the overall winners hit a milestone of 1,000 gold medals in the Games’ history.

They are the first to achieve this feat. Their 1,000^th gold medal came when their netball team beat Jamaica on the 10^th day of the Games.

Before then, they had taken an unassailable lead on the medals table having drowned hosts, England to the second place.

Eventually, they had 67 gold, 57 silver and 54 bronze medals to amass a total of 178. They were just two gold medal shy of their all-time best at Melbourne 2006.

This is 14^th time they have topped the Games’ medals table. It is also the seventh out of the past eight games that they have topped,

Nigeria finished seventh overall with all their 12 gold medals won by women.

Long Lay Off Looms As Victor Moses Goes Under The Knife

By

-

August 9, 2022