Obi Emelonye’s ‘Badamasi’ Premiere To Kick Off UK Cinema Activity

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May 21, 2021

Obi Emelonye’s Ibrahim Babajida biopic ‘Badamasi'(Portrait of a General) is set to open UK cinemas as the first red carpet event post Covid-19 lockdown.

The event confirmed for June 12 will hold at the O2 Arena, Emelonye confirmed via an Instagram post.

“The cinemas are open in the UK and the first red carpet film Premiere anywhere in the UK is for an African film. BADAMASI (Portrait of a General) premieres on June 12 and tells the compelling story of a great country and a powerful man in need of healing.”

Shot in 2018, in Lagos, Minna, Abuja and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the film portrays the former Nigerian military head of state as a man with flaws but a deep sense of patriotism.

It stars Enyinna Nwigwe as Ibrahim Babaginda alongside Charles Inojie, Sani Danja, Yakubu Mohammed, Okey Bakassi, Kalu Ikeagwu, Julius Agwu and Erick Didie.

Kenya Ministry of Education Shuts Down 30 Schools in Nakuru

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Precious Obazee

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May 21, 2021

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A major showdown looms between the Ministry of Education and private school owners in Nakuru after the government ordered closure of 30 learning institutions.

Education officials on Thursday shut down schools in Nakuru Town West Sub County for allegedly operating illegally.

Among the institutions shut are three primary schools and 27 Early Childhood Development centers.

According to the Nakuru Town West Deputy County Commissioner Michael Lesimam, the schools which have poor infrastructure are not registered.

The administrator further said the schools do not have the National Education Management Information System (Nemis) number since they are not registered by the Ministry of Education.

The education officials established that learners sitting their Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) examinations in the schools are likely to lose their results because the institutions will not be able to relay them to the Kenya National Examinations Council.

At least 1000 learners will be affected by the closure of the institutions, however Lesimam revealed that the learners from the affected schools will be redistributed to public learning institutions in the region.

Most of the affected schools are run by churches and Non-Government Organizations in the slum areas of Nakuru Town West.

The Nation learnt that some of the schools shut down were among institutions closed in 2019, but their owners moved to court and obtained stay orders allowing them to operate.

However, late last year, the court ruled that the schools are illegal.

The administrator warned parents against allowing their children to continue learning in the institutions.

Revolutionaries And Royalty Showcased At Revamped Paris Museum

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Koko Lawrence

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May 21, 2021

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Treasures spanning thousands of years of Paris history will get a fresh airing in the city from next week, with pistols from the French revolution showcased alongside a shoe thought to have been lost in flight by guillotined queen Marie Antoinette.

Long a hit with tourists as an introduction to Paris and its tumultuous past, the Carnavalet museum is due to reopen after four years of renovations at a time when international travel is still largely on hold due to the pandemic.

The 58 million euros ($71 million) revamp involved an extension of the exhibition space, including by opening up underground vaults. The building, in the Marais district, dates back to the 16th century and became a museum in 1880.

It will now house 625,000 works – many brought out of storage for the first time – and which include paintings, toiletry cases and tea sets used by Napoleon, early photos of the Eiffel Tower, and gold coins from the 2nd century B.C.

Other star attractions include a canoe from the Neolothic age and 12th century gargoyle from Notre-Dame cathedral.

Visitors can also wander through a reconstruction of writer Marcel Proust’s bedroom, with his real furniture and his coat on display.

Many museums in France began to reopen on May 19 after remaining under lock and key since last October due to the pandemic, forcing some exhibits to close early.

The Carnavalet also hopes to retain its appeal for locals.

“It’s the home of Parisians,” said architect Francois Roussillon, who conceived the overhaul. “It’s a museum you can live in, a bit like dropping in on a friend for diner. You can go one day and eat this, go back and eat that.”

Cher Announces Plans For Big-Screen Biopic About Her Life

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Koko Lawrence

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May 21, 2021

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The life story of actor, singer and all-around icon Cher is bound for the big screen.

The Oscar winner announced plans for a biopic. The film’s screenplay, she tweeted, will be written by Eric Roth, who won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for 1994’s “Forrest Gump” and was nominated for his work on 2008’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and 2018’s “A Star Is Born.”

Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, who produced the ABBA movie musical “Mamma Mia!” and its sequel, have also joined the creative team, she added.

Craymer confirmed the plans in a statement.

“Gary and I are thrilled to be working with Cher again and this time bringing her empowering and true life odyssey to the big screen. One cannot help but be drawn to and inspired by Cher’s larger than life talent, fortitude, unique wit, warmth and vision,” she said, according to Deadline. “Her unparalleled success in music, film and TV have inspired generations. We could not be happier to tell her story to cinema audiences.”

Superstar biopics are, of course, a hot Hollywood commodity these days.

There are countless moments in Cher’s six-decade, record-smashing career that are ripe for dramatization. There’s her rise to fame in the 1960s and ’70s alongside former husband Sonny Bono, followed by her storied film career that culminated in an Oscar win for 1998’s “Moonstruck.”

Also, there’s her more recent reinvention as a 21st-century dance floor diva, spearheaded by the 1998 smash “Believe.”

When a fan griped that they’d been waiting for the biopic for “50 years,” Cher playfully shot back as only Cher could.

Cher’s life story was previously adapted as the 2019 musical “The Cher Show,” in which a trio of actors portrayed her at various ages.

Stephanie J. Block, whose stage credits include “Wicked” and “Falsettos,” received a Tony Award for playing the “Star” version of Cher on Broadway.

Former Champion Halep Out Of French Open With Calf Injury

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Angel Gimalo

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May 21, 2021

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Simona Halep, the 2018 French Open champion, announced Friday she has withdrawn from this year’s tournament because she has failed to recover from a calf injury.

“Unfortunately the tear in my left calf muscle needs more time to recover and the timeline is just too short,” said Halep, the reigning Wimbledon champion.

Halep sustained the injury in her second-round match at the Rome Open on May 12, and the world number three has deemed the recovery time too tight to be fit for the May 30 – June 13 Roland Garros.

“Withdrawing from a Grand Slam goes against all my instincts and aspirations as an athlete, but it is the right and only decision to make,” she said.

“The thought of not being in Paris fills me with sadness, but I will focus my energy on recovery, staying positive and getting back on court as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Roland Garros 2022, I’m coming for you A bientot.”

Horse-Drawn Carts Booms In Senegal, As Practice Rules Are Ignored

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Angel Gimalo

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May 21, 2021

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At dawn, Mame Mor Anta Ly washes his chestnut-coloured horse beneath a noisy overpass on the outskirts of Senegal’s bustling capital.

Dozens of other horses are tethered to the ground around him, feeding from troughs improvised from oil drums or rusting bathtubs.

Ly, 40, is waiting to be hired for the day to transport iron rods or bags of cement on his horse-drawn cart.

“Sometimes I wait all day,” he said, prayer beads dangling from his neck.

Hailing from a farming region about a hundred miles (160 kilometres) south of the seaside capital, Ly is one of a growing number of rural-dwellers who come to Dakar looking for work with their horses in tow.

Horses are ubiquitous in the booming West African city of 3.5 million people, where carts weave through traffic-clogged streets and squeeze down narrow sandy alleyways.

Drivers carry goods and people at a cheap rate, and increasingly, also collect garbage in neighbourhoods unserved by rubbish trucks.

The work is a lifeline to many rural poor who normally earn little apart from the harvest season, according to Alphonse Sene, the director of equine development at Senegal’s livestock ministry.

He estimated the number of cart drivers in Dakar at about 7,000 — and rising.

“It’s growing because there’s an employment problem in rural areas,” he said.

Though part of the fabric of the city, many motorists and municipal administrators view carts as a nuisance that cause congestion and accidents.

There is a risk municipal authorities will eventually ban them, according to Sene.

Cart driver Malick Seck, standing with his white mare outside a construction supplies depot, said he both struggles to make money and faces hostility from other road users.

“No one considers us. People think we’re low class,” said the 45-year-old.

Drivers interviewed said that police can move them off roads arbitrarily and that residents place obstacles in the city’s rare open spaces to stop drivers from keeping their horses there.

“We are insulted all day long and mistreated,” said cart driver Assane Ndiaye, echoing a widely held grievance.

In a bid to ease pressure in urban areas, Senegal passed legislation in 2016 requiring drivers to have permits and tail-lights, and limiting when they are allowed to operate.

But in practice the rules are ignored. Responsibility for enforcing them is also split between three government ministries.

Sene, the director of equine development, acknowledged the disarray.

But he said that his department is conducting a study of the horse-transport sector in Dakar with a view to revising the legislation.

With about one million horses and donkeys, Senegal has an unusually high equine population for the region, said Emmanuel Boure Sarr, from the animal-welfare NGO Brooke.

“Horse-drawn transport is a reality that cannot be ignored,” he said, underlining the economic importance of the sector.

UK Retail Sales Surge In April As Stores Reopen

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Angel Gimalo

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May 21, 2021

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British retail sales surged last month as non-essential stores reopened from virus lockdown, sparking a boom in clothing demand, data showed Friday.

Sales by volume soared 9.2 percent in April from March as Britain’s economy cranked back into action.

“Retail sales volumes grew sharply … reflecting the effect of the easing of coronavirus restrictions,” the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

Demand for clothing rocketed by almost 70 percent, aided by good weather as consumers splashed their cash on new outfits after one year of lockdowns.

Easing travel restrictions prompted a similar spike in demand for motor fuel.

“Pent-up demand built up during lockdown continues to be released as the reopening of non-essential retail offered the public a welcomed opportunity to visit many of their favourite shop,” said Helen Dickinson, head of the British Retail Consortium.

“Improved weather during April meant greater sales of fashion, particularly in outerwear and knitwear, as the public renewed their wardrobe and made plans to meet friends and family outdoors.”

Overall sales rocketed 42.4 percent compared with April last year, which was the first full month of the initial UK lockdown at the start of the crisis.

Online sales boomed during lockdowns as consumers were forced to shop via their smartphones and computer screens, soaring by 56 percent compared to April 2019 before the pandemic struck.

Britain is exiting lockdowns at a gradual pace, allowing the economy to further recover from pandemic fallout.

At the same time, analysts are fearful that reopening economies will spark a global inflationary spike.

British inflation soared last month to 1.5 percent, the highest level since the early stages of the pandemic, separate data showed earlier this week.

How possible is to lose a pound daily

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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May 20, 2021

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Trying to lose weight may sometimes seem like a time-consuming process. In fact, it often takes weeks, months, or even years to achieve your long-term weight loss goals.

For this reason, you may wonder whether there are ways you can lose weight more rapidly. Losing weight requires one to consume fewer calories than you use throughout the day.

This can involve reducing food intake or adding more exercise to your routine via activities like running, walking, or biking

To lose 1 pound (0.5 kg) of body fat, you’ll need to create a calorie deficit

Most men and women generally require 2,000–2,500 calories per day to maintain their weight. Your daily calorie depend on factors like your age, size, and activity level.

Meanwhile, scientists estimate that a 160-pound (72.5-kg) person burns an average of 15.1 calories per minute running, or approximately 906 calories per hour.

Using these figures, a 160-pound (72.5-kg) woman consuming 1,500 calories per day would likely have to run for over 3 hours to burn enough calories to lose a pound (0.5 kg) in 1 day.

Keep in mind that rapid weight loss may be more attainable for people with a very high body weight because a higher body weight can increase the number of calories your body burns throughout the day.

Still, while it may be possible to lose a pound (0.5 kg) of body fat per day, it would require you to drastically limit your food intake and increase your physical activity.

Extreme calorie restriction and over exercising are not safe or recommended by health professionals. Although these methods may result in quick, short-term weight loss, they’re not sustainable and may harm your health.

Body fat vs. Water weight

Although losing 1 pound (0.5 kg) of body weight may be difficult, losing 1 pound (0.5 kg) of water weight per day is much more realistic.

The term “water weight” refers to water that your body stores in its tissues. Several factors can cause water retention which are changes in hormone levels, increased salt intake, and certain medical conditions.

Additionally, glycogen, the storage form of carbs found in your liver and muscles, binds with water. Each gram of glycogen in your body is stored with at least 3 grams of water.

Because your body can use glycogen as a quick energy source, cutting back on your intake of carbs or adding more physical activity to your routine can reduce your glycogen stores.

For this reason, when you lose weight very quickly after starting a new diet or exercise regimen, it’s typically water weight that you’re losing rather than body fat.

How safe is it to lose a pound daily

Generally, experts recommend losing around 1–2 pounds (0.5–0.9 kg) per week, which may involve reducing your calorie intake by around 500–1,000 calories per day.

However, losing 1 pound (0.5 kg) per day would likely require you to limit your intake even more. Decreasing your food intake too much can make it much more difficult to meet your nutritional needs and this also can lead to several adverse health effects.

In fact, very low calorie diets have been associated with several serious side effects, including nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Furthermore, severely restricting your food intake may make it more difficult to maintain weight loss over a long term period.

This is because rapid weight loss can reduce you resting metabolic rate, which is the number of calories you burn during the day. Calorie restriction can also alter the levels of several key hormones that regulate hunger and appetite, including leptin and ghrelin.

Additionally, although moderate exercise can be beneficial, engaging in excessive exercise in an effort to burn enough calories to lose 1 pound (0.5 kg) per day may be harmful. According to some studies, excessive exercise could negatively affect heart health, reduce immune function, and increase your risk of injury.

Therefore, aiming to lose 1 pound (0.5 kg) per day may be unsustainable, unrealistic, and potentially dangerous.

Tips for losing weight

Although it may not be healthy or safe for most people to lose 1 pound (0.5 kg) per day, several strategies can help you achieve safe and effective long-term weight loss. Below are some tips

Drink more water:

Drinking plenty of water can not only help keep you hydrated to promote a healthy fluid balance but also enhance feelings of fullness and increase weight loss

Reduce your intake of processed food:

Studies show that regularly eating processed foods could be linked to a higher risk of weight gain and obesity.

Consume more protein:

According to some research, eating more protein rich foods could help support appetite control, decrease food cravings, and increase feelings of fullness.

Add cardio to your routine:

Most healthy adults should aim for 150–300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75–150 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise per week to promote weight loss and good overall health.

Eat more fiber rich foods

Foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are high in fiber, which can slow stomach emptying, thus helping curb cravings and boosting weight loss.

The bottom line remains, although it may be hypothetically possible to lose 1 pound (0.5 kg) of body fat per day which would require significantly increasing your physical activity and limiting your food intake.

Excessive exercise and very low calorie diets are associated with several serious side effects and may make it more difficult to lose weight in the long run.

Therefore, aiming for around 1–2 pounds (0.5–0.9 kg) of weight loss per week by making changes to your diet and lifestyle may be more realistic, sustainable, and healthy over the long term.

Eniola Aluko Appointed Los Angeles-Based Angel City FC’s First Sporting Director

By

Emenike Agu

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May 20, 2021

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Eniola Aluko has been appointed Los Angeles-based Angel City FC’s first sporting director

The former England, Chelsea and Juventus forward, 34, left her position as Aston Villa’s sporting director last week.

“This is an incredible opportunity to help write Angel City’s first chapter,” Aluko said.

Angel City are set for their first season in the US National Women’s Soccer League in 2022.

“I have no doubt the club will be a trailblazer, not just in the NWSL and women’s soccer, but for sports clubs globally.

“As a former player, the club’s determination to make an impact both on the field and in the community is something that I fully support, and I can’t wait to get started,” she continued.

“Appointing Eniola Aluko, a world-renowned international soccer player with extensive experience in technical positions, is a landmark moment for us,” said Julie Uhrman, Angel City founder and president.

One of the club’s co-founders is actor Natalie Portman, and other founding investors include tennis icons Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, and retired US soccer greats Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach.

Aluko won 102 England caps and helped the Lionesses to third place at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, as well as playing five times for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.

She is England’s joint-10th most capped international, scoring 33 goals in 102 senior appearances.

Saudi Arabia Seeks Greek Expertise For Budding Culture Sector

By

faith Jegede

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May 20, 2021

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The Saudi Arabian government is now seeking Greek expertise in archaeological excavation for its new cultural sector in a bid to diversify economy beyond oil and enhance quality of life in the Arab state.

Saudi Arabia is due to sign a cultural partnership agreement with Greece later this year, that would include joint cultural weeks and focus on archaeological development that will allow the countries culture ministry meet its target of contributing 3% or more to the kingdom’s gross domestic product by 2030 and create 100,000 jobs for young Saudis.

The Saudi culture ministry was established three years ago under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s modernisation plan. Thanks to the prince’s reform drive, the conservative kingdom has opened up, allowing live concerts and sporting events, as well as cinemas in a bid to attract foreign talent and business.