‘Big Elephant’ Enyimba Crashes At Ahly Benghazi, Throws Open Confederation Cup Group

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April 23, 2021

ibya’s Ahly Benghazi guaranteed Group A of CAF Confederation Cup will go to the wire at the final match day, defeating Nigeria’s Enyimba 1-0 on Thursday night.

A win for visitors Enyimba could have settled the group, just like the case in all three other groups. But Ahly’s win meant action will continue in the final matchday next Wednesday.

At Benina Martyrs stadium in Benghazi, Ahly pushed from the first minute, aiming for maximum points that would give them hope of reaching the quarterfinals.

But they had to wait till the 40th minute to take the lead through Mutassim El Taib.

The Libyan right winger received Aboubakr Meeld pass and sent a powerful shot past Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble to give his side a deserved lead.

After the break, Enyimba threw everything in attack looking for the equalizer, but Benghazi’s goalkeeper Murad Alweehi came to his side’s rescue in several occasions.

Enyimba had to finish the game with ten men, with Timothy Danladi received his marching orders after 75 minutes.

Thanks to this victory, Ahly Benghazi rose to Group A second place on 7 points, two less than group leaders Orlando Pirates. Enyimba follows with six points while Algeria’s ES Setif trails the group with five.

With all four sides still hopeful of a place in the quarterfinals draw set for Friday 30 April, the final matchday next Wednesday sees Enyimba taking on Orlando Pirates in Aba, while ES Setif welcomes Ahli Benghazi in Setif.

Akwa Ibom Government To Recruit 1000 Primary School Teachers

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Precious Obazee

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April 23, 2021

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Akwa Ibom State Government is to recruit 1000 primary School teachers as part of efforts to ensure delivery of quality education.

The state chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Obong Paul Ekpo, who made this known when he led other board members in an on-the-spot inspection tour to public primary schools in the state, said the process for the teachers’ engagement will soon commence in the state.

Ekpo described the primary education system as the bedrock of other forms of learning and development, adding that basic education will give birth to excellent professionals in different fields of endeavours in future.

He advised teachers to be committed, passionate, dedicated and honest in their duties and insisted that they follow their time table, make their lesson notes up-to-date and sign the time book.

The SUBEB helmsman commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for fencing public schools, thereby ensuring that government schools are secured from encroachment and other forms of distractions.

4000 People To Gather For BRIT Music Awards

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faith Jegede

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April 23, 2021

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The United Kingdom has begun preparations to hosts its first indoor live music event as the country comes out of lock down. Britain’s pop music honors will host 4000 people at the O2 arena.

The events will gift 2500 key workers with tickets and members of the audience would not have to wear face masks during the show but will provide proof of a negative lateral flow test results.

The ceremony, to be held on May 11, is part of the UK government’s Events Research Programme, to examine whether major events can take place in closed environments without social distancing.

“This has been a long tough year for everyone” said singer Dua Lipa who is nominated for 4 awards. “I’m delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so,”

Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown, entertainment venues can re-open their doors next month.

93rd Academy Awards: Oscars Line-Up Packed With Firsts

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Koko Lawrence

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April 23, 2021

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FILE PHOTO: 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show - Santa Monica, California, U.S., 03/03/2018 - Chinese director Chloe Zhao, of the film "The Rider," accepts the Bonnie Award. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

It’s a year of multiple firsts at this year’s Oscars, the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony for the highest achievement in film.

Following is a list of major milestones this year. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday.

CHLOE ZHAO – First Asian woman and first woman of color to be nominated for best director (“Nomadland”).

EMERALD FENNELL – First woman to be nominated best director for her feature film debut (“Promising Young Woman”).

DIRECTORS – This is the first time two women have been nominated for directing in the same year.

WOMEN received a record 76 nominations across all categories.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN – First Oscar nomination for Boseman, who died of cancer in August 2020, before the release of his final film (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”).

YOUN YUH-JUNG – First South Korean actor or actress to land an Oscar nomination (“Minari”).

STEVEN YEUN – First Asian American to receive a best actor nomination (“Minari”).

TUNISIA – First nomination for the North African country (“The Man Who Sold His Skin”)

ROMANIA – First nomination for Romania (“Collective”), which is competing in both the international film field and best documentary categories.

MARIA BAKALOVA – First Bulgarian actress to be Oscar nominated (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”).

DIVERSITY – A record nine of the 20 acting nominees are people of color: Andra Day, Chadwick Boseman, Leslie Odom Jr., LaKeith Stanfield, Riz Ahmed, Daniel Kaluuya, Viola Davis, Steven Yeun, Youn Yuh-jung.

ACADEMY AWARDS CEREMONY – Will be held on April 25 at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles for the first time, as well as at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Tertiary Institutions: Senate Commits To Rejuvenating Infrastructure, Teaching And Learning Conditions

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Precious Obazee

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April 23, 2021

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The Senate on Thursday says it is committed to rejuvenating the deplorable state of infrastructure, teaching and learning conditions in tertiary institutions using legislations.

Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Senator Sandy Onor, representing the chairman, Senator Babba Kaita, gave the pledge at a public hearing and presentation of memoranda on three Bills for the education sector.

She said the rejuvenation of the education sector would make provide enormous benefits for youths seeking knowledge.

She said the move to upgrade the Yaba College of Technology and Ilaro Polytechnic to full-fledged universities of technologies would serve as pathway for affordable education resource centres of excellence.

She added that the upgrade of the schools would also provide employment opportunities for the host communities and other qualified Nigerians.

According to Onor, the upgrade into federal universities would provide a hub for cutting-edge research and learning that would encompass multi-disciplinary approaches, knowledge acquisitions and dissemination.

The three Bills were sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola who said at the presentation that there was need to expand opportunities for Nigeria’s teeming youths to gain admission into universities, particularly technology-based education.

He said this informed his sponsorship of the Bills to upgrade two major existing polytechnics to full-blown universities of technology.

Premier League To Introduce New Rule To Avoid Future Breakaway Attempts

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Emenike Agu

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April 23, 2021

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The Premier League is understood to be introducing a new rule which will forbid any of its clubs from attempting to join a breakaway league following the Super League saga.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal all committed to join the Super League on Sunday evening, before pressure from both fans and the media caused all six clubs to withdraw.

Prior to the six teams announcing their decision to leave the competition, a whole host of threats were made by football’s governing bodies with regards to the players and clubs involved being banned from various competitions should they choose to go ahead with the plans.

JAMB Introduces ‘Know Your Registration Officer’ Feature In UTME Registration

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Precious Obazee

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April 23, 2021

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the introduction of a new feature in the ongoing registration for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The examination body issued a statement on Thursday by its Head of Media and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, which said the feature, ‘Know Your Registration Officer,’ aims to fortify the registration process.

According to Benjamin, the new feature will guard candidates against abuse and manipulation.

He noted that candidates who are applying for the 2021 UTME, which is due to close on 15th May 2021 are advised to immediately raise an alarm the moment they find out that the picture on the screen does not match the face of the person registering them.

The statement read in part “To further fortify the registration process and ensure that candidates know where and who is registering them for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination Board( UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) exercise, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has made provisions for the image of the Registration Officer to be displayed at the corner of the screen being used to register the candidate besides his biometric details that had been captured.”

Spain’s Basque Chocolatiers Recreate ‘Guernica’ In Show Of Skill And Cultural Pride

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Koko Lawrence

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April 23, 2021

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A group of chocolatiers in Spain’s Basque Country are creating a version of “Guernica”, Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece representing the bombing of a small Basque town in 1937, to showcase their skills and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Guernica, one of the world’s most famous paintings, was Picasso’s response to the bombardment, carried out by war planes from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy to assist the forces of fascist general Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

The immense cubist painting, which hangs in the Reina Sofia art gallery in Madrid, depicts a harrowing scene in black and white full of tormented human and animal figures.

For many Basque people, the memory of the bombing and Picasso’s visceral artistic response form part of their cultural identity.

To mark the 85th anniversary of the bombing, a group of about 40 chocolatiers from a local association called Euskal Gozogileak have been collaborating to produce an interpretation of Guernica made out of chocolate of different colours.

“There is this part of suffering, this part of peace. There is a message of hope,” said Lorena Gomez, the group’s president. “For us it is also very emblematic of our homeland.”

The project is a technical challenge due to the vast size of the painting, which is almost 3.5 metres high and 8 metres wide. The chocolatiers, who have been working in an industrial kitchen in the small town of Lezo, have tackled it by making 14 separate chocolate slabs.

“We have had to match up different templates, colours and images and we had our work cut out for us,” said Ismael Sayalero, one of the chocolatiers involved. “Maybe we missed a few details but I think it turned out pretty well.”

The final result will be shown in several locations, including in the town of Guernica.

As well as partaking of an important event in the cultural calendar, the chocolatiers wanted to draw attention to the high level of craftsmanship their profession requires.

“Confectionery has always been the poor sister of haute cuisine,” said Gomez. “What we want is to bring the sector the recognition it deserves, like fine dining.”

Jude Law, Gemma Arterton Welcome £7m Global Film Fund

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Koko Lawrence

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April 23, 2021

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Actors Jude Law and Gemma Arterton have welcomed a new £7m fund that will help UK films reach international audiences.

The UK Global Screen Fund has been developed by the DCMS in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI).

The one-year pilot scheme will help the UK’s independent screen sector export content to markets around the world.

Law said the funding would “assist in sparking partnerships”, while Arterton said it would help the UK’s “boundary-pushing” content to travel overseas.

“There is enormous recognition and respect worldwide for British film and television,” said Law, star of such films as The Talented Mr Ripley. “It’s a prominent breeding ground for great storytelling and creativity, pioneering opportunities internationally.

“This additional investment will assist in sparking new international partnerships for the UK industry, generating more jobs and taking our productions to new global audiences.”

“Whether in front of the camera, or behind, the joy of film-making is in the sharing of stories that simply resonate with people,” said Arterton.

“This new fund will help more UK projects and more UK companies reach new international audiences and achieve success with the exciting, independent, boundary-pushing content that we are all so proud of.”

Other supporters include Barbara Broccoli, co-producer of the long-running James Bond film series, who called independent film the “bedrock” of the country’s creativity.

“This new fund will help support that creativity and allow audiences all over the world to enjoy it,” said Broccoli.

Bauchi State Government Restates Commitment To Education Sector Development

By

Precious Obazee

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April 23, 2021

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The governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has restated his administration’s commitment to the development of education sector in the state.

Mohammed stated this at a ceremony to commence the distribution of learning materials to Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) learning centres, in Bauchi.

He said that the state government had implemented several policies and programmes to enhance learning and promote the overall development of the education sector.

The governor commended the Federal Government for its support to the state under the Universal Basic Education programme.

Mohammed said that the BESDA programme had led to the procurement of about N900m worth of learning and teaching materials in the state.

In his speech, Chairman, Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board, Abubakar Sirimbai, urged the state government to recruit more teachers to enhance learning.

Sirimbai said that recruiting more teachers would make the education system more efficient and rewarding, while lamenting that the state had not recruited teachers since 2015.