Spaceport Cornwall Opens New Satellite Launch Centre For Research, Development.

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April 28, 2023

Spaceport Cornwall has officially opened a new centre for businesses involved in satellite launch and development.

The Space Systems Operations Facility (SSOF) opening comes after the unsuccessful launch of satellites by a plane from the spaceport in January.

The SSOF will enable businesses to build and launch satellites from Cornwall, Spaceport Cornwall said.

It will also be a centre for research and development.

Matt Archer of the UK Space Agency said the Virgin Orbit satellite mission in January “was not the outcome that we wanted”.

But he said it “proves that they have the capability and the resilience and the ability to position themselves as a long-term spaceport”.

The January satellite mission, the first from UK soil, ended in failure after a rocket fuel filter became dislodged.

Virgin Orbit has since filed for bankruptcy.

Subsea Cable Set To Boom In Scotland

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Angel Gimalo

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April 28, 2023

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At last, after numerous false dawns, the renewable energy boom is about to generate manufacturing jobs at scale. Not one, but two big plants for making subsea power cables are in Scotland’s planning system.

Sumitomo Electric, part of a Japanese engineering giant with serious pedigree in this sector, has announced it will build one in the Highlands.

It is not yet saying precisely where, what the scale will be, how many jobs will be required, and how much it intends to invest. But all these numbers are likely to be large. Such plants only stack up if they’re on a very big scale.

And it seems that by no coincidence at all, the owner and operator of the Nigg industrial site in Easter Ross, Global Energy, has lodged a detailed plan for precisely that type of factory to be built on 15 hectares of farmland next to the existing fabrication yard.

That’s an area equivalent to 20 football pitches. The buildings would take up nearly half of that, and two of them will be up to 44m (144ft) high – the same height as the spire of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

Nigg lies within the boundaries of the green freeport designation, won in January by bidders for the Cromarty Firth and Inverness. It means tax breaks for investors, though the details of how the incentives will work are some months off.

Exploring Epupa Falls, Angola

By

Angel Gimalo

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April 28, 2023

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The Epupa Falls, also known as Monte Negro Fall, are dramatic waterfalls with quite scenic views which are created by the Kunene River, located on the border between the Republic of Namibia and the Republic of Angola.

The canyon which creates this astonishing falls is less than a kilometer wide, where the river drops in series of waterfalls which are spread over 2 km (1 mi) with the highest drop measuring at 37 meters (121 feet).

Due to the annual rains or droughts, the water level is always changing, however, the most interesting part is the name Epupa that comes from the Herero language which is part of the Bantu subfamily of the Niger–Congo group, meaning “foam” and according to some sources it can be found as “falling water”.

Surrounded with truly enchanting scenery, with palm and baobab trees lining the riverbed, Epupa Falls are one of the most visited attractions in Namibia, even though it is somewhat difficult to get there.

Once there, the Ovahimba people together with the other tribes like Ovatjimba, Ovazemba and Ovatwe people will make every visitor to see how the nomad life is in the area, and with the growing tourism, there are other tribes who are migrating in the area.

Staying for a couple of days in the lodges or campgrounds in the vicinity of Epupa is definitely worth since plenty of activities will make every visitor’s experience greater with the guided tours of the villages, excursions to see the crocodiles living in the river, bird watching, rafting, and the most memorable would be the 4×4 vehicle adventure in the wilderness filled with many Baobab and Mopane trees.

Visible from either side of the border, Epupa Falls shall become certainly one of the most intriguing natural wonders from Namibia.

Once Upon A Time – April 28 – 2003 – Andre Agassi Recaptures World No. 1 Ranking To Become Oldest Top-Ranked Male In History Of ATP

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Angel Gimalo

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April 28, 2023

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1611 Establishment of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines, oldest existing university in Asia and largest Catholic university in the world

1770 British Captain James Cook, aboard the Endeavour, lands at Botany Bay in Australia

1789 Fletcher Christian leads a mutiny on HMS Bounty against its captain William Bligh in the South Pacific

1910 First night air flight by Claude Grahame-White in England

1937 1st commercial flight across Pacific operated by Pan Am

1977 Andreas Baader and members of terrorist group the Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Gang) jailed for life after a trial lasting nearly 2 years in Stuttgart, Germany

Historical Events Today Events in 2023

Today in Film & TV

1928 RCA and GE install three test television sets in homes in Schenectady, New York, allowing trials of inventor E.F.W. Alexanderson’s first home television receiver; a poor and unsteady 1.5 square inch picture was received from radio transmitter

1965 “My Name is Barbra”, Barbra Streisand’s first television special, premieres on CBS

Today in Music

1940 Glenn Miller records “Pennsylvania 6-5000”

Today in Sport

Georges Bouton and Jules-Albert de Dion causing a stir and setting a record in 1887.

1887 “Europe’s first motoring competition” is ‘won’ by The Marquis de Dion on a steam-powered quadricycle built by French toymaker and engineer Georges Bouton; French newspaper Le Velocipede organized the ‘test’, and Bouton was the only participant

2003 Andre Agassi recaptures the world no. 1 ranking to become the oldest top-ranked male in the history of the ATP rankings (33 years, 13 days)

1902 Using the ISO 8601 standard Year Zero definition for the Gregorian calendar preceded by the Julian calendar, the one billionth minute since the start of January 1 Year Zero occurs at 10:40 AM on this date

2004 Shrek the sheep from Tarras, Central Otago, New Zealand, is finally shorn live on TV after 6 years avoidance; the fleece weighed 27 kg (60 lb)

Famous Weddings

1774 Chief Justice John Jay (28) weds Sarah Van Brugh Livingston (17)

1886 Painter Paul Cézanne (47) weds Marie-Hortense Fiquet (36)

1903 Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst (40) weds Millicent Veronica Willson (21) in New York City

Tanker Accident: Gov Lalong Sympathizes With Victims

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 28, 2023

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The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong says he is deeply disturbed by recent events in the State which have led to loss of lives and properties.

Lalong described the recent attack on Farin Lamba Turu, Jos South Local Government where artesenal miners were killed by attackers as callous, condemnable and unfortunate.

He said already the security is working to apprehend the attackers and bring them to justice.

Plateau Security: Lalong Relaxes Curfew In Jos, Bassa

The Governor sympathised with the families of the victims and assured them that the Government will stop at nothing to ensure that those who take joy in causing pain on innocent citizens are dealt with as no one will be allowed to reverse the gains made in restoring peace and security to the State.

Similarly, the Governor expressed shock and sorrow over the unfortunate accident involving a fuel tanker which exploded and caught fire along Bauchi road Jos leaving many injured, some dead and property destroyed.

Lalong said the situation which led to traffic disruption also affected business activities in the area.

He sympathised with the victims of the accident and praised the gallantry of security personnel and first responders who swung into action to rescue victims and bring the situation under control.

The Governor also regretted and condemned the action of some irate youths at the scene who attacked officials of the FRSC and their vehicles that came to assist in traffic control and evacuation of victims.

The Governor prayed God to comfort those who suffered loses and assured that the Government will step in to bring relief to survivors and other victims.

Head Teachers In England To Vote On Strikes Action

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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April 28, 2023

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Teachers and junior doctors join strike action rally — epa10524382 Public sector workers attend a rally by unions at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, 15 March 2023. Junior doctors, teachers, civil servants and London Underground staff are staging strikes actions for better pay and conditions. The Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt presented his Spring Budget to Parliament on 15 March 2023. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN

Head teachers in England are preparing to hold another vote on whether to strike over pay, funding, workload and wellbeing.

The National Association of Head Teachers union (NAHT), mainly representing primary heads, had already voted overwhelmingly to reject the government’s pay offer for teachers.

The union held a strike vote in January which supported taking action but did not reach the required 50% turnout.

The Department for Education says its pay offer was fair and reasonable.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are already on strike and it could continue into the next academic year.

Most state school teachers in England had a 5% pay rise in 2022, but the unions are asking for further increases and more funding to ensure pay rises do not come from schools existing budgets.

Talks between the government, NAHT and other education unions, which took place in March, resulted in a pay offer comprising a 4.3% rise next year, as well as a £1,000 one-off payment this year.

However, the pay offer was rejected by each of the unions and no further negotiations have been planned with the Department for Education saying the pay would now be decided by the independent pay review body, which would recommend pay rises for next year.

The NEU has since confirmed further strike days, including a walkout which took place on 27th April, planning a strike action on May 2nd, which will be the fifth national strike date this year.

The NASUWT said it would also re-ballot its members on strike action after failing to reach the turnout in its own ballot earlier in the year.

The other school leaders union, ASCL, said it would ballot members on strike action for the first time in its history.

Turkish Evacuation Plane Shot At in Sudan

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 28, 2023

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A Turkish military plane on a mission to evacuate Turkish citizens from conflict-hit Sudan has come under gunfire, the Turkish National Defense Ministry revealed.

The plane, Turkish C-130, headed to Wadi Seidna Air Base for evacuation of its citizens in Khartoum, came under small arms fire, a Turkish ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Dozens Of Evacuees From Sudan Arrive In Kenya

However, the plane landed safely, and no injuries were reported, the statement added, according to TRTWorld.

Reacting to the report, the Sudanese army accused the paramilitary, Rapid Support Forces, of shooting at the Turkish military jet.

But the RSF denied firing at the plane insisting that the Sudanese army was spreading lies.

“Our forces have remained strictly committed to the humanitarian truce that we agreed upon since midnight, and it is not true that we targeted any aircraft in the sky of Wadi Seidna in Omdurman.

“How can it be reasonable for our forces to attack a Turkish evacuation plane while it was us who protected the mission in recent days and helped evacuations in all districts of the capital,” the RSF said in a statement.

In spite of the development however, the Turkish ministry revealed that “the first group of our citizens was safely brought to Türkiye by planes belonging to the Turkish Armed Forces.”

Algeria 2023: Golden Eaglets Launch Campaign Against Zambia In Constantine

By

Emenike Agu

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April 28, 2023

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Five-time world champions Nigeria will begin her quest for honours at this year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations when they take on their Zambian counterparts in the Algerian city of Constantine on Sunday evening.

The Golden Eaglets flew into Constantine on Tuesday night, after MRI tests conducted on the 26 players in Algiers following their arrival in the North African country from Egypt.

Nigeria, two-time winners of the continental championship, have won the world titles in 1985 (China), 1993 (Japan), 2007 (Korea Republic), 2013 (United Arab Emirates) and 2015 (Chile).

The Confederation of African Football launched the U17 event as a tournament in Mali in 1995, with the Golden Eaglets finishing behind rivals Black Starlets of Ghana. The Eaglets did not qualify for the 1997 finals, and lost out in the group phase in Guinea in 1999.

Nigeria were champions of the 4^th CAF U17 Tournament in Seychelles in 2001, easily defeating Burkina Faso 3-0 in Victoria. The Golden Eaglets won again in Togo in 2015, and went on to win the FIFA World Cup in Korea Republic.

The last time the Golden Eaglets met Zambia at this level was in 2015 in Niger Republic, when Nigeria triumphed 3-1 in Niamey with two of the goals from Victor Osimhen, who would go on to become the record goalscorer at the FIFA U17 World Cup (with 10 goals) as Nigeria won a fifth global title in Chile later that year. Interestingly, Zambia’s goal was scored by Patson Daka, who would go on to dazzle at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations hosted and won by his country two years later.

For this 14^th edition of the Africa U17 Cup of Nations, the Eaglets will also play Morocco and South Africa in Group B. Hosts Algeria will tackle Senegal, Congo and Somalia in Group A, while Cameroon duel with Mali, Burkina Faso and South Sudan in Group C.

The four top-placed teams at the end of the tournament will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup.

Liberia Student Leaders to Benefit From Diplomatic Training in China

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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April 28, 2023

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Liberia has announced the selection of 25 student leaders to undergo three weeks of diplomatic training in China.

The initiative is aimed at enhancing their leadership skills and preparing them to represent Liberia on the international stage and at home.

The announcement was made by Minister, Dee Maxwell Kemayah during a briefing at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

He stated that the program is part of the ongoing reform process at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the vision and directives of the President to prioritize and attract support for Liberia’s rapid post-war development.

The Minister emphasized the importance of developing a technocratic foreign service for Liberia and enriching previous programs and initiatives to support Liberia’s economic development and diplomacy efforts.

He added that the Liberian Young Diplomat in Training Initiative will provide training opportunities for young Liberians across the country who are interested in pursuing careers in diplomacy but lack the financial resources to do so.

He also said the participants were nominated or recommended by organizations including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, the Federation of Liberian Youth, Liberia National Student Union, the University of Liberia Student Union, Montserrado County Student Union, Grand Bassa University Student Union, Sinoe University Student Union, Maryland University Student Union, Margibi University Student Union, Bong University Student Union, Union of Nimba County University Student Association, Lofa University Student Union, Rivercess University Student Union, Grand Cape Mount University Student Union, Gbapulu University Student Union, Bomi University Student Union, Grand Gedah University Student Union, Grand Kru University Student Union and River Gees county University Student Union amongst other.

He further said that the training program is aimed to benefit all 15 counties in Liberia and the minimum requirement for participation was enrollment in a university and above, adding that the selected participants will be absorbed in the diplomatic services of Liberia or other sectors where their knowledge and capacity will be most needed.

Tottenham 2-2 Man Utd: Son Heung-Min Says Fightback Was Driven By Anger

By

Emenike Agu

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April 28, 2023

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Tottenham’s fightback against Manchester United was driven by “anger” after last weekend’s “unacceptable” defeat, says forward Son Heung-min.

Tottenham lost their previous game 6-1 at Newcastle and trailed 2-0 on Thursday before pegging United back.

Pedro Porro’s goal gave Spurs hope before Son completed the recovery with a 79th-minute equaliser.

“We wanted to give everything and that was the dressing room speech,” said Son.

The draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Ryan Mason’s first game back as interim manager was enough to lift Spurs above Liverpool and Aston Villa into fifth spot.

They sit six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with five games left

Son added: “We couldn’t let the game go. We were really angry about it, we didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half-time.

“The last week was unacceptable and we didn’t want to repeat that. We feel really, really sorry for the performance and result and today we wanted to bring a good energy.

“We really appreciated [the fans’] support and they were fighting with us.”

Former Tottenham player Mason, who also took interim charge when Jose Mourinho was dismissed in April 2021, said it was important for Spurs to build on the result after a torrid run that has led to three different managers in a month.

Cristian Stellini was put in charge following Antonio Conte’s departure but was sacked after the Newcastle thrashing on Sunday, with Mason taking over until the end of the season.

“It has been difficult after Sunday as the manner of the defeat wasn’t nice,” added Mason.

“The most important thing now and until end of the season is to act as a team. Small details can change results. The most important thing to me will always be together.

“To see a team that was fighting for each other, it’s important in football and probably the most important thing.”

Some thought 90% is enough – Ten Hag

Manchester United travelled to Spurs on the back of beating Brighton on penalties in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday and went 2-0 up following first-half goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford before failing to secure the win.

“The time is enough to recover,” said United manager Erik ten Hag.

“Our players are in demand to be ready. Today we are not ready. Some thought 90% is enough. But we lose focus.

“That’s why we give goals away. We did not do our jobs in positioning.”

United have a six point advantage and two games in hand on Spurs and sixth-placed Aston Villa, who they host on Sunday.

“I know they are not robots and it is a tough schedule. But when you are playing for Manchester United, you have to give [everything] on every occasion,” added Ten Hag.