The Phoenix Africa - January 2023

NIGERIAN SCHOOLS SET TO CONDUCT LESSONS IN LOCAL LANGUAGES

Nigeria says it wants primary school teachers to conduct lessons in local languages instead of English, which is currently used. But how practical is that in a country where more than 600 different tongues are spoken?

Kareem Abiodun Habeebullah, whose mother tongue is Yoruba, was just a secondary school student when he was whipped in class for not speaking in English.

"When I was growing up, I was struggling to speak English," he said. "There was a particular class," he says, recalling the

incident in 2010. The teacher called him up to answer a question, and he was stumped.

"I know the answer but I can only respond with my mother language," he remembers saying.

The teacher replied: "No way", came to where he stood, and then the beating began. Corporal

punishment is still common in some Nigerian schools, although moves have been made to eradicate it. She gave me one stroke of the cane." His was not an isolated incident he says, and other students at his school received harsh reprimands for daring to speak in Yoruba instead

of English.

More than 60 years after independence from Britain, English remains Nigeria's official language, and is used in public settings such as schools, universities, government and many workplaces.

Connecting Africa and the Caribbean: Building Resilience for Tourism Sustainability

Africa’s ecological and geological characteristics, as well as its geographical location, have been identified as major factors contributing to the volatility of continental tourism.

Many African destinations have traditionally, and more intensely since the emergence of the climate change phenomenon, experienced exaggerated risks associated with droughts, earthquakes, floods, cyclones, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, population displacement and disease outbreaks.

The COVID19 pandemic has further compounded the inherent vulnerabilities of African tourism.

Africa recorded a 75 % decline in tourist arrivals in 2020 and an estimated USD 120 billion in GDP contributions from tourism in 2020.

This translates to over five times the loss in receipts recorded in 2009 during the global economic and financial crisis.

This also translates into the loss of 12.4 million jobs, or 51 % less jobs in the tourism between 2019 and 2020.

Unsurprisingly, many local communities, especially those in the vicinity of wildlife conservation areas and who depend on tourism for their economic livelihoods, are now facing risks of starvation and lack of basic humanitarian services, due to the steep tourism decline experienced over the past several months.

EDITORS NOTE

Welcome to “The Phoenix Africa” an exclusive

FREE quality Newspaper for the people and business community of Africa.

The Phoenix Africa is a fresh and vibrant publication bringing quality content to the masses. The first free newspaper to be published in Africa by Africans. Leading the way and setting trends.

This is a sister publication to the successful “The Phoenix Newspaper UK” which has stayed true to its focus in providing a regular mix of Positive and Informative articles with an honest and unbiased viewpoint that have a direct connection to its growing readership of 8million worldwide.

The Phoenix Newspaper is renowned as the “voice of the people” truthful and professional journalism, in depth reports and interviews, facts and not fiction, presented in a bright and refreshing

publication that attracts and captivates its audience.

Now these exciting developments are coming to the people of Africa in this Exclusive Free Newspaper & Online Publication.

Working with the people and communities of Africa, starting in Ghana, which is seen as the Gateway, The Phoenix Africa will be connecting with senior government departments and embracing the leaders of major business enterprises, we will be bringing something for everyone, in this new and exclusive publication providing a platform for the Role Models that the next generation will aspire to be.

Building upon our success “Phoenix Africa” will contain exclusive news and developments from across the continent of Africa and the world, bringing detailed and authoritative reports and reviews of matters that reflect and affect both the lifestyle and prosperity of the African people.

This is a platform that will create employment for many young people who aspire to be within this type of industry.

It will invariably give them the chance to write their own narrative to reflect a more inclusive attitude when representing themselves, their culture and their people.

It is important to note that we do NOT report sensationalised news, only uplifting and nonbiased apolitical journalism.

Welcome to The Phoenix Africa, your one stop shop of

everything positive. We have a need to be accountable to the next generation.

The Phoenix Africa has big plans for the new year with our annual awards taking place again.

The team is ready and waiting to connect with you, so please do get in touch and find out what The Phoenix can do for you and your business.

Connecting Africa and the Caribbean: Building Resilience for Tourism Sustainability

Continued from Front Page

The current pandemic has only magnified some of the more traditional, structural challenges facing many African destinations.

These challenges have weakened their resilience threshold.

They include underdeveloped infrastructure, political instability, lack of security, safety and high crime, difficulty faced by investors in accessing finance, high taxes on tourism investments, low levels of tourism skill, red tape and bureaucracy and low levels of budgetary support from governments, even in destinations where tourism is a major economic contributor.

This conference intends to engage themes that are critical to enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of African tourism including: cross-sectorial collaborations, international funding and technical assistance, the establishment of resilience barometers, enhanced research, the adaptation of science, technology and innovation, niche market development, human capacity-building, small business support, training and development, incorporating African diasporas into the tourism value chain, multi- destination arrangements, enhancing destination attractiveness and supporting product development among local communities.

The event will culminate with the launch GTRCMCs Tourism Resilience Day – a day which recognizes the importance of global tourism resilience for sustainable growth and development.

“So February 15 to 17 is going to be a major period for Caribbean tourism. And Jamaica is particularly honored to provide the setting for it. And the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, in particular, would be a forum that will enable this powerful discourse between Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Caribbean.”

The Jamaica tourism minister said the conference is very important if regional tourism is not only to recover to but grow beyond 2019 levels.

He said that most Caribbean destinations are recovering well.

“But the challenge is to go 2019, because now you will be growing against a different volume.

“You’ll be growing against where you were two and a half years ago. The reality of recovery is that those who are fortunate enough to recover from where they were rarely grow beyond,” Bartlett said, adding that in most destinations, especially in the Caribbean where there have been disruptions, “they have not recovered, they have receded.

“So recovery is really a very strong and arduous task. But growth after recovery is rare and precious.

"And so part of my mission is to get there to have growth and so that’s why the new markets, that’s why the gateway through the Middle East, which will connect us with Asia, with India, with China, with Northern Africa and the Levant countries through the Jordanian gateway. So I’m excited about that prospect.”

l Steve Williams, Editor, The Phoenix Africa

l Nana Agyeman Amlak, Ambassador, The Phoenix Africa

l Dr Alex Akwaeze, Operations Manager, The Phoenix Africa

l Julian Agyeman, Marketing PR and Events Executive. The Phoenix Africa

l Roland Joseph Tetteh, Assistant Editor, The Phoenix Africa

l Gideon Osei Kankam, Sales & Marketing, The Phoenix Africa

l Ayo Akinfe, Contributor

l Bernard Kwakye, Webmaster, The Phoenix Africa

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin, Editor In Chief, The Phoenix Africa

HSBC CLOSING 114 OF ITS BRANCHES WITH MORE PEOPLE BANKING ONLINE

HSBC says it will close 114 more branches in the UK from April, as customers using them have fallen significantly since the pandemic. The bank said it would try to redeploy affected staff but that about 100 would lose their jobs.

Banks have closed hundreds of branches in recent years as more people bank online and lenders cut costs. HSBC said it will invest tens of millions updating and improving its remaining 327 UK branches.

Jackie Uhi, managing director of UK distribution, said: "People are changing the way they bank and footfall in many branches is at an all-time low, with no signs of it returning. Banking remotely is becoming the norm for the vast majority of us."

She said the decision to close a branch was never easy or taken lightly, especially if it was the last branch in an area. She said HSBC was investing heavily in post-closure measures, such as providing free tablet devices to help some branch customers bank digitally, alongside coaching to help them migrate to digital banking.

The fresh closures come after HSBC said in March that it planned to shut 69 branches by this autumn. It said footfall in three quarters of the branches set to close had halved

over the past five years.

The trend has sped up since the pandemic, with some HSBC branches serving fewer than 250 people per week, it added. By contrast, it said more than nine in 10 transactions are now done digitally.

The shift to online banking has seen High Street banks and building societies close more than 5,200 branches since 2015, according to figures from the Which? consumer group. Of these:

• Natwest, which owns RBS and Ulster Bank, has closed more than 1,200.

• Lloyds Banking Group, which owns Halifax and Bank of Scotland, has closed more than 850, with plans to close more than 70 more in 2023.

• Barclays is the individual bank that has shrunk the most, closing more than 960 branches.

It has left some communities without access to bank branches, while many cash machines have also shut.

It has disproportionately affected the elderly and those without access to the internet, as well as small businesses that bank in cash.

Tobias Gruber, chief executive of loan broker My Community Finance, said banks should take the money they save through closing branches to improve digital and telephone banking.

"It's unacceptable for bank customers to wait up to 30 minutes to speak to someone [by telephone] when it's their only choice because their local branch has vanished," he said.

While Post Offices are one al-

ternative for paying-in cash and cheques, he said the move by HSBC will leave rural customers and those unable to use internet banking even more "frustrated, stuck and unable to access their money".

Casthouse Specialist Partner With Aston University To Develop Energy-Efficient Recycling Systems

ASTON UNIVERSITY has teamed up with Midlands-based casthouse technology specialists through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to develop a suite of energy-efficient aluminium recycling systems that are expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

This new partnership with Mechaterm International Ltd follows the successful completion of the company’s first collaboration with Aston University which resulted in a more intelligent design process for furnaces and ancillary equipment for the global aluminium industry using complex design automation techniques and algorithms.

A KTP is a three-way collab-

oration between a business, an academic partner and a highly qualified researcher, known as a KTP associate. Mechatherm International Limited is a leading provider of bespoke casthouse equipment to the aluminium industry.

Due to increasing energy costs, aluminium production from ore is becoming less commercially viable, leading to many producers cutting back on primary aluminium production.

This partnership will enable Mechatherm to gain critical knowledge in thermal management processes to develop and take to market a range of cost-efficient solutions which improve energy efficiency through waste heat utilisation.

Mencap Launches New GP Resources For Black, Asian And Minority Ethnic People With Learning Disabilities

MENCAP, the UK’s learning disability charity, has launched its new ‘easy read’ GP Learning Disability Register resources which are designed to support people with a learning disability from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

The GP Learning Disability Register is an essential document for the health and wellbeing of the 1.2 million people with a learning disability in England.

It helps doctors and healthcare staff to understand the support needs of people with a learning disability – a group of people who routinely face huge inequalities every day of their lives, particularly when accessing healthcare services.

Mencap has worked with four different advocacy organisations; Bradford People First, Grace Eyre based in Hove, Midland Mencap and Rochdale Gateway Leisure, to create

unique resources which focus on what the GP Learning Disability Register is, the benefits of joining and the range of extra support available, including reasonable adjustments that people with a learning disability or their families and carers can ask of healthcare professionals.

Data from the recent Learning from Lives and Deaths - people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) report, would suggest that those missing from the register include a high number from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

The report also found that people with a learning disability of Black, Black British, African or Caribbean, mixed ethnic group and Asian or Asian British ethnicity died at a younger age in comparison to people of white ethnicity.

AIRBNB URGED TO REQUIRE CARBON MONOXIDE DEVICES AFTER THREE DIE IN MEXICO

Family members of three tourists who died while staying at an Airbnb in Mexico City, apparently of carbon monoxide poisoning, urged the short-term rental company Thursday to require detectors in properties it lists to prevent future tragedies.

“Our main goal is to try to get the word out to those planning to use short-term rentals like Airbnb,” said Jennifer Marshall, whose son, Jordan Marshall, was one of the travellers. “We want to put pressure on Airbnb to regulate and mandate carbon monoxide detectors going forward. It’s the only way we could think of to honour our children.”

Lawyer L. Chris Stewart of the Atlanta-based firm Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys also said a wrongful death lawsuit is planned against Airbnb and others

as a result of the incident. “We’re asking Airbnb to mandate that all of their listings have detectors,” he said.

“They’ve

detectors too. They know they’ve been killing people in their rentals. We know of at least three other cases.”

Stewart said however that they are awaiting information from investigators in Mexico to determine “all the defendants” before filing the suit. The three travellers who died last month were Kandace Florence, 28, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; her long-time friend, Jordan Marshall, 28, who was also from Virginia Beach but was teaching in New Orleans; and Courtez Hall, 33, of New Orleans, who also taught in the city.

They visited the country for Day of the Dead and were staying at the vacation rental in an upscale part of Mexico City.

According to news reports, Florence contacted her boyfriend back in the States to say she was feeling sick, and he contacted her Airbnb host to go check on them. Authorities later found all three dead. In a statement, Airbnb said it has suspended the listing and cancelled upcoming reservations pending investigation of the incident.

“This is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones as they grieve such an unimaginable loss”, the company said. “Our priority right now is supporting those impacted as the authorities investigate what happened, and we stand ready to assist with their inquiries however we can.”

created international and national bans on parties, on weapons, on cameras. They could easily mandate carbon monoxide

NIGERIAN SCHOOLS SET TO CONDUCT LESSONS IN LOCAL LANGUAGES

Continued from Front Page

But the political tide appears to be turning. In November, Education Minister Adamu Adamu announced the National Language Policy which stipulates that the first six years of primary education should be taught in the children's mother tongue.

He said the changes were necessary because pupils learn better when they are taught in their own mother tongue. Currently, primary school children are taught in English, with teachers in

certain communities mixing local languages with English for ease of comprehension.

However, it is unclear how the new policy will be rolled out because - in a country where government estimates say 625 different languages are spoken, and with people moving around the country - many Nigerian children live in areas where their mother tongue is not the dominant local language. Teaching in the mother tongue was in fact first put forward as a national policy

in the 1970s, but because of difficulties rolling it out in such a linguistically diverse country, it was never put into effect, as the government wishes to do now.

The policy is already facing stiff opposition. Despite his own experience, Mr Habeebullah, who is now a schoolteacher, does not think teaching in local languages is a good idea.

For many middle-class Nigerians, especially in the south, English is now their mother tongue and some may not speak any local

languages. This is partly a result of marriages between members of different ethnic groups, and people moving to cities, where English is the lingua franca.

Lagos' local language is Yoruba, but as it is the country's commercial hub, people who speak other languages have also moved there and still speak their mother tongue. Despite English and Pidgin being the lingua franca in the ethnically diverse city of Lagos, education ministry spokesperson Ben Goong

confirmed that Yoruba would be the language of instruction in the metropolis.

For the many Nigerian children who don't speak English at home, being taught in a language they don't necessarily understand very well from an early age puts them at a disadvantage at school. Some parents who speak their local language at home complain that their children are not learning fast enough in schools.

It is not necessarily the role of the school to teach primary school

children how to speak English, but to boost their literacy by teaching them how to read and write in their first language - whether that be Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Pidgin or another Nigerian language. The government says the children will also have the chance to learn a second Nigerian language as well as receive teaching in a foreign language such as English, French or Arabic at a certain stage.

However, it is not entirely clear when the policy will be put in action.

THE PHOENIX AFRICA AMBASSADOR NANA AGYEMAN AMLAK SPEAKS TO GRADUATING CLASS

Following the 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards Celebrations for The Phoenix Newspaper in Accra, Ghana, Nana Agyeman Amlak, Ambassador to The Phoenix Africa Newspaper Foundation was invited to St Joseph Anglican Basic School in Nsuta, Ashanti, Ghana to take part in their Open Day and Graduation

Celebration.

'Humility and Hardwork' is the motto of the school, which was evident by the caliber of the students in attendance at the graduation.

On the day, Nana Amlak addressed the gathered audience, where he reminded them of the power of The Phoenix.

The inspirational bird of fire that represents rebirth, and the ability to

rise from the ashes like the Phoenix to take on your dreams and aspirations. The event was also in aid of completion of a six-unit classroom building which is ongoing to help ease congestion in their classrooms and to promote efficient and effective teaching and learning for quality education.

Business & Finance

A Dual Celebration to mark ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week’ in Britain

Business Raises £64,000 For Homeless Support Service

McMillan, Melissa Roche, Natalie Allen

Mark Coleman Birmingham demolition contractor Colemans celebrated 60 years in business with a £64,000 donation to local charity, SIFA Fireside, after a year of fundraising activities.

Colemans, a family business founded by John and Norah Coleman in October 1962, hosted a 60th anniversary dinner where they presented a cheque for £60,000 to Birmingham-based SIFA Fireside. The Digbeth charity supports clients in their recovery from the effects of homelessness as well as working to prevent people in Birmingham from falling into homelessness.

Colemans employees helped to raise £30,000 with a series of

fundraising activities since March 2022 and the figure was then matched by the business. An additional £4,080.68 was raised on their 60th Anniversary celebratory evening, taking the total donation figure to £64,080.68.

Melissa Roche, head of Fundraising, Communications and Volunteering at SIFA Fireside said; “Colemans have given us invaluable support over the years, but this amazing amount of money will have a huge positive impact on the health and happiness of the homeless and vulnerably housed people of Birmingham. With the cost of living crisis beginning to have an impact, this is more important now than ever.”

CEO of Colemans, Mark Coleman, said: Our support for SIFA Fireside spans many years, built

on early relationships between my grandparents Norah and John Coleman and the founding member of the charity, Sister Sabina.

“I’m proud to have continued this support throughout the years and in particular, helping the needy and vulnerable in the city of Birmingham. The donation to SIFA Fireside was made possible thanks to the efforts of many people, and we’re delighted to be able to help support the community in this way.”

The funds raised will help to keep the doors open at SIFA Fireside’s Drop-In Centre where clients are offered tenancy support, employability advice and money management sessions as well as hot food, clean clothes and shower facilities.

Ampa Announces West Midlands Promotions

LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL services group Ampa has announced promotions in the West Midlands across its house of brands including Shakespeare Martineau and Marrons. Promoted to associate within Shakespeare Martineau is Elaine Hart, Fatema Miah and Victoria Kirkpatrick. Elaine Hart, associate within the private client team in Solihull, is an expert in probate matters including inheritance tax bearing estates. Fatema is an experienced real estate lawyer advising on a range of high value and complex transactions.

She specialises is Islamic finance and provides a professional and knowledgeable service to real estate finance clients, while Victoria deals with a wide range of commercial disputes including contractual, shareholder and partnership disputes, both at the Birmingham hub. Planning experts Sachin Parmar and Alasdair Thorne, who work within Ampa’s non-legal planning, design and development consultancy brand Marrons, have been promoted to planning director and associate director, respectively.

The Grand Station was the home of Community Education Academy of Leadership’s (CEAL’s) 20th anniversary celebrations and official launch of the ‘British African Entrepreneurship Journey’ (BAEJ) book, Monday, 14 November 2022.

Invitees from Europe, the USA and others from far-flung UK Regions; namely London, Midland Counites, Yorkshire & The Humber and Wales respectively, attended.

The dual event showcased a unique example of cultural and ethnic inclusion as well as representation. Amongst the leading visitors, was Rita Odumosu, a Trustee of the Council for Education in the Commonwealth (CEC) Project Manager, Harminder Kaur Bhogal, spoke about the obstacles that confronted CEAL over the last two decades and acknowledged that its sustainability was built on the commitment of directors, even while the organisation adapted consistently, to the vagaries of the funding regime.

“At times, I felt like giving up, but our Chair and other Directors encouraged me to continue. They showed faith in the work we have accomplished for so many communities. "We have survived too,

by Dr. Christopher A. Johnson

because of our continued focus on clients who need capacity building, education, enterprise, wellbeing and other essential services. We are grateful to all of the agencies, institutions and organisations that have all made these and more, truly possible”, she asserted.

Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE who was accompanied by her husband and consort, Karl Samuels, officiated at the event. She praised the CEAL’s stewardship, as evidenced by its core services provision.

She acknowledged its Chair, Dr Christopher A. Johnson, author of the ground-breaking ‘BAEJ’ publication, for his outstanding work of ensuring that the enterprise legacy of minority ethnic businesses and communities, remained visible and intact.

The ‘First Citizen’ of Wolverhampton identified key signifiers of the publication such as: the number of case studies, female business owners, youth entrepreneurs, the contribution of ethnic firms to the economy and the market share of the African firm sector in Britain.

CEAL presented awards and certificates to Harminder Kaur

Certificates of appreciation were presented to individuals who contributed to researching the ‘BAEJ’ book and organising book signing events respectively.

Recipients were: Professor George Karani, Bernadette Grocock, Carol Lockhart, Stephanie Thomas, Sukhi Sunner, Amanda Nalini Munroe (Chairperson of the evening’s proceedings).

A major highlight of the evening was a live-audience interview with Dr. Johnson, by Research Associate and Lecturer, Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies, University of Wolverhampton, Dr. Kiranpreet Kaur Baath.

The interview captured the purpose of the ‘BAEJ’ book, the issues faced by the author and the benefits that readers can derive from this historic publication. Members of the audience also had the chance to question the author on the impact of the book on Britain.

The proceedings were interspersed by musical renditions that captured the cultural, religious and social tapestry of celebrants at the dual event.

Bhogal, Glenys Jones, Ajit Singh Ubhi, Shivarjun Singh Bhogal and Ruth Edgcumbe for their contribution to civic affairs and education accordingly.

Aw a r d - w I n n I n g journalist, editor and publisher Dr Christopher Johnson writes his monthly column in The Phoenix aiming to inform, educate and entertain.

SIFA FIRESIDE’S Michael

with Colemans’

PAULINE WRIGHT

STILL CONNECTING COMMUNITIES THROUGH LAW, LEISURE & LEARNING

Founded in 1998, in a little shop on Heathfield Road, in Handsworth, Birmingham, by the late, indomitable John Holcroft and Pauline Wright, Law, Leisure & Learning has been helping families and individuals by ‘planting the seeds’ of hope and higher expectations into the hearts and minds of all thosE

who have crossed its threshold.

Despite its travails - the greatest being the death of John who died at the age of 68 in 2013, following a long battle with kidney disease –the charitable organisation stands stronger than ever, today, with the legendary man’s widow, Pauline, carrying on the first-class work, without funding, as it continues to change people’s lives, as it guides

youngsters away from the temptation of gang culture, by creating a safe haven for them to spend time away from the streets and in a ‘welcoming’ educational setting. Doing food bank, summer sports, personal development programmes for young people – run by young people – adults also use the fully-used, multi-purpose centre, on Queens Head Road, still in Handsworth, during the day, for job search, or updating CVs. It was recognised by Birmingham City Council for the project it did during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games – through programmes of art and photography.

“A lot of our young people learned a lot from that”, Pauline recalled. “It was great because we have always been open to all.

“I don’t see colour, race, creed, or age. Law, Leisure & Learning’s door has always been open for everyone! Here, we allow every single person to fulfil their full

potential.

“Three years ago, we built a beautiful community garden, where we planted fruit trees for children to plant – plum tree, plus green and red apple trees – which flourish beautifully for them (the children) and other people to pick from and create beautiful recipes to eat and share. It grows in what we call the ‘Sunshine Corner’, where the sun hits you. We also do a Community RePaint programme where we help people to brighten up their homes or/and play areas, we help community groups, young people who have just come out of care, and we also run a food bank.

“Every Wednesday we run a food bank – there are some families on our books where we regularly deliver food to their homes. Here, at Queen’s Head Road, we’ve also fixed up the building, turning them into classrooms.

Once approaching Law, Leisure & Learning (LLL), you get a picture (quite literally) of what it’s all about. On the front of the building, you will see the messages; ‘The Pen is Mightier than the Sword’ and ‘Knowledge is the Key’ are the messages of welcome

In the summer, it is split two ways – in the day it’s almost exclusively dedicated to adults and elders in the community – where we offer advice and guidancewhilst in the evening it’s a children and young people “take-over” for an after-school club.

Qualified in nursery provision, Pauline’s vision was noted by way of securing Prince’s Trust funding, which allowed LLL to develop a basketball court, play area, plus freezers, fridges, storage and food bank. The full programme has since – as always – left its legacy as children who have grown up in the centre now volunteer to work with today’s users – children, parents and elders – and are part of the Community RePaint programme.

Furthermore, some, who have gone on to be qualified teachers and learner provide lessons there

for the current cohorts. And for Pauline; “I (we) get certificates and government commendations for our work.

“But the only commendation I need is from God!”

With a Mission Statement which reads: “To enable all people in our community to help themselves to realise their full potential for a higher quality of life”, there’s noone better than Pauline Wright to see Law, Leisure & Learning be

probably the very best of its kind serve the very best of its area – no matter who you are and where you’re from.

As she continues to develop the Maths and English, all activities - inhouse, or on residentials - remain as FREE as it was in 1998. And, with the people businesses and organisations around remain part of LLL, there’s no stopping her any time soon.

l Pauline Wright welcoming everyone to Law Leisure & Learning

Celebrating over 25 years at the pinnacle of hip hop, it’s been a career that has seen the Doggfather cement his undisputed influence on music with chart-topping, multi-platinum records, while also solidifying his importance to wider culture as an actor, businessman and more across the board.

The tour sees Snoop Dogg enlist a selection of his key collaborators from the breadth of his iconic music career including further West Coast hip hop royalty; Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Obie Trice and D12. They will also be joined by the multi-million streamed Irish rap duo Versatile.

Snoop Dogg collaborator and platinum-selling rapper Xzibit will join the tour for the dates in Scotland and England.

West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg has come a long way since being discovered by Dr. Dre in the early 1990. As impressive as he was when guesting on Dre’s The Chronic in 1992, few could have guessed he’d go on to global fame, tens of millions of record sales, and a career in movies and TV.

And that’s only part of the story, from battles with the law to reinvention as a reggae artist.

He was born Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. in Long Beach, California, on October 20, 1971. His "Snoop Dogg" nickname came from his mother because she thought he looked like Snoopy from the Peanuts cartoon.

He played piano and sang at his local Baptist church, before starting rap in sixth grade. After graduating high school, Snoop was arrested several times for drug possession and spent time in prison.

He was also associated with the Rollin’ 20 Crips Gang. He started making music as a way out of his troubles and recorded early demos with his cousin Nate Dogg and friend Warren G as 213.

A track on one of these came to the attention of Dr. Dre who invited Snoop — then rapping under the name Snoop Doggy Dogg — to audition.

From there they collaborated on a song called "Deep Cover" for the soundtrack of the film for the same name; and Snoop became the key rapper on Dre’s hugely successful first solo album, The Chronic, in 1992.

Snoop's first album, the Dre-produced Doggystyle (1993), climbed its way to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's hip-hop and Top 200 charts, based in part on the success of the singles "Who Am I (What's My Name)?" and "Gin and Juice."

Next came a short film called Murder Was the Case, the soundtrack of which went double

platinum. Snoop's next album, Tha Doggfather (1996), also reached the top of the charts, despite the absence of Dre, who had left Death Row over a contract dispute.

Snoop then left Death Row himself, falling out with label mogul Suge Knight and moving to Master P’s No Limit Records.

He scored the top slot on the hip-hop charts with his next two albums: Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998) and No Limit Top Dogg (1999). His last album for No Limit, The Last Meal, came in 2000 and sold over 2 million copies. By now his sound had become less "gangsta rap" and somewhat smoother.

Snoop continued to make music throughout the noughts, enjoying a big hit in 2004 with the chart-topping single "Drop It Like It's Hot," which sparked several fruitful collaborations with Pharrell Williams.

He reunited with Warren G and Nate Dogg as 213 to

drop the album The Hard Way in 2004. In 2007, Snoop became the first artist to release a

track — "It's The DOG" — as a ringtone prior to its release as a single.

He also branched out into acting during the same period and appeared in several films, including Starsky & Hutch, The Wash and Training Day. He also made guest appearances on television shows, including The L Word and Weeds, and starred in his own E! reality show, Snoop Dogg's Father Hood, in 2007.

He was part of a sketch show, Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, and participated in the Comedy Central Roast of the future president Donald Trump.

He also uses his likeable laconic personality to good effect in a new venture for VH1, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, where he and Martha Stewart host dinner parties for various celebrities.

Outside of music, Snoop has made investments in the burgeoning cannabis business. In November 2015 he

launched Leafs By Snoop, becoming the first A-list celebrity to brand a line of cannabis products.

That same year he also launched a new digital-media venture called Merry Jane, which focuses on the latest marijuana news. In May 2017

Snoop dropped his fifteenth studio album Neva Left. He also released a gospel album titled Bible of Love in March

2018.

He is held in high esteem and affection by hip-hop fans worldwide, and is one of the most recognizable faces and voices of the whole genre, even to those who don’t listen to his music. He has the distinction for having the most Grammy nominations of any music artist— 17 to date — without having won one. But as Snoop Dogg shows few signs of retiring, don’t write him off just yet.

SNOOP DOGG UK & IRELAND TOUR MARCH 2023

14th – Belfast, SSE Arena

15th – Manchester, AO Arena

16th – Glasgow, SEC Hydro

21st – London, O2 Arena

26th – Dublin, 3Arena

27th – Leeds, First Direct Arena

28th – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena

Extra UK tour dates announced for in demand Babatunde Aléshé

BABATUNDE ALÉSHÉ is one of the fastest rising stars in British Comedy. After recently warming the hearts of the nation with his incredible stint in the jungle as part of this year’s I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, he has announced a host of extra dates, due to phenomenal demand, for his upcoming Babatunde Aléshé: Babahood UK headline tour, kicking off in January. A powerhouse performer, his stand up presents a hilariously fresh perspective, oozing charisma whilst showcasing

impeccable stagecraft and comic timing.

A firm TV favourite, the hugely popular award winning comedian, actor and podcaster has appeared in shows including Guessable (Comedy Central), House of Games (BBC), Sorry I Didn’t Know (ITV), The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains (Comedy Central), Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave) as well as a cast regular in the BAFTA nominated Celebrity Gogglebox (C4). In 2022

Babatunde’s Mission Imagination podcast series won a prestigious ARIAS Award.

With the tour starting at the Komedia, in Brighton, on December 26, 2022 and finishing on May 27th at G-Live in Guildford, extra shows include additions Nottingham’s Playhouse, Salford’s Lowry, London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Leeds’ City Varieties, the Oran Mor in Glasgow, the Tyne Oran Mor Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle and the Corn Exchange in Cambridge.

Jesy Nelson And Zion Foster ‘A Thing’ Following Romance In Jamaica?

JESY NELSON IS said to be getting close to rapper Zion Foster after the pair spent time together on a romantic trip to Jamaica.

The former Little Mix member, 31, is thought to be keeping her romance with Zion low key by keeping each other out of their social media posts while they were holidaying in the Caribbean. The luxury getaway included the couple jetting off to the five-star Sandals resort in Montego Bay on the north of the island.

The all-inclusive hotel tends to specialise in romantic breaks and honeymoons. It also features Love Nest Suites overlooking the ocean complete with bathtubs on the balcony.

It was reported that a source said: "It's early days and there is definitely no label on things but Jesy and Zion have grown close in recent weeks.

They are taking things at their own pace and playing it all by ear, but they are really enjoying each other's company. Jamaica was

the perfect chance to really get to know each other away from where they could be recognised.

This comes after it has been confirmed that Jesy is working on new music. She revealed that she's set to release brand-new music in the New Year after apparently hosting a 'listening party' with her friends. The 31-year-old split from her record label over creative differences.

Earlier in the year Jesy parted ways with label Polydor after they failed to agree on new music. After re-working her debut album, Jesy is said to be "overwhelmed" by the positive reaction from her close pals.

Talking about her upcoming music, Jesy told her fans: "Hello my beautiful people, I am back!” she wrote after returning to social media following a break. ‘I decided I needed a bit of a social media break, and it did me the world of good. I have missed you all so much.

ELLEN DEGENERES' DANCING

DJ STEPHEN ‘TWITCH’ DIES

Best known as the dancing DJ and sidekick on The Ellen Show, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, has died by suicide.

Birmingham

Hippodrome And Chinese Festival Committee

Birmingham Announce Lunar New Year Celebrations Return

Confirming the news, the TV star's wife Allison Holker Boss said he was "the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans". He became an integral part of Ellen DeGeneres' US talk show from 2014, until it finished earlier this year.

WILL START in the city centre with a packed programme of performances in partnership with Bullring & Grand Central on Saturday 21 January.

FESTIVITIES

The celebrations will continue in Southside on Sunday 22 January with performances, family activities, food stalls and much more. Sponsored by Uber Eats and in association with Southside District and The Arcadian, the Sunday programme will celebrate the official first day of the Year of the Rabbit and mark a welcomed return to Southside after three years, with the newly redeveloped Hippodrome Square at the heart of the event.

James Wong, Chair of the Chinese Festival Commit-

tee Birmingham said: “We’re thrilled to bring Lunar New Year festivities back to Southside in 2023. As you may have spotted, the name of the event is different from previous years; we have made this change to recognise communities across the world who celebrate the Lunar New Year alongside our Chinese community.

“We have created a fantastic programme of events with our co-producer, Birmingham Hippodrome, which will delight all visitors to the city, more details will be shared soon. We’d like to thank our sponsors and partners and look forward to the city-wide celebrations next month, alongside Bullring & Grand Central.”

DeGeneres tweeted to say that she was heartbroken at the news. She wrote: "He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him."

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed t that its West Valley Division officers responded to a radio call at a motel on Ventura Boulevard. There were no signs of foul play, and the case was being dealt with by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office.

After appearing as a dancer in movies like Blades of Glory and Hairspray, tWitch first found fame as a runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008. One of his dances was nominated for an Emmy for best choreography and he later returned to the show as a judge.

The Alabama-born entertainer went on to work as an actor, featuring in the Step Up film series and later Magic Mike XXL, and was also made an executive producer on The Ellen Show in 2020.

Paying tribute, his wife, a fellow dancer with whom he co-hosted Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings, said: "Stephen lit up every room

he stepped into."

She added: "He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you." The couple, who met on an all-star season of So You Think You Can Dance, had

three children - and the family appeared together on the The Ellen show.

A host of star names from the worlds of entertainment, the arts and sport have been paying their respects to Boss, recalling memories of him and expressing their feelings on social media.

Holiday and Travel

PUERTO RICO REPORTS RECORD-SETTING TOURISM RESULTS

Despite the impact of Hurricane Fiona this Fall, Puerto Rico’s tourism industry is on track to close the year with new records in visitation, visitor spending and jobs – signalling one of the best years in the history of this economic sector and solidifying the Territory’s recovery from the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Tourism continues to lead the economic resurgence of Puerto Rico, and together, we’re setting records along the way,” said Brad

Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. “Visitation, spending, and employment continue to reach or exceed 2021 levels, which ... was our best year ever in Puerto Rico tourism. In comparison to other Caribbean islands and states in the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico continues to outperform our peers,” he added.

The milestones were reached due to the savvy marketing approach taken by Discover Puerto Rico’s dedicated teams coupled with the investment of $50 million in American Rescue Plan

Act (ARPA) funds that have been integrated into efforts to promote Puerto Rico as a tourism destination.

Alisha Valentine, Discover Puerto Rico’s Director of Research and Analytics, revealed that 2022 is estimated to close with a seven percent increase in overall visitation compared to 2019, when the cruise industry attracted one of every three visitors to Puerto Rico. When compared with 2021, the increase is 10 percent. Between January and October of this year, travellers contrib-

uted $1.345 billion to the island's lodging sector, an increase of about 30 percent.

Labour statistics show that by October 2022 there were 91,200 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sectors, the highest number in Puerto Rico's history. Not only did job opportunities increase, but wages also rose. Demand for labour and worldwide inflation contributed to an increase of 34 percent since last year.

“In just the past three months, we’ve participated in more than 75 trade shows, road shows, and

promotional activations, all designed to position Puerto Rico as the premier leisure, meeting, and event destination in the Caribbean,” said Dean.

“It’s no coincidence that the two best years in the history of Puerto Rico tourism came when we were able to double our budget by investing one-time federal funds in tourism promotion. Unfortunately, those funds will run out after 2023, so you can be certain we are looking at ways to continue the progress that we’ve made together,” he added.

easyJet Announce Further Expansion At Birmingham With New Route To Milan

EASYJET HAS announced a new route from Birmingham to Milan in Italy, with seats on sale at easyJet. com and via the mobile app. The new route will take off from 26 June 2023 with departures up to three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Boasting a rich history, Milan attracts historians and culture enthusiasts worldwide with sights including the city’s famous gothic cathedral and La Scala opera house. Milan is also home to some of the greatest masterpieces of Italian art such as Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper which can be viewed at the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church and the city is also well renowned for its shopping and extensive choice of restaurants.

easyJet’s operations in Birmingham have seen continued growth, and the new route to Milan comes following a new service to Lisbon in Portugal which launched in October 2022. The airline now serves customers in Birmingham and surrounding areas across 11 airports in the UK and Europe, connecting to city, ski, and beach destinations via Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Geneva, Palma, Malaga, Faro, Nantes, Lisbon – and now Milan.

Tom Screen, aviation director for Birmingham Airport said: "We're thrilled easyJet is adding further connectivity between the second cities of Britain and Italy. I have no doubt these regular Milan Malpensa flights will be well subscribed by customers from both countries."

Blenheim Palace Voted Large Visitor Attraction Of The Year For 2022

BLENHEIM PALACE has been named Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2022 at the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence. The Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site was awarded the title at the ceremony which took place at the Grand Hotel in Brighton.

The award recognises large visitor attraction businesses providing truly memorable visitor experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business. The Awards are run by Tourism South East to recognise and celebrate excellence in the industry.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have

received this award from an organisation which represents so many of the UK's leading tourism businesses,” said Heather Carter, Managing Director at Blenheim Palace. It has been an extremely challenging past few years and to be recognised in this way by our peers is a huge boost for the entire team.

“We are always on the lookout for innovative and exciting ways to improve the visitor experience and this award will definitely spur us all on to work even harder next year,” she added. Tourism South East is a partnership organisation providing services and expertise to support the performance and growth of tourism

businesses and destinations.

Fran Downton, Chief Executive of Tourism South East, said: “Achieving excellence is not easy, particularly in these past years.

“The strength of our winners is testament to the incredible standards and unwavering quality of these exceptional businesses, despite the challenges. I was blown away by the quality, positivity, and innovation of the tourism businesses we have across the South East,” she added.

Following their success Blenheim Palace will now be entered into the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022/23 which take place in June.

As the Caribbean gets ready for what is expected to be a bumper tourism season this winter, stakeholders are advised to strengthen efforts to incorporate more young people in the bread-and-butter sector.

Thanks to the efforts of regional tourism organizations such as the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association; government ministries and departments; and private sector players across the region, more young people are looking at tourism for first choice career opportunities rather than a final course of action.

However, targeted education about tourism’s contribution to the socioeconomic development of the Caribbean is still needed, and continued training is necessary to develop exceptional service standards across every corner of our Caribbean archipelago.

The recent agreement between Sandals Resorts International, Florida International University and The University of the West Indies to jointly establish The Gordon “Butch” Stewart International School of Hospitality and Tourism will no doubt go a long way to meeting these essential education goals.

Similarly, the GEMS Hospitality School, an initiative of the GEMS Foundation in Dominica, affords young people interested in the hospitality sector the opportunity to gain practical skills. A key objective is to develop a generation of young people who are passionate about working in the tourism industry and who understand its importance to Dominica.

INCLUDING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE IN TOURISM IS CRITICAL – SAYS CTO

Smart tourism leaders understand that the strategic inclusion of youth in the policy sectors can produce strategies to open their destinations to the immense power of youth and student travel, which represents a significant component of international arrivals and generates hundreds of billions of dollars in tourism receipts worldwide, according to the WYSE Travel Federation.

Young visitors often return with family and friends and, later on, may return with their own families. So not only is youth tourism an excellent way of spreading the tourism benefits across a wider population, but it is also a way of developing long-term arrivals and expenditures.

Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill was on the right

track when he recently delivered a clear message about the importance of integrating young people in the sector now to help ensure future success and sustainability.

He was also on point when he called for the development of a mechanism for Caribbean ministries of tourism to work with youth to develop an innovation lab focused on expanding innovation in tourism through tech-

nology, an area in which youth are quite knowledgeable. In the simple yet wise words of Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa: “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.”

An investment in the next generation, therefore, makes good sense.

Curaçao Looking To Differentiate Its Tourism Product

DESPITE the island’s growing popularity, leaders in Curaçao are not resting on the laurels of the Dutch Antillean nation’s post-pandemic success.

Ruisandro Cijntje, Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development, said that even as the tourism recovery is going well and investment interest in hotels and attractions is strong, the future success of the destination resides with delivering experiences that are wide and varied.

“I am working on new experiences,” he said, explaining that cultural tourism, which features visitors connecting with the people and history of the destination, is critical.

The Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB), which continues to witness strong performance from its top three main markets, The Netherlands, United States of America and Colombia, recently reported 400,576 stayover visitor arrivals in the first 10 months of 2022, an additional 19,586 stayover visitors compared to the same period in 2019.

l Caribbean Tourism Organization Tourism Youth Congress delegates gathered in the Cayman Islands

l Ruisandro Cijntje

New CEO Appointed To Lead INEOS Automotive

INEOS AUTOMOTIVE has appointed Lynn Calder as CEO of INEOS Automotive. Lynn takes up her new role with immediate effect after six years in the INEOS Group, including multiple CEO roles. She was formerly in private equity.

Lynn’s appointment completes a new, strengthened leadership team for INEOS Automotive marking the transition from engineering project to commercial business.

Hans-Peter Pessler – formerly a senior executive from Magna Steyr in Austria that manufactured the G-Wagon for Mercedes – takes up a new permanent role as COO of INEOS Automotive, responsible for all engineering and operations.

“It’s an exciting time to be taking the reins,” said Lynn. “The team and the Grenadier itself have come a long way, and yet we’re still only at the beginning of creating a global automotive business. I love a challenge, and with bold plans for the future, I’m looking forward to the adventure ahead.”

AUDI PRESENTS PLAN FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE FUTURE

Audi is all in on electromobility: As of 2026, the brand with the four rings will only launch all-electric models onto the global market, gradually phasing out production of its combustion models by 2033.

Based on this clear decision made as part of its Vorsprung 2030 corporate strategy, Audi is now taking steps to prepare its global facilities for the production of all-electric cars.

Unlike many of its competitors, Audi is building on its existing global production network to achieve this vision. “Step by step, we are bringing all our sites into the future,” says Audi Board Member for Production and Logistics Gerd Walker.

“We don’t want any standalone lighthouse projects on greenfield sites. Instead, we are investing in our existing plants so they end up being just as efficient and flexible as newly built production sites or greenfield plants.”

According to Walker, this is sustainability in action – in economic, ecological, and social aspects.

“The path Audi is taking conserves resources and accelerates our transformation to a provider of sustainable premium mobility,” Walker emphasizes.

The Audi Board Member for Production and Logistics wants to make manufacturing flexible and resilient to ensure it will be future-proof in the long term. In

keeping with this aim, Audi developed its comprehensive strategy taking various perspectives into account.

Walker and his team focused on the following questions: “What does society expect from us? What do our customers demand? What are the expectations of stakeholders, and what will our employees need in the future?”

In response, Audi has created the 360factory; a vision of the future. The approach places equal emphasis on cost-effectiveness,

sustainability, flexibility, and attractiveness.

An

ambitious roadmap on the road

to e-mobility

By the end of the decade, Audi will be making electric-drive models at all of its production sites worldwide. “To achieve our goal, we are relying on our highly qualified staff and will make all our employees fit for the future by 2025 with a training budget of around 500 million euros,” says Walker. Two sites, Böllinger Höfe and Brussels, are already produc-

ing all-electric vehicles. Starting next year, the Audi Q6 e-tron will be the first all-electric model to roll off the production line in Ingolstadt. And production of all-electric cars will gradually start in Neckarsulm, San José Chiapa, and Győr as well. In 2029, all production sites will be producing at least one all-electric vehicle model. Depending on local conditions, production of the remaining combustion models will be gradually phased out by the beginning of the next decade.

New plants will only be built where additional capacity is needed. For example, Audi and its partner FAW are currently building a site in Changchun (China) where models based on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) technology platform will be locally produced. With construction set to finish by the end of 2024, this will be the first automotive plant in China where only all-electric Audi models roll off the line.

Jamaica

And The UK

Mourn The Passing Of Community Champion

Kenneth ‘Justice’ Rose

THE FUNERAL was held for Justice of the Peace and Magistrate, Kenneth Rose, who died recently, in Jamaica. a Church Elder, Parish Farming representative and Champion, he was noted for the many good deeds he did for his country and the people in his community.

aka ‘Justice’, he was one of the early Windrush pioneers who came to UK to help rebuilt the country after World War II but returning to his native Jamaica in the early 1970’s, where he would soon become a community champion; doing a great number of services for his country as well as the England he left.

His great ongoing work – both at home and abroad – would eventually not go unnoticed when, in October 2022, he was acknowledged for his service at the Jamaica National Heroes Day Awards ceremony, where he was awarded with the Badge of Honour for long service, BH (L) just weeks before is passing.

A JP, BH (L) of the Roehampton District, in St James, and formerly from Hibernia District, in Manchester, in Jamaica, he passed away peacefully at his home in November 2022, surviving his beloved wife of 64 years, Esmeralda, 11 children –two of whom are decease grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law, daughters and son-in laws, nieces, nephews, church family and other relatives and friends.

The funeral and thanksgiving service for Kenneth Rose was held at the Anchovy Seventh Day Adventist Church, in the Anchovy District, in St James. He was 91.

RECORD-BREAKING NONUPLETS RETURN HOME TO MALI

The world's only nonuplets - nine babies born at the same time - have safely returned home to Mali after spending the first 19 months of their lives in Morocco.

The babies broke the Guinness World Record for the most children delivered in a single birth to survive. Ahead of the birth in May 2021, the mother Halima Cissé, now 27, was flown to Morocco for specialist care.

Before returning they had been living with medical support in Casablanca. The babies - five girls and four boys - were born by Caesarean section at 30 weeks, according to the Malian authorities last year. The girls - named Kadidia, Fatouma,

Hawa, Adama and Oumou - and the boys - named Mohammed VI, Oumar, Elhadji and Bahweighed between 500g and 1kg (1.1lb and 2.2lb) at birth, Prof Youssef Alaoui, medical director of the clinic where they were born, told the AFP news agency.

There were risks that they could have developed health problems due to their premature birth and they spent the first months of their lives in hospital. They were then moved to an apartment where they received round-the-clock care from the Ain Borja clinic.

Earlier this year, on their first birthday, their father Abdelkader Arby said: “Each one of them has a unique personality. They all have different characters.

Some

-

NZ And Finland PMs Dismiss 'Sexist' Question

THE LEADERS of New Zealand and Finland have dismissed a journalist's suggestion that they arranged a meeting because they are similar in age.

At a press conference in Auckland, Finland's Sanna Marin and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern said they met because they are prime ministers, not because they are both young, female leaders.

Ms Ardern questioned if male leaders would have faced the same question. "Because two women meet is not simply because of their gender," she said.

A male journalist from New Zealand radio network Newstalk ZB asked about the reason for the talks, saying: "A lot of people will be wondering are you two meeting just because you're similar in age and got a lot of common stuff there."

Ms Ardern interrupted the question to say that she wondered "whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age."

Former US President, Obama and former New Zealand Prime Minister, Key, were born within days of each other in 1961. Ms Ardern, 42, added: "We, of course, have a higher proportion of men in politics, it's reality. Because two women meet, it is not simply because of their gender."

She then listed the trade relations between the countries, adding: "Our meeting is a chance... to really leverage the economic opportunities between our two countries. It's our job to further it, regardless of our gender."

are quiet, while other make more noise and cry a lot.

“Some want to be picked up all the time. They are all very differ

ent, which is entirely normal."

Mr Arby also said that they had become famous in Mali and people were "very keen to see the babies with their own eyes".

Happy Chinese New Year

UNWTO MAKES STRONG CASE AT WTTC SUMMIT

At the recent World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

Global Summit in the Saudi Arabia, UNWTO stressed the vital importance of education and investments as twin factors in ensuring tourism fulfils its enormous potential as a driver of sustainable and inclusive development.

The high-level participation of UNWTO in this leading private sector forum further highlighted the Organization’s unique and natural ability to connect political ambitions and private sector capacity. This year, we brought tourism to the UN General As-

sembly for the first time and we have also put tourism on the G20 agenda

Speaking before the Summit’s two main events, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This year, we brought tourism to the UN General Assembly for the first time and we have also put tourism on the G20 agenda”, adding “that is why I am here: UNWTO can be your voice at the global governance level”.

Carrying forward the momentum of key events held during 2022, the Ministers’ Summit at World Travel Market in London, the UNWTO Executive Council meeting in Marrakesh, the

WTTC Summit provided the latest high-level platform for UNWTO to advance its priorities of growing investments in tourism and promoting tourism education and training. As Mr Pololikasvili told participants, skills development is “an investment in the future, to build the tourism sector we need.”

Against the backdrop of the WTTC Summit, UNWTO invited all high-level delegates to return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023 for the official World Tourism Day celebrations (27 September), to be held around the theme of ‘Green Investments’. The hosting of the international day for the sector

will further advance the Kingdom’s ambition to become a top emerging destination.

The Kingdom is a strong supporter of UNWTO’s mission to make tourism a driver of sustainable and inclusive development. UNWTO opened its first Regional Office for the Middle East in May 2021 in Riyadh.

Built in record time and during a pandemic, the office is set to become a regional and global hub of tourism education and training as well as of tourism for rural development.

The Solution Is... Scorelines Matter

by Khori Hyde

What if relationships are supported and managed in the same way as football teams? Would the world be a better place all the time or just seasonally?

Many eons ago Aristotle came up with the notion of the rhetorical triangle – the balanced use of ethos, pathos and logos to win persuasive arguments.

Whether intuitively or consciously, when we choose to support an idea, a product, a team/ club, or a relationship (business or otherwise), it is because we have been persuaded that it is of value to us.

The Oxford Dictionary refers to ethos as “the characteristic spirit of a culture, era or community, as manifested in its attitudes and aspirations”.

In the context of persuasive construct, ethos speaks to credibility and ethics. It channels us to choose based on an endorsement from a person of renown influence, such as David Beckham to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, or based on the authenticity that comes from one’s nationality, heritage, or place of residence.

The pathos technique appeals to the emotions – nostalgia, senses, memory, and shared experiences. Choice is inspired by common values, family-ties or inheritance, the feeling of being part of, the camaraderie and supporting the dreams of others.

Shared experiences (whether in triumph or tragedy) with people who are like-minded mean so much more than going it in a silo – that’s the reason people go to the football stadium when better views/angles are shown on television.

Similarly logos appeals to the rational mind through logic and reason. The unmistakable voice of Sports Commentator Peter Drury, in belting out those statistics in such poetic style which elevates expectation, intensifies excitement, and solidifies the place of a player, a team and a game is exceptional.

History is relevant – projections are compiled based on past performance.

Numbers matter: Credit Scores, PER Scores, Account balances, Return on Investment. While the outcome is never certain because there are those who beat the odds and favourites falter, the numbers are watched.

In contemplating how our support is determined by influencers, emotional appeal and historical

evidence, mindfulness of purpose/intent and timeliness of our choices also matter.

Navigating that path of your choice must have its genesis in a desire to achieve the self-actualisation philosophy popularised through Abraham Maslow’s (1943) ‘Hierarchy of Needs’. To note though, a reason based on just a celebrity endorsement could lead to a flip-flop of commitment or as sports fans call it “band waggonist” mentality.

Ardent fans know their team's fixtures, engage in meaningful discussions of performance, track progress, offer opinions and exercise discipline in the face of temporary setbacks.

Financial relationships with your building society or bank should take on a similar level of probity and interest as that of your favourite sport team.

Just as the winning formula for a game requires strategic action before, during and after the game, it is so with life’s big challenges – choosing a life partner, home ownership and financial investments.

Most, if not all football teams will confirm that the 12th player (the fans/cheerleaders) is just as important as the 11 players on pitch.

Every successful relationship needs support, a banker who helps you craft and sharpen your business plan is your 12th player, those people who continue to offer solid counsel and advice is your 12th player.

Every reputable football team has its complement of specialists, be it: coaches, medical personnel, analysts, plus strength & coordination practitioners.

Together these experts contribute to the management of the team’s performance. These experts along with the players are consistently developing and honing their craft, with attention to both the individual and collective needs of the players and the team.

How reassuring it would be if your banker, life partner and/or investor developed strategies to support your unique needs?

Wouldn’t you feel gratified knowing that you had people cheering you on towards success and who will help pick you up even after a fall?

The world is a better place when people have others that they can depend on to metaphorically hold their hands through the maze of failures that often speckle our journey of accomplishment and that winning scoreline.

At Birmingham World Indoors

OLYMPIC SILVER medallist and World bronze medal winner Laura Muir will mark her return to the Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final as she attempts to break Maria Mutola’s world indoor 1000m record.

It will be Muir’s first appearance back in the city since she won 1500m gold and 800m bronze at this summer’s Commonwealth Games. The Scottish athlete has enjoyed much success in the city, including at the UK’s premier indoor meeting, which will host the World Athletics Indoor Tour Final in 2023.

Muir recorded the second fastest time in history over the 1000m distance at the 2017 edition of this event in Birmingham. The time she set then, also a British record, was 2:31.93, eclipsing Kelly Holmes’ previous mark. Only Mozambique’s Maria Mutola has gone quicker at 2:30.94, and the Scottish athlete will aim to rewrite the record books in February 2023.

The 29-year-old will be in buoyant mood after enjoying a scintillating summer on the track following her maiden Olympic medal in 2021. The 2022 season has seen her win world 1500m bronze, and European 1500m gold alongside her Commonwealth successes.

JAPAN FANS AND PLAYERS PRAISE FOR QATAR 2022 STADIUM CLEAN-UP

Japan’s stunning victory over Germany, in the group stages of the FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022, left their football fans in a state of joyous disbelief and got the rest of the world firmly behind them.

But it’s their supporters who are earning praise in Qatar for their off-pitch tradition that appears to be uniquely Japanese: Cleaning up stadiums after other football fans have left. In what was becoming an increasingly common sight, Japanese fans stayed behind after their team’s win and helped to clean up the Khalifa International Stadium.

As soon as the stadium started to empty, the Samurai Blue supporters were seen taking out light blue disposable rubbish bags and getting to work. While the sight of spectators staying back to clean up may be a surprise to many, for the Japanese it is not out of the ordinary. Further still, Japan’s players also cleanup their changing rooms before leaving the stadium.

“What you think is special is actually nothing unusual for us,” one Japanese fan said. “When we use the toilet, we clean it ourselves. When we leave a room, we make sure it’s tidy. That’s the custom,” the fan went on.

“We can’t leave a place without making it clean”, said anoth-

er. “It’s a part of our education, everyday learning.”

A tradition of theirs - to staying behind to help clean stadiums after games - social media posts featuring Japanese football fans with rubbish bags started to do the rounds in the days following the opening game of the tournament, between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium and their fans were – and still are - earning

respect from other countries in and out of the World Cup.

Further, after Japan pulled off their stunning 2-1 comeback win against the 2014 World Cup champions, and in typically classy fashion, the players and staff then left their dressing room spotless, it in dazzling condition in a show of respect which speaks volumes about their humility.

FIFA highlighted Japan's fans, players and staff in a post on their Twitter account, which read: "After an historic victory against Germany at the #FIFAWorldCup on Match Day 4, Japan fans cleaned up their rubbish in the stadium, whilst the Samurai Blue left their changing room at Khalifa International Stadium like this. Spotless.

“Domo Arigato (Thank you)."

Mclaughlin And Duplantis Named World Athletes Of The Year At World Athletics Awards 2022

American, McLaughlin, broke her own world record by almost three-quarters of a second as she won world 400m hurdles gold in July. She clocked 50.68 seconds in Oregon, where she also won 4x400m gold.

Sweden's Duplantis won the world pole vault indoor and outdoor double in 2022, in addition to claiming the Diamond League and European crowns. The 23-year-old, who won the award in 2020, also improved his own world record to 6.21m.

He said: "I wanted to win the world indoors, the world outdoors, the Europeans, the Diamond League final, and I wanted to break the world record a few times.

"I was able to do that and it was a bonus - the cherry on top - to do be able to break the world record at the right times, to do it at world indoors and do it at world outdoors. I can't complain."

McLaughlin, 23, said: "All of my goals were accomplished this year. We were able to accomplish everything we set out to do. It couldn't have been any better, and I was so grateful that I was able to produce that performance in front of a home crowd."

SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN and Armand Duplantis were named world athletes of the year at the World Athletics Awards.

EURO’S WINNER MEAD CROWNED WINNER OF SPOTY 2022

England and Arsenal star striker, Beth Mead has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022.

She starred at this summer's Euro 2022, where she helped the Lionesses to glory at Wembley, England's first ever major women's football trophy. The 27-yearold becomes the first women's footballer to win the award.

In a public vote, England Test captain Ben Stokes was second and Eve Muirhead, who led Team GB to curling gold in the Winter Olympics, came third.

Athlete Jake Wightman, seven-time snooker world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and gymnast Jessica Gadirova were also shortlisted for the award.

"I'm speechless for once," said Mead. "I'm incredibly honoured to win this award. I wouldn't have done it without the girls. The team have backed me. Yes, I've won this accolade, I've scored a few goals, but I wouldn't have done it without them," she added.

"This is for women's sport and women's sport heading in the right direction. Let's keep pushing girls, let's keep doing the right thing." Mead's stellar performances at Euro 2022 saw

her named the Player of the Tournament as well as winning the Golden Boot with six goals and five assists.

She also won the Sports Personality Team of the Year award alongside her Lionesses teammates while England head coach Sarina Wiegman won Coach of the Year. The accolades are the latest in a long list this year where Mead has already been named Arsenal's player of the season for 2021-22, came second in the Ballon d'Or Feminin and won BBC's Women's Footballer of the Year award.

Her international goal tally for the 2021-22 campaign was 20 in 19 matches, breaking Jimmy Greaves' long-standing record for the most England goals in one season.

Other award winners at Sports Personality 2022: Lifetime Achievement: Usain Bolt

Helen Rollason Award: Rob Burrow

Coach of the Year: Sarina Wiegman

Team of the Year: England Women

Young Sports Personality of the Year: Jessica Gadirova

Unsung Hero: Mike Alden World Sport Star: Lionel Messi

Bermuda To Host T20 World Cup Regional Qualifier

news conference also attended by Sports Minister Owen Darrell, and Tourism Minister Vance Campbell.

“On behalf of the executive of the Bermuda Cricket Board, I would like to thank the International Cricket Council for giving us this opportunity to show the world why Bermuda is such a valuable cricketing nation full of rich culture and passion for the sport,” he added. Bermuda also hosted the regional tournament in 2019 when the national team made it through to the Global Qualifier in Dubai.

Statement on Ethnic Diversity in the 2021 Census Data

ON 29 NOVEMBER 2022

the Census Data for 2021 was published. The data collected indicated that the British population is the most diverse it has ever been since records began. 18.3% of the population are ethnically diverse, nearly one in five people.

Sporting Equals has been encouraging sports governing bodies and organisations to set a target of 20% representation for ethnically diverse people in positions of leadership such as the Board, senior management and coaches. This will be representative of the population and empower ethnically diverse people to take part more.

the

BERMUDA IS SET to host the finals of the Americas Region Qualifier for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup to be staged in the West Indies and United States, officials have announced.

BCB (Bermuda Cricket Board) president, Arnold Manders, said

2023.

“The BCB is pleased to announce that Bermuda has been selected as the host to deliver the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Regional Final,” Manders told a

Bermuda will launch their qualifying bid when they compete against Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Panama, Suriname and hosts Argentina in an ICC Sub-Regional Qualifier from February 25 to March 4. The top three teams will then be joined in Bermuda for the Regional Final where they will compete for the last World Cup qualifying spot in the Americas Region.

So far, the 2022 iteration of the Race Representation Index has seen 90% of English National Governing Bodies submit their data or commit to doing so by 9 December. We are pleased to see this commitment from NGBs. Having this representation will ensure that pathways to participation are opened more widely, that clothing dress codes and equipment meets the needs of all, and that young people can see role models lay down a path for them to follow.

This all considered it is not enough to simply be in the room. The voices of ethnically diverse people must be heard so that Britain is reflected in the sport we play, watch and support.

tournament will be held in Bermuda from September 28 to October 8,