The horse race that remains a key part of our sporting calendar
The Grand National is one of the world’s most popular sporting events. It’s arguably the biggest horse race on the calendar with everyone loving the unpredictability of the event. Ahead of the upcoming race, this article will explore some of the current favourites to win the iconic event, and why it captures the attention of so many people.
A short preview of the 2022 race
Preparations are in full swing for the 2022 Grand National that will take place on the 9th of April. Over 70 horses will be running the race, but many are massive outsiders. Could we see a shock this year? The Grand National tipsters choices list Noble Yeats as one horse that could spring a surprise. At 25/1, this will seem tempting for many bettors.
For those that fancy seeing an even bigger outsider to cross the finish line first, there are several horses with 100/1 odds. Will Scoir Mear, Via Dolorosa or Romain De Senam follow in the footsteps of Mon Mome who was a shock 100/1 winner in 2009.
What makes the Grand National so special?
It’s an event where legends in the horse racing world are made. The course also makes it an unpredictable race to watch. Since 1945, the favourite has only gone to win the race on ten occasions. That is a remarkable statistic and one that plays a part in making sure millions of people are watching when the big day arrives.
Research suggests that in 2019, 12.9 million placed a bet on the race. There will be even more organising sweepstakes in offices and amongst friends. The Gold Cup at Cheltenham is probably the only race on the calendar comparable with the National, and that hasn’t seen the same level of worldwide attention. This is partly down to its long and varied history.
A closer look at the history
Amongst sporting historians, there’s has been a lot of debate regarding the first official running of the National. Most would now agree that the first event took place in 1839.
In the 1900s, it became a prominent part of British sporting culture and developed a following in other countries. This following has been helped by several non-British bred horses winning. There have been five winners bred in France, with the last being Neptune Collonges in 2012.
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It remains popular across the world
Research has estimated that between five and 600 million people watch the race in 140 countries. That should mean it remains a part of the world’s sporting calendar for the foreseeable future. This popularity will continue to be helped by all the social media content.
A quick search on Twitter for #GrandNational2022 unveils a huge amount of social media discussion already. People are talking about who they think will win the race, and there are also tips from the experts. This social media coverage will only increase as the race gets closer and people start to place their bets. Who do you think can make their own bit of history?
Dire impact from floods in South Sudan as new wet season looms
“Urgent action is needed to protect already vulnerable populations from its worst impacts,” Andrew Harper, UNHCR Special Advisor on Climate Action, told a regular press briefing in Geneva.
Subsistence farming ‘decimated’
In 2021, the fragile country – struggling to overcome political and economic challenges since it gained independence in 2011 – had its worst recorded flooding ever, impacting more than 835,000 people, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA.
Record rainfall in the past three years and overflowing rivers, have flooded thousands of hectares of farmland in eight states – preventing people from planting crops – and leading to the killing of nearly 800,000 livestock, without anything to feed them.
“This has decimated the subsistence farming that most communities depend upon to survive and substantially worsened food insecurity,” Mr. Harper said.
Water refuses to recede
Moreover, 33 out of 79 counties have been badly affected by the flood waters, which have not significantly subsided since the last wet season.
The impacts are especially harsh in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states, where thousands of people have been displaced or marooned in dike-ringed compounds, holding back floodwaters with mud, sticks and plastic sheeting.
Meanwhile, the approaching wet season threatens to swamp extremely remote communities where residents are already surrounded by floodwater.
“Such climate events will worsen in future, as extremes become the norm, not the exception,” the UNHCR spokesperson said. “Globally, floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and intense”.
Though contributing least to carbon emissions, developing countries like South Sudan are being disproportionately affected.
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© UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
© UNHCR/Samuel Otieno
Canoes have become the only means of transport for residents of Old Fangak, South Sudan.
Hard to reach areas
During a five-day visit earlier this month, UNHCR Special Advisor Harper toured Old Fangak, Malakal, Jamjang and Bentiu where he saw first-hand the human impact of the flooding.
He recounted that poor road infrastructure, or the lack of any passable roads, make it hard for outside help to reach remote locations, such as Old Fangak in Jonglei state, where a former airstrip is completely submerged and currently unusable for landing.
“In Old Fangak, I met with a twice-displaced woman in her 70s, who spent her days deep in murky floodwaters, desperately plugging a porous earthen dike with sticks and mud, to prevent water swamping the small compound housing her family,” the UNHCR official said. “It is truly heart-breaking to see”.
Ahead of the rains, marooned residents of Old Fangkak said they need water pumps to bail out their compounds.
“Heavy equipment is also needed to make sturdy flood barriers and build mounds to keep their livestock above water,” he continued.
“UNHCR has provided plastic sheets, hoes, spades, and sandbags to help strengthen their flood defences, and is supporting families displaced to Malakal and other towns”.
Avoiding ‘devastating’ repercussions
Visiting Yida refugee camp in Unity state, Mr. Harper witnessed a polar-opposite situation: a region in the grip of drought.
“Access to the most vulnerable populations is a major impediment for humanitarian relief,” he said.
Despite multiple challenges, the climate action advisor observed that “residents have been extremely generous to those displaced by violence or hazardous weather events, often sharing the meagre resources they have.”
However, he maintained, they need “sustained support to avert devastating consequences”.
A case of survival
The UNHCR spokesperson warned that if assistance is not stepped up for the people of South Sudan, “the climate crisis coupled with ongoing insecurity mean that resources will further shrink, leaving people with no means to survive.”
Accelerated action is required to avoid mounting losses, ensure better preparation, and secure a liveable, sustainable future.
“We know that if we do not act now, the cost will be high, with devastating human consequences,” he concluded.
Court orders Ethiopian journalist to be released on bail
An Ethiopian court has ordered Ethiopian journalist Amir Aman Kiyaro to be released on bail after being imprisoned for months without charges.
A judge in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday granted bail to Kiyaro while prosecutors determine whether or not to press charges against him. Kiyaro remained in custody while bail procedures were being followed before his expected release.
Kiyaro, 30, a video journalist accredited to The Associated Press, was detained on Nov. 28 in Addis Ababa under the country’s war-related state of emergency law.
Kiyaro is accused of “serving the purposes” of what the government has classified a terrorist group by interviewing its officials, according to reports by Ethiopian state media, citing federal police.Local journalist Thomas Engida was arrested at the same time and faces similar charges.
If the journalists are found guilty of violating Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism law or the state of emergency law, they could face sentences of seven to 15 years behind bars, federal police inspector Tesfaye Olani has told state media.
State of emergency
Despite the granting of bail after four months of police investigation and detention, it still remains uncertain whether prosecutors will proceed to press charges against Kiyaro.
The state of emergency was lifted in February as the government cited changing conditions in the deadly conflict between Ethiopian forces and those of the northern Tigray region.
“We are pleased that journalist Amir Aman Kiyaro has been granted bail and we are eager for his release from prison after being detained in Ethiopia for more than 120 days,” Julie Pace, the AP’s executive editor, said in response to the bail order. “Amir is an independent journalist who has been targeted because of his work and we urge the Ethiopian authorities to drop their investigation“, she added.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said dozens of journalists had been arrested after Ethiopia issued the State of Emergency decree. In its 2021 report, the organization ranked the country at the 11th place of the countries imprisoning journalists.
In early march over 40 Ethiopian journalists called on the government to respect media rights in an open letter.
Ghana’s controversial e-levy passed by MPs after opposition walkout
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Ghana’s parliament on Tuesday passed a controversial electronic transactions bill popularly referred to as E-levy.
The bill relates to the introduction of a levy on electronic transactions including mobile money transactions.
Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo is now expected to sign the bill into law before it becomes effective and operational.
Last year when the bill was introduced as part of the 2022 budget statement by the country’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta it sparked fury among many Ghanaians.
Its passage in parliament stalled several times and even led to brawls among lawmakers.
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On Tuesday though during the passage, the minority MPs from the opposition party walked out giving the majority the urge to approve it.
The Bill was however adopted at a reduced rate of 1.5% from the initial 1.75% from last year.
With regards to mobile-money payments the levy will apply to transactions that are more than GH¢100 ($11) on a daily basis.
Ghana’s government said the introduction of the e-levy has been necessitated by the astronomical rise in electronic transactions, hitting $80 billion (over 500 billion Cedis) in 2020.
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According to government between February 2020 and February 2021 alone, Ghana saw an increase of over 120% in the value of digital transactions.
After considerable deliberations, Government has decided to place a levy on all electronic transactions to widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector. This shall be known as the “Electronic Transaction Levy or E-Levy,” Ghana’s finance minister said last year in parliament.
Although the government plans to use some of the proceeds to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs for the youth, many Ghanaians have taken to social media to kick against it.
Source: Africafeeds.com
African Development Bank Group President commences three-day visit to the UAE
African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi A. Adesina visiting DP World visite an official ahead of his meeting with DP World Chairman.
African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina arrived in Dubai today at the start of a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
The Bank Group chief is expected to meet with His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates.
Adesina will also have bilateral meetings with other senior members of government and heads of parastatal companies. They include discussions with Minister of State for International Cooperation, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy—who is also Managing Director of Expo 2020 Dubai—and the Minister of State for African Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
Much of the visit’s focus will be on strengthening ties and building closer collaboration between the African Development Bank and the United Arab Emirates.
“We are keen to see the United Arab Emirates become a valued partner and a significant investor in Africa,” said Adesina, adding: “There is a lot that the African Development Bank and the UAE can do together.”
Given the African Development Bank’s strong push on financing infrastructure on the continent—among its other equally important priority areas—Adesina will meet with the Dubai Ports World CEO, His Excellency Sultan Bin Sulayem. Dubai Ports World is the biggest port operator, operating in 78 marine and inland terminals in more than 60 countries. The African Development Bank has been active in financing port infrastructure projects in Africa.
Renewable energy is expected to be a potential area of joint investment interest. The United Arab Emirates has made significant advances in green growth and renewable energy.
The Bank is a major co-financer of the Desert to Power initiative in Africa’s Sahel—a project that will connect 250 million people to electricity, drawing on the region’s abundant solar resources.
The African Development Bank Group head will also visit the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
With Expo 2020 Dubai concluding this week and drawing visitors from around the world, Adesina will tour the expo and visit the pavilions of the United Arab Emirates, the African Union, and Nigeria.
Source African Development Bank Group
La Banque africaine de développement appuie le Maroc pour déployer sa vision stratégique, renforcer sa résilience climatique et soutenir la relance
The African Development Bank Group has over 50 years invested $12 billion to finance more than 170 operations in Morocco.
« Dans un contexte de relance post-Covid-19 et de sécheresse de grande ampleur, nous nous tenons aux côtés de notre premier partenaire, le Maroc. Plus d’un milliard de dollars seront mobilisés sur les deux prochaines années pour appuyer les secteurs de l’eau, de l’agriculture, de l’inclusion sociale, du développement humain et des infrastructures », a déclaré au terme d’une visite de travail dans le Royaume, Beth Dunford vice-présidente du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement en charge de l’Agriculture et du Développement humain et social.
Au cours de son séjour au Maroc, Beth Dunford a eu plusieurs rencontres de haut niveau avec des membres du gouvernement marocain. Lundi, elle s’est notamment entretenue avec Nizar Baraka, ministre de l’Équipement et de l’Eau, Mohammed Sadiki, ministre de l’Agriculture, de la Pêche maritime, du Développement rural et des Eaux et forêts, ainsi qu’avec le ministre délégué auprès du ministre de l’Économie et des Finances, chargé du Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa.
Plusieurs responsables de la Banque figuraient dans sa délégation dont Mohamed el Azizi, directeur général pour l’Afrique du Nord, Toda Atsuko, directrice du Département du financement agricole et du développement rural, Martin Fregene, directeur du Département de l’agriculture et de l’agro-industrie et Achraf Hassan Tarsim, représentant résident de la Banque au Maroc.
Les discussions avec les autorités marocaines ont été l’occasion de passer en revue les différents volets du partenariat. Beth Dunford a souligné l’excellente qualité des relations entre la Banque et le Royaume du Maroc. « Avec le Maroc, nous sommes liés par un partenariat historique depuis plus d’un demi-siècle, a rappelé Beth Dunford. Plus de 12 milliards de dollars ont été mobilisés pour plus de 170 opérations ».
« Notre relation avec la Banque africaine de développement est particulièrement importante. Nous souhaitons renforcer notre partenariat pour développer des infrastructures stratégiques et accélérer la dynamique de développement économique et sociale du Maroc », a souligné Nizar Baraka, le ministre de l’Équipement et de l’Eau. Le ministre de l’Agriculture, de la Pêche maritime, du Développement rural et des Eaux et forêts, Mohammed Sadiki, s’est félicité du « partenariat historique avec la Banque qui a contribué à faire évoluer le secteur agricole d’une logique de productivité à celle de la transformation à haute valeur ajoutée ».
Fouzi Lekjaa, ministre délégué chargé du Budget, a, quant à lui, salué « l’appui précieux et constant que la Banque africaine de développement apporte au Maroc pour la mise en œuvre de réformes structurelles essentielles ». Beth Dunford a salué « la gestion exemplaire par le Royaume, des répercussions économiques et sociales de la pandémie de Covid-19 ainsi que sa capacité à réussir la sortie de crise ».
Les échanges ont mis en lumière la convergence de vues entre le gouvernement marocain et la Banque, notamment autour d’une des grandes priorités de la Banque : « Nourrir l’Afrique », à laquelle fait écho la stratégie agricole « Green Generation 2030 » du Maroc qui vise le développement de l’agriculture et de l’agro-industrie. Les discussions ont également mis en évidence la volonté partagée de soutenir une gestion plus durable et plus efficiente de l’eau, particulièrement en période de sécheresse qui a vu la mise en place d’un plan anti-sécheresse exceptionnel de plus d’un milliard de dollars.
« Cette relation, nous voulons la porter encore plus loin. Notre objectif est d’accélérer, approfondir et élargir notre partenariat historique », a déclaré la vice-présidente aux membres du gouvernement, évoquant tour à tour les enjeux de résilience climatique de l’agriculture marocaine, l’efficience hydrique, l’attractivité des territoires et la compétitivité.
À mars 2022, le portefeuille actif du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement totalise près de 4 milliards de dollars répartis dans les secteurs du développement social et humain, de l’eau et de l’assainissement, de l’agriculture, de l’énergie, des transports et du secteur privé.
Source African Development Bank Group
Editorial: Retraction, correction on Handsome M’bwana as registered auditor
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Maravi Post editorial team wants to retract an article content that portrays Handsome M’bwana styled as Fletcher and Evance’s bad image to the public.
Mr. Handsome M’bwana is a registered auditor who once handled the Export Development Fund (EDF) of the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
Following a successful and comprehensive forensic audit of 2017 and 2020 at EDF, some involved in the fraud were arrested and are in court currently.
The Attorney General’s (AG) office is using the Fletcher and Evance report in various cases at EDF
So, we regrate any injury that caused his company’s image,
The Maravi Post Editorial
Mtambo calls for By-Laws formulation on ending mob justice in districts
By Dorica Mtenje
LILONGWE (MaraviPost)-Following the recent mob justice in Zomba,Minister of National Unity, Timothy Mtambo has called on District council to set up by laws to curb mob justice in the country.
Mtambo said by-laws will make sure that those taking laws in their hands to be penalised at the community level.
He said many innocent lives are being victimized without proper proof of their innocence.
“Everyone has a right to be heard regardless of their crimes,” said Mtambo.
He call upon the police to enhance their response to protect lives of many that can be at stake of the communities mercy.
Recently a young man in Zomba was killed by angry mob following his misunderstanding with his sister who called for the community justice.
Kamuzu Barracks Youth, Simbi FC to kick off Chipiku League launch
By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Central Region 2022/2023 MK15.5 million Chipiku Stores mpira Nkumaka league will kick off on Saturday, April 2,2022 at Lilongwe Community Center ground with the match involving Kamuzu Barracks Youth and Simbi FC.
Despite the communication by the sponsors and CRFA about the kick off unconfirmed reports reveal that four teams including Joseph FC from Mchinji, Dedza Young Soccer, Ascent Academy and Kasungu Police will not participate.
Financial challenges are said to be contributing factors for the teams failing to participate.
Elvis Kafoteka, head coach for Joseph FC, said there is uncertainty whether the team will take part in the league as they are yet to pay the K300,000 affiliation fees and some logistics.
While confirming about the kick off date of the league,Antonio Sanchez Manda, CRF Association Vice General Secretary was non committal commenting further on the matter.
“The four teams you have mentioned have not yet written us,we may have their reports may be in four days to come as of now what we know is that they will participate until they give us official communication”, Manda.
On how many teams who have fully committed themselves by fully paying the MK300,000 affiliation fees, Manda said,he has to consult with the association treasury.
He added that the body is ready to patronize the 2022/2023 season and are expecting it to be a successful one.
The sponsors Chipiku Stores and CRFA conducted draw on March 24,Thursday 2022 at Civo Club House in the Capital, Lilongwe.
Kasungu Police,Joseph FC and Dedza Young Soccer were drawn in group A,alongside 2021 runners up Extreme FC from Mchinji,LUANAR FC,Play Football Malawi and Ngwanje FC.
Ascent Academy is in group B alongside, St Gabriel Medicals, Silver Strikers Reserve, Mbavi United,Simbi FC,Dwangwa United,Kamuzu Barracks Youth and Mitundu Strikers.