BIRCH ASSOCIATION FOR JOURNALISTS BAJ

Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, conducted an on-the-spot visit to the Sewa Grounds Market project in Central Freetown today to assess its progress. This ambitious project, spearheaded by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), aims to create a modern trading space capable of accommodating over 6,000 traders and customers daily. The market’s completion is anticipated to significantly reduce street trading in Freetown. NASSIT’s Director General, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, assured the Chief Minister that the facility is over 95 percent complete and is expected to be ready for commissioning by August this year. “This facility includes a crèche for nursing mothers, a control room for CCTV cameras, offices for commercial banks, and a dedicated office for the Freetown City Council (FCC) to collect market dues. Additionally, it features a 100,000-liter water tank and 151 toilets to enhance sanitation within the market,” Daboh detailed. He also...

By Priyanka Pandey   Published on : 17:30 PST, Jun 22, 2024  FOLLOW  In 1983, Barack Obama began his relationship with Genevieve Cook when he met her at a Christmas party in New York's East Village. David Maraniss, in an adaptation of his Obama biography, uncovered the unseen tale of the ex-couple's time together in an article for Vanity Fair . The most talked-about portions ofBarack Obama: The Storywere the diary entries from one of Obama's lovers during his early 1980s New York days. In his piece, Maraniss quoted from Cook's notes, shedding light on Obama's romance with her and the separation that followed. Obama's senior by three years, Cook was 25 years old when she met him. According to Maraniss, she represented 'the deepest romantic relationship of his young life.' She smoked Lucky Strikes and unfiltered Camels, according to him, and her favorite beverages were Baileys Irish Cream and Punt e Mes, an Italian vermouth that she sometimes...

Alhaji U Njai: Sierra Leone Telegraph: 23 July 2023: Sierra Leone suffers from the convergence of two wicked environmental problems, one not our doing and the other, the result of our reckless environmental stewardship. Climate change is not our doing in Sierra Leone; the shifts in climate and rainfall patterns definitely points to Climate change for which the industrialized nations bear the moral responsibility. Sierra Leone’s contribution to global carbon emissions is negligible and infinitesimal when compared to even a city like New York in the US. Hence, climate change represent one of the greatest environmental injustices for our generation. The perennial floodings, risk of landslides, and disasters are largely the result of our irresponsible and unregulated environmental stewardship. Massive deforestation, unplanned and unregulated building constructions on hill slopes, creating heavy run off and mass flow down hill with limited land cover barrier to aid i...

Senior researcher at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection(MISTRA), Na’eem Jeenah, says that yesterday’s surprise attack by Hamas on Israel was something that should have been expected. This after the militant group launched a wave of rocket attacks and sent fighters into Israel in the biggest escalation in decades. The violence continued in the evening with Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities hit by a new barrage of rockets with more than 300 Israelis reportedly dead. Jeenah says the attack was a response to decades of repression. “I think the fact of such a response from the Palestinian side to almost eight decades of occupation, and oppression is something that we should all have expected. When it might happen and exactly how, of course, was the surprise yesterday. But after 75- years of living under military rule, military occupation, colonialism and apartheid what we saw yesterday I think, that’s why we saw the kind of global Palestinian jubilation in...

#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Nigerian Youth, Bashir Abubakar Arrested In Kano For Advertising T-shirts Supporting Nationwide Protests The arrest is reportedly related to Abubakar's advertisement of T-shirts supporting the upcoming nationwide protests against economic hardship. The Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria has been accused of arresting an individual named Bashir Abubakar in Kano. The arrest is reportedly related to Abubakar's advertisement of T-shirts supporting the upcoming nationwide protests against economic hardship. However, the DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, denied the allegation when contacted by SaharaReporters on Sunday. "It is not true. It is not true,” he said in a message sent to our reporter. #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has demanded the immediate release of Abubakar in a message on his X (formerly Twitter) account. “The lawless @OfficialDSSNG has begun inciting the public to riot even before the D-Day, early th...

Soldiers carry the coffin of former Ukrainian nationalist lawmaker Iryna Farion during a funeral ceremony in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, July 22, 2024. Farion, who often made outspoken statements defending the Ukrainian language was shot by a gunman in her home city of Lviv. (AP Photo/Mykola Tys) The Associated Press LVIV, Ukraine -- Several thousand mourners attended the funeral Monday in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv for a former lawmaker best known for her campaign to promote the Ukrainian language who was fatally shot in the street by an unknown assailant. Iryna Farion, 60, was shot on Friday and later died from her wounds in a hospital. A manhunt is currently underway for her attacker, who fled the scene. Ukrainian officials said an investigation is being carried out and that the attack is being treated as an assassination. Her daughter Sofia Semchyshyn commented about her killing. “Killed, they killed her near her house during the day, on a sunny day." Farion ser...

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears to have switched his nickname for the vice president from " Laffin' Kamala " to "Lyin' Kamala " in two Truth Social posts on Monday evening. Known for giving his political opponents nicknames, the escalation in tone coincides with Harris emerging as his most likely Democratic rival, replacing president Joe Biden , who announced he would not seek reelection on Sunday. The previous nickname for Harris arose earlier in July, in relation to her well-known belly laugh, which has been a feature of several viral clips . " Lyin' Kamala Harris , the Biden appointed "Border Czar" who never visited the Border, and whose incompetence gave us the WORST and MOST DANGEROUS Border anywhere in the World, has absolutely terrible pole [sic] numbers against a fine and brilliant young man named DONALD J. TRUMP! Be careful what you wish for, Democrats ??? MAGA2024," Trump wrote. However, Ha...

Afrobeat singer, Adekunle Gold has replied an inquisitive fan asking between him and his wife, Simi who is richer. It all started after the singer took to the X platform to promote his wife’s newly released album, ‘LOST AND FOUND’, a 14-track album that featured Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey and others.However, a curious fan stormed the post’s comments to quiz the father of one about his net worth compared to that of his wife. “Who’s richer btw you and…

An empty bag cannot stand, a hungry man is an angry man. That's why we prioritise Feed Salone as one of our key governance pillars. I choose Feed Salone not for rice only but also to fight mal-nutrition in our schools. Feed Salone largely helps boost economic growth, food security, foreign investment and many more sectors. H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio Sierra Leone's President at the National Townhall with H.E. President Maada Bio “An empty bag cannot stand, a hungry man is an angry man. That’s why we prioritise Feed Salone as one of our key governance pillars. I choose Feed Salone not for rice only but also to fight mal-nutrition in our schools. Feed Salone largely helps boost economic growth, food security, foreign investment and many more sectors.”  Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, at the Presidential Townhall at the Freetown (Bintumani) International Conference Center in Aberdeen

United States Federal authorities have announced sanctions and criminal charges against Sierra Leonean national Abdul Karim Conteh, alleged leader of an international smuggling ring. The group, reportedly based in Tijuana, is accused of facilitating the illegal entry of thousands of undocumented migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East into the United States. Conteh, 42, and his 25-year-old Mexican wife, Veronica Roblero Pivaral, are central figures in the smuggling operation. An unsealed indictment alleges that over several years, they conspired with others to transport migrants from their home countries through South and Central America to the U.S. border. Conteh reportedly oversaw and assisted with their illegal entry using ladders, tunnels, and other means. The Department of Justice announced that Conteh was arrested in Tijuana on July 11, and the U.S. is seeking his extradition. Roblero remains at large. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Co...

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has announced the receipt of its annual government subvention for the years 2023 and 2024. In a press release signed by Alhaji Manika Kamara, National Secretary-General, it was revealed that the total amount received is SLE 1,500,000 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Leones), with SLE 750,000 allocated for each year. According to SLAJ, the subvention is part of a commitment made by President Julius Maada Bio in 2018 to support to the independent umbrella body for media professionals in Sierra Leone. They added that the initiative underscores the President’s dedication to press freedom in the country. The release further noted that over the years, the subvention amount has increased significantly, noting that the initial subvention in 2018 was SLE 150,000. Subsequent increments saw the subvention rise to SLE 250,000 in 2020, SLE 500,000 in 2021, and SLE 750,000 in 2022. The funds are administered by SLAJ and distributed to ...

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE -Mohamed K. Konneh, Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), reaffirmed yesterday that the 2023 elections were conducted in a manner that was free, fair, and credible. His remarks came during a collaborative engagement between the ECSL and International IDEA, focusing on gathering inclusive feedback and recommendations from youth, gender, and disability stakeholders in the Western Area region following the polls. Konneh emphasized the ECSL’s commitment to enhancing women’s participation in governance and underscored the importance of prioritizing both abled and disabled individuals in electoral processes. “This will be integral to our upcoming Electoral plan,” he stated, advocating against any form of discrimination based on one’s ability to serve. Highlighting efforts towards inclusivity, Konneh announced plans to install an elevator at the ECSL headquarters to facilitate access for persons with disabilities, acknowledging the ch...

After Joe Biden announced he won't run in the 2024 presidential election —following weeks of growing pressure from within his own party—attention has turned to his vice president, Kamala Harris , who he has endorsed to be the Democratic Party nominee, and how she would fare in a November matchup against Donald Trump . Over recent weeks, as speculation mounted over Biden's future, a number of pollsters have examined how Harris would perform in a straight matchup against Trump—some of which showed her slightly behind and some a little ahead of the Republican nominee. Concern over the age and mental agility of 81-year-old Biden erupted in the aftermath of the first presidential debate on June 27, during which the president appeared at several points to lose his train of thought mid-sentence. In the weeks that followed a growing number of prominent Democrats , including lawmakers and actor George Clooney, urged Biden to step aside from the race so his party can select a...

Donald Trump gave his first harrowing account of surviving an assassination attempt, saying: “I’m not supposed to be here.” The emotional former president told the 2024 Republican National Convention in Wisconsin that it would be the only time he will ever describe the events of Saturday. The 78-year-old says it is “too hard” to recall the horrific event that killed one and severely injured two others, as well as himself, noting that the bullet came from “a quarter inch” from taking his life. “You will never hear it from me a second time because it’s too painful to tell,” he warned the crowd. “The assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life,” he said. “It was a warm beautiful day in the early evening. Music was loudly playing and the campaign was doing really well. “I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard on my right ear,” he continued. “I said to myself ‘Wow, what was that?’ It can only be a bullet.'” “I move...

It was the moment when Donald Trump won the November presidential election . I don’t mean the fateful decision to turn his head, which saved him from death by a quarter of an inch. We are not talking about the miraculous fact of his survival, at 6.11pm in Butler, Pennsylvania , when tens of thousands of horror-stricken admirers saw him go down, with blood streaming from a head-wound whose significance was at first worryingly unclear. No, the moment of truth, perhaps of revelation, came a few seconds later when the Secret Service agents were trying to bundle him horizontally — without his shoes — from the scene. It was then that Donald Trump showed his character. He confirmed in a flash, not just his theatrical instincts, but also his courage. Having just been struck by a high-powered rifle bullet, he did not allow himself to be passively carted away. He took command of the situation. Wrestling himself free from his security people, flouting their safety protocols, he raised...

We present to you these four popular Nigerian female celebrities who had not eaten the ‘forbidden fruit’ rather they choose to stay focused in the career and personal growth. 1. JADROLITA She’s just 18 years old, a very Tiktoker and business owner. Peller no dey do anything. They are just friends. If you want to marry her, go ahead. 2. SHARON IFEDI Her Ghost roles made young men to be scared of her. She has not done it before. If you are a young man who wants to marry her, please go ahead. 3. AYRA STARR She be Sabi girl but she no Sabi that thing. She’s focused on building her career. The only thing she dey carry na Afrobeats not man. 4. Mercy Kenneth She’s still a perfect virgin that no one has tempered with. But the kind things she dey talk fit make you think say she get more than 14 body count. Emmanuella is still very young that’s why she didn’t feature.

The United States has always been a hotbed of ruthless politics. Many presidents had to fight tooth and nail for the White House. George W. Bush took office after a bitter and contested election dispute with Al Gore, one of the closest United States elections that is contested to this day. Others fought hard for a second term — one-time president Donald Trump denied the results of the 2020 election in a flurry of chaos that led to the infamous Capitol riots on January 6, 2021 . Others refused a second term altogether. Through the years, there have been just seven who have willingly stepped down after serving one elected term in the White House: Lyndon B. Johnson, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, Calvin Coolidge, Harry S. Truman, and most recently, Joe Biden. Here's the story behind each of these political figures who decided to leave their position of leadership. The most recent president to refuse a second term is Joe Biden, who announced he wo...

 Joe Biden is withdrawing from the presidential race, and giving his support to vice president Kamala Harris. It's a sad end to an impressive political career, one that allowed him to help shape this nation. It must have been a wrenching decision to make, and it's sad news for those who admire Biden, including me. But it's also an unforgettable example of leadership, wisdom, and courage. Every leader should pay attention. The time may come when you're faced with a similar decision, when you're forced to choose between what you long to do--what your heart tells you to do--and what you know is right for your organization and your team. I'm going to be honest. I did not want to write this column. In fact, the first time my editor asked me to do it, I declined. At the time, Biden's decision to step down from the race seemed increasingly inevitable but hadn't happened yet. I was hoping hard it never would. From forgiving student loan debt to appoi...

According to report by Al Jazeera, Israel’s Knesset (parliament) has taken a controversial step by passing three bills in the first reading to close the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and designate it as a “terrorist organization”. The first bill prohibits UNRWA from operating any mission, providing any service or conducting any activity on Israeli territory. It was passed by 58-9 votes. The second bill, approved by 63-9 votes, calls for stripping UNRWA personnel of their legal immunities and privileges offered to UN staff in Israel. The third bill, passed by 50-10 votes, designates the UN agency as a “terrorist organization” and requires Israel to cut ties with it. The bills will now proceed to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further deliberation and will require two more readings to become effective law. Israel has been lobbying hard to have UNRWA closed, especially since it began its war on Gaza last Octobe...

Popular teen comedian Emmanuelle is celebrating her birthday today as she shared a very beautiful picture on her social media page today. She celebrates and wishes herself a happy birthday and also appreciates God’s favour in her life for seeing another beautiful year full of success and glory. Fans and celebrities joined her in celebrating her birthday as they all took the comments section to celebrate her today. Happy Birthday to me🎂🥳🎊 Everyday is a gift and should be cherished. But today is special because it’s my birthday Read some social media reactions below; Official_schoolboy1 wrote: Happy Birthday @officialemanuella On your special day, I want to take a moment to let you know how much I cherish and value you.❤️ Eastboyrap wrote: Happy birthday Age with grace beautiful ❤️❤️ K1kzvn wrote: Happy birthday to beautiful @officialemanuella love you 😘🎉🎊🎁🎂🎂❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥 Isreal_flashkid wrote: Happy Birthday Ella keep soaring higher to achieve your biggest dream ❤️❤️ @...