A group of stranded Nigerian miners have safely arrived at the country’s capital, Bangui, thanks to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The miners had earlier made a public appeal for assistance through a viral video, which allegedly led a Nigerian agent to the country in a collaboration with a Chinese national.
The victims, who are clearly frail and distressed, claimed in the video that they had been abandoned without pay for 11 months after being hired for mining work.
The Nigerian Embassy in CAR worked with the country’s security forces to quickly respond to the development.
The miners were accompanied by the officials on a multi-day trip from their remote location to the capital city.
Read more about Ghana protests: A lawyer urges the Nigerian Diaspora to display hostility
The rescue was made possible by the combined efforts of the embassy staff and CAR personnel, according to a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the director of the media, public relations, and protocols unit at NiDCOM.
He stated that Nigerian officials are currently looking after the victims, who are reportedly scheduled to be repatriated soon.
The victims expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Babagana Ahmed, the minister of foreign affairs, and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for their prompt intervention, according to Balogun.
They also expressed gratitude to Nigerians who updated their story online, the CAR security agencies, and the embassy.
By 2026, according to the Federal Government, the Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Rail Line will be finished.
Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, made the announcement in a post on his official X (previous Twitter) account.
Idris also provided an update on the government’s infrastructure project drive.
Sa’idu Alkali, the minister of transportation, confirmed that the project had made significant progress while the president’s Bola Tinubu-led administration was in effect.
The Kaduna–Kano railway project was 15% finished, he claimed, when President Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023. He claimed that the percentage has now increased to 53%.
Alkali further disclosed that funding had been secured through a bilateral agreement with China’s government to quicken the construction of the railroad line.
He claimed that this funding will help expedite the project’s completion and speed up its progress.
A standard-gauge railroad, the Kano-Kaduna railway has a total length of 203 kilometers.
When it is finished, it is anticipated to have direct rail service between Kano and Abuja.
The Nigerian Kano-Kaduna railway project, which is slated to begin construction in January 2025, received a loan in the amount of €245 million ($254.76 million).
The bank stated in a statement that the decision was to aid in the project’s smooth progress.
Read more about Chinese Bank’s approval of a $ 254.76 million loan for Kano-Kaduna Railway.
Along the way, this railroad will also encourage the growth of related industries. Numerous job opportunities will be created in Nigeria as a result of the project’s construction and operation.
The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation’s list of practical cooperation projects includes the Kano-Kaduna railway project, according to the statement’s part.
The CDB provides funding for the project, and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is the contractor.
Sam Faiers has been hit with backlash over controversial comments she made about sunscreen, admitting her children never wear sun cream as they ‘have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun’
Sam Faiers has come under fire(Image: Instagram)
Sam Faiers has come under fire for controversial comments she made about sun cream. The reality star took to social media to reveal she doesn’t get her children to wear sun cream.
The former TOWIE star explained that her kids have “built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun” as she made wild claims about sunscreen having “pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients” in, which has been discredited by a skin doctor.
In a lengthy post shared on social media, she wrote: “So this is always a bit of a controversial one, but honestly, me and my whole family don’t actually wear sunscreen. Over the years, the kids have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun.
“Of course if it’s really hot and the sun feels too harsh I’ll make sure we head into the shade… usually around lunchtime we’ll go in, have something to eat and just avoid those peak hours.” Her comments come after she and sister Billie made a huge announcement.
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Sam posted on Instagram about her controversial sun cream use(Image: Instagram)
She then went on to add: “I’m really careful about sunscreen in general, because a lot of them are actually pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients. If you do want to protect your kids, I think SPF swimwear is such a good and safer option.
“But also, don’t be afraid of the sun! Early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it’s not as strong, I love letting the kids run around and soak it up, it’s good for them. That said, I do always bring a Tallow Zinc SPF with me when I go away, just in case. And hats or caps are a must! Especially for us ladies because no one wants extra sun damage.”
The comments have now been heavily criticised by a skin doctor. Skin cancer prevention doctor Ross Perry told the Daily Mail: “It is a well-known fact that children if they get any degree of sunburn as a child it more than doubles their risk of getting skin cancer at a later date so that is completely false and misleading.
“Children do not build up a tolerance to sun exposure. I would totally advocate the use of sun protective clothing as a alternative for those who do not tolerate sun cream being regularly applied, especially for children regularly in and out of the water, but they will only cover certain areas so an SPF is still required.
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“It is misleading to say that children need to have sunlight in order to promote their health as they will absorb more than enough sunlight through day-to-day activities rather as an over exposure or potential sunburn on holidays.”
The Mirror has contacted a representative for Sam for comment.
Crystal Palace’s summer has played out in the boardroom and will continue in the courtroom.
Following their FA Cup triumph in May, the club’s failed effort to stay in the Europa League next season has dominated the organization’s summer, which should have been a time of celebration and optimism.
In the end, Palace will have to decide whether to continue playing in the Europa League or the lesser Europa Conference League in the upcoming appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), which is scheduled to take place behind closed doors on August 8.
A decision is expected on 11 August.
The purchase of former Eagles joint-owner John Textor’s shares has also been a matter of American businessman Woody Johnson.
However, there is a similar level of uncertainty on the pitch.
Two of their best players in Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze have interest from England’s elite clubs, their manager Oliver Glasner is inside the final 12 months of his contract and the club are currently without a full-time sporting director following Dougie Freedman’s departure.
A free-agent goalkeeper and a £3 million left-back are the only two summer signings they have so far.
Glasner made a public statement earlier this week about his concerns with the club’s current transfer business.
Eze and Guehi have to make the necessary decisions.
Images courtesy of Getty
There is less pressure on Palace to make a significant decision regarding the former, compared to Eze and Guehi.
In many ways it is out of their hands. The England international has a 68 million release clause, meaning Palace are powerless to decide his future unless a club agrees to pay that fee.
The buy-out, according to what Palace is aware of, expires two weeks before the window is closed, adding an additional layer of security.
Arsenal have a genuine interest in Eze but have so far shown no inclination of triggering the forward’s release fee.
Additionally, reliable sources claim Arsenal would prefer to sell a forward before making any formal moves for Eze.
While Martin Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri have a perception that Eze’s best position is at number 10, an area in which the two play.
Eze can play on the left and Arsenal may view the Palace forward as a multi-functional attacker rather than just a number 10.
Arsenal’s interest is known to Palace.
Images courtesy of Getty
As things stand, Palace chairman Steve Parish has shown no indication he would be open to negotiating a lower price, though there is a thought at rival clubs his stance may soften later in the window, to avoid the player going into the final year of his deal.
Eze may openly join Arsenal, it is said.
Arsenal will likely be a contender for the Premier League and Champions League next year, given its obvious appeal.
However, that is not to say Eze is desperate to leave Selhurst Park.
The Palace squad includes a significant number of players, including the 27-year-old. He enjoys a lot of peer support from his coworkers.
It sounds cliche, but the camaraderie nurtured at Palace under Glasner is something numerous sources have told BBC Sport players would find difficult to walk away from. Their bond was demonstrated by a recent party that almost everyone in the squad attended.
That would apply to Eze.
Liverpool’s interest in Guehi
Images courtesy of Getty
Guehi’s future at Palace is less straightforward. Given that they turned down a deal worth around £65 million from Newcastle for Guehi in 2024, the Eagles captain’s contract runs out in less than 12 months, which means he can leave for nothing when he leaves for nothing next summer.
As of right now, Guehi’s commitment to an extension of his contract is unmistakable, despite Palace’s evident desire to discuss a new deal.
Liverpool have a genuine interest in Guehi this summer.
However, the Merseyside club’s level of interest will be determined by the cost. Liverpool will only make a move if they believe the fee means the defender can join them for nothing the summer after being sucked into a long saga over Guehi’s valuation.
Palace are believed to want around £40m for Guehi, but Liverpool want to pay less than that figure.
Since the end of the season, Guehi has attracted varying levels of interest from Tottenham, Newcastle, and Chelsea.
In the final year of his contract, Guehi finds himself in a powerful position: a seasoned professional.
That comes with a delicate balance of trying to maximise the situation he is in, but also acknowledge that certain chances do not come around all too often.
Guehi would likely take seriously into account the possibility to play for the Premier League champions, especially given their exciting summer additions, which might yet include Alexander Isak.
Guehi has another option available to him, which is to extend the duration of his contract with the intention of leaving on a free transfer next summer.
His options would certainly enhance in that scenario. Additionally, the offered financial packages would be more lucrative.
Freedman loss being felt
Finding his exit in such a busy time has presented several challenges since Dougie Freedman’s departure earlier this summer.
Given that he was at the forefront of developing the club’s summer strategy, Freedman has been present to oversee some aspects of the transfer window.
Indeed, many of Palace’s transfer targets were recommended by Freedman.
For instance, Freedman identified a player as the club’s first choice central defensive option, Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon.
The Scots also made recommendations regarding the free transfer of goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
The loss of Freedman, who has taken a multi-sport role at Saudi club Al-Diriyah, will be keenly felt.
He has played a significant role in the club’s best players’ recruitment, frequently snatching them from lower-level clubs.
The players Freedman recruited from relative obscurity include Eze, Guehi, Michael Olise, Adam Wharton, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Chris Richards, and Daniel Munoz.
Wharton – like Eze and Guehi – has attracted top-level interest but the midfielder is likely to stay this summer.
With Liverpool one of the clubs keeping an eye on the situation, it’s unclear whether Palace can keep the England international after the close season.
In addition to Parish, his number two, Iain Moody and his number two, Ben Stevens, have taken greater responsibility in the transfer market.
Stevens, in particular, continues to benefit from Freedman’s expertise.
Palace, however, do not intend to replace Freedman permanently. Should Palace choose to appoint a new full-time sporting director, Matt Hobbs has emerged as an external candidate, according to BBC Sport.
Hobbs left Wolves earlier this summer and has been recommended to Palace, with the club’s new American owners keen to have a direct replacement for Freedman in place.
A senior scouting position will likely be chosen to replace Freedman’s renowned talent identification skills, which the club are believed to be considering.
I was promised we’d be more active – Glasner
Images courtesy of Getty
Manager Glasner has less than a year left on his contract, just like Guehi.
There are ongoing discussions about an extension, but there is no resolution at this time.
Nevertheless, Palace are absolutely clear in their intention to keep Glasner and would like the matter resolved sooner rather than later.
However, the Austrian is justified in waiting until the contract expires before agreeing to a longer contract.
The team would become significantly less effective if Guehi and Eze were to lose.
It will be a tall order to replace both players with players who are of a similar level, particularly for Palace where the recruitment budget isn’t huge.
After the club’s pre-season game against Mainz, Glasner made a pointed comment regarding the club’s transfer business so far this summer.
“We haven’t made the most of the transfer window so far, despite the fact that all the players are still here. I was promised that we would be more active and bring in the new players earlier this year”, he said.
I currently have 17 outfielders. I’m hoping we won’t get worse. If that happens and we get four new ones on deadline day like last year, another false start is possible”.
One player’s recent complaints of a slight muscular soreness will have heightened Glasner’s concerns.
Although Holly Willoughby admitted to “hating fake tans,” she swears by this £33 skin-blurring body makeup that “evens out tone” and doesn’t transfer onto your clothes.
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Holly Willoughby swears by this body makeup instead of fake tan(Image: WireImage)
Self-tan is typically the best method for achieving a bronzed look without putting up any risk of sun damage. However, if you’ve never been a big fan of fake tan or haven’t quite mastered the art of applying it, you’re in good company.
Holly Willoughby, who’s programmes Celebrity Bear Hunt and Dancing On Ice are both nominated at tonight’s National Reality TV Awards, has previously shared with Beauty Full Lives podcast that she never wears fake tan, despite always looking healthy and bronzed. Speaking on the podcast, she said: “Everybody thinks I wear fake tan but I hate fake tan! Never been able to get on with it.” She continued: “But this leg stuff, I really like it. If I’m wearing a skirt on This Morning, sometimes I put a bit on my legs just to even the tone out a little bit.”
Victoria Beckham’s go-to blusher from her beauty line, Harper Seven, is shared by her daughter.
The Vita Liberata Body Blur, which Holly refers to as the “leg stuff,” is currently available for just £3 at LookFantastic. Your skin tone is immediately perfected and smoothed by the wash-off body makeup, as well as giving you a subtle, golden glow that rivals a fake tan.
Holly swears by the body makeup for keeping her legs even-toned and bronzed(Image: Holly Willoughby/Instagram)
You can choose a shade that matches your skin’s current shade if all you want to do is smooth and perfect your skin with three different shades: dark, light, and medium. A blurring effect is immediately caused by the body makeup, as well as by balancing an uneven skin tone with concealing imperfections.
It’s also transfer-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about it rubbing off on your clothes or bedding. The Vita Liberata Body Blur has been formulated with shea butter and glycerin to hydrate your skin, and has light-reflecting technology built into it to give your skin a subtle glow.
It’s a great option for any last-minute plans or to top off your existing tan thanks to its quick-drying formula, even if you’re typically quite the fake tan snob. Use it to apply it to clean, moist skin using a tanning mitt, and apply it in circles to achieve flawless coverage using an application blender.
The Vita Liberata Body Blur gives your skin a natural-looking glow and flawless finish(Image: LookFantastic)
The Sally Hansen Airbrush Water Resistant Leg Makeup Medium (£13.99) is a great option if you want a quick fix without the use of any extra tools (or mitts). You can apply it by rubbing it onto your hands, massage it into your skin, and wait for 60 seconds while it’s still wet.
Once dried, you can go to work, and the spray offers full coverage without streaks, transferring, or smudging. It helps make things like bruises, scars, and even tattoos less visible, as well as creating an airbrushed effect.
For less coverage and the same glow-boosting, smoothing effect, Fenty’s Body Sauce Body Luminizing Tint, which costs just £3.60 less than it does, could be found. It also comes in three shades and has Vitamin E to moisturize and transfer skin while remaining resistant to humidity and transferring.
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However, the Vita Liberata Body Blur is available for £33 right away if you want to read Holly’s book.
Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession made its way through his hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom, where thousands of Black Sabbath fans gathered. At the Black Sabbath Bridge, his 43-year-old wife Sharon Osbourne laid flowers for the grieving family.
