The family of the late Mbegan Ndure, the family of the late Njouga Ndure, the family of the late Joseph Ndure, of Banjul and Senegal, Mrs Elizabeth Omo Njie of 72, Dobson Street, the Richards family of Banjul, Mrs Daphney Sonko & family, father Tony Sonko, Aunty Baby Cris Njie & family of Kanifing Estate, Mr & Mrs Cherno Jallow of Kanifing, Mrs Abbey Njie of Kotu regrets to announce the death of

Mrs Getrude Stanley (Nee Ndure) of UK (daughter of the late Mrs Mary Ndure) which sad event occurred on July 31st 2008 & was laid to rest on 2nd August 2008 in the United Kingdom.

This sad news is extended to Dentist R.O.Carrol, Dentist M.O. George, Riley family of Rankin Street, family of the late Lilly Jones, Mrs Sainabou Jack-Jarra of Brikama, Mrs Ola Richards Ndow, Mrs Rose Sanyang of Ziguinchor, Mrs Abiosseh Mendy Nunez of Ziguinchor,  Mrs Mu Ndow Sanyang of Ziguinchor, the Barbosa family of Ziguinchor, Mrs Harriett Jandeh and family of Dakar Senegal, Mrs Tuty Sanyang of Dakar Senegal, the family of the late Anna Richards Faye of Jupel Quart Senegal and all friends in The Gambia and abroad.

May her soul rest in perfect peace

South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela will turn 90 on July 18, but despite his retirement from the public eye five years ago, his age has never prevented him from being pushed back into the limelight.

Political, business and showbiz elite from around the world arrived in London to greet South Africa's long-imprisoned champion of anti-apartheid with a fund-raising concert on Friday, June 27.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former United States President Bill Clinton, talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey, Academy Award winning actor Robert De Niro and former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan were among the stars joining Mandela in the British capital.

The Mandela birthday celebration will be capped with a concert at Hyde Park on Friday that will feature Annie Lennox, Queen, Razorlight, Leona Lewis and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

The proceeds from the concert will go to Mandela's 46664 Foundation that looks after people suffering from HIV in his beloved South Africa.

Mandela was imprisoned for a total of 27 years by a then predominantly white South African government until the abolition of apartheid in the country.

In a sweeping change of the political landscape in the wealthiest country in the African continent, Mandela was elected as the first black president of the country in 1994.

Mandela said before members of media that, though he may be retired, he still works for his suffering people and he wants to take advantage of his landmark birthday to raise funds for his charity work.

Mandela criticizes Robert Mugabe

Former South African President Nelson Mandela criticized Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, labeling him a "tragic failure of leadership." Mandela expressed his sadness over the political and economic chaos that now rocks South Africa's biggest neighbor, to its north-west.

The former anti-apartheid leader broke his silence while in London after hearing of accounts that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the scheduled next phase of the run-off presidential elections in Zimbabwe.

Mandela's statement is expected to put pressure on his successor, President Thabo Mbeki, to finally speak out against Mugabe.

Alex Ferguson was born in Govan, Scotland on the last day of 1941 and since then has become one of the greatest football managers of all time.

He started his playing career at the age of 16 when he joined local team Queen's Park, he went onto score 20 goals in 31 games for the side but never really held down a first team place. He moved onto St. Johnstone but again struggled to cement a place and only stayed for four years. His most succesful time was at Dunfermline Athletic when he managed a healthy 66 goals in 88 appearances which led to a call from Scottish giants Rangers.

Ferguson is a life-long Rangers fan and was at the club for 2 years but his time there was a disaster as he was made a scapegoat for a loss in a domestic cup final. He moved on to Falkirk and then Ayr United before deciding to take up a managerial career.

Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history – winning 18 major trophies during his time in charge of the Reds. Yet despite almost two decades at the Old Trafford helm he remains focused on increasing that tally, bringing yet more silverware to Manchester United.

The Reds boss enjoyed a playing career north of the border that saw him take in spells with Queen's Park, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Glasgow Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United. But it is not for his playing of the game that Sir Alex was to become a success.

Following a spell out of the game he moved into coaching, taking up the role of manager of East Stirlingshire, St Mirren then Aberdeen. It was his time at Pittodrie where he earned his reputation as a top coach. He broke the Glasgow dominance of Scottish football to lead Aberdeen to three Scottish titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Following the sacking of Ron Atkinson as manager of Manchester United, the Old Trafford hierarchy moved quickly for his services. They got their man on 6 November 1986.

Ferguson inherited a dispirited team of underachievers who had consistently, to their supporters’discontent, failed to break Liverpool’s domination. Stuck in the bottom four of the Division One table, Ferguson immediately set about attempting to stave off the very real threat of relegation. Without resorting to the transfer market, he guided United up the table to and eleventh place finish.

By now it was clear to Ferguson that he faced a major job in turning the club around. United were an entertaining side but one that seemed unable to cope with the more physical aspects of League football. In his second season the Reds fared better finishing second behind Liverpool, but the position painted a false picture. The turning point came in the 1989/90 season.

Following a run of games in which the Reds were drawn away in every round, United picked up their first silverware of the Ferguson era. Lee Martin scoring the only goal in a final replay against Crystal Palace to in the FA Cup.

This first trophy opened the flood gates. The European Cup Winners’ Cup was won the following season in Rotterdam, Barcelona defeated 2-1 thanks to a brace from Mark Hughes. Then in 1991/02 the League Cup was added to United’s list of honours.

Sadly the title remained elusive. It was the Holy Grail to United fans, the 26 championships free years being exacerbated by Liverpool’s dominance of the domestic and European game.

In 1992/93 the long wait for the League championship came to an end. The Reds, inspired by £1m signing Eric Cantona, pipping Aston Villa in the final weeks of the season.

The shackles were broken: the double followed in 1993/94, the double-Double (with ‘kids’) in 1995/96, and another title in 1997. Finally United were matching off-field might with on-field success. Liverpool’s dominance was well and truly over.

Sir Alex’s greatest achievement came in 1998/99. No side before or since has achieved a treble haul of Premiership title, FA Cup and European Cup. On an unforgettable night in Barcelona his decision to throw on substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer assured history was made. The pair scoring injury-time goals to win the Champions League and complete the treble.

Ferguson was knighted following that success and some suggested he should retire, believing his desire would wane following the realisation of a dream. Not a bit of it. Another title followed in 1999/2000 and he made it three-in-row in 2000/01. His eighth Premiership duly arrived in 2002/03; his fourth FA Cup a year later came against Millwall in Cardiff.

The Reds had by now entered a period of rebuilding. The side of homegrown players he’d first put together in 1995/96 was now breaking up and he’d recruited new stars like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, brought in to spark a new era of success.

The rebuilding paid off with victory in the Carling Cup in 2005/06 and a ninth Premiership trophy in 2006/07. And the success looks set to continue, with Sir Alex swooping for three players - FC Porto's Anderson, Sporting Lisbon's Nani and

Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves - in May 2007 to bolster an already strong side.

With the Premiership back at Old Trafford, the attention now will turn to Europe where Sir Alex hopes to win his second Champions League trophy in 2007/08.

More than a place to learn, education can mitigate the effects of conflict on children and build peace in countries affected by armed conflict, says Save the Children in their latest report, Where Peace Begins.

Where peace talks take place, education must be recognised as key to long-lasting stability.
However, of the 37 full peace agreements signed between 1989 and 2005 that are publicly available, 11 make no mention of education at all. Even in those that do address education, there is great variation in the way it is addressed and the type of education.

Save the Children today launches a global debate on how education can become a fundamental component of peace processes. 37 million children in conflict-affected fragile states do not go to school, amounting to half the world's out-of-school children, although the population in these countries is only 13% of the worldwide total. The agency calls for progress in conflict-affected fragile states striving to building peace, because it will ensure a better world for children.
"Peace processes provide an important opportunity to improve education systems and help foster peace. When parties in a conflict are engaged in a peace process, there is a rare focus and opportunity to agree on a shared new education blueprint for the country," says report contributor and peace researcher Kendra Dupuy, the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway (PRIO).

Education is critical to successful peace and reconciliation. During peace negotiations there is a rare opportunity to secure agreement on a shared new education blueprint for the country. Save the Children is calling for an investment in education in future peace negotiations so that fragile states have a chance at a future. Funding education will enable citizens of all ages to move beyond ethnic or social divisions.

"Educating children is key if Liberia is to maintain peace and build a safe country for all children and protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse", says Susan Grant, Country Director, Save the Children UK. She added, "For countries affected by conflict like Liberia education is integral to building long term peace and prosperity. Schools are vital in protecting children and supporting their emotional and social development by giving them comfort, security and opportunity. We need to make this a reality in Liberia."

In the foreword to Save the Children's report, Liberia?s president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says:
"I have seen firsthand in Liberia how a good teacher can show a child not just how words are spelt and numbers add up, but also the possibilities they have in life. All our children have the right to education - but not just any education. We have a stark choice: to teach children in ways that will continue the conflicts and violence we see around the world, or to give our children a safe, positive environment where they can learn a better way."

The damage to education systems during conflicts is well-documented. Examples in the new report include students, teachers and administrative staff who are often targeted for intimidation, recruitment and indoctrination during conflict. School premises are often destroyed or occupied by fighters and teachers and curricula may become subject to manipulation. In addition, there is evidence that, if misused, education may contribute to conflict by encouraging children to join the fight.

"Save the Children works in many countries embroiled in conflict today and is very familiar with how conflict has a significant and damaging impact on education." says Dupuy. "We must address education in peace agreements to provide an important incentive to lay down arms, particularly where educational exclusion is at the root of young people?s motivations to fight. But more than just bringing the fighting to an end, education has a vital role to play in building long-term, positive peace that transforms the roots of conflict".

"Primary schools must be free and close to home, and encourage all children in a community to go. Schools must be safe from attack and must be perceived as places where intellectual curiosity and respect for universal human rights is fostered. Schools must use a non-biased curriculum and relevant educational materials. And finally, the opinions of children, parents and the community must be taken into consideration. These expectations should be part of every peace agreement", says Adrian Lovett, Director of Campaigns and Communications, Save the Children.

To join the global debate on education and peace go to www.savethechildren.net/rewritethefuture

Satellite Information Services Limited (SIS), the racecourse television company part-owned by William Hill and Ladbrokes, has been named by the BBC as the preferred bidder for its Outside Broadcasts division, one of three active businesses within BBC Resources Ltd.

SIS Chief Executive David Holdgate would not comment on the terms of the deal, thought to be around £50m, but said it would be "an ideal acquisition for SIS" and "a perfect fit with our existing SISLink and sports coverage". The company has long-term contracts with other leading broadcasters, such as Sky and ITV and provides satellite links for live sport and news.

In a statement, the BBC said that it intended to exchange contracts and transfer the Outside Broadcasts business and staff in the near future, with Andy Thornton, BBC project director for the sale of the division, saying that "SIS offered the BBC a good deal and best value for licence fee payers". Mark Tugwell, Director, BBC Outside Broadcasts, added "it's time for our business to flourish under new ownership, without the constraints of BBC ownership".

30-year-old Basiru Gassama, a Gambian Muslim resident in the United Kingdom, who has now served a two-year jail term, now faces deportation over his alleged failure to disclose information relating to terrorism. Few years ago, it was alleged that Mr Gassama was recruited by Parviz Khan, a terrorist ringleader, to help ‘identify a target’ for the purpose of “beheading a service man living in the city of Birmingham.”

Mr Gassama of Radstock Avenue, Hodge Hill, had denied the charges but the court eventually established that he had deliberately failed to disclose information about the plot. Sentencing him at the Leicester Crown Court, the judge said: “You knew in very great detail what Parviz Khan was planning.”

Mohammed Irfan, 31, of Ward End, and Hamid Elasmar, 44, of Edgbaston, were given four years and three years and four months respectively for allegedly helping to supply equipment and other materials and as a result decided to ‘recruit’ the Gambian born Muslim to his cell to help identify the said target.
 
A large number of Gambians live in this area of Birmingham but some of them who knew Gassama said he was always “nice and caring’’ and could not understand what prompted him to be involved in such act. They urged their fellow countrymen and women to maintain their tradition of respect in society and always uphold loyalty to their host at all costs, where everyone is protected and allowed the opportunity to strive.

However 37-year-old Parviz Khan had reportedly pleaded guilty to plotting the alleged scheme and supplying equipment to terrorists on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He was subsequently handed a minimum 14-year sentence at Leicester Crown Court where the judge also told him that he might never be released due to the magnitude of his crimes. Four other men involved in the plot were sentenced along with him.

The prosecution had alleged during the trial that Khan grew into an “extremist obsessed’’ with the speeches of Osama bin Laden and the jailed cleric, Abu Hamza, who is currently fighting extradition to the United States to face other terrorist charges.

It was alleged that bugging devices were planted at his home in Alum Rock and had recorded him allegedly teaching a child how to “carry out beheading.” The court also handed Zahoor Iqbal, a 30-year-old man living in Perry Barr, a jail term of seven years for his part in the alleged supply chain.

The judge told Iqbal: “You have been described by the Crown as a man who has the most violent and extreme Islamist views and as a fanatic. Having studied over the last month [the covert recordings], I unhesitatingly accept that description of you. You not only plotted to kill a soldier but you intended to film a most brutal killing.” The judge added that Khan’s aim was to “deter any Muslim from joining the British army.”

The judge also noted: “This was not only a plot to kill a soldier but a plot to undermine the morale of the British army and inhibit recruitment... It’s plain that you were absolutely serious and determined to bring this plot to fruition. Unfortunately your enthusiasm was infectious and you dragged in your co-accused, everyone of whom should curse the day they set their eyes on you.”

Mitigating on behalf of Khan, respected lawyer Michael Wolkind, QC, told the court that his client’s plot had been a “mixture of fanaticism and fantasy” and deserved mercy. Also mentioning to the covert monitoring of Khan, he said: “If there had been a genuine threat, the buggers would have stopped it much earlier. There was a long way to go.”

Michael, still trying to convince the court, said: “His plan might have changed had British foreign policy changed. He might have withdrawn if the British troops were withdrawn.”

However Justice Henriques said: “So rampant are your views, so excitable your temperament, and so persuasive your tongue and so imbued with energy are you, it’s quite impossible to predict when, if ever, it will be safe for you to be released into the public.”

The judge added: “It was a plot whose purpose was to undermine democratic government, to demoralize the British army and to destabilize recruitment, and to cause anguish to the then Prime Minister of the day and the loyal citizens of the country.”

Khan was given a minimum of 14 years for the plot, eight years for the supply of equipment and two and a half years for both counts of being in possession of the records of documents. The sentences will run concurrently.

Meanwhile this correspondent was made to reliably understand that the plot was against a young Gambian serving in the British army, thus causing outrage within the Gambian community who are renowned to be law-abiding, honest and hard working.
 

Gambian international winger, Edrissa Sonko, did not hide his bitter regrets on Gambia’s failure to qualify for the 2008 Nations Cup finals in Ghana.

As Africa’s premier football bonanza ended last night in Accra, Sonko was, in one respect, a frustrated spectator.

Like England's bid to qualify for the European Championships, The Gambia narrowly missed out on the African equivalent and, just as the likes of John Terry and Steven Gerrard will be doing in June and July, the Gambian international has looked on enviously as the events of the competition unfolded in the west African nation.

"If you want to be in a competition but do not qualify then of course you have regrets," he said. "You need a little bit of luck in qualification and, I suppose a bit like England, Gambia did not get much.”

"It is hard watching the competition on television when you know you could have been there."

The flip side of Gambia's failure to qualify is that Edrissa Sonko has been able to stay in England and, especially during January where he picked up the Powerade Player of the Month Award, has been in fine form. It is something he is determined to keep up during the weeks and months ahead.

"I am happy with how I am playing at the moment," he added. "I have been working hard and want to keep playing well."

Editor,

Please create some space for me to send a rejoinder to the debate on the vexed issue (topic) of visa applications - be it their denial or the most ridiculous questions ALWAYS asked answers to which (irrespective of whether or not they are correctly answered) constitute the basis of their decisions. I realise there is hardly space, not to mention adequate space, in your paper for the very many good reasons we all know.

So I will go to the point.

The fact and heart of the matter is that, Western Europe and the USA have deliberate and calculated IMMIGRATION AS WELL AS EMIGRATION POLICIES AND LAWS deeply rooted in xenophobia and racism, both overt and covert.

The hatred, repulsion, nostalgic feelings and disgust deeply generated from within them, is to say the least, reprehensible. This has been the way all along because they, deep down in their egos, culture and civilisation, feel very strongly that they the CHOSEN and MUST NOT MIX, lest they be diluted by the negroid!

They have killed, maimed and jailed us for centuries, exploited and ravaged our economies, destroyed and polluted (if not bastardised) our cultures and civilisations! They just CANNOT stand our sight! They will go ALL the way to deny you a visa under some reprehensible legal corpus and regulatory frameworks.

As far as I am concerned, their diplomatic corps can say anything and everything to justify their actions - the fact remains that they HATE US and do not want "niggers" in their lands of honey and milk. For those of us who had the opportunity to go to their countries, we KNOW better.

Tamsir Joof

UK