Latest news with #SierraLeone
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Frances Tiafoe backs efforts to expand grassroots tennis in UK
US tennis star Frances Tiafoe believes the game in the UK can set a global example as the sport attempts to break free from its elitist reputation and open up at grassroots level. Lack of access to facilities has typically led to far smaller participation levels than in more popular sports in Britain and, though an LTA report in 2024 revealed that around 3.6million UK children play at least once a year, barriers remain to its regular uptake amongst young people, both in Britain and abroad. Much of that is down to the expense of equipment and limited access to properly maintained courts and coaching, in practice fencing the game off from some demographics. Current world number 12 Tiafoe, whose family immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone during the 90s, cites his early introduction to the game as an outlier. Had his father not worked as janitor at a tennis centre in Tiafoe's hometown Maryland, he believes he would never have taken up a game which was seen as off limits to people from less affluent backgrounds. 'You give a chance to people in inner cities, people who wouldn't be able to do a particular sport,' said Tiafoe, who was speaking at an event in London to mark one year of Barclays Free Park tennis scheme, which provides facilities and coaching with the aim of removing barriers between children and grassroots sport. 'In America, that's why everyone's so quick to play basketball. All you need is a ball and a hoop. Same as (football) over here (in the UK).' He believes that initiatives like Free Park Tennis – billed as the sport's answer to Park Run and which provides for free the coaches and equipment many would otherwise be unable to afford – will provide the stimulus in the UK for barriers to fall away. 'Tennis you need rackets and strings and shoes, it becomes very upper echelon,' he said. 'This way everyone will be able to it. That's what means a lot to me.' Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist in 2022 and 2024, will be aiming to improve upon his Wimbledon record – where he has never progressed beyond the fourth round – when play begins on Monday. The 27-year-old is drawn to face the Dane Elmer Moller in the first round with a possible second-round meeting with Brit Cameron Norrie. He believes that more players from his background will in future feel they can follow in his footsteps, with the UK leading the way in breaking down barriers. 'There'd be three or four of me sitting here if we had these schemes (in the US),' he said. 'That's why I'm so passionate about these type of things.' BBC Sport presenter Ian Wight, also speaking at the event, said his own experience of growing up on a council estate in south London pushed him and his peers towards football because sports like tennis appeared closed off. 'When we were younger, you go the tennis court where I lived in Brockley, it was always empty,' he said. 'I didn't see anybody on there – white, black, nobody. 'There were people who played football with us just because it's easy to get a football and all of you can play. I'm sure some of those guys, if they had the facilities from this kind of initiative, they would have done it. '
Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Sierra Leone to host Russian fishing fleet under new deal
Sierra Leone's government is prepared to grant Russian fishing operators an annual catch quota of 40,000 tons, along with investment incentives aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation in the sector, the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) has announced. The agency said the move was discussed during the inaugural session of the Russian-Sierra Leone Fisheries Commission held in Freetown, the capital of the West African country. 'The country [Sierra Leone] is interested in attracting up to 20 vessels to work in its exclusive economic zone,' Rosrybolovstvo wrote on its official Telegram channel. According to the statement, scientists from the two countries previously conducted marine biology research to assess the biomass and distribution of small pelagic fish species as part of the Great African Expedition launched by Rosrybolovstvo last August. The two sides are expected to launch detailed negotiations on operations in Sierra Leonean waters once research data is processed and interest by fishing companies in specific fish stocks and other marine resources is evaluated. Rosrybolovstvo added that the African country is also seeking cooperation with Moscow on port development, fleet modernization, and investment in coastal refrigeration and oversight systems. Russia's engagement in Africa has intensified in recent years, with several nations seeking joint projects with Moscow in defense, energy, education, and trade. The Kremlin has declared strengthening ties with the continent a top foreign-policy priority. In January, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed plans for new embassies to be established in several African nations, including Sierra Leone. For now, the Consulate General in Freetown remains Russia's primary diplomatic representation in the country. A series of agreements have been signed in recent weeks between Russia and African countries, including peaceful nuclear energy cooperation deals with Burkina Faso and Mali covering infrastructure development and joint projects in healthcare and agriculture. On Wednesday, TASS quoted Sierra Leonean ambassador to Russia Mohamed Yongawo as saying that his country seeks cooperation with Russian IT firms such as Yandex, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare. He reportedly made the remarks during a plenary session at the XVI International IT Forum in the central Russian city of Khanty-Mansiysk.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
President Of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bank Congratulates Sierra's President Julius Maada Bio On His Election As Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Chairman, Assures ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)'s Full Support For His Developmental Agenda
Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), has extended heartfelt congratulations to President Julius Maada Bio on his recent election as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority. In a congratulatory letter, Dr. Donkor emphasized that the election reflects the sub-region's strong confidence in President Bio's leadership. He also commended the President's proven governance record and expressed optimism that his leadership will effectively tackle pressing regional issues such as economic growth, peace, and security throughout West Africa. The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) stands as a premier financial institution dedicated to advancing economic progress across West Africa. Based in Lomé, Togo, EBID finances critical sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and small to medium enterprises (SMEs). The Bank is instrumental in promoting regional integration, strengthening the private sector, and reducing poverty within ECOWAS member countries. During the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Dr. Donkor also engaged in a productive discussion with President Bio. He reaffirmed EBID's commitment to supporting Sierra Leone's developmental priorities and lauded President Bio's leadership. Dr. Donkor pledged to explore potential areas of collaboration between EBID and Sierra Leone. President Bio's new role as ECOWAS Chairman highlights Sierra Leone's expanding influence in regional affairs and represents a pivotal achievement for the nation. His tenure is expected to focus on fostering sustainable economic development, empowering communities, and revitalizing cultural heritage across West Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Hoping that viruses will go away is not enough – what is needed is continuous vigilance
In the public debate about pandemics, there is a belief as persistent as it is dangerous: the idea that epidemics end, that viruses – once contained – will disappear like a summer storm. But virology and epidemiology teach us that viruses do not disappear. Viruses adapt and mutate. They lurk in the folds of health inequalities and gaps in global surveillance. The latest alarm comes from Sierra Leone, which, after reporting its first two cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in January and declaring a public health emergency, is now facing a significant expansion of the epidemic. According to official sources, the country has reported over 3,000 confirmed cases and at least 15 deaths, with infections concentrated particularly in Western Area Urban, Western Area Rural, and Bombali. National health authorities, assisted by the WHO, Unicef, Africa CDC, and Gavi, have implemented a comprehensive emergency plan: strengthening surveillance, isolating cases, contact tracing, and launching awareness campaigns in schools and rural communities. As a result, 61,300 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, and hundreds of health workers are being trained on diagnostic, treatment, and prevention protocols. This outbreak is becoming particularly worrisome due to the high vulnerability of children, who face a mortality risk up to four times higher than adults, especially in conditions of malnutrition or poor hygiene. On a continental scale, Africa is witnessing a rise in cases, with over 50,000 reported since the beginning of the year and more than 1,700 deaths. A critical factor is the viral clade involved. While full genomic mapping is still underway, the Africa CDC has reported that clade IIb, which has been associated with faster human-to-human transmission and potentially exponential spread, is likely the dominant strain in Sierra Leone. Despite Sierra Leone's improved emergency response capacity, gained during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, healthcare infrastructure remains under strain. Patients often share beds, and clinical recognition delays persist, reflecting systemic pressures that could hamper containment efforts. Viruses return when the world 'moves on' Recent history, from Covid-19 to polio, shows that viruses do not 'die out' with a decree or a short-lived vaccination campaign. Zoonotic viruses, in particular, have an inherent ability to remain in circulation between animal and human hosts, often with different symptomatologies, and to re-emerge under favourable conditions. When surveillance loosens, when public health is underfunded, when the world 'moves on,' viruses return. Mpox is emblematic in this regard. For decades considered a virus confined to parts of central Africa, it has found new vectors, new susceptible populations, and new routes of transmission. Its recent mutations – linked to clade IIb – suggest adaptations to human infection that could make it endemic even in hitherto unaffected areas. Its apparent disappearance in high-income countries after the 2022-2023 wave is illusory: it was not a biological defeat, but a logistical suspension. Yet there are examples of good health behaviour from which the whole world should draw inspiration. In Tanzania in 2023, a small outbreak of Marburg virus – one of the world's deadliest pathogens, belonging to the same family as Ebola – was contained through a timely, transparent and coordinated response. The Tanzanian Ministry of Health quickly put in place measures for contact tracing, case isolation, effective public communication and cooperation with WHO. Similar efficiency was demonstrated in Rwanda, where preparedness for potential Marburg cases became a pillar of public health strategy, despite the fact that no outbreaks had occurred. Both countries invested in decentralised surveillance systems, widespread health training, and integration of human and veterinary medicine-embodying the concept of 'One Health'. These examples show that prevention is not a luxury of rich countries, but a strategic choice that is possible everywhere if supported by political will and real, non-paternalistic international cooperation. The new mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone must be interpreted in light of a fundamental fact: the transmissibility of viruses knows no geopolitical boundaries. Emerging diseases are now more than ever a global health security issue. A delay in diagnosis in Freetown can trigger an infection in Paris, London or Toronto within days. Yet funding for surveillance and diagnostic laboratories remains concentrated in a few areas. Large regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America lack sentinel systems capable of detecting new threats in real time. Where the first patient is not identified, the virus has already won the first round. Continuing to hope that 'it won't happen here,' or that 'this time it is just a small outbreak,' is a mistake we have already paid dearly for. The mpox emergency in Sierra Leone is not yet a pandemic, but it is already an opportunity: to invest, to coordinate, to train. Epidemiological surveillance must become a structural and continuous investment, not an emergency response. We need a global network that not only responds, but predicts. One that recognises the global potential in seemingly minor outbreaks, and that funds local health systems not just to treat, but to monitor and to anticipate. Hoping that viruses will disappear is an understandable but naive wish. The only scientifically sound response is permanent, equitable, multilevel surveillance. We can no longer afford to ignore weak signals. Every contained outbreak is a shared victory; every ignored outbreak is a global defeat waiting to happen. Francesco Branda is an Adjunct professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Sierra Leone aims to be West Africa's newest oil and gas exploration frontier
Sierra Leone will wait for the results of a recently-launched offshore 3D seismic survey, its first in over a decade, ahead of potentially opening its next oil and gas licensing round later this year, a senior government official said on Thursday. In partnership with the government's petroleum directorate, consultancy GeoPartners started the six-week seismic survey last month as part of efforts to de-risk exploration in Sierra Leone's offshore basin. "The reprocessing of that data is happening now with our multi-client partners, TGS, and we are hoping to get something to push to the market in October," Foday Mansaray, director general at the Sierra Leone Petroleum Directorate said of a potential licensing launch date. He said the West African country, where the then Anadarko Petroleum and Russia's Lukoil previously discovered oil but not in commercial quantities, could potentially offer up to 60 offshore blocks in its sixth oil and gas auction round. The previous round concluded in 2023. However, the new blocks are unlikely to include ultra-deep areas that are ordinarily open for direct negotiations, he said. Sierra Leone has an estimated 30 billion barrels of oil equivalent recoverable offshore, Mansaray said, including the large Vega prospect identified by Anadarko previously, which has some 3 billion barrels of oil recoverable. Situated along the Atlantic seaboard and between regional oil-producing countries, such as Ivory Coast to the south and Senegal to the north, Sierra Leone is keen to boost its credentials as an emerging exploration frontier. Over the past 18 months, Shell, Petrobras , Hess and Murphy Oil have purchased some of its licensed data, Mansaray said. Using Namibia and Guyana as examples of how exploration has boomed in those countries following years of inactivity, he said Sierra Leone could be on the verge of a breakthrough. "I firmly believe that Sierra Leone is on the cusp of something big and we are going to be one of the next big and successful stories." (Reporting by Wendell Roelf. Editing by Mark Potter)
