Latest news with #Minna
Times
20-06-2025
- Times
The Maldives island made for teens
Taking teenagers on holiday can be challenging. No longer are they delighted by rainy Cornish beaches and soggy chips, glamping and bathing in a plastic bucket — which for a decade constituted our summer trips. By the time they reach their teens, their tastes have refined. Somehow they have found out about infinity pools and infinite breakfast buffets (I blame the internet). So when I told my 13-year-old, Minna, that we would be eschewing the not-very-tropical coves of the South West for Finolhu, a ritzy resort in the Maldives to test out its brand-new 'Teen hut', she was delighted. I thought we could prepare by watching episodes of Blue Planet, but she preferred TikTok videos of travel influencers and bought four new bikinis — one for each day of our stay. Our first taste of Finolhu's delights was at Male airport where in its private lounge Minna availed herself of the buffet (chicken dumplings and a fistful of Smarties) before we boarded the sea plane. Teenagers pretend to be very cool, so it is lovely to bypass the swagger and watch them experience real wonder — which in this case began as we skidded up into the sky, the Indian Ocean and its atolls unfurling beneath us. Finolhu is part of the Baa Atoll, a 30-minute plane trip from Male. Since 2012 it has been a Unesco world biosphere reserve, the first of three in the Maldives to be designated, meaning that it is a site of testing and learning about social and environmental interactions. It also means that the local ecology is particularly well looked after — it has 105 coral reefs. Our first encounter with this local ecology were the yellow coconuts we were handed to drink on arrival. We were then loaded into a buggy and driven along sandy paths shaded with lush planting, glimpses of beach and sea between the trees. Something to do with the light here means that the colours of the place are almost supernaturally bright — the Maldives is very close to the equator, meaning the sun is more powerful and the sea is so vivid it is almost the colour of blue curaçao. Finolhu opened in 2016, with a substantial renovation in 2020 by the London-based firm Muza Lab, who took their inspiration from the colours of the island: blues, greens and pale oatmeal. There are 129 villas, some with direct access to the beach, others, like ours, on stilts over the ocean, most with a private pool. The interiors are all largely similar, featuring lampshades made of clay tiles that look like fish scales, wickerwork furniture, woven wall-hangings and artisanal features everywhere: hand-blown coloured glass from Turkey, basket-work from South Africa and wooden art installations from Java. Not that Minna was interested in any of this chic homeware — the first thing she did was jump straight in the pool, emerge to eat the fancy chocolate snacks that had been left for us, jump back into the pool, come back for more chocolate, and so on. The Maldivian atolls are essentially by-products of old volcanoes that rose up out of the ocean and became surrounded by coral reefs, which remained even once the volcanos had receded back down. This is a bit like when you take a picture off the wall and are left with its outline and a blank space in the middle — but much prettier. Finolhu is a sort of thin crescent moon shape, with about 1.2km of white sand beach. It's not wide, but it is long, which made the buggy service to go to the restaurant or a beach useful. As well as a Milk Bar, serving coffee, smoothies and frozen custards, there are four restaurants. The Arabian Grill is for mezze and shish; the Beach Kitchen, for breakfast and buffet-style meals; the Crab Shack at the far end of the island for sand-under-foot seafood dining (they make the amazing guacamole at the table); and Kanusan for fancy Japanese, including the best black miso cod I have ever tasted, and an incredible wagyu rib-eye steak that I'm still thinking about. • Read more luxury reviews, advice and insights from our experts Kansan was also the location of our sushi-making class, where we created tuna rolls with fish that had been freshly caught. Tuna is plentiful in these waters. On Maldivian night at the Beach Kitchen, when chefs are shipped in from Male to make top-notch local food, it was impressive how many different ways tuna could be served (tuna broth, tuna sambol, tuna samosa, tuna and coconut ball — smoked tuna is considered a condiment here). In addition to the sushi making, there are numerous daily activities for teens: ceramic workshops, kayaking, DJ classes, movie nights, bonfire camp. The newly unveiled Teen Hut is an organic-looking structure (inspired by barnacles, apparently) made of bamboo. It has the classic activities familiar to anyone who has ever dared enter a youth club: table football, pool table. But there are also high-end games consoles, a bar serving milkshakes, mocktails and ice-cream, a 3D printer, a DJ deck, electric guitars, drum kits, a whole band set-up. I guess the idea is that adults can divest themselves of their children (there is also the Oceaneers club for younger guests) so they can do things like go to the tranquil Fehi spa, where Natura Bissé treatments are offered alongside scrubs and wraps using local ingredients like coconut and aloe vera. Or have an aerial yoga lesson in the beautiful open-sided pavilion, or just lounge on the beach. But I actually enjoyed spending time with Minna, witnessing her delight as she watched a shell get up and scuttle away and learning that if you pick a hermit crab up and hold it quietly it will emerge from its shell. She also loved the massive fruit bats that flapped around the shore and dangled from the trees, the crabs that seemed to gather around the Japanese restaurant, accepting that they would soon be just another delicious morsel, and the pointy-headed unicorn fish that zipped around the shallows near our villa. The most magical day in Finolhu was when we taken out in the Asma boat with the resident marine biologist and dive instructor Ivana Tobar, who specialises in coral restoration and has a soft spot for sharks. We were taken to a reef about 20 minutes' away where we snorkelled, seeing colourful shoals and pootling turtles, starfish and sea cucumbers. Every so often Tobar would free dive down to point out some interesting sea creature. She also explained why about 50 per cent of the coral here dies off, and took us to a little sandy outcrop to see just how much plastic had washed up. It was an education for Minna, on the beauty and wonder of the natural world, as well as the impact that humans are having on it. It was more effective and motivating than any lesson she could have had in a classroom. At end of the trip, she said that she wished Tobar was her science teacher which, from my daughter, is a huge accolade. The floating breakfast, the swim-up bar, the Oreo milkshakes on tap, these things were fun. But it was the encounters with nature that Minna (and I) will remember from the trip — bobbing around in the beautiful waters, holding a hermit crab, walking back to our room at night along the narrow strip of sand, holding lanterns, the full moon above amid its tapestry of stars. Finolhu really is a magical place for teens — and their mothers. From $3,743.25 (approx £2,765) for seven nights excluding fees and taxes for two adults/one adult and one teenager on a B&B basis in a Lagoon Villa,
Al Jazeera
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
More than 100 killed in heavy Nigeria flooding, rescue efforts ongoing
At least 115 people have been killed after heavy flooding submerged the market town of Mokwa in Nigeria's northcentral Niger State, destroying thousands of homes, according to an emergency services official, in a country beset by deadly storms every year. Head of the operations office in Minna, capital of Niger State, Husseini Isah, said on Friday that many people were still in peril as rescue efforts continue. 'We have so far recovered 115 bodies and more are expected to be recovered because the flood came from far distance and washed people into the River Niger. Downstream, bodies are still being recovered,' a Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) spokesman, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, told the AFP news agency. 'So, the toll keeps rising.' Torrential rains battered Mokwa late on Wednesday and lasted for several hours, washing away dozens of homes, with many residents still missing. A dam collapse in a nearby town caused the situation to rapidly deteriorate. It is difficult to say how well-placed rescue efforts are to salvage people 'because every rainy season we continue to see things like this,' said Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris, reporting from Abuja. 'Warnings have been put out by authorities for people exposed or communities living along river banks to move to higher ground, especially when the rains start to peak, but every year we continue to see more and more lives and property damaged because of rainfall,' said Idris. 'In certain areas, proper drainage isn't there … and most of these disasters take officials of emergency management agencies in various states by surprise even though there has been consistent flooding over the past three years,' said Idris. As a result, 'a lot of people don't believe it will be any different' this time around. Mokwa is a key meeting and transit point for traders from the south and food growers in the north of the country. In the town, Mohammed Tanko, 29, a civil servant, told reporters that he lost at least 15 people from the house he grew up in. 'The property [is] gone. We lost everything,' Tanko said. For fisherman Danjuma Shaba, 35, the floods destroyed his house, forcing him to sleep in a car park. 'I don't have a house to sleep in. My house has already collapsed,' Shaba told the AFP news agency. As Nigeria's rainy season begins, typically lasting for six months, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned of possible flash floods in 15 of Nigeria's 36 states, including Niger State, between Wednesday and Friday. The most concerning thing about these floods is 'this isn't even the peak of the rainy season,' said Idris. 'In some states, the rains have only been there for a month and yet we're seeing this.' However, scientists have warned that the effects of climate change are already being felt, as extreme weather patterns are becoming more frequent. The heavy rainfall causes problems for Nigeria every year as it destroys infrastructure and is further exacerbated by inadequate drainage. In September 2024, torrential rains and a dam collapse in the northeastern Maiduguri city caused severe flooding, killing at least 30 people and displacing millions. Last year, more than 1,200 people were killed and 1.2 million displaced in at least 31 out of 36 states, in one of the country's worst floods in decades, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Gov Bago inaugurates two primary healthcare facilities in Niger
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has inaugurated 20 Level 2 Primary Healthcare facilities across 16 Local Government areas. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago who performed the inauguration in Minna, explained that the 20 level 2 Primary Healthcare Centres are for the phase 1, adding that the State government intends to build 100,hence, 40 more will be constructed in the upcoming months, assuring that the projects are sustainable considering the huge amount available in the Healthcare Development fund. The Governor said the completion of the projects mark a significant milestone in the quest of his administration to transform the State,and announced a monthly price of N5 million to any of the facilities that would keep to high level of maintenance and best customer friendly service delivery. He thereby announced that the Primary Healthcare facility in Maitumbi will be named after the late Hajiya Zainab Yakubu Garba,the one at Peter Sarki road, after the late Peter Sarki while the one in Anguwan Daji will be named after his wife Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago. The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina, described the projects as landmark achievements with an exceptional standard set for level 2 Primary Healthcare. The Deputy National Coordinator and Head of Monitoring and Evaluation of NG-CARES, Abubakar Atiku Musa, said the level 2 healthcare centres in Niger State are distinctive, hence, they will be adopted in NG-CARES 2.0. The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mustapha Ndajiwo who doubles as the Chairman steering committee of the NG-Cares, Mustapha Ndajiwo,explained that the project which is under the NG-Cares and implemented through the Community and Social Development Agency CSDA, aligns with the New Niger agenda of prioritising access to quality healthcare in communities for healthier, stronger and more productive State. He said the commitment of the farmer Governor to delivering meaningful projects where it matters most at the community level has placed Niger State high nationally in the NG-CARES performance ranking. The General Manager of the CSDA, Aisha Abdulkadir, said the successful execution of the projects reflects what collective efforts can achieve and appreciated the farmer Governor as well as all those who contributed to the success of the projects. She explained that the family of late Sen. Idris Kuta whom the Primary Healthcare was named after has pledged to announce the sponsoring of 100 members of the community to benefit from the Niger State Health Contributory Scheme (NiCARE) In their separate remarks, the Niger State Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Phalalu Bako and the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, commended the Governor's commitment to providing quality healthcare facilities, and urged all relevant stakeholders including the benefiting communities to maintain the facilities to ensure sustainability. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
The Dammed guitarist Brian James buried at sea
The Damned guitarist Brian James has been buried at sea. The punk rocker passed away on March 6, 2025, at the age of 70, and on April 28 Brian's family, including his widow Minna, son, Charlie and daughter-in-law, Alicia - and nine of his closest friends laid him to rest on the ocean floor in a "very emotional" private ceremony that took place off the coast of Newhaven, East Sussex, England. Speaking to The Sun newspaper, Minna - who had been with the 'Love Song' rocker since she was 18 - revealed: "It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm. 'We've been together since I was 18, so it was very emotional. "A burial at sea is pretty unusual, but it was in his will so we had to do it." After the attendees went out to sea in a boat for "around three hours" from Eastbourne, they held a small memorial service at a church near Brian and Minna's home in Brighton. A source told the publication: "Brian now sleeps with the fishes, which is what he wished for before he died. "He was a true original in life and has carried that on in death. ''The spirit of punk never left him and he was adamant he wanted his final resting place to be at sea. ''A few loved ones went out on the boat for around three hours and watched as his coffin was dropped into the drink.'' James died on March 6 after a six-decade long music career. A statement posted on his Facebook account said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James. "Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to The Damned and The Lords of the New Church, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock 'n' roll's finest, from Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome.' After forming The Damned, he went on to establish Tanz Der Youth before co-founding The Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators. The band released three studio albums and produced singles such as 'Open Your Eyes', 'Dance with Me', and 'Method to My Madness'. His career continued with The Dripping Lips and the Brian James Gang, releasing solo material and collaborating with a range of influential musicians. Brian reunited with the original members of The Damned in 2022 for a series of UK shows, marking more than four decades since the release of 'New Rose'.
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Rock legend buried at sea in special ceremony after star requested he ‘sleep with the fishes'
Nine friends and family — including his widow Minna — sailed out from Eastbourne to witness the burial on April 28 LIFE COMES IN WAVES Rock legend buried at sea in special ceremony after star requested he 'sleep with the fishes' THE Damned guitarist Brian James has been buried at sea in a special ceremony. The punk rocker's body was laid to rest on the ocean floor off the coast of Newhaven, East Sussex. Advertisement Nine friends and family — including his widow Minna — sailed out from Eastbourne to witness the burial on April 28. It followed a small memorial service at a church near the couple's home in Brighton. Minna told The Sun: 'It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm. 'We've been together since I was 18, so it was very emotional. Advertisement 'A burial at sea is pretty unusual, but it was in his will so we had to do it.' A local funeral firm had to apply for a certificate from the Marine Management Organisation. The musician died at the age of 74 on March 6. A source said: ''Brian now sleeps with the fishes, which is what he wished for before he died. Advertisement "He was a true original in life and has carried that on in death. ''The spirit of punk never left him and he was adamant he wanted his final resting place to be at sea. ''A few loved ones went out on the boat for around three hours and watched as his coffin was dropped into the drink.'' First single by British punk rock band The Damned, released in 1976 1 The Damned guitarist Brian James has been buried at sea in a special ceremony Credit: Getty
