Latest news with #Somalian
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Single moment Mo Farah's PE teacher changed his life by breaking a rule
Sir Mo Farah has opened up about the PE teacher who inspired him - and was the first person the Olympic champ confided in after being trafficked to the UK aged 9 Sir Mo Farah's life would have looked very different had he not met the inspiring PE teacher who encouraged him into sports. And now the Olympic champion is getting behind an initiative to get kids moving for 60 minutes a day to help combat the obesity epidemic - and says doing so could change their lives, too. Sir Mo, 42, was born in Somaliland but trafficked to the UK at the age of nine by a woman he had never met. He was forced to work as a domestic servant and to look after the woman's children in exchange for food and board. Mo, who was born Hussein Abdi Kahin but given his better-known name by the people who trafficked him, was eventually enrolled in Feltham Community College in South London. He was made to lie to his teachers, telling them he was a Somalian refugee. There, the unkempt 11-year-old who spoke no English was taken under the wing of PE teacher Alan Watkinson, who noticed the little boy showed a lot of promise on the athletics track. 'If it wasn't for Alan, who recognised my talent and pointed me in the right direction, then I would never have become this guy who's won so many medals. It honestly changed my life,' Sir Mo tells the Mirror. 'I was one of these kids who wasn't afraid to do the work, but I came into a new environment, with a new language and I was dealing with my own life. The only language that I did speak was PE. If we were in PE, doing athletics, javelin or football, then I was that kid who was laughing and smiling. That's what I enjoyed the most.' Alan, who won the Pride of Britain award for Teacher of the Year in 2012, was the first person Mo opened up to about his real identity. He was instrumental in alerting social services to the young boy's circumstances, and he was placed with another Somalian foster family. Throughout Mo's turbulent school years, Alan was a steady presence who went above and beyond to nurture the future Gold medallist's talents. 'I'll never forget there was a moment when my PE teacher actually took me to the local running club and I joined,' Sir Mo recalls. 'Then from my club I got asked to represent Middlesex. I didn't know how I was going to get there or what we were doing, and Alan said, 'I'll pick you up'. He did that and I represented Middlesex and I won it! And I'll never forget that moment. 'It's like, that's a PE teacher! He's not my parent. He's not my guardian. It's someone who believed in me. You never forget a teacher who has encouraged you and given you the best advice.' Now Sir Mo is teaming up with his old teacher again as part of the Youth Sport Trust's drive to back National School Sports Week, which aims to encourage kids to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. Less than half (47%) of children currently achieve an hour of exercise each day. Research shows that one in 10 children in England are classed as obese or at risk of obesity by the time they start reception, at the age of four or five - and by age 11, more than one in five (22.7%) are either overweight or obese. And if current trends continue, it is predicted that more than a third (38.9%) of children will be overweight or obese within the next 10 years. 'Obesity is a concern and there are so many issues that kids will face if we don't recognise this and tackle it together as a nation,' says Sir Mo. 'If we don't make more kids active, we are in trouble. We're already in trouble right now, but I think the quicker we react, the quicker we come together, the more we can do about it. 'When you're an adult you know what to do, whether you cycle, run or walk, or whether you mentally just go out to clear your head, but for kids it's hard,' he adds. Dad-of-four Sir Mo follows the example with his own family. Wife-of-15-years Tania Nell was heavily pregnant when he won his double gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics - and twins Aisha and Amani were born just a few weeks later. The pair, now 13, have a 10-year-old brother Hussain and a 20-year-old stepsister Rihanna. 'We're really active within our family, because I know myself how far I've come and what I was doing when I was their age,' he explains. 'It's important for me as a father to support them. It's not that I want them to be champions. No, it's just for their own mental health. 'I try to make them active, whether it's cycling, running or rowing. One of them does enjoy athletics and as a father I just try to support her and tell her what she can achieve.' Sir Mo is not wishing to single out which daughter might be following in his footsteps, but he stresses he will never be a pushy parent. It's her choice. 'She can become whatever she wants to become, and as a father I just carry on supporting them,' he says. As part of the new initiative, Sir Mo has devised a series of fun challenges for kids that can be downloaded from the Youth Sport Trust's website. Schools can register to receive free activity packs, plus there is a chance to win a visit from a star athlete or one of 1,000 free kit packs from Sports Direct. 'Exercise can be little and often,' says Sir Mo. 'Break it down into 20 minutes before they start school, 20 minutes at lunchtime and 20 minutes after school. As long as the heart rate goes up and you are moving, that's what counts,' says Mo. It should be fun, too - just as it was for him as a child, despite his difficult early years. 'I just wanted to be a kid and talk about certain things and have a laugh with other kids,' says Mo. 'And I believe with having a hard life early on, it was hard to find that place, so sports helped me escape. 'It gave me somewhere where I could talk to people, where I could be myself, and people could just see me as a sportsman and then be judged for that, rather than not being able to speak English or not knowing anything about history or geography or religious education.' *National School Sports Week takes place between June 16 and 22, powered by Sports Direct and Under Armour. Register for free at There are 1,000 sports kit packs to be won as well as vouchers and athlete visits. GET MOVING WITH MO Sir Mo's gone the distance and devised several easy challenges for children, all available online and on YouTube. These are his favourites: The Catch and Clap challenge: see how many times you can throw a ball up, clap once and catch it in 60 seconds. The Zig-Zag relay: choose a place to start and lay out five markers in a zig-zag pattern. On 'go', run around the circuit and touch each of the markers before running back to the start. Each time you complete a circuit you score a point. Do the plank: Lay face-down on the floor, resting your weight on your forearms and toes. Hold the position for 60 seconds, keeping your bottom down, your back straight and your forearms flat on the floor. Around the World: How many times can you pass the ball around your waist in 60 seconds? If you drop the ball, you need to pick it up quickly and carry on. Speed Bounce: jump over a cone, side to side, landing with both feet on the floor, each side of the cone. Challenge yourself to complete a certain number of jumps within 60 seconds For more challenges, visit and use the QR code to watch on YouTube.
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First Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
What's the Lucy Connolly case that has stirred a free speech debate in UK? Why is US intervening?
Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Tory councillor, was jailed for her racist 51-word online post in the wake of the Southport killings. A court, however, has refused to reduce her sentence, triggering a debate over free speech. The White House has now said it is 'monitoring' the case read more Lucy Connolly had posted online calling for "mass deportation now", adding "set fire to all the... hotels [housing asylum seekers]... for all I care." Image/X The imprisonment of Lucy Connolly, a 42-year-old childminder from Northampton, over a single social media post has turned heads in the United Kingdom — and now, even across the Atlantic. The case, rooted in a 51-word post Connolly made following the murders of three girls in Southport, has drawn scrutiny from the White House. What is the Lucy Connolly free speech case? On July 29 last year, in the wake of rumours surrounding the Southport killings — allegedly committed by Axel Rudakubana — Connolly made a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), where she had around 9,000 followers. The message read: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f—ing hotels full of the b——s for all I care, while you're at it, take the treacherous government politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these [Southport] families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite being deleted three and a half hours later, the post had already been reposted 940 times and viewed approximately 310,000 times. Connolly was arrested on August 6 following riots and widespread unrest related to the Southport killings . In October, she pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred and was sentenced to 31 months in prison. What happened in the courts? Connolly's legal team appealed the sentence, arguing that while she admitted to inciting racial hatred, she had not intended to incite violence. However, the Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence last week. In their judgement, UK Lord Justice Holroyde stated that Connolly 'was well aware of what she was admitting,' and concluded the sentence was not 'manifestly excessive.' During sentencing, UK Judge Melbourne Inman categorised her actions as 'category A' — indicative of high culpability — and noted that both the prosecution and Connolly's own barrister agreed that she 'intended to incite serious violence.' While sentencing guidelines for this offence suggest a starting point of three years' imprisonment, Connolly received 31 months. Her defence claimed the post had been made before any violence had begun and that she later attempted to de-escalate unrest. However, the court highlighted several of her previous social media posts that reinforced her pattern of rhetoric, including a remark four days prior to the Southport incident. In response to a video shared by far-right figure Tommy Robinson, showing a black man allegedly engaging in indecent public behaviour, Connolly commented: 'Somalian, I guess. Loads of them,' followed by a vomiting emoji. She also wrote in August: 'I take it they will all be in line to sign up to house an illegal boat invader then. Oh sorry, refugee. Maybe sign a waiver to say they don't mind if it's one of their family that gets attacked, butchered, raped etc, by unvetted criminals.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite her admission of guilt, Connolly later said she never intended to encourage violence. Nevertheless, the court found the totality of evidence sufficient to sustain the original sentence. How have politicians in the UK reacted? The case has drawn deeply polarised reactions across the UK political spectrum. While some, including former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman, have labelled Connolly a 'political prisoner,' others argue that the case demonstrates the danger of normalising hate speech under the guise of free expression. Braverman stated: 'Lucy Connolly is effectively a political prisoner and should be freed immediately. She made an ill-judged tweet, soon deleted. That the US is investigating this case is a sad indictment of the dire state of free speech under Two-Tier Keir. Free speech is in crisis under Labour.' Independent UK MP Rupert Lowe called the situation 'morally repugnant,' asserting: 'This is not the Britain I want to live in.' I have spoken to Ray Connolly, Lucy's husband, and made it clear I will support their family in Parliament however I can. A mother has been unfairly stripped away from her young daughter - it is morally repugnant. This is not the Britain I want to live in. — Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) May 22, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Robert Jenrick, the UK shadow justice secretary, contrasted Connolly's sentence with those handed to violent offenders. 'In recent months, shoplifters with hundreds of prior convictions have avoided prison. A domestic abuser with 52 prior offences got off with just a suspended sentence, as did a paedophile with 110,000 indecent images of children. And yet Lucy Connolly has received a 31-month prison sentence for an appalling – albeit hastily deleted – message on social media.' Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and ally of Donald Trump, added: 'Our American Republican friends seem to care more about free speech in the United Kingdom than our own government.' However, others insist the court made the right decision. Activist and commentator Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu strongly rejected the notion that Connolly's sentence represented an attack on free speech, reported BBC. 'It's not 'freedom of speech without accountability'. She didn't tweet something that hurt someone's feelings; she tweeted saying someone should die.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added: 'Those who have committed worse crimes should spend more time in jail, not less time for Lucy Connolly.' In her view, portraying Connolly as a champion of free speech was equivalent to advocating for 'the right to be racist.' Labour MP for Northampton South, Mike Reader, expressed sympathy for Connolly's family but defended law enforcement's actions. 'I want the police to protect us online and I want the police to protect us on the streets and they should be doing it equally.' He warned it was a 'fallacy' to underestimate the harm caused by online content, given its influence on real-world attitudes and behaviours. How is the White House involved? The debate has spilled across the Atlantic, with the Trump administration's State Department confirming it is keeping a close watch on the matter. A spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that we are monitoring this matter. The United States supports freedom of expression at home and abroad, and remains concerned about infringements on freedom of expression.' Connolly's case was reportedly brought to the attention of senior US officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance. The case joins a growing list of free speech disputes drawing attention from Washington amid concerns over increasingly restrictive speech regulations in Europe. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this year, US diplomats from the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor travelled to London to raise similar issues, reported The Telegraph. They met British officials and challenged the UK's Online Safety Act, which they regard as a potential threat to expression rights. The American response aligns with concerns previously expressed over other UK cases, such as that of Adam Smith-Connor, a pro-life campaigner convicted for breaching a protest buffer zone outside an abortion clinic. In another case, Livia Tossici-Bolt, aged 64, was given a two-year conditional discharge and fined over £20,000 for a similar breach. Her case reportedly impacted trade talks between the UK and the U.S., with one source noting: 'No free trade without free speech.' Vance, speaking at the Munich Security Conference in February, said 'free speech in Britain and across Europe was in retreat,' adding weight to US concern over such legal outcomes. In response to these diplomatic developments, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking in Parliament said that the sentencing was 'a matter for the courts' and that while he was 'strongly in favour of free speech', he was 'equally against incitement to violence'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What's next for Lucy Connolly? Though her appeal has failed, Connolly may be eligible for release as early as August 2025, having served 40 per cent of her sentence. Her supporters continue to campaign for her early release and argue that her punishment is inconsistent with sentencing norms for more severe crimes. Her husband, Raymond Connolly, a Conservative councillor, has publicly defended her, stating: 'She's a good person and not a racist. She has paid a very high price for making a mistake.' With inputs from agencies
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- The Citizen
Bail granted in high-profile LTT kidnapping case
LIMPOPO – Family, friends, businessmen and members of the Somalian congregation celebrated on Friday when Adulmani Mohammed (54) was granted bail by the Louis Trichardt Magistrate's Court. Mohammed had been in custody since January 8, following his arrest in connection with the October 16, 2023 kidnapping of Louis Trichardt businessman Eddie Gouveia. Gouveia was abducted by a group of men while closing his shop. He was eventually found safe at Nkuzana village on January 24 and reunited with his family. A total of 12 suspects were arrested in the case. Throughout Mohammed's court appearances, large crowds gathered in his support. Members of the Somalian community, including religious leaders, family, and fellow businesspeople, consistently filled the courtroom and picketed outside, demanding his release. During Friday's hearing, bishops handed over a memorandum to the court, pledging their full support and stressing that Mohammed was not a flight risk. Mohammed was released on R10 000 bail, under strict conditions. These include no contact with the victim, no interference with witnesses; weekly check-ins at the Mpumalanga Police Station between 06:00 and 20:00; and to surrender all travel documents and a prohibition on applying for new ones. Police previously confirmed that Gouveia's captors demanded a R15m ransom during his abduction. Mohammed's case has been postponed to June 10, while the bail application for co-accused Khumbulani Nyathi was postponed to June 19. Following the court's decision, supporters held an impromptu meeting outside the courtroom and successfully raised the bail money, bringing an end to Mohammed's five-month incarceration. He was warmly received by his supporters upon release. One family member, Roba Mohammed Sied, who had publicly stood by Mohammed since his arrest, expressed relief and solidarity. 'We've maintained all along that Mohammed is not guilty. We're not here to declare guilt or innocence – we're here to support him and ensure justice takes its course. We hope he adheres to the bail conditions so justice can prevail.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- The Citizen
Mamelodi spaza shop owner murdered, police investigation underway
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 45-year-old spaza shop owner in Mamelodi East, Tshwane, following an altercation that occurred yesterday morning. Pretoria Rekord reports that, according to police, the deceased is believed to be an Ethiopian national. Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk says officers from the Mamelodi East Police Station were dispatched to the scene around 08:00 yesterday after receiving reports of a shooting. 'Preliminary investigations indicate that an altercation between the suspect and the victim took place earlier that morning, around 06:00, outside the victim's spaza shop,' he says. Van Dyk adds that the victim was reportedly sitting inside his white Toyota Corolla at the time of the dispute. 'During the argument, the suspect allegedly drew a firearm and fired several shots through the windscreen of the vehicle, striking the victim multiple times.' The suspect then fled the scene. Van Dyk says family members were informed shortly after the shooting and rushed to the scene. 'They transported the injured man to hospital using the same vehicle he had been shot in,' he adds. However, while en route, the vehicle was stopped by Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department officers, who discovered the victim in the back seat. 'When the officers inspected the vehicle, the victim had already succumbed to his injuries.' Crime scene experts were called to the location to process the area and gather forensic evidence, which will aid detectives in tracking down the perpetrator. 'A case of murder has been opened, and we are actively following all available leads in an effort to trace and apprehend the suspect.' TMPD members in region 6 Mamelodi arrested 3 Somalian male nationals who were found inside a stationary vehicle with a deceased body, case is under investigation by the South African Police Services #TMPDSafety — Tshwane Metro Police (@TMPDSafety) May 19, 2025 Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Continent Is Splitting and Might Create a New Ocean on Earth
Tectonic plates shifting in Africa could one day cause a new ocean to form. The plates in northeast Africa are moving at a rate of .3 inches per year. Once the continental drift reaches a certain point, it could create a sixth ocean in the region, but that could take millions of years to Earth might be getting a new ocean, though you'll have to wait a long time to see it. Due to tectonic plate movement, part of eastern Africa is slowly splitting apart, which could lead to the creation of a sixth ocean in one million to 20 million years. (While a million years is a long time by human life scale, it's considered to be a small time on a geological scale.) What is currently the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea could be slowly moving away from the rest of the continent, eventually breaking off and allowing water from the Indian Ocean to rush in to fill the gap. This would lead to a separate land mass, new coastlines, and a change in climate patterns and geography for northeast Africa. This area is part of the East African Rift System (EARS), home to an active continental rift zone, where one plate is slowly pulling away from another one. According to research on the plates, parts of the rift are separating at a rate of .3 inches per year due to the movement of magma deep below the surface. Scientists were alerted to its relatively rapid movement due to a large fissure that appeared in Ethiopia in 2005. This isn't, of course, certain but scientific experts believe it's likely since similar geological activities created the Saudi Arabian peninsula. 'In the future, as extension continues along the rift, the rift valley will sink lower and lower eventually allowing ocean waters to flood into the basin. If rifting continues, new basaltic oceanic crust may form along the centre of the rift producing a new narrow ocean basin with its own mid ocean ridge between the Nubian and Somalian plates,' the London Geographical Society says on its website. The movement of tectonic plates can be responsible for volcanoes, geysers, and valleys when the plates move apart, and large mountain ranges when they move together, as well as earthquakes. The last new ocean to be identified was the Southern Ocean around Antarctica in 2021. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
