A cricketing giant has fallen. Mike Procter, who died at 77 in an Umhlanga hospital on Saturday afternoon, was simply one of cricket's greatest all-rounders, a genuinely fast bowler, capable off-spinner, hard-hitting middle-order batsman, and astute captain. In addition to his exploits as a player, he served cricket at every other level too: national captain and coach, administrator, selector, commentator, elite ICC match referee, and, in his final years, a mentor who took the game to hundreds of underprivileged youngsters in the wider Durban area. Procter played his cricket in South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Australia (as a prominent "import" in Kerry Packer's World Series), and Gloucestershire.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu told the Kremlin that Russian forces were now working to clear the final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, officials said in a statement. Ukrainian troops withdrew from Avdiivka (Libkos/AP)In a short statement posted on Facebook, Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said he had made the decision to avoid encirclement and “preserve the lives and health of servicemen”. We appreciate the support of… pic.twitter.com/5KXzeTXJEL — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 17, 2024In recent days, reports emerged that Ukrainian troops in Avdiika faced a deteriorating situation. Rodion Kudriashov, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, said on Friday that Ukrainian troops were still holding out against the onslaught of about 15,000 Russian soldiers, but he expected the situation would “soon become critical”. Capturing Avdiivka could be a timely boost for Moscow and serve as a possible springboard for Russia to drive deeper into the region.

Source: UGCIn a compilation video, the lady posed on different occasions as someone filmed her and called her 'Cardi B'. Lady who resembles Cardi B trendsIn one of the videos, she rocked a pink top and flaunted her beauty as her friends hyped her and likened her beauty to that of Cardi B. In another clip, she was seated at an occasion in a native attire and the same friend captured her on camera and called her Cardi B. Blessingjimm said:"She's more beautiful than Cardi B. Effedeborah said:"She actually looks like Cardi B more than Cardi B herself."

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Saturday that its forces had inflicted a series of defeats on Ukrainian forces along the 1,000-km (620-mile) front line just as Ukrainian troops withdrew from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka. Russian forces made inroads against Ukrainian troops along the front lines in a number of different directions, according to the Russian defence ministry. "Avdiivka, as a major node of resistance for the armed forces of Ukraine, has fallen," pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyak said on Telegram. Avdiivka is seen as a gateway to Donetsk city, whose residential areas Russian officials say have been shelled by Ukrainian forces, sometimes from Avdiivka. Russian forces control a little under one fifth of Ukraine's internationally recognised territory.

Videos on social media Saturday appeared to show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one of the plant’s buildings. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a personal message of congratulating to his troops in the city, state news agency Tass reported. Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia in the nearly 2-year-old war, hindered by low ammunition supplies and a shortage of personnel. I find it absurd.”White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson called the withdrawal “the cost of Congressional inaction.”In a short statement posted on Facebook, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said the Ukrainian troops were moving to “more favorable lines." In recent days, reports emerged that Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka faced a deteriorating situation.

The mandate “will ensure consistency across the bank,” a spokesman for the bank said. But the Friday-to-Monday ban is very rare, and illustrates the growing frustration of companies that pay millions for office real estate that often empties out at the bookends of each working week. The crisis is worldwide: McKinsey Global Institute estimates that pandemic shifts could erase as much as $1.3 trillion of real estate value in big cities around the world by 2030. Deutsche Bank’s memo noted that its current real estate usage is “inefficient,” a common concern among businesses with hybrid-work plans. “Deutsche Bank is trying to spread the peak a bit to Fridays and Mondays,” Sadow said.

Sanket Upadhyay, a renowned actor known for his engaging performances and magnetic screen presence, is about to embark on an exciting new project that promises to enchant audiences yet again. While details about the project remain unknown, fans are excited to see Sanket’s next artistic endeavor. Sanket Upadhyay, well known for his appearances in famous music videos like “Raja Ji” and “Bhai Tera Gunda,” has established himself as a versatile performer capable of delivering memorable performances in a variety of genres. As curiosity grows about the nature of Sanket’s latest business, supporters eagerly await his return to demonstrate his extraordinary talent and charisma. Whether on the big screen, small screen, or digital platform, Sanket’s presence in any production is guaranteed to generate attention and entice spectators with the promise of an amazing experience.

As former CEO of the 35th World Cross Country Championships held in Mombasa in 2007, I witnessed firsthand how sports can revolutionise an economy, instill positivity, and transform communities. Here are three pivotal lessons Kenya can learn to harness the potential of sports for economic and social growth. For instance, Nigeria, with a population of around 200 million, was outplayed by Côte d’Ivoire, which has about 25 million people. To realize this potential, Kenya should follow the example of Cape Verde by investing in robust sports infrastructure, coaching, and talent development programmes that focus on quality rather than quantity. We should encourage investors to consider investing in systematic development of sporting talent.

Citizen TV anchors Yvonne Okwara and Sam Gituku have today, February 17, graduated with masters at the Agha Khan University. Both Gituku and Okwara received honours from the Graduate School of Media and Communication. "Congratulations to the Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation Graduates! Cape Media Group Editorial Director Macharia Wamugo also graduated with a Master’s degree in Media Leadership and Innovation. "We celebrated our graduands from our Master of Arts in Digital Journalism Programme, and the Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation Programme," AKU Graduate School of Media and Communications stated.

Botswana sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo has set a new world record after obliterating the field at Simbine Curro Classic to beat legendary Michael Johnson and Usain Bolt’s previous times. Botswana sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo has smashed the world 300m record following an incredible run at the Simbine Curro Classic in South Africa on Saturday. Tebogo ran 30.71, bettering South African Wayde van Niekerk's mark of 30.81 set in Ostrava, Czech Republic in 2017. 30.69 🔥World Record ✅World Lead ✅Personal Best ✅The World Record is gone😲! Letsile Tebogo 🇧🇼 has obliterated the men's 300m World Record, running a staggering 30.69s at the Simbine Curro Classic Shootout!

Vicksburg is gearing up for a weeklong celebration to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the bottling of Coca-Cola in Vicksburg. In addition to its undeniable small-town charm, Vicksburg, Mississippi is home to some unique and exciting history, perfectly set among historic homes, brick-paved streets, and views of the mighty Mississippi River. One of the sweetest bits of Vicksburg history is it’s the home of the first-ever Coca-Cola bottling in 1894. In addition, several downtown eateries are creating a special Coca-Cola menu item throughout the week in honor of the celebration. More information on the events surrounding the 130th Coca-Cola Bottling Anniversary can be found on the Visit Vicksburg website.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has issued an order for the immediate closure of all drinking joints in the county. Today I want to announce that all bars in the county have been closed, and a new process of verifying the licenses has begun. In the new verification process, she explained, those with 'bad' history will not be licensed to operate anywhere within the county. "Kama kuna historia ya mtu yoyote amepelekwa kortini kwa kukosa kulipa license ama kuuza pombe haramu hautapata license Kirinyaga county to operate," Waiguru stressed. This is as he appealed to the Judiciary to join the efforts by denying any relief measure to anyone who might rush to court to obtain orders once the license verification process begins.

Kenya Ports Authorities (KPA) officials have seized over Ksh214 million of contaminated sugar en route for markets. Upon arrival at Mombasa Port, the cargo weighing 112 metric tonnes of sugar was found to be contaminated. Consequently, the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) warned the public against consuming powdered milk after the products were confiscated in North Eastern Kenya. "I want to make it clear that there is currently no legal permit to import powdered milk to Kenya," Mugo stated"Not only yesterday but the whole of January and February we have been doing a thorough search of illegal powdered milk," Mugo commented. “Currently, those who used to frustrate milk farmers were importing powdered milk.

Detectives are hunting a gang that attacked and robbed a female police officer of her firearm in unclear circumstances in Kasarani, Nairobi. The Constable attached to Githurai police station was on Friday night robbed of her AK47 rifle loaded with 30 bullets. “The officer was robbed of her Scorpion firearm loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition. On February 2, an AK47 and a G3 rifle were stolen from Kabonge police station in Kirinyaga county. “Two police officers from whom the AK47 and another G3 rifle were stolen are currently under investigation.

Alexei Navalny's wife, Yulia, has said that if the news of her husband's death is true, Russian President Vladimir Putin must be brought to justice. She said Mr Putin and his allies "should be held personally responsible for all the atrocities they have committed in Russia". Yulia Navalnaya also called on the international community to "unite and defeat this evil". In an unscheduled address at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Yulia Navalnaya said she didn't know "whether to believe or not this terrible news that we're only receiving from government sources". She urged his supporters never to give up, even as Navalny went to prison.