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MOVE over mince pies and pass on the Christmas pud – this year it is all about ending your meal with showstopper Yuletide desserts. With most supermarkets offering ready-made and pre-frozen options, they are a great way to save yourself a bit of time and money. Advertisement 9 Laura Stott tastes and rates a selection of sweet treats in stores Credit: Damien McFadden Laura Stott tastes and rates a selection of sweet treats in stores. Deluxe Sticky Toffee Bombe £2.49, 227g, Lidl - 2/5 A FESTIVE-themed sponge made with dates, caramel and an oozing, thick toffee sauce that seeps out when you spoon into it. This decadent dessert is extremely sweet and designed to serve two people. 9 Lidl's festive-themed sponge is made with dates, caramel and an oozing, thick toffee sauce Credit: Damien McFadden There’s plenty to go around and it heats up quickly in the microwave, or you can steam cook it more slowly the old-fashioned way. Advertisement Read More on Money HOUSE THAT Map reveals 20 areas with the most mortgage-free homes - do you live near one? THAT'S POTTY Pension transfer delays 'needlessly' hit tens of thousands as DWP urged to act A nice alternative to the traditional Crimbo pudding, especially if you don’t have lots of diners over. It is quite pricey for the amount you get, though, and does not offer much wow factor. Salted Caramel Profiterole Stack £4, 164g, Marks and Spencer or ocado.com - 4/5 BRONZED icing and golden dusting certainly looks festive – and it would make a lovely alternative pudding when you don’t have many mouths to feed. Delicious choux pastry filled with whipping cream and topped with salted caramel sauce, it is very rich so you only need one or two pastries. Advertisement Most read in Money SELL ON HMRC warns Vinted sellers over new ‘30 item rule’ coming in weeks Exclusive 'WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?' Shoppers fuming after Rowntree's sweets left 'tasting like soap' WE’RE STUFFED Fears Christmas dinner could be RUINED by shortage - will you be affected? FAST BUCK Buckfast sales soar to record high of £55million in the last year 9 M&S Salted Caramel Profiterole Stack scored 4 out of 5 Credit: Damien McFadden No one would blame you if you demolish the whole stack, though. Extremely tasty and well-priced, especially for a more artisan-style patisserie product. Shopper spots Christmas puddings reduced to 29p in Aldi so nabs 10 of them but is trolled for her ‘pure greed’ Ideal for rounding off a romantic Yuletide dinner for two. Yummy. Advertisement Santa’s Sleigh Chocolate Mousse £6, 500g, Morrisons - 2/5 TRIES hard to bring the wow factor to your Christmas table but falls short of being a complete showstopper. A sleigh-shaped mousse is a nice idea but unfortunately it doesn’t really resemble Santa’s wheels as much as you’d hope. 9 Morisson's Santa’s Sleigh Chocolate Mousse falls short of being a complete showstopper Credit: Damien McFadden Once it is turned out on to the plate it is more like a big brown blob. Advertisement If you don’t have a sweet tooth, a slice of this isn’t going to be your top pick and it’s all a bit one flavour. A fun idea, especially for families, and a great alternative to cake. But ultimately a little bit boring to look at and eat. Extra Special Raspberry Pistachio & Passion Fruit Pavlova Wreath £7, 438g, Asda - 4/5 IT looked gorgeous on the table with its jewelled raspberry colours, splashes of vibrant passion fruit and appetising nibs of pistachio nuts. Advertisement The tasty meringue was light, crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle then topped with cream, fruit and berries. 9 Asda's Extra Special Raspberry Pistachio & Passion Fruit Pavlova Wreath scored 4 out of 5 Credit: Damien McFadden Not overly filling if you don’t want to completely overindulge. You could add extra berries on top and some holly, but it’s a nice centrepiece served straight out of the box. Advertisement Effortless, and there is plenty to go around. Taste The Difference Chocolate & Praline Choux Tower £9 (£6 with Nectar card), 420g, Sainsbury’s - 4/5 SHIMMERY and sparkling, looks fab on the table and tastes rather yummy as well. Made with layers of choux pastry, chocolate fudge sauce and praline cream, it’s extremely indulgent but manages to stay just the right side of being overtly sickly. 9 Taste The Difference Chocolate & Praline Choux Tower scored 4 out of 5 Credit: Damien McFadden Advertisement It’s then topped with chocolate ganache, more milk chocolate shavings and hazelnut pieces. Buy frozen and remove from the freezer 90 minutes before you want to scoff. Perfect for social media snaps and guaranteed to get a great reception. Lemon Meringue and White Chocolate Sponge £2.99, 300g, Aldi - 3/5 A LITTLE bit different and excellent value for a dessert that will feed four people. Advertisement A buttery base with Sicilian lemon curd, lemon oil and meringue pieces, the citrus aroma of this yellow sponge is fresh, although a bit artificial. 9 Aldi's Lemon Meringue and White Chocolate Sponge is different and excellent value for a dessert that will feed four people Credit: Damien McFadden Heat it up in the microwave or on the hob and serve on a platter. A December dessert for any evening you want something festive but inexpensive. Advertisement However, the promised snowflake effect on the top, shown on the box, wasn’t replicated on the pud I turned out, which was disappointing. Luxury Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska £6, 506g, Iceland - 3/5 A FAFF to prepare but worth the effort if you want to bring a bountiful centrepiece out at the end of your Christmas meal. Once you have prised it from packaging, pop the pud on the wire rack on the grill pan. 9 Iceland's Luxury Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska is very sweet but moreish Credit: Damien McFadden Advertisement Warm for two minutes to achieve colour on the top, then remove the outer tray – which was fiddlier than it sounds. Defrost for 25 minutes then it’s ready to serve. Very sweet but moreish, and it does look great on the table. A useful, affordable and tasty pud to have in the freezer. Advertisement Finest Forest Berry Meringue Wreath £6.50 (£5.80 with Clubcard), 518g, Tesco - 5/5 IF you enjoy Black Forest-style cherry flavours, then you’ll love this seasonal showstopper. It hits that sweet-sour spot nicely with a boozy kick too. 9 Tesco's Finest Forest Berry Meringue Wreath scored full marks Credit: Damien McFadden It is made of crispy and chewy meringue topped with sloe gin and cherry cream, adorned with blackberries, sour cherries, sloe gin and cherry sauce, plus dark chocolate shavings. Advertisement Fresh, tasty and a nice alternative to a heavy Christmas steamed pudding. Read more on the Scottish Sun DARR-ARGH! Weather maps reveal exact date Storm Darragh to hit Scots with rain, wind & SNOW 'SICK BEYOND BELIEF' Cops probe footage 'showing Scots woman having sex with XL Bully dog' Hassle-free too. Just get it out of the freezer a couple of hours before you want to serve.‘We got emotional and cried together’: 50 healthcare staff share stories in new book
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Nestled in the misty hills of Sri Lanka’s Uva Province is a living piece of Pure Ceylon Tea history in the form of Dambatenne Estate. Sprawling across the verdant slopes of Haputale, this iconic estate holds the legacy of one of the most famous names in tea — Sir Thomas Lipton. Dambatenne estate is a place where past and present converge, offering visitors a unique window into the origins of Sri Lanka’s tea industry and the enduring global reputation it continues to command. Together with the father of Ceylon Tea himself, James Taylor whom at the time of Lipton’s arrival in then Ceylon, had already established Sri Lanka’s very first commercial tea plantation and factory at Loolecondera Estate, the duo set about the development of Pure Ceylon Tea that continues to form the foundation of the brand today. Walking the estate’s picturesque paths today, to the scenic bungalow in which Sir Lipton himself resided – that is still maintained in pristine condition 134 years later, visitors trace the footsteps of a pioneer whose passion for tea reshaped Sri Lanka’s economy and revolutionised how the world consumes tea. The birth of a tea empire: Sir Thomas Lipton’s vision Founded in 1890, Dambatenne Estate was selected by Sir Thomas Lipton for its ideal tea-growing conditions: cool temperatures, rich soil, and abundant rainfall. Lipton’s visionary approach transformed these remote Sri Lankan highlands into a powerhouse of tea production, kindling a global tea empire that helped make high quality tea accessible to millions. Lipton recognised the unique advantages of Dambatenne estate to produce tea leaves of exceptional quality almost instantly. His radical approach of bypassing the expensive brokers controlling the tea trade allowed him to bring tea “directly from the garden to the teapot”, while still making it affordable for the average consumer. This ground-breaking model laid the foundation for Lipton Tea, a global giant in tea that has been synonymous with quality, affordability, and innovation for generations. Today, Dambatenne Estate spans a total of 873 hectares, including 376 hectares of tea and 183 hectares of forestry and high conservation sensitive areas. Following significant investments in replanting, over 74% of the estate’s tea is now vegetatively propagated, which has significantly increased the production of tea. The estate’s rich history and legacy continue into the present day, with locations like the iconic Lipton seat remaining carefully preserved a tourist hotspot. Famed as Sir Thomas Lipton’s favourite vantage point, Lipton’s Seat offers stunning panoramic views of multiple provinces including Handapanagala Lake and Udawalawe Lake. These sites are also being strategically developed, with a new tea centre being established at the location, to offer visitors from across the globe a chance to savour the living heritage of Dambatenne estate at the very same location as Sir Thomas Lipton himself. For over a century, the estate has infused care and craftsmanship into every batch of tea it has produced, standing as a living testament to Lipton’s enduring legacy and the estate’s pivotal role in the rich history of Ceylon tea. A modern icon of tradition and innovation Dambatenne remains at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s tea industry, it skilfully blends tradition with modern advancements. The estate adheres to the highest international quality standards, including Rainforest Alliance, ISO 22000:2018, and ISO 9001:2015, reaffirming its commitment to excellence. Similarly, the company has embarked on a strict polythene-free policy within the property, while investing significantly in hydropower, solar, and biomass renewable energy. The factory at Dambatenne is a remarkable feature of the estate, being the longest tea factory in Sri Lanka. Situated at elevations ranging from 1,560 meters to 1,970 meters above sea level, the estate enjoys ideal conditions for cultivating high-quality tea leaves that contribute to its exceptional output. It produces an impressive 700,000 to 1 million kilograms of tea annually, showcasing the scale and efficiency of Dambatenne’s operations while maintaining the highest quality standards. The estate also manages 183 hectares of forestry and environmentally sensitive areas, including 126.47 hectares of timber plantations located at high elevations above 5000 ft. MSL. These areas are not only important for conservation but are also being considered for sustainable timber harvesting and ecotourism opportunities. The potential for utilising forest areas for ecotourism, such as introducing cabins within these scenic locations, has been recognised as an exciting prospect for sustainable tourism moving forward. Innovation plays a pivotal role in the estate’s operations today. Automated machinery has enhanced harvesting efficiency, ensuring minimal environmental impact. Dambatenne’s focus on eco-friendly production is further supported by comprehensive waste management initiatives, which include composting. These efforts underscore the estate’s leadership in sustainable tea production. In hand with technological advancements, Dambatenne continues to honour its century-old traditions. The estate’s tea-making process respects the time-tested methods introduced over a period of time, creating a harmonious blend of innovation and heritage. This careful balance ensures that Dambatenne’s tea continues to captivate tea enthusiasts worldwide, offering a sip of history in every cup. Building communities beyond the tea leaves Dambatenne’s influence extends beyond tea production; it is a vital part of the local community. As one of the largest employers in the region, the estate has played a pivotal role in uplifting local families through fair labour practices, skills development, and community empowerment. Dambatenne’s investment in corporate social responsibility initiatives is another cornerstone of its legacy. From offering scholarships to supporting local schools, the estate ensures access to quality education for the workers’ children. The estate’s commitment to its workforce is reflected in several initiatives aimed at improving their daily lives. Tea harmony centres have been established in each division, providing workers with comfortable spaces for rest during their workday. The estate is also in the process of constructing field toilets for workers, further enhancing their working conditions. Workers are equipped with personal protective gear, including wellington boots, goggles, and protective clothing, ensuring their safety and wellbeing. In addition, annual health scans are conducted for all workers, with referrals to specialised medical attention when necessary, underscoring the estate’s dedication to comprehensive healthcare. Recognising the importance of nurturing future generations, Dambatenne provides midday meals to children at the crèches located within the estate. Dental clinics are also organised specifically for children, ensuring their oral health is prioritised. Furthermore, the estate management offers a monthly grant to the children of workers who are selected for local universities, encouraging educational aspirations and higher learning among its community. The estate’s contributions to infrastructure such as housing, sanitation improvements, clean water systems, and access roads, have enhanced the quality of life within the estate and the surrounding villages. The estate also recognises the potential for further expanding tourism, including the development of a tea centre at Dambatenne, which will further contribute to community development and economic growth. A legacy of tradition and innovation Echoing the larger Sri Lankan tea industry’s challenges, Dambatenne also faces fluctuating global tea prices and labour shortages. Yet, the estate’s forward-thinking approach has turned these challenges into opportunities, including the use of automated machinery prioritising mechanical harvesting. Dambatenne Estate stands out as more than just a tea plantation — it is a living symbol of Sri Lanka’s rich tea heritage and a beacon of progress in sustainable agriculture. From its humble beginnings under Sir Thomas Lipton to its current standing as a leader in eco-friendly tea production, Dambatenne’s commitment to quality, innovation, and community remains unwavering.
With a global drive to end fossil fuel use, it behooves Nigeria to put its acts together not to be caught napping as the world jettisons dirty fuel use; BENJAMIN UMUTEME writes. The world is in a rush to transit to a more sustainable energy mix due to the havoc that climate change is wrecking globally. Energy transition is a major change in how energy is consumed and supplied, typically with the goal of limiting climate change. It involves a shift away from fossil fuels and towards more sustainable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Energy transition can help to reduce, promote sustainable development, and stimulate innovation. Global energy shift The global energy transition shift from fossil fuels to renewable and low-carbon energy sources is a long-term process that is driven by several factors, including mitigation of climate change, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, improvement of energy security, and promoting sustainable development. Data showed that global investments across all energy transition technologies reached a record high $1.3 trillion in 2022. Analysts have however opined that the success of the energy transition depends on a transformation of the global energy sector from fossil-based to zero-carbon sources by the second half of this century, reducing energy-related CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change and limit global temperature to within 1.5° of pre-industrial levels. They argued that energy transition can lead to clean jobs, clean air, economic development, healthier air, and reduced health and economic costs from air pollution. For the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the decarbonisation of the energy sector requires urgent action on a global scale in order to accelerate the global energy transition and realise both national and regional commitments. “An aggressive energy efficiency strategy, combined with the ramping up of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels, is the most realistic path towards halving emissions by 2030. Yet phasing out fossil fuels is a complex task for countries heavily reliant on coal – especially given the imperatives of a just and fair transition for workers and communities. Concerted action and international co-operation are therefore essential for timely progress,” the renewable energy agency said. Globally, there have been efforts to fast track energy transition which includes improving access to raw materials and components, streamlining policy frameworks, increasing renewable energy capacity, improving energy efficiency, the acknowledgement and mitigation of trade-offs, and the redoubling efforts on investments. Meeting climate action expectations Experts have said that for Nigeria to achieve its 2060 energy transition target governments need to ensure that investments are on track to meet climate commitments Nigeria is an example of a country that is making an energy transition albeit at a much slower pace. For a country that is dependent on fossil fuel for much of its revenue, authorities say a gradual transition is needed with the focus now on using gas as a transition fuel. At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), Nigeria committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 and currently, a transition to sustainable energy is underway to limit climate change. Most of the sustainable energy is renewable energy. Also, it enacted the Climate Change Act to provide a framework for managing climate change. And in 2022, the country launched its Energy Transition Plan (ETP) to address energy poverty and climate change. The idea is to, through the National Council on Climate Change, move from these carbon-intensive energy sources, we can decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and minimize their effect on the environment. Converging on Abuja for the ‘Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Energy Transition,’ experts agreed that Nigeria should put money where its mouth is by focusing on attracting investments into the sector. According to them, authorities must provide a conducive environment that will attract domestic and foreign investments through the development of its infrastructure and at the same time enhance its policies. The Director of Power Components at the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), Frank Edozie, said Nigeria is uniquely positioned in the energy transition landscape insisting that the country should look inwards to tackle its challenges. He stressed the critical role of natural gas in bridging Nigeria’s energy deficit, adding that renewable energy sources alone cannot provide universal access in the short term. Available data have shown that Nigeria’s natural gas reserves stands at 209.26 trillion cubic feet (TCF), making it the ninth largest in the world and the largest natural gas reserves in Africa. “The help we need cannot come from outside. We must create the environment to attract the help we need. We have had an exodus of international investment. International investors are leaving Nigeria for countries like Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. To reverse this trend, we need to establish the right conditions for investment. “People need power, and until we achieve universal energy access, we will remain underdeveloped. Solar energy alone cannot meet our needs, especially during non-sunny hours. Gas is essential for powering our plants and ensuring reliability. “We must focus on development projects that have measurable impacts on people and generate returns for investors. This will make Nigeria more attractive for climate finance,” Edozie said. Harmonising policies Experts have predicted that to get to net-zero emissions, $1.9 trillion is needed to reach this goal. According to them, this includes an additional $410 billion above the projected usual spending, translating to about $10 billion annually. The Executive Director AfriTal, Dr. Louis Brown Ogbeifun, in his view, insisted that Nigeria’s 2060 target can only be met with synergy among most policy framers, policy implementers in gas and renewable climes. He said the road might be rough and tough but doing certain things rightly and changing the optics might help the country develop home grown solutions to its energy challenges. He said, “Defunding of fossil fuel projects, inability to optimally up production activities for various reasons, for example sliding naira against the dollar, sabotaging of oil installations, high debt profile might make it difficult to get the funds needed for gas and renewable infrastructure. “The Decade of Gas is almost half way. Have met half of the aspirations embedded in the plan and roadmap? There is the need for updates to appraise what could be done in the short, medium and long terms that would make gas available for the transition being planned. “Nigeria has significant solar and wind energy potential, particularly in rural areas where hybrid energy systems (HES) can provide reliable power. But we seem to be begging for funding instead of right-sizing our plans to fit our realities. “It is in the realisation that 2024 and 2060 for the net-zero commitment still has a long way to get there that we are engaging policymakers for them to transparently speak to us, which at the end make it possible for all stakeholders to advise and make informed decisions about our energy transition roadmaps. In my opinion, nobody can do it for us. The time to look inward is now. It is time to engage our best in seeking locally proffered solutions to our energy challenges, and that is the only way we can overcome them.” Striking the right balance Experts opine that being able to strike the right balance in the energy transition chain would make the process seamless. The Lead, Domestic Energy Transition, Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI), Aaron Sayne, noted that in spite of the 2060 target, Nigeria does not have much time. Sayne said, “But obviously, we don’t have that much time. So, since we’re here to talk about how gas and renewables can live together for Nigeria, we decided we would focus in particular on fuel supply. And what are the challenges there because for gas and technologies like solar and wind, they’re different. “For gas, you need to figure out how to produce the right amount of gas to run your power plants for decades, over time, as production changes. Whereas for solar and wind, the challenge, or how do you manage the intermittency. The fact that there’s more sunshine and more wind, minute to minute, hour to hour, over much shorter time spans. And that becomes a more complicated problem. “As was said, the more of the technology you have. So, just to give a sense of why it is violating balance, to keep it simple, if you have too much fuel, you have too much gas, you have too much sun, you have too much wind, you can end up paying for gas or electricity that you don’t need, depending on what your economy says. You can end up having to shut down your plant, and you end up losing power because you don’t have a good plant and you’re running out of water. “And it can all listen to kind of social, socio-economic consequences. On the other hand, these are transitory conversations and we have these clearly every day. But on top of this is, of course, the enabling infrastructure.”11 gang members indicted says, DA
Police say searchers don’t expect to find woman in Pennsylvania sinkhole alive UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania has become a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but that the search for her remains continues. Limani says crews have seen "no signs of any form of life or anything.” Pollard was last seen alive Monday evening when she went out looking for her cat in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. WWE is seeking a bigger stage and Netflix, pushing for more live events, is providing it WWE will perform on a stage next month that could be vastly larger than its current home on cable television when it makes its “Raw” debut on Netflix. The sports entertainment company is moving to a platform with about 283 million subscribers worldwide as it departs its current home on the USA Network, which averaged 688,000 viewers in prime-time last year, according to the Nielsen company. For Netflix, onboarding the WWE is part of strategic move to air more live events on the heels of a hugely successful fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that was viewed by more than 60 million people. Michigan court upholds light sentence for woman who killed dad in dispute over ride DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has declined to overturn a light jail sentence for a young woman who killed her father by burning him with a dangerous powder. Prosecutors said Megan Imirowicz was upset when her father couldn’t drive her to a hair appointment before her 18th birthday party. Imirowicz was sentenced to only a year in jail in 2023. She actually spent more than a year in custody because she was locked up before trial and while awaiting her punishment in suburban Detroit. Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London as the sport has an international moment LONDON (AP) — London’s Royal Albert Hall is preparing to host a different kind of spectacle: Sumo wrestling. Wrestlers put on an exhibition of heavyweight grappling to promote a tournament scheduled for next October. It marks only the second time an elite five-day tournament will be held outside Japan. The first was held in 1991 at the same venue. Organizers are hoping to whip up the kind of excitement that was generated three decades ago, when the deeply ritualistic sport attracted sell-out crowds and a national television audience. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. Jury revisits key videos in NYC subway chokehold death trial NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors have asked to review police and bystander video at the heart of the New York City chokehold manslaughter case against Daniel Penny. The request came during a second day of deliberations Wednesday. The anonymous jury also asked to rehear part of a city medical examiner’s testimony. The request included testimony about her decision to issue a death certificate without getting toxicology test results for Jordan Neely. He was the agitated subway rider whom Penny held him around the neck for roughly six minutes. Penny has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Prosecutors say he recklessly killed Neely. Penny's defense maintains he was justified in acting to protect fellow subway riders from Neely. Relatives hunt for the missing after Guinea stadium crush amid fears official death toll is too low CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Kambaly Kouroumah was searching a local morgue for his teenage brother, Adama, who died after chaos erupted at a soccer game in southern Guinea’s Nzerekore city. Adama, 15, was among 56 people that officials said were killed in Sunday's crush, although rights groups reported a death toll nearly three times higher. Local media, rights groups and witnesses say security forces used tear gas to respond after fans began to throw stones to protest a referee's decision during the soccer game that was organized in honor of Guinea's junta leader, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya. Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, videos showed. Power shortages in Ecuador are melting away the future of a small town’s ice-cream industry SALCEDO, Ecuador (AP) — Ice-cream production in this quiet Ecuadorian town began in the mid-20th century in a convent for Franciscan nuns. The nuns sold their creamy popsicles in town to gather funds for the poor. But the people of Salcedo saw a business opportunity and began experimenting with new flavors and techniques, establishing a thriving popsicle industry that has made their small town famous among ice-cream lovers. But now, the South American nation is struggling with a relentless wave of power cuts that threaten the future of Salcedo’s ice-cream industry, melting away its dreams of a more prosperous future. Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For the artistic and cultural elites of the West African nation of Senegal, the monthlong Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Arts is a celebratory moment. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighborhood, realized what the Biennale was. Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture, but its role has declined in recent years. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, Chinese-imported products. And those that can afford it buy Western clothes and furniture to mark their social status. Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69 Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his song lyrics, has died. She was 69. Eminem’s longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson’s death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. Nelson’s fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star. Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem’s statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she attempted to set the record straight.
