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British Army opens recruitment for Nigerians, others

The British Army has opened its recruitment application process for Nigerians and other Commonwealth citizens

The British Army has opened its recruitment application process for Nigerians and other Commonwealth citizens, starting from Monday, August 19, 2024.

According to a statement, the British Army said the application window will be on for one week, precisely until Monday, August 26, 2024.

“Applications are specifically invited for the roles of musician, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, Royal Engineers Technician and Tradesman, and paratrooper,” the statement read.

“This recruitment phase emphasizes the vital role Commonwealth soldiers have played and continue to play within the British Army.

“It is crucial to note that applications must be linked to the Recruit Bounty Referral Scheme (British Army members referral) to be considered, with the exception of those applying as musicians.

“Musicians must meet specific musical standards, which can be found on the Army Musicians page.”

As for the medical screening, the British Army said the major aspect of the recruitment process will be conducted for Sickle Cell traits, which is prevalent among certain populations, including those from Commonwealth countries.

The British Army said although, having the Sickle Cell trait does not disqualify candidates, those identified as higher risk will need to have a diagnostic blood test before participating in entry fitness tests.

It believes that this precaution ensures the safety and well-being of all recruits into its distinguished Armed Forces.

On the eligibility criteria for soldiers, candidates must be at least 16 years old, with applications starting at 15 years and 7 months while assessment can begin at 15 years and 9 months.

“Those under 17 years and 6 months will attend the Army Foundation College before starting standard entry training for junior soldiers. Candidates must enlist before 36 years of age,” the statement read.

“For officers, candidates must be between 18 and 29 years old. Higher age limits apply for specialist roles like doctors, and exceptions are made for candidates over 30 on a case-by-case basis.

“Candidates need 35 ALIS points from 7 subjects, including a minimum grade of C/4 in English Language, Maths, and either Science or a foreign language.
Additionally, they need 72 UCAS Tariff points from 3 subjects.

“Every applicant must pass a series of fitness tests, including the Multistage Fitness Test (Beep Test), Seated Ball Throw, and Mid Thigh Pull.

“The Army offers guidance on achieving the required fitness levels and emphasizes maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“Recruits are encouraged to quit smoking and focus on a balanced diet to ensure they meet the BMI (Body Mass Index) requirements.

“Tattoos are acceptable under specific guidelines: they must not be offensive, obscene, or visible on a passport photo. Hand and neck tattoos are now allowed, but head and face tattoos are not.

“Piercings that alter appearance, like large flesh tunnels, may disqualify applicants. All jewellery must be removed during physical activities.

“The British Army adopts a rehabilitative stance on criminal convictions. While certain convictions might be ‘spent’ after a rehabilitation period, applicants must disclose any unspent convictions.

“Honesty is paramount, as hiding convictions could lead to prosecution later. For those not yet old enough to join the Army, the Army Cadet Force offers an excellent opportunity to engage in military-themed activities, sports, and outdoor adventures.

“Cadets can develop survival skills, participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and earn additional qualifications. The application window is strictly from 19th August 2024 to 26th August 2024. Applications submitted outside this period will not be considered.

“Candidates must be ready to travel to the UK for further assessment in October and November 2024, with basic training commencing between January and March 2025.”

For more detailed information and to apply, interested candidates have been directed to visit the official British Army recruitment page.

US

Biden congratulates Trump, invites him to White House

President Joe Biden called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory Wednesday and invited his Republican successor to hold a meeting in the “near future,” the White House said.

In his call with Trump, “President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together,” a White House statement said.

Biden also spoke with Kamala Harris and “congratulated the Vice President on her historic campaign,” the statement said, adding that the president on Thursday “will address the nation to discuss the election results and the transition.”

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Harris calls Trump to congratulate him on election win

US Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him for winning the 2024 presidential election, one of her senior aides said, following a bitter and contentious race.

Democrat Harris discussed with Trump the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans, said the aide speaking on background, confirming that Harris will deliver remarks in Washington later Wednesday.

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Breaking: Trump wins White House in stunning comeback

Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, media said Wednesday, defeating Kamala Harris in a stunning political comeback that will send shock waves across the world.

The polarizing Republican’s victory, following one of the most hostile campaigns in modern US history, was all the more remarkable given an unprecedented criminal conviction, a near-miss assassination attempt, and warnings from a former chief of staff that he is a “fascist.”

“It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before,” Trump told a victory party in Florida.

Vice President Harris, who only entered the race in July after President Joe Biden dropped out, ran a centrist campaign that highlighted Trump’s inflammatory messaging and use of openly racist and sexist tropes.

But his apocalyptic warnings about immigration and championing of isolationism found their mark with voters battered by the post-Covid economy and eager for a change from the Biden years.

The campaign pointed to a nail-bitingly close contest, but the results came surprisingly fast, delivering a crushing victory that included wins in the swing states of Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Trump is the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term.He is also the only person to be elected as a convicted felon — he will face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on November 26.

Already 78, Trump is on course to break another record as the oldest-ever sitting president during his four-year term. He will surpass Biden who is set to step down in January at the age of 82.

– Impact on foreign policy –

The US dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high while most equity markets advanced, with traders betting on a victory for Trump as the results rolled in.

But turmoil likely lies ahead.Trump’s victory comes with his promise of radical policy shifts — not just at home but also abroad, where his unrestrained isolationist and nationalist “America First” stance is likely to have enormous consequences.

He has repeatedly suggested he would end the conflict in Ukraine by pressuring Kyiv to make territorial concessions to Russia, and his threat of mass deportations of illegal immigrants has stirred deep concern in Latin America.

He also returns to the White House as a climate change denier, poised to dismantle his predecessor Biden’s green policies and jeopardize global efforts to curb human-caused warming.

Even before Trump’s stunning victory was fully confirmed, foreign leaders rushed to send congratulations.

These included longtime Trump allies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Also messaging Trump was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is predicted to see a rapid reduction in US military aid once Biden leaves office.

Zelenksy said he hoped the “impressive victory” would help his country find a “just peace.”NATO’s chief, Mark Rutte, said Trump, who has frequently expressed displeasure with the US-led alliance, would make it “strong.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the stream of well-wishers, while French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to join Trump in working “with respect and ambition.”

– Showman’s instinct –

For all his dark promises of political revenge against enemies at home and his criticisms of longstanding allies overseas, Trump remains famously unpredictable when it comes to matching words with actions.

His campaign rallies, filled with grievance, insults and misinformation, featured extreme rhetoric.

But he won positive coverage with viral online moments that played on his everyman appeal and his showman’s instinct — like his appearance at a McDonald’s drive-thru and impromptu news conference from a garbage truck.

He campaigned on tax cuts, less regulation and the most significant increase in import tariffs in nearly a century to promote growth and boost manufacturing, despite warnings of trade wars and higher prices for US consumers.

Trump’s more mainstream messaging often became overshadowed by his tendency to lurch into foul language and violent imagery.

But that hard-charging style played well with his unfailingly loyal base, which sees him as a Washington outsider.And he gained traction with his hard-line anti-immigration message and outreach to working-class voters hit by Covid-triggered inflation.

When Harris joined the race in July, replacing Biden, she soon managed to close the yawning gap Trump had opened over the president in opinion polls.

Her message of unity, focus on abortion rights and warnings of the threat Trump posed to democracy appeared to resonate, evidenced by a huge surge in fundraising that swelled her campaign war chest way beyond her rival’s.

Ultimately, however, she fell short of what would have been a historic win as the first Black woman elected to the White House.

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Breaking: Trump claims victory over Harris in US presidential election

Donald Trump claimed victory and pledged to “heal” the country Wednesday as results put him on the verge of beating Kamala Harris in a stunning White House comeback.

His exuberant speech came despite the fact that only Fox News had declared him the winner, with no other US networks having made the call so far.

As jubilant supporters cheered and chanted “USA”, Trump took to the stage at his campaign headquarters in Florida along with his wife Melania and several of his children.

“We are going to help our country heal,” the Republican former president said.

“It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before.”

US networks have called the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina for the 78-year-old, and he led the Democratic vice president in the others although they have not been called yet.

Gloom swiftly descended on Harris’s camp.

“You won’t hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow,” Cedric Richmond, Harris campaign co-chair, told a watch party in Washington as supporters left.

In a further blow to Democrats, Trump’s Republican Party also seized control of the Senate, flipping two seats to overturn a narrow Democratic majority.

A Trump victory threatens to cause shockwaves around the world, as US allies in Europe and Asia fear a return of his nationalist policies and his praise of autocrats like Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

But the US dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high while most equity markets advanced as traders bet on a victory for Trump as the results rolled in.

  • Mood shift –

Polls for weeks had shown a knife-edge race between Harris and Trump, who would be the oldest ever president at the time of inauguration, the first felon president and only the second in history to serve non-consecutive terms.

Trump also faces sentencing in a criminal case over hush money payments on November 26, while the controversy over his denial of his 2020 election defeat by Joe Biden still persists.

But in the end victory came surprisingly quickly.

The mood shifted sharply at Harris’s watch party in Howard University — her former college and a historically Black university in Washington — as the results came in.

“I am scared,” said Charlyn Anderson. “I am anxious now. I am leaving, my legs can barely move.”

In contrast, the celebrations intensified at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and the watch party nearby.

Tech tycoon Elon Musk, who has backed Trump and stands to lead a government efficiency commission under him, posted a picture of himself with the Republican.

“Game, set and match,” Musk said on X, the social media network he owns along with the Tesla electric vehicle firm and the Space X company.

Millions of Americans had lined up throughout Election Day — and millions more voted early — in a race with momentous consequences for the United States and the world.

They were deciding whether to either hand a historic comeback to Trump or make Harris the first woman in the world’s most powerful job.

In a stark reminder of the tension — and fears of outright violence — dozens of bomb threats were made against polling stations in Georgia and Pennsylvania.

The FBI said the threats appeared to originate in Russia, which is accused by Washington of trying to meddle in the election. The threats were all hoaxes but succeeded in disrupting proceedings.

  • Dark rhetoric –

Harris, 60, had aiming to be only the second Black and first person of South Asian descent to be president.

She made a dramatic entrance into the race when Biden dropped out in July, while Trump — twice impeached while president — has since ridden out two assassination attempts and a criminal conviction.

She hammered home her message that Trump was a threat to democracy and her opposition to Trump-backed abortion bans.

Trump has vowed an unprecedented deportation campaign of millions of undocumented immigrants, in a campaign full of dark rhetoric.

The election is being watched closely around the world including in the war zones of Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump has indicated he will cut aid to Kyiv’s battle against the Russian invasion.

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Trump says he ‘made history’ with presidential election

Donald Trump on Wednesday said he and his supporters had made history in the White House race, though the ex-TV star had not been widely declared the winner of the US presidential election.

“We’ve made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,” Trump told cheering supporters. “It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before.”

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Fox News declares Trump winner of US election

Fox News declared Donald Trump the winner of the US presidential election early Wednesday, the only network to make the call, after projecting he would win key battlegrounds Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

“Donald Trump elected as the next president of the United States,” declared the front page of the Fox News website.

CNN, NBC News, ABC News and CBS News had yet to call the election — or the races in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — for Trump, who was soon expected to speak to his supporters in Florida.

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