The Gambia: The Year 2013 Ends With Crackdown on Opposition

Convictions and sentencing of top government officials, and a divided opposition ‘united for change’

The West African country also made high profile decisions by exiting the Commonwealth of Nations over "neo-colonialism" and cut off diplomatic ties with Taiwan for “strategic national interest.”

THE GAMBIA: State of Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression 2013

One unresolved murder, one disappeared, two media houses reopened, one remain closed, several arrests and detentions, four exiled, two on trial and more draconian media laws

The West African country have passed laws that carry up to 15 years of jail term or a fine of three million Dalasi (around 63,250 Euros) or both - for whoever spreads “false news” about the government or public officials on the internet.

Stalwart to lunch debut album ‘Di Boss’ Dec 20

A young boy displays a poster of Stalwart's DI BOSS Album which include the song Show Love To D Children (Photo credit: Stalwart/Facebook)

Gambia had share of ‘rare hybrid solar eclipse’

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The Gambia experienced a solar eclipse on Sunday which geographers say is a “rare hybrid eclipse”. It lasted for about half an hour (from around 11:45am) in which a ring of sunlight was still visible, giving a partial eclipse.

A hybrid solar eclipse is an unusual eclipse that morphs between a total eclipse – in which the moon completely blots out the sun – and an annular eclipse, in which a ring of sunlight is still visible around the moon, astronomers say.

This year's event is a rare hybrid eclipse, where for part of the event, the sun's light is not completely covered. Such events, called annular eclipses, are dangerous to watch directly, says the National Geographic Centre.

The Gambia: FA presidential hopeful barred from attending adoptive congress

Kebba Yoro Manneh (center of 2nd row, in light-blue dress and white hat) attends press confab shortly after delegates cast their ballots (Photo credit: B.B.Baldeh/GFA/Facebook)

GFA adopts constitution amid nonstop arguments

GFA chairperson Alhagie Omar Sey says those who voted against the Constitution will be disenfranchised in the June 29, 2013 GFA presidential election (Photo credit: B.B. Baldeh/GFA/Facebook)