NEWSLINE

Arsenal reject Manchester United's bid for Robin van Persie • Arsenal want at least £20m for striker • Dutchman unlikely to tour far east Arsenal have yet to decide whether to bring Robin van Persie on their pre-season tour of Asia. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images Manchester United have made an offer for Robin Van Persie , although it is not believed to be sufficient to tempt Arsenal to sell. The London club want at least £20m for their captain, and United have not yet threatened that figure. Manchester City and Juventus have also made their interest in Van Persie clear to Arsenal and the chase for his signature is hotting up. City must sell some of the strikers on their pay-roll before they can attempt to buy the Holland international. Van Persie, who has 12 months to run on his Arsenal c

NGO Supporting Agricultural Production In Jonglei The Polish Aid Humanitarian (PAH) organization has handed over more than 40 acres of cultivated land to Abang community in Jonglei State. July 2012 Kur Bher Kur from Polish Aid Humanitarian Shows the Abang Community in Jonglei the cultivated land for ready for planting. [Gurtong/ ] BOR, July 2012 [Gurtong] –Ann Extention Worker at PAH Marial Ayen told Gurtong that their mission is to uplift the local communities by giving them support in cultivation of land. “We have cultivated 40 Feddans and next year we will increase to 50 Feddans if we receive funding”, says Ayen. Ayen said that PAH is ready to offer support and uplift the communities in Jonglei. “My duties here are to train the farmers on how to cultivate and how to embrace row planting”, he said. Row planting is the new method that is being by promoted by PAH instead of sowing of seeds whic

Fishing For Survival A 13 year old boy in Western Equatorial State has turned to fishing to raise money for his school fees. 19 July 2012 Justin Apai with his younger brother after fishing at the Nakpangau Water Pond. [Gurtong/] YAMBIO, 19July 2012 [Gurtong] - Justin Apai says that the fishing helps him buy books for his studies and also serves as a meal for his family. “Beef prices have increased with a kilogram going for20 South Sudanese Pounds which our family cannot afford”, says Apai. Apai adds that he is encouraged to concentrate on his studies by his parents and wants to become an accountant in future. Apai urges his friends to help parents especially at this moment when prices of commodities have increased. The Nakpangau Water Pond, where Apai conducts fishing, was built in the 1980’s to serve as a water dam for the residents

Student Hospitalised After Caning by Teacher A pupil at Mayo Girls Basic School in Western Bahr el Ghazal State has been admitted to hospital after she was allegedly flogged by a teacher. 18 July 2012 Mayo Girls Basic School pupils awaiting treatment at the Wau Teaching Hospital. [Gurtong] WAU, 18 July 2012 [Gurtong] - Happy Elario Pangarsio is admitted at Wau Teaching Hospital and claims that she was given 10 strokes of cane by the teacher for missing school. Speaking to Gurtong,the school Headmaster James Nuri Ukello said he was not aware of the incident but promised to hold an emergency meeting to discuss and discourage such incidences. “Punishments to pupils who break school regulations is given in form of manual work like cleaning the school compound but not beating them”, said Ukello. Ukello urged teachers to cooperate with the pupils and maintain respect and honesty so as to promote girl-child education in South Sudan instead of discou

Youth Volunteer Program Kicks Off in Rumbek A new project aimed at supporting the youth to clean up their town has been established in Rumbek. 18 July 2012 Karak Mayik Denyok leads the youth in cleaning Rumbek Town. [Gurtong] RUMBEK, 18 July 2012 – The ‘Stand For Your Community Youth Volunteer Program’ has been extended to cover eight counties of Lakes State. The Project Director Karak Mayik Denyok says the project ‘encourages the youth to make a difference in their communities while exploring new areas of interest.’ The volunteers for the program consist of youth who have completed their studies and are out in search for jobs. The program helps the needy people build a better future through education, community development and training. It also deepens the personal understanding of the volunteer on human needs, values and cultural diversity. The youth gain experience as they get attached to diff

Abducted Children to be Re-United With Their Families More than twenty children allegedly abducted from Pibor County are to be re-united with their families. The abducted children awaiting a re-union with their families in Pibor County.[Gurtong] BOR,  July 2012 –Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi presented the children to the State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk last Thursday. Konyi said they mobilised chiefs to move from village to village to collect the children abducted during the inter-ethnic conflicts. “We are hopeful that all abducted children and women will be freed and this is part of peace and reconciliation among our communities”, he said. The eldest of the 20 children is  about 8 years old while the youngest is just below 1 year. “Some children are from Pochalla, Uror as well as from Central and Eastern Equatoria states”, said Konyi. He added that a woman with a baby girl abducted i