Sarkodie created history in 2019 when he won the Best International Flow award at the BET Hip Hop Awards, becoming the first African and Ghanaian to do so.
The BET Hip Hop Awards’ official Instagram account uploaded a throwback video of Sarkodie winning the award and being brought up to the stage to get his plaque on Sunday.
To win the prestigious prize, the Ghanaian rapper surpassed competitors including Falz the Bahd Guy, Ghetts & Little Simz, Nasty C, and Tory Lanez.
BET shared the clip and captioned it, “Sarkodie is proof that African artists are bringing the fire when he took home the Best International Flow Award at the 2019 #HipHopAwards! #BET#SlaySunday.â€
Sarkodie was impressed with the huge done to him and reciprocated by thanking BET Hip-Hop Awards for the endorsement.
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers, and music video directors.
The awards ceremony began in 2006; it was held on November 12, 2006, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and was first aired on November 15, hosted by comedian Katt Williams.
A well-known Nigerian comedian and actor, John Ikechukwu Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu, has described a horrifying incident that nearly cost him his life.
Speaking to the Nigerian-based The Punch Newspaper, Mr. Ibu hinted that he is now extremely cautious about the people he contacts as a result of this painful and upsetting experience.
“These days, I am usually sceptical because I later found out that it was somebody I had helped in the past (who poisoned me),†he stated.
The situation according to the actor would have been a deadly one, “If not for God, the result would have been bad. As I speak with you now, I am still being treated somewhere in Guzape, Abuja.â€
With a fearful heart, the actor pleaded with the Nigerian Federal Government to prioritize the lives and well-being of creative arts players, because they contribute significantly to the Republic’s socioeconomic growth.
He added, “I expect the Federal Government to act on this. Whether we like it or not, we (actors) are serving the government. The movies we make are for the benefit of the general public. If the government wants to better protect us, they can do it.â€
The BBC, Sky, ITV, and Channel 4, as well as HBO, Disney, and Apple TV+ are among the 21 organizations that have backed a drive “towards a culture in which everyone working in the TV industry feels able to call out bad behavior and that nobody is above being questioned.”
As part of a move by major TV organizations to “tackle inappropriate behavior” in the industry, actors will receive anti-bullying and harassment training as well as advance nudity warnings.
Performing arts union Equity announced its new “statement of commitment” developed alongside broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, HBO, Disney, and Apple TV+ to help deliver “real and lasting change”.
Allegations of abuse across all aspects of the entertainment industry have come to the fore over the past few years, in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
In total, 21 organisations have backed the move “towards a culture in which everyone working in the TV industry feels able to call out unacceptable behaviour and that nobody is above being challenged: no one is untouchable”, the union said.
Representatives from the organisations have agreed to ensure safe casting and audition spaces, to appoint safeguarding contacts on set, and to put clear policies in place for making and addressing concerns and complaints of bullying and harassment.
Anti-bullying and harassment training will also be completed by cast and crew members before they start work on a production.
The statement of commitment also highlights procedures surrounding nudity and simulated sex acts, saying notification is to be given “in advance and in writing about the scope and extent of nudity and/or simulated sex requested, followed by discussion and agreement with the artist”.
On the back of the 24-year-old Rwanda woman, Liliane Mugabekazi, who was arrested for her ‘shameful dressing’ that exposed her bare breast, some Ghanaian celebrities have been cited as persons who could have been in the same soup if they were in Rwanda.
Liliane Mugabekazi who has been in prison custody since April 7 risks facing imprisonment if found guilty of public indecency having donned a sheer dress.
Undoubtedly, on some occasions, some Ghanaian celebrities engendered conversations with their sense of fashion which a section of the public described as indecent. Damning all the consequences, these female celebrities stepped out half-naked in outfits. Their outfits, if not similar to what Liliane Mugabekazi wore, were worse.
The media in reporting such incidents had to circumspect with the images but various social media platforms were inundated with the uncensored.
The birthday girl also suffered a wardrobe malfunction when she flashed her private part in a video posted by blogger, Nkonkonsa on Instagram.
Shugatiti has on several occasions trended on social media for her wild choice of outfit which many assert promotes nudity.
3. Salma Mumin
Actress Salma Mumin, 2019, took her fans by surprise when she published photos of her naked self in a bathtub covered with watermelon to mark her birthday.
The photos spread like wildfire but attracted bad comments from social media users who cited her for promoting nudity although the watermelons covered the ‘sensitive’ parts of her body leaving her legs, thighs, arms, and parts of her breasts.
Although the actress shared the pictures with so much joy, the photos were taken down after the backlash from fans.
4. Akuapem Poloo
Unlike the aforementioned who are yet to be arrested and taste jail, Akuapem Poloo, in April 2021, landed in prison for the publication of a nude picture with her seven-year-old son in June 2020.
The birthday photos that captured the actress and social media influencer posing naked in front of her child were greatly condemned by concerned Ghanaians which lead to her arrest and prosecution.
Following her release from prison, Poloo pledged to campaign against nudity among celebrities.
Tonnes of reactions have followed the 2-year jail sentence given to Liliane for what is described as ” shameful dressing” by Rwandan authorities.
A 24-year-old woman, Liliane Mugabekazi, has been arrested for wearing indecent clothes to a musical concert by French singer, Tayc.
Liliane when found guilty of “public indecency’ will face up to 2 years imprisonment.
A statement by prosecutors said “She attended the concert while wearing clothes that reveal her private parts… clothes that we call shameful…It is on these serious grounds that we ask the court to remand Mugabekazi for 30 days.”
Article 143 of Rwanda law determining offenses and penalties in general, states that “any person, who performs an indecent act in public, commits an offense. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than six (6) months and not more than two (2) years.â€
Meanwhile, in an article cited by The Independent Ghana on the Rwanda National Police Service website, RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera appealed to parents, guardians, owners, and employees in hospitality establishments, to be responsive against nudity, public indecency, and serving alcoholic beverages to children, which are considered unlawful acts and are punishable by law.
“Anyone, who dresses indecently in public and those who give alcoholic beverages to children will be breaking the law and will be arrested to face the law. We appeal to parents to educate and protect their children against these acts. Bar owners and employees should also take measures to ensure that children, who come to their establishments for other lawful activities, are protected and not served alcoholic drinks to prevent them from any related risks or danger,†CP Kabera said.
The story of Liliane Mugabekazi currently in police custody has attracted tons of reactions across the continent with a section of social media users calling for her release.
However, some authorities in the Central African country including the former Justice Minister, Johnston Busingye, have backed the move citing the high rate of immorality and indecency.
“The current issue of our young men & women who drink & drug themselves unconsciously, appear in public literally naked is objectionable. I support the efforts of leaders, RNP, parents, youth, media, etc to address it,” he tweeted on August 15.
A 2018 documentary on Vitali detailed his contributions to Kubrick’s later films and gave him credit for discovering and securing Danny Lloyd, a child star of The Shining, for the part of Danny, Jack Nicholson’s psychic kid, as well as for coaching Danny’s acting.
The official Twitter channel for Kubrick said in a tweet: “It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night. Our thoughts are with his family and all that knew and loved him.”
It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night. Our thoughts are with his family and all that new and loved him.
26 July 1948 – 20 August 2022 pic.twitter.com/uE0Q1KvQi1
After appearing in Please Sir! he went on to have a regular role in its successor The Fenn Street Gang, as the character Peter Craven.
In 1974, he met Stanley Kubrick and was offered the part of Lord Bullingdon in the film director’s movie Barry Lyndon, and the pair are said to have bonded.
The film is now much less famous than A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Shining, but it won four Oscars and was nominated for three more – more than any of Kubrick’s other films.
It was the start of a collaboration that would see Vitali act as Kubrick’s assistant for a series of further films, including Golden Globe-nominated Eyes Wide Shut and Oscar-nominated Full Metal Jacket, as well as The Shining.
He also took on another acting role in Eyes Wide Shut, playing the part of Red Cloak.
A 2018 documentary on Vitali called Filmworker revealed that since Kubrick’s death in 1999, he had continued to work on the legendary director’s films and legacy.
Filmworker credits Vitali with finding and recruiting the child star of The Shining, Danny Lloyd, to play the role of Danny, Jack Nicholson’s psychic son, and then coaching him to get the best performance out of him.
Tributes have been paid by several in the film industry, including the director of Disney’s Coco and Toy Story 3, Lee Unkrich, a major fan of The Shining, who said on Twitter: “Completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali. He helped me *enormously* with my Shining book and I’m gutted that he won’t see it. He was a sweet, kind, humble, generous man and a vital part of Stanley Kubrick’s team. RIP, dear Leon.”
Vitali was credited as a casting director for Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut and in another of his responsibilities collected Kubrick’s thoughts down in copious amounts of notes, which he then later used as part of his attempts to ensure people remembered his former boss.
Vitali said that after seeing A Clockwork Orange and admiring the extravagant performances that Kubrick got from his actors he told himself: “I want to work for that man.”
Remembering Leon Vitali: “Hi Leon, i’m Stanley”. And we shook hands. When you shook hands with Stanley , it was warm & gentle. Just like a buzz went through you”. @Dogwoof‘s FILMWORKER is an intimate documentary following Leon’s 30 year career with Kubrick is a must watch! pic.twitter.com/CqpSGYxJPG
Once he had secured his position, he was said to have worked so hard for Kubrick that his children later said he saw more of the director than he did of them.
Full Metal Jacket star Matthew Modine once said: “What Leon did was a selfless act, a kind of crucifixion of himself.”
He played a few other roles in his later years, including a character in the 1981 film Inter Rail and as an apothecary in the 2013 adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, starring among other Damian Lewis.
He also worked with filmmaker Todd Field, as a technical consultant on In The Bedroom (2001), and as an associate producer on Little Children (2006).
He met his future wife Kersti on the set of the 1977 film Terror of Frankenstein, in which he appeared as Victor Frankenstein and she worked as a costume designer.
Two of his three children, Vera and Max, also work in the film industry.
The Port of Felixstowe says it “regrets” the impact of the strike and cites a warning from the Unite union about significant supply chain disruption. The strikes, however, were predicted to simply be “an inconvenience, not a catastrophe,” according to a port source.
In the most recent round of labor unrest that has affected numerous economic sectors, nearly 2,000 employees at the largest container port in the UK quit their jobs on the first day of an eight-day strike.
The strike at Felixstowe port on the east coast rounds off a week that saw various strikes by thousands of transport workers in disputes over pay, as the cost of living crisis bites.
The union has warned the stoppage at the port, which handles almost half the container freight entering the country, will have a significant impact on UK supply chains and the logistics and haulage sectors.
But a port source downplayed the warning, telling the PA news agency the strikes will be an “inconvenience, not a catastrophe”.
The supply chain is used to disruption following the pandemic, he claimed.
“Disruption is the new normal. The supply chain has moved from ‘just in time to just in case,” he added.
Russian state investigators said Darya Dugina, daughter of idealogue Alexander Dugin, was killed after a suspected explosive device detonated on the Toyota Land Cruiser she was traveling in on Saturday evening.
State news agency TASS quoted Andrei Krasnov, who knew Ms Dugina, as saying the vehicle belonged to her father and he was probably the intended target.
Father and daughter had been attending a festival outside Moscow and Ms Dugin had decided to switch cars at the last minute, Russian government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported.
TV footage accompanying the statement showed investigators collecting debris and fragments from the site of the explosion.
Investigators from the Moscow region who described Darya Dugina as a journalist and political expert said they had opened a murder case.
They said they would be carrying out forensic examinations to determine what had happened.
Actor Stephen Tompkinson, 56, who has appeared in a number of top TV series over the last three decades including DCI Banks and Ballykissangel, is facing a trial after denying a single allegation of GBH at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on 10 August.
He will appear at Newcastle Crown Court facing a single charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Stephen Tompkinson, aged 56, of Whitley Bay, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 10 to face a single charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
“He pleaded not guilty to the charge and will next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday, September 7.”
Tompkinson became widely known after starring as Father Peter Clifford in 1996’s Ballykissangel, in the same year as he appeared in the hit film Brassed Off as the character Phil.
Other notable TV credits include Minder, New Tricks, Ted And Alice, and the children’s show Little Red Tractor.
The marriage ceremony takes place one month after the celebrity couple, known as “Bennifer,” wedded at a drive-through chapel in Las Vegas.
Their second nuptials took place on Saturday on the grounds of actor and director Affleck’s $8.9m (£7.5m) Georgia mansion, with aerial photos obtained by MailOnline showing the couple walking down a white carpet and embracing each other at a snowy white altar.
Lopez, 53, wore a Ralph Lauren fishtail couture gown with a dramatic long train and veil for the fairytale ceremony, while her fourth husband Affleck, 50, looked dapper in a white tuxedo jacket, black trousers and black bow tie.
They arrived at an airfield near the site of the nuptials aboard a private jet, according to the website.
The pair’s official wedding ceremony is the culmination of a relationship that has stretched over two decades in two separate romances and headlined countless tabloid covers.
According to Gifty Mawunya Nkornu, wife of actor John Dumelo, in a post shared, the traditional wedding of Samera was over and her white wedding is expected to hold at exactly 3:00 p.m.
Samera is walking down the aisle with her sweetheart, Seloame Baëta, who is an engineer and project manager at Cenpower.
The beautiful couple already has photos and videos from their traditional wedding flying on social media.
Former president of the Musicians Union Ghana (MUSIGA) Bice Osei Kuffor, known as Obour has eulogized late highlife musician AB Crentsil for his contribution to the music industry.
Speaking to Graphic entertainment during the one-week celebration at the community 8 Park, Tema, Obour disclosed he was close to AB Crenstile and saw him as a father.
According to Obour, the late AB Crentsil loved the rap genre and tried to squeeze in some rap during recording sessions.
“When you are rapping, he wants to dance with you, cheer you on and after it all, he will talk to you and let you learn some of the experiences he went through.â€
Ghanaian gospel diva Obaapa Christy exclusively revealed what transpired when she first met Daddy Lumba, a great artist from Ghana who was born Charles Kwadwo Fosu.
Obaapa Christy recounted how one of the stylists informed her that a visitor was waiting for her outside while she was braiding her hair in a salon at Sofoline (Kumasi).
She went out to greet him/her in the hopes of exchanging pleasantries because she initially assumed it was an old acquaintance or one of her many devoted followers, but to her utter amazement, it was Daddy Lumba.
According to Obaapa Christy, Daddy Lumba paid her the surprise visit just to express his love and admiration for her unmatched musical talent.
Going deep into the conversation that transpired between them, she also revealed that at one point, the popular musician threatened to “BEAT HER†if she ever responded to conversations around her then “unsuccessful marriageâ€.
She further expressed her gratitude to Daddy Lumba in the course of the live interview on ATINKA FM with Roman Fada.
Obaapa Christy ended the discussion by promising to always treat Daddy Lumba with great respect, describing their encounter as one of the most priceless moments she has ever experienced.
Several advocacy organizations that believe Mr. Tate “poses a genuine threat” to young people applaud the decision.
Mr. Tate’s official accounts have been removed from the social media platforms, and he will not be allowed to create new ones, Meta added.
The kick-boxer rose to fame in 2016 after appearing on the reality TV show Big Brother and being removed from the programme after a video surfaced online which appeared to show him attacking a woman with a belt. However, he claimed the clip had been edited.
Since then, he has gained further notoriety online for his outrageous and offensive comments, including some in which he suggested women “bear some responsibility” for being assaulted.
Before his Instagram account was removed, he had racked up more than four million followers.
The multi-millionaire also runs an online pyramid scheme called Hustlers University, which claims to teach people how to make money.
Clips of and about Mr Tate have also become popular on both YouTube and TikTok – videos using a hashtag of his name have been viewed more than 13 billion times on TikTok alone.
However, he does not have an official TikTok account, with a spokesperson for the platform saying: “Misogyny is a hateful ideology that is not tolerated on TikTok.
“We’ve been removing violative videos and accounts for weeks, and we welcome the news that other platforms are also taking action against this individual.”
‘Tate poses a genuine threat’
A number of campaign groups have criticized Mr Tate for his views and warned he was a danger to young men and boys who see his content online.
Responding to news of his ban, women’s safety charity Refuge said Meta had made the “right decision”.
“This is the kind of decisive action needed to tackle the online radicalization of young men towards a violently misogynistic world view,” the organization’s chief executive, Ruth Davison, said.
Campaign group Hope Not Hate described Mr Tate as a “threat to young men” and welcomed Meta’s “swift” action.
IGP George Akuffo Dampare and his wife Mrs. Anita Akuffo Dampare are currently trending on social media as a result of some beautiful images of the couple that have appeared online.
If Mrs. Akuffo is actually the mother of six children, one would wonder. In these pictures, she undoubtedly appears younger than she actually is.
George Akuffo Dampare is a Ghanaian chartered accountant and police officer.
He was appointed as the acting Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 21 July 2021 effective 1 August 2021, taking over from James Oppong-Boanuh who had been serving since October 2019.
The agent for 91-year-old British television actress Josephine Tewson has announced her passing away.
Tewson was best-known for her roles as Elizabeth in Keeping Up Appearances and Miss Davenport in Last Of The Summer Wine.
She died on Thursday night at Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors in Northwood, northeast London.
Paying tribute to the star, Carol Challis, who was married to the late actor John Challis, said: “Farewell to Josephine Tewson. John loved working with her on Last of the Summer Wine. Another one is gone.”
Farewell to Josephine Tewson.John loved working with her on Last of the Summer Wine. Another one gone. pic.twitter.com/tW8lDyLmPv
London’s Saatchi Gallery has canceled an exhibition of Ukrainian contemporary art after a social media outcry over it being organized by the Russian banker and art collector Igor Tsukanov, with cultural impresario and fellow Russian Marat Guelman as a consultant.
“The Ukrainian Way” had been scheduled to show 100 Ukrainian artists at the gallery from September 3-11 accompanied by an auction of physical works and NFTs. With Kyiv’s M17 Contemporary Art Center (M17 CAC) listed as a partner, a press release claimed that all proceeds would go to “charities supporting Ukrainian arts and culture including the Art for Victory Fund and the Ukrainian Emergency Art Fund.”
“Saatchi Gallery was not the organizer or curator of ‘The Ukrainian Way’ nor was it involved in any direct communication with the artists or collectors,” the venue’s press office said in a statement to The Art Newspaper.
The gallery had donated its space with the goal “of promoting Ukrainian artists and generating charitable funds for the benefit of Ukraine” and its “involvement with the project was predicated on the involvement of key Ukrainian stakeholders,” the statement continued. “We received assurances from those stakeholders that the project was one they fully supported.
Once it became apparent that support from a number of these key parties had been withdrawn, along with the reports of concerns raised by artists in recent days, Saatchi Gallery immediately took the decision to cancel the ten-day exhibition and withdraw its support from the project.”
“The Ukrainian Way” has been canceled after backlash on social media. Credit: Saatchi Gallery
The gallery says it will work with the Ukrainian Institute, which promotes Ukrainian culture internationally, to “find ways to showcase the works of Ukrainian artists, raise awareness of the unacceptable situation in Ukraine and generate funds to support Ukrainian culture”.
Tetyana Filevska, the creative director of the institute — which called for a boycott of cultural cooperation with any organizations affiliated with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine — told The Art Newspaper that “it is hard to imagine any kind of cultural cooperation between Ukrainians and Russians, especially in a Ukrainian project” and that “both Tsukanov and Guelman created a level of miscommunication” that was unacceptable.
Artist Pipilotti Rist’s serene ‘pixel forest’ explores the chaos of our digital lives
M17 CAC’s director Natalia Shpytkovska says in a statement: “Unfortunately, under the circumstances of the project’s flawed informational presentation, as well as uncoordinated actions and statements, M17 CAC withdraws from participation in ‘The Ukrainian Way’ exhibition.”
Tsukanov told The Art Newspaper: “The circumstances in Ukraine are so tragic that their reflections in people’s mind(s) create such surreal perceptions on the true intentions. The show ‘The Ukrainian Way’ is the biggest Ukrainian art show in history and my fifth show at Saatchi. All of them were blockbusters. This time I picked the wrong partner whose director wanted to kill it,” he said, referring to Shpytkovska. “She managed to achieve her goal.”
Last week, after seeing announcements for the show, Ukrainian curators and artists took to social media to condemn it as an egregious example of Russian cultural colonialism.
“The organizers of the exhibition […] do not pay any attention to the opinion of [Ukrainian artists],” wrote Olha Sahaidak, an art critic and curator who advocated on Facebook for the exhibition to be pulled. “Possession of the object does not necessarily give the right to publish and exhibit.”
Artists featured in the show commented on her post saying that they objected to being included in the exhibition and that it was happening without their consent. Some works are in the collections of Tsukanov and Guelman, who have worked together previously on exhibitions at the Saatchi Gallery. The Tsukanov Family Foundation and the gallery announced a partnership in 2013. Tsukanov’s wife, Natasha — also an investment banker — had been an advisor to the head of the state oil company Rosneft, Igor Sechin, an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin. The couple, based in London, is not on Western sanctions lists against Russian oligarchs.
She was a pioneering newspaper publisher in a room full of men. In history, she wasn’t alone
Guelman, who moved to Montenegro in 2014 after facing threats in Russia, was a promoter in the late-Soviet era of a movement of Ukrainian artists presented as the “southern Russian wave” of art — a term now especially regarded as demeaning — for a Moscow exhibition in the early 1990s. He reportedly worked on political campaigns as a strategist for Kremlin interests in Ukraine during the 2000s.
Guelman withdrew from the show several days ago in a Facebook post saying that he “sincerely wanted to help” as someone who had dealt with Ukrainian art since 1987 but that “unfortunately the war, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and all of this is not as important as the fact that I am a Russian gallerist.”
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
On Friday, August 19, the young actress Maame Serwaa, known for her child roles in Kumawood films, turned 23.
The actress posted two photographs of herself posing with her peach-themed cake on her Instagram profile to enjoy the occasion with her over 390,000 followers.
Maame Serwaa, real identity Clara Benson, exhibited cleavage in her official birthday photos while donning a nude bodycon dress that suited her skin. This caused social media users to respond.
“Having A Cake And Eating It Too. BIG 23,” she captioned the images.
Also, the actress who has been missing from the movie scene for some time now highlighted a tattoo on her right hand that read ‘Young Legend’.
Fans who took over her Instagram comment session left well wishes for the birthday girl.
Ghanaian music producer and businessman Smallgod is renowned for living a luxury lifestyle and collecting the best designer goods, which, according to him, required years of arduous labor to acquire.
The rapper admitted that he definitely spends a lot of money on his clothes during an interview.
“I spend a lot. I’ve got a lot of crazy things. I don’t wonna have that conversation here, but I do spend a lot.
“You work hard, so why don’t you enjoy the finest things in life? That’s what you working for, so I have to play that part. I mean, I work 48 hours a day if there’s anything like that. I don’t sleep, so I have to enjoy what I am working for,” he said.
“Dialy Paper are like my people. We are family…I am always with them when they’re doing their thing. I help when I can. I said to them, let’s go home, let’s go to Ghana. We spoke about this for about a year or two, and we came home and we did a collaboration.
“I always wear things from people that I know. I try to promote it. Sometimes you wear the odd ones from those you don’t know, but mostly I wear them to promote my own people, that’s what am very strong on. When you see me wearing ‘Free The Youth’, those are my kids. You see me wearing Biglommoz, why not? Do I know the owner of Gucci? Does he know me and can I talk to him?” Smallgod quizzed.
Seasoned Ghanaian actress and media personality, Empress Nana Ama Mcbrown, has spoken out for the first time about her life since her broken engagement with famed rapper Okyeame Kwame.
When asked about her connection with the rapper during an interview with Hammer Nti for Pure FM’s Hammer Time feature, Nana Ama Mcbrown said they had been through a lot together.
Although it is typical for people to become strangers to one another when a relationship ends, Okyeame Kwame and Nana Ama McBrown continue to have a wonderful relationship.
She stated that she has no pending issues with the rapper and would always strike up a friendly conversation with him if they crossed paths in public. She went on to say that she is very proud of how far they have both come in life.
Two military men stripped off the pants of a Ghanaian musician Theo Versace in a viral video. The military men surrounded the up-and-coming singer after they spotted him in.
military camo pants. While standing by his car, they demanded he takes off his pants in the middle of the street.
This comes after the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) commenced a series of exercises to curb the unlawful sale and use of military-pattern uniforms and accouterments following their continuous use by persons and institutions, who have not been permitted to do so.
They noted that the exercise is mostly targeted at people who use uniforms to impersonate the military.
The GAF explained that the acts by such persons tarnish the image they have sought to build and also create a false sense of insecurity in the country.
“(The) GAF will not allow this situation to persist and will henceforth step up the arrests of these persons and deal with them drastically but in accordance with the due process of the law,†part of the statement read.
Chief One will ascend the Chale Wote Festival stage for the first time come Saturday, August 20, 2022. He will perform with Highlife Legends Amandzeba and Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Phrame, Drupz, Kpakpshito Ensemble, and Keke Dance Ensemble among the other acts planned for the evening.
Chale Wote Street Art Festival, often known as Chale Wote, is a nontraditional platform that presents performance art, music, dance, and street art. Hundreds of local and foreign artists and patrons are encouraged to interact during the festival by making and admiring art together and are able to draw hundreds of thousands of patrons together since it began in 2011.
The annual festival promises exciting activities, including music performances, photo exhibitions, street painting, graffiti murals, street boxing, movie screenings, and so much more.
Chief One shot into the limelight this year and has been trending since January 2022 with his
“Here I Come†EP and his latest single “Turn By Turn†were released a few days ago. His debut EP has surpassed 1.7 million streams across all audio streaming digital platforms.
For 14 years Nothing Late band has brought joy to millions of people in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis from their traditional to the creative hip-life blend using brass instruments. The band plays to an extremely high standard spurred on by the continual occasions and competitions they take part in. The band continues to thrive all over Sekondi-Takoradi today and for many, brass banding is a way of life.
Nothing Late brass band was established in the year 2008 and has performed marvelously well since its establishment. The motto of the band is “ÆbÉ› tse ne dÉ›wâ€: it is a term in our
local dialect which simply means you will feel the groove or you will enjoy the groove of the band. The band is the first youth-dominating brass band that came up. This was intended to clear the misconception that brass musicians are school dropouts and drunkards. The band has been Nominated 3 times for the western music awards and has also won the Essikado y3wo adze oye band competition 2 consecutive times.
In 2019, the band in collaboration with Westline Consult, the organizers for western music awards, launched its 1st album which contained recorded brass music versions of popular Ghanaian gospel and highlife songs.
In 2020, the band Saw it needful and very necessary to rejuvenate and revamp the band after years of operation. In view of this, a new Logo was introduced. This logo depicts the characteristics and dynamics of the band. The logo bears symbols and colours which has a peculiar meaning. Below are the symbols and colours you can find in the logo of Nothing late brass band and what each represents.
• The color wine: This happens to be the official colour of the band. Wine is a color that is linked to red which represents passion, energy, strength, and love at a very deep level. This shows the Passion, energy, strength, and enthusiastic spirit the band possess and exhibits when on the instruments. Love is always expressed at a very deep level and this keeps the band moving together as brothers.
• The Gold Circles Around the NLB symbol: The color gold is related to the color yellow and the color brown, and is also associated with, love, compassion, courage, passion, magic, and wisdom. Gold is a precious metal that is associated with wealth, grandeur, and prosperity, as well as sparkle, glitz, and glamour, and this indicates the richness and sweetness of the band.
• The Circle represents Unity: the band believes in unity as unity is strength. The circle represents the unity that dwells in the band.
• The Letters NLB: the letters NLB in the logo represent the name of the band. Each letter is the abbreviation of the band’s name Nothing is Late, meaning in this Life there is absolutely nothing that is late. Everything happens for a reason and in its own appointed time. So no matter the time your success may come it is never Late.
• The trumpet on the bar of the letter B: The trumpet is a unique and powerful instrument. This power symbolism is particularly closely related to wars and rulers. The sound of the trumpet has always denoted military strength, and it is used as a signaling instrument in battle or in a military band. This represents the strength and power of the band and all the instruments we play.
The band since its establishment has had the opportunity to participate in diverse events. Some of such events are;
1. Essikado y3wo adze oye band competition organized by Hon. Joe Ghartey the MP for essikado ketan constituency.
2. Melody FM’s football gala for drivers.
3. May day bash at vision Beach Resort
4. Black Friday promotion bash at Anaji Choice Lounge
5. YFM’s Yclash of the DJ’s the band participated in both the Takoradi version and the main edition which involved all the 3 YFM branches, just recently.
among other important functions.
The band has had the opportunity to organize wonderful events such as;
1. Street Praise (10th-anniversary lunch) which took place in April 2018 at the score taven road in Sekondi with other bands like Evergreen movement band and freedom and justice bands gracing the event.
2. In December 2018 the band organized a mega event dubbed street choral night where other bands like Evergreen, supersonic, Golden squad, freedom, and justice bands performed respectively.
3. Virtual Concert; the band never ceased to entertain its fans. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nothing late band had a Black lives matter virtual concert via their Facebook page to entertain its fans.
Nothing Late brass band will be celebrating its 15 years anniversary next year (2023). Anticipate nostalgic highlife tunes composed by the band.
Mona 4Reall has joined Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall, and reggae music artiste Fancy for his new single “missima”. This will be her first feature of the year alongside her brother from the North, Fancy Gadam.
She chose to be on a song with a sibling and basically in a local dialect that speaks to the northern setting. This song essentially discusses love, long-distance relationships, and how couples miss each other.
Speaking about her feature, she said that after a few songs since entering the music industry, she felt the desire to delight her audience, and joining fancy’s missima couldn’t have come at a worse time. Everything North is unmatched, and I’m delighted to be a part of it, Mona said.
She promised her Northern fellows a good release hopefully, this Christmas.
This will be the first collaboration with a Northerner.
Mona 4Reall known in private life as Mona Faiz Montrage is a Beauty/Style/brand Influencer with over 4 million followers. Mona is the CEO of Mona 4Reall Limited, 4Reall Entertainment. Her music and celebrity lifestyle and unique fashion sense have made her a well-known name across the African continent.
She fully started her music career in the year 2020 and Mona4reall is the fastest rising female act currently.
Born and bred in Tamale Mona has 11 songs to her credit in less than 2years of her music career with the best collaborations ever, 16 awards nominations locally and internationally, and 2 wins.
Regnant Best Rapper of the Year, Lyrical Joe, says having lyrical exchanges often regarded as “beef” is not to keep him relevant, but rather to address issues raised by an opposing rapper.
Lyrical and his colleague rapper Amerado have been engaged in a heated rap battle for the past few days churning out rebuttals.
Speaking in an interview with GNA Entertainment, Lyrical Joe stated that beef could have a positive or negative impact on the career of an artiste depending on how he/she handles it.
“I do it because there are issues I need to tackle, especially with my opponent coming after me and I have to defend my crown.
“If I was chasing relevance, I would have been beefing all year, but it is just addressing issues at some particular moments,” he said.
He, however, stated that had to be healthy, especially avoiding any form of physical contact, but noted that it all depends on the lyrics being churned out by the opposing side.
Speaking about his next track, “Superman”, Lyrical Joe revealed that he would feature a surprise artiste on the project, which would be released in the coming days.
Hadi Matar, the man accused of stabbing Sir Salman Rushdie has reportedly said he has only read two pages of the author’s controversial novel The Satanic Verses.
The book’s release prompted the Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to issue a fatwa, or edict, calling for the writer’s death in 1989.
Mr. Matar told the New York Post he had only read “a couple of pages” of the book and did not say whether the fatwa had inspired him.
“I respect the Ayatollah. I think he’s a great person. That’s as far as I will say about that,” he said.
Mr. Matar also told the newspaper he was “surprised” to hear that Sir Salman had survived the attack.
“I don’t like the person. I don’t think he’s a very good person. I don’t like him very much,” Mr. Matar said, according to the paper. “He’s someone who attacked Islam, he attacked their beliefs, the belief systems.”
Earlier this week, Mr. Matar’s mother said she had disowned her son after his alleged behavior. “I’m done with him,” Silvana Fardos said on Monday, adding: “I have nothing to say to him.”
Sir Salman suffered a damaged liver as well as severed nerves in an arm and eye injuries in the attack but was taken off a ventilator on Saturday.
On Friday, a number of literary figures will read from his works on the steps of New York’s public library to show solidarity with the novelist.
Tina Brown, Paul Auster, Kiran Desai, Andrea Elliott, Hari Kunzru, and Gay Talese will be among those taking part in Stand With Salman: Defend the Freedom to Write.
Since the coronavirus disease outbreak, the Akatsi Municipal Director of Health Services says that the municipality has documented three fatalities and 61 cases.
He claimed that at one point, the cases appeared to be decreasing until a fresh case was reported in the municipality on Tuesday, August 9.
Dr. Nyarko made this statement during a meeting of the Municipal Health Committee in the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly Hall.
The Health Director said that 5,081 persons had received all of their vaccinations, compared to 21,213 who only received one dosage.
Further adding, he indicated that roughly 70,563 local inhabitants have not yet received their vaccinations.
For their safety, he recommended people take the immunizations without hesitation.
He appealed to traditional authorities and religious leaders to revive public education on the relevance of taking the vaccines.
Municipal Director of Health Services, the Akatsi South Municipal Coordinating Director, also appealed to individuals to disregard all political attempts and misconceptions targeted at discouraging others from taking the vaccines.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, led a team from the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry to the area yesterday[August 16, 2022], and observed that the illegal miners had heavily polluted the Offin River.
Some of the floating platforms and equipment mounted in various sections of the river had been decommissioned and destroyed or burnt.
The Minister emphasized that the operation that has been carried out by the Operation Halt II team was just a foretaste of what was to come, saying the team would be ruthless in eliminating recalcitrant galamsey operators.
“We want to remind everyone about the government’s uncompromising and unshakeable stance against illegal mining. Those who are stubborn and will not pay heed to any warnings should be prepared because we will keep coming at them,” he stressed.
He assured the public that the current operation would remain in force until all waterbodies in the country regained their health.
He called on residents of mining communities to rally around the government to ensure that “these recalcitrant and greedy people who are destroying our heritage and future of this country are dealt with”.
Mr. Duker commended the military team for the good work done and urged them to go all out to clear the galamsey operators from the system.
He said Changfan machines and other equipment up to nearly 900 had been burnt.
Brigadier Ayisi said the team was committed to discharging their responsibility in the national interest.
Background
The team of security men was deployed last Sunday to clamp down on illegal mining activities on six major river bodies that had come under heavy attack by illegal miners.
The security men, working with five-speed boats, are currently patrolling the Offin, Pra, Birim, Ankobra and Black Volta rivers.
They were tasked to arrest all persons found mining in water bodies and clear the rivers of all mining equipment.
Since 2017, the government has rolled out a gamut of interventions to curb illegal mining.
As most Ghanaians watched it back then, Tv3 Mentor was one of the most recognizable talent shows. The program was one of Ghana’s first reality television programs with a music theme. In Ghana, the first Mentor program was launched in 2006 and uncovered some amazing talent. The last of the show’s nine editions was in 2020. Unfortunately, a lot of well-known musicians who became renowned thanks to the program have been absent from the public eye for years, causing many Ghanaians to wonder where they are right now.
1. Isaac The Showboy
Isaac became famous when he was featured on the maiden edition of Tv3 Mentor. The singer wowed Ghanaians with his unique voice and impressive stagecraft. Although he did not win the show, Isaac had lots of fans and gained a lot of attention after the show. He signed onto Ahmed Banda’s Bandex Music label. He enjoyed success for a while, releasing some songs with Gospel musician Great Ampong and fellow Mentor star Cee. Isaac, for some personal reasons, left Bandex and has since been missing from the limelight.
2. Odarky De Andy
Andy was one of the favourites to win Mentor 1 and was the first runner-up. He was very popular and loved by Ghanaians. He enjoyed success too after the show and released songs like ‘Fanta Di Hi,’ ‘Sweetie’, and ‘Kokonsa.’
According to the musician, his fame was cut short after his handlers deceived him into making some decisions that killed his career. Andy took a long break from music and bounced back but could not catapult himself to the heights he once reached. He has since been missing from the music scene.
3. Cee Cynthia Appiah-Kubi, popularly known as Cee, was one of the brightest sparks from Mentor 2 as she wowed folks with her angelic and soothing voice. The musician did well after the show as her songs got lots of airplay. She did numerous songs with Great Ampong and Isaac. Although her music career went quiet after some years, Cee seems to be doing well for herself and is now based in the United States and still does music. Cee is now a mother and has three kids.
4. Okrasini Samuel Okrasini Samuel was featured on the maiden edition of Tv3 Mentor and was loved by fans and the judges. He did well during and after the show as he signed to Okraku Mantey’s Slip Music. Songs he did while signed to the label did quite well and propelled his career to good heights. He released songs like ‘Serwaa Akoto and ‘Dabi Dabi.’ Samuel later left the label, and his career went downhill after. He, however, seems to be doing well for himself regardless.
Celestine Donkor, a gospel musician from Ghana, has shocked many internet users by sharing some information about her life before fame. She spoke about her trials as a young woman and the difficulties life threw her in an interview with Rainbow Radio.
Making ends meet was a challenge for Celestine and her family because, in her own words, she hailed from a low-income family.
As a stay-in househelp, a young Celestine was forced to live with others. The musician claimed that some of the people she stayed with were considerate. While she was being treated horribly by others.
She said” Some of the people I stayed with were very good to me. They took me in as their own daughter. There was no feeling like an outcast. And there were others who made me like rejected and less human, She further mentioned that one woman she stayed with would deny her food when she was hungry and would demand she does unimaginable acts before she feeds her.
The gospel star shared the painful details of her life struggles to encourage the youth not to give up when they face hurdles that may cross their path. Celestine is now one of the biggest Ghanaian gospel stars and is doing very well for herself.
Kafui Danku marks 39 years of life with beautiful and dazzling pictures.
She had a cake placed on the table and decorated with some sliced fruits and flowers to announce her new age to her devoted admirers.
The candles for the numbers three and eight on the cake were lighted and already on fire. She then took away the right and put a nine in its place to show that she is now 39 instead of 38.
Kafui Danku, Ghanaian movie actress
For her birthday shoot, she wore a star-studded red dress. It was an all-red affair as she wore shiny red lipgloss on her lips to create a statement.
She wore a corset dress that has beautiful sparkling elements attached to the cleavage area and the skirt area to create a striking pattern in her look.
Her hair was short and hang over her shoulders as she beamed with smiles and excitement for her big day.
Matilda Asare, Kwame A-Plus, Samuel Nyamekye, Kwame Adinkra, and Victoria Sarfo were among the celebrities seen in party videos.
The gospel singer Victoria Sarfo attended the event with her 90-year-old mother, who is known to be a fan of McBrown.
In one of the videos from the party which has been shared on Instagram, the 90-year-old is seen singing praises to God for adding another year to the life of the actress.
Dressed in colorful cloth, the woman sang the popular gospel song Nea W’aye (Nea Wode Me Abeduru) by Moses O.K. so cheerfully that it got McBrown emotional.
After doing the singing, the old lady said a powerful prayer asking God to bless McBrown with long life and protection. During the prayer, McBrown who was almost moved to tears knelt down before the woman. Her daughter, Baby Maxin, joined her in kneeling.
Baby Maxin who is only three years old led a group of her friends to sing and pray for her mother in a video.
Mobi Obiora, a budding Nigerian artist and songwriter, will be heard by Ghanaians on the Extended Play (EP) titled “Live life hundred percent.”
The singer of “Feeling You” is prepared to release his debut EP. Songs with titles like Superwoman (Remix), No Give Up, Never Stop, H Money (AfroFranco), and H Money are among the many songs on the eagerly awaited EP.
On the other side, the EP includes the musical talents of Mmzy, Camido, and Javada.
‘Waiting patiently for the next one, a fan identified as Victor Learned who is anticipating the yet-to-be-released EP took to the comment section to tell Mobi.
‘Keep moving forward blood’, another fan through the comment section motivated the diligent and vibrant musician.
Meanwhile, Mobi Obiora already has two released songs dubbed ‘Feeling you’ and Dubai has been able to feature Maccasio, Javada, and Zelda Black, just to mention a few of his songs.
Season two of the action-packed, Ghanaian teenage TV series “Consternation” has been released with some intriguing new cast members.
The stars of the well-liked YOLO TV series, John Peasah, and Kojo Little, once again put on masterful performances in the recently uploaded series on the KL Productions YouTube Page.
The show exposes various weird occurrences and secrecy in society, including relationships, while portraying concerns in contemporary Ghanaian society.
In an interview, Kojo Little, Director of the series, said the success of the first season triggered the need for a second season that, according to him, comes along with thrills and chills.
“It is a fascinating piece and I hope movie lovers will be thrilled with what they see, especially with our new cast additions,” he said.
Ghanaian comedian Waris has also been featured in the series as he delivers some hilarious moments in the movie that brings to bear some happening in the Ghanaian youth setting.
Afro Sini HD was introduced in response to significant demand from HD+ members for a dedicated African Movie channel. Customers of HD+ with a valid subscription can now access Afro Sini HD, a 24-hour channel that is a part of XYZ Broadcasting. The channel caters to fans of high-quality Ghanaian and African films, television programs, musical performances, and reality shows appropriate for family viewing at no additional cost to current HD+ subscribers with an ongoing subscription.
Bernie Anti, CEO of XYZ Broadcasting detailed, “Growing up, the local word “sini†always brought extra excitement to our otherwise routine lifestyles and this is exactly what we intend to bring to the typical Ghanaian home and every HD+ subscriber. Afro Sini is a full-blown buffet of high-definition African movie content interspersed with sweet, complimentary Afrocentric music. We intend to introduce equally exciting industry-related programming and competitions within the shortest possible time.â€
Commenting on this new value offer, Theodore Asampong, CEO of HD PLUS Ghana, said, “HD+ is the first TV service in Ghana to introduce the Afro Sini HD channel and we are excited about the impact it will make in Ghanaian homes, especially for HD+ subscribers who are looking for premium local Ghanaian and African content in HD quality.â€
The HD+ Decoder offers features that give viewers control over their TV viewing moments such as the ability to pause, record and rewind live TV where viewers can watch TV on the go via the My HD PLUS app on mobile phones and tablets with free data that is provided every month. HD+ Decoders can be purchased at all Multi TV dealers and Electroland outlets across the country and activated on any mobile network by dialing *879# to unlock the HD viewing experience. Existing HD+ subscribers can continue to enjoy the HD+ FeeliFeeli Experience by subscribing to a package via the HD+ USSD code for GHS25 a month. Customers who opt for quarterly and yearly payments will be able to enjoy further discounts from the standard monthly package, using the same USSD short code.
Finland has announced a limitation on tourist visas for Russians.The decision, according to the Finnish foreign minister, was made in response to an increase of Russian visitors utilizing Finland as a jumping-off point for trips to other European countries.
As a result of growing unease over Russian tourism in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine, Finland will limit the number of visas granted to Russians to 10% of the existing amount beginning on September 1.
“Tourist visas will not stop completely, but their number will be significantly reduced, †Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Tuesday in Helsinki, amid a rush of Russian visitors bound for Europe.
Haavisto said the decision had come as an influx of Russian tourists began using Finland and its Helsinki-Vantaa airport as a gateway to European holiday destinations, after Russia lifted pandemic-related border restrictions a month ago.
Tourist visas from neighboring Russia will be limited by restricting the allotted opening hours for tourism visa applications, as an outright ban based on nationality is not possible, Haavisto said.
“This means that other types of visas visits relatives, family contacts, work, study will be given preference and more time,†the minister explained.
Currently, Finland processes approximately 1,000 Russian visa applications a day, Haavisto told public broadcaster Yle separately.
Finland will also look into establishing a specific humanitarian visa category, which the country lacks.
“This could make the situation in certain circumstances much easier for journalists or NGO workersâ€, Haavisto said.
Just days after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Finland joined a string of Western countries in closing their airspace to Russian planes in response, making it difficult for Russians to travel to Europe.
The foreign minister also announced that Finland and the Baltics would together propose that the European Union discontinue a visa facilitation agreement with Russia. This would increase the price of tourist visas from 35 euros to 80 (from $35 to $81).
Currently, Finland processes approximately 1,000 Russian visa applications a day, Haavisto told public broadcaster Yle separately.
Finland will also look into establishing a specific humanitarian visa category, which the country lacks.
“This could make the situation in certain circumstances much easier for journalists or NGO workersâ€, Haavisto said.
Just days after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Finland joined a string of Western countries in closing their airspace to Russian planes in response, making it difficult for Russians to travel to Europe.
The foreign minister also announced that Finland and the Baltics would together propose that the European Union discontinue a visa facilitation agreement with Russia. This would increase the price of tourist visas from 35 euros to 80 (from $35 to $81).
A senior US military officer has stated that China’s decision to launch missiles over Taiwan must be disputed.
Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, commander of the Seventh Fleet, described China’s actions as “a gorilla in the room” if they weren’t stopped.
This month, Beijing conducted military exercises around the autonomous island, though it did not confirm whether any missiles actually flew over it.
After US lawmaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August, tensions skyrocketed.
Beijing, which asserts sovereignty over the island, was incensed by her high-profile visit.
Tuesday’s comments by Vice Admiral Thomas are significant, Based in Yokosuka, Japan, the Seventh Fleet is the largest forward-Âdeployed fleet in the US Navy, with some 50 to 70 vessels and submarines – and is a key part of its military presence in the region.
“It’s very important that we contest this type of thing. I know that the gorilla in the room is launching missiles over Taiwan,” Vice Admiral Thomas told reporters in Singapore. “It’s irresponsible to launch missiles over Taiwan into international waters.
“If you don’t challenge it… all of a sudden it can become just like the islands in the South China Sea [that] have now become military outposts. They now are full functioning military outposts that have missiles on them, large runways, hangers, radars, listening posts.”
China’s decision to conduct nearly a week of military drills in the waters around Taiwan disrupted major shipping and aerial routes – a move the island said effectively amounted to a blockade. It also accused Beijing of using the drills as practice for an invasion.
Taiwan said the missiles China fired flew high into the atmosphere and posed no threat. Its defense ministry did not disclose the trajectory of the missiles, citing intelligence concerns.
The US and other allies have stepped up naval crossings in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, another area of strategic importance to Beijing, to emphasize that these are international waters.
While the US has official diplomatic relations with China and not Taiwan, it maintains a special relationship with the island, which includes selling weapons for defense – an arrangement that has long troubled China.
In recent years it has also become yet another flashpoint between Washington and Beijing as tensions between the two soured.
The actor, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of pointing the gun after an argument with a former buddy in November.
He allegedly fired the handgun twice more after that, striking the victim, who was just slightly hurt.
If found guilty, the 33-year-old, who has had two US number one albums, could spend up to nine years behind bars.
The rapper, who had a baby with singer Rihanna in May, is due to appear in court on Wednesday to answer two charges of assault with a semi-automatic firearm with allegations of personally using a firearm.
His lawyer had no immediate comment on the charges.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said: “Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences, not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood.
“My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted.”
IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS
Image caption,
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna welcomed their first child, a boy, in May this year
Police found multiple firearms at Mr. Mayers’ home while serving a search warrant following his arrest.
Terell Ephron, who is part of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective, identified himself as the victim and sued his former friend last week, alleging assault and battery, negligence, and emotional distress.
Mr. Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, alleged that Mr. Mayers had “lured” him to an obscure location in Hollywood to discuss a disagreement.
The lawsuit claims that, after a verbal altercation, Mr. Mayers “pulled out a handgun and purposefully pointed it in the direction of [Mr. Ephron] and fired multiple shots”.
Mr. Ephron was “struck by bullet projectile/fragments” in his left hand and required medical attention, according to the court papers. He is seeking at least $25,000 (£20,750) in damages.
Mr. Mayers was previously given a two-year suspended sentence for his role in a brawl in Stockholm in August 2019.
As A$AP Rocky, he was one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2010s, earning eight platinum singles in the US including Wild For The Night, Everyday, LSD, and A$AP Forever.
The official results show that Mr. Odinga fell short against Deputy President William Ruto.
The head of the election board was charged by Mr. Odinga with “blatant contempt for the constitution.”
“We totally without reservation reject the presidential election results,” he said.
Making his remarks in front of supporters in the capital, Nairobi, he said that there was “neither a legally elected winner nor a president-elect”.
The 77-year-old long-time opposition leader was running for president for the fifth time. He has challenged the results in the previous two elections, including successfully in 2017.
This time around, the chairman of the electoral body Wafula Chebukat said he got 48.8% of the vote in last Tuesday’s election compared to Mr. Ruto’s 50.5%.
Mr. Odinga accused Mr. Chebukati of “gross impunity” saying his team will pursue all legal options. He called his declaration “a major setback” to Kenya’s democracy that could trigger a political crisis.
He said that Mr. Chebukati went against the law by announcing the result without the backing of his fellow commissioners. But an ally of Mr. Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, told BBC Focus on Africa radio that commissioners are required to collate the results but do not determine the result.
This is a legal point that may in the end have to be tested in court.
Minutes before Mr. Odinga spoke, four of seven electoral commissioners who refused to approve Monday’s results, held a press conference to give their reasons.
Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of the commission, said that if you added the percentages as announced by the chairperson of the commission the sum came to 100.01%.
But the BBC’s Reality Check team says that this was down to a rounding error and is not suspicious.
Mr. Odinga has however commended the four commissioners for their “heroism”.
“The majority of (the electoral commission) – who stood up to the bullying and illegal conduct of Mr. Chebukati, we are proud of them and ask them not to fear anything. Kenyans are with them,” he said.
On Monday, Mr. Ruto described the objections of the commissioners as a “side-show”, but said he would respect a legal process. He also called for unity, saying he wanted to be a president for all, and for the country to focus on the future.
Last week’s election was largely peaceful. The electoral commission was widely praised for conducting a transparent process by posting on its website results from more than 46,000 polling stations and encouraging anyone to conduct their own tally.
However, scuffles broke out at the counting center on Monday after Mr. Odinga’s supporters accused the electoral commission of tampering with votes and attempted to block Mr. Chebukati from announcing the final results. At least three poll officials were injured in the melee.
Calm has been restored in the country after a mixture of celebrations and violent protests followed the official declaration of the presidential results.
Thousands of supporters, clad in yellow, Mr. Ruto’s party colors, poured onto the streets of Eldoret in the Rift Valley. In contrast in the western city of Kisumu, Mr. Odinga’s supporters blocked roads and lit bonfires. Similar scenes played out in several towns and in the capital, Nairobi.
Generally ,there is a sense of relief that the counting process is over because the election season often means that life grinds to a halt.
But people will be paying attention to Mr. Odinga’s plans to file a case at the Supreme Court.
For the Ga people, Saturday, August 13, 2022, was another historic day as they lavishly celebrated the Homowo celebration.
It was a proud occasion for the chiefs, leaders, families, and residents of Ga Mashie as well as for the visitors from all walks of life who had come to see one of Ghana’s most well-known festivals being celebrated.
In accordance with tradition, Your Majesty, Nii Dr Ayi Bonte II, Gbese Mantse, sprinkled the first “kpokpoi” to signal the start of the hooting at hungry for the other chiefs to follow.
The British High Commissioner, Naa Okaitoo Nrami I, Gbese Noyaa Manye was actively involved in the celebrations. Harriet Thompson who is the Development queen-mother of Gbese gleefully took part in all activities as she walked the principal street with Nii Dr Ayi Bonte II.
The Gbese Mantse sprinkled the traditional food -‘Kpokpoi’- along the principal streets of Accra which included Ussher Fort and its environs, which used to be the ancestral home before the arrival of the colonial masters.
It was a beautiful day as the traditional leaders painted the capital with their colourful red regalia and warrior attires, with the indigenes, including visitors in red attire.
The streets were busy at around with people, mainly young men and women moving from house to house and street to street to meet family members and friends.
The Gbese Mantse was honoured with the visitation of former President H.E John Dramani Mahama as well as vice-president H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to his Palace.
The management of Senior High Technical School for the Deaf at Akuapem-Mampong in the Eastern Region is disturbed about the increase in hearing impaired students bringing mobile phones to class to watch pornography, gamble, and stake lotteries.
The subject has been repeatedly brought up at general PTA meetings in recent months by school officials, who are threatening to violently seize cell phones discovered with students.
At a recent PTA meeting, management said “It realized that students bring to school expensive phones. Some videos show their nakedness or their sexual acts and these videos sometimes get onto their platforms. Parents were advised to always take wards phones before they come to school since seized phones are never returned to owners.
“Parents must be mindful of their wards at home and the kind of friends they visit and keep as some are betting and staking lotto,†the management said.
Meanwhile, parents are being encouraged to pay the PTA levy of GHC 20 per student approved by the government to support development in the school.
A portion of the amount accrued will be used to pay a monthly allowance to a retired driver to transport the students until the government posts a new driver.
“Students are shuttled between the two campuses every day and so there is a need for drivers in the school. One of the two drivers of the school is retiring next month. But posting of drivers to school is on hold from the Ghana Education Service and the absence of one driver for the school is going to be a very big challenge as a result of our specialty” management added.
Police in New Zealand is looking into the matter after a family discovered human remains inside bags they had bought at an auction from a storage facility.
After unloading their purchases at home, the residents of a South Auckland home discovered the horrifying discovery.
Police have opened a homicide investigation and are looking for the remains’ identity.
It is assumed that the family was not a part of the incident.
It is believed that the family visited the storage facility last Thursday and bought a trailer-load of belongings, which included the luggage, from a nearby storage business.
The discovery was made after the residents brought the property back to their home, detective inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua said.
Several neighbors of the family also reported a “wicked smell” emanating from the property before police arrived, according to Stuff.
One neighbor – a former worker at a crematorium – said the smell was immediately recognizable.
“I knew straight away and I thought, where is that coming from?” he said, referring to the residents’ property.
Another neighbor said her son had spotted a suitcase being offloaded from the trailer before being placed in a forensic tent that had been erected around the premises.
Footage published on New Zealand news outlet Stuff showed a trailer parked on the front driveway of the property, located in the suburban area of Clendon Park, as police carried out their investigations.
Friday, August 12, 10:40 a.m. I park my bike in a gravel patch near the Chautauqua Amphitheater, wedging a rock beneath the kickstand so it will not fall. The woman who checks my ticket at the gate is accompanied today by a state trooper and a police dog — not usual for this rural arts community, but warranted: today’s speaker, Salman Rushdie, has lived under threat since his book, “The Satanic Verses,” was published over three decades ago. I zigzag my way down steep stairs to the floor, noticing another trooper standing guard.
Minutes later, Rushdie and Henry Reese walk onstage, set to discuss the US as an asylum for writers and other artists in exile as part of the Chautauqua Lecture Series. The audience rises, clapping.
I realize Rushdie will be seated with his back to me, so I move to get a better view, starting down the middle aisle to an empty seat in the third row just as the two take their seats.
Before I take mine, however, a man leaps onstage, hate on two feet, storming Rushdie with lightning speed. The author rises and steps back to evade him, but his black suit and polished shoes are unprepared for the youth in trainers, head wrapped like a ninja, a cyclone of anonymous fury.
Rushdie bends and twists away but the knife is unrelenting, arm raising and falling over and over and over, evading the author’s hands and those attempting to intervene. The crowd gathered at a stage where civil discourse has been practiced for over 130 years, stands watching, frozen not with fear but with shock.
After what seems like ages but I later learn was just seconds, the attacker is taken down by a few men and a state trooper. Rushdie and Reese have both fallen. Blood pools on the stage. A man runs by me, filming the chaos on his phone.
Freedom in retreat
“These are not good days for liberty. If you look around the world, you see that the idea of freedom, freedom which contains a sense of carefree-ness, seems everywhere in retreat, hounded by guns and bombs,” Mr. Rushdie told an audience at Emory University in 2015.
How ironic, that his attacker moved through tree-lined streets where children run free until peals from a bell tower remind them it is time for dinner, where bicycles are not locked and wallets are often returned with cash intact. This is a place where people let down their guard, only too easily. That is part of the charm, but in the days to come, we will surely grapple with that.
The crowd is mostly silent, except for the jagged cries some cannot, do not, still. The attacker is finally subdued, and the police dog stands over him. I wonder if it’s ghoulish to take a picture of the stage at this moment. But the ghoul is already here, I decide.
Rushdie lies still on his back; someone has removed his shoes from his feet and lined them neatly beside him, waiting for him to fill them again. No one else can.
I cannot get back on my bike for shaking, so I walk home. Sirens wail.
By around noon, The New York Times has reported Rushdie was stabbed in the neck, with another witness saying he still had a pulse before he was airlifted to a hospital. I am astounded and relieved that he survived. When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of Iran, issued a call for his death in 1989, the author went into hiding but continued to write his intricate and zany books.
He says he must write to survive, or his dreams become increasingly crazy. Waiting for news, I wonder how much crazier a dream can get than this, more nightmare than a fairy tale.
Texts pour in: “Are you there?” “Is it true?” A friend tells me she attended a dinner with Rushdie in February and remembers him saying he was fairly certain someone, somewhere, would get him. Who knew this could happen in this utopian summer community, which tries to combat the dissension in the world with conversation? Words were no match today.
Later in the afternoon, Andrew Wylie, Rushdie’s agent, reports he is in surgery but has no other updates.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
The vaccination, according to ministers, will now be a part of the autumn booster program.
26 million people are eligible for some version of the booster, but Moderna estimates that just 13 million doses of its new vaccine will be made accessible this year.
According to health officials, people should receive any booster that is recommended because all vaccinations offer protection.
The initial pandemic vaccines were created to prepare the body to combat the virus’s first version, which appeared in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019.
The Covid virus has since mutated substantially, with a stream of new variants emerging that can dodge some of our immune defenses. They have caused large surges in cases around the world.
The original vaccines still provide strong protection against becoming severely ill or dying, but companies are tweaking them to match the virus as it evolves.
Cases of coronavirus are currently falling in the UK. In mid-to-late July, around 2.5 million people tested positive for coronavirus.
‘Sharpened tool’
Moderna’s latest vaccine targets both the original strain and the first Omicron variant (BA.1), which emerged last winter. It is known as a bivalent vaccine as it takes aim at two forms of Covid.
Dr. June Raine, the regulator’s chief executive, said: “What this bivalent vaccine gives us is a sharpened tool in our armory to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve.”
Experiments on 437 people showed the updated vaccine was safe and gave better immune protection against newer variants.
Levels of antibodies that were able to stick to and disable Omicron (BA.1) were 1.7 times higher in people given the new vaccine. Tests against more recent Omicron variants (BA.4 and BA.5), which are causing the UK’s current wave, also showed higher levels of protection with the updated vaccine.
However, it is far from clear what that means in terms of preventing someone from becoming seriously ill.
Additionally, it is uncertain what variants we will be facing in the coming months and exactly how well the updated vaccine will perform against them.
“This represents the first authorization of an Omicron-containing bivalent vaccine; this bivalent vaccine has an important role to play in protecting people in the UK from Covid-19 as we enter the winter months,” he said.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), which advises governments in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, has confirmed the following groups should be offered some form of booster in the autumn:
health and social care staff
everyone aged 50 and over
carers who are over the age of 16
people over five whose health puts them at greater risk, this includes pregnant women
people over five who share a house with somebody with a weakened immune system
Prof Wei Shen Lim, from the JCVI, said: “It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up a booster this autumn, whichever vaccine is on offer.”
Originally those aged 50-65 were not going to be jabbed. However, the immunization campaign has been expanded because of the rapid spread of variants, uncertainty about how the virus will mutate, and the expectation that we will are likely to be more social – and therefore give the virus a helping hand this winter – including at Christmas.
However, most people under 50 will not be boosted in the coming months. The focus remains on preventing those most at risk from becoming seriously ill, rather than stopping the young from passing the virus on to older relatives.
Moderna is not the only company updating its vaccines. Pfizer has also been developing vaccines that can target Omicron. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, however, is not being updated.
Health ministers have officially given the go-ahead for the bivalent vaccines. In England, Steve Barclay said “vaccines remain our best defense against Covid” and said the rollout would begin in September. In Wales, Eluned Morgan said vaccines “have saved countless lives” and urged everyone who was eligible to come forward.
In the midst of emotionalmoments, the chairman of the electoral commission has announced that Deputy President William Ruto has won Kenya’s presidential election.
With 50.4% of the vote, he barely defeated Raila Odinga as his opponent.
The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr. Odinga‘s campaign.
Due to disputes and claims of vote manipulation by Mr. Odinga’s team, the declaration was postponed.
Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the announcement, saying the results were “opaque”.
“We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election,” said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of theIndependent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“We are going to give a comprehensive statement… and again we urge Kenyans to keep calm. There is an open door that people can go to court and the rule of law will prevail,” she said.
Mr. Odinga’s party agent earlier alleged that there were “irregularities” and “mismanagement” in the election.
This was the first time Mr. Ruto, 55, had run for president. He has served as deputy president for 10 years but fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Mr. Odinga to succeed him.
The majority of Asian markets increased on Monday as investors cheered evidence of declining US inflation; however, Hong Kong and Shanghai declined as statistics indicated that China’s economy was suffering due to the Covid-19 limitations.
The markets have been worried that additional hikes of a comparable magnitude could stifle economic recovery after two straight increases in borrowing costs by the Federal Reserve of three-quarters of a percentage point.
Last week’s indicators of improved inflation statistics have sparked discussion about whether the Fed may change course more rapidly from its current stance of moving aggressively to raise interest rates.
“We’re definitely heading in a better direction,” Kristina Hooper, Invesco chief global market strategist, told Bloomberg Television.
“It looks like we are passed peak for inflation. The problem is inflation is still very, very high.”
Wall Street ended Friday on a positive note after consumer and producer price data indicated a meaningful cooling in inflation.
The optimistic mood carried over to Asia, with Tokyo climbing one percent as GDP data showed the Japanese economy recovering after the government lifted Covid-19 curbs on businesses.
Sydney rose 0.5 percent and Taipei was up 0.7 percent. Wellington, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur also saw gains. Seoul and Mumbai were closed for holidays.
Among the few losers, Hong Kong and Shanghai fell as Chinese economic figures came in weaker than analysts’ expectations.
China unexpectedly cut key interest rates as a raft of data released Monday indicated the world’s second-largest economy was struggling with virus restrictions and a slumping property market.
The figures showed China’s industrial production and retail sales growth for July came in lower than expected. Industrial production was up 3.8 percent year-on-year, but down from 3.9 percent in June and below Bloomberg economists’ forecasts of a 4.3 percent increase.
“The risk of stagflation in the world economy is rising, and the foundation for domestic economic recovery is not yet solid,” China’s National Bureau of Statistics warned.
Beijing’s rigid adherence to a zero-Covid strategy has held back economic recovery as snap lockdowns and long quarantines batter business activity and a recovery in consumption.
“July’s economic data is very alarming,” Raymond Yeung, Greater China economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, told Bloomberg.
“The Covid-zero policy continues to hit the service sector and dampen household consumption.”
Oil was lower in Asian trade, with WTI down one percent at $91.20 while Brent was off 0.9 percent at $97.25.
Recent torrential rain has caused flooding in Northern Nigeria and has killed about fifty people and displaced many, according to reports from the executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for Jigawa State, Sani Yusuf.
According to Sani Yusuf, executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for Jigawa State, at least 50 people have died, and “many” have been relocated as a result of recent severe rains that triggered floods in northern Nigeria.
“When you go around [Jigawa State], we lost about 50 people to the flood,” Yusuf told reporters on camera Sunday from the city of Dutse, which was broadcast by local media.
Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Farouq also visited Jigawa State recently to distribute relief materials, the federal ministry tweeted.
“This incident is particularly sad because it has become perennial. This is causing serious damage to schools, houses, and the livelihood of the people,” Farouq told reporters on camera.
Farouq said Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to activate National Emergency Management Agency to provide the necessary support to those affected by the floods.
The floods come after days of severe thunderstorms which have prompted flash flooding warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Many parts of Jigawa are vulnerable to flooding after rainstorms. Earlier in August, around seven people died and dozens of buildings were destroyed following flooding from heavy rains in seven districts in the northeastern Nigerian state.
Last year, more than 120 families were displaced in the state’s Guri district when their homes were submerged by floods after a heavy downpour.
“Desilting a river is not a solution to flooding, it’s a temporary solution, it takes a lot of money. If all the budgets of the federal government and Jigawa State are combined to desilt River Hadejia, we cannot achieve it,” Adamu said, adding that: “There are no short-term measures to stop flooding but we can mitigate and do early warning.”
Despite ten years of discussions, the UN High Seas Treaty is still not in force.
By 2030, 30% of the oceans in the globe would be protected if they were to be adopted.
Aiming to safeguard marine life from overfishing and other human activities, campaigners seek to achieve this.
Two-thirds of the world’s oceans are currently considered international waters, which means all countries have a right to fish, ship, and do research there. But only 1.2% of these high seas, as they are referred to, are protected.
This leaves the marine life living there at risk of exploitation from the increasing threats of climate change, overfishing, and shipping traffic.
And with ecosystems on the high seas poorly documented, there is concern among conservationists that creatures could become extinct before they are discovered.
Research published earlier this year, and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, suggests that between 10% and 15% of marine species are already at risk of extinction.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has said at previous negotiations that the “traditional fragmented nature of ocean governance” has prevented the effective protection of the high seas.
IMAGE SOURCE, LEISA TYLER/ GETTY IMAGES
The treaty would place parts of the world’s oceans into a network of Marine Protected Areas. Environmental impact assessments would be carried out before allowing commercial activities like deep-sea mining to go ahead.
Deep-sea mining is when minerals are taken from the sea bed that is 200m or more below the surface. These minerals include cobalt which is used for electronics, but the process could also be toxic for marine life, according to the IUCN.
As of March 2022, the International Seabed Authority, which regulates these activities, had issued 31 contracts to explore the deep sea for minerals.
Countries are also looking to include measures in the treaty that give developing and landlocked nations more equal access to Marine Genetic Resources (MGR).
MGR is biological materials from plants and animals in the ocean that can have benefits for society such as pharmaceuticals, industrial processes, and food.
But progress has been slow due to Covid-19 preventing countries’ meetings. Disagreement over what should be included in the legal treaty also delayed it.
Some nations such as Russia and Iceland want fisheries to be excluded.
In March, countries agreed to have a final fifth session to try and sign the Treaty – with a deadline set for the end of the year.
Should this not happen, an EU spokesperson told the BBC it was still committed to the issue: “The EU will insist on the quick continuation of the negotiations.”
“Action is needed to ensure the conservation and the sustainable use of the Ocean for current and future generations,” they added.
At the end of the last round of failed negotiations, conference president Rena Lee said: “I believe that with continued commitment, determination and dedication, we will be able to build bridges and close the remaining gaps.”
Protecting the world’s oceans is also important for human populations as so many people rely on the seas for food, income, and leisure activities.
It is estimated that global marine ecosystems are worth more than £41 trillion, according to researchers at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
 A Pennsylvania woman, Marguerite Koller, of Blue Bell, recently celebrated the birth of her 100th great-grandchild, Koller William, according to NBC Philadelphia. The 99-year-old got a chance to meet the baby boy shortly before her 100th birthday. She is marking two major milestones in just a matter of months.
“I’m just thinking about how lucky I am,” she said while holding her newest great-grandkid, who is named after her and her late husband, William.
“I actually applied when I was a junior in high school but he talked me out of it,” she told ABC station WPVI-TV in 2015.
Marguerite is the mother of 11 children and has 56 grandchildren, leading to her now-100 great-grandchildren, NBC Philadelphia reported.
Originally, the new baby was supposed to be her 99th great-grandchild, but the little one claimed the special title after being born more than a week after his predicted due date.
Christine Balster, Marguerite’s granddaughter and mother of the 100th great-grandchild, said she and her husband Patrick wanted to honor both of her grandparents with their son’s name.
“My husband liked the name Kole, and it felt very natural to name him Koller and William as the middle name,” she told NBC Philadelphia.
William died in 2008, according to the 2015 report from WPVI-TV.
Baby Koller now joins multiple generations descending from his great-grandmother Marguerite, whom Christine described as a “lovely, sweet [and] strong lady.”
The new mom also praised the “amazing legacy” her grandmother has built.
In WPVI-TV’s 2015 report, Marguerite’s family described the matriarch as “an inspiration.”
“And to be the age she is and still going about it every day,” said Greg Stokes, Koller’s grandson, “it’s unbelievable.”
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