Prior to the party’s presidential primaries, Mr. Akwasi Nti, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman of the Fomena Constituency, announced his support for Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia’s candidacy.
“I am for Bawumia and I won’t hide it. I support Dr. Bawumia 100% and I want him to succeed. I will work to ensure that this vision becomes a reality” Mr. Akwasi Nti promised.
Giving his reasons for supporting the Vice President, Mr. Akwasi Nti revealed that, “my reason is that he is from the Dombo tradition and it is his turn to lead the party amidst his show of leadership and competence”.
According to the controversial politician, he had to cross carpet from the camp of Hon. John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen because he felt neglected by the Former Trade and Industry Minister who supported him since 2007.
Mr. Akwasi Nti claims that Hon Alan Kyeremanten who is currently aspiring to lead the party did not show any form of care when he (Akwasi Nti) was suspended by the party.
“Everybody knew I was a supporter of Alan but I have been suspended three times when I was following him and he never picked up a phone to ask me how I was doing during those difficulties. I have been suspended for three times and nobody called me on the phone from his camp even to find out how I was doing.”
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has set November 4, 2023, as the date for its presidential primaries to select a flagbearer for the general elections in 2024.
Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawimia though has not publicly declared his intentions to contest the election, indication by some leadership in the party shows he is likely to contest with many tagging him as the presumptive flagbearer considering the massive support from the grassroots.
Sudanese military and its paramilitary adversary have stated that they will abide by a 24-hour cease-fire, beginning Wednesday April 18 2023 evening following the failure of a previous effort at a truce
A similar pause Tuesday (Apr. 17) night fell apart almost immediately, and it was not clear if the new attempt would hold.
Earlier Wednesday the Al-Taif neighbourhood, near Khartoum International Airport, dark plumes of smoke drifted across the sky, as the army and paramilitaries RSF faced each other for a fifth day.
North of the capital, the Sundanese armed forces reportedly regained control of the Merowe airbase after the rival Rapid Response Forces claimed control.
It is the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV that aired footage from the Merowe airbase showing damages in the control tower, terminals, hangars and fire engines.
The U.N. says at least 296 people have been killed since Saturday, but the toll is likely higher, since many bodies have been left in the streets, unreachable because of clashes.
With no sign of respite on the eve of the Eid-El-Fitr celebrations, Sudanese citizens who have been trapped inside for days by the violence share among neighbours.
Some Khartoum residents have begun fleeing. Reports have it that Uganda’s Foreign Ministry is seeking to evacuate students, workers and travelers from Sudan.
Japan announced on Wednesday (Apr. 19) that it was preparing to evacuate its nationals to Sudan, becoming the first country to take such a step in the country where violence has lasted since Saturday despite calls for a truce.
Home affairs minister for South Africa, Aaron Motsoaledi, has disclosed how much it cost the government to extradite the pair Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana from Tanzania, where they were hiding out.
Speaking to the Portfolio Committee on Tuesday, Mr. Motsoaledi insisted that he wanted to dismiss the public notion that Bester and Magudumana were repatriated from Tanzania in great comfort and luxury.
Bester was re-arrested in Tanzania last Friday, having fled from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in May 2022 by faking his death and planting a corpse in his cell. He was arrested together with his girlfriend, celebrity doctor Magudumana, in Tanzania.
Bester, a convicted murderer and rapist, has already appeared at the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court and will be back in the dock on May 16.
Assisting in prison escape
Magudumana also appeared in court for her alleged role in helping Bester escape prison. In addition, Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, along with former G4S employee Senohe Matsoara and camera installer Teboho Lipholo are charged with assisting Bester to escape from prison.
Mr. Motsoaledi has set the record straight, stating that the R1.4 million [$80,000] chartered flight was the cheapest option.
He also revealed that Bester could not return to South Africa on a commercial passenger flight as it would have been careless and would have taken a while to transport the pair.
The minister confirmed that 14 officials had to travel to the Kenya-Tanzania border to repatriate the two fugitives.
Why not commercial flight
“I don’t think any aircraft [company] would have allowed that situation. I don’t remember where thugs of this nature flew around the world on commercial flights. We have never deported anybody on a commercial flight,” said Mr Motsoaledi.
“When we deported Congolese Papy Sukami… imagine we put that man into an aircraft with other innocent passengers on a commercial flight. I am sorry, but we cannot do that, as much as we want to save money.”
“If we did that, you members of parliament would be tearing me apart for being careless. We took the cheapest flight. This was the best option over going on a commercial flight.”
Mr Motsoaledi said that Tanzanian officials had wanted Bester and Magudumana to be handed over to immigration officials.
“They opted on deportation, not extradition or any other system,” he said.
“And when a person is deported to your country of origin, they are handed only to immigration officials of that country, not any other authorities. And the Tanzanians said they are not prepared to hand over Thabo Bester to police.”
The Dinka people of South Sudan have been pastoralists for millennia; as such, many of their assets are practical valuables they can bring with them whenever they take care of their animals rather than tangible items like houses and furnishings. They prefer it to be wearable objects or items they can decorate their bodies with. One of the prized valuables in the Dinka customs is corsets.
The corset is made using a variety of materials, including leather and beads of various colors. These corsets are also crafted from glass beads, shells, ostrich eggshells, cow hide, metal, and ivory. One intriguing feature of the corset is the colors and patterns they take. Each element that goes into its weaving communicates a message, according to the learner. It can determine a person’s age, social standing, and level of prosperity. Aside from the decorative purpose of the corset, in the Dinka culture, it is a sign of many things. The corset is intricately beaded and serves as a form of body adornment.
For a Dinka man, it is his life’s garment, which is not worn beyond the rows of beads – that is the covering they rely on. For his entire life’s journey, what might change are the colors and rows, but the corset is the outfit he would wear either at home or on the field. The red and black rows which form the majority of the coloring of the corset, distinguish the difference between 15 and 25-year-old men.
The yellow beads found in the corset indicate the fact that the wearer may be over the age of thirty. The glass beads and wire used in making the corsets are imported products, making the outfits considerable markers of status and prestige. The vertical strip that runs on the spine represents the Dinka man’s wealth, and if the strip is higher than the shoulder, then it means he has a large herd of livestock.
The corset is primarily worn by elderly men as a symbol of their status and wisdom. The amount of beads on the corset indicates the age of the wearer, with more beads representing a higher age. It is also used as a way to differentiate between the younger and older men in the community, with only the elderly men being permitted to wear the corset.
It is believed that the wearing of corsets emerged among the people of Dinka in the 19th century after the arrival of the Turkish slavers from Cairo. The glass beads were imported from the Czech Republic for the slave trade with the Bari tribe, who are found on the banks of the White Nile.
With time, the Dinka people were impressed with the aesthetics as they controlled trade in the north of Juba and began incorporating it into their culture. It suffered extinction after the Islamist government of Sudan prohibited the use of corsets with the passing of Sharia in 1984, according to last places.
Authorities of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Oyo state, Nigeria, have prohibited students from entering the campus with their vehicles, following a meeting held on March 22, 2023, to address the rising incidents of motor traffic accidents on campus.
In the memo released on April 19, 2023, the registrar, Dr. K. A. Ogunleye, outlined several instructions that would be implemented immediately.
Students are prohibited from bringing their vehicles onto campus, while vehicles without registration numbers are also barred. Roadside parking of vehicles is no longer allowed, and authorized vehicles are to be removed from campus immediately.
“Vehicles owned by students are hereby banned from entering the university campus, vehicles with no registration numbers are no longer allowed into the campus, roadside parking of vehicles should stop forthwith, all authorised vehicles parked at various positions in the university should be taken out with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Additionally, tinted vehicles used by staff or students are now prohibited, and beginner drivers must display learner permits on their vehicles.
All those who fail to comply with the new regulations, according to the university, will face sanctions. Furthermore, university security personnel will take appropriate action against unauthorized vehicles parked on campus.
“Failng which university security will take appropriate action on such vehicles.
This decision is expected to enhance the safety of students, staff, and visitors by reducing the number of motor traffic accidents on the LAUTECH campus.
The dollar exchange rate in the country of East Africa would soon plunge, according to the president of Kenya, William Ruto, who cited a variety of economic measures.
Key among them is that his country is currently buying their fuel needs in the local Kenyan Shillings from some suppliers.
In a video circulating on social media platforms, Ruto is heard praising members of his economic advisory team who: “managed to put together a programme that has taken us away from looking for USD500 million every month to buy our fuel needs, which was slowly snowballing into a crisis.
“Today, as a country we can buy fuel in Kenyan Shillings, something that many people never thought it will be possible… from this month of April, all our fuel marketers, they will be able to buy our fuel products in Kenyan shillings,” he revealed at an event.
He continued that the new arrangement will, “remove pressure on our dollars. In fact, in the next few months, we will see the exchange rate coming down in a very phenomenal way,” he stressed.
“Are we seeing a new and sustainable global paradigm of de-dollarisation?” Gabby posted in a tweet dated April 16.
The dollar has in recent months come under severe scrutiny in its position as the main medium of global trade, Brazilian president Lula da Silva recently questioned the ‘might’ of the dollar asking why countries cannot trade in their own currencies.
Fameye, a Ghanaian artist, said that he received GHC25,000 in damages after a petrol station filled his 2019 Honda Pilot Touring with fuel laced with water.
Ghanaian singer Fameye has revealed that he has been compensated with the amount of GHC25,000 for damages after a fuel station filled his Honda pilot touring 2019 model with fuel mixed with water.
Fameye was not a happy man some weeks ago after the unscrupulous actions of a fuel station he purchased fuel from.
According to Fameye, fuel that was bought to fill the tank of his 2019 Honda pilot touring was diluted with water and the action affected the engine of his vehicle.
The obviously pent up and frustrated music artiste took to Twitter to share his dilemma with the public hoping for a possible solution.
“So few days ago ,I go buy fuel for one fuel station,700 cedis,the rest is heartbreaking They filled my tank with water mixed with petrol as I’m talking to you now my car Honda pilot touring 2019 model is spoilt Spent 7k already still not working!!! What do I do?,” he tweeted.
However, speaking in an interview on TV3 New Day, the “Nothing I Get” revealed he was compensated GHC25,000 for damages and that although his car is back to normal and working well he is still saddened by the entire situation.
The National Petroleum Authority, the statutory Agency regulating, overseeing, and monitoring the petroleum downstream industry in Ghana has over the years warned fuel stations to desist from infusing water into their products.
It has gone further to close down fuel stations caught in the act but the trend continues to be on the rise.
At Moree in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) area, a tidal wave attack has destroyed more than three buildings and left more than 30 people homeless.
Days after, residents are living in fear over the possible sweeping away of their homes by the raging sea, and have threatened a demonstration to outpour their grievances on government.
A visit by the media to the area revealed a disturbing scene, where the people practically living with the sea were hit by tidal waves which eroded the ridges and leveled the sand dunes leaving no shoreline, thus, allowing free flow of the sea in and out of homes.
Some residents, who spoke said they lived in constant fear without knowing when and at what time the sea would deal a final blow to them by wiping up the remaining homes.
“We live in constant fear. The sea comes in and takes our belongings and collapses our buildings at well.
We have decided to move and seek refuge somewhere to safeguard our lives and children,” they added.
They lamented that their constant appeal to government for sea defense had proved futile and warned all politicians to never step foot in the community for campaigns or face their anger.
The residents said the construction of the sea defense would salvage the community from the rampaging impacts of tidal waves which constantly threaten lives and properties.
Sea defense will protect the low-lying coast and coastal hinterland against flooding caused by effect of heavy downpours and extreme rise in tides.
Matthew Ekow Boison, Assemblyman for Bentsir Electoral Area said the incident was due to the ongoing sea defense project from Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality through the Cape Coast Metropolis which had increased the rate of tidal erosion along the community’s coastal belt.
He lamented that series of reports and appeals had been made to the Assembly and Mr. Asenso Boakye, the Minister of Works and Housing but had yielded no results.
Boison disclosed that hundreds of houses were at risk of imminent collapse if the situation remains unlooked at.
“We may lose many houses if authorities refuse our plea to construct sea defense for us.”
Violence between Sudan’s two senior generals has erupted, causing havoc in Khartoum’s hospitals.
People have been unable to leave their homes since Saturday as the two sides engaged in gun battles and bombarded each other with artillery and airstrikes.
More than 185 people have been killed and over 1,800 wounded since the fighting erupted, according to United Nations figures.
At the Ahmed Qassem children hospital, medical staff had to evacuate all cases except the ones in the intensive care unit.
Supplies were running low, with doctors, nurses, patients and their relatives trapped inside for days as the Sudanese capital turned into a war zone.
“There is a shortage in staff, medicine and oxygen. The hospital is witnessing a shortage in many things and even the doctors have left,” said Dr. Mohamed al-Mostafa.
There are some 20 hospitals in the capital and the neighboring city of Omdurman. Those that still managed to operate were understaffed and overwhelmed, running low on supplies and struggling with power or water cuts, doctors said.
The sudden outbreak of fighting caught everyone off guard, trapping doctors and nurses inside hospitals, and preventing other staff from reaching the facilities.
The World Health Organization said many hospitals in Khartoum reported shortages of “blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids, medical supplies and other life-saving commodities.”
Along with Ahmed Qassem children’s hospital, the Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital shut down Monday after a ward was struck in fighting, said the general manager, Al Nameir Gibril Ibrahim.
Children in Botswana are subjected to the worst forms of child labour, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced labour in cattle herding and domestic service, according to the latest Botswana Child Labour and Forced Labour Reports.
The report is a US Department of State initiative. “Research indicates that some children residing in the Dukwi Refugee Camp are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation as they await decisions regarding their refugee status,” states the report.
The report seems to be corroborated by Botswana Police Service statistics of offences involving children (2020-2022). According to official figures from Botswana Police Service issued on 6th April 2023, between 2020 and 2022, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) said it dealt with more than 2 300 abuse cases of children below the age of 15.
‘The police have, in recent times, been inundated with cases of child negligence and ill-treatment by their parents. In worst scenarios, children were left without proper arrangement, in the custody of relatives, guardians or institutions for a considerable period of time,” the BPS said. The Police warned that “As a result of the increase in such cases, we would like to caution members of the public that we intend to intensify operations on defaulters of this crime” adding that it commits to fully upholding children’s rights and ensuring their protection.”
The US Department of State report says key gaps remain in the country’s legal framework, including the lack of a minimum age for compulsory education and a list of hazardous work activities for children.
The report says legal protections for children from commercial sexual exploitation do not meet international standards because the use of children for prostitution is not criminally prohibited.
It says some parents in poor rural communities send their children to work as domestic servants in cities, or at farms or cattle posts, increasing their vulnerability to forced labour. According to the report, children, particularly children from the San minority ethnic group, work on commercial farms in the Ghanzi Region, tending to and herding cattle.
The report says on some farms, employers may withhold food rations unless children perform work.
“Children working in domestic service settings are exposed to various conditions that are indicative of forced labor including confinement, denial of promised educational opportunities and basic necessities, and physical, verbal, and sexual abuse,” the report says.
It says labor inspectors are not authorized to inspect domestic households, and some labor inspectors have faced obstacles in accessing large farms, such as locked gates or denial of entry, inhibiting their ability to identify underage workers.
The report says during the reporting period (2020-2021), Botswana courts convicted a Zimbabwean woman for bringing a 16 year-old child into Botswana for forced domestic servitude. The court imposed a 10-year sentence, marking the first conviction and imposed penalty for human trafficking in 2 years.
The report says although the government convicted four other individuals and initiated two new prosecutions under the trafficking in persons law during the reporting period, the ages of the victims and whether the cases pertained to the worst forms of child labor are unknown.
The report says research indicates that the government is not actively supporting implementation of key national policies for the prevention and elimination of child labor. (
“Child labor elimination and prevention strategies are not included in relevant national policies, including the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan and the Botswana National Youth Policy,” the report says.
It says there are no government-run shelters that cater to child survivors of human trafficking. “While the government funds and contracts with NGO-run shelters that serve this population, it does not directly provide such services,” the report says.
It says An NGO reported that established shelters lack resources to attend to the needs of older children.
“Although Botswana has programs that target child labor, the design and implementation of these programs are insufficient to fully address the scope of the problem, especially in commercial sexual exploitation, cattle herding, and domestic work,” states the report.
In the most recent episode of Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia investigative film, a notorious gold smuggler revealed the identity of six African politicians.
The self-proclaimed gold dealer Alistair Mathias, who admitted in the movie to assisting to launder money and storing bribe earnings for prominent African politicians, including presidents, named the six in various contexts.
Most of the presidents mentioned are in the southern African bloc. He mentioned King Mswati in eSwatini as well as presidents of Zimbabwe (where most of their fraudulent activities takes place), South Africa, Zambia, DR Congo and Ghana.
When undercover agents met him in South Africa and asked about his continental connections, he spoke up: “Next door Swaziland, the king is a close friend of mine. Zambia’s president is a close friend of my friend.
DRC Congo, the president is inviting me several times to come and build a refinery. Ghana’s president is a good friend of mine, in fact he was my lawyer. Cyril Ramaphosa here, I know his kids,” he said whiles a close ally added: ”Zimbabwe is easy.”
Mathias stressed: “In Zimbabwe, ED is my partner, I can’t say it in public because he is sanctioned,” he added. ED is the initials of the Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
At the tail end of the film, however, he told Al Jazeera wrote what he told them when confronted with evidence:
“Alistair Mathias denied that he designed mechanisms to launder money and said that he never laundered money or gold or offered to do such things.
“He told us he had never had any working relationship with Emmerson Mnangagwa, Ewan Macmillan or any of the African politicians he identified to our reporters.
“Mr Mathias denied ever being awarded any tender by the Ghanaian government or entering any government contracts in any African country.
“President Akufo-Addo of Ghana told us that he had no recollection of acting as a lawyer for Alistair Mathias or his company.”
People have responded in droves to a video of a woman’s neatly organized small room, praising the interior decor genius of the woman.
The woman was able to create a bedroom, parlor, kitchen, and a dressing room in her little flat.
Many who watched her video were full of questions as they wondered how she was able to cram so many things into a small space
A young lady on TikTok, @happinessmgani913, has got many people praising her room as she divided it into sections to make up for a bigger apartment she could not afford.
The lady’s wardrobe and her shoe rack were neatly arranged on one side of the wall in a TikTok video. A well-laid bed faced her TV, which was hung on the wall to save space.
Amazing interior decor
She placed a beautiful rug around her bed. The lady also had a kitchen in the same room. Some metres away from her fridge was her space for cooking.
The lady put a tabletop cooker on a cabinet. She also had a dressing table and chair in the small room. People were amazed by her orderliness.
Watch the video below:
The video was liked more than 100,000 times and has over 1600 comments.
“People out here posting their rooms rent ..me who still lives with my parents.”
Justice Kwame Arhin said:
“Did I see kitchen in the bedroom…….my eyes have been disturbing me of late.”
newyouwigskenya said:
“Good job girl keep going.”
kasese girl TikTok said:
“So sweet sis nice. God bless you.”
Angela W Shabira said:
“I love this. very impressive.”
@zippykhago0 said:
“Very smart girl u don’t waste your money.”
Melanie said:
“Smple and elegant. I love it.”
the queen said:
“Wow its pretty. clean and well organised.”
samue lowusu said:
“This room dacoration money can help you start your own house, be wise.”
Lady arranges her room well
Only a mattress was sitting on the floor.
The window was without a curtain. The floor was also bare and rough-looking. The lady said that despite having no job yet, she was able to fill the apartment with beautiful things.
Source: msn.com
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
A constant state of terror and uncertainty in Sudan as gunfire, rockets, and rumors fly, an explosive soundtrack, and a skyline dominated by bitter, black smoke.
Life in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and in many other parts of the country, has taken a sudden, very dramatic turn for the worse.
At the heart of it are two generals: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The two worked together, and carried out a coup together – now their battle for supremacy is tearing Sudan apart.
The relationship between the two goes back a long way.
Both played key roles in the counter-insurgency against Darfuri rebels, in the civil war in Sudan’s western region that began in 2003.
Gen Burhan rose to control the Sudanese army in Darfur.
Hemedti was the commander of one of the many Arab militias, collectively known as the Janjaweed, which the government employed to brutally put down the largely non-Arab Darfuri rebel groups.
Darfur conflict: A bloody stalemate
Majak D’Agoot was the deputy director of the National Intelligence and Security Services at the time – before becoming deputy defence minister in South Sudan when it seceded in 2011.
He met Gen Burhan and Hemedti in Darfur, and said they worked well together. But he told the BBC he saw little sign that either would rise to the top of the state.
Hemedti was simply a militia leader “playing a counter-insurgency role, helping the military”, while Gen Burhan was a career soldier, though “with all the ambitions of the Sudanese officer corps, anything was possible”.
The military has been running Sudan for most of its post-independence history.
The government’s tactics in Darfur, once described by Sudan expert Alex de Waal as “counter-insurgency on the cheap”, used regular troops, ethnic militias and air power to fight off the rebels – with little to no regard for civilian casualties.
Darfur has been described as the first genocide of the 21st Century, with the Janjaweed accused of ethnic cleansing and using mass rape as a weapon of war.
Hemedti eventually became the commander of what could be described as an offshoot of the Janjaweed, his RSF.
Image caption,The Janjaweed militia were accused of ethnic cleansing and mass rape during the Darfur conflict
Hemedti’s power grew massively once he began supplying troops to fight for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Sudan’s then-military ruler, Omar al-Bashir, came to rely on Hemedti and the RSF as a counterweight to the regular armed forces, in the hope that it would be too difficult for any single armed group to depose him.
In the end – after months of popular protests – the generals clubbed together to overthrow Bashir, in April 2019.
Later that year, they signed an agreement with the protesters to form a civilian-led government overseen by the Sovereign Council, a joint civilian-military body, with Gen Burhan at its head, and Hemedti as his deputy.
It lasted two years – until October 2021 – when the military struck, taking power for themselves, with Gen Burhan again at the head of the state and Hemedti again his deputy.
Siddig Tower Kafi was a civilian member of the Sovereign Council, and so regularly met the two generals.
He said he saw no sign of any disagreements until after the 2021 coup.
Then “Gen Burhan started to restore the Islamists and the former regime members to their old positions”, he told the BBC.
“It was becoming clear that the plan of Gen Burhan was to restore the old regime of Omar al-Bashir to power.”
Mr Siddig says that this is when Hemedti began to have doubts, as he felt Bashir’s cronies had never fully trusted him.
Sudanese politics has always been dominated by an elite largely drawn from the ethnic groups based around Khartoum and the River Nile.
Hemedti comes from Darfur, and the Sudanese elite often talk about him and his soldiers in pejorative terms, as “country bumpkins” unfit to rule the state.
Over the last two or three years, he has tried to position himself as a national figure, and even as a representative of the marginalised peripheries – trying to forge alliances with rebel groups in Darfur and South Kordofan that he had previously been tasked with destroying.
He has also spoken regularly of a need for democracy despite his forces having brutally put down civilian protests in the past.
Tensions between the army and the RSF grew as a deadline for forming a civilian government approached, focused on the thorny issue of how the RSF should be re-integrated into the regular armed forces.
Image caption,Flames and smoke can be seen in Khartoum as the forces controlled by the two generals clash
And then the fighting began, pitting the RSF against the SAF, Hemedti against Gen Burhan, for control of the Sudanese state.
In one way, at least, Hemedti has followed in the footsteps of the SAF top brass, who he is now fighting – over the last few years, he has built a vast business empire, including interests in gold mines and many other sectors.
Gen Burhan and Hemedti have both faced calls from civilian leaders and victims of the conflict in Darfur and elsewhere to face trial for alleged abuses.
The stakes are extremely high, and there are plenty of reasons for these former-allies-turned-bitter-enemies to not back down.
Moses Gibson, who is 5 feet 5 inches tall, claimed he experienced “heightism” in his dating life as well as frequent comments about his height. The Minnesotan man said, however, that his self-assurance has subsequently increased as a result of spending more than $160,000 on a painful height-lengthening surgery to add further inches to his height.
According to the Mirror, Gibson’s initial 5ft 5in height made him feel insecure to the extent that he tried medications and even sought the services of a “spiritual healer” in an effort to get taller. After seeing no improvement, Gibson, 41, opted to undergo the procedure that involved several bones in his body being broken.
Following his 2016 surgery, Gibson grew taller by three inches and underwent a subsequent surgery after seven years. He initially spent $75,000 for the 2016 surgery before spending another $98,000 for the second; his goal is to reach 5ft 10in by June.
“I’ve struggled with height, I don’t know whether ‘heightism’ is what they call it, but being on the shorter side for men. Even when I was in high school, I was always unhappy with my height,” he said.
“It started getting to me gradually. I just didn’t feel good about myself, I was unhappy about it most of the time. I used to like clothes and shoes, but I started not feeling happy when I put them on and I wanted to look better.”
Gibson said his initial height also negatively impacted his dating life, adding that he decided to undergo the surgery after he came across it on the internet – after trying some medication and talking to the spiritual healer.
He managed to raise the money within a period of three years, working two jobs as a software engineer and an Uber driver at the time, per the Mirror. “After the first procedure, I was happy with it to some extent, but it was always in my mind that I wanted to do the second one to complete it. I’m a high achiever, I’m a go-getter so after the first one I thought, with all the heightism, I’ve got the money and I can finish the journey,” he said.
“I spoke with the doctor and asked for three more inches. He said after the second surgery it’s a bit more challenging, so two inches will be more reasonable.”
He added: “So I’m looking to go to 5’10. I’ll be happy at 5’10. If my body and everything else allows me to go three inches [5’11] then even better. I went in at 7.30 am and by 12 midday they were waking me up out of the surgery.
“They give you powerful pain medication as there are times when it’s really painful and you have to work through it. You go home and you have a week or two for some healing to happen before you get the device to start lengthening.”
Per the NHS, people with “particularly short legs” can opt to undergo the “leg-lengthening process known as distraction.” “Using surgery, the leg bone is broken and fixed to a special frame. With the support of the frame, the leg is stretched, allowing a new bone to form in between the two broken ends of the bone,” per the NHS. “Over time, this bone gets stronger until it’s able to support your weight.”
Though the surgery “can sometimes result in a significant increase in height”, it is a “lengthy treatment and has a risk of complications, so it is not always recommended.”
However, Gibson, who now has a girlfriend, said the procedure has made him gain more freedom in life as he no longer experiences heightism. He said he would also encourage people who find themselves in his previous situation to undergo the surgery.
“[After the first one] I became less hesitant and less worried about the result when talking to women. I now have a girlfriend. I started wearing shorts and taking full-body pictures, which I never used to do. It’s a crazy thing, nobody should feel that way,” he said.
“It’s about me as a person and the way I look at myself with the height thing. In my mind, when I’m done with this part I can just be free. I just won’t care about my height anymore. I’ll be satisfied with what I have.”
“There’s always going to be people taller, but it will just be something that isn’t on my mind anymore,” he said. “From a young age, I’ve just wanted to be a normal height or average. Not where your friends look at you and say ‘man, you’re really short’.It’s been my dream just for that [those kind of comments] to go away.”
He added: “People who said ‘you’re short’, they just don’t see it anymore. Even though they don’t know there’s a difference, they ask if I’ve been working out. I’d advise anybody who wants this to go for it, it’s definitely worth it. I’m definitely wanting to spread the word and if it can help other people go through it then so be it, I’m glad.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Monday April 17 2023 claimed that his government was in contact with the warring parties in Sudan in an effort to put an end to the fighting and begin talks aimed at reestablishing normalcy in the neighboring nation.
Speaking at a meeting with Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the president added that he and his counterpart from South Sudan were both ready to “play a mediation role.”
“If I had a message to deliver, and I have said that to President Salva Kiir (of South Sudan), we are both ready to play a mediation role between our brothers in Sudan in order to reach a truce between the brothers and this is still going on and we have endless calls between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces, we are in constant contact with them to encourage them to cease fire and end the bloodshed of the Sudanese and reaching negotiations that leads to restoring stability once again,” said President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
The power struggle in Sudan pits General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the commander of the armed forces, against his former ally, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who heads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group.
El-Sissi also said Egypt was in contact with the RSF in order to secure the release of a number of Egyptian troops who were captured in Sudan.
The president insisted that the soldiers had been taking part in joint exercises, and were not deployed to Sudan “to side with anyone or to support a side against another.”
A U.S. Embassy convoy was attacked in Sudan, according to Washington’s top ambassador, who also condemned “indiscriminate military operations” as the nation’s armed forces and a potent adversary continued to use heavy weapons in populated areas.
The convoy of clearly marked embassy vehicles was attacked on Monday April 17 2023, and preliminary reports link the assailants to the Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group battling Sudan’s military, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters. Everyone in the convoy was safe, Blinken said.
The convoy attack in Khartoum, along with earlier assaults on aid workers and the EU envoy’s residence in the Sudanese capital, signaled further descent into chaos since the battle by two rival generals for control of Africa’s third-largest country erupted over the weekend.
More than 185 people have been killed and more than 1,800 wounded, according to U.N. figures, which did not include a breakdown of civilians and combatants. The Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate said Tuesday that at least 144 civilians were killed and more than 1,400 wounded since Saturday.
The overall death toll could be much higher because clashes in Khartoum have prevented the removal of bodies in some areas. The two sides have been using tanks, artillery and other heavy weapons in densely populated areas.
Late Monday, fighter jets swooped overhead and anti-aircraft fire lit up the skies as darkness fell. Fighting resumed early Tuesday around each side’s main bases and at strategic government buildings — all of which are in residential areas.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies taken Monday showed damage across Khartoum, including security service buildings. Tanks stood guard at a bridge over the White Nile River and other locations in the capital.
Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC, also taken Monday, showed some 20 damaged aircraft at Khartoum International Airport, which also has a military side. Some had been completely destroyed, with one still belching smoke. At the El Obeid and Merowe air bases, north and south of Khartoum, several fighter jets were among the destroyed aircraft.
Top diplomats have urged the two rival generals — armed forces chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and RSF leader Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo — to halt fighting.
The State Department said late Monday that Blinken spoke by phone separately with the two generals.
“I made very clear (in my calls) that any attacks or threats or dangers posed to our diplomats were totally unacceptable,” Blinken told reporters at the Group of Seven wealthy nations meeting in Japan on Tuesday,
He appealed for an immediate 24-hour cease-fire, as a foundation for a longer truce and a return to negotiations. “Indiscriminate military operations have resulted in significant deaths and injuries, recklessly endangering civilians, diplomats, including U.S. personnel, and humanitarian personnel,” he said.
Dagalo said in a series of tweets Tuesday that he had approved a 24-hour humanitarian truce after speaking to Blinken while the Sudanese military said more troops would join the battle and that it would “widen the scope of its operations” against the RSF.
Burhan and Dagalo, former allies who jointly orchestrated an October 2021 coup, have dug in, demanding the other’s surrender. The violence has raised the specter of civil war just as Sudanese were trying to revive the drive for a democratic, civilian government after decades of military rule.
The Sudanese military blamed the RSF, which grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias in Sudan’s Darfur region, for the attack on the U.S. convoy and an earlier assault on the home of the EU envoy in Khartoum.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell tweeted Monday that the EU ambassador to Sudan “was assaulted in his own residency,” without providing further details.
The RSF denied involvement in the attack on the ambassador’s home, instead blaming the military. However, a Western diplomat in Cairo said the residence was ransacked by armed men in RSF uniforms. No one was hurt but the armed men stole several items, said the diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to talk to media.
Under international pressure, Burhan and Dagalo had recently agreed to a framework agreement with political parties and pro-democracy groups, but the signing was repeatedly delayed as tensions rose over the integration of the RSF into the armed forces and the future chain of command.
Both generals have a long history of human rights abuses and their forces have cracked down on pro-democracy activists.
Only four years ago, Sudan inspired hope after a popular uprising helped depose long-time autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir.
But the turmoil since, especially the 2021 coup, has frustrated the democracy drive and wrecked the economy. A third of the population — around 16 million people — now depends on humanitarian assistance in the resource-rich nation.
G7 foreign ministers on Tuesday April 18 2023, called on the opposing sides in Sudan on Tuesday to “end hostilities immediately” and resume talks.
A weeks-long power struggle exploded into deadly violence Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The surge in violence forced the issue onto the agenda as the top G7 diplomats met in the Japanese town of Karuizawa for talks.
“We urge the parties to end hostilities immediately without pre-conditions,” they said in a statement issued after their discussions.
They warned that the fighting “threatens the security and safety of Sudanese civilians and undermines efforts to restore Sudan’s democratic transition.”
The group urged a return to negotiations and called on all sides to “take active steps to reduce tensions and ensure the safety of all civilians, including diplomatic and humanitarian personnel.”
Earlier Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the generals leading the two warring factions and urged them to agree to a ceasefire, the State Department said.
A US diplomatic convoy was fired upon in Sudan, but those inside were unharmed, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday.
“I can confirm that yesterday we had an American diplomatic convoy that was fired on. All of our people are safe and unharmed. But this action was reckless, it was irresponsible and of course unsafe,” he told reporters in Japan after G7 talks.
Analysts say the fighting in the capital of the chronically unstable country is unprecedented and could be prolonged, despite regional and global calls for a ceasefire as diplomats mobilise.
Battles have also taken place throughout the vast country, and there are fears of regional spillover.
Terrified residents of the capital are spending the last and holiest days of Ramadan watching from their windows as tanks roll through the streets, buildings shake, and smoke from fires triggered by the fighting hangs in the air.
The conflict has seen air strikes, artillery and heavy gunfire.
Those compelled to venture out face queues for bread and petrol at outlets which are not shuttered. Residents are also dealing with power outages.
Volker Perthes, the head of the United Nations mission to Sudan, told the Security Council in a closed-door session, that at least 185 people have been killed and another 1,800 wounded.
“It’s a very fluid situation so it’s very difficult to say where the balance is shifting to,” Perthes told reporters after the meeting.
Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again called on Sudan’s warring parties to “immediately cease hostilities”. He warned that further escalation “could be devastating for the country and the region.”
Our careers and the way we find work have changed along with the times. Because of their extensive specialty, HR managers in businesses frequently hunt for novel approaches to evaluate their applicants.
Unexpected questions
One of the ways interviews have changed is trick questions. Questions that, beyond the answer given, reveal important elements such as responsiveness, reaction to something unknown or the way in which things are approached. But what are these trick questions? We present some of the most curious ones.
Which of your qualities would completely surprise me?
This question is designed to measure spontaneity, sincerity, and the ability to extricate oneself from compromising situations. It can also provide information about the applicant’s life that was not discussed in the interview.
If your life was a book, what would the title be?
This far-fetched question requires creativity and the ability to synthesize. For example, if you decide on the title of a well-known book, it can lead to further conversations in this direction.
Which historical figure would you have liked to have interviewed?
Usually, the character chosen by the candidate is someone he or she admires, so several candidates can be eliminated.
What three items would you take with you to a desert island?
This question allows recruiters to find out what things the applicant places the most importance on and encourage them to defend their point of view, whether they choose something practical and useful for the island or something personal and emotional.
Are you more of a hunter or gatherer?
If the candidate chooses hunter, recruiters know that they are a leader and an ambitious person. If they choose gatherer, then the candidate is someone who prefers teamwork and is a hard worker.
What toys did you play with as a child?
When profiling the applicant, reference to past memories may provide more reliable and honest information than current information.
Did you miss any questions during the interview?
This question shows if the candidate is honest towards their superior. Suggesting a question is a way to challenge the interviewer’s work, but it also shows that the candidate is in control of certain stressful situations.
If you could choose, what would your dream job be?
The honesty of the applicant is required here, as is their commitment to the company.
How would you rate me as an interviewer on a scale from 1 to 10?
An extremely stressful situation that demonstrates the applicant’s sincerity and response to the possibility of a superior evaluation.
If you look at the clock and it’s 3:15, what is the angle of the hour and minute hands?
Responsiveness, logic and analytical skills, all in a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere. How should you answer? It is important to know that the angle formed is 7.5°.
How many bottles of wine are consumed in the world each year?
A surprising question? Yes, and very complicated. The question aims to take the applicant out of their comfort zone, make them think and test their responsiveness. By the way: in 2021, global consumption was 23.6 billion liters, but of course the interviewer does not expect you to name this number.
Do you think there is extraterrestrial life on other planets?
In this case, there is no right or wrong answer. It’s about seeing the candidate defend their point of view on a topic far removed from the main topic of the interview, unless it’s a NASA interview.
How much money does Japan make per year from reusable chopsticks?
Another difficult question to answer, but one that requires imagination, improvisation, and some analytical ability – all in a limited amount of time and in an environment that is suboptimal for thorough analysis.
What do you do when you make plans go to the movies with someone and they stand you up, but you bought the tickets?
This question aims to analyze the candidate’s behavioral patterns and find out whether their personality fits the culture of the company and the team. There is no right answer, just be honest.
Do you think you are a funny person?
Be careful with this question, because if you answer “yes,” the next question is usually about telling a joke. Better be prepared.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
This question is usually asked at the end of the interview, when the atmosphere is more relaxed to get to know the true nature of the candidate and their storytelling style along the way. Beware of crazy memories and anecdotes that in many cases have cost people jobs.
If you have a 5 liter container and a 3 liter container, how do you get 4 liters into one container?
Improvisation, the ability to respond to a problem, all under the pressure of an interlocutor looking you in the eye. The solution? Take a deep breath, pause and think about what you would really do in this situation.
How much is 25% of 80?
Willy-nilly, this question has an answer, and it’s 20. When the job involves numbers, accounting, etc., it’s logical that you’d be put to the test. There is no trick here, the answer can only be right or wrong.
Please recite the third act of Macbeth by heart
It is, of course, almost impossible to memorize Act III of Macbeth. The recruiter looks for the reaction to the impossible, how to free oneself from it and justify it. One of the best ways is to take it with humor and quick wit. “I haven’t memorized that act, but I could offer you ‘Romeo and Juliet’. But I’d have to listen to the whole play first.”
Source: msn.com
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
Depending who you ask, dating apps are either a wonderful place where someone could meet their lifelong partner, or an absolute hellscape where the worst humans congregate. The anonymity of the internet plus the awkwardness of dating means there are plenty of strange individuals on the apps. Here are some of the most annoying types and habits.
Ghosters
Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way. In a world where it takes two seconds to reply to someone, there’s little reason to completely ghost anyone. It comes across as a cowardly way to turn someone down, although exceptions can be made if the person in question was being particularly toxic.
Bad greeters
With a selection of photos and a detailed bio presented as a first glimpse into any user’s life, the average person should seemingly have no problem picking out something interesting to initiate conversation, such as complimenting a pet or celebrating a shared interest. Despite all this, far too many people on dating apps open with a simple “hey” or “hello” leaving the conversation dead before it started.
Multi-day repliers
No one is expecting you to be glued to your phone every second—in fact, it’s probably better you’re not. That said, people who consistently take multiple days to reply to a message are simply exhausting. It’s difficult to carry on a conversation or make any sort of plans if you’re waiting two to four business days for each response.
Fluent in sarcasm
If the person you’re talking to claims they are “fluent in sarcasm” as part of their bio, chances are you’re watching them raise a red flag as you speak. While sarcasm is a great way to convey comedy, anyone that proudly overdoes it can be a nightmare to try and speak to.
Bad conversationalists
A good conversation is like a tennis match with plenty of back and forth and the two participants setting the other one up. However, many people seem to think their one-word replies with no follow-up are enough and then are shocked when the conversation dies down. If you’re not putting energy into it, don’t be surprised when people lose interest.
‘The Office’ is their personality
The Office is a fantastic television show, with a cast of wonderful characters. However, you are neither Jim Halpert nor Pam Beesly, and shouting quotes and references does not count as having a conversation. If the person idolizes Michael Scott and friends, chances are that they don’t have much else going on.
Out-of-date photos
Let’s not beat around the bush here: physical attraction is a massively important factor in dating. So when someone uses severely out-of-date photos that don’t accurately represent what they currently look like, it’s extremely deceptive and an awful way to attempt to initiate a relationship.
Visiting from out of town
If you’re on the apps just to hook up, then more power to you, but be sure to let the other person know early in the conversation or in your bio. Dropping in the fact that you’re just visiting from out of town and will be leaving in a few days several hours into a match is a quick way to waste the time of someone who was looking for a more meaningful connection.
Long list of demands
Some people really have the audacity to show up with a list of demands as if they’re the star of The Bachelor and everyone only exists to compete for them. If your bio or initial messages include a description of how your ideal match should look, act, behave, and dress, just do us all a favour and delete your account.
Boundary breakers
This one became especially apparent during the pandemic, when everyone had different boundaries for how safe they felt going out and meeting people. If you don’t respect someone’s boundaries over meeting up, that’s a big red flag for how you’ll react to other issues of trust and consent.
Too good for dating apps
The irony of seeing “I hate dating apps” or “We can tell our friends we met somewhere else” in a dating app is too funny to not take notice of. It’s also another red flag for someone who bathes in their own hypocrisy. Dating apps have become more normalized than ever and acting like you’re better than them when you clearly aren’t is just strange.
Clout farmers
Having your Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, and whatever else linked in your bio makes it pretty clear that you’re mostly on here to farm followers and don’t really care about matching with anyone. Focus more on making good content instead of wasting time on the wrong apps.
Name puns
Dating apps have gone through a few metas of what is the right thing to say during matches and none are more overused than the name puns. I’m sure any woman with a name like Karen, Jenny, or Lucy can tell you the sheer amount of repetitive cultural references she’s had to put up with during her time online.
Too many group photos
Okay, so you want me to date you but… I can’t figure out who you are? Trying to determine who your potential match is by playing some sort of logic game where you narrow down candidates from photo to photo requires far more work than anyone is willing to do on these dating apps.
Catfishes
Not only is catfishing a cruel way to waste someone’s time, it’s borderline sociopathic. Pretending to be someone you’re not, for attention or more nefarious purposes, is one of the worst ways you could mess with someone and potentially really damage them emotionally.
Source: msn.com
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
Whether worn for pleasure, for performance or as a powerful statement, shoes have long been used as symbols of status in human society. But even though not all shoes are made for walking, they can still fetch millions of dollars at auction. Take a look at some of the most expensive shoes in the world—from luxury stilettos and sneakers to coveted collectibles.
These leather boots from Miu Miu are some of the most expensive shoes available
Founded by Miuccia Prada in 1992, Miu Miu is famed for its subversive and contemporary takes on traditional feminine clothing. However, the brand still retains the high prices of its parent company, the Prada Group. These leather boots, complete with an oversized rubber sole and decorative metal chain, cost US$2,050.
The No Limit Greek high-top sneaker from Christian Louboutin is one of this season’s most costly shoes
Expelled from school at 16, Christian Louboutin didn’t always have a smooth journey to becoming a star shoe designer. Yet, his footwear label is now one of the most recognizable (and expensive) in the world. These No Limit Greek high-top sneakers are no exception. Made from calf leather, suede, mesh and a graphic evil-eye-inspired print, the shoes also feature the unmistakable Louboutin red sole and ornate embroidery inspired by Ancient Greece. The price? A princely US$2,495.
The expensive Zuelana boots from Manolo Blahnik cost more than US$2,500
Famed for his passion for heels and his commitment to hand-made models, Manolo Blahnik has been a favourite designer of Hollywood stars and fashion editors since the 1970s. Inspired by his love of Sicily and his admiration for the elegant and austere work of author Giovanni Verga, these black satin and sequin boots call to mind restrained femininity and modern menswear. The simplicity of this shoe clearly comes at a price, though—retailing at US$2,595, to be exact.
These jewelled Jimmy Choo evening shoes could set you back over US$4,000
From Princess Diana to Carrie Bradshaw, Jimmy Choo has designed shoes for some of the most recognizable faces in fashion. Although the renowned shoemaker doesn’t design custom footwear for everyone, style aficionados can own a pair of his creations for a price. The SAUL evening slip-on shoes are made from velvet and feature jewelled crystal mix detailing. The glamour comes at a price, though—any potential customer will need to foot a bill of US$4,595.
The self-lacing Nike Air MAG from ‘Back to the Future Part II’ is worth at least US$100,000
Twenty-two years after their appearance in Back to the Future Part II, the Nike Air MAG finally became available to buy in 2011. Although the initial model didn’t feature the futuristic patented sneaker’s auto-lacing technology, a pair still boasts an average resale value of US$8,593. A second model (complete with the auto-lacing system) was released in 2016 with 89 pairs produced and raffled off in aid of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. One pair of this model later sold for over US$100,000 at auction.
The expensive Diamond Dream Stilettos by Stuart Weitzman are valued at an incredible US$500,000
Stuart Weitzman is renowned in showbiz circles for his luxurious footwear designs. So, it’s no surprise that his Diamond Dream Stilettos are among the most expensive shoes in the world. Created for Dreamgirls star Anika Noni Rose, who wore them to the 2007 Academy Awards (pictured), the shoes are embellished with 30-carat diamonds arranged in two decorative platinum bands. In total, 1,420 individually cut diamonds are used—bringing the value of this pair of heels to a whopping US$500,000.
A pair of Judy Garland’s original ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ are now worth at least US$510,000
Arguably the most iconic shoes in Hollywood history, the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz now carry a hefty price tag. Five pairs are still known to exist—one is displayed at the National Museum of American History, while another has its home at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (pictured). Another pair was sold at auction for US$510,000 in 2011. Meanwhile, a fourth pair that was stolen (and then recovered) was estimated to be worth up to US$3 million.
Stuart Weitzman’s diamond-encrusted Retro Rose Pump could cost you US$1 million
Stuart Weitzman is no stranger to designing some of the fanciest—and most expensive—shoes in the world. In 2008, he created yet another masterpiece: the Retro Rose Pump. The vintage-inspired, diamond-encrusted stilettos were estimated to be worth US$1 million at the time. The designer selected Oscar-nominated screenwriter Diablo Cody to wear the shoes on the red carpet. However, Cody refused to wear them, calling the offer “a lame publicity stunt.”
Source: MSN.COM
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 social media, a video of several women having their cheeks surgically dimpled has gained popularity.
The dimpleplasty technique, which involves removing fat from the cheek area and using a suture, is seen in the video.
Many people who saw the video have taken to the comment section to share their thoughts about it
A recent video of ladies undergoing a cosmetic procedure called dimpleplasty has left netizens amused and intrigued.
Dimpleplasty, a growing trend in cosmetic surgery, involves creating artificial dimples on the cheeks to achieve a cute and youthful appearance.
The video, which has gone viral on social media, was shared by @mufasatundeednut. It showed women undergoing the procedure and capturing their reactions on camera.
While some viewers found it amusing and lighthearted, others raised questions about the increasing obsession with altering one’s natural features for aesthetic purposes.
Check out the video below:
Social media users react to ladies undergoing dimpleplasty
misshembe:
“What’s the reason??”
iamnasboi:
“Una go soon Dey produce una choice of girlfriend and boyfriend.”
gylliananthonette:
“Everyday you guys keep letting God know that he made mistakes in your creation …Well done o.”
nnenna_blinks_:
“Never in a million years would I think Nigerians would copy this faux dimple trend. It can never be like the God given one. And to even think Dimples is a genetic defect.”
wigs_et_al:
“Abeg when they start account balance enlargement surgery, make una give me update oo.”
veevyann_:
“Omo! God Thank you for giving mee free o.”
datwarrigirl:
“Dimple is a genetic defect na.”
Types of dimples
In May 2020, TUKO.co.ke explored the different types of dimples that occur in various places on the body in a story.
From the story, it emerged that some individuals might have these beauty marks for their entire life, while for some, the indents can change over time.
The different types of dimples include one-sided dimples, two-sided dimples, dimples on the lower back and beautiful chin indentations.
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
Aaron Paul, best known for his role on Breaking Bad, met his wife, director Lauren Parsekian, in California at the 2010 Coachella Festival. Following a year-long friendship, the couple fell in love and got married in a 2013 ceremony attended by about 250 guests. After several years of life as a twosome, the couple had their first child in 2018, followed by their second four years later. See photo on Instagram
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton met on the set of The Voice in 2014 while both were still married to ex-spouses. By chance, they both divorced around the same time a year later. Drawn together by difficult circumstances, Stefani and Shelton developed a close friendship, which quickly turned to romantic love. The happy couple got engaged in 2020 then married in 2021. See photo on Instagram
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.
The star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer met her husband on the set of the 1997 horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer. They were friends for three years until, one evening, they found themselves accidentally having dinner alone together. Indeed, a friend who was supposed to have joined them cancelled at the last minute. Soon inseparable, the couple married two years later and now have two children whom they raise away from the media.
Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber
Justin and Hailey Bieber’s marriage seemed meant to be. They first met in 2009 backstage at the Today Show when they were still teenagers. Justin and Hailey then wavered between friendship and love several times until finally announcing their engagement in 2018. Despite a number of headline-grabbing tribulations over the years, the couple now appears stronger than ever. See photo on Instagram.
Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli
Actress Samira Wiley and writer Lauren Morelli met in 2012 on the set of the series Orange Is the New Black. The two women quickly developed a strong attachment. Morelli, who was married to a man at the time, actually discovered she was attracted to women, and Samira in particular, for the first time. After she filed for divorce from her ex-spouse in 2014, the sweethearts decided to make their relationship official. Samira and Lauren got married three years later, and in 2021, Morelli gave birth to their daughter. See photo on Instagram
Source: msn.com
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
Even the most emotionally mature person will lose their cool from time to time, but they’re also more likely to be in control of their feelings on a regular basis than those who lack maturity. They don’t yell or have a violent reaction when things don’t go their way. Their demeanour is usually calm, cool, and col
lected.
You are action-oriented
It can feel good to complain to a friend about a specific situation at work; there’s even reason to believe a good vent session can help with one’s mental health. But complaining can quickly turn into an issue if a person is unwilling to take action to correct whatever is happening to them. People who ask “how can I improve this situation?” are truly mature.
You’re optimistic
It’s unrealistic to expect that everything will be sunshine and roses every day or that you can get to where you want to go in life without putting in some blood, sweat, and tears, but those who are emotionally mature know there’s always reason to believe good things are on the way. That optimism can be found through the support of others, through faith in a specific entity, or from within.
You share credit
People should acknowledge when they do something incredible, but those who are boastful or forget to acknowledge those who have helped them get to where they are lack a truly mature spirit. Giving credit where credit is due matters and shows a person is conscious of how others feel. It’s also good for one’s image.
You don’t hold on to the past
It can be easy to saddle oneself with the “what ifs” of past mistakes, but doing so also keeps a person from truly evolving or moving forward with their life, goals, and relationships. Science even shows regret is one of the most negative emotions anyone can experience. Thinking in terms of future opportunity instead of past failures is a sign someone can grow and evolve.
You set boundaries
There may be no greater sign of emotional maturity than being able to set boundaries to protect oneself from negative circumstances or situations. This could involve an individual cutting toxic people out of their life or speaking their mind when someone says something that goes against their value system. They respect and stand up for themselves.
You are resilient
There are so many ways one can experience setbacks or disappointments in life, and there are a multitude of challenges everyone will face (because of, or perhaps in spite of, their circumstances). Mustering up the courage to push through everything—every hardship, every battle, every issue—and finding the resilience to continue to move forward when even the possible feels impossible is not just mature, it’s heroic.
Source: msn.com
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
Over the years, numerous studies conducted by various topics would have demonstrated that sleeping without pajamas or wearing other pieces of clothes is a practice that would bring about a number of benefits for health and psychophysical well-being. Let’s investigate why.
Falling asleep faster
Body temperature greatly affects the time it takes us to fall asleep. Studies have shown that sleeping without wearing anything would allow the body temperature to drop and thus communicate to the body that it is time to sleep.
Improve sleep quality
The quality of sleep, and therefore of rest, is also linked to body temperature. According to a study conducted in 2012 by National Institutes of Health, the ideal temperature of the bedroom would be between 15 and 19 degrees. Sleeping without wearing pajamas or other clothing, at these ambient temperatures, would be a good way to stay cool under the covers and sleep better.
Improve skin
Since sleeping without wearing clothes would improve the quality of sleep, the latter would positively affect the health of the skin. For example, one study has shown how the quality of sleep can affect the skin’s ability to heal faster from small wounds. Sleeping better certainly helps in this case.
Source: msn.com
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
In four years, a woman who gambled on a delivery man hasn’t looked back.
The adorable tale was shared on Twitter by user @traciafanclub, who revealed she welcomed a stranger into her home.
Not everyone supported the dodgy sushi’s stranger risk component, but they hoped it would continue to work.
A lady from America shared how she fell for the deliveryman, and her sweet story raised some red flags for people. High risk equals high reward, right?
Online dating and social media have made for some of the sweetest love stories, but it turns out that that is not the only form of technology bringing people together.
American woman shares how she fell for the delivery man
Twitter user @traciafanclub shared the cute story of how she and her man of four years met. Sis ordered some sushi and had a door dash man deliver it, not knowing she was about to meet her soul mate.
The man got lost, and so they started chatting. She felt so connected to the man that she ended up inviting him in, and the rest was history.
Read the full story below:
“He was my door dash driver and was having trouble finding my apartment so he called and the conversation flowed so naturally I ended up inviting him inside to eat the sushi I ordered from Shell gas station. We talked for hours and have been together every day since. It’s been four years.”
People share the red flags that went up for them while reading the love story
While it is cute and seemed to have worked out well, and some peeps were for it, many people clarified that they are never letting a stranger into their house, no matter how great the conversation is. Others also had a lot of questions about the sushi the good sis ordered from a petrol station, lol.
Read some of the comments:
@I_Am_Winter said:
“Let me order food.”
@nkaynnaji said:
“I think; I need to be kinder offer him sushi”
“I am not sure what was most scary; inviting a stranger into your home, or ordering sushi from a gas station?! I will go with sushi, gas station ”
@KhiyaElise said:
“I met an ex of mine at a grocery store. I wish it didn’t play out the way it did but the first six months were amazing. I hope y’all are able to stay together and love each other through thick and thin. Be kind, patient, and humble. Please ”
@Spexialk8 said:
“I was shocked that you said you let him in, but when you said you got sushi from the gas station it makes sense. Not scared of anything.”
Nairobi couple get married after 3 days
Separately, Godfrey and Pauline Mwakazi met on Tinder, and after day three, Godfrey was sure he wanted to spend the rest of his days with Pauline.
He proposed, and six years later they are still going strong. The couple shared that marriage has its fair share of problems, and they didn’t want to waste time after they knew they loved each other.
Godfrey came into the marriage with two kids from a previous marriage.
Source: msn.com
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
South African opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has demanded that Indian authorities detain and prosecute Tibetan leader for child abuse after a video of Dalai Lama acting inappropriately toward a boy went viral
In the clip, the 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader is seen kissing a young boy on the lips and asking him to “suck his tongue” at a public event. The incident appears to have taken place at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala in February.
Following an international outcry over the issue, the Dalai Lama has apologised, saying that he regretted the incident.
Sticking one’s tongue out can be a form of greeting in Tibet.
The EFF said the “lame apology” should be rejected as it came a month after the incident.
Its statement said the Indian authorities needed to send a stern warning “to all those who dare to harm children that they will be prosecuted harshly regardless of their status”.
The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, following an uprising against Chinese rule there.
On the second day of clashes that left dozens dead, fierce fighting has persisted in the capital of Sudan despite a brief ceasefire to address humanitarian concerns, including the evacuation of wounded.
At least five civilians were killed and 78 wounded Sunday, bringing the two-day toll to 61 dead and more than1000 wounded, said the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate.
According to Abdalla Hamdok, Former Sudanese Prime Minister:
“Peace remains the only feasible choice for the people of Sudan to avoid plunging the country into a civil war. Therefore, I call for an immediate cease-fire and to reach an agreement, which leads to a permanent cessation (of hostilities).”
The clashes are part of a power struggle between Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the commander of the armed forces, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the Rapid Support Forces group.
The two generals are former allies who jointly orchestrated an October 2021 military coup that derailed Sudan’s short-lived transition to democracy.
The international community, which watched helplessly as the coup d’état took place in October 2021 and has not managed to convince the generals to sign a plan to end the crisis, is multiplying its calls for a ceasefire. The Arab League is meeting urgently at 09:00 GMT in Cairo, at the call of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, two influential players in Sudan.
The divisions between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, head of the army, and General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, known as “Hemedti”, head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – thousands of ex-militiamen of the Darfur war who have become official auxiliaries of the regular troops – degenerated into violence on Saturday morning in the streets of this country of 45 million inhabitants, among the poorest in the world, torn by war for decades.
The violence continued Sunday morning. The deserted streets of Khartoum were filled with the smell of gunpowder after explosions and gunfire rang out throughout the night. The military had warned in the evening on Facebook: “the air force will conduct operations to finish with the rebel militias of the Rapid Support, civilians must stay home.
In the morning, heavy gun battles opposed military and paramilitary in the northern suburbs of the capital, as well as in the south of Khartoum, witnesses reported. Throughout the capital, men in fatigues, weapons in hand, were walking through streets empty of civilians, while columns of smoke have been rising since Saturday from the city center where the main institutions of power are located.
Artillery fire
Witnesses also reported artillery fire in Kassala, in the country’s coastal east.
According to pro-democracy doctors, 56 civilians were killed, more than half of them in Khartoum and its suburbs, while “dozens” of military and paramilitary personnel died, although no precise figures are available. In addition, about 600 people were killed.
The conflict had been brewing for weeks, preventing any political solution in a country that has been trying since 2019 to organize its first free elections after 30 years of Islamo-military dictatorship.
Impossible as it is to know which force is holding what. The RSF announced that it had taken the airport in a few hours on Saturday, but the army denied this. The RSF also claimed to be holding the presidential palace. The army denied this and said it was holding the headquarters of its general staff, one of the main power complexes in Khartoum.
On Monday April 17, 2023 fierce fighting between the army and a potent opposition force known as the Rapid Support Force (RSF) entered its third day in Sudan’s beleaguered capital.
Both organizations seek to take over the nation. Numerous people have died as a result of the rivalry between the two generals, and countless more are now in fear.
Engineer Ahmed recounts: “I was asleep. Suddenly I heard a lot of big sounds like bullets, rockets. I don’t know what is it.” […] “I can’t leave the house. It’s very dangerous outside.”
Since the infighting between General al Burhan who heads the army and General Hamdane Daglo who leads the RSF, broke Saturday (Apr. 15), airstrikes and shelling intensified in parts of Khartoum and the adjoining city of Omdurman.
The RSF grew out of the Janjaweed militia, formerly active in the Darfur region of the country and was later labelled a regular force.
Allies turned enemies now accuse each other of starting the fighting, and both claim the upper hand by declaring control of key sites, including the airport and the presidential palace — none of which could be independently verified.
“You’ve got two highly armed forces who want to seize power. They’ve both paid lip service to the idea that they would respond to the Sudanese revolution by transferring power to civilians. But that has always proved elusive,” the former UK ambassador to Sudan William Patey, analyses.
“‘I suspect the we’re going to see more fighting until either both sides.”
The Arab League and the African Union on Sunday (Apr.16) held emergency meetings asking for the end of hostilities and a return to a political solution.
Speaking from Japan, the U.S Secretary of State called for a ceasefire.
“…….. We’ve also been in close touch with partners in the Arab world, in Africa, in international organizations,” Anthony Blinked said.
“There is a shared deep concern about the fighting, the violence that’s going on in Sudan. The threat that that poses to civilians, that it poses to the Sudanese nation and potentially poses even to the region. There’s also a very strongly shared view about the need for generals Burhan and Hemedti to ensure the protection of civilians and non-combatants, as well as people from third countries […]”.
Despite a humanitarian pause announced on Sunday afternoon, heavy gunfire was heard in central Khartoum and dense black smoke could be seen.
The World Health Organization warned that “several” of the capital’s nine hospitals receiving injured civilians “have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies”.
Doctors and humanitarian workers are sounding the alarm: under normal circumstances in Sudan, households are only supplied with electricity for a few hours a day. In some areas of Khartoum, it has been completely cut off since Saturday (Apr. 15), as has running water.
Two purported gay men were beaten up at Ayeduase in Kumasi by individuals who are thought to be residents of the Glory be to God hostel nearby.
Ola Michaels, a reporter with Neat FM narrated what led to the attack on the alleged homosexuals and its aftermaths.
“There is a hostel called the Glory of God or Glory be to called which is closer to the Wisconsin junction. There are some boys from the hostel who come across the street to buy fried egg and these two boys who were tagged as gays, indeed they looked like girls also came to that same place to buy fried egg and drinks. Then these boys who saw them asked why they were behaving as women and that was it”.
Ola Michael went ahead to explain how the said men severely beat the acclaimed gay persons as though they were thieves.
“These gay boys were beaten for a very long time, dumped in the gutter and were also stoned while in the gutter as if they are thieves”, he stated.
The revelation comes on the back recent development in Ghana’s quest to cripple activities of the LGBTQI+ community in the country.
A bill to criminalize activities of LGBTQI+ is currently in Parliament.
Four men violently attacked by a mob at Ayeduase in Kumasi, after they were labelled as gay for being 'effeminate'
According to Neat FM journalist, Ola Michael, who is aware of the case, the incident has left the victims hospitalised as they were pushed into a gutter and stoned. pic.twitter.com/RKTDKcNMYG
Executive director of the UN’s World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, has indicated that she is “appalled and heartbroken” by the murder of three workers in the Darfur region of Sudan.
In a statement, she says two other WFP employees were injured in the same incident.
“We have informed the families of these dedicated team members and stand with them and our entire WFP family at this time of catastrophe,” she says.
“Any loss of life in humanitarian service is unacceptable and I demand immediate steps to guarantee the safety of those who remain.”
Aid workers are neutral and should never be a target. Threats to our teams make it impossible to operate safely and effectively in the country and carry out WFP’s critical work.Cindy McCainWFP Executive Director
There has been violence throughout Sudan, not only in the capital. There have also been clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitary group in other towns and cities.
Fighting in the north-eastern city of Port Sudan, however, appears to have ended.
Othman Abu Bakr, an engineer and resident of the city, has told the BBC that “life was normal in the city” on Saturday until around 22:00 (20:00 GMT), when he heard clashes had erupted in some areas.
He and his family gathered in one room as fighting broke out at around 02:00.
“At around 06:30, I woke up to the sound of fighter jets hovering above my neighbourhood.
“Seeing the planes in the sky, the RSF started targeting them with anti-aircraft missiles. The land was shaking… literally.
“Again my whole family gathered in one room. We were really scared. But at around 8.30 this morning we could no longer hear [sounds] of fighting and it seemed the army had managed to gain control of the RSF’s two bases in the city. It seemed they eventually surrendered. There were no reports of casualties.
Quote Message: I went down to the street at around 9am this morning and saw army soldiers celebrating in the streets, firing into the air. The fighting seems to have ended.” from Othman Abu Bakr Port Sudan resident
I went down to the street at around 9am this morning and saw army soldiers celebrating in the streets, firing into the air. The fighting seems to have ended.”Othman Abu BakrPort Sudan resident
Sudanese medical professionals are once again pleading for medical assistance and outside help to put an end to the conflict in their nation.
In a post on Facebook, the Sudanese Medical Association appealed for “aid and medical supplies to all hospitals and health facilities in Khartoum and the areas of clashes in the various states”.
It also called on the international community, human rights and diplomatic organisations to put pressure on both sides of the conflict to stop the fighting and provide safe passages for civilians.
It added the safe passage of ambulances and medical personnel should be allowed, and the necessary security for health facilities and hospitals provided.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, has backed Beijing’s efforts to reduce the dominance of the US dollar in international trade by urging developing nations to move toward the use of their own currencies as an alternative to the US currency.
Kicking off his first state visit to China since taking office in January, Lula called for the countries of the so-called Brics group of nations — which in addition to Brazil and China includes Russia, India and South Africa — to come up with their own alternative currency for use in trade.
“Every night I ask myself why all countries have to base their trade on the dollar,” Lula said in an impassioned speech at the New Development Bank in Shanghai, known as the “Brics bank”.
“Why can’t we do trade based on our own currencies?” he added, drawing loud applause from the audience of Brazilian and Chinese dignitaries. “Who was it that decided that the dollar was the currency after the disappearance of the gold standard?”
Lula’s call to shed dollar dependence dovetailed with Beijing’s increasing efforts to promote use of the renminbi in settlement of cross-border commodities trades, as Chinese policymakers seek to strengthen the role of the world’s second-largest economy in the global financial system.
The warm reception in Shanghai also came as Brazil’s leftist leader has sought to redirect the country’s foreign policy to a more multilateralist stance, with an emphasis not only on good relations with the US — he visited President Joe Biden in February — but also with China and the developing world.
Lula’s far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro had prioritised bilateral ties with the US under former president Donald Trump and other nations led by populist leaders such as Hungary and Israel.
China’s leader Xi Jinping will be keen to persuade the Brazilian president when they meet on Friday to demonstrate that appetite for rebalancing by backing a number of Beijing’s foreign policy initiatives.
These range from the Belt and Road trade and infrastructure programme to other schemes that seek to create alternative international governance systems to those dominated by the US.
Bilateral trade has ballooned over the past decade to $150.4bn last year, with China buying Brazil’s agricultural commodities and minerals and investing in the Latin American country’s large consumer market and infrastructure sector. On Thursday, Lula also visited Huawei, the Chinese telecom equipment company that is subject to US sanctions.
The growing economic relationship has encouraged both countries to promote greater use of their respective currencies in bilateral trade. This week, the Brazilian branch of the state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China settled its first transaction directly in renminbi in the country, Chinese state media reported.
Lula, who was also in Shanghai for the inauguration of his protégé, former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, as head of the New Development Bank, used the occasion to make impassioned speech about the need for the Brics countries to trade in their own currencies. Aside from the Brics, the bank’s membership includes Egypt, Bangladesh, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates.
“Who decided that our currencies were weak, that they didn’t have value in other countries?” he said.
“Why can’t a bank like that of the Brics have a currency to finance trade relations between Brazil and China, between Brazil and other countries? It’s difficult because we are unaccustomed [to the idea]. Everyone depends on just one currency.”
Data from global payments platform Swift shows the Chinese currency’s share of trade finance has more than doubled to 4.5 per cent since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, largely on the back of a boom in shipments between Russia and China.
Maggie Wei, an economist at Goldman Sachs, said there were structural reasons to expect a growing Chinese share of global trade finance.
“In light of the renminbi’s comparatively small role in trade finance relative to China’s market share of around 15 per cent in global goods trade . . . it makes sense for the currency’s share of trade finance to continue rising,” Wei said.
But any effort by Brazil to spurn the US currency in the near term will face a substantial challenge. The dollar is vital to global commodities markets and benchmarks, which encourages top Brazilian miners such as Vale to keep most transactions dollar-denominated.
Achraf Hakimi and Hiba Aboukhris Benslimane, better known as Hiba Abouk in the entertainment business, wed in a secret ceremony in Morocco in 2020 and are now fighting their marriage in court.
A first encounter between Hiba and Achraf Hakimi occurred in July 2018 while the Moroccan international was on loan from Real Madrid and competing in the German Bundesliga. Before exchanging vows, they dated for two years.
The couple welcomed their first child Amin the year they got married before welcoming their first son Naim Hakimi in 2022.
However, the love story hit the rocks after it was reported by the France media that Hiba Abouk has filed for divorce and is demanding 50% of Achraf Hakimi’s wealth.
According to unconfirmed reports on social media, Hiba Abouk was informed by the Court that her millionaire husband owns nothing because all his properties have been registered in his mother’s name.
This means that Hakimi has no money, property, cars, houses, or jewelry, and even the utensils he has in his house are not in his name.
Today we profile Hiba Abouk as she continues to trend on social media alongside his soon-to-be ex-husband.
37-year-old Hiba Abouk is an actress of Tunisian and Libyan descent who was born in the Spanish capital, Madrid in 1986.
She is the youngest of four children and speaks French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, and English.
Habi’s career took off when she appeared in the comedy series La Isla De Los Nominados on the TV network Cuatro in 2010.
he was cast for a Cheers adaptation in Spanish the following year. But it wasn’t until she made her debut in El Principe, a crime drama series with more than five million viewers, in 2014 that she became well-known.
The apostle general of the Royalhouse Chapel International, Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah, can be seen celebrating with Rev. Christy Doe Tetteh, one of his spiritual mothers, in videos that have been published on TikTok.
The video revealed the lengths to which one man has showed another a high level of honor to another similarly regarded one.
The two, who have had a longstanding relationship spanning many decades, are seen in the video, all clad in white, just as all the other persons at the venue of this celebration.
It has now been confirmed that the event was to mark the recent 67th birthday of Rev. Christy Doe Tetteh, one of the mothers of the Charismatic Christian faith in Ghana.
In the video shared on TikTok, Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah in the presence of his wife. Rev. Mrs. Sam Korankye Ankrah and some leaders of his church present a brand new V8 car to the veteran female preacher.
According to an aid of the Apostle General, the car gift was purchased together with other pastors, and individuals who also contributed to this course.
Rev. Christy Doe Tetteh is the founder of the Solid Rock Chapel International.
Lover Esegragbo took control in Sierra Leone on April 29 through a military coup and Melvin Strasser became the youngest president of Africa in 1992. His 25th birthday had just passed three days prior to this.
Capt. Valentine Strasser became a leading member of a group of six equally young fellow officers who overthrew President Joseph Saidu Momoh and established a military junta called the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC).
How Valentine Strasser became president at 25
The young military officer, who was born on April 26, 1967, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and had enlisted in the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Forces (RSLMF), probably never imagined being the world’s youngest leader and founding leader of the NPRC at the age of 25.
Events that unfolded landed him these huge opportunities.
The young and ambitious Strasser had then been dispatched to the eastern district of Kailahun to deal with a rebellion and insurgency that was led by a former army corporal who was fighting against the legitimate government of Momoh.
As things heated up at the war front, Strasser and his colleague soldiers ran out of supplies such as boots and other necessary military equipment.
Their numerous appeals to the Sierra Leonean government to get them these items fell on deaf ears, coupled with the frequent delays in their salaries.
According to a face2faceafrica.com report, on April 29, 1992, Strasser led a team of young soldiers to march in their combat gear from Kailahun to the State House in protest of their conditions.
Reports say that the appearance of the soldiers in the capital shocked many, with President Momoh even being forced to flee the country into exile in Conakry, Guinea.
This created a power vacuum, and Strasser and his men took advantage of that; they seized power, formed the NPRC and made Strasser its leader and Head of State.
Young people were so elated to have Strasser in power, with the belief that he had come to fight for their cause.
Strasser’s youthfulness, however, became his doom, according to records. Right after coming to power, he pursued the rebel war against rebel leader Foday Sankoh and made it one of his top priorities. But he was not successful.
He was further accused of killing 29 unarmed Sierra Leoneans six months after coming into power, as well as the torturing of several other unarmed civilians.
His reign did not last as long as he would have expected.
In January 1996, after nearly four years in power, Strasser was ousted in another military coup, this time coming from his own NPRC members who were not satisfied with the way he handled affairs.
It became a sad event for his rule.
Valentine Strasser’s Leg Sadly Amputated in Ghana
In a July 4, 2019 report, it said that family sources of the former president in Sierra Leone confirmed that Valentine Strasser’s left leg, which had been tormenting him for many years, was, unfortunately, cut-off for medical reasons.
This took place at a hospital in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
Reports say the surgery was only done in Ghana as a last resort because Valentine Strasser could not be taken to the United States or Europe for advanced medical treatment, as advised by doctors, where his leg could have survived the sad amputation.
“Unfortunate that a former African leader who needed further medical assistance to prevent amputation could not receive it due to the lack of financial help,” a surgeon in Ghana is reported to have said.
Where is Valentine Strasser?
After his overthrow in January 1196, Strasser left for the United Kingdom, where he studied law at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England.
For reasons unknown, he stopped his studies after a year and left for the Gambia in 2000, only to have his entry to that country denied.
He then moved back to Sierra Leone where he reportedly lived a rather poor life, unlike that of a a retired leader.
It is, however, unclear where his current whereabout is, although there are reports that he is under house arrest in Sierra Leone.
Last week, former president John Dramani Mahama had cause to speak extensively about the presidency at a speech to party supporters in Nsawam.
Among others, Mahama, who is running for the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) presidential nomination, boasted of being familiar with the area because he was the building’s first president.
In his address, he referred to the place currently known as Jubilee House by its old name Flagstaff House.
“7th January 2017, I showed Akufo-Addo around the Flagstaff House, where he will sit, his vice president, cabinet office, his meeting and conference rooms, I am the one who showed him around.
“So, I was asking a question, on 7th January 2025, who will show John Mahama around the Flagstaff House?” he asked party faithful at the St. Martins Secondary School in Nsawam.
“I opened Flagstaff House and I am the first president to have worked from there, it is true it was built by president Kufuor but I was the first president to stay at Flagstaff House.
“So, after my inauguration, I will drive straight to Flagstaff House and start work,” he said to cheers from the supporters.
About the Jubilee House
Jubilee House, is the presidential palace in Accra that serves as a residence and office to the President of Ghana.
Jubilee House is built on the site of a building that was constructed and used for administrative purposes by the British Gold Coast Government. The previous seat of government of Ghana is Osu Castle.
It was renamed Golden Jubilee House by President Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo on 29th March 2018. It has previously been known as The Flagstaff House.
Live on television, a former Indian politician who had been convicted of kidnapping was shot to death alongside his brother.
In Prayagraj, better known as Allahabad, Atiq Ahmed, who was being escorted by police, was speaking to reporters when a gun was drawn dangerously close to his head.
Three individuals who had been pretending to be journalists soon surrendered and were brought into custody after the bullets were fired on Saturday night.
Ahmed’s teenage son was shot dead by police days earlier.
Dozens of cases, including kidnapping, murder and extortion, were registered against Atiq Ahmed over the past two decades. A local court sentenced him and two others to life in jail in March this year in a kidnapping case.
Ahmed had previously claimed there was a threat to his own life from the police.
Video showed Ahmed and his brother, Ashraf, both in handcuffs, speaking to journalists on the way to a medical check-up at a hospital seconds before they were both shot.
Why do Indians vote for ‘criminal’ politicians?
In the footage, shared widely on social media and TV channels, Ahmed is asked whether he attended his son’s funeral.
His last words to camera are: “They did not take us, so we did not go.”
The three suspected assailants had arrived at the site on motorcycles, the police said. A policeman and a journalist were also injured at the scene.
Following Saturday night’s incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a judicial probe into the killings and banned large gatherings in the districts of Uttar Pradesh state to ensure peace.
Experts have raised questions on how a man could be killed in front of the media and the police. BBC Hindi correspondent Anant Zanane reported from Prayagraj that the city was in a lockdown-like situation.
Who was Atiq Ahmed?
He had a long stint both in politics and with the criminal world. He was first accused in a murder case in 1979. In the next 10 years, he emerged as a person who had strong influence in the western part of Allahabad city.
He won his first election as an independent candidate and became a state lawmaker in 1989. He went on to win the seat for two consecutive terms and his fourth win came as a lawmaker from the regional Samajwadi party (SP).
In 2004, he won a seat in the federal election as an SP candidate and became an MP. Meanwhile, cases continued to be filed against him in Allahabad and other parts of the state.
Ahmed contested a few more elections in the next decade but lost all of them. In 2019, India’s top court ordered that he should be moved to a jail in Gujarat state after it emerged that he planned attacks on a businessman from a prison in Uttar Pradesh where he was being held awaiting trial in another case.
He was brought back to Prayagraj in March from Gujarat to appear in a local court as it announced his sentencing in a kidnapping case.
Ahmed was also brought to the city to be questioned in other cases. His brother Ashraf, who was in a jail in Bareilly district, was also brought to the city to be questioned.
Why India’s ‘fake encounters’ are shockingly common
They were both being questioned in the February murder of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder of Raju Pal, a lawmaker belonging to the regional Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Raju Pal had defeated Ashraf in the 2004 assembly elections in Atiq Ahmed’s political stronghold.
Umesh Pal was killed in February this year when several people fired at him.
Atiq Ahmed’s teenage son Asad and few others were named as the main suspects in the Umesh Pal murder case. Asad and another man were killed by police earlier this week in what was described as a shootout.
‘Crime has reached its peak in UP’
Last month India’s Supreme Court declined to hear Ahmed’s petition in which he alleged there was a threat to his life from the police.
Uttar Pradesh is governed by the Hindu-nationalist BJP, and opposition parties criticised the killings as a security lapse.
“Crime has reached its peak in UP and the morale of the criminals is high,” Akhilesh Yadav, chief the opposition Samajwadi Party, tweeted in Hindi.
“When someone can be killed in firing openly amidst the security cordon of the police, then what about the safety of the general public. Due to this, an atmosphere of fear is being created among the public, it seems that some people are deliberately creating such an atmosphere,” he added.
More than 180 people facing various charges have been killed by police in the state in the past six years.
Rights activists accuse the police of carrying out extra-judicial killings, which the state’s government denies.
The police usually calls them “encounters” – many say these are really staged confrontations which almost invariably end with dead criminals and unscathed police.
Kwame Tua was despised in the Ashanti community, despite the fact that the story is obscured by numerous narrations from various narrators.
Kwame Tua was a favorite of the British because he always provided them with information on his people, regardless of his specific position in the kingdom at the time of the colonial masters.
Referred to as a traitor of the Ashantis, it is even believed that, to date, the mentioning of that name is prohibited, especially within the confines of the kingdom of the Asantehene.
In one of the many accounts about the man Kwame Tua, it is said that he revealed secrets about his people to the British and was very instrumental in the arrest and capture of the warrior queen mother of Ashanti, Yaa Asatewaa.
This, it is believed, he was able to achieve with the support of a certain Kwasi Apea Nuamah, believed to be his elder brother.
A 78-year-old man, for instance, who called into a radio discussion on Kwame Tua, on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, gave his own accounts of what he knew about the man.
He described how powerful Kwame Tua became, so much so that while he did not have any particular work that he did, he became so feared that he even took away one of the wives of an Asantehene.
“Kwame Tua had no specific work he was doing but he had the favour of the Whites because he was their informant, telling them about everything that was happening within the Ashanti circles.
“Due to this, he and one Nuamah became so powerful that nobody could speak about them. There was even a time that Kwame Tua succeeded in collecting one of the wives of the Asantehene because he had the backing of the Whites,” he narrated.
The elderly man, whose name was not mentioned on the program, also corroborated the claims that Kwame Tua was instrumental in the arrest and capture of Yaa Asatewaa.
He added that this was done with support from his brother, Nuamah, after which the two were rewarded by the British colonialists upon the exile of Prempeh I.
“In fact, it was through Nuamah and Kwame Tua that information got to the Whites about the whereabouts of Yaa Asantewa, and she was captured,” he narrated.
“How all of these benefitted him was that when Asantehene Prempeh I was captured and sent away, all of the Ashanti stools were left unattended to. Nuamah told the Whites that he wanted the position of the Linguist to the Otumfuo. Kwame Tua, on the other hand, asked for one of the seats of the royals. By the way, Nuamah and Kwame Tua were siblings,” he added.
GhanaWeb cannot, however, confirm the truths of the above accounts on Kwame Tua, although there are several academic and personal accounts on the name, and his brother, Nuamah, on the internet.
A retired Ghanaian man who lives in Frankfurt, Germany, has expressed bitterness over going abroad.
The man, identified only as Expensive Joe, remembered that despite being able to use his abilities as a shoemaker and a carpenter to run his own business back in Accra, Germany did not permit him to do so.
“I travelled to Nigeria and Libya and finally settled in Frankfurt in 1991. We normally don’t say it, but if I am to speak for myself, I will it is the wasted years of my life. Travelling abroad didn’t help me. I was a shoemaker and carpenter back in Ghana. I was my own boss back in Accra.
“But when I came to Germany, I couldn’t make use of my skills because the system here is different. I believe if I had been given that chance, I would have made fortunes while I was here,” he explained.
Touching on his family, he reiterated that he was also not fortunate with women, as he has suffered 2 divorces – from a German woman who removed her womb, and from a Ghanaian woman he sponsored abroad.
“About family, my first wife, who was a German, told me she had removed her womb so she divorced me after 3 years. After that, I brought a Ghanaian woman here. She came with her 2-year-old child. We had 2 children later together. However, we have been divorced for almost 10 years now,” he said.
Even though he is being taken care of by the German government, Expensive Joe advised young Ghanaians to think deeply about travelling overseas for greener pastures.
“Now I am a pensioner, but my first child is 21 years. I am not working at the moment, so I am being taken care of by the government. I will advise young people to really take their time. If you have the money to travel, it would be proper to stay and work in Ghana with that,” he advised.
John Mahama campaign tour | Interacts with Nsawam Delegates || WoezorTV live https://t.co/VFlCLeRXe3— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) April 12, 2023
John Mahama campaign tour | Interacts with Nsawam Delegates || WoezorTV live https://t.co/VFlCLeRXe3
A ballot of nurses who are members of the Royal College of Nursing closed at 9am this morning.
Now, the result of the vote has been announced.
It has been confirmed that RCN members have voted to reject the government’s pay offer, and a fresh wave of strikes has been announced.
It comes despite union leaders recommending that members voted to accept it.
A total of 54% of RCN members who voted chose to reject the offer, while 46% voted to accept it.
Turnout in the ballot was 61% of eligible members.
The development will come as a blow to the government, which will have hoped a settlement with nurses would have paved the way for breakthroughs in other sectors gripped by industrial action.
Instead, the RCN has announced a 48-hour strike from 8pm on 30 April to 8pm on 2 May.
For the first time, the strike will involve NHS staff previously exempt, including nursing staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care, and more.
This wave of action is within the RCN’s current mandate to strike, which expires in early May.
However, the union has confirmed it will be re-balloting members to extend the scope and duration of the mandate.
There is now the prospect of a summer of widespread strikes after teachers also voted to reject the government’s offer and junior doctors continue to strike in an increasingly bitter struggle over pay.
In a letter to health secretary Steve Barclay, RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “Until there is a significantly improved offer, we are forced back to the picket line.
“Meetings alone are not sufficient to prevent strike action, and I will require an improved offer as soon as possible.”
The pay deal rejected by RCN members would have seen nurses and paramedics awarded a one-off payment of 2% of their salary, plus a COVID recovery bonus of 4% for the current financial year and 5% for the year after.
Steve Barclay, the health secretary, previously explained that, under the offer, a newly qualified nurse would have received more than £1,800 this year on top of a pay rise of more than £1,300 next year.
Although the RCN rejection is a blow to the government, it does not necessarily mean the pay deal is finished.
As we reported earlier (see 09.50 post), the pay offer covers other NHS workers represented by other unions.
UNISON workers have voted to accept the result, and other unions are still balloting members.
Those results have yet to come in, but it could be that complicated negotiations between multiple unions will have to take place to agree a collective position.
Achraf Hakimi of PSG’s right back has been informally elected as the president of the Stingy Men Association, and a message of congratulations has been sent.
Achraf Hakimi had previously outsmarted his wife, who had filed for divorce and was attempting to obtain half of his hard-earned wealth.
But unfortunately for Hakimi’s wife, HIba when they arrived in court, they realized that Achraf Hakimi had nothing.
Mummy’s Boy Achraf Hakimi had put his entire fortune under his mother’s name a long time ago.
According to sources, Hiba was informed by the court that her ‘millionaire’ husband owns nothing as all his property is registered under his mother’s name.
Hakimi receives €1 Million from PSG monthly but 80% of this is deposited in his mother Mrs Fatima’s account.
He has no property, cars, houses, Jewelry or even clothes in his name. Anytime, he wants anything, he asks his mother who buys it for him.
This, according to the leadership of the Stingy Men Association is one of the best moves any man could take in order to protect his properties.
There have been several stories of how some men lose their wealth to divorce suits of their wives and for Hakimi to have thought fast, they owe him big time hence appointing him as their president.
Another reason that influenced their decision is that the Leadership of The Stingy Men Association wants Hakimi to teach and show other men the way to secure their future as he has done.
The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak, shared a video alleged to be a shot of a toilet facility of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale turned into a sleeping place for students.
The said video, which has been sighted by GhanaWeb, showed student mattresses, chop boxes, bags and other student materials in the toilet compartment of a washroom.
Some of the materials and the students could also be seen in the hallway of the washroom.
A form one student by name Godlove, in another video shared by the MP, confirmed that he is one of the students sleeping in the toilet-turned-dormitory because of the shortage of accommodation facilities for students.
He said that the students have now resorted to open defecation which has led to a health crisis in the school with students always falling sick.
“Since we come as year one’s, we have never been to a toilet to ease ourselves. Every time open defecation and people passing by see us.
“… we just sit at the back here to eat and the flies (from where we ease ourselves) will be disturbing us. Sometimes when the run is too much it blows the breeze here and the scent is unbearable.
“As am standing here, I was sick just last Friday … I was diagnosed with typhoid and malaria,” he narrated.
Godlove pleaded with authorities to come to their aid by helping put up structures they can at least use as toilets.
Majority leader and minister of parliamentary affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has criticised the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) national leadership for its management of the minority caucus’ members.
He claims that the NDC’s national leadership is autocratic and has effectively made the party’s lawmakers into machines that must always comply with their orders.
Speaking in an interview on Kumasi-based Fox FM, on Friday, monitored by GhanaWeb, Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu said that, unlike the NDC, the leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) always consults the party’s leadership in parliament and their MPs when making decisions on issues that come before the House.
“The NDC has now made their party like a communist party, where the party makes a decision on issues that goes to parliament and it is final, whether it is in the interest of the nation or not. This is how they want to run their party which is most unfortunate.
“They have reduced their MPs into zombies. Once the party decides that is it. This is totally wrong,” he said in Twi.
The majority leader, who is also the MP for the Suame Constituency, added NDC MPs like the MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, have now started rebelling against their national leaders.
Alhassan Suhuyini, blasted the national leadership of the NDC, accusing them of sleeping on their real responsibilities.
A visibly angry Suhuyini, whiles speaking on Accra-based Pan African TV, said the current situation where the leadership are seeking to coach parliament was totally wrong and inimical.
He holds that the leadership should be managing core party business along with its leadership in Parliament.
“This is something I have said at the risk of being ostracized from the party. Party leaders are not chosen to manage Parliament. They are not chosen to be coaches of Parliament. They are chosen to run the party alongside Parliament.
“So, when they have a debate in Parliament and the parliamentarians win that debate, you expect the national organizers, the women’s organizers, the chairmen and the secretary to be massing people up on the street.
“To complement what Parliament is doing, but when what we have is executives sitting on the bench coaching Parliament, that will not take us to victory. Our party leaders must begin to wake up and understand that the 2024 elections will not be won in Parliament. It will not be won by the work of any parliamentarian,” he stressed.
A woman in a video cited on social media has shared a painful story of a dad who recently learned that four of his five children are not biologically his.
The married couple, whose oldest child is 17 years old, had been together for a long.
He had worked hard to provide for them and had been actively involved in their lives.
However, things started to unravel during the family’s recent visit to the hospital.
An incident at the hospital when one of them was sick prompted him to carry out a DNA test on the children without his wife’s knowledge.
It was gathered that one of the five children was severely ill and needed a blood transfusion and been worried after several unsuccessful attempts, he decided to speak to the doctor who advised him to do a DNA test for the child to ascertain the paternity.
The man then decided to do the paternity test for all five of his children, and the results were shocking. Four of his five children, including his 17-year-old daughter, are not his biological offsprings.
The woman who narrated the story in a video she posted on TikTok said the man was devastated, feeling betrayed and hurt by the woman he had loved and trusted for about twenty years.
It turned out that only the last child, who is just 7 months old, is his child among the 5 children
An association of African carriers said in a recent report that Africanair traffic has made a strong recovery and is almost back to pre-pandemic levels.
As additional international routes and tourist destinations reopened, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) reported that traffic in March increased by 94.8% over 2019 levels.
It noted that domestic flights accounted for 37 per cent of the March traffic, with intra-Africa flights at 31 per cent and intercontinental travel at 32 per cent.
Data also shows that the total number of intercontinental routes operated by African airlines have exceeded pre-Covid levels since October 2022.
The association said that African airlines are on course to narrow their revenue gap in 2023.
African airlines lost $3.5 billion in revenue in 2022 and $8.6 billion in 2021.
The Covid-19 pandemic hit African hard as travel restrictions led to the grounding of aircraft. Some airlines, such as Air Namibia and Air Mauritius completely folded while others such as South African Airways and Kenya’s flag carrier, KQ needed big bailout funding from the state to keep flying.
Others, like Ethiopian airlines converted their passenger jets into freighters to compensate for reduced passenger traffic.
An animal rights organization’s announcement that it would attempt to halt today’s Grand National’s race resulted in the arrest of a lady.
According to the police, the 33-year-old was taken into custody on suspicion of planning to cause a public nuisance in connection with probable organized disruption operations at Aintree.
The suspect, from the London area, was arrested in Greater Manchester this morning.
It comes after Animal Rising activists said they were planning to scale fences and storm the track, with up to 300 protesters planning to attend.
Others plan to block traffic by performing a slow march along the main access route outside Aintree Racecourse.
Ahead of the arrest, Merseyside Police had warned they have a “robust policing plan in place” and were working with Aintree’s owners, The Jockey Club, in preparation for any incidents.
‘Horses will likely die’
Animal Rising had revealed its plans to disrupt the event in advance.
Spokesperson Nathan McGovern said: “Animal Rising intends to make sure the Grand National doesn’t even begin.
“We know that if the race begins, then horses will likely die as Eclair Surf and Discorama did last year. People will attempt to put their bodies between horses and harm by calling the entire race off.”
The group cites figures from campaigners at Animal Aid that suggest a horse dies every two to three days in UK racing, with Mr McGovern adding: “We want to see an end to that.”
He went on to stress that activists plan to act before the race starts, and they would not enter the track if horses and jockeys are riding.
Speaking live from Aintree Racecourse on Sky News Breakfast, Animal Rising spokesperson Claudia Penna Rojas reiterated it would be a “completely non-violent” protest.
Activists will be demonstrating outside the racecourse before “peacefully” making their way towards the track, she said.
One horse has already died at the Grand National Festival – Envoye Special – after it fell in the Foxhunters’ Chase just after 4pm on Thursday.
It is the 60th horse to have died at Aintree in the past 23 years.
Animal Rising was formerly known as Animal Rebellion, but changed its name earlier this week in order to move away from the umbrella of Extinction Rebellion.
It plans to target the Grand National were made public when an undercover reporter attended a meeting earlier this month.
According to The Mail on Sunday, activists are intending to use ladders and bolt cutters to get through the perimeter fencing at Aintree.
Mr McGovern added: “It’s a spotlight that we really need to be using to push a national conversation about our broken relationship, not only with horses but with all the animals that we use, whether that’s for food, fun, entertainment and dog and horse racing.
“This is very much about a bigger picture of recognising that, in a nation of animal lovers, we’re not really living up to those values with our actions.”
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”
Meanwhile, an Aintree Racecourse representative urged Animal Rising to “reflect on whether their proposed actions are legitimate and responsible”.
They added: “Their actions could endanger the horses they purport to protect, as well as jockeys, officials and themselves.”
New information about Jack Teixeira’s access to classified documents, his military career, and the sequence of events leading up to his arrest on April 13 has been revealed by the criminal charges brought against him. Teixeira is suspected of leaking vital US defense documents.
A 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guard member named Mr. Teixeira is currently charged with one count each of “unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information” and “unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material.”
Together, the charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
The documents, which were reportedly shared to an online gaming chatroom, included detailed information about the war in Ukraine, as well as US intelligence regarding other allies and adversaries across the globe.
While US officials have so far not provided details about the investigation and the scope of the leak, court documents filed on Friday offer a glimpse into Mr Teixeira’s life and how the leak is alleged to have taken place.
This is what the charging document says.
Documents first posted in December
The criminal complaint against Mr Teixeira includes an affidavit written by an FBI special agent who specialises in counter-intelligence and espionage matters.
In the affidavit, FBI Special Agent Patrick Lueckenhoff says an individual using a username later linked to Mr Teixeira through payment records began posting what appeared to be classified information in December 2022.
The posts were made on a Discord chat server devoted to the discussion of geopolitical affairs, the affidavit says.
In January, the affidavit says photographs of documents which “contained what appeared to be classification markings on official US government documents” were posted.
An unnamed social media user, identified only as User 1, told the FBI that one of the documents posted in the initial tranche “described the status of the Russia-Ukraine” conflict, including troop movements on a particular day.
The affidavit describes the document as “based on sensitive US intelligence, gathered through classified sources and methods”.
Its “top secret” classification meant that its disclosure could cause “exceptionally grave damage” to national security, the affidavit notes.
User 1 also told the FBI that Mr Teixeira said he had “become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace, so he began taking the documents to his residence and photographing them”.
Photographs of some of the leaked documents reviewed by BBC News appear to have been taken at a residential address. In several, a kitchen countertop and floor tiles are clearly visible, while in others various personal items can be seen on a desk.
Watch: How damaging are 21-year-old Jack Teixeira’s US intelligence leaks?
Mr Teixeira had ‘top secret’ clearance
The court documents show that Mr Teixeira enlisted in the Air National Guard in September 2019. He is currently an E-3/airman first class – a relatively low rank – and as of February was listed as a “Cyber Defense Operations Journeyman”.
In 2021, he was granted a “top secret” security clearance. The same year, he was also given “sensitive compartmented access” to other classified US government programmes.
Image caption,The leak suspect reportedly began sharing photographs of classified files in January
To get this clearance, he would have been required to sign a lifetime, binding non-disclosure agreement “in which he would have had to acknowledge that unauthorised disclosure of protected information could result in criminal charges”.
Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer who frequently works on cases involving classified information, told BBC News it would not be unusual for someone as young as Mr Teixeira to have access to classified documents such as the ones that were leaked online.
“There are a lot of people that age who have access to classified information, particularly in the National Guard,” Mr Zaid said. “The issue is more of why did he have access to documents that he likely had no need to know.”
As an airman assigned to cyber transport systems, Mr Teixeira’s work meant that he was responsible for helping operate the Air Force’s global communications network.
Mr Zaid said that this role would have given Mr Teixeira access to the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, or JWICS, which he described as a “library of information” regarding US intelligence.
A search for the word ‘leak’
The criminal complaint also alleges Mr Teixeira used his government computer to search for intelligence reporting for the word “leak” on 6 April – the same day as the first public reporting about the leak.
“Accordingly, there is reason to believe that Teixeira was searching for classified reporting regarding the US intelligence community’s assessment of the identity of the individual who transmitted classified national defense information,” the document adds.
Charged under the Espionage Act
The charges also show that Mr Teixeira’s criminal charge stems, in part, from the Espionage Act.
Specifically, his first charge is under a statute that calls for a prison term of up to 10 years – as well as fines – for anyone who “copies, takes, makes or obtains or attempts to copy, take, make or obtain” a variety of government documents.
This information, the statute notes, “could be used to the injury of the United States of to the advantage of any foreign nation”.
After days of conflict between a known paramilitary group and the national army, gunfire and explosions have been heard in the capital city of Sudan, Khartoum.
The dispute centres around a proposed transition to civilian rule.
Reuters is reporting that gunfire has been heard close to the headquarters of the army in the centre of the city.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) says it has taken control of the airport and presidential palace.
These claims have not been confirmed.
Earlier the RSF had said that one of its camps in the south of Khartoum had been attacked.
For its part, the army has said that RSF fighters have been trying to seize the military headquarters.
“Fighters from the Rapid Support Forces attacked several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere around Sudan,” the AFP news agency quotes army spokesman Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah as saying.
“Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country.”
The Reuters news agency is also citing witnesses as saying that there was gunfire in the northern city of Merowe.
Alarabyia TV is broadcasting pictures of smoke rising from a military camp there, Reuters reports.
Generals have been running the country, through what is called the Sovereign Council, since a coup in October 2021.
The RSF is under the command of the council’s vice-president Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The army, meanwhile, is led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the head of the Sovereign Council.
A proposed move to a civilian-led government has foundered on the timetable to integrate the RSF into the national army.
The RSF wanted to delay it for 10 years, but the army said it should happen in two years.
On Thursday, the RSF deployed forces near the military base in Merowe as tensions increased this week.
Gen Burhan said he was willing to talk to his second in command to resolve the dispute over who would lead a unified army in a proposed civilian government.
Western powers and regional leaders had urged the two sides to de-escalate tensions and to go back to talks aimed at restoring civilian rule.
There had been signs on Friday that the situation would be resolved.
In a tweet, US Ambassador John Godfrey said: “I urgently call on senior military leaders to stop the fighting.”
Describing the situation in the city, he said he “woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting. I am currently sheltering in place with the Embassy team, as Sudanese throughout Khartoum and elsewhere are doing.”
Russia’s embassy is also concerned by the “escalation of violence” and has urged a ceasefire, Reuters reports.
The 2021 coup ended a period of more than two years when military and civilian leaders were sharing power. That deal came after Sudan’s long-term authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown.
There have been regular pro-democracy protests in Khartoum ever since the coup.
Prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, was unharmed while leaving a public function after what appeared to be a smoke bomb was hurled in his direction.
Local media said that a guy was apprehended on the spot in Wakayama, where Mr. Kishida was scheduled to deliver a speech.
A witness said they saw a person throwing something, followed by smoke, while another said they heard a big bang. No injuries were reported.
Video showed officers piling on top of a person, believed to be a suspect.
He was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of business and later identified by the authorities as 24-year-old Ryuji Kimura. His motivation is still unclear.
Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, quoted Mr Kishida as saying there was a “loud blast” at the venue. “Police are investigating details, but I’d like to apologise for worrying many people and causing them trouble.”
NHK broadcast footage in which crowds of people appear to be running away from the scene.
The footage also shows people swarm around one man, hold him down, and then carry him away.
