TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Tory minister investigated for Traveller pamphlet

    Tory minister investigated for Traveller pamphlet

    Police are investigating allegations that a campaign brochure produced by a Cabinet minister contained racist language directed at Travellers.

    In leaflets distributed to his Monmouthshire constituents, Welsh Secretary David TC Davies voiced worries about future Gipsy, Roma, and Traveller camps nearby.

    Would you like to see a Traveller site close to your home? it asks under the headline “Gipsy and Traveller site coming to your area soon!”

    A support group charged Mr. Davies with inciting ‘hostility’ towards the organisations.

    The pamphlet “borders on racism,” according to Mabon ap Gwynfor, a Plaid Cymru member of the Welsh Senedd, because Roma people are “the community that has been most persecuted” in the UK.

    Mr. Davies charged that the Labour-controlled council was attempting to establish Traveller settlements without sufficiently consulting the local population.

    The issue is the subject of a public consultation, but the MP asserts that because it is taking place in the summer, “many residents will not be able to participate.”

    A form allowing individuals to share their opinions on the creation of new sites is included in the brochure.

    The tiny print implies that the responses can be utilised for future campaigning on issues concerning Travellers by stating that the Conservative Party will consensually utilise their information “inside and outside election periods.”

    Some people who got the pamphlet were ‘horrified’ by it, according to Trudy Aspinwall of the Gipsy, Roma, and Traveller agency Travelling Ahead.

    They were angered, incensed, and concerned that any land that might end up serving as a home for Gipsy or Traveller people would be subject to such severe discrimination and hatred. She said that any area that might serve as a Gipsy or Traveller site could be viewed with animosity.

    “We have no objections to a public consultation.” However, this was an overly harsh and antagonistic reaction that was directed at the racial and ethnic background and the underlying prejudice against Gipsies and Travellers.

    It makes Gipsies and Travellers feel as though they are not welcome anyplace and are not a part of the community, according to research.

    The co-founder of the Romani and Traveller Social Work Community Group, Allison Hulmes, continued, “When we see this from MPs who are there to set the values who we would look to for protection, it makes us feel scared, it’s so depressing. We feel like the environment is particularly hostile off the back of the new criminal legislation.

    It’s just exhausting because there are so few of us who are willing to speak up and because of how small our populations are. We understand why this is. It confirms to us that we are despised.

    Officers are examining the leaflet’s content and its implications for the settled and settlement populations of Gipsies and Travellers in Monmouthshire, according to Detective Inspector Steve Thomas of Gwent Police.

    We take any claims of discrimination very seriously, and we’re dedicated to making sure that everyone is welcome in our communities.

    A request for comment has been sent to Mr. Davies. The location of licenced and unauthorised traveller sites is a worthy topic for public discussion and investigation, he said in a statement to the BBC.

    “It is entirely appropriate to criticise a council for not conducting a thorough public consultation.”

    “Many angry residents have contacted me about the briefness of the consultation and the suggested locations for the sites.”

    I’ve also been told that many members of the Gipsy and traveller population are dissatisfied with the sites’ intended placements. This is not intended as an attack on the community of travellers and gipsies.

  • Do you believe in love at first sight?

    Do you believe in love at first sight?

    Indeed, love is a word that is widely used and found throughout the world, including in religious texts like the Bible. However, despite its frequent use, it remains one of the most complex and least understood concepts.

    The understanding and expression of love vary greatly among individuals, influenced by factors such as cultural background, age, gender, education, and life experiences. Each person’s unique perspective shapes their interpretation and experience of love. Love can take many forms, including romantic love, platonic love, familial love, and self-love, among others.

    Due to its subjective nature, love’s true essence can be difficult to grasp and define universally. People often express love in diverse ways, and their interpretations may differ depending on their personal beliefs and experiences. This diversity in understanding and expression makes love an intriguing and multifaceted phenomenon that continues to be explored and pondered by people across the globe.

    Consider the love story of a client.

    He was driving when he saw this young, tall, fair and beautiful lady.

    He suddenly lost control and drove into a ditch.

    Among the onlookers who came to help was this lady.

    He offered her a lift.

    Things “started knocking things” and today they are married.

    Interestingly, the lady claims she felt the same sensation when she first saw the man.

    Some call this love at first sight.

    What is love at first sight?
    You experience love at first sight when you feel romantic attraction for a stranger on seeing him or her for the first time.

    You think you have seen the most romantic person on earth and will do everything, including smiling, greeting and making a kind offer to catch his or her attention.

    You see him or her as flawless because you overlook all their weaknesses.

    You admire them and want to follow them everywhere.

    You are full of happiness and joy when this stranger is around you.

    It is the most romantic thing that could happen to you in a short moment when someone comes straight into your heart and steals it away.

    Some people do not believe in love at first sight.

    According to scientists, when you see a person of the opposite sex, the brain stimulates a cocktail of chemicals like epinephrine in the nervous system.

    This gives you a pleasant outlook on life and makes you react romantically towards him or her.

    The greater stimulation, the greater your emotional feeling.

    People then react differently depending on their age, sex and self-control.

    What we call love, at first sight, is, therefore, nothing special because it could happen to anyone at any time.

    Some further argue that people claiming to fall in love, at first sight, are already prepared to get into a relationship.

    They are not attracted to just anyone but are selective in what they want.

    In short, beautiful people attract attention.

    This is normal because human beings, especially men, are visually stimulated.

    Believing in love, at first sight, is simply a false sense of love because true love goes beyond.

    Others believe in love at first sight.

    In fact, 60 per cent of Americans believe in it and 50 per cent claim to have experienced it.

    According to scientists, as we grow and imagine what we want in our future partners, those qualities are registered in our subconscious mind.

    When you meet someone who has something similar to what is registered in your mind, you even feel you have known him or her for a long time.

    This is love at first sight.

    Scientists have found out that romantic love is rooted in our brains from infancy.

    Romantic love, therefore, arches us backwards.

    This makes a certain person feel right for us or feel familiar because he or she has something that activates our memory.

    Some call it love at first sight.

    If you believe in love at first sight or not, you are right because we are the choices we make in life.

    Appreciate, however, that meeting someone for the first time does not guarantee a long and fulfilling relationship.

    It only offers you the opportunity to find out if you are compatible.

    The days after is what makes a difference.

    Consider carefully the physical, ethical, mental and spiritual qualities of your potential lover.

    Make sure you have compatible qualities.

    Work hard on your weakness and ensure you can cope with them.

    It is kind of amazing how a person who was once a stranger can suddenly be the person to steal your heart but don’t be afraid to fall in love even with a stranger because love is beautiful.

    Love, at first sight, is possible, but it pays to take a second look.

    Also remember, it takes time and patience to grow love.

    Look before you leap.

    Love can give you sight but it can also give you blindness.

  • Why Alhaji Osman Mimina Salifu was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment

    Why Alhaji Osman Mimina Salifu was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment

    Three former board directors of the National Communications Authority have been given prison sentences of a total of 16 years for their roles in the “clandestine” purchase of US$4million cybersecurity equipment.

    A former board chair of the NCA Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie was sentenced to six years imprisonment. 

    William Tetteh Tevie, a former Director-General of the NCA was also sentenced to five years imprisonment and Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator was sentenced five years imprisonment.  

    Alhaji Osman Mimina Salifu, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator of the John Mahama Government, faced investigations concerning his involvement in the purchase of equipment alongside the National Communication Authority (NCA) in Ghana.

    The investigations were carried out in accordance with the laws of the republic of Ghana. Subsequently, Alhaji Salifu was arraigned before a competent High Court presided over by Justice Kyei Baffour. The trial followed the criminal laws of Ghana, and he was given ample opportunities to defend himself.

    Following the criminal trial, Alhaji Salifu was found guilty on charges of conspiracy to willfully cause financial loss to the state, which contravened the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 921), and intentionally misapplying public property. As a result, he was handed a five-year jail term, according to statements made by the NPP during a press conference.

    The NPP, in the same conference, emphasized that President Akufo-Addo had no involvement in the trial, asserting that the courts in Ghana operate independently. They expressed sympathy for Alhaji Salifu but refused to partake in the “drama” presented by their counterparts from the NDC. The NPP criticized the NDC for attempting to implicate revered chiefs in criminal prosecutions, fearing that such actions could lead to convicts seeking refuge in the palaces of chiefs when convicted.

    The NDC had previously petitioned Yagbonwura Tumtumba Boresa Jakpa I, the ruler of Gonjaland, seeking answers from the President regarding Alhaji Osman Mimina Salifu’s imprisonment and alleging that the region was overlooked in plans to construct regional and district hospitals.

    However, the NPP refuted these claims, stating that the Savannah Region was not excluded from the District Hospitals Programme of the Akufo-Addo Government. They cited a letter issued by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development that confirmed the inclusion of the Savannah Region in the program, with plans for the construction of two district hospitals and one regional hospital in the region.

    In conclusion, Alhaji Osman Mimina Salifu’s conviction and jail term were the result of a lawful trial, and the NPP dissociated President Akufo-Addo from any influence over the court’s decision. They also rejected the NDC’s attempts to involve revered chiefs in criminal matters and clarified that development plans, including the construction of hospitals, were indeed in progress for the Savannah Region.

  • Russia calls for Britain to spy for Putin and engage in treason

    Russia calls for Britain to spy for Putin and engage in treason

    In a furious retaliation to the head of MI6, Russia is now urging Britons to spy for Putin.

    UK citizens and other members of the Nato “axis of evil” were invited to provide information with their intelligence agency by Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry.

    When he claimed last month that individuals upset by Putin’s invasion could aid his British agents in putting an end to the carnage, Sir Richard Moore infuriated Moscow.

    ‘Many’ Russian citizens have already committed this act of treason during the previous 18 months, he added.

    Two weeks later, in a statement, Putin’s spokesperson described the attack as “Russophobic” and compared it to Nazi propaganda.

    Moore urged people to betray the Motherland and work with British intelligence, completely disregarding the gentleman’s code, Zakharova claimed.

    ‘In my opinion, a mirror-image response is required.

    Such appeals should be made to residents of the British Isles and the other nations that make up the Nato axis of evil, enticing them to assist Russian intelligence.

    I believe it’s a fantastic idea to provide UK citizens, the majority of whom are currently in incredibly precarious situations, the possibility to work with the Russian secret services, she continued.

    MI6 head calls on Russians to “join hands with us” to put an end to the killing in Ukraine

    What’s the big deal, anyway? London believes it to be normal, hence. I don’t understand why we should forgo it, so let’s wait and see.

    Following the US foreign intelligence service’s rare publishing of a recruitment video explaining how Russians might contact them on Telegram, the MI6 director made a rare intervention.

    Sir Richard stated in his speech in Prague that “many Russians are silently appalled by the sight of their armed forces pulverising Ukrainian cities, evicting innocent families from their homes, and kidnapping thousands of children.”

    They are witnessing their warriors wreak havoc on a neighbouring nation with terror.

    “They know in their hearts that Putin’s justification for attacking a fellow Slavic country is fraudulent, a miasma of lies and fantasy,” the author writes.

    In 1968, after the Soviet tanks repressed the Prague spring revolutions, he emphasised that “many Russians are wrestling with the same dilemmas and the same tugs of conscience.”

    “I invite them to join hands with us, just like others have done over the past 18 months.” We welcome you at any time,’ the seasoned spy said.

    We’ll handle their offers of assistance in the discreet and expert manner for which my service is renowned.

    “With us, their secrets will always be safe.” And together, we’ll try to put an end to the slaughter.

  • “It’s not fair to even compare me to Gyakie – Wendy Shay

    “It’s not fair to even compare me to Gyakie – Wendy Shay

    Ghanaian female Afrobeats singer, Wendy Shay has expressed her belief that being compared to Gyakie is unfair.

    Wendy Shay, a signee of Ruff Town Records, said in a recent interview on TV3, that they are two different, talented artists who should be admired for their distinctive personal styles and sounds.

    She emphasised the significance of appreciating and showcasing the unique talents of each artist rather than making comparisons between them.

    The comparisons between Wendy Shay and Gyakie have since been a subject of debate among music fans and critics in Ghana.

    While both artistes have achieved significant success in the music industry, Ghanaians are of the opinion Gyakie is outshining Wendy Shay on the international front.

    Reacting to this Wendy Shay said that “it’s not fair to even compare. You know, I have been doing and giving hits back-to-back for five years so there shouldn’t be any comparison. I am an international artiste as well and I am working towards it to become a global artiste.”

    The ‘Survivor’ hitmaker explained that people should not see female artiste as competing against each other adding that they can all be allowed to shine and be celebrated for their individual talents.

    “The race is not for the swift; once you’re working hard and working on yourself, you are going to get wherever you put your mind to,” Wendy Shay added.

    The ‘Survivor’ hitmaker further stressed that comparisons can sometimes be discouraging for artistes and may hinder their creative growth. Instead, she called for unity among music lovers.

  • UK’s biggest threats to human life include nuclear attack, new epidemic, and AI – UK government

    UK’s biggest threats to human life include nuclear attack, new epidemic, and AI – UK government

    The British government has casually released a list of all the greatest hazards to life, from another epidemic to volcanic ash.

    The Home Office releases a “National Risk Register” every year that lists all of the “most serious threats to the UK.”

    There are a good number. The government has identified just under 90 potential ways in which our way of life could be completely upended.

    They range from’severe space weather’ and wildfires brought on by climate change to bacterium that kills trees and public unrest.

    Each was given a rating by government officials based on a few criteria to determine if they would have a “minor” or, to put it frankly, “catastrophic” effect on life.

    They also attempt to quantify how ‘likely’ they are to occur and, in order to guarantee that the UK is ready, lay out a’reasonable worst-case scenario’.

    A pandemic sweeping across the nation once more is assessed as the most probable threat (between 5-25%) out of the 89 threats.

    The Home Office adds that it’s “impossible” to predict when the next pandemic-causing pathogen, “Disease X,” would emerge. However, the WHO claims that they are already preparing for it.

    According to the Home Office assessment, “the reasonable worst-case scenario is based on an unchecked respiratory pandemic with an unassumed transmission route and a high attack rate.”

    ‘The scenario implies 50% of the UK’s population fall ill for the whole course of the pandemic, with around 1.34 million individuals anticipated to require hospital treatment, perhaps leading to up to 840,000 deaths,’ it continues.

    Such “catastrophic” events include a civil nuclear disaster and a radiation release from a nuclear power plant abroad, but the risk of either is less than 0.2%.

    However, “larger-scale CBRN attacks,” or those employing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials, have a probability of one to five percent.

    The government warns that in the worst-case scenario, “terrorists, hostile states or criminals” might release “radioactive material into an open environment,” which would be challenging to clean.

    It is also considered to be rather possible that the National Electricity Transmission System (NETS), which keeps the lights on in England and Wales, will fail.

    Also included were more recent catastrophes and tragedies. Consider drone attacks (even though they have a low impact and possibility) and the 25% likelihood of killing a public figure, like the Tory MP Sir David Ames.

    AI, meanwhile, “may increase harmful misinformation and disinformation, or, if handled improperly, reduce economic competitiveness,” according to others.

    Officials also take into account hazards including cyberattacks, artificial intelligence, hostage-taking, oil and gas interruptions due to the conflict in the Ukraine and Russia, storms, floods, heatwaves, droughts, and air pollution.

    The government is also concerned about the possibility of one of the numerous volcanoes in Europe erupting, as well as Bárarbunga and Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland.

    Concerns on officials’ minds from the interruption of British airspace caused by the ash to the possibility of British citizens getting stuck there.

    Even in the three years since we released our most recent National Risk Register in 2020, we have witnessed Russia’s heinous invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic’s widespread and protracted consequences, and the growing influence of climate change on our day-to-day lives. Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, wrote.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, for example, are changing our society and posing both benefits and hazards.

    The Duchy of Lancaster declared that in the face of the long list of hazards, Britain must be “resilient” and “work together” with other nations.

    We can make the country safer, more secure, and ultimately more successful by emphasising our common resilience, he continued.

  • Dua Lipa faces fresh copyright lawsuit over hit song ‘Levitating’

    Dua Lipa faces fresh copyright lawsuit over hit song ‘Levitating’

    English and Albanian singer and songwriter Dua Lipa is currently facing a multi-million dollar copyright claim over her hit single “Levitating.”

    Musician Bosko Kante has filed a legal action against her, alleging that she used a recording made with his talk box in remixes of the song without obtaining permission.

    As of now, Dua Lipa and her label Warner Music Group have not yet responded to the copyright claims regarding the unauthorized use of the talk box recording in her hit single “Levitating.”

    The song “Levitating” is one of Dua Lipa’s most popular tracks from her 2020 album “Future Nostalgia.”

    The legal dispute centers around the alleged use of the talk box recording in the song, which has led to the multi-million dollar copyright claim against her.

    The legal action, which was filed in Los Angeles on Monday, claims Bosko is entitled to more than $20m (£15.6m).

    It says British-Albanian star Dua Lipa had permission to use the talk box on the original recording but not on any remixes, Reuters reported.

    It alleges the 27-year-old reused the work without permission on further releases, including The Blessed Madonna remix, which featured Madonna and Missy Elliott, another remix featuring DaBaby and a performance by Dua Lipa at the American Music Awards.

    Bosko is yet to comment publicly on his claim, however, Billboard reports his lawyers say he has made “numerous attempts” to resolve the matter, which they call a “blatant infringement” of his copyright.

    Lawyers maintain Bosko has taken legal action because the singer and her label had shown “unwillingness to co-operate or accept responsibility”.

    It is not the first time Dua Lipa, who is currently in the charts with her song Dance the Night Away, has faced copyright claims over Levitating.

    According to Reuters, a court complaint from reggae group Artikal Sound System was dismissed in June – and a separate claim, by songwriters Sandy Linzer and L. Russell Brown, continues.

    In 2021, she was also sued over claims she put a paparazzi photo of herself on Instagram without permission.

  • One dead and numerous injured as tour bus rollover at Grand Canyon

    One dead and numerous injured as tour bus rollover at Grand Canyon

    Grand Canyon tour bus rollover leaves one dead and numerous more hurt. A bus that overturned near Arizona’s Grand Canyon West left one person dead and more than 50 others hurt.

    The terrible bus accident happened Tuesday morning about 9.50am close to a resort with a view of the famous canyon above the Colorado River.

    The Hualapai Indian Tribe runs Grand Canyon West, which is situated on their reservation. The federally run Grand Canyon National Park, which it is not associated with, is not run by this organisation.

    Tribal representatives verified that a private tour operator operated the bus. It struck another visitor’s own vehicle before flipping over.

    The Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass bridge that is one of Grand Canyon West’s most popular tourist destinations, was close to the crash site.

    57 individuals were riding the bus at the time of the collision, according to Hualapai Emergency Operations.

    A medevac was used to transport eight injured patients to nearby hospitals for treatment, while an unspecified number were also transported by ground ambulance for less serious wounds.

    The Hualapai Tribe announced that five medical flight agencies, including AMR ambulances, Bullhead Fire Department, Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire Department, Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire Department, GCW Air Rescue Fire, and Emergency Services, had all responded to the incident.

    The victims who passed away and were hurt have not yet been identified. It’s not clear

    The event is being looked into by the Hualapai Nation Police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

    At least one more fatality occurred in Grand Canyon West this year.

    The Grand Canyon Skywalk, which extends 70 feet from the canyon’s rim, claimed the life of a man just two months ago.

    After a visitor, who has only been named as a 33-year-old man, fell nearly 4,000 feet off the glass bridge, emergency personnel and rescue teams flocked to the attraction.

    Later, a helicopter was used to recover the man’s body.

  • Lord Morgan releases new single, ‘Chairman’

    Lord Morgan releases new single, ‘Chairman’

    Ghanaian dancehall and afrobeats artiste, Lord Morgan‘s new single Chairman is the perfect way for summer to get better by filling the music space with amazing music.

    The Chensee-produced tune, “Chairman,” marks Lord Morgan’s first release of the year 2023, following the success of his track “Masters” released in March last year. Get ready for a musical treat as he continues to delight his fans with his captivating sound.

    Lord Morgan, popularly called “King Of Dangme Music” is known for his unique style and capturing vocals.

    In addition to the newest song, fans should be on the lookout for a thrilling music video of “Chairman” in August.

    Lord Morgan debuts the record of his newly formed label “Lord Morgan Empire”.

  • Murderer of 11 Jews in Pittsburgh synagogue attack given death penalty

    Murderer of 11 Jews in Pittsburgh synagogue attack given death penalty

    The man who opened fire and killed 11 Jewish people in a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 was given the death penalty.

    Robert Bowers was found guilty in June of attacking the Tree of Life – Or L’Simcha Congregation on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighbourhood.

    Eleven worshippers were killed in the shooting and six more were injured. The Jewish community was the target of the bloodiest anti-Semitic terrorist attack in American history.

    A federal jury decided that Bowers will be executed on Wednesday morning. Before reaching a unanimous verdict, the jury deliberated for more than 10 hours over the course of two days.

    Bowers’ reaction to being given the death penalty was emotionless.

    Judge Robert Colville reviewed the jurors’ comments to the 115 mitigating circumstances offered by Bowers’ defence before the jury’s recommendation was announced.

    Although the jury accepted some mitigating circumstances, they disagreed with many of the defense’s main points, including the claim that Bowers had schizophrenia.

    They concurred with the defence that Bowers had a challenging upbringing but disagreed with the claim that he was experiencing a “mental or emotional disturbance” at the time of the horrific murder.

    All five aggravating reasons, including the defendant’s hate of Jews and lack of regret for his acts, were likewise supported by the jury.

    Additionally, they discovered that Bowers targeted a Jewish-dominated area of Pittsburgh in order to “maximise the devastation, amplify the harm of his crimes, and instill fear within the local, national, and international Jewish communities.”

    After polling the jury, Judge Colville shed a few tears and thanked the members of the panel for their service. Colville stated, “I’ve never given it with as much sincerity as I did just now.”

    Although they will “never achieve closure,” Rose Mallinger’s family said they still “feel a measure of justice has been served” in regards to Bowers’ killing of the oldest victim.

    Other members of the Or L’Simcha Congregation made a media announcement for Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

    Since President Joe Biden took office, Bowers’ sentencing is the first federal execution.

    Since the federal government reintroduced the capital sentence in 1988, just 16 inmates have been put to death. 13 of those executions took place between July 2020 and January 2021, over a six-month span.

    Since Biden became president and declared a moratorium, there have been no further federal executions.

    For updates on this breaking news story, come back here.

  • Ten people struck down by cars as man attempted to elude police in New York

    Ten people struck down by cars as man attempted to elude police in New York

    While evading the police in New York City, the driver of a stolen car struck pedestrians and oncoming traffic, injuring ten people.

    A 20-year-old male was driving when he lost control of the vehicle while evading New York Police Department police.

    Around 5.30 p.m., patrol police on East 43rd Street received a licence plate reader alert informing them that a stolen car was passing by. This signalled the start of the pursuit.

    The car fled southbound on Lexington Avenue when the driver tried to stop it, hitting a bicyclist, according to the NYPD.

    Having Illinois licence plates, the stolen vehicle was a maroon Hyundai Tucson SUV. It was reported stolen from the South Bronx’s 44th Precinct of the NYPD on Monday.

    After striking the biker, the driver struck a taxi, mounted a curb, and continued onto the sidewalk close to 42nd Street.

    After doing a U-turn, the driver proceeded to travel north on Lexington while veering away from the flow of traffic.

    After hitting many individuals and colliding with a 2021 Toyota RAV4, the car “came to rest,” according to the NYPD.

    Before police authorities could stop him, the driver tried to flee from the overturned car but was stopped by bystanders who seized hold of him.

    A third unidentified passenger—possibly a woman—ran away from the scene on foot. Police are looking for her so they may question her.

    The stolen Hyundai’s damaged front end was seen in photos taken at the site.

    Ten pedestrians were hurt overall as a result of the terrible episode. While two of the victims declined medical attention, the other eight were taken to nearby hospitals and are now in stable condition.

    At a press conference, FDNY Deputy Chief Mario Tompkins revealed that one woman had an ankle sprain. All of the other wounds were categorised as having “minor abrasions and back and neck pain.”

    Kyle Fernandez, a 20-year-old man, was the driver. He does not possess a New York driver’s licence, according to the police.

    Twelve counts of reckless endangerment, twelve counts of fleeing the scene, refusing arrest, possession of stolen items, driving without a licence and operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs were among the several allegations brought against Fernandez.

  • Big Akwes secretly weds girlfriend

    Big Akwes secretly weds girlfriend

    Kumawood actor Akwasi Asamoah, also known as Big Akwes, is said to have gotten married.

    According to a video accessible on Zionfelix.net, Akwes and his partner, Freda, got married last weekend.

    Close friends of the couple disclosed during a TikTok live session that Big Akwes married his girlfriend, who is based in Germany, on July 31, 2023.

    Xandy Kamel, who was part of the live TikTok panel hinted that she has details about the marriage ceremony.

    The popular actor, is, however, yet to comment about it.

    Details about where Big Akwes and his partner got married are yet to be made public.

    Congratulations to Big Akwes and his partner on their private marriage ceremony. May they have a blissful and happy married life together!

    Click on link for more details

    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1325604785025560

  • Buildings in US Capitol under lockdown over false active shooter alarm

    Buildings in US Capitol under lockdown over false active shooter alarm

    In response to an active shooter report that turned out to be a “bad call,” the Senate office buildings were closed down by US Capitol Police.

    Around 2.30 pm on Wednesday, Capitol Police responded to a “concerning 911 call” and began searching for a potential active shooter at the Senate buildings in Washington, DC.

    Workers fled the US Capitol in panic and uncertainty after the story, which caused havoc.

    The Metropolitan Police Department, which supported Capitol Police, reported that “a call came in for an active shooter.” Officer Hugh Carew of the MPD said this.

    After hearing that there was an active short on Capitol Hill, police search the Senate.

    It seems like a poor decision. No one was hurt, and the shooter was not found.

    At 2:45 PM, US Capitol Police tweeted, “Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating.” We will keep in touch with the general public here.

    ‘If you are inside the Senate Buildings, everyone inside should be sheltering in place since the report was for a possible active shooter,’ the agency stated in another tweet. We have no verifiable reports of gunshots, it should be mentioned.

    Capitol police sent an email to personnel on Capitol Hill about a “internal security threat” at the same time.

    All Senate buildings personnel were instructed in the email to “move inside your office or the nearest office” right away. Employees were instructed to “close, lock, and avoid external doors and windows.”

    The document advises, “If you are in a public area, find a place to hide or seek cover.”

    As of 4:04 p.m., US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said that all three Senate buildings had been cleared. Police searched the area and discovered “nothing,” he claimed.

    Most lawmakers are on vacation in August, thus the shooter scare and lockdown happened while they were abroad. During the break, some staff members do go to their offices, however most return to their congressional districts.

    It took place the day before Donald Trump, a former president, was scheduled to visit in the vicinity of the Capitol.

    Following his indictment in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot and attempts to rig the 2020 presidential election, Trump is due to make an appearance in federal court at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

    The Capitol Police team, according to Manger, is ready for Trump’s high-profile visit, which is expected to draw a crowd and maybe incite protests.

  • Popular Nigerian TikToker sentenced to three years in jail for cyberstalking

    Popular Nigerian TikToker sentenced to three years in jail for cyberstalking


    The Federal High Court has sentenced Okoye Blessing Nwakaego to three years in prison for cyberstalking Nollywood actress Eniola Badmus in Lagos.

    Nwakaego pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of cyberstalking, leading to her conviction by Justice Nicholas Oweibo.

    The judge took into account the convict’s remorse and offered her the option of paying a fine of N150,000 instead of serving the jail term.

    According to the charge, Nwakaego and one Chimabia (now at large) between December 2022 and July 2023 in Lagos conspired to commit the offence.

    The duo was also said to have knowingly caused the transmission of communication via Tiktok, Gossipmill TV, remedy blog and other social media network, with her mobile number.

    Her conduct, according to the police, was “grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred and needless anxiety to the prejudice of Badmus.”

    The court heard that the offence contravened sections 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(c) and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.

    Prosecution counsel Nosa Uhumwangho, who reviewed the facts of the case, told Justice Oweibo that Nwakaego confessed to making the video following a prompt by a male friend.

    He said: “Blessing said a friend who claimed to know Eniola Badmus narrated the false story to her and that she in turn, narrated the story to a male friend Chimabia, who asked her to do a video of the false story that Eniola Badmus specialises in introducing young Nigerian girls to men.

    “Blessing said after making the video, Chimabia gave her N200,000 and asked her to post it on her Tiktok from where other platforms picked it.”

    Nosa said over three million viewers watched the video online.

  • 2 apprehended for allegedly planning to rob businessman

    2 apprehended for allegedly planning to rob businessman

    Police in Yeji, Pru East District, Bono East Region, have arrested two individuals on suspicion of planning to rob a businessman.

    As per the provided information, the alleged perpetrators intended to execute their scheme in the East Gonja District of the Savanna Region.

    The individuals involved in the case have been identified as Njoku Innocent, a 27-year-old Nigerian, and Attah Kwame, a 29-year-old Ghanaian.

    Innocent is alleged to have employed the services of Attah Kwame to supposedly rob his employer.

    He allegedly gave Kwame a gun and a motorbike for the operation.

    However, Kwame rushed into hiding after receiving the items and abandoned the mission.

    Njoku Innocent reported Kwame as a thief after seeing him at the Yeji market.

    The two were subsequently apprehended and upon interrogation, Attah Kwame admitted that Innocent had hired him to rob his boss, but he had fled.

    They were detained by police on Monday in Yeji and are still being investigated.

  • Nigerian artistes show more support to their own in Africa – Stonebwoy

    Nigerian artistes show more support to their own in Africa – Stonebwoy

    Ghanaian dancehall and reggae superstar Stonebwoy gave an interview to American DJ and radio host Sway on SiriusXM radio in Florida, USA, where he discussed why Nigerian musicians are more likely than their Ghanaian counterparts to find success abroad.
    The “Sobolo” hitmaker claims that compared to Ghanaian musicians, Nigerian musicians are known for putting more work into their craft and having a larger global fan base.
    Their ability to fill up international arenas is a result of their dedication to their craft and their extensive fan base.
    “When it comes to the whole of Africa, Nigeria pushes the most. And you can find Nigerians being very popular around the African continent in different countries, but you might not find other African artistes as popular as other African acts in Nigeria,” he said.

    Stonebwoy further stated that Ghanaians should put Ghanaian artistes at the top of their priority list for the music industry to reach the same levels as the Nigerians.

    “I’ve been calling out other people and telling them; know your artistes. If you’re Ghanaian, make sure that Ghanaian artistes are the ultimate priority because a Nigerian’s top priority is the Nigerian artiste,” Stonebwoy added.

    He also stated that Ghana has been a foundation for most of Africa’s achievements including politics, development, creative arts, and music.

    “Therefore, it is only a matter of time for Ghana to attain those heights.

    I tell you this on authority, Ghana as a country is the hidden secret behind so many progress of Africans and African as a continent. Highlife is an original birth child of Ghana. Fela Kuti who was a mighty legend from Nigeria will tell you of the ties he had with Ghana. We actually burst the door to say the year of return in 2019 and that thing took the whole world by storm. So as a Ghanaian, I understand the kind of ingredient that we give to the world and to our African brothers,” Stonebwoy noted.

    The Burnington Music Group CEO also spoke on the divisiveness among African acts compared to American artists.

    “Out here in the West, all black people find themselves pushing the black movement because they don’t really know about their ethnicity. Down here in the continent, we’re pushing the ethnicity rather; I’m Nigerian, I’m Akan, I’m Ga, I’m Igbo, I’m Yoruba…. So, I think the mentality among that keeps us in our pockets and the political system plays with that a lot,” he further noted.

    Stonebwoy further mentioned that language barriers and travel restrictions pose challenges for collaborations among African artists. Despite these obstacles, he is currently on a media tour in the U.S and recently released a collaboration track with American rapper Rus.

  • 9,359 lives lost to AIDS in 2022 – Report reveals

    9,359 lives lost to AIDS in 2022 – Report reveals

    New data from the Ghana AIDS Commission reveals that a total of 16,574 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections were reported in 2022.

    The number represents a decline from the total of 18,036 infections documented in 2021.

    People of all age groups were impacted by the 16,574 new HIV infections.

    Infections were recorded in 13,706 people aged 15 and up; 2,180 children aged zero to 14 years; 645 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years; and 739 young people aged 15 to 24 years.

    The total number of AIDS-related deaths recorded for people of all ages was 9,359, the data added.

    Adults (15+ years) were 7,179; children (0-14 years) 2,180; adolescents (10–19 years) 645 and young people (15–24 years) were 739.

    At the moment, the total HIV in Ghana stands at 354,927 with persons aged 15 and above leading the chart with 330,215 infections.

  • Ghana to install nuclear plant in 2030

    Ghana to install nuclear plant in 2030

    The Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) is fast-tracking the development of its competencies to oversee Ghana’s initiative to establish its inaugural nuclear power plant by 2030.

    To achieve this, the authority is currently sending its staff for overseas training with assistance from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

    The enriched competencies will feed into the authority’s work in developing regulations, guidelines and standard review plans to conduct the authorisation process for the full life cycle of the nuclear power plant.

    He reiterated that the authority was poised to provide the needed oversight to ensure the Plant met all the required technical specifications.

    “We are now developing our competencies because the area is technically deep, so we are training our staff overseas.

    “We are also developing regulations and guidelines on how the plant should be designed, constructed and operated and to support the NRA Act 2015, Act 895, to work,” he said.
    He reiterated that the authority was poised to provide the needed oversight to ensure the Plant met all the required technical specifications.

    Mandate
    On the mandate of the Authority, Dr Allotey said the NRA was in charge of authorising licences to companies that deal in, operate or transport ionise radiation equipment.

    He said although a lot of organisations were complying to acquire a radiation licence from the NRA, others did not and had subsequently been sanctioned, with others being issued with enforcement letters.

    “Every year, we have about 20 companies who are not complying; once we send them enforcement letters, most of them comply,” he noted.

    He, however, said they were intensifying public education on its operations as an Authority.
    The Head of Legal Department at NRA, Ebenezer Appiah Opare, said plans were underway to amend Act 895 to bring finality to areas that were ambiguous such as the NRA receiving gifts and law on spent fuel.

    In view of Act 895, he said, the NRA was the only body mandated in the country to regulate the operation of facilities carrying out activity that gave rise to radiation exposure.

    He said the Act mandated organisations that produce, possess, use, import, export, transport, transfer, handle and manage radioactive material, decommission or other related activity or any practice identified by the authority to apply to it for licensing.

    He noted that all radiation sources or devices entering or leaving the country also required an import permit.

    He said an applicant was required to complete an application form for review before the permit could be granted or otherwise.

    “Failure of the authorised person to comply with regulatory requirements, as well as conditions of authorisation requires enforcement action of which may include administrative fines, warning letters and cessation in the use of device or radioactive material,” he said.
    The Head of the Nuclear Security Department of the NRA, Simon Adu, for his part, told the Daily Graphic that the NRA was preparing towards the upcoming African Games by ensuring that the sporting venues were safe.

    “If you analyse the threats within the country about radiation and radioactive sources, it is likely that someone may bring radioactive material into the country and use it to cause malicious acts at the major public event,” he said.

    He said the NRA was collaborating with the International Atomic Agency and National Security in that regard.

    “The threat of activating a radioactive material is possible and we need to prepare for that,” he noted.

    The Director in Charge of Nuclear Installation, Dr Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako, indicated that the NRA was leading the preparation of a National Policy for Nuclear and Radiation Safety in Ghana, which, he said, demonstrated the country’s political commitment to ensure the protection of humans and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.

  • A-G directs police to include Cecilia Dapaah, husband in list of money laundering suspects

    A-G directs police to include Cecilia Dapaah, husband in list of money laundering suspects

    The police have been instructed to expand their investigation into money laundering and financial crimes involving the domestic workers of former sanitation minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

    The Attorney-General’s Office, in its legal counsel to the police, emphasized the importance of including the former minister and her husband in the investigation to determine the origin of the funds they claimed were stolen from their residence last year.

    In a nine-page advisory dated July 31, 2023, and forwarded to the Director of Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Attorney-General requested a thorough investigation into the ownership and source of the funds reported as stolen, amounting to US$200,000 and 300,000 euros.

    The office recounted the sequence of events leading to the theft of monies as reported by the former minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffuor – the complainants.

    It also analyzed the docket as prepared by the police and the charges proffered against the five accused persons calling generally for further investigations into the issue of the amount of monies discovered.

    The A-G ordered a decoupling of and in some instances total dropping of some charges brought against some of the accused. In the case of one accused person, the A-G asked that all charges brought against him be dismissed.

    The concluding part of the A-G’s advice read: “We note that you are investigating the acquisition of various properties by the 1st and 2nd accused persons, which investigations border on money laundering.

    “The advice rendered above implies that you should broaden the investigations on money laundering and other financial crimes to cover the complainants in order to establish the matters raised above. This is in light of the huge volumes of cash reported by the complainants to have been stolen from their home.

    “It is also noted that Cecilia Abena Dapaah until recently was a high level public official whilst her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffuor, in his statement to the Police, indicated his profession as an architect.

    “Your investigation into these matters is required to enable the Attorney-General take a comprehensive decision on the case.

    “We advise that you comply with the directives on further investigations in this advice and submit the outcome of your investigations to this office.”

  • 37 Military Hospital to hold mass burial for unclaimed bodies on September 1

    37 Military Hospital to hold mass burial for unclaimed bodies on September 1

    The 37 Military Hospital has issued a public service announcement regarding an upcoming mass burial exercise for unidentified and unclaimed bodies in its morgue.

    Hospital authorities emphasized the necessity of addressing this matter due to the congestion caused by the accumulation of such bodies, which has been impeding day-to-day operations and efficiency at the facility.

    As per the press release by the Ghana Armed Forces, the last mass burial exercise took place on 11th March 2017. In order to tackle the issue of congestion and manage the situation efficiently, the 37 Military Hospital has scheduled the forthcoming mass burial for Friday, 1st September 2023.

    In an effort to identify and claim the bodies before the scheduled mass burial, the 37 Military Hospital is seeking assistance from the general public. Relatives of individuals who suspect their loved ones might be among the unclaimed bodies are urged to visit the Department of Anatomical Pathology at the hospital between Thursday, August 3, and Thursday, August 31, 2023.

    The hospital authorities appeal to the public for cooperation and understanding during this sensitive process. Identifying and claiming the bodies will not only alleviate the burden on the morgue but also bring closure to families and ensure dignified arrangements for the deceased.

    For further information or inquiries, concerned individuals may contact the 37 Military Hospital or visit their official website for updates on the mass burial exercise.

  • NHIA launches Health Insurance Knowledge Sharing Centre at UG

    NHIA launches Health Insurance Knowledge Sharing Centre at UG


    The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has inaugurated a Health Insurance Knowledge Sharing Centre at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) in Accra. The center aims to enhance the capabilities of healthcare insurance personnel in Ghana. Financed by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), the facility will foster a knowledge-sharing initiative, enabling Ghanaian and Korean experts and insurance management staff to exchange experiences.

    This collaborative effort will also extend support to other African nations in their endeavors to enhance health insurance management within their jurisdictions.

    The programme would also make use of a research policy and agenda document to actively identify modules and strategies to improve the operations of the scheme in the long run.

    This initiative was built under a partnership between NHIA and KOFIH to ensure that the country attains its Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NHIA, Dr Okoe Boye, said this when he launched the knowledge centre and the policy agenda document in Accra yesterday.

    Centre
    Dr Okoe Boye commended KOFIH for their continual commitment and support in ensuring that the country reached its target of UHC.

    He said the centre had the basic objective of transferring and sharing knowledge; thus, it was part of the works of the authority to centralise its knowledge sharing as the scheme turned 20 years this year.

    Dr Boye further encouraged the participants to gather enough knowledge as they partook in the sessions to make effective transformations at their various stations.

    For his part, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Hafis Adam, applauded the authority for its efforts in ensuring that the policies that were being discussed since 2013 had been brought to fruition.

    He said the launch of the centre was on the right path as investing in the human resource of every organisation ensured a strengthened system; hence, he was hopeful that the project would kick start positive change in the scheme going forward.

    New venture
    The Dean of UGBS, Professor Justice Nyigmah Bawole stated that the institution over the years was open to engaging industry to make an impact in the society.

    Hence its partnership with the centre was a depiction of its commitment to community development.

    He assured that UGBS was open to professionally building the capacity of the participants to ensure that its operations were improved through the policy document and other expertise.

    Prof. Bawole, however, charged the 45 beneficiaries to actively engage in the sessions with the mindset to deliver better and more efficient services by the end of the first phase of the course.

    Achievement
    The Country Representative of KOFIH, Jinho Kang, expressed excitement at the launch of the centre because it was a symbolic stepping stone to further strategic cooperation towards the achievement of universal health coverage.

  • Zelensky calls the ‘world to act’ after missile attack damaged grain supplies

    Zelensky calls the ‘world to act’ after missile attack damaged grain supplies

    In response to “Russian terrorists” who have attacked the world’s food supply, the world “must respond,” according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

    In the Danube River city of Izmail, near Odesa, drones attacked a warehouse where Ukraine’s grain exports were stored.

    Approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of grain headed for Africa, China, and Israel were destroyed after a fire broke out at industrial and port facilities, causing equipment damage.

    The following message was uploaded by Zelensky on Telegram: “Russian terrorists have once again targeted ports, grain facilities, and global food security.

    “The world must act,”

    Explosions and a sizable fire are visible in video taken by Romanian fishermen on the opposite bank of the river.

    Attacks followed Russia’s termination of a contract that permitted Ukrainian shipments to be made from the Black Sea port to international markets.

    In a Facebook update, Ukraine’s South operational command stated: “The enemy’s goal was clearly the facilities of the ports and industrial infrastructure of the region.”

    In the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, where people struggle with high food prices and famine, Ukraine is a significant provider of wheat, maize, vegetable oil, and other agricultural products.

    In defiance of a de facto blockade Russia reinstituted in mid-July, buildings at the port of Izmail were also demolished, and ships were stopped as they prepared to load up with Ukrainian grain.

    Since Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in mid-July, the port, which is across the river from NATO member Romania, has served as the primary alternate route for grain exports out of Ukraine.

    By convincing merchants that the ports are hazardous to use, Kyiv claims the aim of the strikes is to reimpose Russia’s blockade.

    In a statement, American ambassador Bridget Brink denounced the strikes and listed recent Russian targets, including “Homes. Ports. cereal silos. historic structures. Men, women, and kids.

    Round-the-clock and escalating Russian attacks on Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson once again demonstrate Russia’s lack of interest in peace, disregard for the safety of civilians, and disregard for people across the world who depend on Ukrainian food.

  • Ghana’s excessive borrowing putting youth at risk of slavery – KKD 

    Ghana’s excessive borrowing putting youth at risk of slavery – KKD 

    Ghanaian broadcaster Kwesi Kyei-Darkwah, widely recognized as KKD, has raised concerns about the government’s financial policies, asserting that the nation is gradually “enslaving its youth” by heavily borrowing and depending on international aid.

    During an interview on TV XYZ on August 2, 2023, he stressed that the government’s dependence on borrowing and seeking international aid has severe repercussions, particularly for the youth.

    He made the case that should international donors require hard work in return for the debts, it would be the younger generation that bears the brunt of the consequences, given that the older individuals are the ones primarily responsible for accumulating the debts.

    “Nobody can come to government and uses his family members only to rule the country, it is not possible because there is no family in this country that are sensible than all Ghanaians, and the way things are going, it is bad… the person who is behind our struggles as a nation in terms of finances is called Ken Ofori-Atta and he is the same person at the ministry, as the minister of finance. Yesterday I listened to him, everything he said from the beginning to the end, and it was empty.

    “I was surprised when he was talking …we are begging to rule this country, and a country that begs and borrows to rule its citizens are selling its youth into slavery. A nation that is on its knees begging or goes with a calabash borrowing from everywhere is selling its youths into slavery, that is how it is…if the whites come right now and claim that we should go and work can these old men go and work?”

    Furthermore, KKD pointed a finger at the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), claiming that the party has lost its way after former President John Kufour’s tenure.

    He accused the NPP of destroying the party’s ideals and principles that Kufour had worked hard to present to Ghanaians.

    “President Kuffour with a humble posture begged Ghanaians to accept your party but after his reign look at how you have made the party.

    “So, looking at what President Kufour came to do and the nature of this country now…looking at the kind of corruption ongoing, stealing, dubious procurement, and unnecessary borrowing, dubious projects, you will ask yourself whether we want to progress as a nation or certain individuals.”

  • 2 more suspects in Cecilia Dapaah’s theft case arrested

    2 more suspects in Cecilia Dapaah’s theft case arrested

    Two more suspects have been taken into custody in relation to the alleged theft of valuables and cash from the home of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former minister of sanitation and water resources, and her husband, Mr. Daniel Osei Kuffour.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye revealed this information in the Accra Circuit Court presided over by Afia Owusu Appiah. With these recent arrests, the total number of suspects detained in the case has reached seven.

    Main suspects
    The two main suspects — Patience Botwe, 18, and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, have already been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and five counts of stealing while three others — Benjamin Sowah, Kwaku Botwe and Malik Dauda, have been charged with dishonestly receiving the alleged stolen money.

    The two main suspects are alleged to have stolen personal effects of Madam Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes and jewellery worth $95,000.

    Additionally, Ms Botwe is accused of stealing six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at $3,000, belonging to the former minister’s husband.

    Meanwhile, the second accused, Sarah Agyei, a lactating mother, who has already been granted bail in the sum of GH¢1million with two sureties two weeks ago, has still not been able to execute the bail conditions.

    Proceedings
    All five accused persons were absent when the case was called.

    DSP Nyamekye told the court that the accused persons were absent because police investigators had travelled to Tamale where they made the two new arrests, hence their inability to bring the five accused persons.

    He added that investigations were still ongoing in that jurisdiction.

    The prosecutor further said that the Attorney-General had indicated his intention to take over the prosecution of the case and, therefore, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable them to put their house in order.

    A prayer for bail by Counsel for the accused was turned down by the court.

    The court subsequently adjourned the matter to August 8, 2023, and ordered the prosecution to ensure that the accused persons were brought to court at the next adjourned date.

    Brief facts
    According to the amended charge sheet and brief facts presented in court, Ms Botwe, also known as Maabena, was a house help of the complainants, Daniel Osei Kuffour and wife, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

    The court heard that Ms Agyei was also a former house help of the complainants.

    The complainants reported the case to the police in June this year, after detecting the theft of cash and personal effects.

    Ms Botwe was caught entering the couple’s room with a duplicate key.

    Upon arrival, Mr Kuffour found Ms Botwe hiding behind the door.

    The complainants later realised that some of their money and properties were missing.

    Ms Botwe was subsequently arrested and released on police enquiry bail but went into hiding with her boyfriend, Benjamin, in Tamale where they allegedly rented a 3-bedroom apartment and a store.

    An amount of $40,000 and GH¢72,619.70 was retrieved from the apartment.

    Ms Botwe allegedly used the stolen money to buy a 3-bedroom house, a double-decker refrigerator, a water dispenser, a television set, a washing machine, and a chest cooler, among other items.

    She also bought a Hyundai Elantra for Benjamin, who later sold it to purchase a Honda Civic.

    Ms Botwe was also alleged to have given her father GH¢50,000, and GH¢1 million to her ex-boyfriend, Malik.

    During interrogation, Ms Botwe implicated Sarah as her accomplice.

  • Russia bombs Black Sea port just after launching ‘peace talks’ with Turkey

    Russia bombs Black Sea port just after launching ‘peace talks’ with Turkey

    In the coming weeks, Vladimir Putin will travel on a diplomatic mission to Turkey, his first trip to a nation that is a member of NATO since the conflict in Ukraine began.

    Erdogan emphasised the significance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which he called a “bridge for peace,” and told Putin that “no steps should be taken that will escalate tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war.” Erdogan also confirmed the visit.

    But as Russia intensifies its use of force to stop Ukraine from exporting grain, it today assaulted Ukraine‘s biggest inland port, which is located across the Danube River from Romania. As a result, food prices around the world have increased.

    As ships prepared to arrive at the port of Izmail to load up with Ukrainian grain in violation of a de facto blockade Russia reimposed in mid-July, the attacks destroyed buildings there and prevented them from doing so.

    Oleksandr Kubrakov, the deputy prime minister of Ukraine, claimed that about 40,000 tonnes of grain that were bound for China, Israel, and nations in Africa were damaged by Russian drone assaults.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted on Telegram that “Russian terrorists have once again attacked ports, grain, and global food security.”

    One of the major exporters of grains worldwide is Ukraine. After declining to renew a deal that had eased its wartime blockade of Ukrainian ports last year, Russia began attacking Ukraine’s agricultural and port infrastructure and has continued to do so for more than two weeks.

    Since Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in mid-July, the port, which is across the river from NATO member Romania, has served as the primary alternate route for grain exports out of Ukraine.

    After speaking with Erdogan, the Kremlin reaffirmed Russia’s need for rejoining the grain agreement: the implementation of a parallel agreement that would improve the terms for its own food and fertiliser exports.

    These shipments are now immune from sanctions, which the West claims Moscow is attempting to thwart by endangering the world’s food supply.

    Putin and Erdogan, according to Erdogan’s staff, decided that he will visit Turkey soon.

    Putin, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, has made no official trips outside of the country this year and has only travelled outside of the former Soviet Union once since beginning his invasion, on a day trip to Tehran more than a year ago. Erdogan has long expressed the desire to welcome Putin and persuade him to resume the grain agreement.

    Recent assaults on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure have been characterised by Moscow as reprisal for a Ukrainian attack on a Kerch Strait bridge to Crimea that was being used to supply Russian forces in southern Ukraine.

    In a statement, American ambassador Bridget Brink denounced the strikes and listed recent Russian targets, including “Homes. Ports. cereal silos. historic structures. Men, women, and kids.

    Round-the-clock and escalating Russian attacks on Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson once again demonstrate Russia’s lack of interest in peace, disregard for the safety of civilians, and disregard for people across the world who depend on Ukrainian food.

    According to Kyiv, the purpose of the strikes is to convince shippers and their insurance firms that Ukrainian ports are hazardous to resume exports, hence reinstating Russia’s blockade.

    Before Russia withdrew from the Black Sea agreement, grain was exported mostly via Ukraine’s Danube river ports like Izmail, which have subsequently become the principal exit point. Grain is loaded onto barges and transported to Romania’s Constanta Black Sea port for further shipment.

    While Moscow claims it will treat ships bound for Ukrainian seaports as potential military targets, Kiev wants international ships to arrive right there and load up.

    Russia’s decision to renege on the agreement, mediated by the U.N. and Turkey, has prompted a warning from the United Nations about a potential food catastrophe in the world’s poorest nations.

    According to Ukrainian officials, in nine days of strikes following the termination of the grain agreement, Moscow has attacked 26 port facilities, five civilian vessels, and 180,000 tonnes of grain.

  • Couple injured after 3 cars collide 

    Couple injured after 3 cars collide 

    A serious accident involving four vehicles occurred at Tonisco near Gomoa Potsin in the Gomoa East District on the Kasoa-Winneba Highway, resulting in significant injuries to a couple.

    The accident implicated a Sprinter bus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Pilot, and Tipper truck.

    According to reports, the Corolla swerved out of its lane when one of its tires burst, subsequently striking the rear tire of the Tipper truck and causing collisions with the other vehicles.

    The couple who was occupants of the Toyota Corolla sustained serious injuries and were conveyed to the Potsin Polyclinic for treatment.

    An eyewitness, one Ebo Anderson, narrated that the Sprinter, Tipper truck and the Honda Pilot were from Winneba direction heading towards Kasoa when the Corolla veered off its lane and hit the back tire of the Tipper truck.

    As a result, the Honda had no option than to collide with the Corolla and subsequently the Sprinter.

    He said, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the ambulance service were called in and had since cleared the road to ease traffic.

  • UK Foreign Secretary visits Trashy Bags Africa

    UK Foreign Secretary visits Trashy Bags Africa


    The United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, James Cleverly, conducted a working visit to Trashy Bags Africa
    during his recent visit to Ghana.

    The company is a social enterprise that specializes in upcycling discarded drinking water sachets into eco-friendly bags.

    The company processes and upcycles used sachets into fashion accessories such as backpacks and tote bags.

    Officials
    Mr Cleverly was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, and other officials of the British High Commission.

    During the visit, he met with teachers and students of FutureStars Charity, a UK-registered organisation.

    The Manufacturing Manager of Trashy Bags Africa, Elvis Aboluah, who conducted Mr Cleverly around the facility, told the Daily Graphic that the company was also into educating people and creating awareness of the negative impact of plastic on the environment aside from recycling them.

    “So in terms of the materials, we build collaboration with people who collect the materials,” he said.

    These, he said, included companies, other individuals and partners such as Inspired to Rise and Futurestars Charity.

    The Country Manager of Futurestars Charity, Emmanuel Okyne-Tetteh, said the organisation used the power of sports to promote education.

  • BECE candidates in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality receive support

    BECE candidates in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality receive support


    BECE candidates in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality, Ashanti Region, have been provided with educational materials to support their exam success.

    John Kwame Duodu, the Atwima Nwabiagya South Constituency First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), generously donated 4,200 mathematical sets and pens to assist the candidates in their upcoming examinations.

    The educational materials were presented to the municipal educational directorate for distribution to all candidates across the municipality taking part in this year’s BECE.

    Motivation
    At a brief ceremony to present the items, Mr Duodu, popularly known as Sir John, said the items were to support the candidates and boost their morale as they prepare for the exams.

    “You know we are in trying times and in such situations, not all parents can afford such materials for their children, especially as they prepare to write such an external exam.

    “So, upon consultation with the party hierarchy including the Member of Parliament (MP) Emmanuel Agyei Anwhere, I decided to make this donation to help boost their confidence,” he said.

    Sir John, who is also the Tertiary Education Students’ Confederacy (TESCON) patron in the region, said the gesture was in line with the commitment of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure that every student progresses on the education ladder to the secondary level, which had been made free under the free SHS policy.

    “I sincerely believe the government has done its part to make education, especially tuition, boarding, feeding and others free but we as citizens can contribute to making pupils and schools feel relief by providing some basic items they would need,” Sir John appealed.

    Timely intervention
    The Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Juliana Essel Cudjoe, who received the items, commended Mr Duodu for the donation, describing it as timely.

    She encouraged the pupils to let the gifts motivate them to do well in the examination.

    “I want to thank Sir John for this gesture and ask others to learn from it and support the educational efforts of the directorate so that together, we can give our pupils and students the best of education”, Madam Essel-Cudjoe stressed.

    For his part, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Atwima Nwabiagya South, Michael Amoah Awuku, commended the donor for the gesture, which he said would encourage the candidates to offer their best.

    He called on other residents to emulate the example of Sir John to help uplift education in Atwima Nwabiagya.

    Beneficiary
    For 14-year-old, Ursula Amoh Mensah, the mathematical instruments had come at the right time and thus, expressed gratitude to their benefactor for the donation.

  • 3 KNUST students receive ‘special award’ for saving suicidal colleague

    3 KNUST students receive ‘special award’ for saving suicidal colleague

    Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), on August 2, 203, bestowed honors upon three students who had bravely saved the life of a fellow student contemplating suicide.

    Prof. Akosua Dickson presented a special accolade to Theophilus Amo Oduro Aboagye, Kwabena Amoako Marfo, and James Michael Mozley Nsafoa, recognizing their extraordinary actions.

    On July 4, 2023, the three students swiftly intervened at a private hostel facility on campus to rescue their colleague, who was perilously hanging from a balcony on the edge of falling off the multi-story building.

    In a viral video, the three held onto the victim and pulled him to safety. They subsequently took him a health facility where the school confirmed that he had been given psychological support.

    The three heroes received the ‘Special Award Category’, during the maiden Vice Chancellor’s Students’ Excellence Awards, held at the Great Hall of the KNUST.

    43 others were also honoured for their outstanding performances in both academics and sports.

  • Being a wife and mother affected the pace of my career -Beverly Afaglo

    Being a wife and mother affected the pace of my career -Beverly Afaglo

    Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo revealed that while she is currently thriving in the movie industry, being a wife and mother had a detrimental impact on her career.

    During a recent interview on Accra-based Kingdom FM, the mother of two shared a story of losing a role in a series due to her commitment to fulfilling her motherly responsibilities.

    Beverly recalled that at the time, her first daughter who was then at six months always wanted to be breastfed before going to bed.

    After staying late into the night on set, her mother started calling her to come home to breastfeed her daughter who always breastfed before going to bed.

    She mentioned that since the production, which was set to end at 5: 00pm had prolonged, everyone started complaining but she was more worried about her baby and mentioned it on set.

    Unfortunately, the producer called to tell her that she should stay home to perform her motherly duties and her role was taken off in subsequent editions of the series.

    “Being married definitely slowed me down because some of the directors told me they couldn’t cast me for certain roles which I played previously because I’m a wife.

    “I love that they give me such respect but as an actress, it is my duty to act irrespective of my marital status; so if I can perfectly play a role, I don’t see the reason why I should not be given the chance,” she stated.

    The actress who has gained popularity for her roles in movies such as “Single Six”, “Turn Me On”, “Bachelor’s”, “Equatorial Escape”, “Girls Connection” , “ Northern Affair” and “Aloe Vera” said she is not bothered by that considering that a number of female celebs like Beyonce and Ghanaian singer, Becca among many others have been through similar situations.

    “Look at Beyonce, because she is a big brand, her team is able to push her works when she brings something out but we know all that this is the Beyonce we knew before marriage because being a wife and a mother affected her.

    “Same with Becca, she was very loud and everywhere but that is not happening with her now. You have colleagues you started with, they are single so they will keep working and then, childbirth also slows you down since you can be off for a year and half.

    “And then by the time you get back to business, people have taken over your position,” she noted.

  • BoG is now a ‘crime scene’ – Ato Forson

    BoG is now a ‘crime scene’ – Ato Forson

    Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has attributed the depletion of the nation’s external reserves to the actions of the Central Bank.

    During the presentation of the Minority’s response to the 2023 mid-year budget review in Parliament on Wednesday (August 2), Dr Ato Forson stated that the excessive printing of money by the Bank of Ghana was responsible for the decline in Ghana’s external reserves, leading to an unprecedented depreciation of the Cedi and contributing to the hyperinflation witnessed in 2022.

    The Cedi, he said, depreciated from GHC6:$1 to over GHC15:$1 in the year 2022, adding “this is over 100% depreciation on a straight line calculation”.

    The Minority Leader said depreciation coupled with inflation has reduced the rich to a middle class and above all the poor have become poorer.

    He added that due to inflation alone, an estimated 850,000 people were reported by the World Bank to have been pushed further down the poverty line in 2022.

    Dr Ato Forson said despite the earlier spirited denials by the Bank of Ghana and the government, “the government now admits that indeed the Bank of Ghana printed money to finance its over-bloated government expenditures in 2022”.

    “Paragraph 8 of the IMF Staff Report gives further detail that the Bank of Ghana illegally printed over GHC45 billion representing 7.2% of GDP in 2022 alone, and GHC35 billion in 2021. This is the first in the history of Ghana”, he said.

    Describing the Central Bank as “a crime scene”, the Minority Leader said the government was instrumental in the commission of the sins of the Bank. “The Bank of Ghana is certainly a crime scene and the economic managers led by Mr. Strategist aided and abetted this economic crime”, Dr Ato Forson added.

    He said on the watch of the current managers of the economy, Ghana’s public debt shot up from GHC120 billion in 2016 to GHC600 billion by the end of 2022, representing an increase of about 400%.

    The Minority Leader pointed out that following the high debt levels, the country could not honour its obligations to its local and foreign debtors. “As a result of these high debt levels, Ghana defaulted in the repayment of both our domestic and foreign debts, the first time in our history”.

    He said this explains why pensioners picketed at the Ministry of Finance to demand the payment of their interest and principal, which was another unenviable first in the history of Ghana. He added that that “rating agencies downgraded Ghana’s credit worthiness to “D”, in other words ‘super junky’ “.

    Dr Ato Forson observed that the Ghana’s financial sector has virtually collapsed, with all the 23 banks in the country recording “massive impairment losses of over GHC18 billion in 2022”.
    He said “this is excluding the impairment losses of the non-bank financial institutions and the insurance companies”, adding that “the cost of the economic mis-management by this government is unprecedented”.

    Dr Ato Forson, who once served as a Deputy Minister of Finance, said the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government’s domestic debt restructuring has not only affected the commercial banks but has also negatively affected the Bank of Ghana.

    He said “in fact, the Bank of Ghana is in a major financial distress and bankrupt, and requires urgent attention”.

    In 2022, the Bank of Ghana recorded a loss of over GHC60.8 billion and negative equity of over GHC55.1 billion.

  • Oppong Nkrumah lauds the govt’s decision to cut appropriation by GHS21bn

    Oppong Nkrumah lauds the govt’s decision to cut appropriation by GHS21bn

    Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has commended the government for its decision to reduce GHS21 billion from the 2023 fiscal year’s appropriation.

    Speaking in parliament after Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s presentation of the mid-year budget on 31 July 2023, Mr. Nkrumah acknowledged that although some may advocate for additional budget cuts, he views the mid-year reduction as a favorable move.

    The Information Minister emphasised the significance of fiscal discipline and staying within deficit constraints as demonstrated by the GHS21 billion reduction in government expenditure.

    He acknowledged that part of the reduction was allocated to interest payments but highlighted the government’s determination to streamline financial resources and prioritise development initiatives.

    “I think one of the first things to note is that the appropriation has been reduced by GHS21 billion and I think for those who pay attention to fiscal policy or to the fiscal framework, that is a good thing except that GHS10 billion of that is somewhere around interest payment and the rest is spread across the various expenditure lines”, he pointed out.

    “Nonetheless”, the ,Ofoase-Ayirebi MP noted, “it’s a reduction in the appropriation of the government expenditure and I think that it is something that should give people some comfort that we are doing well to stay within the deficit constraints that we have imposed upon ourselves”.

    Mr Oppong Nkrumah also said there were some lessons to be learned moving forward, and “one of them, for example, deals with bolstering the relative stability that the [finance] minister speaks about”.

    The mid-year budget review allowed for an assessment of Ghana’s economic performance and alignment of fiscal policies with national development priorities.

    The reduction in government expenditure was achieved through the successful Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), creating fiscal space for growth-enhancing reforms and managing rising debt costs.

    The budget review also emphasised the government’s growth agenda, prioritising inclusive development and private-sector investments to stimulate job creation and sustainable economic growth.

    Initiatives like the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Phase II aim to strengthen agriculture, provide opportunities for the youth, and foster economic diversification.

  • Samira Bawumia calls for a more holistic approach to tackling climate change crisis

    Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, has led a powerful call for a more holistic approach to tackling the climate change crisis by actively involving the unique perspectives of women and children.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), the wife of the Vice President, emphasised the importance of including women and children in climate conversations and decision making.

    She noted that women and children are not just bearers of the brunt of climate impacts but also hold insightful perspectives that can significantly contribute to shaping effective solutions.

    “Today, we acknowledge the undeniable truth that women and children are not just victims of climate change but they are powerful agents of change themselves,” she noted. 

    “From the rural communities to urban centres, African women have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of climate related challenges. Children too have proven time and again that they are the inheritors of our planet and are rightfully concerned about the environmental legacy we leave behind. 

    “The time has [therefore] come to empower the voices of women and children to actively participate in climate action and decision making processes. When we amplify our voices, we enable them to contribute innovative solutions and sustainable strategies that can revolutionise our approach in tackling climate change,” she added.    

    AFRIWOCC on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, commenced, uniting a diverse array of participants and stakeholders including high-level government officials, policymakers, renowned experts, representatives from international organisations, civil society and grassroots community leaders to deliberate on the theme ‘Amplifying the Voices of Women and Children in Climate Action.’

    It is a two day conference organised by the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), under the auspices of the Office of the Presidyent, at the Kempinski Hotel, Accra.

    During the opening ceremony, highlighted existing gaps that hinder the effective role of women and children in the climate change discourse which include unequal representation of women and children in climate discussions, lack of gender disaggregated data and inadequate technology and innovation, etc. and stressed on the urgent need for these gaps to be bridged. 

    “By embracing gender equality and empowering our young generation, we can unlock a wellspring of untapped potential that would steer us towards greener and a more inclusive Africa,” she noted. 

    “Climate action must be inclusive, holistic and intersectional. Only through a comprehensive approach can we ensure that no one is left behind in our pursuit for sustainability. I call upon governments, organisations, businesses and individuals to recognise the urgency to embrace the transformative power of Gender Equality. Let sus support initiatives that amplify the voices of women and children, create platforms for their ideas to flourish and elevate their leadership roles in climate action [because] without the active participation of women and children, climate policies are bound to fall short,” she remarked.  

  • I don’t support any aspirant — Akufo-Addo

    I don’t support any aspirant — Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has emphatically declared that he and his government will not endorse or impose any candidate during the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate selection process.

    He dismissed claims suggesting that his government is intimidating or coercing party members to support a particular aspirant, specifically the Vice-President. He labeled such allegations as false and malicious.

    The President made these remarks during a meeting with NPP communicators at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday.

    Appeal
    He was responding to an appeal by the NPP Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, in relation to the party’s election of a flag bearer for the 2024 polls, and added that the party could not afford to allow what happened to it in 2008 to recur in 2024.

    “The history of the NPP tells us that no President can foist a candidate on the party against its wishes.

    The NPP is not that kind of party.

    “We have never subscribed to a cult personality.

    Indeed, our highly-respected former President, the first NPP President, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, in the aftermath of my election as NPP presidential candidate, by the 2007 National Congress, told the Congress that ‘the party has its spirit’, a spirit that cannot be ignored.”

    Derailment
    He indicated that the derailing of the achievements chalked up by President Kufuor by the successor NDC government, from 2009 to 2017, in which John Dramani Mahama featured so prominently was obvious for all.

    President Akufo-Addo noted that the eight-years of the successor NDC government was marked with dumsor, mismanagement of the economy, wrong and dangerous energy contracts and wanton corruption that dissipated any hope the Ghanaian had for sustained economic development, adding that “ Never again should we allow this to happen.”

    Actions
    He noted that with the start of the final leg of internal contest of the NPP, some actions by a few members of the party were making the front pages for the wrong reasons.

    “We are expending some of our energies hurling invectives at each other, instead of at our opponents, and, in the process, taking digs at our own Government.

    It has been an anxious time for all who love our party, and who see us as the party that can bring progress and prosperity to our nation,” he said.

    De facto
    He said it was for this reason that as President and de-facto leader of the NPP, he wanted to ensure that certain actions of yesteryear, which contributed to the party’s loss in 2008, were not repeated because “We cannot afford an internal campaign based on ethnic or religious considerations.”

    President Akufo-Addo told the communicators of the party that he could beat his chest and say, without any fear of contradiction, that there was no one in the party who could say that he, President Akufo-Addo, had asked him or her to support this or that aspirant.

    Sacked
    “I have not set out to dismiss any MMDCE or political appointee from office for supporting any particular aspirant; no Minister or Deputy Minister has lost their job or been threatened for openly campaigning for their preferred presidential aspirant.

    “Neither has any caveat emanated from Jubilee House to the party across the length and breadth of the country demanding that candidate A should be supported over candidate B.

    I know that this is not the way to go,” the president stated.

    He gave the assurance that whoever was elected would be chosen freely and transparently by an Electoral College of some 250,000 people, “and not by President Akufo-Addo.

    I have just one vote, the same as any polling station executive anywhere in the country.”

    Vote
    He indicated, however, that he would “cast that vote for an aspirant who, I believe, can best unite the party, and above all, who can win the presidential election of 7th December 2024, and inflict a third successive defeat on the perennial NDC presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama.”

    President Akufo-Addo reassured the party communicators of victory for the NPP in election 2024, and handing over to an NPP presidential candidate to be elected as President by the Ghanaian people, were what he was working for, and he expected all members of the NPP to share the same goals.

    “I assume that we all want our party to win the 2024 elections decisively, our parliamentary candidates to win, again, the majority of seats in Parliament, and our flag bearer to become the president of the republic.

    I expect and accept arguments on how we prosecute this agenda.

    But I do not expect and do not accept that party members would do anything to jeopardise the goal we have set ourselves of winning the 2024 elections, and I will work with all who seek this objective,” he added.

  • 3 KNUSTstudents awarded for rescuing a fellow student from a suicide attempt

    3 KNUSTstudents awarded for rescuing a fellow student from a suicide attempt

    The Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology presented a special award to three students, Theophilus Amo Oduro Aboagye, Kwabena Amoako Marfo, and James Michael Mozley Nsafoa.

    They were honored for their heroic actions on July 4, 2023, when they rescued a fellow student from a suicide attempt at a private hostel on campus.

    A video of the incident went viral, showing the trio saving the victim from falling off the building’s balcony. After the rescue, they ensured the student received psychological support at a health facility.

    The award was given during the Vice Chancellor’s Students’ Excellence Awards ceremony at the KNUST Great Hall, where 43 others were also recognized for their outstanding performances in academics and sports.

  • Brits stuck in mud receive stern warning during military coup

    Brits stuck in mud receive stern warning during military coup

    This morning, a queue of foreign nationals with suitcases in hand formed outside an airport in the nation’s capital as they awaited a third flight of evacuation.

    The West African nation has been thrown into a political crisis a week after a military coup deposed and imprisoned Mohamed Bazoum, the first democratically elected president.

    Fears that their inhabitants would become stranded prompted France, Italy, and Spain to declare evacuations for their populace.

    Despite violent protests erupting in the last 48 hours, the UK and the US are both behind schedule in making such announcements.

    To protest the former colonial power, supporters of the coup even tried to invade the French embassy on Sunday and burn it on fire.

    Thousands of people were observed marching through Niamey, the nation’s capital, while singing the name of Vladimir Putin and brandishing Russian flags.

    It happened when the paramilitary Wagner organisation, which already has mercenaries in Mali, offered to back the coup.

    Currently, there are no commercial airline choices to depart because Niger’s borders are also closed.

    The situation in the country is still ‘volatile,’ and numerous states have declared states of emergency, therefore the Foreign Office (FCDO) has warned against all travel there.

    The FCDO stated, “We have been closely monitoring the situation in Niamey since July 26.”

    “Protests can be violent, and the mood can shift suddenly and unexpectedly.” British nationals are advised to stay inside.

    Those who plan to depart are urged to register with the FCDO as soon as possible and to keep up with travel safety recommendations.

    On two flights on Tuesday, French military in Niamey evacuated hundreds of people, the majority of whom were citizens of France.

    Meanwhile, the Italian defence minister confirmed that an Italian military plane carrying 99 people, including 21 Americans and citizens of other nations, made an early morning landing in Rome.

    After a third flight was cancelled the previous evening, hundreds of people gathered outside the terminal of the city’s airport before daylight in an attempt to depart.

    While parents sought to protect their children from what was occurring, some people tried to sleep on the floor, while others played video games or spoke on the phone with relatives who were eager to hear updates.

    A passenger who asked to remain anonymous for security concerns added, “I haven’t told them very much, just that they’re going home.”

    In a statement on Sunday, the West African regional group (ECOWAS) announced travel and economic restrictions against Niger, warning that if the coup leaders do not restore Mr. Bazoum within a week, force may be used.

    Burkina Faso and Mali emphasised on Monday that any military action against Niger would be regarded an act of war against them.

    A joint statement declared, “All military intervention against Niger will be regarded as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.”

    Before the violent coup, the nation was seen as one of the remaining democracies in the region and a cooperating partner with whom Western nations might fight the extremist bloodshed that has decimated the region.

    Millions of dollars have been invested in the nation by the US, France, and other European nations as military aid and assistance.

    The special representative for West Africa and the Sahel stated that initiatives other than the threat of force are being made to restore democracy during a virtual United Nations meeting on Tuesday night.

    According to Leonardo Santos Simao, “One week can be more than enough if everyone talks in good faith and wants to prevent bloodshed.”

    However, “different member states are preparing themselves to use force if necessary,” he continued.

  • Greece offers free trips to Rhodes to individuals displaced by wildfires

    Greece offers free trips to Rhodes to individuals displaced by wildfires

    There has been compensation granted to the thousands of tourists who had to leave Rhodes due to destructive wildfires.

    In July, large portions of the Greek island were consumed by flames that raged for days, severely damaging hotels and residences.

    The inferno started on July 18 in the centre of Rhodes, but due to high winds, it quickly moved to the east and south shores, which are home to many beach resorts.

    Over 7,500 acres of land were burned, forcing more than 20,000 tourists and residents to hastily pack their bags and flee the depressing images.

    Rhodes entered a state of “extreme danger” emergency as a result of the wildfires and the 44C temperature spike.

    In the end, it meant that many individuals had their holidays cut short among the bloodshed.

    However, the Greek prime minister is now pleading with visitors to return the following year by offering them a free one-week stay.

    According to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who spoke to ITV, “For all those whose vacation was cut short as a result of wildfires, the Greek government in collaboration with local authorities will offer one week of free holidays on Rhodes, next spring, next fall, so that we can ensure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty.”

    According to him, 15% of Rhodes was impacted by the wildfires, and while things are now “back to normal,” the authorities “understand that it caused some inconvenience for visitors.”

    Ranch owner Lee Manning of the United Kingdom joined the volunteers helping to save animals as he drove through a wildfire that was threatening to consume his refuge.

    Shortly after flames approached within 300 metres of the gorgeous horseback riding facility he and his wife Katie maintain in the village of Gennadi, he sent an emotional video message.

    He stated in the video, wiping away tears, “Gennadi is in a really bad way; the locals have been amazing, and that’s island-wide; that’s not just Gennadi, that’s everywhere.”

    The locals are the only reason visitors and locals alike are safe on this island.

    They have been incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it, and right now there are soldiers risking their life for people’s homes they don’t even know

    The locals have suffered a disastrous knock-on impact as a result of the flames, which have destroyed livelihoods and businesses.

    In order to contain the fires and aid in the rescue of any trapped animals, firefighters and rescuers have worked nonstop.

    The actual extent of the destruction caused by the fires on the land was revealed by satellite photographs.

    Wildfires in the Mediterranean, according to Mr. Mitsotakis, are not uncommon, but climate change has made them more intense.

    In addition, according to a preliminary analysis of the effects of the flames, Greek officials said on Wednesday that 45 buildings had been damaged on the island.

    Greece’s economy, which recovered from a fiscal crisis in 2018, is primarily driven by tourism, and Rhodes, the ninth-largest island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, is a well-liked vacation destination.

  • Mexican city to penalise anyone who sings anti-woman lyrics

    Mexican city to penalise anyone who sings anti-woman lyrics

    Due to the prevalence of domestic violence, authorities in the Mexican city of Chihuahua have taken action to outlaw the playing of songs that “promote violence against women.”

    Mayor Marco Bonilla stated that the proposal was unanimously passed by the city council on July 26 and that penalties for non-compliance would be between 674,000 and 1.244 million pesos (about $40,000 and $74,000).

    In a video message shared on Facebook, Bonilla stated that “violence against women has reached levels that we could consider a pandemic,” adding that about 70% of emergency calls in the city involved domestic violence, specifically against women.

    He declared, “We can’t allow this, and we also can’t allow this to become normal.”

    According to Bonilla, the law prohibits discrimination against, marginalisation of, or exclusion of women as well as the singing of songs that encourage violence against women.

    According to councilwoman Paty Ulate, it will be applied to events that call for a council permit.

    She noted that donations will be sent to a nearby women’s shelter as well as the Instituto Municipal de Mujeres, a local government organisation that promotes gender equality.

    Ulate stated in a different Facebook post that the residents of the community “have a right to enjoy a life free from violence.” According to figures from Mexico’s minister of public security, there were 24 femicides, or gender-based homicides, in the state of Chihuahua from January to June of this year.

    Officials did not identify any specific artists that the new rule will target, so it is unclear how it will be applied.

    Reggaeton, made popular by musicians like Bad Bunny, may suffer, though, after receiving backlash for its vulgar and misogynistic lyrics in some circles.

    Corridos tumbados and narcocorridos, two forms of indigenous Mexican music connected to the drug trade and violence, may also be impacted. Natanael Cano and Peso Pluma are two well-known musicians.

    Around a month ago, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador criticised corridos tumbados for encouraging violence and drug usage at a press conference. Now, Chihuahua has banned them. The president added that he would not outright forbid the genre.

    On the other hand, Chihuahua’s local government has taken action in the past to limit musical performances.

    Los Tigres del Norte, a well-known Mexican band, were prohibited from the city in 2012 after they performed three songs that were deemed to be narcocorridos. 20,000 pesos in fines were also imposed on the event’s organisers.

    The state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico is headquartered in Chihuahua City. The biggest city in the state, Ciudad Juárez, is near the US border and is known for being a hub for drug and human smuggling.

  • German heavy metal festival suspends as weather makes venue muddy

    German heavy metal festival suspends as weather makes venue muddy

    German heavy metal festival admissions have been suspended after days of rain turned the venue into a mud puddle.

    Tens of thousands of fans of heavy metal music attend the annual Wacken Open Air festival, which is held in fields outside the German municipality of Wacken.

    However, this year’s relentless rain converted the farmland into a muddy swamp, creating serious accessibility issues and forcing organisers to impose a quota on attendance for the first time since the festival’s inception in 1990.

    According to Germany’s dpa news agency, the event’s organisers declared a “total admission stop” on Wednesday due to the worsening weather, which left just about 60% of the 85,000 ticket holders able to attend.

    The reasonable visitor capacity for Wacken Open Air 2023 has now been reached, according to a statement on the festival’s website from the organisers.

    We’re really sorry, but there is little we can do given the current severe weather conditions.

    Unattended “metalheads” with tickets were instructed to turn around and head home.

    Social media videos that depict participants trudging through ankle-deep muck demonstrate the gravity of the issue.

    Some people made the decision to embrace the challenging circumstances. One man stripped off his shirt and dove headfirst into the muck, while another laid on his back in the soil and flailed his limbs.

    Wacken’s running order has also been impacted by the muddy weather, forcing a delay in the festival’s opening. Six bands could not play as a result, according to a statement on the website. On eight stages over the course of four days, 150 musicians were scheduled to perform at the event.

    Bands like Pennywise, Megadeth, and Iron Maiden are among those scheduled to perform at the festival, which ends on Saturday.

    After building an underground pipeline to transport the hundreds of thousands of litres of beer that attendees drank to the venue, the festival grabbed news a few years ago.

  • Cleric imprisoned for blasphemy after permitting women to preach in Indonesia

    Cleric imprisoned for blasphemy after permitting women to preach in Indonesia

    Following a backlash from religious fundamentalists in the largest Muslim-majority country in the world over his decision to permit women to lecture and pray alongside males, a Muslim cleric was detained in Indonesia on blasphemy and hate speech charges.

    According to Indonesian National Police officer Djuhandhani Rahardjo, Panji Gumilang, 77, who manages the Al-Zaytun boarding school in the Jakarta neighbourhood of Indramayu in West Java, was detained on Tuesday.

    The nearly 5,000-student school has in the past come under fire from the public due to its unconventional practises, such as allowing men and women to worship together and permitting women to become imams. Its prayer sessions do not adhere to gender segregation, in contrast to other Indonesian Islamic boarding schools, which infuriates hardline groups.

    According to Djuhandhani, investigators “took legal action” on Tuesday. He continued, “(Panji will be) held in the detention facility of the Criminal Investigation Agency for twenty days.”

    Police claimed they were responding to public complaints, although they could not describe what Panji had said or done that amounted to blasphemy.

    Al-Zaytun was being looked into by Indonesia’s Islamic Clerical Council in June for “misguided religious practises,” according to CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia. Panji could spend up to 10 years in prison if proven guilty of blasphemy and hate speech.

    Hendra Effendy, Panji’s attorney, urged his followers to remain composed.

    “He is, after all, a well-known person with millions of fans… With everything going on, we have no idea what might occur, he told CNN Indonesia.

    A supporter of Panji who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation told CNN that Panji’s detention was “unjust” and indicative of the nation’s shift towards the religious right.

    The fan questioned, “So he went against (the curve), does he deserve to be punished for his compassion?”

    Women are not allowed to lead mixed-gender prayers or give sermons at the majority of mainstream Islamic schools around the world. Men and women are also typically separated during prayers.

    With 231 million Muslims, Indonesia is the country with the greatest Muslim majority in the world.

    It is nominally secular and officially recognises six religions, including Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, despite the country’s overwhelmingly Muslim population.

    Islam has historically been practised in the nation in a liberal and pluralistic manner. But in recent years, religious conservatism has increased.

    In some areas of the country, such as the semi-autonomous Aceh province, strict Islamic laws are already in effect. There, gambling and alcohol are prohibited, and a variety of offences, such as adultery and homosexuality, are punishable by public flogging.

    According to Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono, Panji was “supportive” of Muslim women becoming imams and leading others in prayer, which “isn’t normal in Indonesian society.”

    He has advocated for gender equality in Islam, which has incensed conservatives. Nothing is wrong with him (a Muslim cleric) advocating for women’s rights, but there is a serious problem with blasphemy laws, he continued.

    Rights organisations claim that Indonesia’s tolerance and commitment to religious freedom are “under threat” and that blasphemy laws are being “increasingly weaponized” against religious minorities and anyone who are thought to have criticised Islam.

    Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Indonesian known as Ahok and Jakarta’s first non-Muslim governor in 50 years, was involved in one of the most well-known blasphemy trials.

    He was put on trial for blasphemy in 2017, after upsetting radical Muslims by using a Quranic verse during his 2016 re-election campaign.

    He issued a public apology but was nonetheless sentenced to two years in prison, a decision that many Indonesians and other observers questioned and denounced. The case was generally viewed as a test of Indonesian tolerance for differing religious beliefs and the right to free expression.

    Human Rights Watch’s Andreas noted that blasphemy cases have been sharply rising over time. The use of these laws by Indonesian officials against religious minorities in the guise of “religious harmony” has become increasingly poisonous.

    In reference to contentious changes to its penal code that are expected to be adopted by 2025, he said, “It is becoming an increasingly Islamized state and there will be many more consequences… for people whose views are considered to be against the Islamic establishment.”

  • Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, and wife Sophie set to divorce

    Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, and wife Sophie set to divorce

    On Wednesday, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, announced that he and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau were divorcing.

    We have decided to separate, Trudeau added, following “many meaningful and difficult conversations” with Sophie.

    As always, he added, “we continue to be a close family with a deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build.”

    For the sake of their children’s safety, he requested that their privacy be maintained.

    The couple “have signed a legal separation agreement,” the prime minister‘s office stated in a statement on Wednesday.

    According to the statement, “They have worked to ensure that all necessary legal and ethical steps with regard to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so going forward.”

    According to the official biography of the Canadian Prime Minister, Trudeau returned to Montreal in 2002 after spending several years as a teacher in Vancouver. It was there that he met Grégoire.

    “Justin moved back to Montréal in 2002, when he met Sophie Grégoire. They were united in marriage in 2005, and today they are the proud parents of Hadrien, Ella-Grace, and Xavier.

    According to the Liberal Party website for Grégoire Trudeau, he graduated from the University of Montréal with a degree in communications and afterwards worked in sales and advertising before becoming a reporter for television and radio.

    Last year, Grégoire Trudeau said on Instagram that he and his wife had “navigated through sunny days, heavy storms, and everything in between and it ain’t over.”

    Long-term partnerships are difficult in a variety of ways, she continued. They require ongoing effort, adaptability, sacrifice, devotion, patience, and a whole lot more. There is no perfect relationship since none of us are, but love is only real when it protects, liberates, and develops its recipient.

    The two met US President Joe Biden in March and went to King Charles’ coronation in London earlier in May.

  • Caroline Kennedy reenacts the epic World War II swim of her father, JFK

    Caroline Kennedy reenacts the epic World War II swim of her father, JFK

    Future US President John F. Kennedy, then a lieutenant in the US Navy, bravely swam between Pacific islands eighty years ago to save the crew of his torpedo boat, which had been sunk by a Japanese battleship during World War II.

    Kennedy’s bravery as the PT-109 commander helped lay the groundwork for a military and leadership career that would help him become the 35th president of the United States in 1960.

    His daughter Caroline Kennedy, who is currently the US ambassador to Australia, replicated part of her father’s accomplishment on Wednesday by swimming between two tiny palm-fringed islets in the Solomon Islands for around 30 minutes.

    In a tweet on the US Embassy’s Twitter account, formerly known as X, the ambassador wrote, “It gave me a renewed appreciation of the heroism of my father and his crew.”

    Kennedy, 65, completed the swim alongside her son, Jack Schlossberg, the late president’s grandson.

    “I have a lot of appreciation and admiration for what my grandfather did, and the perseverance it must have taken to survive,” Schlossberg wrote on Twitter.

    In the early hours of August 1, 1943, a Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer attacked JFK’s PT-109. The Japanese ship tore through the little boat’s wooden hull, causing it to capsize. Kennedy gathered his remaining crew, 11 out of the 13, and sent them swimming 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the tiny Plum Pudding Island, which bears his name.

    In the days that followed, JFK and his crew would swim to surrounding islands like Olasana and Naru in quest of food and rescue, according to a report from his presidential archive. On Wednesday, Ambassador Kennedy reenacted the several swims her father took between Olasana and Naru.

    Two islanders named Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, who served as scouts for the Allies and connected Kennedy to the US Navy, would eventually offer assistance to the PT-109 crew.

    A week after the PT-109 was lost, on August 8, 1943, its surviving crew was once again in the care of the US Navy. Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps medal later on “for his courage and leadership,” the presidential archive reports.

    The late president’s daughter honoured her father, as well as Gasa and Kumana, whose families were there, in a speech on Kennedy Island on Tuesday.

    She thanked them in person, saying, “My son and I are honoured to be able to thank you in person for what your fathers did 80 years ago.”

    The US ambassador stated, “My father owes his life to their bravery, their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way, and to serve their country in the struggle for freedom.

    She also elucidated the significance of the Solomon Islands in her heart.

    “President Kennedy was the guy he was because of this area. It was then that he first learned what it meant to be a leader and realised how much his crew’s safety and life depended on him. He put his own life at danger to save theirs. He started living his life in that manner, Caroline Kennedy stated.

    In 1963, JFK was shot dead in Dallas; he was eventually laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

    On Monday, Caroline Kennedy recalled how she learned Kumana had created a monument that he wanted to be placed on the president’s grave 15 years earlier.

    It turned out to be a valuable and uncommon specimen of “kustom money” that had been passed down through the family for more than a century. The shells, which were carved from a massive clam shell in ways that Western anthropologists do not completely comprehend, are used in significant events, such as official tributes to honour one’s leader, the US ambassador added.

    She claimed that gestures like Kumana’s create ties that endure. She also had a present for the families of the islanders.

    The only two PT Boat pins that I possess, which belonged to President Kennedy, are being given to you as a modest symbol of our gratitude, she stated.

  • Head of Niger coup talks with junta in Mali that is linked with Wagner

    Head of Niger coup talks with junta in Mali that is linked with Wagner

    Amid rumours of a potential interest in the Wagner mercenary group, which has a presence in the nation, General Salifou Mody, one of the Niger soldiers who took control in a military coup last week, visited Mali on Wednesday, according to the Mali presidency.

    According to images and a statement shared on Facebook by the Mali presidency, Assimi Gota, the interim president of Mali, hosted Mody and a sizable Nigerien military group on Wednesday.

    According to the Mali presidency, Mody described the gathering as “part of a complex regional context” and thanked the country’s leaders “for their support and accompaniment since the seizure of power by the CNSP,” a reference to the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, where Mody serves as vice president.

    To put down an Islamist insurgency building around the intersection of the frontiers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, hundreds of Wagner contractors are stationed in Mali at the country’s military junta’s invitation.

    Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, praised the coup last week in the landlocked West African nation, saying his private military firm could potentially assist in scenarios similar to the one taking place in Niger.

    Western leaders, particularly the US and France, who are both major players in Niger’s campaign against local Islamist insurgencies, were disturbed by the abrupt removal of President Bazoum of Niger last week.

    The Russian mercenary outfit may now look for fresh chances in Niger, US officials have warned. According to State Department spokesman Matt Miller, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wagner try to exploit this situation to their own advantage as they’ve attempted to exploit other situations in Africa to their own advantage.”

    According to Miller, “any attempt by the military leaders in Niger to bring the Wagner forces into Niger would be a sign, yet another sign that they do not have the best interests of the Nigerien people at heart.”

    Wagner’s involvement in and complicity with atrocities against civilian populations in Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic, where they have been used to support local defence forces against rebellions and insurgencies and suppress opposition, have been documented by numerous CNN investigations as well as other ones by human rights organisations.

    Countries in the Sahel area, where the danger of Islamist extremism has destabilised local administrations and caused volatility in recent years, have reacted to the coup in different ways.

    The governments of Mali and Burkina Faso said on Monday that they would regard any armed involvement as “an act of war” against them and prepared their armed forces for battle.

    General Mody informed his host, according to a statement from the Mali presidency, that he was there to look into “ways and means to strengthen our security cooperation, at a time when some countries are planning to intervene militarily in our country.”

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to use force on Sunday if the deposed president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was not restored within a week.

    For the military officials implicated in the coup attempt, their families, and any civilians who choose to take part in any institutions or governments established by the officials, ECOWAS also imposed a travel restriction and asset freeze.

    Mali and Burkina Faso declared their support for the Nigerien government and declared they would oppose any ECOWAS sanctions taken against the country, calling them “illegal, illegitimate, and inhuman.” On Monday, Guinea also reaffirmed its support for Niger.

  • Basketmouth’s ex-wife cautions fans to marry a kind person

    Basketmouth’s ex-wife cautions fans to marry a kind person

    Elsie Uzoma, the former wife of renowned comedian Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, has shared valuable marriage advice with singles.

    She emphasized the importance of choosing kind partners, providing reasons for her recommendation.

    As a mother of three, she stressed that kindness is a crucial element in any successful marriage.

    Elsie urged intending couples to prioritize this attribute and observe it in their partners during the courtship phase, as it plays a significant role in fostering a harmonious and fulfilling union.

    She said: “Hey guy, I just want to remind you all that marriage is a beautiful thing. Marriage is a beautiful, don’t get it twisted.

    “Ignore that narrative that’s constantly being put out there that marriage is tough. Because people are leaving their marriages today, there are hundreds of thousands of people still happily married.

    “You need to understand that people change. People go and then, marriage will change you. Sometimes, marriage will make you bring out that part of you that you never knew existed, that’s what marriage will do to you.

    “But the one thing that stands out for me is kindness. Whatever you do, make sure you marry a partner that’s kind.

    “And it shouldn’t just end with you. Marry a partner that is kind to you, your siblings, your loved ones, parents; everyone who means something to you

  • Kanayo reveals he was the 1st Nigerian actor to fly in a helicopter in a movie

    Kanayo reveals he was the 1st Nigerian actor to fly in a helicopter in a movie

    Recently, Kanayo Kanayo, a veteran Nollywood actor known by his stage name Anayo Modestus Onyekwere, became a trending topic online because of his “ritualist’ roles in the movie industry.

    During the time when he was trending, Kanayo Kanayo disclosed information to many of his fans.

    He revealed that he holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian entertainer to feature in a movie scene where he flew in a helicopter. This revelation added to the intrigue and fascination surrounding the veteran actor’s achievements in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

    He added that it was very risky because he had no insurance at the time, but he was willing to go that length to entertain his fans.

    He wrote: “God has been faithful to me in the industry. First Nigerian Actor to be hired as a performer to fly in a helicopter in a movie. #KOKisOK #OCHIAGHA IGBO NINE. Nollywood has really come a long way. No insurance oooo, any kpam for helicopter, man don waka. The many risks we took to entertain you. Kudos to Amaco Group.”

    Check out post

  •  Netizens react to Wife of Femi Otedola’s birthday cake

     Netizens react to Wife of Femi Otedola’s birthday cake

    Today, August 2, Nana Otedola, the wife of billionaire Femi Otedola, is celebrating her birthday.

    To mark the occasion, Femi Otedola posted a photo on his Instagram page, capturing Nana blowing out a tiny birthday cake, as a sweet gesture to celebrate his beloved wife. The touching post has garnered attention and warm wishes from their followers and well-wishers.

    He captioned the picture: “Happy Birthday To Darling Nana …F.Ote”

    Social media users responded to the picture with a variety of questions about how and why a billionaire’s wife would celebrate her birthday with a tiny cake.

    Many claimed that Nana keeps things simple and doesn’t squander Otedola’s money.

    See comments here:

    pounds222021: “Swee rich man wife bir, una when no get money go do pass yourself”

    okenwa1._: “Shey una see wealthy people cake how e be, if na some girls now them go need upstairs cake. HBD nwunye mpa”

    benediction_des_nations: “A billionaire’s wife cake…But our sister want to kill themselves with parties…”

    jemmyempire: “Pablo wife if na hee bday she for don go do photoshoot and upstairs cake. I will never be poor. Happy birthday ever beautiful Nana, I love you greatly Ma”

    shatta_gram: “See as agbalagba fresh. Poverty na b@st@rd.”

    tochi_lifestyle: “My voice will be celebrated for centuries.. I’m here for a special reason”

    splendstar: “See rich people cake … e small. Congratulations nana , more life”

  • 8 natural ways to improve your sleep quality tonight

    8 natural ways to improve your sleep quality tonight

    Good sleep plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. People who regularly experience high-quality sleep enjoy numerous advantages, including improved mental and physical health, enhanced concentration, and a more robust immune system response.

    The benefits of consistent, restorative sleep are so remarkable that if they were promoted in advertising for a health care product, it might be perceived as exaggerated. Prioritizing and ensuring sufficient sleep is an essential aspect of maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

    Improving your sleep quality naturally can significantly enhance your overall well-being. Here are eight tips to help you achieve a better night’s sleep:

    1. Stick to a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on weekends. This helps regulate your internal clock and promotes a more restful sleep.

    2. Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine: Engage in calming activities before bedtime, such as reading, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation techniques like meditation.

    3. Limit Screen Time: Avoid electronic devices with screens at least an hour before bed. The blue light emitted can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle.

    4. Maintain a Comfortable Sleep Environment: Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet to create a conducive sleep environment.

    5. Watch Your Diet: Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol close to bedtime, as they can interfere with your sleep.

    6. Stay Active: Regular physical activity can promote better sleep, but try to avoid intense exercise close to bedtime.

    7.Manage Stress: Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as journaling, yoga, or deep breathing exercises, to promote relaxation before bed.

    8. Limit Naps: While short naps can be refreshing, avoid long naps during the day, as they can disrupt your sleep at night.

    By incorporating these natural strategies into your routine, you can improve your sleep quality and wake up feeling refreshed and energized.

  • Beyoncé honors Shae Sibley after he was stabbed while voguing to her music

    Beyoncé honors Shae Sibley after he was stabbed while voguing to her music

    Beyoncé is honoring the memory of O’Shae Sibley, who tragically lost his life while voguing to her music over the weekend.

    The singer paid a heartfelt tribute to the dancer on her official website, commemorating his passion for dance and the profound impact he had on the voguing community.

    “Rest in power O’Shae Sibley,” it reads in white text on a black background.

    On Saturday night, the 28-year-old dancer was killed while he and his friends were filling up at a Brooklyn gas station. One of his friends, Otis Pena, filmed the night out for a Facebook Live post.

    “They were dancing,” neighbor Beckenbaur Hamilton told CBS News. “They were filling up on gas, but they were voguing.”

    Per CBS News, surveillance video shows the victim involved in a dispute with a group of people outside the Midwood gas station on Saturday night. Witnesses said they were voguing to Renaissance — Beyoncé’s seventh studio album celebrating Black queerness and the ballroom scene where voguing originated — when a man walked up to them and allegedly made homophobic comments. Police said the two groups of people argued, and that’s when one man allegedly stabbed Sibley. One witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he tried to break up the argument.

    The New York City Police Department said Sibley was stabbed after that argument and is investigating his death as a possible hate crime.

    Sibley had moved from Philadelphia to New York to further his dancing career. Neighbors and friends told the outlet that Sibley often danced in public.

    “Homophobia and words can lead to ideologies and thoughts,” friend Kemar Jewel told CBS NewsPhiladelphia said, “and those thoughts can lead into actions. And those are the type of actions that took O’Shae away from this world.”

    On Tuesday, GLAAD released a statement regarding Sibley’s death, calling attention to other issues plaguing the LGBTQ community. While calling Sibney’s death part of a “disturbing rise in violence and harassment,” the organization added that “this cannot continue.”

    “No one should have to fear for their safety just for being themselves,” GLAAD continued. “Politicians spewing lies and proposing policies filled with disinformation, and media repeating their false and dangerous rhetoric unchallenged, are creating an incredibly hostile environment that endangers all LGBTQ people and all queer people of color.”

  • I cry every day about Takeoff’s death- Offset

    I cry every day about Takeoff’s death- Offset

    American rapper and husband of Cardi B, Offset is still struggling to cope with grief following Takeoff’s death.

    In an interview on “Way Up With Angela Yee,” the Migos member openly admitted that he continues to experience daily tears as he mourns the loss of his bandmate. The pain of losing a close friend and fellow artist has deeply affected him, and he remains in a state of emotional distress.

    “I’m not healed. I’m being honest. I lost my brother. I’m not healed, I’m not good. This st don’t help nothing. I be feeling like people don’t,” the 31-year-old shared. “We’re stars, so people be thinking it’s cool, but I’m a real grown man. I cry every day about this st. At some point, it f**ks me up every day.”

    “I’m still a human being. I’m dealing through st personally, and people’s opinions matter nowadays. What’s on Twitter matters. It’s like, I play cool,” the emcee continued. “I smile for the cameras. I do fashion week and do all this st.”

    Offset then confessed that it’s all different behind the scenes. He said he needs my woman [Cardi B] to be there for me for what I’m going through, and then you’re making it harder for me by bringing up bullst or my old past when I’m really going through some other st.”

    Watch interview below

  • ‘Terry Bonchaka’s lookaalike found after 20 years

    ‘Terry Bonchaka’s lookaalike found after 20 years


    Two decades after the passing of Terry Bonchaka, a new “lookalike” of the late Ghanaian music icon has surfaced. Awudat, whose birth name is Ransford Okyere, expresses his long-standing admiration for Terry, attributing his inspiration to pursue music to the late artist’s exceptional performances and artistry.

    Awudat clarifies that he is not an ordinary lookalike seeking attention but rather a musician honoring Ghana’s lost talent. His resemblance to Terry Bonchaka serves as a tribute to the late icon, showcasing the impact he had on the music industry and inspiring a new generation of artists like Awudat.

    “I am not like any of the lookalikes you see around. I am different, and my mission is to celebrate Terry, especially this year being 20 years since his painful death,” he noted.

    In celebrating Terry, Awudat has released a number of renditions of songs by the ‘Puulele’ musician.

    “Terry was a real gem. I am not sure we will get his kind again. I pray that God continues to comfort his family,” he added.

    The budding artistes has performed with highlife musicians Nana Agyeman on many platforms, singing Terry Bonchaka’s part of the song ‘Taaso Ode’.

    Awudat also released his personal songs: ‘Don’t be Jealous’ featuring King Ayisoba and ‘Dora’ which he did with Kojo Kinn. 

    Terry Bonchaka passed away on October 29, 2003 in a car crash after performing at the University of Ghana. 

    Terry Bonchaka

    Terry Bonchaka captured the hearts of music enthusiasts with his distinctive singing style, fashion choices, and captivating stage performances.

    He gained fame through songs like ‘Ghana Lady,’ ‘Puulele,’ ‘Zoozey,’ ‘Asem Ben Ni,’ ‘I’m Aware,’ and many more.

    His artistic talent and innovative approach to music left a lasting impression on the Ghanaian music scene, solidifying his place as a beloved icon in the hearts of music lovers.