Renowned journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has advocated for an increase in the number of by-elections in Ghana, citing the ongoing by-election in the Assin North constituency as an example.
The by-election has been necessitated by the eviction of Mr James Gyakye Quayson from Parliament after a Supreme Court ruling that went against him over claims that he held dual citizenship at the time he was elected in 2020.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has however put James Gyakye Quayson up again to contest the seat against the ruling New Patriotic Party’s candidate, Charles Opoku.
41,168 electorates are casting their votes at 99 polling stations in today’s by-election in the Assin North constituency.
Kwesi Pratt, speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, enjoyed the feel of a by-election as he recounted how quick developmental projects are undertaken in communities where the by-election is being held.
The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, prior to the Assin North by-election, commissioned a 31-kilometre stretch of road from Assin Fosu to Assin Praso in the constituency.
Similarly, during the Kumawu by-election, road construction machinery was spotted in the vicinity as works on the roads were fast-tracked days to the by-election.
Although the government says these projects weren’t done to leverage votes, some Ghanaians however don’t believe it.
To Kwesi Pratt, these activities by government tell that “by-elections are very sweet”.
He so hoped there would be another by-election at Assin North, Ayawaso West Central, Kumawu and other constituencies since it appears the only time government pays attention to the plight of the people is when they are seeking their votes.
“If I were at Assin North, I would pray for another by-election,” he laughed heartily, stressing “there should be more by-elections in this country”.
More congratulatory messages from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are trooping in for Member of Parliament-elect for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.
John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, is the latest to extend his heartfelt congratulations to James Gyakye Quayson, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency.
James Gyakye Quayson emerged victorious in the highly anticipated by-election held on June 27, defying the odds and overcoming significant opposition from the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
The electoral victory of James Gyakye Quayson is remarkable, considering the challenges he faced in his political journey since 2021.
Just last month, he was ousted from office following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified his candidature in the 2020 polls.
Furthermore, his name had been expunged from parliamentary records, making his re-entry into the political arena a significant uphill battle.
The decision by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to present Quayson as their candidate was seen as a daring move, fraught with risks.
However, the party’s gamble has paid off, as the people of Assin North have once again shown their faith in Quayson by electing him to represent their interests in Parliament.
John Ntim Fordjour, a fellow parliamentarian and proud native of Assin, took to social media to commend Quayson’s triumph.
“Congratulations to my own Assin brother Hon James Gyakye Quayson, MP-Elect for Assin North Constituency and the @OfficialNDCGh on the electoral victory. Grateful to all NPP members and stalwarts who joined hands with us to put up a spirited campaign. In the end, all we have is one Assin North, one Assinman and One Ghana. God bless us all!” he tweeted.
The by-election in Assin North Constituency was highly contentious, with both major political parties actively campaigning and the presidency throwing its weight behind the New Patriotic Party’s candidate, Charles Owusu.
Prominent figures, including presidential flagbearers, attended rallies in Assin North, underscoring the significance of the contest.
However, in the end, it was James Gyakye Quayson who emerged victorious, earning the trust and support of the electorate.
The Accra High Court has postponed the hearing of the application for a stay of proceedings filed by James Gyakye Quayson, the elected Member of Parliament for Assin North. The new date for the hearing has been set for July 4, 2023.
The trial, presided over by Justice Mary Yanzuh, indicates that the High Court has not been furnished with the necessary documents to allow a stay of proceedings, hence an adjournment.
The MP-elect for Assin North constituency, James Gyakye Quayson, has filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, challenging the daily trial order made by High Court judge Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh.
To ensure that MP-elect Gyakye Quayson gets a fair trial in the criminal case he is facing, his lawyers have also filed an application for a Stay of Proceedings pending the determination of his appeal on grounds of several errors of law committed by the trial judge that breached Quayson’s right to a fair trial.
Interacting with the media after today’s proceedings, Sammy Gyamfi, a member of Gyakye’s Quayson’s legal team, said that the counsel for the accused needs to thoroughly question and examine witnesses; hence, it is unfair to do this daily and at certain times too.
“Lawyers for the accused need ample time to cross-examine the first witness, and it is totally unacceptable for Her Ladyship to say that cross-examination should be done on a daily basis and should be restricted to certain limited time periods; we don’t think that affords the accused a fair hearing, and that is why we are raising all these issues,” Sammy Gyamfi said.
“Lawyers for Quayson are trying to avoid a kangaroo trial, a situation where things are hurried at the expense of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of accused persons that lawyers for Quayson are trying to avoid, for which reason they have filed this appeal challenging the ruling of the trial judge and pending the determination of this matter, have filed the stay of proceedings, and we are looking forward to having the opportunity on the 4th of July to move the application formally, and it is our hope that the judge will do the right thing and abide the determination of the appeal before proceeding with this matter,” he added.
Meanwhile, James Gyakye Quayson emerged victorious in the Assin North by-election despite his ongoing trial.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast, and is to be sworn in on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
An infamous Moscow prison is allegedly holding an important Russian general who has connections to the chairman of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Sergei Surovikin, often known as “General Armageddon,” has gone missing for four days amid suspicions that he was aware of the failed uprising in advance.
According to one scenario, Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister and a devoted follower of Vladimir Putin, was being assassinated by Surovikin, 56, who is second-in-command of the Russian armed forces. Surovikin reportedly sided with Prigozhin in this effort.
If Surovikin is found to have committed treason, he faces being jailed for more than 20 years.
Surovikin, nicknamed ‘General Armageddon’, pictured with defence minister Sergei Shoigu (Picture: AP)
‘Apparently, he [Surovikin] chose the side [of Prigozhin during the rebellion], and they grabbed him by the balls,’ a source told the Moscow Times.
When asked where the general is, he replied: ‘We don’t even comment on this information through internal channels.’
However, military blogger Vladimir Romanov claimed Surovikin is being held in Lefortovo prison, where Putin’s security services interrogate his enemies.
Initial reports also claimed Surovikin’s loyal sidekick General Andrei Yudin had been arrested.
But he denied this, insisting: ‘I am on vacation, at home.’ However, he could not explain Surovikin’s whereabouts.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov tried to dismiss reports Surovikin had advance knowledge of the Wagner revolt as ‘speculation’.
Special aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce A. Bawah Mogtari (Esq.), has highlighted some major factors that led to the defeat of the NPP in the just ended Assin North by-election.
He attributed the humiliating loss of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the recent Assin North by-election to the abuse of incumbency, which was prominently on display during the campaign.
Mogtari also raised concerns about President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s premature comments on the ongoing legal case involving James Gyakye Quayson and the use of bribery and vote-buying tactics by the government to secure the seat.
The Assin North by-election, which ended in a resounding victory for Hon. James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has brought to light the issue of incumbency abuse within Ghanaian politics.
Mogtari pointed out that the NPP’s loss was partly due to their misuse of the advantages that come with being in power.
“One of the fallouts from the recent Assin North by-election, where the NPP received a humiliating loss, was the incumbency abuse, which was on full display,” Mogtari stated.
She expressed concern over President Akufo-Addo’s bold statements about Quayson potentially going to prison while the legal case was still ongoing.
Such premature comments, according to Mogtari, raise questions about the fairness of the process and may have influenced voters.
Moreover, Mogtari raised another issue regarding the use of questionable tactics to sway voters. She criticised the government’s resort to bribery and vote-buying, deeming it an insult to the intelligence of the electorate.
Mogtari emphasised that last-minute inducements, such as promises of road construction, cannot compensate for years of neglect and inadequate representation.
“The victory of justice and humility over abuse and arrogance shows that the people are awake and will no longer tolerate incumbency abuse in our politics,” Mogtari asserted.
A march held in honour of a teen died in a police shot in Paris has reportedly seen clashes between demonstrators and police.
As the crisis worsens, over 40,000 police and gendarmes will be sent on the streets of the nation tonight.
The first riots started on Tuesday after a 17-year-old teenager only known as Nahel M was shot and killed during a traffic stop in the Nanterre district.
President Emmanuel Macron said the attacks on officers and burning of buildings and vehicles were ‘unjustifiable’.
Nahel’s devastated mother Mounia said: ‘I lost a 17-year-old, I was alone with him, and they took my baby away from me.
‘He was still a child, he needed his mother.’
The police officer who killed the boy has been detained on homicide charges as an investigation is carried out.
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French President Emmanuel Macron told ministers during an emergency cabinet meeting that the violence seen on the streets of France last night was ‘unjustifiable’.
His comments come a day after Macron described the shooting of Naël M by a police officer as ‘unexplainable and inexcusable’.
Footage posted overnight appears to show a group of protesters ransacking a town hall in Lille and setting fire to chairs and documents within.
Additional footage shows masked protesters launching fireworks at the building’s exterior.
Good morning and welcome back to our coverage of the unrest in Paris following the shooting of a 17-year-old boy by traffic police.
Here is a recap of last night’s developments:
At least 150 people have been arrested following a second night of protests as unrest over the killing of Nahel M spreads throughout France.
French President Emmanuel Macron and footballer Kylian Mbappe are among those to have condemned the killing as an outpuring and anger and grief sweeps the nation.
Over 2,000 riot police have been deployed in and around Paris as protesters launched fireworks at police and set cars ablaze in the suburb of Nanterre, where the killing took place.
Managing Editor of the Daily Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has said it is time for electorates to teach politicians important lessons and hold them accountable for their actions.
His comment comes on the back of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s loss in the Assin North by-election despite the rapid infrastructural developments that were deployed to the constituency before and during the by-election.
According to him, this demonstration of resistance by electorates against politicians’ arrogance and impunity could mark the beginning of a new trend in the political landscape of the country.
Kwesi Pratt was speaking on Accra-based Metro TV.
According to him, politicians have always gotten away with campaign tactics such as the rapid construction of roads among other things.
However, these tactics didn’t work in the case of the Assin North by-election as the electorates refused to fall to the typical tactics employed by politicians in elections.
“Over the last couple of years, from 1992 politicians have generally gotten away with their arrogance and impunity. There is a by-election, they go and do their thing, asphalted the road, and so on and they win. This is the first time we find people in a constituency so defiant.
“I think this level of defiance is impressive and I think also, this is how trends begin,” he said.
The renowned journalist added that the results from the Assin North by-election highlight the importance of teaching politicians an essential lesson emphasising that they are not superior beings over the electorates.
“And I suspect very strongly that a new trend is emerging in our politics. And if I am right, that will be very good for our politics. I think it is time we teach our leaders and politicians important lessons. They have to learn that they are not supermen, they are not brainier than the rest of the population. But they are there because the population put them there to serve. And if they don’t do what the population expects, there will be a moment of accountability,” he added.
Kwesi Pratt also argued that it is time to demystify these myths surrounding constitutional bodies making them untouchable.
“This trend is going to be very important, especially when we have now gotten into an era where every constitutional body claims to be about the people; the EC claims it is independent and nobody can tell it what to do, the Supreme Court says they are above everybody among others, all these myths need to be shut.
“Why, even the constitution itself which creates these bodies can be changed,” Kwesi Pratt noted.
The Minority in Parliament has sounded an alarm over the deplorable condition of the roads connecting to the Tema Oil Refinery and other petroleum depots, warning that failure to address the issue could lead to a national crisis.
John Jinapor, the Ranking Member of the Mines and Energy Committee, emphasised the urgent need for the government to take action and prevent further disruptions to petroleum supplies.
The call comes in response to a decision by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers under the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers and Petroleum Gas Drivers Union to embark on a sit-down strike.
The drivers have cited the poor state of the Tema Oil Refinery to Kpone road in the Greater Accra Region as their primary concern.
In solidarity, tanker vehicles transporting petroleum products from enclaves such as Takoradi, Kumasi, and Buipe have also withdrawn their services, demanding that the deteriorating roads leading to those depots be rehabilitated.
The impact of the strike action is already being felt, with reports of shortages of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other petroleum products in certain areas of the country.
The Minority in Parliament is deeply concerned about the potential consequences, as the transportation of highly inflammable petroleum products on these dilapidated roads poses risks to the safety of drivers and pedestrians alike.
Addressing the situation, John Abdulai Jinapor expressed the urgent need for the government to prioritise the concerns of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union and take immediate action.
He urged the government to refrain from using financial constraints as an excuse, rejecting the notion that the nation’s resources are depleted, whilst citing the rapid deployment of road contractors to complete major projects in the Assin North Constituency during the recent by-elections.
“The action by the government in Assin North points to one fact: they have priorities, and the minority in Parliament believes that fixing the roads connecting to these major depots should be one of such priorities,” emphasized Jinapor,” he said.
The Minority’s call for action underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for swift resolution. They called upon the government to demonstrate commitment and refrain from a lacklustre approach in addressing the concerns raised by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union.
Below is the statement
GOVERNMENT MUST FIX THE ROADS CONNECTING TO TEMA OIL REFINERY AND OTHER PETROLEUM DEPOTS IN ORDER TO AVERT A NATIONAL CRISIS
The Minority in Parliament has taken note of a genuine decision taken by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers under the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers and Petroleum Gas Drivers Union to embark on a sit-down strike over the deplorable condition of the Tema Oil Refinery to Kpone road in the Greater Accra Region.
We have also noted that Tanker vehicles with loads of petroleum products from the country’s petroleum enclaves in Takoradi, Kumasi and Buipe, have withdrawn their services insisting they will not resume work until the deplorable roads leading to those depots are rehabilitated.
Information reaching us indicates that the strike action is already having a negative impact on petroleum supplies with reported shortages of LPG and other products in some parts of the country.
It should be noted that the Petroleum products being transported on these deplorable roads are highly inflammable and has the potential of compromising the safety of drivers and pedestrians.
The Minority wishes to make an urgent and passionate call on the Akuffo-Addo/Bawumia led Government to refrain from the usual lackluster approach and show commitment towards addressing the genuine concerns of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union with immediate effect to avert the pending national crisis.
We wish to state emphatically that we completely reject the excuse by the Government communicators that the nation is broke following the rapid deployment of road contractors to complete some major roads in the Assin North Constituency during the period of the recently held by-elections. The action by the government in Assin North points to one fact, that they have priorities, and the minority in Parliament believes that fixing the roads connecting to these major depots should be one of such priorities.
By this release, we call on the government to fix the said roads with immediate effect.
-Signed-
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor (Ranking Member, Mines and Energy Committee)
According to unconfirmed reports, the Wagner rebellion resulted in the arrest of at least one individual.
Armed forces chief of staff General Valery Gerasimov has not appeared in public or on state TV since the aborted mutiny on Saturday, when mercenary leaeder Yevgeny Prigozhin demanded Gerasimov be handed over.
Nor has he been mentioned in a defence ministry press release since June 9.
Gerasimov, 67, is the commander of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the holder of one of Russia’s three ‘nuclear briefcases,’ according to some Western military analysts.
Absent from view too is General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed ‘General Armageddon’ by the Russian press for his aggressive tactics in the Syrian conflict, who is deputy commander of Russian forces in Ukraine.
A New York Times report, based on a U.S. intelligence briefing, said on Tuesday he had advance knowledge of the mutiny and that Russian authorities were checking if he was complicit.
The Kremlin on Wednesday played down the report, saying that there would be a lot of speculation and gossip.
U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday that Surovikin had been in support of Prigozhin, but that Western intelligence did not know with certainty if he had helped the rebellion in any way.
The Russian-language version of the Moscow Times and one military blogger reported Surovikin’s arrest.
Meanwhile, some other military correspondents who command large followings in Russia said he and other senior officers were being questioned by the FSB security service to verify their loyalty.
Rybar, an influential channel on the Telegram messaging application run by a former Russian defence ministry press officer, said a purge was underway.
He said the authorities were trying to weed out military personnel deemed to have shown ‘a lack of decisiveness’ in putting down the mutiny amid some reports that parts of the armed forces appear to have done little to stop Wagner fighters in the initial stage of the rebellion.
‘The armed insurgency by the Wagner private military company has become a pretext for a massive purge in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces,’ Rybar said.
Such a move, if confirmed, could alter the way Russia wages its war in Ukraine which it calls a ‘special military operation’ and cause turmoil in the ranks at a time when Moscow is trying to thwart a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Nana Osei, the Ghanaian gospel musician popularly known as Nacee, openly discussed the obstacles he encountered while recording songs for political parties and secular musicians. He revealed that this endeavor caused him to face exclusion and marginalization from certain churches and pastors.
In an interview with Abeiku Santana, Nacee shared that he even endured being labelled as an unbeliever by certain pastors.
Despite the criticism, Nacee clarified that his intention behind recording these songs was to inspire and encourage young people.
“When I do a song for a political party, some people refuse to work with me because they associate me with that party, and they no longer want to do business with me. However, the songs were born out of inspiration to encourage the youth.
“Some radio presenters take it upon themselves to push the agenda that Nacee has fallen, using the ‘Boys Boys’ song as evidence that I now sing secular music,” Nacee explained.
The musician admitted that these circumstances took a toll on him as he was utilizing his God-given talent, causing him to question God for the challenges he faced.
Nacee also revealed that some musicians he had assisted in building their studios betrayed him by facilitating connections with individuals who wanted to harm his career.
Nevertheless, Nacee expressed that he doesn’t hold any resentment toward these musicians, as he believes that ingratitude is a natural trait in human beings.
After much contemplation and prayer, he decided to compose a song titled ‘Aseda’ (Thanksgiving) to express his gratitude to God for guiding him through the adversities in his music career.
However, Nacee disclosed that ‘Aseda’ was recorded in 2015, a year after the criticism and negativity had begun, but it remained unreleased due to financial constraints.
When asked if he regretted releasing secular songs, Nacee responded, “Years ago, if you had asked me this question, I would have said yes, I regretted it. But today, not at all.”
He conveyed his belief that life is filled with ups and downs, and humans are naturally inclined to face negativity and challenges. These experiences, according to Nacee, strengthen one’s determination to succeed in their endeavours.
Since its release in April, ‘Aseda’ has gained immense popularity, currently ranking as the number one song in Africa with millions of views on various streaming platforms.
Nacee has also collaborated with artists such as Guru, Obour, Samini, and others on secular and political songs, further showcasing his versatility and musical contributions.
Nii Ayikoi Otoo, a respected lawyer and former Attorney General, recently voiced his surprise and disappointment at the lack of ministerial appointments for individuals with his qualifications. During an interview, he raised concerns about the underrepresentation of the Gas, the indigenous people of the Greater Accra Region, in the government of President Akufo-Addo. Ayikoi Otoo questioned the reasoning behind this disparity and pointed out that there are highly qualified individuals from the Gas community who are more than capable of serving in government positions.
One of Ayikoi Otoo’s main points of contention was the issue of regional balance in appointments, as outlined in the Constitution. He criticized the limited representation of the Gas community, highlighting the fact that only two Ga women held ministerial positions, while other regions had a more substantial presence in the government. He questioned whether this was an accurate reflection of regional balance and fairness.
Ayikoi Otoo also expressed his concerns about the treatment of the Gas in terms of land allocation. He argued that successive governments had failed to develop areas outside of the capital, Accra, which had put immense pressure on the lands of the Ga people. He highlighted the difficulties faced by the Gas in finding burial space in their cemeteries, which were once exclusively reserved for their community. This loss of land and limited burial space further reinforced his belief that the indigenous people of the Greater Accra Region were not being treated fairly.
Furthermore, Ayikoi Otoo criticized the compulsory acquisition of land by the government. He mentioned notable examples such as the University of Ghana, Legon, and the expansive size of ministries and the Accra Airport. He argued that these development projects had encroached upon lands that belonged to individuals and communities, including the Gas. Ayikoi Otoo questioned whether adequate compensation and benefits were provided to those affected by these land acquisitions, particularly the indigenous communities.
Another point raised by Ayikoi Otoo was the resettlement of the people of Tema Manhean. He described how their lands were acquired by the government to establish the Tema Industrial Area, resulting in the displacement of the indigenous population. He highlighted the lack of benefit to the Gas community in terms of employment opportunities and other advantages that arose from these development projects.
Ayikoi Otoo concluded by emphasizing the need for special treatment and consideration for the Gas community and other marginalized groups. He called for a fair and equitable distribution of ministerial appointments, highlighting the importance of regional balance and inclusivity in government representation. Furthermore, he stressed the significance of respecting the rights of indigenous communities in land allocation and development initiatives.
The concerns raised by Nii Ayikoi Otoo reflect a broader issue of representation, fairness, and equitable development in Ghanaian politics and governance. They underscore the need for government officials to prioritize regional balance and ensure that marginalized communities are given opportunities to participate in decision-making processes. By addressing these concerns and striving for inclusivity, Ghana can take meaningful steps towards fostering unity and ensuring that all citizens have a fair chance to contribute to the nation’s development.
Radio personality Blakk Rasta has accused Sarkodie of having a fake personality.
According to him, the rapper has been among the celebrities who pretend to have a good personality but in reality, they are fake and liars.
Speaking on his Urban Blend show on 3FM, the presenter argued that anyone who has had an encounter with him should be able to determine how fake he is adding that, he has a lot of proof to back his statement.
“People pretend to be who they are not and Sarkodie is one of those people; no two ways about that. Now if you have followed Sarkodie and you want to remove that veil from your eyes, you would know that this is a fake guy. There are so many things I can say about Sarkodie but for the fact that I would not have time to go through that, I would just mention a couple of them”, he stated.
One issue he raised to back his claims about Sarkodie was the fact that the rapper was unable to fund the treatment of a sick girl who came to him for help, rather than soliciting the said money from fans on Twitter.
He added that Sarkodie always says ‘money no be problem’ but he could not afford to pay for the sick girl’s treatment.
“There was a time Sarkodie was seeking some finance to help a girl who was sick. I think the amount involved was about GHC10,000 and this was about two years ago. Sarkodie came on Twitter and was asking people to donate to the cost of GHC10,000 to take care of a sick child who was in ICU.
“Yet, this is the same person who says ‘money no be problem’. If money is no problem, if somebody you claim is in ICU wants the money, you come and sit on Twitter and ask fans to donate”, he explained.
Gospel musician Nana Osei, also known as Nacee, has shared his inspiring story of enduring and overcoming the difficulties he encountered after being diagnosed with sickle cell disease during his early years.
During his appearance on Joy Prime for an interview, Nacee disclosed that the doctor who diagnosed him had foreseen a bleak future, as the severity of his sickle cell disease led the doctor to believe he would not survive beyond his early twenties.
Recalling his childhood, Nacee shared, “The doctor said I would die at the age of 20 or 21 because I was a sickler. So, my childhood was full of sickness and my mother had to rush me to the hospital almost every time.
“Unfortunately, my father died three days after I was born, so I didn’t know my father and my mum didn’t want to lose me. So, she made sure that she did whatever she could to keep me alive.”
Nacee expressed his gratitude towards his mother, who made immense sacrifices by quitting her job to care for him and ensure his well-being despite the challenges posed by his medical condition.
However, despite being born into a Christian family, Nacee had to rededicate his life to Christ and experience a transformative spiritual renewal to strengthen his faith in prayer and seek healing from the ailment.
“Since that time until today, whether the sickness has wings or whatever, I did not feel that anymore, and I’ve been sickle cell-free,” Nacee shared, highlighting the powerful impact of his newfound faith and the transformative healing he experienced.
The talented songwriter, known for his hit song ‘Mpaebo’ (Prayer), firmly believes that answered prayers are a result of unwavering faith.
He emphasizes that Christians should rely on faith as their fundamental tool during times of need.
Given his own experiences growing up, Nacee has developed a passion for assisting individuals facing destitution and challenging circumstances.
Grateful for defying the medical doctor’s prediction, Nacee, now in his 50s, expressed his gratitude to God for granting him strength and vitality throughout his life.
A Presidential hopeful for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kyerematen, has emphasized the importance of Ghana having a leader who embodies the Christian faith in Ghana’s development.
According to Mr Kyerematen, popularly referred to as “Alan Cash”, it is not enough for a president to merely identify as a Christian in name.
Instead, he believes that the country needs a leader who will demonstrate the qualities and values exhibited by Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour of Christians.
During the ‘Mpaebo Kesie’ prayer session organized by the Parliament Chapel International (PCI) on June 28, 2023, Kyerematen expressed his belief that Ghana’s progress and development will be significantly enhanced with a leader who is guided by Christian principles.
“When I was starting (my presidential bid) I called all the church leaders for a breakfast meeting. After that, I also did a thanksgiving service.
“… I did this because I have come to realise that Ghana needs not just a Christian leader but a Christ-like leader. There is a difference between a Christian leader and a Christ-like leader,” he said.
He therefore entreated electorates to assign a Christ-like individual the role of governing the country in the 2024 general elections.
From July 1st, an imminent power crisis looms as the Chamber of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) has instructed its affiliated members, including Sunon Asogli, Cenpower, Karpowership, AKSA, Twin City Energy, and CENIT, to reduce their electricity supply to the national grid. This directive, which entails refraining from nominating power generation or declaring power availability to the system operator, is expected to remain in effect until July 8th.
The Chamber in an email directing its members and sighted by Citi News said, “Further to our planned industrial action on July 1, 2023, we would like each IPP to nominate nothing (zero nominations) and not declare an availability to the System Operator, beginning July 1 to July 8, 2023”.
With just a day to the expiration of the deadline given by the Independent Power Producers to shut down over outstanding arrears, the group is yet to meet government for a favourable response prompting this latest order.
The two parties were expected to meet this week for an agreement on demands for a 30 percent interim payment of the arrears.
The IPPs argue that without receiving payment by the close of June 30, they will be unable to sustain the national grid.
“We are determined to get results at all cost,” the mail concluded.
Independent power producers play a significant role in Ghana’s energy sector, controlling 47 percent of the country’s total power generation mix and contributing 67 percent of Ghana’s thermal power.
As of May 2021, the six enterprises collectively claim an outstanding debt of approximately $1.73 billion in cedis, with the debt dating back to January 2021.
The IPPs highlight that this debt has hindered their access to working capital, preventing them from financing crucial inputs such as chemicals for water treatment in thermal generators and other supplies, many of which are priced in foreign currency, primarily the US dollar.
Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Independent Power Producers, Distributors, and Bulk Consumers (CIPDiB), expressed their inability to convince creditors, contractors, and other essential stakeholders to further delay payments and maintain operations.
“Basically, we are saying that we lack the resources to continue generation beyond 30th June, and we are giving them [Finance Ministry] up to March. We didn’t hear from them, but the fact is beyond June we just don’t have the resource to continue to supply.”
The IPPs have also rejected any form of debt restructuring because they cannot explain to their lenders that Ghana’s economy is in shambles and are unable to repay their debt.
Akufo-Addo has declared that the government will continue to pursue policies and programmes that ensure “things are getting better ”.
He provided reassurance that the situation would continue to improve.
The President emphasized that the government’s steadfastness and dedication in upholding its key policies, programs, and adapting new strategies amidst the economic crisis had played a crucial role in securing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program within an unprecedented timeframe, and he reassured that this unwavering attitude and commitment would persist in effectively navigating through the challenging period.
Those policies, the President added, had resulted in the economy growing by 4.2 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
Eid-ul-Adha prayers
President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he addressed a large section of Muslim faithful during the celebration of Eid- ul-Adha at the Black Star Square in Accra on Wednesday.
In attendance were the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, ministers of state, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, the German Ambassador, Daniel Krull, and some Muslim clerics.
Eid-ul-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is the second and the largest of the two main religious festivals of Islam.
It honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice one of his sons, Ismail, as an act of obedience to God’s command.
The National Chief Imam and the Vice-President, together with some few dignitaries, slaughtered a cow to signify the essence of the ceremony, just as Allah offered Ibrahim a ram to be slaughtered instead of Isaka.
Economy
President Akufo-Addo said in spite of the hardships precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the government was standing by its major policy commitments.
“We have continued to keep the lights on, we have continued to provide Free SHS education,” he stated.
He indicated that the government would continue with services such as drone delivery of critical medicines to needy and remote communities, keep the operation of the Zongo Development Fund, build new roads, repair old ones and accelerate work on the One-District, One-factory policy as well as the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.
President Akufo-Addo said aside from obtaining an IMF programme and the first quarter economic growth, the currency had seen some stability lately.
He explained that through the gold for oil programme, “we’ve seen the stability in the prices of petroleum products as well, all of which are helping to bring inflation down,” and assured that things would get better.
Commitment
President Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment to all religious communities, both the majority and minority, that just as the 1992 Constitution offered all citizens the right to manifest the religion of their choice, he would respect that.
He indicated that having two Vice-Presidents of the Muslim faith in the two New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments should be a clear indication to Muslim parents that there was value in educating their children.
The President stressed that they should be encouraged that the nation afforded all children the opportunity to rise to the highest possible calling, and therefore encouraged parents to take advantage of progressive policies in the education sector to educate both their male and female children.
President Akufo-Addo cited Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Hajia Alima Mahama, and the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, as examples of female Muslims who had risen in society, adding that there was value in educating the Muslim girl-child.
National Imam
In a speech read on his behalf, the National Chief Imam urged Muslims to abide by the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed and eschew wrongdoing.
Sheikh Sharubutu said they should also abide by the example of Ibrahim in obeying the command of God to sacrifice.
The National Chief Imam added that just as they celebrated Eid-ul-Adha, they should continue to praise and reflect on the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim, the father of Monotheistic faith, who showed his readiness to do the will of Allah.
Sheikh Sharubutu urged the Muslim faithful to learn from the need to sacrifice whatever good things they might have for one another so that the world would be filled with love, mutual respect and compassion for absolute peace.
Judges have ruled that the government’s intention to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda is illegal.A Court of Appeal lawsuit against the Government’s proposed Rwanda deportation scheme was won by activists and asylum seekers.
In response to legal objections to the contentious government proposals, the Court of Appeal has issued its decision.
A High Court decision that had earlier stated that the country in east Africa may be regarded as a “safe third country” was reversed by three justices.
According to Lord Burnett, the court came to its decision based on the law and “took absolutely no view” as to the political benefits of the policy.
He added: ‘The result is that the High Court’s decision that Rwanda was a safe third country is reversed and that unless and until the deficiencies in its asylum processes are corrected removal of asylum-seekers to Rwanda will be unlawful.’
Steve Smith MBE, the CEO of refugee charity Care4Calais who brought an earlier legal challenge against the policy, responded with immense relief’.
Speaking after the ruling, he said: ‘After today’s judgement, it’s time the Government abandoned its brutal Rwanda policy and any alternative proposal to shirk the UK’s responsibility for people seeking asylum.
‘Instead, they should offer safe passage to refugees in Calais as the effective and compassionate way to put smugglers out of business, end small boat crossings and save lives.’
A packed room in the Royal Courts of Justice had awaited the ruling as the clock ticked nearer to 10am.
People gather to oppose the Rwanda Deal agreement in a protest last June (Picture: Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)
Today’s decision followed Rishi Sunak’s repeated pledge to ‘stop the boats’ since becoming Prime Minister.
The multimillion-pound proposals were put forward by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, during a time when ministers faced increased pressure to tackle the number of people attempting to reach the UK by crossing the Channel.
In December last year, two judges at the High Court had dismissed a series of legal bids against the Government’s plan to provide asylum seekers with a one-way ticket to Rwanda.
However, Lord Justice Lewis and Mr Justice Swift also gave the go-ahead to several individual asylum seekers and the charity Asylum Aid to challenge their decision.
Rishi Sunak has vowed to ‘stop the boats’ since he became Prime Minister (Picture: AP)
Today, the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill gave their decision on the bid to overturn the previous ruling.
At a hearing in April, lawyers for the group of asylum seekers argued the High Court ‘showed excessive deference’ to the Home Office’s assessment that assurances made by the Rwandan authorities ‘provide a sufficient guarantee to protect relocated asylum seekers’ from a risk of torture or inhuman treatment.
The appeal judges were told that material provided by the Rwandan authorities ‘lacked credibility, consisting of blanket denials and clear contradictions’.
Charity Freedom from Torture, which intervened in the appeal, also argued the speed of the process means there is no ‘adequate opportunity’ to identify torture survivors.
Lawyers for the Home Office opposed the appeal, telling the court the Rwandan government had indicated willingness to work together with the British Government.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling comes days after the Home Office’s own figures showed the Government could spend £169,000 on every asylum seeker forcibly removed to a third country such as Rwanda.
Nearly two in five people would need to be deterred from crossing the Channel in small boats for the the Illegal Migration Bill to break even, the economic impact assessment published on Monday said.
The £169,000 cost includes flights and detention, as well as a £105,000 per person payment to third countries.
However, the sum is an estimate not based on the true cost of the ‘commercially sensitive’ Rwanda scheme.
If passed, the Bill would see the law changed so that people who come to the UK illegally through a safe country are not allowed to stay – instead being detained and removed, either to their home country or a country such as Rwanda.
The first flight to Rwanda was due to take off on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 but was stopped at the last minute.
The Boeing 767-300 – chartered at a cost of £500,000 to taxpayers – was grounded at RAF Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, after a frantic series of last-minute legal challenges.
President Akufo-Addo says Ghana’s belief in religious tolerance, harmony, and co-existence is iconic.
That enviable record, he said, ought to be maintained to deepen social cohesion and stability at all times.
“This country continues to be a haven of peace in the stormy waters of West Africa,” he noted while addressing the national celebration of the Eid-ul-Adha, at Independence Square, Accra.
Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) is the most important Islamic holiday that commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
It is marked by the slaughtering of livestock, and distributing part of the meat to the poor.
The holiday begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
In Ghana, the Muslim community commemorated the day with the President and his Vice, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, assisting the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, to slaughter a lamb at Independence Square.
The sacred ceremony was characterised by prayers by the Muslim community for God’s guidance and blessings as the nation sought to overcome its development challenges.
President Nana Akufo-Addo reminded the people that Ghana’s constitution guaranteed the freedom of religion, therefore, it behooved the citizenry to respect each other’s beliefs and practices.
“As long as I remain the President, I commit to every religious tradition the opportunity to practise its faith within the bounds of the law,” he noted.
On Hajj, he stressed the need for the pilgrims to uphold the cardinal principles that underpinned the holy journey to Mecca as well as their safe flight back home.
The 37 Military Hospital has successfully conducted its first-ever Dual Chamber Pacemaker surgery for a 47-year-old woman who has lived with a blocked heart for 12 years.
Heart block is a condition where the electrical impulses that control the beating of the heart muscle are disrupted.
The most serious type of heart block is known as complete or third-degree.
Heart block has symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations (irregular heartbeat), dizzy spells/fainting, and nausea.
Dual-Chamber Pacemaker is a type of surgery, which helps to correct the condition by carrying electrical impulses to the right ventricle and the right atrium of the heart to help control the timing of contractions between the two chambers.
The surgery does not allow the heart to dip below a programmed heart rate and ensures that the atrium – the top chamber of the heart – and the ventricle – the lower chamber of the heart – beat in sync with one another.
Colonel Dr Kwame Acheampong Adomako, the Head of Cardio Center 37 Military Hospital, addressing the media after the surgery, said the patient’s blocked heart was due to a family history of hypertension and diabetes.
He said because the patient was hypertensive and diabetic, the nerves that needed to carry messages to other parts of the body were unable to do so.
The Cardiologist explained that the electronic pulse generator implanted in the heart would help the patient live her normal life without any sudden cardiac arrest or death.
This means that the heartbeat has increased from 39-40 beats to 80-90 beats per minute.
Col Adomako said the successful surgery had given the Hospital the confidence to do more and urged Ghanaians to go for regular check-ups to help pick up some of those conditions early for timely treatment.
He expressed gratitude to the medical team that assisted in the success of the procedure.
The patient expressed appreciation to the 37 Military Hospital for the prompt attention given to her, adding that before her referral to the facility on Friday, June 23, 2023, she had been given up to Sunday, June 25 to live.
She narrated how she had an attack at a function and was advised to go for a checkup immediately.
“After my checkup at the SSNIT Hospital, I was asked to wait for a while because my condition was critical. My heart was beating slowly at about 39 to 40 instead of the normal of 70 to 80 per minute.
“I was later rushed with an ambulance to the 37 Military Hospital where I was told about the surgery right away, which was performed because it cannot wait,” she added.
The patient said she was currently well and doing everything without the help of anyone, adding that “initially, I could not walk even a small distance.
“After the surgery, I can confirm today that my condition has changed. There is nothing like dizziness and pain anymore as it used to be,” she narrated.
She urged Ghanaians to have faith in local health facilities for their health needs.
Her wife said he was happy with the success of the surgery, saying his wife had gone through a lot.
ordan Neely was killed on a New York City underground car, and a former member of the Marine Corps for the United States pleaded not-guilty to manslaughter charges.
The homeless guy Neely was put in a chokehold by Daniel Penny, 24, on May 1 in Manhattan after he yelled at other riders on a tube car.
The 24-year-old veteran held Neely’s neck as he passed away, and two other passengers assisted in holding his body.
A bystander managed to capture the confrontation on video, which drew public outrage after it circulated on social media.
Penny was questioned by police officers after Neely’s death, but was not detained. He was arrested over a week later and charged with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide on May 12.
He was indicted again by a grand jury on second-degree manslaughter charges on June 15.
If convicted, Penny faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for manslaughter, and five years in prison for negligent homicide.
On Wednesday, Penny was arraigned before a judge in Manhattan Criminal Court. When asked how he pleaded, Penny said ‘not guilty.’ He said nothing else over the course of the short hearing.
Penny is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on October 25. He was released after posting a $100,000 bond.
Penny claimed he acted in self-defense, and said that Neely had been shouting that he was ‘ready to die’ and willing to go to jail before he restrained him.
Danny isn’t the only one on trial,’ his defense attorney Steven Raiser said. ‘The rights of people to defend one another will be on a trial too.’
Others have criticized Penny’s actions, noting that Neely struggled with homelessness and mental illness.
‘A good Samaritan helps those in trouble,’ said Reverend Al Sharpton at Neely’s funeral in May. ‘They don’t choke him out.’
Meanwhile, supporters have raised over $2.9million through a fundraiser on the platform GiveSendGo.
‘For everyone who thought donating $3 million would somehow make this go away or buy his pass: It’s not going to happen,’ said Donte Mills, a lawyer representing Neely’s family.
Social activist Kwame A Plus has criticised Yvonne Nelson for some remarks she made regarding Sarkodie’s song “Try Me.”
Shortly after Sarkodie’s audio response to Yvonne Nelson’s earlier allegations went viral, the latter, in a series of rants on Twitter, established that the former’s reply proves he doesn’t respect women.
“Insults won’t work Michael. Respect womanhood, I’m happy the world gets to see how you are playing this and the real you. Young women get to learn from this. You would get applause for a rap. Still doesn’t change the TRUTH,” Yvonne wrote.
But A Plus, who is also closely monitoring events, has taken to social media to express disgust at the actress’ statements.
A Plus, who has since criticized Yvonne Nelson for calling out Sarkodie in her book, has queried why she is championing a ‘respect womanhood’ narrative when all she did was to disrespect her own mother.
Kwame A Plus who had earlier lambasted Yvonne for projecting her mother for trolls, following claims of not knowing the real identity of her father has questioned the actress’ sudden claim of having the interest of women at heart.
“Yvonne Nelson says Sark should respect womanhood when she first disrespected and humiliate the woman who carried her for 9 months. Herh is your mother not a woman? Anaa she is a dabodabo (a duck)?” He wrote on Facebook.
He also asked Yvonne to keep mute and allow to Sarkodie also make some money from their rift.
That’s not all, he also patted Sarkodie on the back for a ‘good job done’.
“One book one Rap! #1B1R If you write 10 books Sark will release 10 songs. You think you are the only one who likes money and ‘fans’ abi? Madam keep quiet and let’s all cash out!! Kings Sark, the brotherhood is proud of you!
A train carrying more than 200 passengers and crew members derailed in California after colliding with a truck on the tracks. Fifteen persons were hurt.
According to Captain Brian McGrath of the Ventura County Fire Department, an Amtrak train impacted a truck near Moorpark on Wednesday, causing three of its seven carriages to derail.
The fire service reported that 15 individuals had been sent to hospitals shortly after 3 p.m. local time.
The driver of the truck was taken to a trauma center, according to the fire department, and 14 others suffered minor injuries.
A total of 186 passengers were on board and 13 others were Amtrak crew members.
‘Passengers continue to be evaluated,’ wrote the fire department around 1.30pm local time. ‘All trains have been searched with all occupants out and no passengers requiring extrication.’
It is believed that the truck driver managed to get out of the vehicle before the train struck it, McGrath said.
A small fire was extinguished by arriving firefighters.
The obliterated truck remained on the tracks after the crash, with some of its pieces lying next to the derailed cars. The cars that went off the tracks were still upright next to an orchard.
Most of the passengers evacuated the train on their own or with help from emergency responders.
The train was heading from Los Angeles to Seattle when ‘it struck a water truck obstructing the tracks’ at 11.15am, stated Amtrak.
‘Amtrak is working with customers to make alternate travel arrangements.’
Footage from the scene showed people with their luggage standing around as first responders addressed the situation.
A reunification center for families was set up at 799 Moorpark Avenue.
The company and local authorities are conducting an investigation into the crash.
Moorpark is about 50 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Major traffic delays were expected throughout the city.
Iyanya, a musician from Nigeria, tweeted something that is being taken to mean that he will formally respond to claims made about him in the recently released memoir of his ex-girlfriend Yvonne Nelson.
He was one of the few showbiz personalities addressed in the book ‘I am not Yvonne Nelson,’ with the author accusing him of being a womanizer who despite being in a relationship with her went chasing other women.
He took a rather jocular approach to his intial response to the ‘revelations’ by Yvonne Nelson but has tweeted his readiness to tell his part of the story come what may.
His tweet of June 28 read: “Y’all waiting for my side of the story? If I talk now, I’ll be accused of kissing and telling, sluts shaming Etc. But something gat to give, so wait for it.”
His tweet came hours after another musician captured in Yvonne’s book, Sarkodie, released a ‘tell-it-all’ track titled ‘Try Me,’ responding copiously to an abortion Yvonne had of a child that was forming out of a relationship they shared in 2010.
To see in case your phone is being tapped, look for apps that can be the usage of a whole lot of battery or information, concentrate on odd sounds on phone calls, and watch for any ordinary behavior like random microphone activation or redirected websites. You also can use MMI or USSD codes to test the decision forwarding popularity.
For better or for worse, our smartphones are always with us, so if a person touches a digital camera or microphone, it’s a serious problem. But how do you recognize in case your telephone is being hacked and how are you going to protect yourself?
How do you know if your smartphone has been tapped?
If a person profits from get right of entry to your phone, they can ship fake emails, study your non-public messages, report your calls, and all varieties of nefarious behavior. But are you able to tell if a person hacked your phone? Here are a few things to preserve in mind.
1. Poor battery life
If your telephone is constantly overheating for apparently no reason and the battery is draining quickly with no obvious motive, then your cellphone may additionally have been hacked. Malware strolling inside the historical past can drain your battery without any apps strolling and can be whatever from malware reading your electronic mail to adware calling for registration.
If you are already a heavy phone user, chances are your battery is getting hot anyway. Streaming motion pictures or playing video games for lengthy durations of time, for instance, will reason your telephone to overheat, that’s completely every day. If you don’t use your telephone lots and the battery continues to be warm or can’t maintain a charge, you would possibly want to test for malware.
To try this, test the battery settings. On each Android phone and iPhone, you may see which apps use the maximum battery power by using going to Settings > Battery, in which you will see which apps are using the most power. If there are apps in that list that you don’t bear in mind putting in, or a 3rd-celebration app that should not use a lot of strength, uninstall it right now.
For extra particular instructions, test out our publications to Check Battery Usage on Android and Check Battery Usage on iPhone. Then discover ways to delete Android apps or delete iPhone apps.
2. Strange sounds
An excessive-pitched hum or a bizarre static pulse on the line may be a sign that your calls are being recorded. If you listen to static or different unusual feels like clicking or beeping even while you are not calling a person, this is another signal, specifically when the police are tapping your smartphone.
Hearing those beeps at a random time or twice is probably best, however, if it happens constantly, check your phone. You can try to use the audio bandwidth sensor app from any other telephone that is set to a lower frequency. If you select more than one beep over the route of a minute, your telephone can be vulnerable to a hack.
3. Abnormally high data utilization
Spyware and malware will mechanically use a lot of records due to the fact they are constantly sending facts to everybody who sneaks into your device. If your region or data icons on the top of the display screen circulate or mild up regularly, that could be a signal that a person is sending information out of your telephone or controlling it remotely. Higher than ordinary facts utilization may appear as a higher cellphone invoice if you do not have a vast facts plan.
iPhones and Android phones let you check your statistics usage to see if your telephone has (possibly) been tapped. To do that to your iPhone, visit Settings > Mobile Network. On Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet. It may also be under Connections > Data Usage or > Cellular Data Usage.
four. Unusual pastime
If your cellphone is having a problem turning off, this will be a sign that it is being tapped. Randomly shutting down on its own is some other sign of a hassle. When your cellphone turns off, check if the backlight stays on even when the phone is turned off or if it fails to turn off absolutely.
Other odd behaviors your telephone can show if it is hacked encompass pop-up advertisements, random display lighting, and messages you do not know that make you follow unknown links. Performance regularly slows down as nicely.
Also, be careful when turning your digicam or microphone randomly. If the digital camera mild nonetheless appears whilst you have not opened an app that makes use of the digicam, that may be a signal that your cellphone has been hacked. Some malware permits hackers to get entry to your digital camera without turning on the light, so always dig deeper in case you assume something fishy is going on.
5. Websites Look Strange
Some types of malicious software can infiltrate your browser, showing you a fake internet page that looks valid, then harvesting your login credentials whilst you type them in. If you’re browsing for your smartphone and the net web page you’re searching at acts atypical or doesn’t appear quite like it’s alleged to, near the browser and check your telephone for malware with the aid of scanning it or taking it to a professional.
How to Protect Your Phone From Being Tapped
If you need to ensure your smartphone is by no means compromised, keep away from downloading any apps that aren’t from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. Even whilst using the mainstream app stores, although, do a Google seek of the app and the developer to double-take a look at that they’re on the level earlier than you download; awful apps can and do once in a while get beyond their vetting methods.
Download relied on anti-malware and antivirus apps and use them often. If you could manage to pay for a premium subscription, do it. If now not, there are some great free alternatives available.
Using a VPN to obscure your authentic IP deal can make it harder for someone who’s looking to song you to pin down your place. If you could, try some out and use one regularly while you’re in public or on an unsecured connection.
You can also take a look at and notice whether your calls and messages are being forwarded to different gadgets using Man-Machine Interface (MMI) codes. They’ll be one-of-a-kind depending on the network however can allow you to discover and reduce any unauthorized forwarding. To use them, dial the preferred MMI code with your keypad, then hit the decision button.
If you’re in a GSM community (like AT&T and T-Mobile):
*#002# — Lists all name and information forwarding settings
##002# — Clears all call and records forwarding settings
If you’re on a CDMA network (like Verizon and US Cellular):
*seventy two — Lists all call and statistics forwarding settings
*seventy three — Clears all call and facts forwarding settings
Unfortunately, MMI codes best work on Android devices, but you could use the USA (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) code *#21# on iPhone to check your call forwarding repute and notice if your calls are being forwarded everywhere else.
If you’ve performed your due diligence however you’re nonetheless experiencing those signs, take your phone to an expert. Odds are they’ll have the gear to test more deeply and eliminate any terrible software program that might be inflicting the problem.
The Member of Parliament-elect for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson has expressed gratitude for the support he received from supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the recently concluded by-election.
According to him, although the said individuals cannot publicly disclose their identity, their instrumental role in orchestrating his victory is acknowledged.
Addressing journalists just before being officially declared the winner of the Tuesday, June 27 by-election, Quayson emphasized his commitment to upholding the rule of law and conducting his campaign activities within legal boundaries.
He extended his appreciation to his constituents in Assin North, as well as his fellow NDC members, and members from the opposition NPP who according to him quietly supported his candidacy.
“I believe in the rule of law and I do things according to the law. Also, I had the support of my constituents, not just the people of Assin North alone, my NDC fraternity, and people from the other side of the aisle, which is the NPP, who were supporting me,” Quayson stated. “They may not be able to identify themselves publicly,” he added.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana declared him as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency on June 27, 2023, following the conclusion of the by-election. Quayson, who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious with a significant margin.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast. His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes. Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
A stray bullet killed a 10-year-old boy in Virginia as he was watching television.
On June 17, just after midnight, a fatal gunshot occurred.
K’Von Morgan, 10, was hit by multiple stray gunshots that slammed through his window while he was watching television in his room at home in Petersburg, Virginia.
He was taken to the hospital in critical condition but passed away there as a result of his wounds.
‘The Petersburg Bureau of Police extend our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of K’Von at this time,’ the department said in a news release. They confirmed the 10-year-old was not involved in the shooting in any way.
‘It makes no sense that a child had to lose his life by being inside his bedroom, doing what he was doing, and preparing to go to bed for the night,’ Petersburg Police Chief Travis Christian told NBC 12. ‘It’s ridiculous.’
Investigators are still searching for shooter or shooters responsible. They believe the shots were fired at the Pecan Acres apartment complex, just a few blocks from Morgan’s home.
Meanwhile, the Petersburg Bureau of Police are requesting the public’s help to identify the gunmen.
‘We’re looking for those individuals, not only those who did it, but we’re really looking for the individuals who know what happened,’ Chief Christian said.
According to an an online obituary, Morgan loved to play football and Fortnite, collect Pokémon cards, breakdance, and beatbox.
Morgan had recently finished fourth grade at Pleasant Lane Elementary School in Petersburg and was preparing to start fifth grade in the fall, his family said.
Family members have also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money in his memory.
A candlelight vigil was held for Morgan on Tuesday night, and a memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, June 29.
In response to accusations made by actress Yvonne Nelson in her just-released memoir, “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,” Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has released a track titled “Try Me.”
The actress a week ago stirred up social media with shocks of revelations in her book that triggered conversations.
She revealed that, in 2010 she had an abortion after being impregnated by rapper Sarkodie because the rapper refused to father a child.
Addressing these claims Sarkodie in a fiery song titled ‘Try Me’, described actress Yvonne Nelson as being promiscuous during their short ‘lovie dovie’
The rapper vehemently denied being the one who pushed for the abortion and asserts that she had multiple partners.
According to him although he was not ready for a baby, he suggested Yvonne keep the pregnancy.
Meanwhile, Yvonne has in a tweet a few hours after the dropped song clapped back at the rapper’s response, calling him a liar.
Three guys have been detained for kidnapping while a teenage girl has vanished from a party 175 miles from her home.
After travelling from Barnsley to London for a party, police worry that Carmelle Hepi may be with a “older man.”
The adolescent left for London over the weekend to attend a party, and on Sunday night she disappeared.
Just after midnight, her frightened family notified South Yorkshire Police of her disappearance, and they forwarded the information to the Met Police.
Since then, three men, all aged in their 20s, have been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and remain in custody.
The teenager travelled from Barnsley Station, onto Sheffield and then down to London Kings Cross St Pancras, arriving shortly after 6pm on Saturday.
Latest London news
Carmelle is believed to have attended a birthday party in Peckham with a ‘small gathering of teenagers’ at around 10pm.
Carmelle has been missing since Sunday (Picture: Met Police)Police have released CCTV of her entering Primark in Croydon (Picture: Met Police)She was in the store for 20 minutes before leaving (Picture: Met Police)
Around an hour later, the Met Police said she left with another group of people in a car.
She is also believed to have attended addresses in Croydon, Lewisham, and Purfleet in Essex.
Officers believe that she may be in the company of an older male.
Footage has also been released from the same day showing her entering the Primark in High Street, Croydon at around 4.45 pm, before leaving 20 minutes later.
It shows her in the pink and white jacket she may be wearing now.
Officers are said to be in regular contact with Carmelle’s family in Barnsley and have spoken to the people who were at the party.
The senior investigating officer is Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood, who said: ‘Carmelle, I want you to know that you are not in any trouble whatsoever.
‘Our one and only focus is making sure that you are safe and well.
Officers fear she may be with an ‘older man’ they have said (Picture: Met Police)
‘Please call 999 and speak to us, or go to a police station, and we will get you back home safely.
‘Your family are desperately worried about you and while we’re supporting them as best we can, they need to know that you’re OK and to come home. They cannot rest until you’re back with them.
DCI Wood added: ‘My team are working round the clock, supported by our colleagues at South Yorkshire Police and local officers.
‘As well as the arrests made, we have spoken to multiple people, searched a number of addresses and officers are conducting extensive CCTV enquiries, along with various other leads we are pursuing.
‘Members of the public can help us locate Carmelle. If you have seen Carmelle, or you know her and have information about where she is or has been, it is imperative that you contact us.
‘It doesn’t matter if you’re a friend who has heard or seen something in passing – you won’t be in trouble. What matters is that you contact as you could have significant information to help us find a missing teenage girl.’
Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, attacked Yvonne Nelson with venom, telling her to take responsibility for having an abortion in her most recent book, “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson.”
The publication of Yvonne Nelson’s memoir sparked debate on social media, with users criticising Sarkodie for forcing Yvonne Nelson to have an abortion during a previous relationship.
But Sarkodie has responded to the allegations of Yvonne Nelson by dropping a new song, “Try Me”.
Sarkodie, in the song, lauded Yvonne Nelson for her bravery in releasing the book but stated that she was selective in some of the things she said.
“I never thought I was gonna be on this wave because I was ready to take a couple of things to my grave. I clap for you because you are brave, but you can’t pick and choose what to stay, please behave..,” excerpts of the lyrics said.
Sarkodie didn’t deny having a relationship, but he alleged in the song that Yvonne Nelson had multiple relationships with many guys.
According to Sarkodie, the idea of aborting a baby came from Yvonne Nelson, despite telling her to keep it.
” …Take the blame cos nobody is the cause for your bad choice in life, and stop the personal attacks,” he advised.
Sarkodie added that he wasn’t surprised the book was doing well because we lived in a world where negativity sells, and he had even grabbed a copy himself.
A pensioner has been detained on murder suspicion after a senior citizen was discovered dead in her home.
Last Sunday, June 25, the 77-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene in Ealing, west London, and a special post-mortem revealed that she had died from a severe head injury.
A 74-year-old man was detained by police who were called to the residence after receiving complaints of worries for the woman’s welfare.
He was transported to the hospital, according to Scotland Yard, because of health concerns. Both the victim and the suspect were well-known to one another.
Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are carrying out further enquiries to establish the circumstances.
Detective Superintendent Rebecca Reeves said: ‘I know that local people will be shocked by this incident and additional foot patrols are being conducted to reassure the community.
Sarkodie has made it clear that the only aspect of the whole ordeal with Yvonne Nelson that really aggravates him is her claim that he coerced her into having an abortion of their child.
The rapper said, in parts of his “Try Me” response song to Yvonne Nelson,
“Don’t you make it seem I was the one pushing you for abortion cos that be the only part wey make I Dey vex.”
He said the actress should entirely be blamed for what he termed as her bad decisions.
“Nobody should take the blame for the bad decisions you made. Kudos! Your strategy worked.”
Sarkodie’s reply
Sarkodie released a track titled ‘Try Me’, which is his intended response to Yvonne Nelson’s claims.
One can recall that after narrating how the rapper impregnated her and denied responsibility, Yvonne Nelson, in her memoir also detailed how he drove her to a health facility where she bled profusely in his absence.
In a chapter titled ‘Abortion’, in her book, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ the actress disclosed how Sarkodie accompanied her to the Mamprobi polyclinic for abortion and since never bothered to find out how the procedure went.
However, telling his side of the story in the single, ‘Try Me’, Sarkodie detailed that it was Yvonne’s sole decision to abort the pregnancy.
Although the rapper admitted that they had a relationship, he said Yvonne was only playing the victim and taking advantage of the fact that the world listens to women more than men.
As part of efforts to secure the second consignment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal, government through the Ministry of Finance has reached an agreement with commercial banks to restructure GHC15 billion ($1.36 billion) of domestically issued U.S. dollar bonds and cocoa bills.
This is according to a Reuters report which cited three sources familiar with the negotiations.
“They (the banks) understand that they are better off getting a restructuring because we may not be able to pay the coupon,” a finance ministry source told Reuters.
The development by Ghana to conduct a second round of domestic debt restructuring is hinged on a June timeline in order to meet an IMF conditionality deadline with plans to engage external creditors on a debt restructuring exercise.
Despite concluding the first phase of the DDEP back in February this year with about 85 percent of eligible bondholders participating, Ghana now needs to undertake new terms for another GHC123 billion ($11.18 billion).
This is to enable the country qualify for the second tranche of the $3 billion Extended Credit Facility from the International Monetary Fund.
Reuters sources familiar with the negotiations said the second phase of the DDEP will comprise of domestic dollar bonds, cocoa bills, pension funds and debt owed to the central bank.
They added that the government of Ghana and lenders have agreed to convert about GH¢6.9 billion worth of domestic US dollar bonds into two-term loans at new reduced rates.
In addition to this, Reuters reports that another GH¢8.1 billion worth of cocoa bills will be converted into a new bond at 12 percent yield, although some commercial banks are holding out for 13 percent yield.
As of February 2023, the last cocoa bill issued from the cocoa regulator, COCOBOD had a yield of 32.22 percent.
Reuters however emphasized that a request to comment on the matter by the Finance Ministry and COCOBOD was declined.
Meanwhile, the new terms of the loans have a five-year maturity, starting from 2025, according to the three sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly on the matter.
The Privileges Committee has identified Nadine Dorries, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Priti Patel as supporters of Boris Johnson who “undermined House of Commons procedures” by attacking its partygate inquiry.
Earlier this month, the Privileges Committee came to the conclusion that the former prime minister had violated the law repeatedly.
When it came to his denials of Partygate, they discovered that Mr. Johnson intentionally misled MPs. He then participated in a campaign of harassment and intimidation.
The seven-person panel, which was chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but had a Conservative majority, used its 106-page report to warn Mr Johnson’s most vocal defenders they would face scrutiny themselves.
According to sources cited by The Guardian, the special report will include whether statements by Mr Johnson’s supporters could be considered a contempt of Parliament in their own right.
In its Partygate report published on June 15, the Privileges Committee said: ‘From the outset of this inquiry there has been a sustained attempt, seemingly co-ordinated, to undermine the committee’s credibility and, more worryingly, that of those members serving on it.
‘The committee is concerned that if these behaviours go unchallenged, it will be impossible for the House to establish such a committee to conduct sensitive and important inquiries in the future.
‘The House must have a committee to defend its rights and privileges, and it must protect members of the House doing that duty from formal or informal attack or undermining designed to deter and prevent them from doing that duty.
‘We will be making a special report separately to the House dealing with these matters.’
It recommended Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension if he had not quit Parliament.
The former prime minister and his allies have since stepped up their attacks, with Mr Johnson claiming the committee had reached a ‘deranged conclusion’.
In his resignation statement, he labelled the investigation a ‘kangaroo court’ that was akin to a ‘witch hunt’.
Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, one of Mr Johnson’s most vocal supporters, urged voters to turf out Tory MPs who backed the committee’s report.
‘Any Conservative MP who would vote for this report is fundamentally not a Conservative and will be held to account by members and the public. Deselections may follow,’ she said on the day of the report’s publication.
That did not deter MPs from voting overwhelmingly to back the report, with only seven voting against the committee’s findings and 354 voting in favour.
Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith called the MPs’ conclusions ‘spiteful, vindictive and overreaching’.
Former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke – who was knighted in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours – said the punishment dealt out by the committee was ‘absolutely extraordinary to the point of sheer vindictiveness’.
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, another honoured by Mr Johnson, suggested the committee’s ‘fundamental judgment’ was ‘wrong’.
Wearing a grey polo shirt and blue jeans, the defendant showed no emotion as he entered his pleas, with family members of the victim watching on from the jury seats of the court.
He spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his pleas.
Stephen Alderton pleaded guilty to two counts of murder at Cambridge Crown Court (Picture: PA)
Judge Mark Bishop remanded him in custody to be sentenced on October 20.
Alderton denied one count of possession of a firearm, a double-barrelled shotgun, with intent to cause fear of violence to another person.
Prosecutor Peter Gair said there was ‘no public interest to be served by seeking a trial’ on the count and the judge ordered that it lie on file.
Gary and Joshua’s family paid tribute to the ‘devoted’ father and son following their deaths.
In a statement issued through Cambridgeshire Police, they said: ‘Josh was a devoted father and a loving uncle.
‘He was a wonderful son and brother and leaves behind an extensive group of family and friends.
‘He will be deeply missed and the devastation this has caused will never heal.
‘Gary was the most devoted son, brother, dad and grandad, who gave everything for those he loved.
‘He was a gentle and generous person who always put others before himself and he’ll be massively missed by his family and all those who knew and loved him.’
Security and safety analyst, Adam Bonah has lauded the Ghana Police Service for what he refers to as exemplary performance during the recently concluded Assin North by-election.
Bonah, recognizing the significance of the police service’ effort in maintaining peace and order, gave the service an A+ grade for their professionalism and diligence throughout the electoral process.
Speaking in an interview he emphasized that the measures implemented by the police during the tension-filled by-election played a vital role in preventing potential outbreaks of violence.
“For my assessment, I will give the police, in terms of handling this particular high-tensioned by-election in Assin North, I will give them an A+ which will be about 85%,” Bonah stated.
He added “I say so because if the police had not put a lot more strategy and a lot more men on the ground, along with the assistance of other security agencies, Assin North would have been bloodier than Techiman.
“Assin North would have been bloodier than Talensi, Assin North would have been bloodier than Ayawaso Wougon, and probably all other by-elections. So, for me, I think their performance is commendable. They have done what probably they had not been able to do in all by-elections since the 1992 constitution.”
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission declared James Gyakye Quayson as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency on June 27, 2023, following the conclusion of the by-election. Quayson, who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious with a significant margin.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast. His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes. Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
A small earthquake is thought to have occurred in Staffordshire on Wednesday night as a result of the ‘almighty boom’ that caused homes to shake.
Around 8.20 p.m. last night, Stoke-on-Trent and the neighbouring districts felt a tremor with a magnitude of 3.3.
It easily outperformed two 1.8 magnitude tremors felt on the Isle of Mull in May as the greatest of 21 earthquakes to strike the UK in the previous two months.
BGS said it had received reports from around the area on Wednesday night, mainly from within 20km (12.5 miles) of the epicentre, describing ‘an initial rumbling, then a bang’ with what ‘felt more like a shunt, like something had hit something’.
Mark Begg, 30, told reporters he was at home in Uttoxeter when he felt ‘a very large shake’.
He said he checked ‘around the house to see if I could see anything’ and ‘after noticing there were no signs of damage I concluded it was most likely a mini earthquake’.
Tom, 38, in Cheadle, Staffordshire, said: ‘I was sitting watching an episode of Only Connect with my wife on YouTube and as we opened another bottle of wine the whole house shook.
‘I thought either one of the children had fallen out of bed or something else had happened.’
The BGS says it detects and locates between 200 and 300 earthquakes in the UK each year.
Between 20 to 30 earthquakes annually are felt by people with the others only recorded by sensitive instruments.
One woman, in Blythe Bridge, told StokeonTrentLive: ‘I was relaxing in the bath when there was an almighty noise and the house seemed to shake – I honestly thought a lorry had hit the house.
‘My kids came running as did the dog and I jumped out the bath. Thankfully there doesn’t seem to be any damage.’
Another resident, in Biddulph, said: ‘I was working at my desk and it started shaking. I thought it was the neighbours next door at first.
Western authorities claim that mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was forced to improvise his insurrection after security agents discovered his intention to capture Russian military leaders.
The Wall Street Journal says that the leader of the Wagner Group initially intended to kidnap both Valery Gerasimov, the army’s commander, and Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister, during a trip to the south.
However, it’s believed that he changed course after the FSB, the KGB’s successor, received a two-day warning and decided to target Rostov, the city where the Ukraine war is being fought.
Western analysts believe that might explain why the unprecedented uprising fizzled out 36 hours later.
However, his seizure of Rostov, a city of one million and home to a key military command point, suggests senior army officers could have been involved in the plot.
They are said to include General Armageddon, Sergei Surovikin, deputy commander of the ‘special military operation’.
He was replaced by Gerasimov earlier this year when his blitz of critical infrastructure targets failed to turn the tide of the conflict in Russia’s favour.
US intelligence suggests Surovikin could have ‘helped plan’ the rebellion, the biggest challenge to Vladimir Putin’s leadership in the two decades since he came to power.
The Kremlin dismissed the reports as ‘gossip’.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: ‘There will now be a lot of speculation, gossip and so on around these events. I think this is one such example.’
Despite the denial, Surovikin has not been seen in public since Saturday, when he came out and called for the mutiny to be halted.
Security in Moscow was ramped up and residents were warned to stay indoors on Saturday as a convoy of Wagner fighters rumbled towards the capital.
But a near-standoff at the gates was averted when Belarusian dictatorAleksandr Lukashenko, a staunch Putin ally, struck a last-minute deal with Prigozhin ending the unprecedented uprising.
Lukashenko said he had to persuade Putin not to ‘wipe out’ the mercenary chief, after the Russian president vowed to crush the mutiny, likening it to events in 1917 which ended in civil war.
Prigozhin said he never intended to overthrow Russia’s leaders but had marched to save his militia and settle scores with Shoigu and Gerasimov.
He boasted about the speed of the march towards Moscow, saying it exposed serious security flaws in the country.
Under the reported terms of the deal, not all of which are known, Prigozhin was allowed to go into exile in Belarus and pardoned on charges of treason.
Speaking to MSNBC on Tuesday, the US intelligence official Mark Warner said Prigozhin was holed up in one of the only hotels in Minsk without windows in a bid to guard against assassination.
Security and safety expert Adam Bonah praised the Ghana Police Service for its “exemplary performance” during the recently completed Assin North by-election.
Bonah, recognizing the significance of the police service’ effort in maintaining peace and order, gave the service an A+ grade for their professionalism and diligence throughout the electoral process.
Speaking to Ghanaweb, he emphasized that the measures implemented by the police during the tension-filled by-election played a vital role in preventing potential outbreaks of violence.
“For my assessment, I will give the police, in terms of handling this particular high-tensioned by-election in Assin North, I will give them an A+ which will be about 85%,” Bonah stated.
He added “I say so because if the police had not put a lot more strategy and a lot more men on the ground, along with the assistance of other security agencies, Assin North would have been bloodier than Techiman.
“Assin North would have been bloodier than Talensi, Assin North would have been bloodier than Ayawaso Wougon, and probably all other by-elections. So, for me, I think their performance is commendable. They have done what probably they had not been able to do in all by-elections since the 1992 constitution.”
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission declared James Gyakye Quayson as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency on June 27, 2023, following the conclusion of the by-election. Quayson, who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious with a significant margin.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast. His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes. Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
Scores of Muslims in Hohoe defied early showers on Wednesday to converge at the Ahlussunna Mosque for this year’s Eid ul-Adha prayers.
At 0930 hours, prayers were done with a lot of Muslims crowded at the Mosque to wish each other a fruitful celebration.
Alhaji Mohammed Mutawakil Yussif, Volta Regional Imam, Ahlussunna Wal Jamaah, speaking to the media after the prayers, disclosed that the day was significant to all Muslims in the world.
“In times like this, we do a lot of prayers, types of worship and engage in so many things trying to get closer to Almighty Allah.”
Alhaji Yussif said celebrating Eid ul-Adha was not about one’s wealth nor trying to show off but for all to fear Allah in all they were doing.
He said it was important to ensure that everything was done according to what was prescribed by Allah and Prophet Muhammad.
Alhaji Yussif admonished all, especially the youth, to mark the day in modesty and be cautious as well as law-abiding.
Eid ul-Adha is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah (SWT) and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail.
The celebrations, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice” is the second of the two Islamic festivities, which are celebrated annually worldwide.
Muslims approach God on this day by sacrificing a sheep, a cow, or a camel and distributing the meat to the poor as well as uniting to pray together with family and friends and show love.
Eid ul-Adha falls on the tenth day in the twelfth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhul-Hijah, which allows families, loved ones, and communities to fraternise, and is dependent on a legitimate sighting of the moon, following the completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj – which is an obligation for all Muslims.
The refusal of the justice secretary to transfer him to an open jail has been applauded by the family of a mother who was killed by her husband.
Alex Chalk rejected the Parole Board’s suggestion that Phillip Geoffrey Austin be moved to a jail with less security and supervision after he killed his wife Claire and their two small children.
It was reported that Austin, 54, who is currently serving a minimum 20-year sentence for the killings, had made progress in dealing with his “offending behaviour.”
Claire’s mother, Carol Quinn, expressed her horror at the decision earlier this month in an interview with Metro.co.uk.
She has never recovered from the trauma of the murders on July 10, 2000, when she and her husband discovered the bodies of their 31-year-daughter along with their grandchildren Jade, seven, and Keiren, eight.
Austin had been due for release on parole after being given three life sentences for the murders.
The board turned down his request to be released but recommended he be moved to open conditions, generally considered a step towards releasing an offender into the community.
Carol Quinn has said the loss of her only daughter and grandchildren continues to leave a huge void in the family’s lives (Picture: Joseph Walshe/SWNS)
The board made the decision following a hearing in February 2023 where Carol’s son Matthew Golden and his wife Vicky read impact statements.
They travelled from their home in Northamptonshire to HMP Warren Hill in Suffolk where Austin is being held.
The closed, Category C jail has the aim of supporting some of the most serious offenders in England and Wales into open conditions or release into the community.
After the hearing took further evidence on May 16, the board found that Austin had ‘undertaken extensive work, including accredited programmes, to address his offending behaviour’.
Mrs Quinn, from Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, told Metro.co.uk: ‘When they phoned me to tell me the decision I had to ask the lady to repeat what she said, I couldn’t believe it.
‘It’s such good news, there are now two years until the next hearing where he won’t be able to hurt anyone else, and we hope justice and common sense prevails when the board considers the case again.
‘I’m so grateful for everyone who has supported us. After losing my husband recently, I thought this would be final thing, and he would have been released or been moved to an open prison.
‘As a family we strongly believe that he will murder again. He hasn’t had contact with women to form a relationship in the past 23 years, he’s not had any worries regarding children or handling money.
‘When he comes out he will have to face all of those things and if he forms another relationship, he will kill again.’
Mrs Quinn, 74, had sent a letter to Mr Chalk, pleading with him not to authorise Austin’s application. ‘The day he should be released is the day when my daughter and her children are able to walk out of their graves and continue their lives,’ she has said.
The Parole Board previously recommended that Austin be moved to an open prison after hearing his case in April 2021 — with the application also refused by the Secretary of State at the time.
The latest decision comes too late for Carol’s husband, Harry, who died on April 22 this year having never recovered from the trauma of the murders.
In its decision, the board said: ‘The Parole Board refused the release of Phillip Austin but recommended a move to an open conditions prison following an oral hearing in May 2023.
‘This was a recommendation only and the secretary of state for justice considers the advice before making the final decision on whether a prisoner is suitable for open conditions.’
Austin hit Claire over the head with a mallet before strangling her, stabbing her repeatedly, and leaving her body in the kitchen of their home.
He then used the mallet to batter the poodles, Dandy and Sooty, to death.
Turning his sights on the children, the forklift driver picked them up from school and took them for fish and chips before giving them sleeping medicine and sending them to bed.
He then went from one room to the other and strangled them in their beds.
Carol and Harry, who was Claire’s step-father, rushed to the house in Standens Barn, about 10 miles away from their home, a week later after their grandchildren’s school got in touch to ask why they had been absent with no explanation. They discovered Claire’s body on the kitchen floor before going upstairs and finding the children’s bodies in their beds.
Austin pleaded guilty to the murders and was given three concurrent life sentences with a minimum of 20 years in March 2001.
Under UK law, a life sentence must be imposed for murder, but this can mean the convicted person being released ‘on licence’.
Only whole life orders prevent an offender from ever being released, except in ‘exceptional compassionate circumstances’.
Carol and her niece Sarah Markie have launched a Change.org petition calling for life to mean life, saying that at a relatively young age, Austin should not be allowed to ‘destroy another innocent family’.
The page has attracted almost 15,000 signatures to date.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: ‘Protecting the public is our number one priority which is why we have blocked Phillip Austin’s move to an open prison.’
James Gyakye Quayson was declared the victor of the June 27 by-election that was held as a result of the Supreme Court’s removal of him from office months prior.
He prevailed against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Charles Owusu and a third candidate.
According to figures Quayson’s numbers dropped marginally but his percentage win went up by some 2%.
Here is what we know:
In the 2020 Parliamentary election in Assin North, Gyakye Quayson won with 17,498 votes representing 55.21 percent as against the then NPP candidate Abena Durowaa Mensah’s 14,193 votes representing 44.79 percent.
Three years on, when he contested again, he came up against a new candidate deemed to be stronger than the former.
But, according to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast.
His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes.
About the Assin North election:
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast.
His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes.
Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
Under new plans, cannabis users in France who are found in possession of even a tiny amount of the drug might soon be subject to immediate fines of up to €2,500 (£2,150).
Police will receive 5,000 portable bank card readers so they may promptly demand €150 for a first offence from those who lack the necessary funds.
It is “unacceptable,” according to French President Emmanual Macron, since just 35% of the cannabis fines issued since September 2020 have been paid.
He said the new policy, to be rolled out in the summer, is his latest bid to stamp out drug rings and gang violence.
‘People who have the means to consume drugs, because for them it’s recreational, must understand that they’re sustaining criminal networks,’ he said.
‘They are effectively complicit.’
The lump sum will apply for cannabis and other drugs, though he did not specify which, and see fines from €200 – if paid on time – to €2,500.
Macron has asked Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin to ‘prepare a decree by the end of the summer, so that fines can be paid immediately, by bank card or in cash.’
Since 2016, being caught with cannabis for the first time can wind someone up with a fine between €200 and €450 – not paying can lead to a court summons.
As much as France has among the strictest drug laws in Europe, 11% of French people have smoked the drug in the past 12 months – the highest in Europe.
According to the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), nearly one in two French people have tried the drug at least once.
Macron once again toughening the country’s drug-busting laws reignited a debate over how the measures will impact those who take medical cannabis and may even curdle into further gang violence.
Arié Alimi, a human rights lawyer, said France should follow in the footsteps of Canada, dozens of US states and even their neighbour Germany in legalising recreational marijuana.
‘When it’s illegal, when there’s prohibition, you create criminality and mafias,’ he told the BFM television network on Monday.
Police handling cash could also lead to corruption, Alimi warned, while stressing that distinguishing between illegal cannabis and legal CBD would be tricky.
Macron’s measure even found critics from police officials.
Grégory Joron, head of the police union UNITÉ SGP Police FO, tweeted: ‘The police are not debt collectors!’
Rudy Manna, a spokesman for the police union Alliance Police nationale, told BFM said becoming ‘debt collectors’ adds to the already long list of responsibilities a typical police officer has.
Julien Bayou, an MP for Europe Ecology, France’s Green party, accused Macron of ‘hypocrisy’ as he poked holes in how the measure would be enforced.
‘We must legalise it,’ he tweeted, ‘it’s a matter of public health.’
After a teenage guy was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop, there are fears that France would experience unrest for a second night.
If things go worse tonight, the French government has stated that it will send out 2,000 riot police.
It can be challenging to understand because there is a lot of context around the current upheaval and fresh information is constantly coming to light.
So, this is everything we currently know regarding the shooting of Nahel M, a 17-year-old.
The young boy was shot to death after being pulled over in a traffic stop in the town of Nanterre, just west of Paris, on Tuesday.
A reported statement from the French police said Nahel M had threatened to run them over but a team of three lawyers for the family rejected that.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said the action of the officer ‘raises questions’.
A video then started circulating on social media showing the officer pointing a gun at the driver of a car, the driver appears to pull off before a gunshot is heard and the car crashes to a stop. It has since been verified by AFP news agency.
AFP news agency reports that a person in the video can be heard saying: ‘You’re going to be shot in the head’. But it is unclear who says it.
Emergency services were called but the teenager ended up dying of bullet wounds to the chest.
The officer, who has reportedly said he felt his life was in danger, has been arrested on charges of voluntary manslaughter.
One of the lawyers representing Nahel M’s family, Yassine Bouzrou, said the clip ‘clearly showed a policeman killing a young man in cold blood,’ adding: ‘This is a long way from any kind of legitimate defence.’
Protesters flooded Nanterre on Tuesday night, with cars and rubbish bins set alight, bus shelters destroyed and fireworks set off near a police station.
Riot police used shields and tear gas to try and control the crowds and the clashes have left at least 24 officers injured and 31 arrested.
This is the second fatal shooting by French police at traffic stops this year. Last year, there were a record 13 deaths during police traffic stops in France, after three in 2021 and two in 2020.
A Reuters analysis of such shootings over the past two years found the majority of victims were Black or of Arabic origin, like Naël M.
Today has seen more details emerge about who Nahel M was and what his life looked like.
French newspaper L’independent reported he was a pizza delivery boy in his hometown.
He also played rugby for the Nanterre Pirates through the team’s partnership with the group Ovale Citoyen, which aims to promote social inclusion and fight discrimination using sport.
In an interview with Le Parisien, Ovale Citoyen president Jeff Puech said Naël was ‘someone who had the desire to fit in socially and professionally, not a kid who lived off the deal or took pleasure in petty crime’.
Naël’s family released a picture of the teenager with the caption ‘the love of my life’.
His grandmother, who spoke anonymously, said: ‘I will never forgive them. ‘My grandson died, they killed my grandson. We are not happy at all, I am against the government.
‘They killed my grandson, now I don’t care about anyone, they took my grandson from me, I will never forgive them in my life, never, never, never.’
‘He was a kid who used rugby to get by,’ he added, saying the teenager had ‘an exemplary attitude, far from the disgusting comments that we can see on social networks’.
Naël’s devastated mother, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I lost a 17-year-old, I was alone with him, and they took my baby away from me. He was still a child, he needed his mother.’
French president Emmanuel Macron said ‘the whole nation’ is moved after the killing, which he described as ‘unexplainable and inexcusable’.
He went on to call for ‘calm for justice to be done’, adding: ‘Justice was immediately seized.
‘Our police and gendarmes are committed to protecting us and serving the Republic. I thank them every day for that. They do so within an ethical framework that must be respected.
‘It is up to justice to establish the truth and assign responsibility. I hope that his work can be completed quickly.
‘As such, what Nanterre and the nation need is respect and calm.’
In order to prepare for the Assin North by-election, the National Democratic Congress mobilised its resources from the national to the regional, constituency, and voting station levels.
Charles Owusu of the ruling New Patriotic Party lost out to the party’s nominee James Gyakye Quayson in the end.
The planning must have been long and hard given the heightened interest if the NPP and government in seeking to snatch the seat from the NDC on the back of a recent by-election win in Kumawu in the Ashanti Region.
Gyakye Quayson thanked his constituents and the NDC for his victory and promised to serve the Assin North people well. He is due to take his oath of office in parliament soon.
Here are five influential personalities who help with his victory
Sammy Gyamfi
Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Director of the NDC was appointed campaign manager and he delivered on the task through on-the-ground canvassing for votes as well as making multiple media appearances to sell the party’s candidate.
John Mahama
John Mahama made two campaign trips to Assin North, accompanying Quayson to different polling units, going with him on visitation to palaces and holding two rallies and other engagements.
As the NDC’s flagbearer for the 2024 polls, Mahama’s involvement was much for Quayson as it was for himself and the party’s confidence ahead of the 2024 vote.
Ato Forson
The Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson spearheaded a campaign of MPs in his caucus who stormed the constituency in turns to back the campaign of their former colleague.
Sammy Gyamfi reserved praise for Ato Forson in a post-victory speech underlining the crucial nature of his involvement.
Stan Dogbe
Information available to GhanaWeb shows that the team that works on Mahama’s social media artwork took over graphics and other designs for the Gyakye Quayson campaign and that team is headed by Stan Dogbe.
Kofi Asiedu – NDC Central Regional Chairman
Finally, the Ashanti Regional chairman of the NDC was in the thick of affairs for obvious reasons, the contest was in his domain and he had to take full charge at least of the region’s mobilization.
About the Assin North election:
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast.
His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes.
Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
A senior Russian general is said to have “disappeared” amid allegations that he was aware of Yevgeny Prigozhin of the Wagner Group’s armed uprising before it became a danger to Vladimir Putin’s government.
One idea holds that General Sergei “Armageddon” Surovikin is being questioned in connection with a conspiracy to overthrow Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in an effort to eliminate internal adversaries.
He is connected to ‘coup leader’ Prigozhin, the commander of the Wagner mercenary army.
Surovikin, nicknamed ‘General Armageddon’, has not been seen since Prigozhin’s failed coup of the Russian military leadership (Picture: AP)
US officials briefed on American intelligence said a top Russian general had advance knowledge of Prigozhin’s plans to rebel against Shoigu and chief of the armed forces General Valery Gerasimov over failings in the war against Ukraine, reported The New York Times.
The suspicion is that this general is Surovikin, a commander known for his ruthlessness and brutality.
Now well-connected pro-war Rybar Telegram channel has revealed that Surovikin ‘has not been seen since Saturday’.
The military-linked channel stated: ‘The whereabouts of “General Armageddon” is not known for certain.
‘There is a version that he is under interrogation.’
The channel said that while Gerasimov formally retains his title he is ‘no longer involved in decisions of issues in the [war].’
In command of the special military operation now is Airborne Forces Commander Mikhail Teplinsky, said Rybar.
The General is rumoured to be under interrogation over rumours he hd advance knowledge of the Wagner plot (Picture: East2west News)
Surovikin was put in charge of the Russian war effort in October only to be stripped of responsibility by Putin in January- yet he remained as Gerasimov’s deputy.
Before evidently disappearing Surovikin issued a desperate Saturday call to give up their opposition to the military leadership and return to their bases ‘before it is too late’.
He revealed he had been ordered back to Moscow from the frontline.
It now appears this may have been because of suspicions of his knowledge of the “coup” as suspected sympathy for it.
He said publicly at the time: ‘We cannot play into the enemy’s hands during this hard time for our country.
‘Before it is not too late, it is necessary to obey the order of the popularly-elected president of the Russian Federation.’
It is alleged he has not been seen since recording this message.
Wagner leader Prigozhin has since been exiled to Belarus following his aborted coup attempt (Picture: AP)
Rybar stated: ‘The armed mutiny of the Wagner PMC [private military company] has become a pretext for large-scale purges in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces and a crash test of the ministry’s loyalty.
Junior ranks are also being purged of those who showed support for Wagner’s uprising against Putin’s commanders, it is claimed.
Meanwhile, a separate report said Putin was too scared to fire his ‘extremely dangerous’ defence minister, fearing him as a direct rival.
The weakened dictator eventually halted the armed revolt at the weekend which specifically targeted Shoigu for his failings in the war.
But VChK-OGPU Telegram channel cited an insider source saying Putin could not agree to revolt leader Prigozhin’s demand to fire the 68-year-old defence minister because of Shoigu’s popularity with senior officials.
‘Shoigu is extremely dangerous in the event of resignation, due to his knowledge, the huge number of people loyal to him in leadership positions, and the presence of levers of influence … in the Kremlin,’ said the channel’s source.
Shoigu has served longer in the Russian government than Putin, and knows where bodies are buried.
He is not like other Putin ministers ‘whose silence and inaction can be bought with money’, said the source.
‘Everything is more serious here. Putin is not ready for such a conflict now.’
When negotiations involving Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko and FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov were underway on Saturday to halt the armed revolt, Putin bluntly refused to oust Shoigu.
In the event a deal was hatched to allow Prigozhin to go unpunished into exile even though Putin had declared the Wagner boss was guilty of ‘treason’ and ‘betrayal’.
In a historic decision that put an end to the possibility of harsher punishment nearly three years after the uncommon calls for reform of the powerful monarchy erupted in the kingdom, a Thai court on Wednesday exonerated five activists who were convicted of blocking the Queen‘s vehicle at a protest in 2020.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, who defended two of the campaigners, a court in Bangkok cleared the defendants of all charges, concluding that they were unaware of the approaching royal procession.
“There was enormous tension in the room as we waited for the presiding judge to finish his verdict,” one of the defendants Bunkueanun “Francis” Paothong, 24, told CNN. “But as soon as he reached his conclusion we all felt relieved that our beliefs and determination have been vindicated.”
If found guilty, the defendants had faced a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison for allegedly “violating the Queen’s liberty and her well-being.” Maximum sentences included life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
The royal institution is regarded by many in Thailand with deity-like reverence and even speaking openly about the monarchy was long considered taboo.
Protesters in 2020 were calling for amendments to Article 112 of the Criminal Code – Thailand’s strict lese majeste law that criminalizes criticism of the monarchy and makes any frank discussion of the subject fraught with risk.
Lese majeste convictions carry long prison terms and currently, anyone can bring a case, even if they aren’t connected to the alleged crime.
Thailand’s Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in Thailand’s May election, has pledged to amend the law.
The incident in October 2020 was a turning point in the youth-led mass demonstrations that had broken out across the country for months. Thousands of people had taken to the streets demanding democratic and military reforms, constitutional change, and – what was unprecedented in Thailand – reform of the monarchy.
On October 14, 2020, dozens of protesters had gathered outside Bangkok’s Government House when Queen’s Suthida’s motorcade drove past.
Video from the scene showed the crowd shouting and holding up the three-finger salute inspired by the Hunger Games movie franchise that became a symbol of the protests. Police were seen pushing back the demonstrators as the car, which also carried King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s youngest son, Prince Dipangkorn, slowly drove past.
The incident with the royal motorcade was cited by the government as one of the reasons for announcing an emergency decree that banned gatherings of more than five people and a nationwide ban on publishing and broadcasting news and information that incites fear among the public.
In defiance of that decree, thousands of demonstrators escalated their protests, with dozens arrested.
The five: Bunkueanun, Ekachai Hongkangwan, Suranat Paenprasert and two others were arrested on three charges for assaulting the Queen’s liberty, inciting chaos and obstructing traffic.
The most serious was Section 110, with those found guilty facing 16 years to a maximum life imprisonment for violence or attempted violence against the Queen, the heir-apparent or regent. If the actions are considered likely to endanger the Queen’s life, then the death penalty could be applied.
Bunkueanun confirmed to CNN that all defendants were cleared of the three charges.
The court in its ruling found that on the day of the incident, police did not manage the route of the royal procession properly and officers at the scene didn’t know which royal procession it was, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
When the protesters realized it was a royal procession, they allowed it to move through and there were no objects thrown or obstruction of the procession, the court found, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
Bunkueanun, who is studying International Relations at Mahidol University, said he was “relieved” with the verdict and called the judges “fair handed and very impartial.”
He told CNN the case has not put him off his activism, though he may give future street protests a second thought.
“My determination has not changed since then,” he said.
The health secretary of Mexico reports that at least 112 people have perished there as a result of “natural extreme temperatures” since March.
According to the study, Nuevo León, a state in Mexico, was the area hardest damaged, with 64 confirmed fatalities. The states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Sonora, and Campeche all reported dozens of fatalities.
According to the research, at least 1,559 individuals sought medical attention for issues related to temperature within the same time frame.
Over the past ten days in particular, Mexico has seen record-breaking temperatures, with some locations seeing monthly or even all-time records: temperatures have topped 45 degrees Celsius in places (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
In Tamaulipas, local authorities announced Wednesday that dozens had died in the current heatwave, prompting governor Américo Villarreal Anaya to order the formation of a working group to develop a response plan.
Tamaulipas’s Secretary of Health tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that high temperatures will continue across the state, advising people to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and to stay in cool, well-ventilated areas.
Scorching temperatures in both Mexico and the southern US states are being brought on by a “heat dome,” which is created when a ridge of high pressure builds over an area, trapping air inside as temperatures warm – often to uncomfortable or even dangerous levels.
The heat domes that drive record-setting temperatures are expected to become more frequent – and hotter – due to the climate crisis.
The US Coast Guard reported Wednesday that “presumed human remains” were among the trash and proof retrieved from the seafloor where the Titan submersible‘s wreckage were discovered.
The Coast Guard announced in a news statement that the bodies were found “within the wreckage” of the submersible, about a week after investigators decided the Titanic-bound ship had sunk in the North Atlantic, killing all five men on board.
The alleged remains were among the evidence from the submersible that arrived at a Canadian pier on Wednesday, according to the military department, and will be examined by US medical experts.
The company that owns the remotely operated vehicles that brought Titan’s remains to the surface, Pelagic Research Services, for now has “successfully completed” the offshore work, it told CNN.
A white panel-like piece – taller than the two men guiding it onto land – and another similarly sized part with cords and wires draped with white tarp were among the debris taken off the anchor handling vessel Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, photos by The Canadian Press’ Paul Daly show.
It was not immediately clear what those pieces were. Titan was made of carbon fiber and titanium and weighed 23,000 pounds, with room for only five adults, according to OceanGate Expeditions, which operated the craft as part of its offering for extreme tourists to get close to the century-old wreckage of the Titanic for $250,000 per person.
Crew members “have been working around the clock now for 10 days, through the physical and mental challenges of this operation, and are anxious to finish the mission and return to their loved ones,” the company said in a statement.
Pelagic Research Services deferred questions to the US Coast Guard, adding its team cannot comment on or provide any information related to the investigation into the Titan’s demise. The company will hold a news conference at its East Aurora, New York, operations base after “our team has regrouped,” it said.
A Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokesperson declined to comment to CNN, saying more information about its investigation is forthcoming as warranted.
The OceanGate submersible and its five passengers began their descent to the 111-year-old wreckage of the Titanic on the morning of June 18. But about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the cramped vessel lost contact with its mother ship and did not surface as expected, kicking off a massive, dayslong multinational search and rescue operation that captured the world’s attention.
On Thursday, the US Coast Guard announced the vessel had suffered a “catastrophic implosion” that presumably killed all those aboard.
The tail cone and other debris from the submersible were found by a remotely operated vehicle about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic.
Over the weekend, the military branch said it convened a Marine Board of Investigation to probe what caused the implosion and to offer possible recommendations “to pursue civil or criminal sanctions as necessary.”
In its news release Wednesday, the Coast Guard said those working on the investigation board are collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses ahead of an expected public hearing for additional witness testimony.
“There is still a substantial amount of work to be done to understand the factors that led to the catastrophic loss of the Titan and help ensure a similar tragedy does not occur again,” Capt. Jason Neubauer, who heads the investigative board, said Wednesday.
