The Chief Executive Officer of the National Film Authority, Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, has encouraged stakeholders in the film industry to leverage the power of the internet in promoting local movies to a global audience.
She said the local film industry needed to use new technologies such as the Internet to distribute, exhibit, and market their films to the rest of the world.
She made the call during the film’s sector stakeholders meeting in Tamale organized by the National Flim Authority in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority and funded by the World Bank.
It was to build the capacity of the stakeholders in the film industry in the Northern Region to promote their films globally.
Madam Asante urged the film industry to develop technical standards for productions to meet the global standard and build their capacity by learning from other countries.
She encouraged the film industry to use films to project the country and her rich culture to the world.
Mr George Bosompim, Public Relations Officer of Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts, advised the film producers to comply with the laws regulating copyright and disbursement of royalties.
He urged them to conduct research on films in the country and the world to help them improve their production standards.
He also advised them to promote and facilitate co-production between local and foreign producers as part of measures to promote their movies.
Professor Gabriel Eshun, Technical Advisor for Ghana Tourism Development Project, also called upon the film industry to promote the moral, ethical, and aesthetic value of Ghanaian society as part of tourism promotion to the world.
The Chief Executive of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Mark Badu-Aboagye, has assured the populace that the current economic crisis will soon be a thing of the past.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express: Business Edition, Mr Badu-Aboagye said with government’s conclusion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal, Ghana’s economy will certainly transform.
He was optimistic about the future adding that “the outlook is good.”
“It will get better, but for this year, things will be a bit rough so if you’re taking a decision for the year, you should know that these adjustments are going to affect you,” he told host George Wiafe on Thursday.
Touching on the conditionalities that accompany the IMF deal, Mr Badu-Aboagye said the government rolled most of them before the deal was complete, hence, things will only get better from here.
“I strongly believe that we will sail through this difficult moment. And of course, for this year, we do not expect that people will make a lot of profit even by looking at the economic activities.
“But next year, it will pick up and in subsequent years it will pick up. And I think the reason is that most of the conditionalities were front-loaded so we are feeling the pinch now, ones we get used to it the good things will follow,” he said.
The Bank of Ghana received $604 million on Friday, May 19, which is the first tranche of the International Monetary Fund’s $3 billion bailout to Ghana.
Prior to the bailout, the Governor of the central bank, Dr. Ernest Addison noted that the money would boost the country’s reserves and the Cedi which is already doing very well in recent times.
The IMF deal expected to restore confidence in the economy however has far-reaching consequences for the ordinary Ghanaian and businesses.
Using the right words can ignite her passion, enhance her self-assurance, and create a lasting connection that keeps her desiring more.
Your partner seeks consistent communication and expects mutual engagement from you.
During dates, on warm weekend afternoons when you’re both just chilling at home, and even during sex!
“Words can be a powerful aphrodisiac and often aren’t used enough,” says Ian Kerner, PhD, an American relationships expert.
While there are things you should not say to your babe during sex, there are also some things you tell her that have the power to seriously get her in the mood, increase her sexual confidence with you and make the whole experience brain-bursting for both of you every single time.
Just make sure to keep things honest, specific, and brief every time. Talking too much when the mood is almost set might actually work against you.
So what are the magic words to use with your bae just before, during, and after sex that’ll ensure that the experience is bomb all the time
Complement her hair
Just so you know, words are great for foreplay, too. Apart from the obvious erogenous zones that you can’t do without noticing – hello?! – you also have to do more to appreciate your girl’s physical appearance and make her feel attractive.
The hair is one thing women love to be appreciated for, given how much time and money they spend on it.
If she’s the type that’s into hair-pulling, you can promise her some of that, too.
Talk about her kisses
You can’t take this away from any love-making session as it is the most common foreplay.
So let your woman know she’s doing a fine job of it.
Dirty talk
This is great either before or during sexy time. But make sure it’s something your woman is comfortable with and also, be careful to not cross the line of what is sexy and what’s off-putting. These are things to say in bed to turn her on:
“I can’t wait to have your warm body in my arms” sounds nice.
“I can’t wait to be inside you.”
Sounds fine, too. It all depends on the level of freak you and your girl have reached.
I can’t get enough of your…
Insert the part of her body that drives crazy the most.
And do it in the most expressive manner you can muster.
While women have been advised to not project their body insecurities during sex, it actually makes sense to give positive feedback of that body when she gets naked with you.
It does not mean you are not being sincere, you are just focusing on the positives in that moment.
Easy, right?
That head game
Your relationship is actually half dead if you don’t give head, according to a poll Pulse conducted here.
So learn to do it and enjoy it. And if what she brings to the table for you to eat is satisfactory, you gotta let her know, bruh.
Also if her oral sex game is good, let her know.
Moan
Yeah, we get it. Men hold it in and just let out the occasional grunt. But it’s actually OK to moan sometimes.
Do it for a change.
Wow!
This is a simple exclamation loaded with all sorts of excitement and mindblowing sensations you must have felt during the sex.
By doing this, you let her know that she just blew your mind and no words could suffice than that breathless exclamation!
Having your phone in close proximity while sleeping can have negative effects on your body’s functions and may hinder the production of important hormones.
Place the phone several feet away from your bed if you’re not going to switch it off.
It has become a trend, especially for young people to sleep with their phones next to them. And most times, beneath the pillow, seems to be the ideal spot to keep the phone as it makes it easy to reach when it rings.
However, what is unknown to a lot of people is that sleeping with your phone close to you can be hazardous to your health.
Smartphones have been proven to emit dangerous radiation which causes an alteration in the system of certain self–regulating the process, such as our biological clock or cardiac rhythm.
Owing to this, having our cell phones near us while we sleep can lead to nightmares, inability to sleep, waking up several times at night, etc.
As a matter of fact, it can even damage your brain.
Furthermore, sleeping with your phone near you can be harmful to your body functions and tend to limit the production of many significant hormones that are essential for your regular routine.
As affirmed by World Health Organization: Electronic devices, in general, are bad for the body because they produce toxic effects that can increase the chances of developing cancer.
And to validate this claim, an Australian study has shown that there is an important relationship between the use of smartphones and sterility in men, as well as reduced sperm quality.
Read on to see some health implications of having your cell phone close to you while you sleep.
1. It could set your pillow on fire
A good number of cell phone users are so attached to their phones that they sleep with them even under their pillow. The result of this habit has led to recorded incidences of pillows being set ablaze.
Most popular of this incident is the July 2014 teen from Texas who woke up to a burning smell. Her sheet and mattress have been scorched by her Samsung Galaxy S4, which was under her pillow.
It is, therefore, advisable to shut down the transceiver of your cell phone by keeping it on “airplane mode” while you sleep. Or better still; turn it off because cell phones pump out electromagnetic radiation whenever they’re on.
Most device batteries display a message that there is a risk of fire if kept under bedding. Therefore, it is advisable to turn it off for your own safety.
2. It puts our health at risk due to emitted radiation
Generally, mobile phones emit radiation due to transmission signal around 900MHz. Owing to this, keeping cell phones close to the head for prolonged periods can lead to headaches, muscle pains, and other complicated health issues.
Although people tend to keep their phones close to them while they sleep for different reasons, it is, however, better to be safe than sorry.
3. It could prevent you from sleeping
LED screens, which includes cell phones, tablets, TVs and other gadgets, give off blue light; a type that studies have suggested impedes the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and disrupt our circadian rhythms.
Although the reason for this is yet unknown, it may be because blue light emits wavelengths similar to daylight, which can deceive our bodies to think that it’s daytime, at any time.
It is, therefore, advisable to shut down all electronics two hours before bedtime. And if possible, keep phones and laptops in another room while you sleep.
Ghanaian gospel artist Empress Gifty, who invested $40,000 in her music video for ‘Eye Woaa,’ has now revealed exciting details about her captivating video for the song ‘Awieye Pa.’
In a myjoyonline.com report, Empress Gifty disclosed that the production cost of her new video surpassed even the expenses incurred for ‘Eye Woaa.’
Intriguingly, she purchased a brand-new camera specifically for the ‘Awieye Pa’ video shoot, adding an upgraded and aesthetically pleasing visual experience for her fans.
“Watch the video and see the visuals. It’s a new camera that I used. I bought a new camera for that video. This one is upgraded and a beautiful one. So it is more than $40,000. I can’t even count it,” Empress Gifty shared.
Empress Gifty has consistently emphasized the significance of investing in high-quality music videos as a musician.
She firmly believes that visually appealing videos not only enhance the brand image but also make the music more appealing to the audience.
By setting such high standards and sparing no expense on her music videos, Empress Gifty is making a statement in the industry, showcasing her commitment to delivering a remarkable visual experience to accompany her exceptional music.
To witness the stunning visuals of Empress Gifty’s latest music video, ‘Awieye Pa,’ be sure to watch it below. Prepare to be captivated by the impeccable production and artistry she brings to the screen.
Former US President Donald Trump has been charged over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House.
Mr Trump, 76, faces seven charges including unauthorised retention of classified files, US media reported. The charges are not yet public.
It is the second indictment of Mr Trump and the first ever federal indictment of a former president.
He is campaigning to make a return to the White House in 2024.
Legal experts say the indictment will not limit Mr Trump’s ability to run for the presidency again.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was innocent and had been summoned to appear at a federal court in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday afternoon, where he will be arrested and hear the charges against him.
“I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former president of the United States,” he wrote.
He added: “This is indeed a dark day for the United States of America. We are a country in serious and rapid decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!”
Mr Trump’s attorney Jim Trusty told CNN the former president had received details of the charges in a summons document.
He said they include conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of justice, and illegally retaining classified documents under the Espionage Act.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to comment and the indictment has not been publicly released.
An indictment is a document that sets out details of charges against a person, ensuring they have notice of alleged criminal offenses.
The Secret Service will meet Mr Trump’s staff and his security officers to plan his journey to the Miami courthouse.
Special prosecutor Jack Smith has been considering evidence in the documents case since he was appointed to oversee it by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November.
Last year, Mr Trump’s Florida resort Mar-a-Lago was searched and 11,000 documents were seized, including around 100 marked as classified. Some of these were labelled top secret.
There were reports last week that prosecutors had obtained an audio recording of Mr Trump in which he acknowledged keeping a classified document after leaving the White House in January 2021.
It is against US law for federal officials – including a president – to remove or keep classified documents at an unauthorised location.
Legal experts say Mr Trump will still be able to enter the White House race.
“He can be indicted any number of times and it won’t stop his ability to stand for office,” says David Super, a professor at Georgetown University Law Centre.
Mr Super noted that Mr Trump could continue to run for office even if convicted in the documents case.
The property and reality TV mogul is currently the frontrunner among Republican candidates for the White House, according to opinion polls.
As Mr Trump issued a fundraising email with the subject line “BREAKING: INDICTED”, several leading Republicans voiced their support for him.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, said it was “unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him”.
“House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponisation of power accountable,” he wrote on Twitter.
Mr Trump’s rival for the 2024 nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.
“The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponisation once and for all,” he added.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who is also in the running, said he would “commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025, and to restore the rule of law in our country”.
But another candidate, Asa Hutchinson, said Mr Trump’s alleged actions “should not define our nation or the Republican Party”.
A separate probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Mr Trump lost, is also being overseen by Jack Smith, a former war crimes attorney who is known as a dogged investigator.
Mr Trump became the first former president to be charged with a crime this April, after he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records over a hush-money payment to a porn star.
He faces a trial in that case in New York next year.
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Davido has generated significant discussions on social media by referring to fellow artist and Grammy Award winner Burna Boy as a “new cat.”
The superstar during an interview stated that he and Wizkid were the first young artiste to have blown up in the music industry.
Davido averred that Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, Mayorkun are set of new cats who are doing incredibly well in the industry.
The statement did not sit well with many social media users as it sparked mixed reactions.
The fact that Davido and Burna Boy both came out in 2012 led some to believe that Davido shouldn’t have referred to Burna Boy as a “new cat” and shouldn’t have also compared him to artistes like Rema and Asake.
Others, on the other hand, agreed with Davido and said Burna Boy wasn’t on the same level as Wizkid and Davido, but they also said Davido should have added Olamide to the list of young artistes that broke through.
See comments here
AsieduMends: “But what Davido talk nu he no lie oo. Facts nkoaaa”
SirKay_Tiger: “I think it was quite a disrespectful thing to say outrightly. Burns,new cat??? That’s a low low one. Naah,maybe the drinks or something. In terms of David’s set, himself,Wiz, Olamide and Burna started making waves almost the same time. Putting Burna in dem Rema and co’s set,lol”
ThaBoyYom: “But Burna can’t be a ‘young cat’ to Davido sha.. “Holla At Your Boy” blew in 2010, “Back When” blew in 2011, “Like To Party” blew in 2012 If na by that one, we might as well say David is also a ‘young cat’ to Wiz.”
According to davido, burna boy is a cat not a gorilla pic.twitter.com/N03vxnXtuL
— Prom Prom???? (@effizzzyy) June 8, 2023
Wizkid giving Davido and Burna Boy their props for their contribution to Afrobeats to the world movement while also acknowledging the effort of the young generation of artistes. pic.twitter.com/DWsFOF6UrS
— OLAMIDE ???????? (@Olamide0fficial) June 8, 2023
Nigeria’s outgoing parliament has finally passed a bill that aims to prevent the sexual harassment of university students.
Once it is signed into law by newly elected President Bola Tinubu it will be illegal for lecturers to make any sexual advances towards students.
Those who do have sexual relationships with their students could face up to 14 years in jail.
The anti-sexual harassment bill was originally introduced in 2016 but did not pass both houses of parliament.
It was reintroduced by the senate in 2019 following a BBC investigation that uncovered alleged sexual misconduct by lecturers in Nigeria and Ghana.
BBC Africa Eye’s Sex for Grades documentary prompted outrage, but the bill was further delayed as the house of representatives wanted some changes – and two parliamentary committees had to come to an agreement on the final wording.
Outgoing lawmakers are trying to wrap up business before newly elected MPs are sworn in next week.
A student told BBC news she was happy about the development and hoped President Tinubu would pass it into law soon.
Earlier in the month, a group of students had issued a statement to express their displeasure that the National Assembly had failed to pass it in time for his predecessor – President Muhammadu Buhari – to assent to it before leaving office.
A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department has criticised the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, for arresting former Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Frimpong-Boateng; describing the move as disrespectful.
Prof Ransford Gyampo believes that the arrest of the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation was disrespectful and unnecessary.
Prof. Gyampo in a statement acknowledged that the Special Prosecutor has the right to invite Prof. Frimpong Boateng to assist in investigating the issues raised in his report, which was privately submitted to the President.
However, he emphasized that Prof. Frimpong Boateng should not be arrested without being charged, as it is disrespectful and constitutes an unnecessary show of power and harassment.
“I do not believe in this Special Prosecutor arrangement. I researched for the team that produced the first-ever document that called for the review of the 1992 Constitution. We made recommendations for an Independent Prosecutor and never a Special Prosecutor who would walk in the shadows of a partisan Attorney-General.
“The Special Prosecutor must therefore tone down on his youthful exuberance and must not be rushing to please anybody because, the office is not independent after all, from the control of politicians. We asked for the separation of the Attorney General from the Ministry of Justice and the creation of an Independent Public Prosecutor who cannot be ordered by the Attorney General to pursue a case or discontinue it.”
“This notwithstanding, the Special Prosecutor has every right to invite Prof Frimpong Boateng to assist in getting to the bottom of some of the issues raised in his report, which he never published, but privately submitted to the President. Indeed he can be invited to assist in investigations but he cannot be arrested without being charged. It is disrespectful and an unnecessary show of power as well as harassment to Prof Frimpong Boateng,” Prof. Gyampo disclosed in a statement.
Prof. Gyampo’s comments followed the revelation that the former Chairman of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) was invited to answer questions about suspected corruption and corruption-related offences related to the activities and expenditure of the IMCIM.
In an interview with Joy News, the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation pointed out that, “If I am prosecuted, I am not scared. Why should I be scared? I do not see any possibility of me being convicted. But look, in this life, the Son of God Jesus Christ was convicted and killed.”
Professor Frimpong-Boateng, who authored a bombshell report exposing supposed efforts by some persons to undermine the government’s fight against illegal mining (galamsey), said: “If bad people want to kill you, they know what to do to kill you. If people who have the power to do things want to ditch you, they will know how to do it because it happens. So whatever you are doing, we should be careful that we are doing everything in the interest of Ghana.”
Manchester United has reached a resolution to send Mason Greenwood on loan for the upcoming season following the dropping of his case earlier this year in February.
Greenwood has been away from competitive action for more than 15 months after he was arrested and arraigned in court on the grounds of sexual assault and coercive behaviour.
He was suspended indefinitely by the club, but after the Crown Prosecution Services dropped his case, it was thought he could make a quick comeback.
Manchester United opted against rushing the decision, promising to conduct their own internal investigations before providing a way forward. It is now understood that the club has decided to send the 21-year-old striker out on loan next season.
The Daily Mail reports that Spain, Italy or Turkey have been identified as potential targets. The other options include releasing the player should investigations reveal that he brought disrepute to the club.
His likely return has in the past been reported to be the cause of disharmony, especially among Manchester United’s Women’s team.
Serie A giants AC Milan are understood to be among the clubs interested in the striker, who has two years remaining on his current deal.
A chance to move abroad could offer him an opportunity to revitalise his career. AC Milan will be in the market for new strikers, with the likes of Olivier Giroud approaching the end of his career. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has since retired, while Divock Origi is yet to impress fully.
Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says persons who do not legitimately have the Ghana Card but have had their SIM cards deactivated must reach out to the National Communication Authority (NCA) for a resolution.
According to her, the affected users would have to provide evidence to that effect.
“In recognition of the fact that not everyone has a Ghana Card, individuals who have not registered their SIMs have been asked to submit evidence of having applied for their Ghana Card to the NCA, and they will be exempted from the exercise,” she assured.
The Ablekuma West MP noted that, also exempted from the re-registration exercise are subscribers out of the country, although they are required to register their SIM cards with their passports.
Again, once subscribers out of the country activate roaming on their devices, the mobile network operators (MNOs) can identify that they are outside the country.
“The NCA has also directed that SIM cards detected to be outside the country for a period of 6 months to be temporarily exempted until the subscribers can complete their registration,” she added.
According to her, subscribers outside who encounter challenges in registering their SIM cards are expected to contact NCA for assistance via email.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful’s comments come in the wake of over 9 million SIM cards being deactivated for failure of the users to re-register their sim cards.
In a statement made to parliament, the Minister explained that government had to act tough to show the seriousness it attached to the SIM registration exercise.
According to her, even if the deadline for SIM re-registration was extended, there would still be people who would have defaulted.
She explained that the NCA has been monitoring the situation at MNO customer care centers and has observed that people with Ghana Cards have refused to register their SIM cards.
But Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George who has been extremely critical of the process accused the Minister of breaching laws in the blocking of SIM cards.
“Mr Speaker, again I put on record in this House that the NCA and the MNOs have not gone to the NIA to verify and authenticate the portable readers they claim they are using that have not been published in any gazette.
“And so you are acting in violation of section 9 of LI (211) since December 2022,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu says some of the challenges that have plagued the exercise could have been avoided if the NCA and its Minister did not have a poor relationship with the NIA – the state institution issuing the sole identity document to register which is the Ghana Card.
During a parliamentary session, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, provided an update stating that the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are collaborating with the Bank of Ghana to ensure the smooth process of returning funds to individuals whose money has been inaccessible in their mobile money accounts.
The Minister revealed this when she appeared before the House to answer questions about the sim re-registration exercise.
Subscribers, according to her, will not be able to conduct mobile-related transactions with their deactivated SIMs, but their funds will be recovered through the necessary processes.
“We continue to encourage the National Identification Authority (NIA) to assist people to acquire their Ghana Card. We have also been made aware of the difficulties facing subscribers in accessing their funds on their mobile money wallets.
“These subscribers will not be able to transact money mobile-related activities, however, we are working with the Bank of Ghana to ensure that these subscribers are able to retrieve funds upon the presentation of a valid ID and going through the required processes.”
The lawyer for Charles Bissue, the former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining, says despite the issuance of a court order for his client’s arrest, he will not be turning himself in.
Speaking on Top Story on Joy FM, the legal practitioner, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah said this is not because his client is on the run but because the arrest warrant was improperly secured.
He explained that if the court was privy to all the information including complaints of human rights abuse of Mr Bissue by the Special Prosecutor, the court order for his client’s arrest would not have been given.
“The arrest warrant would have been secured ex parte, which is without notice to Charles Bissue. So the court would have acted based solely on information the Special Prosecutor gave to it. The court made that order without being fed with the global evidence in this matter, and granted the arrest order without properly exercising its discretion not through its fault,” Mr Awuah said.
He added that “if the court was privy to certain facts including but not limited to pending suits and motions for interlocutory injunctions, it would not have granted or made an order for that arrest.”
Mr Awuah said that it is seemingly suspicious that the Special Prosecutor is in a hurry when there are about three pending suits against him.
“Why can’t he allow the processes to run their course? Is it because he has got scores to settle? There is another suit in our human rights court by Charles Bissue where he complains of warrant and breach of his fundamental human rights. When the Special Prosecutor went to secure that, warrant I am sure he didn’t disclose all these facts.”
The Lawyer stated that he and his team are also working on the way forward saying “we are going to take steps.”
This comes after the Office of the Special Prosecutor secured an order from the court to arrest the former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). The order follows investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences relating to illegal mining.
This order was secured after Mr Bissue failed to honour an invitation by the Special Prosecutor last month.
The OSP, on May 3, wrote to Mr. Bissue informing him that he was a necessary person for the investigation into the activities of the IMCIM, and was asked to appear on May 22.
Lawyers for Mr Bissue then wrote to the OSP requesting a copy of the petition forming the basis of this invitation, and asking that the said meeting be rescheduled to May 25 due to “a domestic emergency”.
But, Mr Awuah said that the Special Prosecutor did not only refuse the proposed May 25 date but he has also refused to hand them a copy of the petitions or documents forming a basis of the invitation and the subsequent call for arrest.
“You (Special Prosecutor) proceed to say that he should rather make available copies of documentation, what documentation are you talking about? Documentations to speak to or respond to what? You never stated so. So, is it proper discretion? Is that the way you conduct an investigation?”
Meanwhile, Charles Bissue, has gone to the High Court to stop the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from investigating him over suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving a public officer.
According to the former Presidential staffer, an investigation cannot be launched when a copy of the petition forming the basis of the investigation has not been given to him.
In a writ sighted by JoyNews, Mr. Bissue argued that, the OSP in its half-year report dated December 31, 2022, had stated that “the Office has concluded investigation into the allegation of the use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue during his tenure as secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) arising from an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud Part 1 published by Tiger Eye P.I and the journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.”
Camidoh, the talented Ghanaian artist known for his Afropop, R&B, and Afrobeats music, has received a prestigious nomination for the 2023 BET Awards. He has been recognized in the Best New International Act category, showcasing his rising prominence and talent on the global stage.
He is up against Asake of Nigeria, Flo of the United Kingdom, Labianca of Cameroon, Maureen of France, MC Ryan SP of Brazil, Pabi Cooper of South Africa, Raye of the United Kingdom, and Werenoi of France.
The awards will be held on June 25, 2023, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Camidoh is a rising star in the Ghanaian music industry, known for his catchy melodies, relatable lyrics, and energetic performances. His music has been praised for its global appeal and has been streamed millions of times on Spotify and Apple Music.
Camidoh scored a global hit when he released “Sugarcane” on November 19, 2021, quickly becoming popular in Ghana. The song’s catchy melody and relatable lyrics resonated with listeners, making it a staple at parties and clubs across the country.
The song’s success led to a remix, which was released on April 8, 2022. The remix featured Nigerian artists Mayorkun and Darkoo, as well as Ghanaian artist King Promise. It was a huge success, helping to introduce Camidoh’s music to a wider audience.
“Sugarcane” has been streamed over 100 million times on Spotify and has been certified Gold in Ghana. The song has also received critical acclaim, earning Camidoh nominations for several awards, including the BET Award for Best New International Act.
Fans can vote for Camidoh for the Best New International Act award on the BET website. Voting will close on June 15, 2023.
Over two months after her’suspicious’ disappearance, the body of a missing Minnesota mother was discovered, according to authorities on Thursday.
Adam Fravel, Madeline Kingsbury’s missing mother’s ex-boyfriend, was detained when officials discovered a body while investigating a tip about her absence.
A Fillmore County Sheriff’s Deputy uncovered the horrifying discovery close to the hamlet of Mabel, over 45 miles from the home that Kingsbury, 26, and her two children shared.
‘The body was found in some brush off Highway 43 and was located using information generated during the Madeline Kingsbury investigation,’ the Winona Police Department said.
Williams called the area a ‘low-maintenance public roadway.’ Although search teams had combed through the area shortly after her disappearance, Kingsbury’s ‘body was covered and concealed in such a manner that she was not visible,’ Williams said.
Although the area was public land, it is located only ‘several minutes’ away from the Fravel family’s property in the same small town, Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge said.
The investigators from the Sheriff’s Office were lead to the area by ‘digital evidence,’ Chief Williams said, which included ‘mountains’ of phone and computer records from Kingsbury’s ex-boyfriend.
The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the remains and determine if they belong to the missing mom.
Fravel, 29, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.
‘We have said that we will hold anyone involved in Madeline’s disappearance accountable, and we will hold steadfast on that commitment,’ Chief Williams said on Thursday.
The discovery and arrest may mark an end to the two month-long search for Kingsbury, who was last seen dropping her two children, ages five and two, off at daycare on March 31.
Kingsbury’s car returned to her home after the drop-off, but Fravel said she was gone when he arrived the same morning at 10.00am.
Police described her disappearance as ‘involuntary’ and ‘suspicious.’
‘Nothing to date has indicated that Maddie left the residence on foot or in another vehicle,’ Police Chief Williams said at a press conference shortly after her disappearance.
Investigators found her phone, wallet, ID, and the jacket she had been seen wearing when dropping her children off that morning.
In April, Fravel released a statement to local media denying he had anything to do with Kingsbury’s disappearance and insisting he was cooperating with police.
‘I did not have anything to do with Maddi’s disappearance,’ Fravel stated. ‘I want the mother of my 5-year-old and 2-year-old to be found and brought home safely. I want that more than anything.’
Kingsbury’s two children have remained with their grandparents since her disappearance.
At least 14 people were damaged when an escalator unexpectedly reversed course at a major South Korean subway station, sending passengers flying towards the earth.
Security camera showed the terrifying moment an escalator at the busy Sunae station in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, south of the capital of Seoul, turned rogue during the morning rush hour on Thursday.
A mound of bodies is visible at the bottom of the escalator near the end of the film where the automatic staircase, which is intended to be moving up, suddenly changes course and starts heading down. Panicked passengers are seen falling to the ground downstairs as a result.
According to the Korea Herald, three individuals sustained serious injuries, while 11 others suffered minor injuries.
The elevator has been cordoned off after causing injury to 14 people (Picture: EPA)
The fire department said they plan to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident.
A maintenance company conducted a monthly inspection on the escalator in May and reported no issues.
Photos taken at the scene show first responders administering first aid to the victims, including a woman lying prostrate on the floor at Exit No. 2 at the station.
‘I thought people were filming a disaster movie after seeing so many people crowded around the fenced exit,’ a 68-year-old resident told the news outlet Korea JoongAng Daily.
The Railroad Special Judicial Police Unit under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will be in charge of getting to the bottom of the accident.
‘Authorities, including the fire services, are currently looking into the cause of the accident,’ Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon tweeted Thursday. ‘We will investigate thoroughly so that no similar accidents occur.’
As they met in Washington, Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak praised the value of the US-UK special partnership.
But when the two joined forces for discussions about Ukraine, artificial intelligence, and economic cooperation, Mr. Biden made a foolish error and addressed Mr. Sunak as “Mr. President.”
The president instantly realised his error and made a joke about “promot[ing]” Mr. Sunak.
Well, Mr. President, I just elevated you, he remarked. Thank you for coming back, Mr. Prime Minister.
The prime minister laughed off the gaffe and it is his first time at the White House since becoming PM in October 2022.
On a more serious note, Mr Biden then said: ‘Together, we are providing economic and humanitarian aid and security systems to Ukraine in their fight against a brutal invasion from Russia. president said.
‘The global economy is undergoing the greatest transformation that has occurred since the industrial revolution,’ he added.
Mr Biden then made another joke and told the PM: ‘We’re going solve all the problems of the world in the next 20 minutes.’
Rishi Sunak met with Joe Biden to discuss Ukraine, AI, and economic co-operation (Picture: AP)
Mr Sunak blown away by the grandeur of the White House said: ‘It’s daunting to think of the conversations that our predecessors had in this room when they had to speak of wars that they fought together, peace won together, incredible change in the lives of our citizens.
‘And again, for the first time in over half-a-century, we face a war on the European continent.
‘And as we’ve done before, the US and the UK, have stood together to support Ukraine and stand up for the values of democracy and freedom and make sure that they prevail, as I know we will.
‘But also I completely agree with what you said, our economies are seeing perhaps the biggest transformation since the industrial revolution, as new technologies provide incredible opportunities, but also give our adversaries more tools for harm.’
Mr Sunak also announced the UK would host the first-ever AI summit in autumn in a bid to mitigate the risks of emerging technology.
Rishi Sunak was taken aback by the grandeur of The White House (Picture: Getty Images)
This is not the first time the president has fumbled his words.
During his visit to Ireland in April, Mr Biden appeared to confuse the name of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans – a controversial War of Independence-era police force in Ireland.
He’s also not been so supportive about the special relationship in the past, claiming he visited the island of Ireland to ensure the ‘Brits didn’t screw around’ amid ongoing concern over the peace process and the impact of Brexit.
Following an orange haze that was caused by a plume of Canadian wildfire smoke, residents of New York City are once more donning face masks.
Most of northeastern America is enveloped in smoke, and according to city officials, the air quality in New York City is “very unhealthy.”
According to the city, “Everyone is at an increased risk of health effects.”
The density of irritating pollutants is gauged by the Environmental Protection Agency’s air quality index, which ranges from 0 to 500, and is 222 for New York City.
The smoke sent the figure well past 400 yesterday afternoon, among the worst since environmental officials began tracking air quality in 1999, beating New York City’s earlier record of 174 on Tuesday.
The air quality was also said to be the worst level in the world, according to IQAir, which monitors global air quality.
The smoke from raging wildfires hundreds of miles away has shrouded the US in a thick orange haze (Picture: Xinhua/Shutterstock)
An air quality health advisory was issued for up and down New York City by state officials today.
Top of the Department of Environmental Conservation’s list of concerns is ‘fine particular matter’ in the smoke, which it says can cause coughing, needing and shortness of breath. Breathing them in can also worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
DEC officials urged New Yorkers to stay indoors if they can, postpone or cancel outdoor activities and wear face masks.
‘People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive,’ the DEC added.
The advisory is in place in Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York and Western New York.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said people can collect free face masks from select subway stations.
New York City has the most congested airspace in the nation, with the deep hazy orange and smoky clouds also plunging flights in the area into chaos.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a raft of flights had been slowed as ‘smoke and haze’ engulfs airports in the state capital and Philadelphia.
The agency warned travellers to expect flights to be delayed by up to two hours at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Newark International.
Average delays of about 30 minutes for flights into Philadelphia have been projected.
The low visibility delaying New York flights has rippled across the States, with postponed flights from Atlanta to Houston. Nearly 10,000 flights in the US have been delayed, according to flight tracker FlightAware.
Yesterday afternoon, four in 10 flights from LaGuardia were delayed – with average delays of two hours – while nearly a third of planes bound for Newark Liberty International Airport slowed.
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg tweeted yesterday: ‘Smoke from Canada’s wildfires is affecting visibility in our airspace and leading to delays.
‘The FAA is fully prepared to modify operations as needed.’
Philadelphia was placed a ‘code red’ yesterday, meaning that the air is dangerous to breathe, especially for those with respiratory conditions.
The smoke even reached as far south as Alabama, with satellite footage from NASA showing the smog swamp the region.
Kentucky’s Louisville Air Pollution Control followed, issuing an air quality alert through to this evening, as did some counties in southern Michigan.
Hundreds of fires have been tearing through some parts of Canada, such as Ontario and Québec, some 500 miles to the north of New York City, since May.
As of yesterday, there are more than 400 fires – many out-of-control – with the US sending more than 600 firefighters to help, the White House said.
Smog warnings remain firmly in place, with the Canadian government reporting ‘poor air quality’ expected to last until tomorrow.
‘It is therefore recommended that these individuals avoid intense physical activity outdoors until the smog warning is lifted,’ it said.
The EPA similarly stresses that, as the quality index stubbornly remains in the mid-200s for some, the air conditions ‘will be widespread effects among the general population’.
But the US may have to get used to the orange haze, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency said in a forecast that the smoke could creep further into the west, saying: ‘The air quality will be decreasing over Alabama and Georgia on Thursday.’
Wildfires are increasingly becoming more common and stronger, scientists warn, as greenhouse gases continue to cook the planet.
Record-high greenhouse gas emissions and diminishing air pollution have accelerated the warming, 50 top scientists said today in a peer-reviewed study with a targeted audience: policy-makers.
‘Over the 2013-2022 period, human-induced warming has been increasing at an unprecedented rate of over 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade,’ they said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted yesterday: ‘We are living in the era of extreme weather.’
‘While continuing our fight against climate change,’ she added, ‘we need to recognize that this is a new reality we have to be prepared for.’
A former Presidential staffer, Charles Bissue, has gone to the High Court to stop the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from investigating him over suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving a public officer.
According to Mr. Bissue, an investigation cannot be launched when a copy of the petition forming the basis of the investigation has not been given to him.
In a writ sighted by JoyNews, Mr Bissue argued that, the OSP in it half-year report dated December 31, 2022 had stated that “the Office has concluded investigation into the allegation of the use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue during his tenure as secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) arising from an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud Part 1 published by Tiger Eye P.I and the journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.”
But in view of this and notwithstanding a suit against the OSP, the Office in a new letter dated May 3, 2023 has informed him of ongoing investigations into the activities of the IMCIM.
According to the letter, he is still considered a person of interest, hence the need for him to avail himself for an interview.
This is the second time Mr. Bissue is suing the Special Prosecutor since the release of the documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Earlier, he had argued that the police have already investigated and exonerated him of any wrongdoing.
He is therefore seeking a declaration from the court that upon a true interpretation of the OSP Act, 2017 (Act 959), the OSP does not have the power to review an investigation done by the police.
Again, he is seeking a declaration that the powers granted the OSP under Act 959 does not allow the anti-graft body to investigate and prosecute him when the subject matter had already been investigated by the police.
Mr Bissue also wants the court to declare that the OSP cannot investigate him without investigating Anas and Tiger Eye P.I.
Finally, he is seeking an order perpetually restraining the OSP from investigating him over the same issue investigated by the police, unless the police refers the matter to the OSP.
Background
The OSP, in December last year, announced that it was investigating indigenous mining firm, Akonta Mining Limited, Mr Bissue, some officials of the Lands Commission, Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, some mining entities, individuals and political party officials over suspected corruption relating to illegal mining.
A statement signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, and issued in Accra on December 10 last year, said Mr Bissue was already being investigated on allegations that he used his office for private gain.
“The investigation includes the active and ongoing enquiry into allegations of use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue during his tenure as Secretary to the IMCIM, arising from an investigative documentary titled ‘Galamsey Fraud Part I’ published by Tiger Eye P.I.,” the statement said.
But Mr. Bissue has refuted all allegations made in the documentary against him.
“As I have said countless times that money was not a bribe and I did not make any demands whatsoever from any operative or beneficiary of illegal mining while I served on the IMCIM,” he said in a recent statement.
Subsequently, in July 2019, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service exonerated Mr Bissue from any wrongdoing or allegation of corruption.
The CID concluded that the documentary which was aired was not a true reflection of what transpired between Mr. Bissue and one Yaw Ben of ORR Resource Enterprise.
“The CID investigations primarily relied on the documentary and other sources, as already indicated, but the lead investigator of the Tiger Eye documentary, Mr Anas Aremeyaw Anas, failed to avail himself to assist in investigations and also failed to provide a copy of the unedited version of the documentary,” the CID report said.
Ghanaian dancehall musician, Stonebwoyconfidently asserts that his ‘5th Dimension’ album stands as the most prominent and significant work ever produced by a Ghanaian artist.
Speaking on Property FM in Cape Coast, Stonebwoy said, “It is giving us a lot of responsibility to actually push because we’ve done a lot of things and we can only do more so this album, I don’t want to flex but it’s one of the most visible albums to be done by a Ghanaian globally,” Stonebwoy established.
The multiple award-winning artiste said the reception for his album is very impressive.
He added that the album has been charting in over 20 countries and counting.
“It’s very impressive like the milestone is huge concerning the reception is just amazing like we’re charting in more than 20 countries and over.
“This is just a global album and we’ve pushed to actually represent Ghana and truth be told this is one of the most prominent or visible albums ever done by a Ghanaian,” he added.
On Monday, New York City‘s air quality was classified as the worst in the world after smoke from Canadian wildfires filled the skies in east coast cities.
The northeastern coast of North America has been covered with smoke from forest fires raging in northern Quebec, putting millions of people under air quality alerts from Toronto, Ontario, to Baltimore, Maryland.
As a result of the city’s officials’ advice to people to stay indoors and wear masks while outside, New York City on Wednesday became known as the smog’s epicentre.
‘We’ve been monitoring this for well over a week since the fires started in eastern Canada, and I would say over the last 24 hours it has gotten significantly worse,’ New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.
A view of One World Trade Center on Wednesday morning (Picture: AP)
According to online tracker IQAir.com, New York City is averaging about 353 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5.
This put the city far ahead of other cities across the globe suffering from air pollution. The next worst cities, Delhi, India and Dubai, UAE, had an air quality index of 168 PM2.5 on Wednesday.
On a typical day, the New York City’s air quality is usually under 50 PM2.5, which is considered ‘good’ by the air quality index.
‘The index hit 400 in parts of our state, that’s an 800% increase,’ Governor Hochul said.
The air quality in New York was considered ‘unhealthy’ on Tuesday, and moved into ‘hazardous’ quality by Wednesday afternoon.
The city declared an air quality health emergency, which was extended through Wednesday night at 11.59pm.
‘If you’re a New Yorker with heart or breathing issues, be careful when you’re outdoors today,’ New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.
The mayor also asked New Yorkers to stay inside if possible and wear a mask while outside. Additionally, all outdoor activities at New York City public schools were cancelled on Wednesday.
Health officials also warned against strenuous work and exercise outdoors while the health emergency remains in place.
‘The things you would expect to see are more asthma attacks, more heart attacks, people coming in with chest pain due to not sufficient oxygen,’ said Dr Mitchell Katz, the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, at a press conference with Mayor Adams.
‘The bottom line is this – if you can stay indoors, stay indoors,’ Governor Hochul said.
Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has revealed that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are partnering with the Bank of Ghana to facilitate the retrieval of locked Mobile Money (MoMo) belonging to customers of telcos whose SIM cards have been blocked.
The collaborative effort, according to the Minister, seeks to address concerns of affected subscribers and also aims to streamline the process of retrieving locked funds in mobile money accounts.
Updating Parliament on the status of the SIM re-registration exercise in Parliament on Thursday, June 8, the Minister assured affected subscribers that while they won’t be able to conduct mobile-related transactions with their deactivated SIMs, their funds will be recovered through the necessary processes.
“We have been made aware of the difficulties facing subscribers in accessing their funds on their mobile money wallets. “These subscribers will not be able to transact money mobile-related activities, however, we are working with the Bank of Ghana to ensure that these subscribers are able to retrieve funds upon the presentation of a valid ID and going through the required processes,” she said.
Telco subscribers who have not registered their SIM cards are unable to access their mobile money funds since their SIM cards have been blocked.
The locking of funds has resulted in inconvenience and frustration for affected individuals who rely on mobile money services for their daily financial transactions. Although some have accepted blame for the development, others have attributed their failure to register their SIM cards to failure of the National Identification Authority (NIA) to issue their Ghana Cards to them.
In view of this, the Communications Minister urged the NIA to expedite processes in printing out and issuing of outstanding Ghana Cards.
“We continue to encourage the National Identification Authority (NIA) to assist people to acquire their Ghana Card.
Ghanaian gospel musician Noble Nketsiah touched the hearts of his fans and followers as he shared a heartwarming moment with his son during their visit to Paris, France.
The artiste took to Instagram to post an adorable picture of himself and his little one, both beaming with joy.
In the photo, Noble Nketsiah can be seen wearing a vibrant red t-shirt, while his son opted for a faded, yet charming, pink t-shirt.
The young boy also sported a stylish side bag hanging around him, adding an extra touch of cuteness to the father-son duo’s ensemble.
Captioning the post, Noble wrote, “Twinning with my son in Paris, France ????????.”
The proud father not only shared this precious family moment but also took the opportunity to promote his recently premiered album, “The Christ Album”.
He encouraged netizens to go and listen to his latest musical offering, undoubtedly hoping to garner support and appreciation for his work.
Nigerian singer, Spyro, has vowed never to release worldly songs with ‘dirty’ lyrics.
In a post shared on social media, he declared himself as God’s ambassador.
The singer noted that he plans to change the music industry for God and although it might take him time he plans on fulfilling his promise.
The ‘Who Is Your Guy’ hitmaker, said he intends to strictly stand by his intentions.
“I am only interested in making evergreen music, and that is exactly what it is. Ain’t no shake your bum or any kind of ungodly or dirty lyrics here… we pride in promoting what is right and everyone that works with me already got the memo.
“Ain’t no compromise here. It might take me time but I will influence this industry for God… and someone please mark my words on that… I am here for a reason, I am God’s ambassador here and gradually we will take this grounds for Him,” he stated.
He added that “no rest until the kingdom of our Lord is established.”
Lucy Letby, a nurse, has denied ‘staying around’ after a shift to ‘root in a bin’ for a paper towel used in the resuscitation of a baby she is accused of trying to kill.
More than two years after the alleged attack, the fragment was discovered in a shopping bag under the 33-year-old’s bed when she was arrested by Chester police.
It served as a live notation of the medications administered to the baby as doctors fought for a half-hour to rescue him, Manchester Crown Court jurors were told.
On the afternoon of April 8, 2016, the infant boy, Child M, passed out on the newborn ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Letby is accused of attempting to murder him by injecting him with air.
She denies the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of 10 others, including Child M, between June 2015 and June 2016.
Nearly four hours after Child M was revived, the child’s doctor ‘meticulously’ recorded the process in his notes which included the administering of six doses of adrenaline.
Prosecutor Nick Johnson KC suggested to Letby: ‘You hung around to get your hands on it before you left?’
Letby said: ‘I stayed late to do the work that still needed doing, I was busy with other babies on the unit.’
Mr Johnson said: ‘You were hanging around to get your hands on the paper towel?’
‘No,’ said Letby.
Mr Johnson said: ‘To go rooting in the bin for the paper put there by your colleague.’
Letby said: ‘No, I have never rooted in a bin.’
The prosecutor said: ‘Because you sabotaged (Child M) by injecting him with air?’
Letby said: ‘No I didn’t.’
A blood gas printout from Child M, along with several hundred shift handover sheets – some containing names of children she allegedly targeted – were also found in police searches.
Letby has told the court the documents would innocently ‘come home’ in her uniform pocket at the end of her shifts and that she would ‘collect paper’.
She has denied they were ‘important’ to her, unlike household bills and bank statements that she would shred.
Letby is also accused of attempting to murder another baby boy, Child N, two months later.
The prosecutor accused her of ‘doing something to destabilise’ the infant at the end of a day shift on June 14.
A nursing colleague later noted Child N was ‘very unsettled early part of night’.
Mr Johnson said: ‘Are you saying this is a coincidence that this happened just after you went off shift?’
‘Yes,’ said Letby.
Mr Johnson said: ‘The reason you had done something to him … was to create the impression that there was a progressing decline that you could take advantage of the next day.’
Letby said: ‘No, that’s not what happened.’
The court has heard Child N’s incubator alarm sounded and he deteriorated in Letby’s presence within three minutes of her arriving at the unit on the morning of June 15.
Mr Johnson said: ‘You had set him up to fail at the end of the previous shift and you were making a beeline for him to make it look as if he had got a problem from the night shift.’
‘No,’ said Letby.
Mr Johnson said: ‘It happened within a minute or two minutes of you arriving in the room?’
Vanessa, Funny Face’s baby mama was being criticized for her expressing her willingness to reunite with Funny Face, and one of the criticisms she noticed was that she is only after his money.
Stressing that her motive to reconcile isn’t driven by the comedian’s money, Vanessa said she has businesses that accrue profits at the end of the month.
Vanessa insisted during an Instagram live video that she is doing very well financially.
“I am not suffering. I am okay and well-to-do. At the end of the month, my farm gives me money. I have a farm that brings me money. My shop brings me money. My side hustle,” like shooting movies also brings me money. I have a beautiful life,” she averred.
Emphasizing how blessed she is, Vanessa added that she has a strong support system (family), that keeps her going.
“I have kids who love me and I have a mother who will go all out for me. In this life, if you want to count those God has blessed, I am one of them. I don’t have a problem so don’t compare yourself to me. I don’t beg to eat. I am very comfortable,” she maintained.
Tackling her detractors further, Vanessa established that she takes care of four kids all by herself, so labeling her as ‘broke’ is absolutely unwise.
“I take care of four children, four girls, so, if you’re on social media telling me that I want to come back because I am suffering, then you’re stupid,” she fumed.
A romance scammer who defrauded three women of more than £200,000 was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.
Sajad Hussain, 45, of Haydon End in Swindon, Wiltshire, admitted guilt to five charges of fraud spanning a seven-year span from 2013 to 2020.
Hussain, who met the West Midlands women on internet dating sites, allegedly used a false name when speaking with them and concocted a web of lies to defraud them of their money, according to testimony presented at Swindon Crown Court.
Each woman believed she was in a genuine relationship with him – going on dates and planning a future with him – and paid the money he demanded having been assured it would be returned.
Hussain falsely claimed he was a police officer, that his father had been involved in a skiing accident abroad, that his father had died and that his mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The court heard how one woman used her family’s gold heirlooms to raise money for Hussain, while others borrowed money from parents to pay his demands.
Judge Jason Taylor KC, sentencing Hussain, told him: ‘In each case, you spun a web of lies to ingratiate yourself in these women’s lives and earn their trust.
‘Once securely embedded, you pulled whatever emotional lever you could to extract money from them.
‘You used false names from the outset, you told two of your victims that you were or had been a police officer, a variety of sob stories designed to create sympathy and pile on emotional pressure.
‘In a devious and callous manner, you systematically created a false persona with the sole purpose of building up their trust which you then cruelly abused.
‘You knew they were looking for long-term relationships, including on occasion having children.
‘The contrast between you and your victims couldn’t be more stark. These women gradually fell in love with you.
‘You on the other hand were cold hearted and mercenary, effectively tossing them aside when they were no longer of financial use to you or you had moved on to another victim.
‘To you, they were human piggy banks.’
The judge described the devastating effects of Hussain’s crimes on his victims, who have been left with anxiety and depression, PTSD and in financial hardship.
He added: ‘While you have expressed regret and embarrassment, I’m not convinced in your case it equates to genuine remorse.’
Prosecuting, Steven Molloy described how married Hussain used the names Sanjay Gill and Sanjay Patel to the women who he contacted through a secret Nokia phone.
He showed one a small room in Dudley which he claimed was his rented accommodation but in fact he owned two properties and was married, Mr Molloy said.
Hussain also falsely claimed he was a police officer, that his father was a wealthy businessman and insisted to each woman that he wanted to settle down and have a family.
His first victim was defrauded of more than £15,000, the second of £102,422, the third of more than £37,000 and the fourth of almost £49,000 as well as items of highly sentimental family jewellery.
Two of the women reported Hussain to police and Action Fraud after their relationships, which spanned years, with him ended.
He was arrested in October 2020 at the home he shared with his wife, who he married in 2018. Police found betting slips in his car, as well as the Nokia phone hidden in a pair of gloves in a cardboard box.
Officers investigating Hussain discovered he had a substantial gambling habit, with £135,000 leaving Hussain’s bank account in relation to online gambling between 2013 and 2020.
One woman read a victim personal statement to the court, telling the judge: ‘The man who you see before you today lied to defraud me of thousands and thousands of pounds and priceless family heirlooms which I will never get back.
‘He continued to manipulate me to serve his own gambling addiction.’
She described how she felt ‘violated’ by Hussain and said the impact of his crimes upon her and her family had been ‘astronomical’.
A second woman, in a victim personal statement read by Mr Molloy, said she felt ‘stupid, ashamed and guilty’ for falling for Hussain’s lies.
She was forced to take out a high-interest loan to repay the money borrowed to her family, with the financial impact of Hussain’s offending meaning she was unable to take a full maternity leave when she had a baby years later.
A third woman told how she lives with ‘a constant feeling of dread’ and was unable to have children at the age she wanted to due to believing she had a future with Hussain at the critical time.
Representing Hussain, James Tucker said his client had ‘substantial personal mitigation’ including mental health issues and health problems.
‘This isn’t offending to fund a lavish lifestyle, it was his debts, his own personal bills,’ Mr Tucker said.
A further hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act will take place at Swindon Crown Court at a later date.
This weekend, sunbathers might need to forgo their beach towels in favour of their umbrellas because thunderstorms are predicted to hit the UK.
The Met Office has issued a weather warning for the weekend for a sizable portion of England and Wales.
Ahead of what is anticipated to be the warmest weekend of the year, the forecaster issued the warning today.
The Met Office just yesterday issued a heat weather warning for six regions of the UK.
The Met said central and southern England, and the whole of Wales is set for rain and thunder on Saturday.
The warning comes after weeks of prolonged high pressure which has led to the recent sun and high temperatures.
The weather is expected to take a sudden change at the weekend after a long period of sunshine and hot spells(Picture: George Cracknell Wright)
As the high pressure moves north, the UK is expected to see higher temperatures, as well as thunder, hail, and rain, hit central and southern England and Wales.
A change in weather is expected to come at around 2pm on Saturday, with the warning in place until 9pm on Saturday.
Oli Clayden, from the Met Office, confirmed that there could be some travel disruption over the weekend.
He said: ‘After a prolonged dry spell there is a chance of surface water flooding.
‘There could be some surface water issues that could cause travel disruptions as well as the high gusts across parts of the country.’
It is expected that some parts of the UK could see 30-40mm of rain in an hour during parts of Saturday, with hail also expected to hit the UK on Saturday.
Temperatures are forecast to increase steadily heading into the weekend, with Saturday expected to see temperatures rise to as high as 30C in southern parts of England before they slowly decrease in the days that follow.
The thunderstorm warning comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office issued the first heat health warning of the year to six regions in England, London, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, South East and South West, and is in place from 9am on Friday until Monday morning.
Parts of the country are predicted to be hotter than Marbella, Ibiza and Tenerife over the weekend as a ‘plume of warm air’ moves in from the south.
Mr Clayden added: ‘This is going to be the warmest weekend of the year, which is to be expected as we go into summer.
‘This weekend will also see hail mixed in with strong gusts of wind and rain hit parts of the country.’
Some illegal miners who were trapped in a shaft belonging to the Anglogold Ashanti Mine have revealed how they survived inside the pit after having to spend some days underground.
According to a few of them who were trapped with over a hundred and fifty (150) others inside the pit, they had to survive on powdered pepper and onion when their food got exhausted.
For fear of being arrested and fined huge sums of money they couldn’t afford, they said they chose to stay underground than to use the main exit of the company to be arrested after their illegal point of entry had been blocked by AngloGold Ashanti’s security.
The incident occurred at the AngloGold’s Ashanti Mine’s shaft at Anwiam in the Obuasi East district of the Ashanti region.
The young men narrated their story Wednesday, June 7, 2023, when Onua TV/FM’s Maakye went to Obuasi with the Peoples’ Assembly.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has engaged market women in Kumasi in an open forum on the need to practice proper food safety.
The forum forms parts of a series of activities to mark the World Food Safety Day which is celebrated on June 7 every year.
Earlier on, the market women and staff from the FDA joined the food safety awareness creation float through some selected streets of Kumasi.
The forum tends to raise awareness and encourage actions to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks amongst market women.
This year’s theme is: ” Food Standards Saves Lives.”
The focus of the celebration was to remind participants of the critical role that food safety plays in our daily lives.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Roderick Daddey-Adjei, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for FDA stressed the need to resonate deeply on a collective mission to ensure the well-being and health of every individual.
He noted that various aspects such as food security, human health, agriculture, and sustainable development enhanced the global organisation’s endeavours in ensuring the safety of the food and therefore should be adhered to.
Mr Daddey-Adjei said, food standards encompassed a wide range of aspects from hygiene to the rigorous testing of ingredients and therefore encouraged promoting food safety as a priority in public discussions, and thus reducing the global burden of foodborne diseases.
He said foodborne illnesses are typically caused by infectious or toxic agents that are often invisible to the naked eye.
He added that the illnesses resulted from the entry of bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances into the body through contaminated food or water thereby causing harm to individuals.
He explained that, maintaining food safety was crucial throughout the entire food chain, which ranged from production and harvesting to processing, storage, distribution, and ultimately, preparation and consumption and therefore called on the citizenry to give it much attention.
He noted that, as custodians of the public health it was incumbent on them to ensure that every morsel that reached the plate was safe.
He advised the participants to join efforts of the government regulatory agencies in order to achieve real and lasting solutions to food safety issues.
Nana Afia Kyeiwaa, the Queen mother for the Racecourse Market Women Association lamented the poor state of the market and called on government authorities to act swiftly to ensure the standards of food safety was followed.
She said, the nature of the market did not encourage the women to be hygienic while selling, and this should send signals to authority to pay attention to. Nana Kyeiwaa indicated that most market women at Racecourse go about their business in a muddy environment and called on the government to give it a facelift.
Andrew Tate is accused of raping a British woman, strangling her till she passed out, and acting aggressively towards her.
When she first met Mr. Tate in August 2014, when he was employed as a club doorman in Luton, Evie (not her real name) claimed that she was a 20-year-old student.
She claimed she gave Mr. Tate her agreement to have sex, but when they reconnected in late November or early December of the same year, she believes he became violent towards her.
According to Evie, the contentious influencer “put his hand on her throat and strangled her” until she passed out.
When she came around, ‘it was a bit confusing at first’ but Mr Tate, 36, was ‘still having sex with her’, she alleges.
Evie, now 30, said the former-kickboxer was ‘fairly aggressive and saying horrible things’ throughout the night, including: ‘I own you, you belong to me’.
The next day, the white part in one of her eyes was red from being strangled, she claims.
A spokesperson for Mr Tate said he ‘vehemently denies’ the accusations against him and added that ‘all sexual acts that Andrew has partaken in have been consensual’.
Evie did not report her case topoliceat the time, saying ‘she didn’t see it as rape or sexual assault because this was 10 years ago’.
It was only six years afterwards, when she was describing the alleged attack to her friends, that she started to believe had been assaulted.
Three people have told Evie’s lawyers they remember being told the story and are willing to give evidence in court about it.
Evie is the fourth British woman to come forward with allegations against Mr Tate, joining three others who are planning to sue him over claims he subjected them to sexual assault, physical abuse and controlling behaviour.
These three accusers are understood to have contacted the police over their alleged abuse eight years ago, but say detectives dropped the charges after failing to properly investigate their case.
The women say they worked as webcam models for Tate in Luton between 2013 and 2016, and were abused, poorly paid and threatened to try to stop them going to the police during that time.
Mr Tate previously denied the allegations, and said: ‘They wanted money because I fired them. The police understood after the investigation that I am innocent.’
All four women are being represented by McCue Jury & Partners, which is crowdfunding to pay for proceedings. So far, they have raised more than £15,000.
Both Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are currently being investigated in Romania over suspected human trafficking, rape and sexual exploitation of women, as well as supposed links to organised crime.
The Tate brothers, who are currently under house arrest in Romania, deny all claims against them. Neither they, nor two other suspects, have been charged with anything.
Mr Tate’s spokesperson said: ‘Andrew strongly encourages women who have experienced assault, in any form, to report it to the relevant authorities.
‘We will not be commenting any further on anyone’s alleged intention to pursue legal action unless such action is submitted to the authorities.’
The Australian government has issued a warning that pills marketed as “Big Penis USA” may be seriously harmful to health.
Consumers were advised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to cease taking the medications right away.
It was discovered that the product contains the chemical sildenafil after testing it with replicas of Australia tablets, USA Black Gold tablets, and Germany Niubian tablets.
The tablets include the unauthorised chemical sildenafil, according to the government regulating body.
‘Sildenafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.
‘People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease are often prescribed nitrates.
‘Sildenafil taken in combination with other medications can cause serious side effects.’
The tablets were found to contain the substance sildenafil (Picture: TGA)
Sildenafil, which is more commonly known under the brand name Viagra, is commonly used to give men erections but requires a prescription in Australia.
This is to ensure the medication does not interact with other things the person is taking, and cause them health problems.
The TGA warned the supply of Big Penis USA pills containing undisclosed sildenafil is illegal.
Anyone taking the tablets is warned to stop immediately and take any remaining pills to their local pharmacy for safe disposal.
Those experiencing side effects after taking it are advised to see their doctor.
It was revealed in February supplies of Viagra will no longer be shipped to Russia due to its war with Ukraine.
An Australian man who admitted punching a gay American down a cliff in 1988 and killing him has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
In Sydney, 52-year-old Scott Phillip White admitted to killing Scott Johnson, who was born in Los Angeles.
In the last year, he admitted to killing the 27-year-old and was given a sentence of more than 12 years in prison.
But he then changed his mind, and an appeal has now resulted in the murder conviction being overturned.
Having already served part of his sentence, White will be eligible for release on parole in 2026.
‘Not much is known of the death beyond a punch on a cliff, a fall from a cliff and decades of pain and grief that followed,’ Justice Robert Beech-Jones said during sentencing on Thursday.
On December 10 1988, White met Mr Johnson at a pub and the pair went for a walk around North Head, which was known at the time to be a popular area among gay people.
White, then 18, punched Mr Johnson during a row, causing naked Mr Johnson to stagger backwards and fall to his death.
Mr Johnson was close to receiving his doctorate from the Australian National University, which he has since been awarded posthumously.
‘Dr Johnson was an American citizen… He had everything to live for,’ the judge said.
‘The offender left him to die.’
White, who has early onset dementia due to alcohol abuse, was described as a ‘street kid’ at the time of the killing.
‘The offender was clearly a damaged albeit physically powerful young man,’ Mr Beech-Jones said.
‘However, he was not broken as he is now.’
The death was originally thought to be a suicide but police in 2012 opened an investigation into what they suspected was a gay hate crime.
In her now-overturned judgment on the murder conviction, Justice Helen Wilson found there was not enough evidence to show the attack was motivated by Mr Johnson’s sexuality.
Mr Beech-Jones said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the crime was a ‘gay hate crime’.
‘Answers to numerous other questions about how he died, why he died and what happened … some of those answers will never be provided,’ he said.
Gospel musician Nacee has revealed some serious challenges he faced in his music career some years ago.
Nacee who has been producing hit after hit for over two decades said he lacked the needed equipment, which made things extremely difficult.
The Aseda hitmaker who currently has his own recording studio said it has streamlined his work.
“The only thing I can is that that time I mean some years ago, getting some instruments was difficult because of where I was working,” he posited observed by MyNewsGh.com
“But now that I’ve established my own studio which I have all the equipment at my disposal to play, it makes the job much faster and easier than before. But then we’ve been able to do that work and gradually this is where God has brought us so the experience at that time was great,” he added.
Nacee has produced a lot of Ghanaian gospel bangers and has worked with the likes of Antwi Ne Antwi, Piesie Esther, Ohemaa Mercy, Guru, and a host of others.
Nikki Samonas, a Ghanaian actress, recently posted new pictures of herself on social media, grabbing internet users’ attention and igniting a heated discussion.
The series of photos, posted on her Instagram account, show Nikki Samonas confidently showcasing her new look as she sits comfortably on a chair.
With a relaxed demeanour, she dons a stylish flowery top and a pair of black pants, while her hair is neatly tied back.
Completing her ensemble, she sports a subtle makeup look that accentuates her weight gain, particularly in her cheeks, which she playfully acknowledges in the caption.
“These chubby cheeks are only for a short time, ok? Second, bombastic side eye!!!,” she captioned on June 7, 2023.
While some social media users praised her for looking good with a little extra weight, others expressed nostalgia for her previous figure.
Her lighthearted remark aimed to address the fact that she had only temporarily gained a little weight and might be on a journey to shed the extra pounds.
However, it was this very caption that sparked an online conversation among netizens.
In some social media reactions, Victoria Lebene reacted by saying, “Who is this” while TikToker, Jacklin Mensah added, “Most beautiful post to have come across today.”
A third stated that “Chubby fits you… Don’t lose weight. Maintain it.”
Environmental scientists have warned that the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine will have long-term consequences akin to the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Kyiv announced Friday night that about 20,000 people had been saved from flooding damage in Kherson, and an additional 40,000 people would need to be evacuated.
Following the dam’s collapse on Tuesday morning, rescue attempts are still ongoing, and Ukrainians are now attempting to determine the extent of the longer-term harm to the area’s economy and environment.
Officials and experts have warned that unique ecosystems might be lost, farmland turned into desert, and remaining water supplies contaminated.
‘I compare it with the Chernobyl disaster,’ said Maksym Soroka, an environmental safety expert at the Dovkola Network NGO.
‘Yes, the consequences are different, but the long-term effect on the population and the territory is the same,’ she told the Financial Times.
Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister also drew comparisons to the nuclear disaster site, writing on Twitter that the dam collapse was ‘The worst environmental disaster in Europe since the Chernobyl disaster.
‘Only this time Moscow deliberately used this weapon of mass destruction against the Ukrainians, he said. ‘Who else wants to negotiate with Putin?’
Prior to Russia’s invasion, Kherson was known as a popular nature spot, home to over 70 different species of animals and many endangered creatures.
But the region’s wildlife population, along with over 300 animals at the Kherson Zoo, has been wiped out after being flooded with 150 million tonnes of polluted floodwater.
For residents still in the city, evacuation efforts have been hampered by explosions from dislodged landmines and reports of Russian forces shelling Ukrainian emergency workers.
In Kherson, Ukraine’s deputy premier Oleksandr Kubrakov, said: ‘Infectious diseases and chemicals are getting into the water,’ and instructed local residents not to drink water drawn from wells and ground pumps, as is still common in rural Ukraine.
Ukraine’s farming minister said 94 per cent of agricultural irrigation systems in Kherson, 74 per cent in Zaporizhzhia and 30 per cent in Dnipropetrovsk would be left without a water source.
‘This was a huge irrigation system in which Ukrainian farmers had invested billions of dollars after the fall of the Soviet Union,’ said one executive at a large agricultural company. ‘It is all gone.’
Denys Marchuk, the deputy chair of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council, a trade association, told Ukrainian television the dam’s destruction could cost the country up to 14 per cent of its grain exports.
‘We will not be able to grow anything in the Kherson region until the [dam] is restored,’ Marchuk said. Building a new dam could take several years even without an ongoing war.
Mayor Yevhen Ryschuk, who left the city after the Russians took control last year, reported three dead and said hundreds of residents need to be evacuated from their roofs.
He said 90 per cent of Oleshky is flooded and facing a humanitarian crisis without electricity, potable water and food, as well as possible groundwater contamination.
Meanwhile, Russian-appointed Mayor Vladimir Leontyev said that the flooding killed thousands of animals in a nature preserve. Hundreds of animals trapped in Oleshky require urgent rescue, volunteers helping a local shelter have claimed.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said it was impossible to predict how many people would die in Russian-occupied areas due to the flooding, urging a ‘clear and rapid reaction from the world’ to support victims.
He told the world to respond to the ‘environmental bomb of mass destruction’ unleashed by Vladimir Putin.
‘This crime carries enormous threats and will have dire consequences for people’s lives and the environment,’ he said.
‘We can only help on the territory controlled by Ukraine. On the part occupied by Russia, the occupiers are not even trying to help. This again demonstrates the cynicism with which Russia treats people whose land it has captured.’
Russia has continued to deny responsibility for the collapse. However, Western observers are convinced the Kremlin sabotaged the hydro-electric dam with mines put in place early last year.
Ukraine is poised to begin its big push into Russian-occupied territories and its commanders were not entirely surprised by the attack on the dam.
Washington think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Russia has ‘a greater and clearer interest in flooding the lower Dnieper despite the damage to their own prepared defensive positions.’
Nollywood actor, Nonso Diobi, recently provided insights into his extended absence from the Nigerian entertainment scene, shedding light on the reasons behind his hiatus.
In an interview with HipTV, the 46-year-old actor, who enjoyed immense success in the film industry for over a decade, revealed that he took a break to expand his knowledge and skills to bring fresh and exciting content to his fans.
Nonso explained that he has transitioned from acting to filmmaking, taking on roles as a director and producer for his own movies.
During the interview, Nonso expressed his eagerness to provide his fans with what they desire while also reinventing himself in the entertainment industry.
He stated, “I always take time off to acquire more knowledge, to become something else in entertainment, and also to keep giving my fans what they want. And basically, that’s why I’ve been off the scene for a while and I am coming back with a bang.”
The talented actor emphasized his new ventures as a filmmaker, indicating that his fans will soon witness the fruits of his efforts.
Nonso confidently declared, “I can officially tell you that I am a filmmaker also, not just the regular Nonso Diobi movie star that you know. So I’m also into directing now. I’m producing my own movies, and very soon, the fans will really understand why I took some time off. Because entertainment is my life.”
Ghanaian musician Ransford Brefo, popularly known as Oseikrom Sikanii has stated that he would organise people to beat anyone who will pose as his lookalike and joke with his brand.
In his words, these self-acclaimed lookalikes look out for brands they can associate themselves with, but he has a unique brand that makes it difficult for people to joke with and pose as him.
He continued by saying that he has a lookalike but he [lookalike] knowing who Oseikrom is cannot take to social media and proclaim he is the lookalike of Oseikrom Sikanii because he knows what he [Oseikrom Sikanii] can do to him.
The singer shared his views on the lookalike issue in an interview with Aba Guy Guy on Original TV.
He stated: “These lookalikes look out for the brand of some musicians and when you look at my brand, you should know you cannot joke with it. They play with people who will give them the chance to do that. Who says I don’t have a lookalike? I do but the thing is he cannot joke with me and announce on social media that he is my lookalike. I will let people beat you, I can gather people to beat you up”.
Oseikrom Sikanii disclosed he has acquired adequate knowledge about the law and brags about having several numbers of lawyers. Hence, he would not hesitate to arrest anyone who performs his songs at shows without his consent.
“I am a funny guy but my lawyers are very active. I have many lawyers and not just one. If an organizer makes the mistake of allowing someone to perform my songs at events, I’ll arrest both of you no matter the money you dey hold. I’ll let you know I know the law,” he added.
He also said that one of the reasons why he wants to dissociate himself from this lookalike story is because he believes it could bring more problems to the existing ones he is already faced with, explaining that he has already been tagged as a bad person on social media because there are some people who impersonate him to commit crimes.
He then added he was looking for someone to use as a scapegoat to deter others from doing same.
“A lot of people may see these acts to be harmless, but I see it to be a big deal because I think I’ll generate problems for me. Already people are using my name to fraud people on the internet. People are using my name for money but I don’t that and because of that, I have been given a bad name. So, I need someone to use as a scapegoat to tell people that I am harmful,” he said.
Following the explosion of the hydroelectric dam in Nova Kakhovka, landmines have washed ashore on the banks of the Dnipro River in Ukraine.
Presidents are squabbling about who is to blame for the catastrophe in the Kherson Oblast as tens of thousands of people flee their houses and struggle through flooded streets while carrying children, pets, and valuables in plastic bags.
On the river’s banks, new dangers are emerging as the torrent of water surges unpredictably.
Footage shared on social media shows washed up landmines detonating meters away from people.
The Halo Trust, a humanitarian landmine clearance charity which hosted foreign secretary James Cleverly in Kyiv earlier this week, confirmed it is already working in southern Ukraine to demine affected areas.
As the waters rise, mines are being moved, leading to their detonation, the trust said in a post on Twitter.
Visiting the city of Kherson on the Dnipro River that divides the country, deputy prime minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said more than 80 towns and villages have been affected so far.
‘Water is disturbing mines that were laid earlier, causing them to explode,’ he told reporters.
As a result of the flooding, chemicals and infectious bacteria are also getting into the water, the politician said.
Mr Kubrakov added: ‘This is one of the most terrifying terrorist acts of this war.’
Ukraine warned that hundreds of thousands of people will be left without access to drinking water, tens of thousands of hectares of land will be swamped and at least 500,000 hectares deprived of irrigation will become ‘deserts’ as a result.
Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the situation in occupied parts of the Kherson region is ‘absolutely catastrophic’.
‘Russian occupiers are simply abandoning people in frightful conditions. No help, without water, left on the roofs of houses in submerged communities,’ he said.
A video circulating online shows a bottle of water being dropped from a drone to a Ukrainian boy trapped in the attic of his flooded house.
Residents can be seen hanging out of windows and clinging to boats as soldiers rescue them from their homes.
A solar mission that has been circling the sun to learn more about it has flown close enough to our star’s surface to make an important finding.
The origin of solar wind, a stream of charged particles that travels from the corona, or the sun’s heated outer atmosphere, towards Earth, has been discovered using data from the Parker Solar Probe.
Finding out how the wind arises near the sun and how it escapes the star’s gravity was one of the main goals of the mission, which was launched in 2018 and bears the late astronomer Eugene Parker’s name.
As the probe came within about 13 million miles (20.9 million kilometers) of the sun, its instruments detected fine structures of the solar wind where it generates near the photosphere, or the solar surface, and captured ephemeral details that disappear once the wind is blasted from the corona.
The spacecraft was specially designed to eventually fly within 4 million miles (6.4 million kilometers) above the solar surface, and in late 2021, it became the first mission to “touch” the sun.
A study detailing the solar findings was published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Solar wind is a continuous outflow of plasma, which contains charged particles like protons and electrons. The far-reaching phenomenon also includes part of the solar magnetic field and extends well beyond the corona, interacting with planets and the interstellar medium.
There are two types of this wind. The faster solar wind streams from holes in the corona at the sun’s poles at a peak speed of 497 miles per second (800 kilometers per second). The slower solar wind, located in the same plane of the solar system as Earth, flows at a calmer 249 miles per second (400 kilometers per second).
The fast solar wind doesn’t usually impact Earth. But during the maximum of the solar cycle, an 11-year period over which the sun’s activity gradually increases, the sun’s magnetic field flips. This flip causes the coronal holes to appear across the sun’s surface and release bursts of solar wind directly toward Earth.
Understanding the source of the solar wind can help scientists better predict space weather and solar storms that can affect Earth.
Although they can cause beautiful auroras, the solar storms can also impact satellites and Earth’s electrical grids.
“Winds carry lots of information from the sun to Earth, so understanding the mechanism behind the sun’s wind is important for practical reasons on Earth,” said study coauthor James Drake, distinguished professor of physics at the University of Maryland, College Park, in a statement. “That’s going to affect our ability to understand how the sun releases energy and drives geomagnetic storms, which are a threat to our communication networks.”
The spacecraft’s data revealed that the coronal holes act like showerheads, where jets appear on the sun’s surface in the form of bright spots, marking where the magnetic field passes in and out of the photosphere.
As magnetic fields pass each other, moving in opposite directions within these funnels on the solar surface, they break and reconnect, which sends charged particles flying out of the sun.
“The photosphere is covered by convection cells, like in a boiling pot of water, and the larger scale convection flow is called supergranulation,” said lead study author Stuart D. Bale, a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, in a statement.
“Where these supergranulation cells meet and go downward, they drag the magnetic field in their path into this downward kind of funnel. The magnetic field becomes very intensified there because it’s just jammed. It’s kind of a scoop of magnetic field going down into a drain. And the spatial separation of those little drains, those funnels, is what we’re seeing now with solar probe data.”
Parker Solar Probe detected highly energetic particles traveling between 10 and 100 times faster than the solar wind, leading the researchers to believe that the fast solar wind is created by the reconnection of magnetic fields.
“The big conclusion is that it’s magnetic reconnection within these funnel structures that’s providing the energy source of the fast solar wind,” Bale said. “It doesn’t just come from everywhere in a coronal hole, it’s substructured within coronal holes to these supergranulation cells. It comes from these little bundles of magnetic energy that are associated with the convection flows. Our results, we think, are strong evidence that it’s reconnection that’s doing that.”
The sun is expected to reach solar maximum in July 2025, which is why there have been increasing reports of solar flares and the northern and southern lights being visible in unexpected places. Fortunately, Parker Solar Probe and a separate mission, Solar Orbiter, are perfectly poised to observe the sun’s powerful, dynamic forces at play.
But scientists are grateful that Parker Solar Probe launched ahead of the sun’s increasing dramatics during the quieter solar minimum, when chaotic activity didn’t have a chance of obscuring observations.
“There was some consternation at the beginning of the solar probe mission that we’re going to launch this thing right into the quietest, most dull part of the solar cycle,” Bale said. “But I think without that, we would never have understood this. It would have been just too messy. I think we’re lucky that we launched it in the solar minimum.”
In the midst of the turmoil caused by the rupture of the Nova Khakovka dam, Russian gunners targeted rescuers, further reinforcing Ukraine’s accusations of Russian “ecocide” as fish were swept up and dumped by flood waters.
The Kremlin’s own troops, who were apparently caught off guard, were swept away, their trenches and quarters swamped, and as they fled into the open to save themselves, Ukrainian forces showered death down on them from the other bank of the Dnipro River.
This initially appears to be one or two own goals by Russia. In addition to engulfing its own forces and citizens in Ukraine under its occupation, it was in control of the dam that exploded and is accused by many Western countries of having intentionally blown it up.
But Moscow has form for sacrificing the lives of many for the motherland, in the same way, on the same river.
As Nazi troops advanced against the Russian army in 1941 across Ukraine, Stalin’s secret police, the NKVD, were given an order of terrible ruthlessness.
They were to blow up the Zaporizhzhia hydroelectric dam that bisected the eponymous industrial city, which stands 200 kilometers (125 miles) upriver from today’s Nova Kakhovka barricade).
On August 18, Stalin’s henchmen carried out his order. The breach in the dam sent a surge of water downstream that killed Soviet soldiers and thousands of civilians. No official history of the atrocity was recorded and historians differ over the death toll sitting somewhere between 20,000 and 100,000 souls.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has again blamed Moscow for the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam and said Russia should bear “criminal liability” for “ecocide.”
In an interview with national media on Tuesday, Zelensky said: “In our opinion, this is a crime, the Prosecutor General’s Office has already registered it. It will have evidence. There is a modern classification – ecocide,” he said, adding: “I think that there should be criminal liability… International institutions, including the International Criminal Court, should react.”
Both Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of being behind the major breach of the dam, although it is unclear whether the dam was deliberately attacked, or whether the collapse was the result of structural failure.
Zelensky referred to a report by Ukrainian intelligence last year that claimed occupying Russian troops had mined the dam.
“The consequences of the tragedy will be clear in a week. When the water goes away, it will become clear what is left and what will happen next,” he said.
His officials have repeatedly said that the dam was destroyed by Russia to frustrate Ukraine’s plans for a large-scale counter-offensive.
Before the surge in water spread it across the low lands on its eastern banks, the Dnipro posed a formidable natural defense for Russian troops.
When they were driven out of Kherson City last summer they retreated east and south, blew the bridges across it, and dug in on the east banks. Within hours snipers were scoping targets and gunners pounded the recently liberated city from the marshes along the river.
Ukraine has, naturally, been secretive about how it plans to unleash a counter-offensive to reclaim territory lost to Russia last year.
It’s been conducting probing attacks, or reconnaissance by fire, along the frontline running east from Zaporizhzhia toward Donetsk City. These are clearly intended to test Russia’s defenses, and keep its generals guessing.
Bakhmut, the eastern city which has been dubbed the “meat grinder” by both sides, flares up sporadically as Ukraine attempts to flank Russian forces that have captured most of its urban areas.
And Ukraine has sponsored the “Russian dissident” forces (all carrying Ukrainian military ID) who’ve been raiding into Russian territory north of Kharkiv for the last couple of weeks.
This opening of this new front has caused even Russian President Vladimir Putin himself to tell his administration to resist attempts to destabilize his government.
“Today we will also address these issues in relation to ensuring Russia’s security, in this case domestic political security, considering the efforts our ill-wishers are still taking and stepping up in order to destabilize the situation inside Russia. We must do everything we can to prevent this from happening at any cost,” he said recently.
So Ukraine has had the initiative lately.
Small wonder then that, perhaps, Russia needed to destabilize Kyiv with a spectacular humanitarian and ecological disaster that, Moscow hoped, could change the course of history – and has changed the course of a river.
Any plans that Kyiv may have had for a cross-river assault are now much more complicated by a much wider body of water, more boggy landscape, and unmapped waters.
Russia has lost too.
“Their positions were fully destroyed. They are full of water. They have a lot of wounded people and dead people for now, we have information that it’s hundreds of them,” Ukrainian Army Captain Andrei Pidlisnyi told CNN on Tuesday.
A Ukrainian officer in command of men tasked with watching and raiding the Russian forces on the east bank of the river his teams kept a close watch on the floods as they overwhelmed Russian troops – driving them into the open where they could be killed more easily.
“We see them now before they were hiding in the buildings, in the trenches, and it was difficult for us to understand how many of them and where they were. But now, we see them all because they’re just running and they try to evacuate themselves. They left not only their positions, they left all their weapons, equipment, ammunition and vehicles, including armored vehicles, too,” the Ukrainian officer said.
Ukraine’s armed forces have insisted that their counter-offensive included contingency planning for a disaster at the dam.
They said they are “equipped with all the nececssary watercraft and pontoon bridge crossings for crossing water obstacles.”
Kyiv’s military added that Russia had blown the dam (as had the Soviets before them battling the German army) as a desperate attempt to thwart Ukraine’s much vaunted offensive.
But there’s another detail worth considering. The Kakhovka Dam sits at the head of the fresh water canal system which supplies the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula with most of its needs.
“The fact that Russia deliberately destroyed the Kakhovka reservoir, which is critically important, in particular, for providing water to Crimea, indicates that the Russian occupiers have already realised that they will have to flee Crimea as well,” said Zelensky.
He would suggest as much.
But cutting off the water supply to the massive garrisons in Crimea – which is also the head quarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet – would more likely serve Ukrainian than Russian interests (at least in the short military term).
So destroying the Nova Khakovka dam which has complicated Ukraine’s plans but flooded Russian defenses on a frontline that was an unlikely first choice of Ukrainian advance has served neither side well.
But it’s cost Kyiv dearly now, and will cost it yet more in the future – and an enfeebled Ukraine, no matter how angry, is Russia’s end game.
A 10-foot-long (3-meter-long) relative of duck-billed dinosaurs crushed stiff plant stems and leaves with its strong teeth and jaws about 100 million years ago in what is now Utah.
It probably wasn’t paying attention to the changing environment around it since it was too busy chewing. The bones of this newly discovered species, however, provide information about life during the middle of the Cretaceous Period (145 million to 66 million years ago), when hotter air and rising sea levels changed the structure of leafy ecosystems on land.
The plant-eater was an early ornithopod — a group of mostly bipedal herbivorous dinosaurs. By the Cretaceous’ end, ornithopods had become the era’s most successful vegetarians, including duck-billed hadrosaurs, sometimes called “cows of the Cretaceous,” and crested Parasaurolophus, among others.
Ornithopods first appeared during the Jurassic (201.3 million to 145 million years ago) and though early species were once common across North America, populations dwindled and died out as Earth warmed. These new fossils provide evidence that some early lineages persisted despite the changing climate, researchers reported June 7 in the journal PLOS One.
Analysis of the bones surprised them — the animal appeared to be a close relative of rhabdodontomorphs, a type of ornithopod previously known almost entirely from European fossils.
The newfound species, named Iani (YAH-nee) smithi, is the first early ornithopod from this part of the Cretaceous to be discovered in North America. It’s an important find because it offers a glimpse into a time in North America from which very little is known about the continent’s dinosaurs, said Darla Zelenitsky, an assistant professor in the department of geoscience at the University of Calgary in Canada.
“This new fossil suggests that species of Rhabdodon-like ornithopods were more diverse and lingered around longer in North America than previously realized,” Zelenitsky, who was not involved in the study, told CNN in an email.
The dinosaur’s genus name — Iani — is a nod to its changing world. It references the two-faced Janus, the Roman god of transitions, the study authors reported.
Paleontologists excavated the fossils in 2015 at a site called the Mussentuchit Member in southern Utah, said lead study author Lindsay Zanno, head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and an associate research professor in biological sciences at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
The bones included a skull, some ribs and vertebrae, limb bones and parts of the pelvis. Well-preserved Cretaceous skulls from this part of North America are extremely rare; the region once bordered a vast inland sea, and bones fossilize poorly in coastal humidity, Zanno told CNN in an email.
“Most of the specimens we find in the Mussentuchit are highly fragmentary or in rough shape,” Zanno said. By comparison, these fossils were in such good condition that the researchers were even able to identify the specimen as a juvenile.
“The bones of its spine are not fused together, leaving room for it to grow,” Zanno explained.
Because rhabdodontomorphs are known almost exclusively from Europe (with some possible species identified in Australia), the scientists weren’t expecting to find one in late Cretaceous deposits in North America.
However, a number of features in the animal resembled those of rhabdodontomorphs, including unique cheekbones; large, deeply ridged teeth; and the position of an opening in the skull for an artery. Other features, such as the shape of the braincase and palate, and the positions of teeth toward the front of the face, indicated that it was a new species.
Because I. smithi is a primitive ornithopod, it can offer clues about how the group became so successful during the late Cretaceous, Zelenitsky said in the email.
Hadrosaurs, which evolved tens of millions of years after I. smithi, adapted to share ecosystems with tyrannosaurs, some of the fiercest land predators ever known. And they managed to do so without the benefit of horns or armor that protected other herbivorous dinosaurs, Zelenitsky said.
“Perhaps ornithopod species evolved a certain way or adopted certain behaviors to succeed,” she said. “Primitive forms, like Iani, are near the root of the ornithopod evolutionary tree and surely will provide some answers.”
I. smithi’s fossils also provide a crucial puzzle piece from a time in Earth’s past when changing climate transformed the planet, extinguishing many North American dinosaur species. Preserved remains from such times could offer valuable insights into navigating a warming world today, Zanno added.
“The more we can understand about how these changes impacted ancient animals, the better we can prepare ourselves for what we stand to face in the future.”
A video that was making the rounds on local media appeared to show Mexican army forces hauling men wearing civilian clothing out of a car, assaulting them, and then engaging in a shooting. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has called this incident for an “execution,” and an investigation has been opened into it.
It appears that there was an execution, which is unacceptable. We are not equivalent to the previous administrations. Therefore, individuals guilty for abuse, excess, or violations of human rights must be punished. In a press conference on Wednesday, Lopez Obrador noted that the procedure to further the inquiry has already started.
He added, “there is no cover-up because we do not tolerate the violation of human rights.”
CNNE obtained 32 minutes of footage from the video, of which 20 minutes are unedited. CNN has not been able to verify the source of the material independently.
The footage shows a black car speeding off the road onto an unpaved area, then crashing into a fence. Less than a minute later, a Mexican Army vehicle is seen pulling up to the crashed vehicle.
Men in military clothing are then seen opening the vehicle’s doors, dragging people out, pushing them to the ground, and kicking and hitting them. They are also seen removing items from the vehicle, including what appears to be a gun.
About five minutes into the video, the uniformed men line the others up against the fence, as the army vehicle retreats. Minutes later, the uniformed men are seen next to the black vehicle shooting into the bushes in the distance, though it is unclear who or what they are shooting at.
Clouds of dirt could also be seen from that direction before they began firing, potentially indicating shots coming toward the scene from afar.
Further into the video, two uniformed men are seen pointing a gun at one of the men who was dragged out of the vehicle, who is seen attempting to crawl away. The man in civilian clothing is then seen rolling over and collapsing; he does not appear to move for the remainder of the video.
A uniformed man then appears to grab what looks like a gun with a rag and place it at the scene.
CNN has reached out to Mexico’s military regarding what was seen in the video.
In a report leaked to CNN, the country’s military alleged that the people in the truck that crashed had been trying to avoid police, and that its members saw the people carrying “military” equipment, which had the stamp of Cartel del Noreste on them.
One of the passengers in the vehicle was injured and being given medical attention, according to the report, when the military was attacked by “people trying to save the individuals in the truck.”
Shots were coming from all directions, it said, adding that the military members told the truck’s passengers to take cover, but they attempted to recover their weapons instead.
Following the alleged shootout, the soldiers saw that four people did not have vital signs and one was in critical condition, it also said. CNN cannot independently verify the claims in the report.
African swine fever vaccines are being tested in Vietnam and are almost ready for clearance, according to international and US veterinary officials. If approved, it would be a significant advancement in the fight against the fatal animal disease that periodically destroys pig farms around the world.
The $250 billion global pork sector has long been hampered by African swine disease. In the deadliest outbreak of 2018–19, China, the world’s largest producer, lost approximately half of its domestic pig population, resulting in losses that are estimated to be worth over $100 billion.
According to Gregorio Torres, head of the science division at the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), two vaccines co-developed by US scientists and tested in extensive pilot programmes by Vietnamese companies are showing “very promising” results after decades of unsuccessful attempts due to the virus’ complexity.
“We have never been so close to get a vaccine that may work,” Torres said, noting the two shots had “probably the highest chances to succeed” and be authorized for sale worldwide.
Both vaccines have received approval in Vietnam for pilot commercial use, now completed. The next step will be nationwide authorization, the first ever for an African swine fever vaccine, and possible sales overseas.
US agriculture secretary Thomas Vilsack said there was likely to be interest in precautionary purchases in the United States, despite the country having so far been spared from the virus.
“There will be a specific interest obviously,” Vilsack said in an interview with Reuters in April, speaking about possible purchases of the Vietnamese vaccines.
The vaccines were tested in Vietnam, where swine fever is a constant threat, because they could not be developed in the US as the virus is not present there.
Since 2021, swine fever, which is not deadly to humans, has been reported in nearly 50 countries and caused about 1.3 million pig deaths, WOAH said in a regular report last week.
Currently there are no major outbreaks, but agribusiness lender Rabobank warned in April that the possible spread of the disease, especially in China, remained among the top risks to the global pork industry.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have reviewed the results of one of the vaccines, NAVET-ASFVAC, which they co-developed with Vietnamese company NAVETCO, a USDA spokesperson said.
After the vaccine showed a high level of efficacy and no safety risks in trials, 600,000 doses were approved for initial sales to pig farmers in Vietnam, of which the first 40,000 “have been delivered without any safety problems,” USDA said.
That followed an initial hiccup when use of the vaccine was suspended after dozens of pigs died last summer following inoculations in farms that used the vaccine off-label, USDA said, administering it to hogs that were not supposed to be inoculated, such as pregnant sows.
No problems emerged after deliveries resumed with adequate veterinary monitoring, USDA said.
NAVET-ASFVAC is an attenuated live-virus vaccine, like those used in childrens’ routine vaccinations around the world. Use of unlicensed live-virus vaccines in China in past years raised concerns they caused the emergence of new strains of swine fever.
Only limited data are available from China’s trials on a live-virus vaccine against swine fever.
The second vaccine tested in Vietnam, AVAC ASF LIVE, which was discovered by US researchers and commercialized by Vietnamese firm AVAC, has been delivered to more pigs than NAVET-ASFVAC under its pilot deployment, but USDA said it had not yet reviewed the data.
NAVETCO, AVAC and Vietnam’s agriculture ministry, which is responsible for approval of veterinary vaccines, did not respond to requests for comment.
Attempting to access flooded districts in the Kherson region that are under Russian control, Ukrainian rescuers have come under fire from Russian soldiers, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.
In the flood zone of the hydroelectric power plant and dam at the Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, which collapsed on Tuesday and sent torrents of water flowing down the Dnipro River, rescuers are attempting to evacuate thousands of residents.
The remarks were made by Zelensky in an exclusive interview with the German tabloid newspaper Bild, which was published on Wednesday.
“People, animals have died. From the roofs of the flooded houses, people see drowned people floating by. You can see that on the other side. It is very difficult to get people out of the occupied part of Kherson region,” Zelensky said.
“When our forces try to get them [the residents] out, they are shot at by occupiers from a distance,” Zelensky told Bild. “As soon as our helpers try to rescue them, they are shot at. We won’t be able to see all the consequences until a few days from now, when the water has trickled down a bit.”
The international humanitarian organization CARE cautioned that landmines are likely floating in the floods unleashed by the dam collapse.
“The area where the Kakhovka dam was, is full of landmines, which are now floating in the water and are posing a huge risk,” Fabrice Martin, country director at CARE Ukraine, said in a statement.
At least three people have died in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky after water flooded “about 90%” of it, the town’s exiled Ukrainian mayor Yevhen Ryshchuk told CNN.
“Three people drowned there. We do not know how many more dead people there will be. I think there might be many more,” Ryshchuk said.
Between 3,500 and 4,000 people still lived in Oleshky, including “many pensioners and bedridden people,” the mayor added.
On Wednesday, a volunteer taking part in the rescue efforts in Kherson told CNN volunteers face Russian shelling on nearly every sortie.
“Of course it is extremely dangerous,” said Roman Skabdrakov from the Kaiman Volunteer Group.
The destruction of the dam and subsequent flooding forced more than 1,800 people to flee their homes, inundated thousands of hectares of farmland, threatened vital water supplies and prompted warnings of catastrophic environmental damage from Ukrainian officials and experts.
Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations over the dam’s destruction, without providing concrete proof that the other is culpable. The dam was occupied by Russia at the time of its collapse. It is not yet clear whether the dam was deliberately attacked or whether the breach was the result of structural failure.
Video published by the Ukrainian military shows drinking water being dropped to residents affected by the flooding in Russian-occupied areas of Kherson.
Military drone footage, reportedly of the city of Oleshky, appears to show a family trapped in their flooded house and pleading for help. The video shows one resident standing in the skylight of a house that’s surrounded by floodwaters and catching a water bottle dropped from the drone.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal claimed occupying Russian forces have offered “no help” to residents in flooded areas. He said residents in occupied areas of Kherson “have been abandoned by the Russians” and “left to perish” as homes “vanish beneath the water.”
In pictures: The collapse of Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka dam
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President Zelensky described the situation in Russian-occupied areas as “absolutely catastrophic.”
“The occupiers simply abandoned people in these terrible conditions. Without rescue, without water, just on the roofs of houses in flooded communities,” he said Wednesday.
Both Zelensky and Shmyhal appealed directly to the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations to take charge of evacuating people from the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson.
Zelensky called for a “clear and swift” humanitarian response, saying it’s difficult to know “how many people in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region may die without rescue, without drinking water, without food, without medical care.”
He said Ukraine’s military and emergency services “are rescuing as many people as possible,” despite Russian shelling.
“But more efforts are needed,” Zelensky said.
UN humanitarian officials visited Kherson on Wednesday to “coordinate the humanitarian response” alongside local organizations and authorities, the body’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a news release.
“They said the disaster will likely get worse in the coming hours, with water levels still rising and more villages and towns being flooded,” the UN said. “This will impact people’s access to essential services and raises serious health risks.”
Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson regional military administration who has been overseeing rescue efforts, said they expect water levels to “stay and accumulate for another day and then gradually decrease for another five days.”
At least 1,854 people have been evacuated since Tuesday as rescue efforts to free people from their flooded homes in Ukrainian-controlled Kherson continued throughout Wednesday, Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
The ministry said it was also looking for ways to evacuate citizens from the Russian occupied-eastern bank of the Dnipro River.
“We are trying to do it as quickly as possible. We are hampered by a strong current and shelling by the Russian military,” said Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko.
Conditions for residents in flooded areas are dire, with “hundreds of thousands of people left without normal access to drinking water,” Zelensky said.
The city of Kherson was under Russian occupation for eight months and continues to face shelling from Russian forces on the other side of the river.
Despite the threats from floods and shelling, aid workers told CNN some residents are determined to stay in their flooded homes rather than be evacuated.
Many of them are elderly and some have experienced more than a year of conflict or have recently returned to their homes and are “less willing to leave because of flooding,” said Selena Kozakijevic, Ukraine area manager for international aid group CARE.
Kozakijevic said some of the local partners CARE has been working with have received calls from people in occupied areas saying they are struggling to find assistance and requesting support.
“Unfortunately, the left bank of the river is not accessible from the right side and this is the primary reason why, from the Ukrainian-controlled areas, the assistance at the moment is not passing to the other side,” she said.
Pope Francis underwent stomach surgery on Wednesday, which stoked new health concerns. On Thursday, the 86-year-old was making a good recovery in a hospital in Rome.
According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni’s statement posted to the Vatican press office’s Telegram account, “the night went well.” More details will be made public later on Thursday morning, according to Bruni.
On Wednesday, following his public audience in St. Peter’s Square, where he stopped to engage the audience, Francis headed for the hospital. The pope next went to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which features a suite on the 10th floor specifically for popes, according to Reuters.
“This wasn’t an urgent surgery,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who operated on Pope Francis, said at a press conference.
“He continued to feel the pain, so a surgery was decided,” Alfieri said.
There were no reported complications, according to the Vatican. It had earlier said the pope would stay in hospital for several days.
Francis reacted well to the surgery and to the anesthesia, and had already made a joke since the operation, Alfieri said.
“Other pathologies or illnesses were not found,” Alfieri said, adding that the pope has resumed his work from hospital.
This operation is the latest in a series of health scares surrounding Pope Francis.
He was forced to cancel several work commitments in late may after he was debilitated by a fever. He was also hospitalized in March for bronchitis, but recovered after taking antibiotics.
When he left hospital on that occasion, Francis joked that he’s “still alive.”
Wednesday’s procedure – called a laparotomy – involved general anesthesia and is intended to repair a hernia that the Vatican said caused “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms.
Medical sources say that the intervention was likely related to the surgery Francis underwent in 2021, which removed half of his colon.
Francis also had one part of his lung removed after a severe bout of pneumonia as a young man. In 2019, he had ocular surgery to treat a cataract. He has also struggled with chronic sciatica pain.
Over the past year, knee troubles have also largely confined him to the use of a cane or a wheelchair.
Should Francis be incapacitated for any length of time, the Vatican could face a constitutional crisis. There is no “vice pope” in the Catholic system, meaning someone who can exercise the pope’s authority in his absence.
The Vatican’s secretary of state, currently Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, can oversee routine day-to-day management, but he has no authority, for example, to appoint bishops or to create or suppress dioceses around the world.
Bruni said before the procedure that the pope was expected to make a “full functional recovery.” The Prefecture of the Papal Household said all of Francis’ audiences have been canceled until June 18.
Tourists and members of the faithful at the Vatican told CNN they were “praying for Pope Francis,” as he left for hospital on Wednesday.
“I went to the audience today and saw the pope. Then we heard the mass and the priest said to say a prayer for the pope. We are praying for Pope Francis now,” Sister Annatuli, 40, said.
Carina, 30, said she had traveled from Mexico to visit her aunt, who is a nun in Rome. “I can comprehend how serious this is. It’s difficult because so many people are devoted to him and the church.
“We hope that he will recover.”
In an interview with Spanish daily ABC in December, Francis said he had already prepared a letter of resignation in the case of permanent medical incapacity shortly after his election in 2013.
Francis said he wrote the letter several years ago and gave it to then-Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who resigned in 2013.
In his first public comments about the letter’s existence, the pope was quoted as saying: “I have already signed my renunciation. The Secretary of State at the time was Tarcisio Bertone. I signed it and said: ‘If I should become impaired for medical reasons or whatever, here is my renunciation.’”
Papal resignations are exceedingly rare. In 2013, Francis’ immediate predecessor, the late Pope Benedict XVI, because the first pope to step down in nearly 600 years, citing “advanced age” as his reason.
In 2013, Francis’ immediate predecessor, the late Pope Benedict XVI, made the almost unprecedented decision to resign from his position, citing “advanced age” as the reason and startling the Catholic world.
The decision startled the Catholic world. The last pope to step down before his death was Gregory XII, who in 1415 quit to end a civil war within the church in which more than one man claimed to be pope.
Pope Francis has positioned himself as a more progressive leader than his predecessors during his decade-long tenure.
In 2016, he urged priests around the world to be more accepting of LGBTQ communities, but later walked back on comments declaring support for civil union for same-sex couples.
He has made historic visits to Myanmar and Iraq, and was also the first pontiff to celebrate Mass in the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam, in 2019.
The pope has also been a vocal supporter for peace in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met the pope at the Vatican in May.
Francis has also taken steps to address clerical sexual abuse – an issue that has dogged the Catholic Church around the world – saying in 2018 that young Catholics have been “scandalized” by the church’s “monstrous” abuse crisis.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated “the nation is in shock,” following the incident.
“Absolute cowardice this morning in a park in Annecy. Children and an adult are between life and death. The nation is in shock. Our thoughts are with them, their families and the emergency services,” Macron tweeted.
Health Minister François Braun tweeted that his thoughts were with the victims of the knife attack. “All my thoughts go immediately to the people injured by an individual armed with a knife in Annecy, and to their loved ones,” Braun tweeted.
“I salute the rapid mobilization of the emergency services to take care of the victims, and notably the Urgent Medical Aid Service (SAMU).”
Lawmakers in the French National Assembly observed a minute’s silence for those injured in the attack.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana recently urged citizens to disregard what the commission deemed as “baseless and unfounded” allegations made by Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), regarding the upcoming by-election in Assin North.
Sammy Gyamfi had asserted that the Electoral Commission is relying solely on the 1992 constitution to determine the qualification of parliamentary candidates.
He argued that the provisions of CI 127, specifically the Nomination Form, should also be taken into consideration.
In a press release, the Commission refuted Gyamfi’s claims and emphasized its adherence to the constitutional guidelines in determining parliamentary candidates’ eligibility.
However, the response from the EC has sparked a reaction from Koku Anyidoho, former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, who has expressed his displeasure with Gyamfi’s allegations.
Taking to social media, Anyidoho referred to him as a “demon” and accused him of intentionally tarnishing the party’s image.
In his social media post on June 7, 2023, Anyidoho shared the EC’s response stating, “So, when will my people stop this blatant and needless pouring of stench on the image of the Party? It is obvious that the ‘demons who crept into the Party…’ are on a mission to destroy the Party.
“How can a revolutionary party now be reduced to such rubble? I weep for NDC,” he questioned.
Members of the Ho Municipal Assembly are calling for the removal of the Municipal Finance Officer, George Afetorgbor, from office.
According to the members, Mr George Afetorgbor is hampering the development of the Assembly, therefore, they want him transferred elsewhere.
The Assembly members, thus, locked up the municipal finance officer’s office, denying him access.
Presiding Member of the Ho Municipal Assembly, Mawunyo Agbe, explained that though they do not have the power to sack him, he must be replaced to ensure a smooth running of the assembly.
He told Class 91.3 FM’s Volta Regional Correspondent, Kingsley Attitsogbui that: “…and yes, we have privileges that we have given to the gentleman. Today, we say: ‘No, we’re stripping off these privileges’ because we want to send a signal to his employers that we mean business. It’s not within our powers to sack him [so that he will] not to be an accountant anymore.
“All we need is that, please replace this gentleman. Get us somebody to come and help us build the municipality. The[re] are persistent complaint[s] from assembly members, from some staff and even to the extent that my MP is even a victim of the MFO, I can tell you it is not the best.”
He noted that the people have been crying for change for not less than three months now yet the employer has turned a deaf ear.
“The employers are aloof, they don’t care, they care less about what is happening in the municipality. This is the best way and this is our responsibility. The responsibility of assembly members now is to be part of checks and balances; whether things are working well,” he said.
“We have no option than to go all out to stop the abuse that is happening to us all to have some relief so that when members go seeking for development to go to their areas, he as more or less the finance minister of the assembly will now understand that there must be some sort of alacrity attached to what we’re asking for,” he explained this and the assembly’s position.
The Chairman for Finance & Accounts Committee, Patrick Larry Stone, also accused the finance officer of using a vehicle meant for the assembly as his private vehicle, hampering the work of the revenue mobilisation team.
“He [Municipal Account officer] refused to release the vehicle for revenue mobilisation and the vehicle is labelled. You’ll see it’s branded revenue mobilisation, it’s not a private vehicle but any other time you go to him to release the vehicle for revenue mobilization, he wouldn’t release, so he’s using the car as a private car at the expense of the assembly,” Mr Stone complained.
He added: “We have a programme called the compliant audit, the compliance audit halted over the period because we don’t have the vehicle we’re supposed to use.”
