A parliamentary aspirant in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries in the Asawase constituency has denied claims he was sponsored by the party’s executives during his contest with the incumbent MP, Muntaka Mohammed.
According to him, there is not an iota of truth in the allegations, as 70 per cent of the money he spent during his elections was from his coffers.
Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi, he said, “The issue about me being a favourite candidate, wow how lucky I am? I remember last year this same establishment barred me from contesting. So, I don’t think there’s any iota of truth in these allegations. I wasn’t in any way sponsored. 70 per cent of the money I have spent came from my personal coffers, and 30 per cent came from people I have empowered in one way or the other. I never had any contributions from any business or party person, I can say that with authority.”
He further added that, following the election results, he extended a congratulatory message to Muntaka Mohammed.
“Let me once again congratulate my brother Muntaka Mubarak for his success in the just-ended parliamentary candidate elections. I have already communicated and congratulated him. There’s a need for my supporters to stay calm and let cool heads prevail. Let’s all unite and rally around our re-elected parliamentary candidate so that, come 2025, Muntaka Mubarak will return to Parliament. He has all my support, and I’m encouraging my supporters to also support him so that at the end of the day, NDC will come out victorious in the upcoming elections.”
Muntaka Mubarak who was keenly contested by Masawudu Mabarick, has now emerged victorious after the electoral process.
Muntaka polled 1,063 votes against his only contender, Masawudu Mabarick who also polled 735 votes.
The total valid vote cast was 1798 and 09 were rejected.
She made this statement on Monday, May 15, at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House in Abuja, during the 2023 Governors Induction for New and Returning Governors.
She claims that because the oil and gas industry is no longer as lucrative as it once was, the new and re-elected governors must look into alternative revenue sources.
“We need to start preparing now for a time when our oil and gas will no longer serve us as the main sources of revenue. States heavily dependent on FAAC allocation will be particularly hit,” the WTO director general said.
“It is important that you governors start now to diversify your revenue sources. We ought to be seeking to double our growth rate and sustain that higher growth until we attain upper middle-income status,” she added.
Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, had said during a public presentation and breakdown of the 2023 Appropriation Act in January 2023, that the total revenue available to fund the 2023 budget is estimated at N10.49 trillion, and the government expects 22% of the projected revenues from oil-related sources, while 78% is anticipated from non-oil sources.
Similar remarks were made by billionaire industrialist Tony Elumelu, who was also in attendance, he noted that Nigeria has to move beyond oil and gas. He used Singapore as an illuminating example. He stated: “Look at Singapore, a country with 6 million people, no oil, no abundance of natural resources, just human resources and purposeful leadership. Today, the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) stands at $55,000, up from $500 in 1965, making the country one of the most developed countries in the world.”
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala’s comments are in line with the current turn of events in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. For the past year, Nigeria has continually experienced a decline in its daily oil output. By extension, the revenue generated from oil has also decreased, as crude oil theft and vandalism continue to pose an insoluble problem for the Nigerian government.
As recently as a few days ago, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reported that Angola has surpassed Nigeria to grab the top spot among oil-producing African countries. And even a month prior when Nigeria lead Africa in crude oil production at 1.268 million barrels per day (bp/d) in March, it fell behind its OPEC quota of 1.8 million bp/d and its 2023 budget benchmark of 1.6 million bp/d.
On the flip side, the much-anticipated launch of Dangote Group’s refineries, the refinery built by Nigeria’s richest man Aliko Dangote is a few days from becoming a reality. This project is anticipated to support attempts by the federal government to make the nation independent in the local refining of crude oil in order to conserve the limited foreign currency needed in the importation of petroleum products. The Dangote Refinery, the biggest single-train refinery in the world, will have a daily capacity of up to 650,000 barrels.
The Asante overlord, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has reiterated his true commitment to getting chiefs involved in galamsey and forest destruction menace severely punished, especially those in the Amansie area.
The king was speaking as a special guest during the launch of the Green Ghana Project campaign at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology (KNUST) on Wednesday. This year’s program, which is scheduled for June 9, 2023, is themed “Our Forest, Our Health”.
Touching on the theme, he urged that the protection of forests and water bodies should be a collective responsibility.
Otumfuo further disclosed that we could only achieve a great impact if we worked collaboratively towards this goal.
According to him, it places a responsibility on all of us to prevent selfish people who put their personal interests above the national interest and end up destroying our forest reserves and natural resources.
“It is very sad that despite the several measures government has been putting in place to curb this menace, illegal logging and illegal mining continue to pose a threat to our forest. This means that government cannot do it alone. We must all get involved and support government and come together to solve these matters.
“My chiefs have noted that I have been strictly speaking about this, and I’m not happy about chiefs in the Amansie area where galamsey has taken over the land, and I say to them that if you sit there and you claim that you don’t know what is happening, then you’re not fit to be a chief over there,” he warned.
In a video footage available to GhanaWeb, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said he was soon going to start with his recalcitrant chiefs who are involved in these illegalities and, however, urged the government to deal with the other ones. He entreated everyone to take matters seriously to make sure we bring all these things to a close.
According to him, the protection, preservation and sustainable exploitation of our natural resources, including our forest resources, should be a collective responsibility.
Applauding the government for the tree planting initiative, Otumfuo urged everyone, including Nananom, students and the youth, to take an active part in this exercise and contribute to the restoration of our lost forest cover.
He also commended the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for actively engaging our youth in this national exercise through the one-student one-tree initiative. “Each one should make a conscious effort to plant trees”.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in his speech, disclosed that the number of trees targeted to be planted this year across the country is 10 million.
A 63-year old farmer will spend the next ten years in jail for defiling a seven (7) year old girl.
This is after a Cape Coast Circuit Court sentenced the man, Joseph Begyina to ten years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling the girl.
Esther Duodu, a class three pupil of Nyamebekyere D/C Basic School resides with her father, Yaw Duodo and family at Assin Bereku Nyamebekyere.
Prosecuting Chief Inspector Gilbert Adongo narrated to the court presided over by Her Ladyship Dorinda Smith-Arthur that the father of Esther is a cocoa farmer who sells local gin which Joseph Begyina (the convict) walks for a distance of about 500 meters to buy daily.
According to him, on Saturday, April 29, at about 03:00 hours Joseph Begyina went to buy local gin from Duodu and after he was served, Duodu asked Esther to take care of the drinks whilst he went to work on his farm.
After working for about 5 minutes, Duodu decided to come to the compound to pick something but did not see her daughter where he sells the drinks.
He then started calling her to ask why she left the drinks outside. Upon hearing her father’s voice, Esther came out of the room.
Prosecution added that during the questioning, her father saw Begyina also coming out of Esther’s room whiles zipping his shorts.
Duodu then became alarmed and raised Esther’s dress to see what had happened in the room and found out her daughter was without pants.
He questioned her and Esther told him what Begyina did to her, disclosing that he had slept with her on two occasions; in the room and twice in the cocoa farm.
Duodu upon the information went to complain to the police leading to the arrest of the convict.
Begyina in his caution statement admitted having sexual intercourse with Esther and pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted on his plea by the court.
A medical form was issued for Esther’s examination and treatment and after careful investigation, Joseph Begyina was charged with the offense to stand trial.
Morocco has unveiled a hydrogen car prototype, in order to promote the “Made in Morocco” label and mark a significant national milestone.
The prototype called the Hydrogen Utility Vehicle (HUV), features innovative technology with detachable hydrogen capsules for the extended driving range and quick refilling.
The prototype of NamX’s hydrogen vehicle, the Hydrogen Utility Vehicle (HUV), and a replica of the “Neo Motors” automobile, a business owned by the Moroccan capital, were both on display for the King to inspect. The HUV model, according to the manufacturers, would include a central hydrogen tank and six detachable capsules to provide a long driving range and enable rapid hydrogen refilling in a few minutes.
Six detachable capsules and a stationary hydrogen tank make up NamX’s proprietary technology. NamX, slated for introduction in 2025, addresses the growing need for hydrogen and hybrid vehicles in the midst of a global transition that is more favored towards clean energy sources and decarbonization.
National expertise is used to carry out this project, which results in the first Moroccan consumer automobile brand. It mostly depends on the network of regional car suppliers that the Kingdom has created.
The Italian design firm and coachbuilder Pininfarina collaborated with NamX to create the prototype of its hydrogen-powered car. Moroccan designers were responsible for the car’s interior decor. This pilot initiative firmly embeds Morocco in the global movement to create new modes of transportation that combine effectiveness with environmental awareness.
With a projected annual capacity of 27,000 units and a local integration rate of 65%, Neo Motors Company has established an industrial facility in Ain Aouda (Rabat-Salé-Kenitra Region) to manufacture motor cars for the local market and for export.
This project is expected to cost 156 million dirhams in total and will eventually employ 580 people. The National Agency for Road Safety granted the first car its final clearance in February 2023. The business has started pre-production and intends to debut the industrial facility in June 2023 before starting marketing.
Nassim Belkhayat, the president and creator of NamX, and Faouzi Annajah, the founder and CEO of Neo Motors, received the Wissam Al Kafaa Al Fikria from the King at the conclusion of the presentation. Ryad Mezzour, the Minister of Industry and Trade, was present at this occasion.
Eighty-two police officers have dragged the Attorney General(1st Defendant), the Ghana Police Service(2nd Defendant) and the Inspector General of Police(3rd Defendant) for acting unfairly and capriciously with respect to the failure of the Ghana Police Service to promote them after the completion of their studies through the study leave with pay policy of the service.
In a suit filed at the High Court, Accra, the police officers led by D/Inspector Kofi Osal, who were granted study leave with pay for the 2017/2018 academic year, accused the Ghana Police Service of denying them their deserved accelerated promotions or entry into the Police College after the successful completion of their studies.
They insist that even after duly notifying the Ghana Police Service upon completion of their programs of study and petitioning it to promote them, the police service still failed to promote them notwithstanding the fact that other persons under similar circumstances have been promoted.
The eighty-two police officers noted that the Ghana Police Service engaged in an “unfair and unreasonable exercise of discretion, the failure to uphold the duty to be fair and candid not to act in a capricious or biased manner or be driven by resentment, prejudice and personal dislike on the part of the 2nd[ Ghana Police Service] and 3rd[ the IGP] defendants,” and therefore demand that the Court give “(a) An order directed against the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to grant those amongst them who qualify for accelerated promotions as well as permit all of them to enter the Police College/Academy without any further delay.
Stonebwoy has revealed that while winning a Grammy Award is a dream of his, he is not obsessed with it.
He emphasized that consistently producing his best work is his true obsession in an interview with Amansan Krakye. The Grammy Awards are a big stage for Stonebwoy, but his main goal is to win over people’s hearts with his extraordinary talent.
“Obsession is a big no I mean I’m not obsessed with winning the Grammys or any other awards for that matter but my obsession will rather be that I always want to continue to deliver my best,” he told Amansan Krakye.
He expressed his desire to push Ghanaian music forward, expressing his unique abilities, and gracing the biggest stages imaginable to share his musical message with the world.
“That I’ll be able to push Ghana music forward and I’ll be able to express my talent and to be able to win the heart of people and be on all the biggest stages I can ever imagine delivering a musical message to the world.
“It will continue to propel my sound and my dreams to the world and I’ll be able to continue to do that but to say the Grammys is above that dream is not realistic,” he added.
These aspirations fuel his drive, and he believes that achieving his core dream is of utmost importance. While acknowledging the Grammy Awards’ potential to elevate his sound and dreams to a global audience, Stonebwoy remains grounded and realistic, stating that considering the Grammys as a priority above his core dream would be impractical.
During an appearance on Cape Coast-based Property FM, he explained that winning a Grammy would further propel his music and aspirations, allowing him to continue making an impact. However, he maintains that his dream of touching people’s hearts and leaving a lasting impression through his music takes precedence over any specific award.
The Ghanaian singer and socialite was extradited to the USA following a $2 million romance scam allegation.
She pleaded not guilty to the six charges leveled against her.
While the trial has not ended, some people are happy after the reports about the case came up.
However, in a video sighted by Zionfelix.net, the Accra FM presenter expressed his displeasure about how some Ghanaians have reacted to the said issue.
He maintained that it is not the best for them to jubilate and make fun of Hajia4Real.
Nana Romeo further asserted that what happened to Hajia, can happen to anyone.
Ghana’s internet subscription has reached 22.8 million this year, an increase from the 16.99 million subscribers recorded in January last year.
This means the country’s internet penetration rate rose from 53.0 per cent to 71.94 per cent within a year.
The rise of internet connectivity has influenced online business transactions, with a large percentage of the population conducting businesses online and paying for goods and services using mobile money platforms, ushering in a cash-lite system envisaged by the government.
The Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Joe Anokye, who made this known, said the leap was a major boost in internet connectivity compared to previous years.
Mr Anokye was speaking at a ceremony to mark World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2023 in Accra today (Wednesday).
It was held on the theme “Public -Private Partnership to improve connectivity”.
The WTISD was set aside by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1969 and is marked annually by the global telecommunications industry.
This year’s celebration is focused on empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies.
Present at the ceremony were the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Board Chairman of the NCA, Isaac Emmil Osei -Bonsu and the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Selorm Adadevoh.
Also present were the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AirtelTigo, Leo Skarlatos, the Country Representative of UNESCO, Abdourahamane Diallo and the Head of the International Affairs Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, Kwame Baah-Acheamfour.
While the increase in internet connectivity is an indicator of progress in the telecommunication sector, Mr Anokye said there was still room for improvement and called on the private sector to partner with the government to invest in the communications sector to achieve a digitally robust and secure economy.
He said the government recognised the need for such partnership and had, therefore, created an enabling environment for investment and for the private sector to thrive.
Key to the government’s intervention, he said, was the passage of the PPP Act 2020, Act 1039, which provided development through collaboration among public authorities and private parties for the provision of infrastructure and services.
“The government has over the years been pushing the digital agenda which aims at bridging the digital divide and improving digital literacy and access to connectivity,” he said.
Infrastructure expansion
To help position the sector for accelerated development, Ms Boateng said the government was making significant investments to connect the entire country to both voice and data service.
She said from 2020 to 2022, 1008 rural sites had been constructed for voice and data nationwide and that many communities had already benefited from the sites.
The government, she said, was optimistic that out of the 1008 remaining sites to be completed, 560 rural sites would be completed by the end of this year.
She explained that the provision of connectivity had an accompaniment of usage; hence, a need to expand connectivity to rope, every one, into the digital world.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that we need to close the technology usage gap, there is the need for more investments to ensure that everyone has access to Information Communication Technology tools.
“Citizens must have access devices to be able to interact meaningfully and also transact public and private services online without any barriers,” she said.
Investments
Ms Boateng said the government would not relent on its promise to ensure that no one was left behind in getting access to voice and data services.
Already, she said the government had committed $ 2.6 million to establish innovation centres and was training about 3,000 people by 2024 while the ministry also had an agreement with the Smart Africa Alliance through the Smart Africa Digital Academy to train up to 22,000 people by 2023.
Beyond that, she said the Universal Access Fund Administration operated over 220 community ICT centres across rural communities in the country that were used for capacity building, skills training and business advisory services.
The Ghanaian Society of Cardiology (GSC) has advised people to adopt healthy lifestyles and also ensure they go for regular check-ups to reduce their vulnerability to hypertension and its complications such as heart attacks and sudden death.
Hypertension, according to the cardiologists, was steadily on the rise among the young and old, with many cases being acquired from unhealthy lifestyles such as lack of exercise, alcohol and tobacco use, eating of junk foods, among others.
More worrying was the fact that most people did not know they were hypertensive until the unfortunate happened.
“Hypertension is like a thief in the night. It often gives no signs or symptoms until complications develop.
Hypertension is a silent killer and we usually invite it in,” the Vice-President of the GSC, Dr Francis Agyekum, said in an interview during the commemoration of World Hypertension Day in Accra yesterday.
Event
The day is observed every May 17, to raise awareness and promote hypertension prevention, detection and control globally.
Hypertension, which is also referred to as high blood pressure, is the main risk factor to developing cardiovascular diseases.
More than one billion people around the world live with hypertension which is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases and premature death worldwide.
However, half of the number are unaware of their condition, thus, putting them at risk of avoidable medical complications and death.
As part of activities to celebrate the day, the GSC organised a virtual forum on the topic: Hypertension: Diagnosis and current management”.
The society has also scheduled screening exercises at some designated informal business places across the country on Friday, May 26, 2023.
Diagnosis
Dr Agyekum also said while hypertension could be hereditary as one can inherit it from a family that had a history of the condition “more and more people were being diagnosed because of their lifestyles”.
“Poor diet, tobacco use, alcohol use, lack of exercise and adaptation of sedentary lifestyles are the leading causes of the condition,” Dr Agyekum, who is a consultant cardiologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and a lecturer with the University of Ghana Medical School, added.
The Vice-President further advised those who had been diagnosed and put on medication to be diligent in taking their drugs as it contributed to the effective management of their condition.
“It is important for those put on medication to be religious about taking it.
As it is said, prevention is always better than cure and every time one skips taking the medication, they are increasing the risk of having a fatality, they would be lucky if they have a mild impact, but oftentimes it is fatal, which comparatively becomes more costly to treat or even results in death.
“Altering our lifestyle to adopt healthy life choices can also help to reduce complications and in few instances reverse the condition.
“People should avoid trying to use the prescriptions of others to manage their condition because a medication that will work for them may not necessarily be the best treatment for others,” he said.
Ghanaian rapper EL made it clear that his old persona was dead and that a new sound had been born when he took his brief hiatus.
This statement was taken overboard, especially by those who did not really understand his point as it received several reactions. EL has clarified his earlier statement by assuring his fans of bigger and better sounds which incorporate his old music.
On his account, he went through an evolution and as a creative, the needed break made him a better person.
“You are going to love the new EL as well and of cause the old EL is not dead. I don’t want people to take it literally, of course, the old EL is not dead,” the rapper disclosed in an interview with Sika Osei.
The 2016 VGMA ‘Artiste of the Year’ who recently released a single titled ‘Chop Life’ further explained: “I just want the fans to grow with me as well. When I say the old EL is dead, I don’t mean literally dead, even figuratively dead. He is still me but I evolved into a new creature…I am excited about the new music direction.”
EL maintained that he hasn’t changed but rather grown into a bigger person capable of producing sounds from different genres, not just rap music. He assured fans of performing his old songs alongside his new projects.
“I actually just put a post of some of my old songs recently because am the same guy but I feel like I’ve been through certain experiences in my life that have made me a better person…it is just evolution and that is how life works. I am the same humble, laid-back studio head but I’ve just grown a lot over the past couple of months,” he clarified.
According to federal prosecutors in North Dakota on Wednesday, Terry Martin was charged on one count of stealing a significant work of art by a grand jury on Tuesday.
According to the indictment, Martin allegedly took the slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005.
The shoes were recovered by the FBI in 2018. The slippers were being loaned to the museum in Garland’s hometown when someone entered through a window and broke a display case to take them, prosecutors said at the time.
Garland wore the recovered shoes in the 1939 musical and they are one of only four ruby slippers she wore during the production that are still known to exist. Playing the lead role Dorothy, Garland famously clicked her heels wearing them and said, ‘There’s no place like home’.
The slippers were insured from $1million at the time of the theft and are now worth around $3.5million, according to federal prosecutors.
The indictment did not include more information on Martin. There was no attorney listed for him in online records.
A summons for Martin on Wednesday stated that his initial court appearance has been scheduled for June 1 and will be done on video.
Martin is 76 years old and lives 12 miles south of the museum, The Star Tribune reported.
‘I gotta go on trial,’ Martin told the newspaper. ‘I don’t want to talk to you.’
Rapper Strongman has expressed gratitude to Sarkodie, a former label head.
Previously signed to SarkCess Music, owned by Sarkodie,Strongman is full of praise for Sarkodie for introducing him to Akwaboah.
The musician who recently commenced a media tour to promote his new single Odo Nkoaa which features Akwaboah revealed in an interview on Y102.5FM, revealed that the bond between himself and Akwaboah started when they both signed to SarkCess Music.
“What I share with Akwaboah goes beyond friendship now. We are more like brothers. I’m tempted to say Akwaboah is the main gift I got from SarkCess Music, all thanks to Sarkodie for introducing us. I knew Akwaboah as a musician but we got along at SarkCess and have since then teamed up to this point”, Strongman said.
The National Democratic Congress has pledged to support embattled James Gyakye Quayson to reclaim the Assin North parliamentary seat anytime a bye-election is held.
“The full weight of the party, including the Minority Caucus in Parliament, will be put behind Honourable Quayson so as to ensure an even more resounding victory for him in the upcoming bye-election,” Fifi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC wrote in a statement.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Parliament should expunge the name of Mr Gyakye Quayson from its records.
This ruling was the outcome of a case brought before the Supreme Court, invoking its original jurisdiction to examine the constitutionality of James Gyakye Quayson’s election.
James Gyakye Quayson had been accused of holding dual citizenship prior to the 2020 election, an allegation he vehemently denied.
The Minority Leader, Ato Forson in an earlier statement insisted that “at the time of his election, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson was not a dual citizen, neither was he a dual citizen as at the time he took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament”.
“The intention of the framers of Ghana’s constitution is not to allow a dual citizen to perform the functions of Parliament.”
The NDC in a statement also described the ruling as strange, and made reference to similar situations involving Honourable J.H. Mensah, Honourable Baba Jamal and Honourable Peter Amewu where the “Supreme Court had stated that it did not have the jurisdiction to invalidate a Parliamentary election and that the High Court is where such a matter should be taken.”
The party added that even though there are “serious questions about the legitimacy of this decision after consultation with Hon Quayson, the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wishes to state unequivocally that we are ready for the bye-election that is now the result of this decision.”
Reggie Zippy, a British-Ghanaian musician, has spoken out in support of Mona4Reall, who has been detained and extradited to the US for alleged fraud.
In a statement on social media, Reggie Zippy said that Mona4Reall is innocent until proven guilty and that even if found guilty, it shouldn’t matter.
“On behalf of all open-minded people and non-judgmental men and women from Ghana west Africa, we would like to reiterate that, our beautiful, humble, hardworking and resilient Ghanaian sister and mother @hajia4reall is still INNOCENT until proven guilty and even if found guilty, and so what? Who never f#ck up hands in the air,” he said.
Reggie Zippy cited the example of Nelson Mandela, who was once declared a terrorist but later exonerated and became the president of South Africa.
He also reminded his followers of the many people who have been found guilty and later exonerated due to the negligence or failure of the system or the laws.
“Remember the fact that once upon a time, the late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa was declared as a terrorist but after serving over two decades in prison, he was declared innocent and set free to go on and become the president of South Africa.
“How many men and women have been found guilty and sentenced to long-term imprisonment only for them to be exonerated, declared innocent, and compensated by their states or countries for their losses of time, opportunities, sanity, and dignity due to the negligence or failure of the system or the laws,” he added.
Reggie Zippy urged people not to revel in others’ misfortunes due to jealousy, envy, or resentment of their success, instead, he encouraged empathy by asking his netizens to imagine themselves in Mona4Reall’s position and to extend their well-wishes to her as a fellow human being.
“For all of you who are so excited and jubilating over the very possible false accusations against our innocent Ghanaian sister, you should remember the fact that this could happen to any of you so put yourselves in her shoes as a human being and wish your fellow Ghanaian well,” he advised.
Reggie Zippy also expressed his hope that Mona4Reall’s fans and close friends would give her the benefit of the doubt and support her in times like this.
“Don’t let jealousy, envy, and resentment of other people’s success make you gloat over their predicaments. I hope her so-called fans and close friends can give her the benefit of the doubt and support her in times like this,” he concluded.
The arrest and extradition of Mona4Reall has been a hot topic in Ghana, with many people expressing their opinions on social media.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has affirmed the government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”.
He said the government was not against small-scale mining but rather irresponsible mining that destroyed the natural environment.
“Our efforts, which are necessary to clamp down on galamsey, have sometimes been interpreted to mean the government of President Akufo-Addo is against small-scale mining,” he said.
Mr Jinapor was speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day Transformational Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining organised by the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) at Fiapre near Sunyani in the Bono Region yesterday.
He said it was rather the commitment of President Akufo-Addo to promote responsible small-scale mining, which was demonstrated in the reduction of withholding tax on unprocessed gold by small-scale miners, which was introduced in 2015, from three per cent to 1.5 per cent.
The dialogue organised on the theme: “Sustaining Environmental Security and Human Rights in Small-Scale Mining Operation in Ghana”, is to create a unique platform to undertake in-depth discussions on one of the most pressing issues, not only in our country, but across the globe on the sustainable exploitation of natural resources.
It brought together representatives of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, Association of Women in Mining in Africa and Ghana, the Regional House of Chiefs, Large-Scale Mining companies, students and civil society organisations, among others.
Under severe stress
Mr Jinapor said in recent years, the world’s natural resources had come under severe stress due to rapid population growth and urbanisation, increasing agriculture production and high demand for raw materials to meet the needs of the modern-day sophisticated lifestyle and climate change.
He explained that the demand for raw materials globally had doubled in the last 20 years, adding that the increasing demand for resources had also contributed to the climate crisis, thereby worsening the pressure on these resources, and causing a form of a vicious cycle between climate change and resources.
Mr Jinapor said governments across the world were changing measures to address the emerging changes and improve the sustainability of land and resources.
Economy
The minister said mining continued to be the backbone of the national economy, “but for many years, small-scale mining remain illegal until it was formalised in 1989, through three sets of laws”.
He said since the formalisation, the small-scale mining sector had increasingly contributed to the national economy, reaching over 40 per cent in 2018.
“Last year, for example, the sector produced a total of 712, 405 ounces of gold; bringing in almost $1.2 billion in export receipts.
Today, all diamonds produced in the country are from small-scale mining, which in 2022 amounted to 82,251.99 carats,” he stated.
Mr Jinapor said apart from their contribution to the gold and diamond output, the sector was a source of employment to thousands of people and supported the lives and livelihoods of millions of citizens.
He, however, expressed concern about the increasing illegalities associated with the sector, adding that their effect on the environment had, sadly, resulted in small-scale mining being associated with environmental destruction.
Greedy
Mr Jinapor said apart from greedy and unscrupulous nation wreckers who destroyed the environment due to their interests, the drivers of the illegalities in the small-scale mining sector included unemployment, the lack of blocked-out areas for small-scale mining, challenges with securing licences and other regulatory permits and the lack of law enforcement.
He said the government was implementing policies and measures aimed at addressing the drivers such as the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme, alternative sources of income and livelihood to persons engaged in mining.
Mr Jinapor explained that the programme employed several youths in the production of seedlings and reclamation of degraded mined lands.
Out of poverty
For his part, the Vice-Chancellor of UENR, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, said the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) subsector had the potential to lift many rural people out of poverty if properly organised, controlled and monitored with a strong sense of environmental responsibility.
He said in Ghana, the ASGM subsector alone directly employed about one million people and indirectly supports about 4.5 million.
Prof. Asare-Bediako said UENR would continue to promote the development of human resources and skills required to solve critical energy and natural resources challenges of society and undertake interdisciplinary academic research and outreach programmes.
The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu-Banahene, said the government was doing its best to resource institutions, particularly universities to fight galamsey.
She said the government was sensitive to some shortfalls and had prepared plans to resource universities in the country, particularly UENR to assume their rightful duty and be able to contribute everlasting and innovative ideas.
After an unplanned lunch in Durham, a father of two and a driver was issued a £100 parking ticket.
Earlier this year, Dean Huddleston, his wife Sonia, and their two teenage children went to a shopping centre in Belmont.
The family decided to have something to eat after purchasing the finishing touches for their new kitchen.
But they were unaware that their automobile was remaining too long in the adjoining parking lot as they ate lunch.
It wasn’t until a letter appeared through the family’s front door weeks later that they realised what had happened.
Dean, of High Handenhold in Durham, said: ‘We had been in the car park for three hours and 46 minutes, 16 minutes more than the allowed time. I wrote to Ocean Parking protesting this but all I got back was a letter to say that there is signage.
‘They were not interested in the fact we had spent the whole time shopping and eating in the businesses which the car park services.’
He added: ‘We are not regular users of the retail park and I had no idea there was a limit on how long you could stay there.
‘I suppose I just assumed that as I was spending money in the shops on the site, I would not have to pay for the privilege of doing so.’
Numberplate recognition had noted the family vehicle’s registration and logged it in the Ocean Parking system.
However the company, which managed the site at the time the ticket was issued, said they could not be held responsible.
Ocean Parking pointed out there signs stating that there was a 3½ hour maximum stay at the retail park.
A spokesperson said: ‘Ocean Parking cannot be held responsible for this, nor is this due to the signage not being visible or clear.
‘There were 41 contractual warning signs in place at Durham City Retail Park which stated 3 ½ Hour Maximum Stay, therefore if Mr Huddleston has “assumed” being a customer at this location would exempt him from the parking restrictions in place, Ocean Parking cannot be held responsible for this, nor is this due to the signage not being visible or clear.’
‘Durham City Retail Park is private land, and therefore if the landowner wishes to enforce a time restriction on their land, it is their choice to do so. If Mr Huddleston did not agree with the terms and conditions at this location, he did not have to park there and could have left the site.’
Dean paid the fine but still wants to warn others of what he has deemed a ‘trap’.
He added: ‘I’ve had to pay but feel this is very unfair, it feels like a scam to me. I would never think about checking, I assume the notice is about parking and not using facilities or parking overnight.’
Elsewhere in Durham, another angry driver has vowed to avoid a car park completely after receiving a £100 fine.
Andrew Bradley and wife Amey were shopping at Home Bargains in Stanley as they stocked up on Christmas presents on December 21.
But the pair were caught short by parking wardens after spending around two hours shopping, and were given a £100 fine for out-staying the car park’s 90 minute maximum time limit.
Andrew said: ‘We must have spent about 20 minutes in the queue for the tills.
‘I’m sure we won’t be the only ones this has happened too. It’d be quite easy to go over the hour and a half.
‘I will never go back to Home Bargains after this.’
Efya, the renowned Ghanaian singer, is embarking on an extraordinary mission to establish a new world record for the longest song ever created. This ambitious endeavor has been sparked by the inspiring accomplishment of Hilda Baci, who recently shattered the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.
Hilda, a Nigerian chef, surpassed the previous record set by Indian chef Lata Tondon in 2019 by reaching the 100-hour mark. The news has sparked discussions worldwide, particularly among Nigerians and Ghanaians.
Efya believes she can contribute to Ghana’s record-breaking endeavors through her singing. She envisions creating the longest recorded song, explaining that it doesn’t require her to sing continuously on her feet.
Drawing inspiration from Hilda, the singer believes she could sing for several days or sustain a note for an extended period.
“If I can break a record, it will be for the longest song. Sometimes you can do the longest song recorded. I don’t have to be on my feet singing continuously. I could sing for a couple of days; I could hold a note for long. These dirges we have in Ghana are an example, we have 15 minutes of such songs. I could sing for 30 hours if I want to break the record. Hilda recorded 100 hours because she was cooking,” she told Abeiku Santana.
The Ghanaian neo-soul singer said the only challenge, perhaps, is she might not be allowed to recruit other people to participate in it.
“The challenge is that you might have to be the only one to sing. Maybe we might not be allowed to tag other people in it because it will seem easy and another country can beat us easily over it,” she added.
Despite this potential hurdle, Efya remains determined to break the record and bring pride to Ghana through her musical feat.
Government will by the end of this year, complete the construction of some 560 rural telephony sites under the Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project to extend basic voice and data connectivity to under served and unserved communities across Ghana.
Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, who made this known said 1,008 rural sites under the project, had already been constructed nationwide between 2020 and 2022.
The government, she added, hoped to complete the remaining projects as soon as practicable.
“We are optimistic that out of the 1,008 remaining sites to be completed, 560 rural sites will be completed by the end of this year,” she said.
The Minister said this in a speech read on her behalf by Madam Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, at the celebration of the 2023 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) on Wednesday, organised by the Ministry and the National Communication Authority (NCA).
The WTISD is to help raise awareness of the benefits citizens and economies could derive from the use of the internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) to bridge the digital divide.
The global theme for this year is: “Empowering the Least Developed Countries through Information and Communication Technologies,” with the local theme being: “Public-Private Partnership for Connectivity.”
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said investment in ICT was crucial in bridging the technology usage gap, hence the Government had undertaken numerous projects, including the National Roaming Policy, to address challenges of network coverage.
“It is a step towards ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their location, have access to reliable telecommunication services,” she said.
The Government had committed $2.6 million to supporting innovation centres to train 3,000 people by 2024.
“The Ministry also has an agreement with the Smart Africa Alliance, through the Smart Africa Digital Academy, to train up to 22,000 people by 2023,” she added.
Professor Ezer Osei Yeboah-Boateng, the Deputy Director General of Technical Operations, NCA, said over the years, the Government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, had been pushing the digital agenda to bridge the digital divide and improve literacy and access to connectivity.
“Projects such as the Rural Telephony, UMTS900, Girls-in-ICT, Community Information Centres, National Roaming amongst others, have all been implemented by the Ministry and its agencies and are steadily running and being monitored to improve connectivity,” he added.
At the beginning of this year, there were over 22.8 million internet subscriptions in Ghana with a penetration rate of 71.94 per cent, he said, which signified a major increase in connectivity as compared to previous years.
Despite that, Prof Yeboah-Boateng said the country needed to implement firm initiatives and collaborations to ensure sustainability, emphasising public-private partnership as key to the attainment of that goal.
“We have made progress, however, there is still room for improvement as we seek and have pledged to empower Least Developed Countries to connect to the rest of the world.” “Government cannot do this single-handedly and this is the rationale behind the Government’s creation of an enabling environment for investment and for the private sector to thrive.”
Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, the Country Representative, UNESCO, assured of UN’s continuous support to the Government to help bridge the ICT in Ghana.
Following Ukraine’s allegation that it had shot down a barrage of ‘undefeatable’ missiles, three of Vladimir Putin‘s top hypersonic experts were imprisoned on charges of high treason.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Anatoly Maslov, Alexander Shiplyuk, and Valery Zvegintsev are all facing “very serious accusations.”
The three people have all been involved with the weapons project for many years, and they contributed to a book chapter titled “Hypersonic Short-Duration Facilities for Aerodynamic Research at ITAM, Russia.”
Putin has long boasted that Russia is the global leader in hypersonic missiles and unveiled his ‘Kinzhal’ rockets in 2018, hailing them as ‘undefeatable’ by any present or future defence systems.
But he faced fresh humiliation on Tuesday when Ukraine said it had destroyed six of them in a single night.
Colleagues of the three men published an open letter protesting their innocence and warning the prosecutions posed serious risk to Russian science.
‘We know each of them as a patriot and a decent person who is not capable of doing what the investigating authorities suspect them of,’ they said.
‘In this situation, we are not only afraid for the fate of our colleagues. We just do not understand how to continue to do our job.’
The letter cited the case of Dmitry Kolker, a Siberian scientist who was arrested last year on suspicion of state treason and flown to Moscow despite suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer.
The laser specialist died two days later. It said such cases were having a chilling effect on young Russian scientists.
‘Even now, the best students refuse to come to work with us, and our best young employees are leaving science,’ the letter stated.
‘A number of research areas that are critically important to laying the fundamental groundwork for the aerospace technology of the future are simply closing because employees are afraid to engage in such research.’
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the eminent academics all face ‘very serious accusations’ (Picture: Reuters)
Asked about the letter, Peskov said: ‘We have indeed seen this appeal, but Russian special services are working on this. They are doing their job. These are very serious accusations.’
Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said the country’s air defences, bolstered by Western-supplied systems, had thwarted an intense Russian attack.
He said the barrage included six Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far. All were shot down, he added.
Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country’s arsenal.
What we know about Kinzhal, Russia’s hypersonic missile
Russia began using the Kinzhal, which means ‘dagger’, to strike targets in Ukraine early in the invasion.
But it has used the expensive weapon sparingly and against priority targets, apparently reflecting limited availability.
– It is an air-launched ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads. Ukraine said six of them were fired on Tuesday.
– It has a reported range of 1,500 to 2,000 km (930 to 1,240 miles) while carrying a payload of 480 kg. It may reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,250 kph).
– The Kinzhal is one of six ‘next generation’ weapons unveiled by Putin in a speech in March 2018. He has said these weapons could penetrate both existing and any future missile defence systems.
– Putin said in December 2021, two months before the invasion of Ukraine, that Russia was the global leader in hypersonic missiles and, by the time other countries caught up, was likely to have developed technology to counteract these new weapons.
‘In our advanced developments, we are definitely the leaders,’ he said.
Ukraine is suspected to have downed an ‘unstoppable’ Russian Kinzhal – or Dagger – hypersonic missile, pictured here with its carrier MiG-31 (Picture: MoD Russia/e2w)
– Russia sent fighter jets armed with Kinzhal missiles to Syria for the first time in 2021, military analysts say.
– Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have fired a Kinzhal missile at a munitions dump in southwestern Ukraine on March 19, 2022, the first known use of the weapon in combat.
It has since fired Kinzhal missiles on several other occasions in Ukraine.
– On May 6, Ukraine said for the first time that it had shot down a Kinzhal, using a Patriot system. It was not clear whether the ‘Western’ systems Kyiv said it used against Kinzhals on Tuesday were also Patriots.
The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and manoeuvrability.
If Ukraine’s claim of having shot down six fired Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Putin’s war efforts and show the increasing effectiveness of the country’s air defences.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu contested the Ukrainian claims, telling the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency: ‘We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shoot down every time with their statements.’
Director of Legal Affairs of NDC, Abraham Amaliba, has stated that the Electoral Commission of Ghana must be sanctioned for misleading the deposed Assin North Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson.
He said the EC had the responsibility of disqualifying the embattled MP if he did not meet the constitutional requirement to run in the elections, therefore, the EC must be sanctioned for not ensuring this.
He said the failure of the EC to disqualify him gave Gyakye Quayson the impression that all was fine leading to his election and swearing-in as Member of Parliament.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr. Amaliba questioned the Supreme Court’s decision not to punish the EC for their ‘complicity’.
“Now in this judgement of the Supreme Court what punishment have they given top the EC? How can you visit the sins of the EC on the Member of Parliament who openly gave out his documents for scrutiny. And I think your question is predicated on that, what does the Supreme Court say about the EC? And I think that is where the discussions are.
“And I think that clearly the EC would have misled him to do what he did. In the example he gave about the passport, when you get to the Kotoka international airport, no plane will pick you. The plane will not allow you to go and sit in the plane and travel, so why did the EC allow him? That’s the question you’re asking. And I think that that is where the miscarriage of justice comes in,” he said.
His comment comes on the back of the Supreme Court ordering Parliament to expunge James Gyakye Quayson’s name from its records as a Member of Parliament.
Presiding Judge Justice Jones Dotse on Wednesday, May 17, ruled that the Electoral Commission (EC) acted unconstitutionally in allowing him to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.
The court in a unanimous decision ruled that Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms.
It further held that the EC allowing him to contest when he had not shown evidence of renunciation of his citizenship of Canada is unconstitutional.
It further declared that his election was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
His swearing-in was equally declared to be unconstitutional with Parliament ordered to expunge his name from its records.
While the NPP have welcomed the ruling, the NDC say they are baffled by it.
In a statement reacting to the ruling, the Minority stated that the laws of Ghana only prohibit people from performing their functions as members of parliament if they still have dual citizenship.
However, “It is important to place on record that as at the time of his election, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson was not a dual citizen, neither was he a dual citizen as at the time he took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament,” parts of the statement released on Wednesday, read.
The statement signed by Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson added that as a result, they find it baffling that the Supreme Court would order the removal from parliament of Mr Quayson who they say was duly elected as MP.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day might not be on your radar if the biggest problem you’ve ever had online was a shaky wifi connection or no 4G on the tube.
But what if you were completely without access to the internet, a phone, or a laptop?
The majority of convicts are in that scenario; when they are freed, they will enter a new digital environment and risk falling behind in terms of technology.
Coracle Inside’s CEO, James Tweed, is putting a lot of effort towards fixing it. The business, which originally provided technology to the marine sector, is one of a select few collaborating with the Ministry of Justice and HM Prisons and Probation Service to give prisoners internet-free laptops for educational purposes.
‘Everyone needs basic digital skills just to get by in the world today,’ he says. ‘We need to be able to use a computer or touch screen to make appointments, buy things or access services. This wasn’t the case not very long ago, so prisoners emerging into this digital world without these skills may quickly find themselves in problems.
‘If we want people to reintegrate into society and not reoffend, we need to ensure they have the skills to do so.’
The company, which this year won the King’s Award for promoting opportunity, now works with 86 prisons, and has distributed some 2,500 laptops on which inmates can access educational content, books – and even apprenticeships.
‘We’re not a college or a school,’ says Mr Tweed. ‘We’re enabling access to digital content ranging from reading schemes to the Open University. There are guys inside who’ve never used a laptop, so we’re teaching them the very basics, from how to use a trackpad and how to touch type to how to fill in a form.
‘All the basic skills that they just don’t otherwise have access to, but I think we take for granted.’
It is not only for life after prison that Mr Tweed set up the company. Access to education while in the system can prove a vital step in getting out of it.
‘If you’re in prison, everything is controlled for you,’ he says. ‘The lights get switched on and off, your door is obviously locked, you don’t have any control over anything – and that’s perfectly legitimate in prison.
‘But if you have access to a laptop, it gives you something you’ve got control over, just whether you do a bit of creative writing or watch a video that’s related to a course on something you’re interested in. You see that with people, where their whole attitude changes, because they’ve got something they can control and know they’re being given an opportunity.
‘And that sense of control gives hope.’
That feeling of hope is particularly important for prisoners on indeterminate IPP sentences says Mr Tweed. Although outlawed in 2012, in December there were still 2,892 prisoners in custody with no release date.
‘There’s a cycle of people who are completely stuck in prison with no hope, no sense of optimism, because they have no date to work towards,’ he says. ‘And one of the things they have to do is prove they’re safe to be released.
‘We worked with a guy in exactly that situation. Because of the lack of hope, he was a massive self-harmer, which meant he was kept on a particular wing and wasn’t allowed access to the workshops or education or any of the normal functions. That meant he couldn’t then prove he would engage and be ready for release, so you see the vicious cycle.’
The inmate was given a laptop by Coracle, and restarted his education.
‘He got access to one of our laptops and was able to demonstrate that he did 20 courses, and got the certificates,’ says Mr Tweed. ‘That enabled him to say “look if you give me an opportunity, I really want to learn, really want to turn my life around – but you need to let me get into the main part of the prison, need to let me engage.”
‘He has since been released.’
Education, Mr Tweed says, is essential – but many inmates have had a tumultuous relationship with the system before being sentenced.
‘Many have struggled with education in their past, with a majority of prisoners having been excluded from school – over 60% in fact, compared to less than 1% of the population of the whole.
‘So there’s a mix of poor education, learning difficulties and lack of awareness to deal with.
‘However, we’ve found that many have taken great strides through educational courses and have ended up with a far more positive view of how education works.’
Through the Coracle programme, Mr Tweed aims to give prisoners a more positive view of their own prospects – part of which is the confidence to engage in a digital world.
In doing so, he hopes to raise awareness of the life-changing power of digital literacy.
At a house in Scotland, a four-year-old boy’s body was discovered.
On Monday, May 15, around 8 p.m., Kayden Frank’s body was found at a property on Argyle Street.
Following a complaint of concern, police arrived at the residence.
At the location, Kayden’s body was discovered. His death is being investigated as murder following a post mortem.
A 38-year-old man was also found dead at the home. Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Police at scene on Argyle Street, Paisley on Monday (Picture: Stephen Gibson/Buchanan Photos)
At this time, detectives have no information to suggest anyone else has been involved.
Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Thomson, of the Major Investigation Team, said: ‘Our thoughts are with Kayden’s family and friends, along with everyone affected by this tragedy.
‘We are providing his family with specialist support at this incredibly difficult time and officers are continuing enquiries to try and get some answers for them.
‘Kayden’s family have requested that their privacy is respected at this time.’
A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and enquiries are ongoing.
Overnight, Russia conducted yet another hefty missile attack on the Ukrainian capital.
For the second time in three days, a round of cruise missile attacks against Kyiv occurred early in the morning.
Vladimir Putin has already ordered aircraft attacks on the city nine times this month.
Although the Ukrainian air defence was able to intercept all of the missiles, two fires were started in eastern regions by falling debris from the air raid, according to officials.
The head of Kyiv’s civilian military administration said the attack had been launched from Russian strategic bombers over the Caspian sea.
Serhiy Popko said on Telegram that a fire had broken out in non-residential premises in the Desnyansky district, just east of the capital.
He provided no information on casualties.
Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko, writing on Telegram, said one fire had broken out in a garage facility in the Darnitsya region of the capital – debris also fell in the Dnipro region of Kyiv.
He said there were no casualties from either of the incidents.
Explosions also rocked several other cities across the country in the night as Russian forces continue to bombard Ukraine, with millions of people subjected to air raid alerts.
One person was killed by a Russian missile strike on an industrial facility in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa.
Two more people were wounded in the Odesa attack, military administration spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk wrote on Telegram.
Blasts were also heard in the central regions of Vinnitsa, Khmelnitsky and Zhytomyr.
On Tuesday, Ukraine said it shot down six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, during one of the largest air attacks on the capital since the start of the Russian invasion.
Kinzhals are ballistic missiles capable of travelling at up to 10 times the speed of sound and were among a volley of 18 missiles downed over Kyiv.
Three people were injured in the onslaught, which included a combination of drones and cruise missiles, alongside the Kinzhals.
Following the attack, Mr Popko said it was the ‘maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time’ as debris fell across several districts.
Three of Putin’s top hypersonic scientists were arrested on suspicion of high treason after the ‘undefeatable’ Kinzhals were intercepted.
The past week has seen Ukrainian forces make their biggest gains on the battlefield since last November, recapturing several square km of territory on the northern and southern outskirts of the battlefield city of Bakhmut.
Moscow has acknowledged that some of its troops have retreated but denies that its battle lines are crumbling.
Kyiv says those advances are localised and do not yet represent the full force of its upcoming counteroffensive, which is expected to take advantage of hundreds of modern tanks and armoured vehicles sent by the West this year.
A Ukrainian counteroffensive would bring the next major phase of the war after a huge Russian winter offensive that failed to capture significant new territory despite the bloodiest ground combat in Europe since World War II.
Over two weeks after the plane carrying them crashed in the Colombian Amazon jungle, three kids and a newborn have apparently been found alive.
Seven persons were on board the Cessna 206 when it issued a mayday call due to engine failure in the early hours of May 1 while flying between Araracuara, in the Amazonas region, and San Jose del Guaviare, a city in the Guaviare province.
Inside the plane, the bodies of three individuals who perished in the disaster, including the pilot, were discovered.
One of the dead passengers, Ranoque Mucutuy, was the mother of the four children, who are of the indigenous Huitoto ethnicity.
Three adults, including the pilot and the children’s mother, were killed when their plane crashed in the Colombian jungle (Picture: Getty)
However, the four children, aged 13, nine and four, as well as an 11-month-old baby, managed to survive the impact.
Colombian authorities have since deployed more than 100 soldiers with sniffer dogs to search for the children, who have been missing for 17 days.
On Wednesday, Colombia’s President Gustav Petro tweets that the children had been found after ‘arduous search efforts’ by the military. ‘A joy for the country,’ he said.
But he was later contradicted by military sources, who said the children had not yet been found.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Colombian military said search efforts had been stepped up after a ‘shelter built in an improvised way with sticks and branches’ had been found.
Photos of the search also showed scissors, a hair band, and discarded fruit eaten by the children scattered on the jungle floor.
Local media later reported that although the military had not confirmed finding the children, contact between them and a government agency had been made.
Avianline Charters, owner of the crashed aircraft, said that one of its pilots in the search area was told the children had been found and that they ‘were being transported by boat down river and that they were all alive’.
However, the company also admitted that ’there has been no official confirmation’ that the children were safely out of danger, and that thunderstorms in the area still posed a risk to them reaching safety.
The thick rainforest and extremely isolated location of the crash hampered search efforts, with military planes and helicopters assisting the search teams on the ground.
One helicopter played out a recorded message from their grandmother in the Huitoto language telling the children to stop moving through the rainforest.
Colombian authorities have not yet given the cause of the plane crash but the country’s disaster response body said the pilot had reported problems with the engine minutes before the plane disappeared from radar systems.
Turkish and Ukrainian officials claim that an agreement has been struck to extend a contract that permits grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.
The deal between Ukraine and Russia, which was mediated by Turkey and the UN, will be extended for a further two months, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Its expiration date was set for this Thursday.
The agreement, which was first struck last year, has subsequently been extended.
“The world will continue to receive Ukrainian products thanks to the efforts of our partners in the agreement – Turkey and the UN,” Kubrakov said.
“We are grateful to our partners for their unwavering and focused position that the agreement should continue to work and on the terms signed by all parties,” he added.
Kubrakov also claimed that Russia has been restricting grain shipments.
“Almost 70 vessels are currently waiting in Turkish territorial waters, 90% of them are ready to deliver the products of our farmers to the world,” he said.
“We welcome the continuation of the initiative, but emphasize that it must work effectively.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also confirmed the extension, although she added that “distortions in the implementation of the grain deal should be corrected as quickly as possible.”
The United Nations has not yet commented on the extension.
After invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia blockaded vital grain exports from key Ukrainian Black Sea ports, including Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi, which meant that millions of tons of Ukrainian grain were not being exported to the many countries that rely on it.
The impact of the war on global food markets was immediate and extremely painful, as Ukraine accounts for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market, and 13% of the barley market.
At the time, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization warned that as many as 47 million people could be pushed into “acute food insecurity” because of the war, and Western officials accused Russia of using food as a weapon.
The deal reached in July 2022 created procedures to ensure the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports and allowed exports to resume.
An Earth-sized planet that is entirely unlike Earth has been discovered by astronomers.
Instead, the exoplanet, known as LP 791-18 d, is most likely covered with volcanoes and may have eruptions as frequently as Jupiter’s moon Io, our solar system’s most volcanically active location.
The exoplanet was discovered using information from ground-based telescopes, the decommissioned Spitzer Space Telescope, and NASA’s planet-hunting Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. The results of a study were released in the journal Nature on Wednesday.
LP 791-18 d circles a tiny red dwarf star in the Crater constellation, about 90 light-years from Earth.
Two other known planets also orbit the star, including LP 791-18 b, which is estimated to be 20% bigger than Earth, and LP 971-18 c, about 2.5 times Earth’s size and more than seven times its mass. And astronomers believe the massive planet LP 971-18 c might be contributing to the newly detected exoplanet’s possible volcanism.
As the two objects orbit their star, LP 971-18 c and the newfound exoplanet LP 791-18 d closely pass each other, allowing the gravitational pull of the larger planet LP 971-18 c to tug on planet d and reshape its orbit. With each trip around the star, planet d’s path shifts, becoming slightly more oval-shaped. The elliptical revolutions cause the interior of the planet to heat up, driving volcanic activity.
This phenomenon is similar to what occurs on Io, caught in a gravitational crossfire between Jupiter and its larger moons.
But there is no direct evidence yet to prove that volcanoes exist across LP 971-18 d.
“We don’t know that there are any volcanoes here,” said study coauthor Ian Crossfield, associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, in a statement. “All we know is that this is a small planet that’s experiencing a straight-up periodic stretching due to its orbit around its star and near the other planets. That might cause lots of volcanoes like on Jupiter’s moon Io, which is the most volcanically active thing in our solar system. We know about that because we’ve sent things nearby and taken pictures. There’s not yet that kind of clear evidence yet with LP 791-18 d.”
Future observations of the planet could provide more data as astronomers continue the search for potentially habitable Earth-size planets.
Volcanic activity and planetary atmospheres
Astronomers estimate that LP 791-18 d falls within the inner edge of the habitable zone, the distance from a star where a planet is warm enough to support liquid water on its surface.
“LP 791-18 d is tidally locked, which means the same side constantly faces its star,” said study coauthor Björn Benneke, professor of astronomy at the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets at the University of Montreal, in a statement. “The day side would probably be too hot for liquid water to exist on the surface. But the amount of volcanic activity we suspect occurs all over the planet could sustain an atmosphere, which may allow water to condense on the night side.”
Although volcanic activity sounds like an impediment to water and potential life, it may actually help the planet maintain an atmosphere. Volcanoes can drive interactions between the interior and exterior of a planet.
“A big question in astrobiology, the field that broadly studies the origins of life on Earth and beyond, is if tectonic or volcanic activity is necessary for life,” said study coauthor Jessie Christiansen, a research scientist at NASA’s Exoplanet Science Institute at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, in a statement. “In addition to potentially providing an atmosphere, these processes could churn up materials that would otherwise sink down and get trapped in the crust, including those we think are important for life, like carbon.”
Astronomers are intrigued by how volcanic activity can drive changes on planets. Venus, similar enough in size to Earth to be called its twin, may have once been more like our world.
“On Venus, volcanic carbon dioxide stayed in the atmosphere, pushing the planet into a runaway greenhouse state,” said study coauthor Stephen Kane, professor of planetary astrophysics at the University of California Riverside, in a statement. “Today, surface temperatures on Venus are more than 850 degrees Fahrenheit (454.4 degrees Celsius) — as hot as a wood-fired pizza oven — and odds of life there are slim. But it may not always have been that way. Volcanoes might be a big piece of the puzzle about what actually happened on Venus. Planets like LP 791-18d can shed important insights into how volcanoes shape planetary environments with time, including those of Venus and Earth.”
The larger planet LP 971-18 c is already on the list of targets that the James Webb Space Telescope will observe in the future, and now the study team believes that the newly spotted planet d is also a prime candidate. Astronomers are using the Webb telescope to search for signs of atmospheres around exoplanets and peer into them to determine the chemicals that make up these extraterrestrial atmospheres.
The discovery of LP 971-18 d points to the importance of data collected by space telescopes. The planetary system was one of the last observation targets of the Spitzer Space Telescope before the observatory was retired in January 2020.
“It is incredible to read about the continuation of discoveries and publications years beyond Spitzer’s end of mission,” said Joseph Hunt, Spitzer project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, in a statement. “That really shows the success of our first-class engineers and scientists. Together they built not only a spacecraft but also a data set that continues to be an asset for the astrophysics community.”
China acknowledged Thursday that its recently designated special envoy for the Ukraine war met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in an effort to position itself as a potential peacemaker in the protracted conflict despite its close links to Russia.
Since the commencement of Moscow’s destructive conflict, Li Hui, a seasoned former diplomat who served as ambassador to Russia from 2009 to 2019, has visited Ukraine. She is the highest ranking Chinese official to do so.
His two-day trip to Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday marked the beginning of a longer trip through Europe, where significant concern has been raised over China’s tight ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Western leaders have hoped Chinese leader Xi Jinping might use his close rapport with Putin to end the war raging in Europe — an outcome that analysts say may be unlikely at this stage, given Beijing’s interests in maintaining the relationship.
China had previously remained tight-lipped on details about the visit of Li, Beijing’s Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs, which it had billed as part of a five-country tour to promote communication toward “a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”
In its statement Thursday morning, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Li had met Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian officials.
Li reiterated that China is willing to serve as a peace broker for resolving the Ukrainian crisis, on the basis of its previously stated positions on the war.
“There is no panacea in resolving the crisis. All parties need to start from themselves, accumulate mutual trust, and create conditions for ending the war and engaging in peace talks,” Li said, according to the readout.
Kyiv’s readout made no mention of the meeting with Zelensky.
Instead it said Li met foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and discussed “topical issues of cooperation between Ukraine and China,” as well as “ways to stop Russian aggression.”
Last week, China’s Foreign Ministry announced Li would visit Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia starting May 15 – just days before the Group of Seven (G7) leaders are expected to affirm their solidarity against Moscow in a summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
China has attempted to cast itself as a peace broker and deflect criticism that it has not acted to help end Russia’s warin Ukraine, more than one year after Moscow invaded its western neighbor.
The Ukrainian statement on Li’s visit appeared to allude to daylight between Beijing and Kyiv’s positions on ending the conflict.
Kuleba talked about restoring peace “based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and emphasized “that Ukraine does not accept any proposals that would involve the loss of its territories or the freezing of the conflict.”
He also stressed the importance of China’s participation in the implementation of Zelensky’s “peace formula,” according to the statement.
China – which released its own vaguely worded paper on a “political settlement” to the conflict earlier this year – has been criticized for not calling on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory, as Kyiv and more than 100 governments around the world have done.
Li’s arrival this week in Kyiv coincided with an exceptionally dense aerial assault by Russian forces on the capital, though Ukraine said most of the Russian munitions failed to hit their marks after being destroyed by its defense systems.
Zelensky this week wrapped up his own tour of European countries, where he welcomed promises of fresh military aid from countries including Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Zelensky spoke late last month for the first timesince the start of the war, and according to Beijing, Xi pledged to facilitate peace talks, including by dispatching an envoy.
While Xi’s call with Zelensky was their first, the Chinese leader has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin five times during the conflict – including twice in person.
Since the early days of the war Beijing’s diplomatic and economic support of Russia has accelerated alarm about China’s foreign policy across European capitals.
Those ties with Moscow were under close scrutiny over the past week as European officials discussed a recalibration of the bloc’s China strategy.
EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell on Friday said the bloc’s relations with China “will not develop normally if China does not push Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.”
China’s selection of Li to head its diplomatic efforts toward resolving the conflict have also raised eyebrows among some Western observers.
Li’s resume includes significant contributions to the China-Russia relationship during a key era of deepening cooperation under Xi and Putin.
In 2019, Putin presented Li with the Order of Friendship, making him only the second Chinese national to receive a state decoration from the Kremlin, according to Chinese state media. Xi was the first, receiving the Order of St. Andrew two years earlier.
While there was a tentative welcome of Xi’s call to Zelensky in parts of the West, there is also deep-rooted skepticism there over any push for a peace for China, given its close ties with Russia.
Beijing’s call for a ceasefire in its “political settlement” drew criticism from Western officials who said it would only help Russia consolidate its territorial gains in Ukraine, as it did not include a call for Russia to withdraw.
After his call with Xi last month, Zelensky said the exchange was “meaningful,” but underscored that “there can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises” – a theme which also appeared to be stressed in the Kuleba and Li meeting.
On Monday ahead of Li’s arrival in Ukraine, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called for Ukraine’s peace plan to be the basis of efforts to resolve the conflict.
“We should never forget that Ukraine is the country that was brutally invaded. It is therefore the one that should set out the core principles for a just peace,” she said in Brussels.
Analysts say Beijing views its rapport with Russia – a key partner amid rising tensions with the West – as foundational for its foreign policy, and this will limit how far China will go to call for concessions from Russia, even as it attempts to play peacemaker.
Beijing has sought to deflect such criticisms by repeatedly accused the US and its allies of fueling the conflict through weapons support to Ukraine.
An editorial in the state-run English-language China Daily on Sunday said that Li would visit Poland, France and Germany during his tour as they are “key stakeholders” in Europe when it comes to any peace agreement.
The US, the editorial said, was excluded from Li’s itinerary as it was “questionable” whether Washington was open to efforts to advance peace.
In order to build a new government that would have the potential to drastically change the country, opposition parties united in the hopes of preventing Thailand’s military establishment from continuing in power.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the head of Thailand’s Move Forward Party, announced on Thursday that seven additional parties have joined him in a coalition. Move Forward won the most seats and the popular vote in the election on Sunday.
Pita, a 42-year-old Harvard alumnus, referred to the alliance as “the voice of hope and the voice of change” and said that all parties had decided to endorse him as the country’s future prime minister.
Together, they secure a majority 313 votes in the lower house, according to Pita, who said: “We definitely will be able to form a government.”
The eight parties include Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Prachachart, Seri Ruam Thai, Pheu Thai Ruam Palang, FAIR Party, and the Plung Sungkom Mai Party.
Party members in the new coalition will now develop a memorandum of understanding, which will be presented on May 22.
“We are here to find mutual agreement and keep aside the differences,” Pita said.
Unofficial results showed Move Forward won 151 seats in Sunday’s election with populist Pheu Thai in second place with 141 seats – both far ahead of the party of incumbent Prime Minister, and 2014 coup leader, Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Prayut’s United Thai Nation Party won just 36 seats in the election, while another military-backed party Palang Pracharat, led by former army chief Prawit Wongsuwan, received 40.
The result delivered a powerful rebuke of the military-backed establishment that has ruled for nearly a decade since the coup.
The progressive coalition now needs to win a majority of 376 seats in both houses of Thailand’s parliament to elect a prime minister and form a government.
It will take at least 60 days for that process to begin andthere are still significant hurdles to overcome in a nation where the military have ensured they maintain a significant say in who can form a government.
Despite winning a landslide, a roadblock to the progressive camp’s win is the unelected 250-seat senate, which is chosen entirely by the military and has previously voted for a pro-military candidate.
Move Forward had gained a huge following among young Thais for its reformist platform, which included radical plans to amend the country’s strict lese majeste laws despite the taboo surrounding any discussion of the royal family in Thailand.
The party’s proposed structural changes to the military include getting rid of the draft, reducing the budget, making it more transparent and accountable, and reducing the number of generals.
On Tuesday, Pita told CNN he will work to “demilitarize, demonopolize and decentralize” Thailand.
“With the three-prong approach, that’s the only way that we can fully democratize Thailand and make sure that Thailand is back to business, Thailand is back in the global arena, and make sure that the country … is contributing but also benefiting by the definition of globalization,” he said.
This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping is extending the red carpet to Central Asian countries in an effort to enlarge Beijing’s power in a region that has long been seen as Russia’s sphere of influence.
A meeting that started on Thursday has brought together the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in the city of Xi’an in central China.
According to China’s state media, it takes place as the area struggles with the economic fallout from neighbouring Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. It is the first time the chiefs of state of China and other countries have met in person since their diplomatic ties were formed following the demise of the Soviet Union.
China has billed the meeting as the “first major diplomatic activity” it’s hosted this year and an opportunity to draw a “new blueprint” with the sprawling bloc of post-Soviet states that lie between between its western borders, Europe and the Middle East.
The two-day event is also a play from Beijing to expand its influence in Central Asia, where Russia – now distracted by its debilitating and unsuccessful invasion of Ukraine – has long been the dominant great power partner.
“The most important context of this summit is the Ukraine war and the region’s uncertainty with Russia’s future commitment, influence and role in the region,” said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.
“Central Asia is always seen as Russia’s backyard, and China has been expanding its influence in the region … and there are new aspirations and directions for China-Central Asia relations – opportunities that were not present or available in the past,” she said.
Visiting leaders include Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, China has said.
The two day meeting overlaps with the start of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Italy are expected to affirm their solidarity against Russia.
The gathering in Xi’an comes as China is seeking to craft a profile as a keeper of regional stability – including in a bid to act as a deal broker on the conflict in Ukraine, even as its has given no sign of abandoning its staunch Kremlin ties.
For Beijing, the Central Asian states represent key potential allies in forums like the United Nations, fertile ground for China-financed railways, pipelines and transport routes into its borders or toward Europe – and a key buffer against what it has long seen as security threats from areas like Afghanistan.
Xi will present visiting Central Asian leaders with “a series of proposals” on the long-term development of ties and sign agreements, Chinese officials said this week.
Among those are likely to be new pledges for economic cooperation – now more needed than ever by the region, which is feeling the sting of Russia’s war.
“The war disrupted many links between Russia and Central Asia, especially trade, especially transportation, transit, investments, and migration,” said Azimzhan Khitakhunov, a senior research fellow at the Eurasian Research Institute in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
It is “of great interest to Central Asia nowadays to cooperate with China as one of its important alternative markets,” he added.
However, Khitakhunov said, Central Asian leaders would be just as keen to have discussions about trade, investment and joint projects with Western players like the European Union.
Other major economies have sent high level officials to the region following the Russian invasion Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan earlier this year, while European Council President Charles Michel made stops in those countries in October 2022.
But China is widely seen as having been more active in cultivating connections and influence in the region, where it first launched its expansive Belt and Road connectivity initiative nearly 10 years ago.
The two-day summit in Xi’an will also likely see a push from China for more security cooperation.
Beijing holds longstanding concerns about unrest in Central Asia fueling potential militancy in its northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Chinese officials in recent years unleashed a campaign against Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, which the United Nations’ top human rights office said constituted could amount to “crimes against humanity” – in the name of cracking down on perceived threats of extremism and terrorism.
When it comes to its rapport with Central Asia, “really what is driving China is security and stability,” said Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, a regional expert and director of the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh in the US, pointing in particular to its concerns about instability in Afghanistan spilling into China.
Previously Russia played a key role in security in Central Asia as part of regional cooperation. Beijing may now be concerned about how strong a role a “distracted Russia,” could play there, she added.
Observers say Beijing may not be interested in or welcome to take up Russia’s broader regional security role, but Chinese officials have stressed increasing cooperation in areas like countering “terrorism, separatism and extremism,” and strengthening coordination on Afghanistan, which shares a border with several Central Asian states.
Central Asian countries have also seen and cracked down on popular protests and unrest in recent years. Their leaders may be interested in accessing the surveillance technologies that Beijing uses to monitor its own public, Murtazashvili said.
The on-going war in Ukraine, and China’s perceived support of Russia, will also loom over the gathering.
Beijing has recently ramped up efforts to deflect criticism that it has not acted to help end the war, while lending diplomatic and economic support to Russia.
This week Beijing dispatched its Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui on a tour to Ukraine, Russia and several European countries to promote peace talks.
It has also attempted to portray the US and its allies as fueling the conflict through their support of Ukraine, echoing the Kremlin’s own stance.
The summit is “a good opportunity for China (to try to) win support from these countries on China’s approach in terms of mediating the war between Russia and Ukraine,” said Li Mingjiang, an associate professor of international relations at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
“Their support of China’s initiative would be quite significant,” according to Li amid China’s push to expand its international influence.
Like China, Central Asia leaders have typically avoided condemning Russia in forums like the UN, for example abstaining on major General Assembly resolutions calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops.
But there are concerns in the region about being the next target of Russia’s aggression, analysts say, given Ukraine is also a former Soviet state and has seen swathes of its territory annexed by Moscow’s forces.
Central Asian leaders may be open to signing on to allowing China more expansive economic access, inroads in the form of physical infrastructure, or technical security support.
But they may be hesitant to endorse any specific Chinese proposals on the conflict in Ukraine, beyond general calls for peace or targeted comments about its knock-on effects, analysts say.
“What would happen if these countries (endorse China as peacemaker on Ukraine) without the blessing of the West would be that they give away their ‘trump card,’” said regional expert Murtazashvili.
“The West (is) an important third party they can leverage against China and Russia in small ways … I don’t think they want to be seen … as towing China’s line on this.”
The long-serving MP bemoaned the over monetizing of political process and the costly nature of seeking and acquiring power using MPs as a case in point.
“”Everyone who has lost is complaining that they don’t have the funds to match up with the money that is being thrown into our elections. If we don’t change the trend, what is going to happen in our next two or three elections?” he said
According to the Majority Leader of Parliament, the trend, if it continues, will lead to a time when only rich people can make it to parliament.
“What it means is that you can’t come to parliament if you are not loaded. That is why I keep asking for a review of the constitutions by the political parties,” he stated in an interview on Okay FM.
The majority leader further cautioned that the situation is promoting corruption and that citizens must also rethink how they contribute to the monetization of politics.
“I keep saying that nobody in politics is a Father Christmas, so they will eventually recoup whatever money they end up spending. Once their party wins, they will ensure they recoup through contracts and other means. Nobody is an angel in this country. Aside from that, they will further accumulate more money for the next election,” he stated.
The just-ended parliamentary and presidential primaries of the opposition National Democratic Congress recorded instances of alleged vote-buying.
In the Ejura Sekyere Odumase Constituency, a candidate, Juliana Kinang-Wassan, was captured on video throwing wads of cash from the roof of her vehicle at a polling center.
She eventually lost the election, which was contested by five other candidates; however, there have since been calls for her to be investigated for engaging in vote-buying.
Pressure group leader and lead convener of the ‘Fix The Country’ movement Oliver Barker-Vormawor, is ‘disgusted’ at the grounds for which a man was jailed for using unprintable words at President Akufo-Addo.
“According to the Court, the man’s life will be in danger in the community because he insulted the president so he will be safer in Police custody.” Mr Barker-Vormawor says in a tweet
Mr Barker-Vormawor strongly condemned a judge who reportedly remanded a young man in a viral video for insulting the President.
The man, identified as Oko the killer, was captured in the viral video in the company of others complaining about the economy, expressing their suffering, hurling insults at the president, and threatening to vote against his party in the upcoming general elections in 2024.
The Accra Circuit Court remanded the man on the grounds that his life would be in danger in the community for insulting the president, and thus, the police cells would be a bit safer for him, according to Barker Vomowor.
However, the ruling has not been well received by the lead convener, who described the judgment as “straight-up garbage logic and abuse of power.”
He further questioned the integrity of the judge, asking what kind of lawyers end up becoming judges in the country.
“What kind of lawyers end up as judges in this town, kraa?”
Barker-Vormawor continued, saying, “Do we think police cells are convenient hotels? What a stupid, stupid little country with weak men as judges, prosecutors, and presidents?”
An Accra circuit court has just remanded a man for insulting Akufo-Addo in a viral video.
According to the Court, the man’s life will be in danger in the community because he insulted the president so he will be safer in Police custody.
If this isn’t straight-up garbage logic…
— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) May 17, 2023
Ningo Prampram sitting MP, Samuel Nartey George, from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has dared a Tema High Court judge over the exclusion of certain delegates from participating in the recently held parliamentary primaries in the constituency.
The firebrand MP, says the judge over-stepped his authority by sanctioning the inclusion some 16 delegates from the voting register before the primaries.
“Just before the election on Saturday, they go back to court, and I hear the judge doesn’t hear the case in open court and calls the case into his chamber, and gives a directive that he instructing that those sixteen names should be added. And I said, well, I don’t know what the judge ate or I don’t know what he drank,” he fumed during an interview on TV3 following last Saturday’s closely contested election.
When the host of the program pointed out that the ruling came from a court of competent jurisdiction, the MP retorted, “So what… absolutely not, the judge has no power in a matter that was not brought before him, and I will bring a petition to the Chief Justice against that judge because he must be investigated for his conduct. Because a case is brought to you seeking an injunction on ward election and then you go in chamber to issue directives that people be added to a register for a parliamentary vote. Who brought a parliamentary primary before you? Who told you judges have the power to extend their judgment beyond what is before them? And so I said if he thinks he has those powers, he should cite everybody for contempt, but those people will not vote and they did not vote.
“If the judge thinks he is right, he should cite me for contempt and let’s see. I am saying I will bring a petition against him to the Judicial Service and the Chief Justice to investigate him in this matter,” Sam George added.
On May 13, 2023, Sam George emerged victorious in the NDC parliamentary candidate election for Ningo Prampram, defeating Kwettey Nettey in a closely contested race ahead of the 2024 general election.
The election, closely monitored across the country, was halted midway after Kwettey Nettey presented a court order requesting the inclusion of sixteen delegates in the voting process.
Sam George, on the other hand, maintained that the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the party had already ruled on the matter and decided against the inclusion of the said delegates in the voter register.
Eventually, the delegates in question were not allowed to vote, and Sam George secured victory with 1,036 votes, while his contender managed to secure 636 of the total votes cast.
Member of parliament for Effiduase-Asokore Constituency, Dr. Ayew Afriyie has charged faithfuls of the New Patriotic Party to reward aspiring flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for his gallant stewardship when the party was in opposition.
In Dr. Ayew Afriyie’s argument, Dr Bawumia stood to defend the party when it was most needed.
When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) needed a star witness to defend the party at the Supreme Court during the 2012 election petition, there was no whimper or clamour of ‘aduro me so’, Dr. Ayew Afriyie has satirically said as he has urged the party to reward Dr. Bawumia as flagbearer for his sacrifices.
“When we (NPP) needed someone to go to court and represent the party, we didn’t hear any ‘aduro me so’ to wit it is my turn or ‘me baa y3 aky3 to wit I’ve been in line for long”, he said as he took an indirect swipe at the campaign team of Mr. John Kwadwo Alan Kyeremanten who have been campaigning on that mantra.
Speaking on Wontumi TV via phone, the Member of Parliament for EFFIDUASE/ASOKORE Constituency stated that the elders of the NPP were convinced Dr. Bawumia should be made star witness after he had collected data and explained things to them before mounting the witness box to defend the party during the 2016 election petition.
“He matched the NDC lawyers based on the pink sheets by telling them you and I were not there”, he said referencing a major highlight of the petition.
The Minority in Parliament has said that the decision of the Supreme Court to expel Mr James Gyakye Quayson from the house and his name expunged from the records of the House is a slap in the face of Ghana’s democracy and rule of law.
In a statement reacting to the ruling, the Minority stated that the laws of Ghana only prohibit people from performing their functions as members of parliament if they still have dual citizenship.
However, “It is important to place on record that as at the time of his election, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson was not a dual citizen, neither was he a dual citizen as at the time he took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament,” parts of the statement released on Wednesday, read.
The statement signed by Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson added that as a result, they find it baffling that the Supreme Court would order the removal from parliament of Mr Quayson who they say was duly elected as MP.
“While we are yet to study the reasoning of the court in making its decision, it appears to be a slap in the face of our democracy and the rule of law. We shall inform the public of our position upon reviewing the reasoning of the Court in arriving at its decision. We urge our rank and file to be calm while we pursue all legal avenues to ensure that justice is served.”
On Wednesday, May 17, the Supreme Court by a unanimous decision, ordered the Parliament of Ghana to expunge his name from its records as a Member of Parliament.
The Court ruled that the Electoral Commission acted unconstitutionally in allowing him to contest the 2020 Parliamentary Elections without proof that he had denounced his Canadian citizenship at the time he filed his nomination in October 2020, to contest the parliamentary elections in the Assin-North constituency.
The court in a unanimous decision ruled that Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms.
It further held that the EC allowing him to contest when he had not shown evidence of renunciation of his citizenship of Canada is unconstitutional.
It further declared that his election was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect. His swearing-in was equally declared to be unconstitutional with Parliament ordered to expunge his name from its records.
Meanwhile, reacting to the ruling, Mr Quayson said that he is disappointed in the decision of the Supreme Court.
“I am especially surprised that the Court now says that foreign bureaucrats now determine whether natural-born Ghanaians have the right to contest for parliamentary elections in Ghana or not. Thus, a country that does not allow renunciation of its citizenship can bar a natural born Ghanaian, who has severed all relations with a country of acquired citizenship, from ever standing for MP.”
He, nevertheless, noted that he has turned the page on litigating this matter in the courts of justice and will now leave the matter to the court of conscience.
The Ga Traditional Council has called on the public to ignore directives given by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to the effect that microphones and public address systems could be used during the pendency of the ongoing traditional ban on noise-making.
In a statement signed by the President of the Ga Traditional Council, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Council described the Ministry’s directive as “unfortunate and unacceptable.”
Earlier, the Council had released a statement declaring the commencement of the ban from Monday, May 15 to Thursday, June 15.
According to the statement, churches are expected to carry out their activities within their premises and refrain from the use of musical instruments.
Again, the positioning of loudspeakers outside the premises of churches, mosques and pubs is banned.
Wayside evangelists are to cease their activities.
This ban also extends to funeral rites and related activities.
But contrary to these directives, the Ministry is alleged to have said microphones and public address systems could be used at a reduced volume.
The Traditional Council is therefore reiterating its earlier directives.
“This has been a yearly observance from time immemorial, and this year should not be an exception.”
“This is our custom. Customary laws are part of the laws of Ghana and must be observed appropriately,” the statement concluded.
A workshop has been held in Tamale to equip municipal and district officers of the National Youth Authority (NYA) with skills to effectively mobilise resources to support youth growth and development.
The Northern Regional Secretariat of the NYA organised the workshop, which brought together various municipal and district officers from the Northern, North- East and Savannah regions.
Participants were trained in how to write successful grant proposals to solicit funding support from organisations to complement the government’s efforts at addressing challenges confronting young people.
Mr Mumuni Sulemana, the Northern Regional Director of NYA, said the development needs of young people were multifaceted and required support from other stakeholders to adequately equip them to participate in national development.
He urged participants to implement the knowledge gained to ensure that youth development in their specific areas was not compromised.
Madam Habiba Seidu, the Sagnarigu Municipal Director of NYA, lauded the initiative, saying: “Youth development requires collective support. Depending on the Central Government only will not enhance speedy execution of youth-led organisations.”
The participants are expected to share the knowledge gained with their subordinates to ensure holistic capacity building for effective revenue mobilisation.
Chairman Wontumi‘s most recent case against Afia Schwarzenegger, accusing her of breaching the conditions of her previous contempt case release, has been dismissed by the Tema High Court.
According to Afia’s lawyer Capt. RTD. Nkrabeah Effah Darteh ESQ. they were not served any notice to appear before the court today May 17, 2023.
He added that the court’s decision to dismiss the case was primarily due to the absence of Chairman Wontumi and his legal team.
Recall that Chairman Wontumi slapped the comedienne with a defamation lawsuit, alongside Nana Ama McBrown, Aplus, and some panelists of United Showbiz.
This comes after Nana Ama McBrown, Afia Schwarzenegger, Mr. Aplus, Mr. Logic discussed on live TV a court case between Afia Schwarzenegger and Mr Chairman Wontumi.
Afia was sentenced to a 10-day prison for contempt of court. According to reports, although a branch warrant was issued for the arrest of Afia Schwarzenegger, the media personality never served her sentence.
She, however, later turned herself in, apologized and her lawyer requested a fine instead. In an attempt to nullify the prison sentence, she was ordered to sign a bond of good behavior for 36 months and pay a fine of GHC60,000.
Additionally, she was instructed not to discuss the case on any platform during the pendency of the bond, with a warning that any breach would result in further consequences.
However, Chairman Wontumi believed that the socialite did not abide by the court’s orders, leading his legal team to issue another lawsuit seeking to hold her accountable for contempt.
“The counsel for and behalf of the applicant herein will move this honorable court for an order praying the honorable court to punish the respondent herein for continuing contempt arising from respondent violation and disobedient to the terms of the judgment of this court,” parts of the statements read.
The Court has since thrown the case out after Chairman Wontumi and his lawyers failed to appear in court.
Deposed MP for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, has expressed utmost disappointment in the decision of the Supreme Court to get his records expunged as a Member of Parliament.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court by a unanimous decision, ordered the Parliament of Ghana to expunge his name from its records as a Member of Parliament.
The Court ruled that the Electoral Commission acted unconstitutionally in allowing him to contest the 2020 Parliamentary Elections without proof that he had denounced his Canadian citizenship at the time he filed his nomination in October 2020, to contest the parliamentary elections in the Assin-North constituency.
Mr. Quayson stated in a letter that even though the Electoral Commission (EC) inspected his renunciation certificate in November 2020, prior to allowing him to contest the elections in accordance with the EC’s regulations, which the law presumes to be regular, the Court held that he should have offered this proof to the EC at the time of filing for his nomination.
He stated: “It is a matter of public record that I filed for the renunciation of my Canadian citizenship in December 2019. It is also a matter of record that I left Canada in February 2020. It is also a matter of record that as soon as I applied for renunciation of my Canadian citizenship and left Canada, I lost all the rights of Canadian citizenship. It is also a matter of record that I picked up my renunciation certificate from the Canadian Embassy in Accra in November 2020.”
He further stated that: “It is also a matter of public record that Canadian law does not say I owe allegiance to Canada, even after filing for renunciation. In fact, Canadian law is unequivocal that disavowal of allegiance is subjective and can be done at any time, including immediately after swearing the oath of citizenship. Thus, under Canadian law, I owed no allegiance to Canada at all material times.”
Mr. Quayson says, “I am, of course, disappointed by the Court’s decision. I am especially surprised that the Court now says that foreign bureaucrats now determine whether natural born Ghanaians have the right to contest for parliamentary elections in Ghana or not. Thus, a country that does not allow renunciation of its citizenship can bar a natural born Ghanaian, who has severed all relations with a country of acquired citizenship, from ever standing for MP.”
He, nevertheless, noted that he has turned the page on litigating this matter in the courts of justice and will now leave it (the matter) to the court of conscience, which Ghandi reminds us, supersedes all other courts.
He assured that the constituency remains his priority and he is helping to develop his constituency as it has always been.
The deposed MP for Assin North assured his constituents that nothing has changed, and he will work even harder than before to win their support and to attain the set goals.
“I thank the good people of Assin North, the leadership of the NDC, my attorneys, and the numerous Ghanaians, from all sides of the political divide, who have supported me during these turbulent times. Together, we must ensure that we build a progressive and inclusive society that does not treat any of our citizens as second-class citizens. May God bless our homeland Ghana, and bless my beloved Assin North Constituency and her people,” he ended the letter.
Founder of the defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, has been given a July 4 ultimatum by an Accra High Court to liquidate his assets and pay the state GHS 55 million.
Justice Eric Kyei Baffuor, the presiding judge of the court said this is to ensure that Mr Essien is given a fair chance to secure his freedom.
“I want to give you a lifeline and I hope you will do your possible best. To find the money and pay. If what has been deposed to, is true, I am sure only a matter of time will tell. I am adjourning hoping that we would have gotten the money to make the payment.
“I have perused through, the application and the affidavit in opposition, if I were to allow the learned deputy Attorney General to move the application, I will be compelled to deliver my ruling in respect of the application.
“Taking notice that the convict has taken steps to liquidate some assets in Essien Swiss International Holdings for which he is the sole shareholder and is expecting huge sums of monies as he has indicated in the affidavit for which he has deposed to. If indeed, the depositions in the affidavit have been made bona fide, time will vindicate that.
“Accordingly, I will hasten slowly and adjourn the application to July 4, 2023, to enable the convict to redeem the monies outstanding and as agreed per the agreement with the republic,” Justice Eric Kyei Baffuor ruled.
Mr Essien risks being jailed after breaching the terms of a payment agreement he had reached with the Attorney General.
He was convicted of multiple counts of money laundering and stealing after he agreed to refund ¢90 million to the state.
This was in the criminal case filed against him following the collapse of the bank.
He paid ¢30 million upfront and was required to pay ¢20 million as the first installment of the ¢60 million outstanding amount by April 28, 2023.
Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah Yeboah says he has been able to pay ¢5 million so far. He pointed out that under Ghana’s laws, once the accused breaches such terms, it means the entire outstanding amount becomes due.
He, therefore, expects the total outstanding of ¢55 million to be paid.
Lawyers for Mr Essien led by Baffuor Gyawu Bonsu Ashia pointed out that the businessman had reached an agreement with a foreign company to purchase his assets.
The Deputy AG however pointed out that the amount involved was a paltry ¢4 million which is a far cry from the outstanding ¢55 million.
The court, however, opted to hand him the lifeline.
Eight out of 10 South African school children struggle to read by the age of ten, an international study has found.
South Africa ranked last out of 57 countries assessed in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, which tested the reading ability of 400,000 students globally in 2021.
Illiteracy among South African children rose from 78% in 2016 to 81%.
The country’s education minister blamed the results on school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Describing the results as “disappointingly low”, Angie Motshekga also said the country’s education system was faced with significant historical challenges, including poverty, inequality and inadequate infrastructure.
In many primary schools “reading instruction often focuses solely on oral performance, neglecting reading comprehension and making sense of written words”, she added.
South Africa’s education minister said the disappointing results were a result of school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic
The study showed that 81% of South African children could not read for comprehension in any of the country’s 11 official languages.
Alongside Morocco and Egypt, South Africa was one of only three African countries which participated in the assessments to monitor trends in literacy and reading comprehension of nine- and 10-year-olds.
Based on tests taken every five years at the end of the school year, the new study places countries in a global education league table.
Singapore secured top spot in the rankings with an average score of 587, while South Africa ranked last on 288 points – below second-last Egypt’s average of 378. The scores are benchmarked against an international average of 500.
The study also showed that overall, girls were ahead of boys in their reading achievement in nearly all of the assessed countries, but the gender gap has narrowed in the most recent testing round.
South Africa’s struggles with its education system are longstanding, with significant inequality between black and white students a consequence of the segregation of children under apartheid.
Education is one the single biggest budget expenses for the government, which can lead to disappointment over poor performance in studies like this.
A lack of suitable reading materials and inadequate infrastructure in schools, often things like toilets, have contributed to the crisis.
Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Davido, has disclosed how much he currently charges for a feature.
In a recent interview with TheBootlegKev podcast,Davido disclosed that his charges vary according to his relationships with colleagues, adding that, the standard fee is now $100k.
Davido also disclosed that initially he wasn’t charging anything for features but now things have changed due to reasons best known to himself.
Some social media users, however, think his fees are reasonable, while others have disagreed.
Others have also drawn comparisons between the ‘unavailable’ hitmaker and Wizkid, citing that Davido is more popular.
After shattering the record for the longest cooking session by a single person with a 100-hour record period, celebrity chef Hilda Baci stunned fans with the interior of her house.
The currently most sought-after chef, gave her fans a tour of her completely automated crib in a new video that was shared on her official TikTok page.
Touching on some of its functions, Hilda stated that she could grant access to visitors by not opening the door manually.
Watch video below–
She maintained that she can open the door for anyone regardless of her bearing.
Hilda continued by displaying her opulent kitchen, which she characterized as her favorite place to be and where she makes her stuff.
She added that playing Scrabble is her favourite game so she invested a huge sum of money in purchasing one.
The Guinness world record holder also disclosed her love for music and how she filled her home with sound systems to satisfy that urge.
According to the president of South Africa, the group would attempt to create a peace plan to stop the conflict in Ukraine.
According to Cyril Ramaphosa, he spoke with Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky over the phone over the weekend, and both men agreed to host ‘an African leaders peace mission’ in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively.
‘Principal to our discussions are efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine,’ Mr Ramaphosa said.
The leaders of Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda and Egypt would make up the delegation along with Mr Ramaphosa, he said in a statement, and Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky gave him the go-ahead to ‘commence the preparations’.
Four of the African countries – South Africa, Congo, Senegal and Uganda – abstained from a UN vote last year on condemning Russia’s invasion.
Zambia and Egypt voted in favour of the motion.
Mr Ramaphosa did not give a timeframe or outline any parameters for the possible peace talks. Mr Zelensky has previously said he would not consider a peace deal to end the 15-month war until Russian forces withdraw from Ukrainian territory.
The potential impact of African nations, if their persuasions are successful, could be a ‘game-changer’, experts have said.
Michael Butler, associate professor of political science at Clark University, described the potential impact of African states involvement in ending the war.
He said: ‘The offer to mediate the Russia-Ukraine war by a range of African states is potentially a game-changer – but more for what it signifies about Africa’s position on the world stage than from the standpoint of actually resolving the conflict.
‘These (and other) African states have successfully mediated numerous conflicts in Africa, but we have not seen a venture of this scale “out of area.” Individually and collectively, these states do satisfy a key requirement for effective mediation, in the form of impartiality.
‘However, it is less clear that any of them have the requisite “stake” in resolving the conflict necessary to signal their credibility and commitment to the Russian and Ukrainian leadership, which is crucial for securing “buy-in” from both parties.’
A far-right takeover of the German government, including the kidnapping of the health minister, is allegedly being planned by five persons.
Today’s trial will feature four men and a woman who are charged with treason and joining or establishing a terrorist organisation.
The group, according to the prosecution, is connected to the Reich Citizens movement, which is said to be comparable to the Sovereign Citizens and QAnon movements in the United States.
The four men, who range in age from 44 to 56, and the 75-year-old woman, are accused of wanting to foster “conditions resembling civil war.”
They planned to use bombs to cause nationwide blackouts before kidnapping health minister Karl Lauterbach, who backed the country’s strict anti-Covid measures, it’s claimed.
There’s no indication the group, which went by the name United Patriots, was close to launching the alleged coup.
Despite this prosecutors say the group’s procurement of weapons and cash show its members are ‘dangerous criminals who wanted to implement their plans’.
The four men were arrested last April and 22 firearms, including a Kalashnikov rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, as well as cash, gold and silver, were seized.
The woman was arrested six months later and she’s accused of drafting documents for the group, including a fake arrest warrant for Mr Lauterbach.
The names of the five suspects have not been released for privacy reasons.
She also wrote letters to Vladimir Putin and Polish president Andrzej Duda, prosecutors said.
Ahead of the trial Mr Lauterbach told Der Spiegel he hopes for a ‘hard, fair verdict’ that will deter others from similar plots.
A court has ruled that disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes must report to prison while she appeals against her fraud conviction.
Holmes, 39, had asked a judge to remain free while she fought against her jail sentence for a blood-testing hoax.
She was sentenced to over 11 years in prison after a jury last year found her guilty of defrauding investors.
In a separate ruling, US District Judge Edward Davila also ordered Holmes to pay $452m (£363.8m) to victims.
She will split the multi-million dollar payment with her former romantic and business partner, ex-Theranos boss Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani.
Holmes had been previously ordered to surrender to authorities on April 27. The judge will now set a new date for her to go to prison.
The BBC has reached out to Holmes’ attorneys for comment.
Balwani was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted on 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy last year. He began serving his sentence in April after losing his own attempt to remain free while appealing against his conviction.
The court has recommended Holmes serve her time behind bars at a federal minimum-security women’s prison in Bryan, Texas.
Holmes had asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to delay her sentence days before she was supposed to report to prison in April.
The Theranos founder had said that she would raise “substantial questions” about her case that could warrant a new trial, an argument that Mr Davila had rejected.
“Contrary to her suggestion that accuracy and reliability were central issues to her convictions, Ms Holmes’s misrepresentations to Theranos investors involved more than just whether Theranos technology worked as promised,” he said at the time.
Holmes’ attorneys also argued she should remain free while appealing against her case to care for her children.
The mother of two has been living in San Diego, California, with her partner, hotel heir William Evans, as well as their one-year-old son William and three-month-old daughter Invicta.
Once hailed as the “next Steve Jobs”, Holmes was said to be the world’s youngest self-made billionaire.
She started Theranos after dropping out of Stanford University. During her time leading the company, Holmes was able to raise millions of dollars from high-profile investors, including media mogul Rupert Murdoch, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
But the start-up crashed in 2018 after investigations revealed its technology did not work. The blood-testing device was purported to be able to run a multitude of tests from just a few drops of blood.
The company’s infamous downfall was documented in a TV series, an HBO documentary and a podcast.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle narrowly escaped a harrowing encounter with paparazzi in what has been described by their spokesperson as a “near catastrophic” car chase. The incident, which evoked chilling memories for Prince Harry, unfolded on Tuesday night as the couple left an award ceremony attended by Meghan’s mother, accompanied by police officers.
According to reports, the relentless pursuit by paparazzi began after the couple entered an SUV, triggering a high-speed chase that lasted over two hours. The dangerous chase posed a grave risk, resulting in multiple near collisions involving other motorists, pedestrians, and even two NYPD officers.
In a daring move to evade their pursuers, the SUV eventually pulled over, and Prince Harry, Meghan, and her mother swiftly disembarked, hailing a New York taxi to make their escape. In a bid to outsmart the relentless paparazzi, the police officers took a different route from the cab, attempting to confuse their pursuers.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the paparazzi, traveling in a fleet of blacked-out vehicles, brazenly violated traffic laws, including driving on sidewalks, running red lights, and even driving against the flow of one-way streets.
The incident undoubtedly triggered painful memories for Prince Harry, as it harkened back to the tragic fate that befell his mother, Princess Diana. In 1997, Princess Diana lost her life in a devastating car crash while being pursued by paparazzi in Paris. The heart-wrenching image of a young Harry, then only twelve years old, and his elder brother, fifteen-year-old Prince William, silently following their mother’s casket, remains etched in the public’s collective memory.
The disturbing encounter with the paparazzi serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Prince Harry and Meghan in navigating public life under the relentless scrutiny of the media. It highlights the need for heightened awareness and measures to protect their safety and well-being as they strive to carve out a more private existence away from the intense spotlight that follows their every move.
Apple Music provides the best listening experience for music lovers worldwide, and it stands out in part due to its international team of knowledgeable curators and lifelong music aficionados who make it a point to surface the songs and albums that users simply must hear.
Apple Music expanded its curation efforts into live shows, introducing new concert discovery features on Apple Maps and Apple Music. Together, these new features celebrate the joy of live music, and give fans and artists more ways to connect.
On Maps, more than 40 new Guides, each expertly curated by Apple Music editors, highlight the best venues to experience live music in some of the world’s leading culture hubs. From landmark Viennese symphony halls to cutting-edge techno clubs in Brooklyn and Tokyo, these hand-picked selections — currently spanning over 10 cities — are all music fans need for an unforgettable night out.
Apple Music Guides also allow fans to browse venues’ upcoming shows directly from Maps through Shazam’s concert discovery module — part of a suite of features that Shazam introduced last spring, leveraging concert information from the world-renowned event recommendation and artist discovery platform Bandsintown.
On Apple Music, the brand-new Set Lists space shines a light on a selection of major tours, letting fans listen to set lists and read about the productions. For the first time on the app, fans will also be able to browse artists’ upcoming shows in their area by launching Shazam’s concert discovery module.
Availability
Apple Music Guides will be rolling out beginning today on Maps. Featured cities include Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, and San Francisco in North America; Berlin, London, Paris, and Vienna in Europe; Tokyo, Melbourne, and Sydney in the Asia-Pacific region; and Mexico City in Latin America.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were involved in a “near catastrophic” car crash in New York.
According to a spokesman for the Sussexes, the pair plus Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland were in New York on Tuesday when they were pursued by paparazzi.
They had just attended the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in the city when its claimed the incident occurred.
According to reports, the trio left the awards at around 10pm on Tuesday night (12 noon Wednesday AEST) and were then followed by around 12 paparazzi.
The New York Post has reported that a cameraman hit a car and another almost ran over a police officer.
“This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD (New York Police Department) officers,” a spokesman said.
“While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety.
“Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all in involved.”
The spokesman said the couple were “extremely upset and shaken,” according to the New York Post.
A mother claims that her kid is “beautiful” despite the insults people have hurled at her because of a medical problem that causes the baby’s head to keep growing.
Adalgisa Soares Alves of Brazil realised something wasn’t right when she became pregnant with Graziely Alves Régis because she experienced excruciating abdominal discomfort.
Graziely was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid on the brain that put pressure on her skull and caused damage, when she was eight months pregnant, according to the doctors.
Due to the condition, Graziely’s head was larger than average when she was born and continues to grow despite multiple operations.
She was given three months to live by doctors but Graziely has defied expectations and despite losing her sight, being bedbound and unable to talk, she is still alive aged 29.
Now Adalgisa, 48, says her daughter has been dubbed the ‘giant baby’ and decided to share Graziely’s daily struggles on social media.
‘I don’t think it’s cruel because “baby” is an affectionate word, but when they call out her “big head” I feel sad,’ the mum told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
‘Because then that is just being cruel.
Graziely was only given three months to live by doctors (Picture: Jam Press / Instagram @adalgisasoaresalves)She has a medical condition called hydrocephalus (Picture: Jam Press / Instagram @adalgisasoaresalves)Adalgisa hit out at the online trolls who call her daughter names (Picture: Jam Press / Instagram @adalgisasoaresalves)
‘But the important thing is that me, and all our family and friends, love Graziely the way she is.’
The mum said nothing could be done to help her daughter before or immediately after she was born.
She said: ‘Every day I take care of her, bathe her and feed her with all my love.
‘I’m dedicated to Graziely and it makes me happy to see her well cared for, from me and all of our family.
‘Nephews, cousins, aunties and many more family members love to come and see her and care for her.
‘I don’t work, I just take care of her — I’m happy to take care of her and it is rewarding when I see her smile.
She is now bed bound, has lost her sight and is unable to talk (Picture: Jam Press / Instagram @adalgisasoaresalves)
‘I never lose hope because I am a woman of great faith and I always put God above everything — I pray a lot every day.’
Graziely’s day begins at 7am with a homemade papaya smoothie followed by soup and a clean at 11am, and again at 6pm.
Graziely uses 30 packs of nappies, costing 75 reais (£12.20) per pack, with around 2,250 reais (£366) being spent on the essential per month.
The family rely on BPC payments, a non-contributory pension scheme available to those unable to work due to disability.
People across social media have supported Adalgisa and Graziely with Sarah commenting: ‘This lady is an awesome mum,’ and another person said: ‘God bless you so much.’
Adalgisa added: ‘I always hope that she will live [for] many years.
‘She transmits positive energy and I feel a peace that overflows when someone visits her.
‘I will always give her the best because she was born from my womb, she was very much loved and desired inside my belly and I will love her until the last day of her life.’
