In the upcoming months, Ukraine will get hundreds of air defence missiles as well as additional long-range attack drones, according to Rishi Sunak.
Since February 2022, when Russia began an all-out land, air, and sea assault of its neighbour, Britain has made a number of pledges.
Multiple ‘Storm Shadow’ cruise missiles with a range of more than 155 miles have been pledged to the country, according to defence secretary Ben Wallace, who made the announcement on Friday.
This will be the first long-range cruise missile in its arsenal and will be critical in helping the country defend against attacks on national infrastructure.
A ‘Storm Shadow’ missile was reportedly used on a building in the occupied city of Luhansk that was used by Russian forces (Picture: e2w)Fragments of the missile found near the site of the explosion (Picture: e2w)
Weapons have made its way to Ukraine as Western leaders are racing against time ahead of ‘the first important steps’ of a highly-anticipated spring counteroffensive against the Russian forces.
Latest London news
But Volodymyr Zelensky is making sure this support does not dry up by personally visiting European capitals over the last week, and meeting with his counterparts.
His first stop was Rome, then Berlin, then Paris, and today the Ukrainian president has arrived in London for a meeting with Mr Sunak.
Mr Zelensky will hold talks with the PM at Chequers, becoming the very first world leader he has hosted at the Buckinghamshire residence.
A statement from Downing Street said: ‘Today the prime minister will confirm the further UK provision of hundreds of air defence missiles and further unmanned aerial systems including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km.
‘These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion.
‘This equipment will support Ukraine over the coming months in their anticipated military surge to counter Russian forces.
‘During their meeting today the prime minister will discuss with president Zelensky what support Ukraine needs from the international community, both in terms of immediate military equipment and long-term defences.’
The announcement comes just hours after a former aviation school, believed to be used by Russian forces, was reportedly targeted with the ‘Storm Shadow’ long-range missiles.
Two explosions sounded at 8am local time at the suspected barracks in the city of Luhansk.
Footage showed a burning building and thick smoke rising into the sky after the strikes.
In addition, the missiles were used on Friday on the former academy of the internal affairs ministry and the Polipak Machine Building Plant 100 in Luhansk.
The highest-ranking black police officerin Britain has resigned from his position after being accused of harassment and prejudice.
As the leader of the Police Race Action Plan, a national project to address racism and racial inequities encountered by black people who work for or interact with the police, Deputy Chief Constable Tyron Joyce departed.
His resignation after a complaint from the female government servant who served as his second in command, who said he had undermined her in front of other employees, according to The Telegraph.
In the most significant moment of the day, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the 360-year-old St. Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head. The spiritual leader of the Anglican Church then declared: “God Save the King.”
The intricateservice lasted just over two hours – about an hour shorter than Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 – and followed a traditional template that has stayed much the same for more than 1,000 years.
However, it has been modernized in certain key ways. The archbishop acknowledged the multiple faiths observed in the UK during the ceremony, saying the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely.”
The King took the Coronation Oath and became the first monarch to pray aloud at his coronation. In his prayer he asked to “be a blessing” to people “of every faith and conviction.”
In what is considered the most sacred part of the ceremony, the King was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was also presented with the coronation regalia, including the royal Robe and Stole, in what is known as the investiture part of the service.
Then, for the first time in coronation history, the archbishop invited the British public, as well as those from “other Realms,” to recite a pledge of allegiance to the newly crowned monarch and his “heirs and successors.”
Ahead of the event, some parts of the British media and public interpreted the invitation as a command, reporting that people had been “asked” and “called” to swear allegiance to the King. In the face of such criticism, the Church of England revised the text of the liturgy so that members of the public would be given a choice between saying simply “God save King Charles” or reciting the full pledge of allegiance.
In pictures: The coronation of King Charles III
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The ceremony also included a reading from the Bible by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and, in another coronation first, gospel music.
Once the King was crowned, his wife, Queen Camilla, was crowned in her own, shorter ceremony with Queen Mary’s Crown – marking the first time in recent history that a new crown wasn’t made specifically for this occasion.
Music played a central part in the proceedings, and five new compositions were commissioned for the main part of the service, including an anthem by Lloyd Webber, who is better known for West End musicals.
Charles and Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey in a splendid coach drawn by six horses, accompanied by the Household Cavalry.
After the ceremony, the newly crowned King and Queen rode back to Buckingham Palace in a much larger parade, featuring 4,000 members of the armed forces, 250 horses and 19 military bands.
The pomp and pageantry concluded with a royal salute and the customary balcony appearance by the King and family members.They and the crowds below watched a flypast of military aircraft, slimmed down because of the poor weather.
Some royal fans spent several days camping along the 1.3-mile (2km) route from Buckingham Palace, the British monarchy’s official London residence, to Westminster Abbey, the nation’s coronation church since 1066, in order to secure the best vantage point.
By early Saturday, the London Metropolitan Police Service announced that all viewing areas along the procession route were full and closed off to new arrivals.
The congregation, while including some 2,300 people, was much smaller than it was in 1953 when temporary structures had to be erected within the abbey to accommodate the more than 8,000 people on the guest list.
The doors to the abbey opened just before 8 a.m. local time and quickly started to fill up. Many of the guests, including top British officials, faith leaders and international representatives, were expected to take their seats more than an hour before the ceremony started – reflecting the huge logistical challenges presented by an event attended by hundreds of VIPs.
The guest list was a Who’s Who of British public life and politics: All Sunak’s living predecessors as prime minister were there: Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, UK opposition leader Keir Starmer and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt were also in attendance.
Approximately 100 of heads of states from around the world and dozens of members of foreign royal families traveled to London for the occasion.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel all attended the service, as did French President Emmanuel Macron.
US President Joe Biden did not travel to London. Instead US first lady Jill Biden led the American delegation, sitting next to Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska.
Plenty of celebrities also made an appearance, including singers Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, musician Nick Cave, actresses Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Joanna Lumley and Judi Dench, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and broadcaster Stephen Fry.
Last to arrive, just before the King and Queen, were the most senior members of King Charles’ family, his siblings and children, including Prince Harry who traveled to the UK from the US without his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and their two young children. Saturday is also Prince Archie’s 4th birthday.
Following the ceremony, Prince Harry did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with his father and selected members of the family. CNN understands that the prince, who is no longer a working royal, did not receive an invitation to join the family for this moment.
The King’s younger brother Prince Andrew was also missing from the traditional balcony appearance. Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his ties to disgraced financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In January 2022, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages after a judge ruled a sexual abuse civil lawsuit filed against him by Virginia Giuffre could proceed. The prince repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and the case was later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Despite the splendor of the occasion, it has not been without controversy. Some have objected to millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being spent on a lavish ceremony at a time when millions of Britons are suffering a severe cost-of-living crisis.
Security is by far the most costly element of large events and the Met said ahead of time that Saturday would be the largest one-day policing operation in decades, with more than 11,500 officers on duty in London.
The coronation has also attracted anti-monarchy demonstrations, with a small number of protesters arrested in central London on Saturday morning before the event began.
Republic, a campaign group that calls for the abolition of the monarchy, said the idea of the “homage of the people” was “offensive, tone deaf and a gesture that holds the people in contempt.”
Some eyebrows were also raised earlier this week when a controversial and widely criticized UK public order bill came into force.
Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year, there have been a number of instances of anti-monarchists turning up at royal engagements to voice their grievances against the institution.
The new rules, signed into law by the King on Tuesday, just days before the coronation, empower the police to take stronger action against peaceful protesters.
Republic said it was expecting between 1,500 and 2,000 people to join an anti-monarchy protest at Trafalgar Square, just south of the royal procession route. On Saturday morning, Republic said on Twitter that organizers of the protest had been arrested shortly after the demonstration started – including the group’s leader, Graham Smith.
The Metropolitan Police tweeted: “Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.”
A further three people were arrested “on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage,” the force added. And “a number of arrests” have been made of people suspected of breaching the peace.
Despite the pomp of Saturday’s events, the King is facing significant challenges. A CNN poll has found that Britons are more likely to say their views of the monarchy have worsened than improved over the past decade.
The results of the survey, conducted for CNN by the polling company Savanta in March, show Charles’ heir Prince William is viewed with greater affection than his father.
Despite their cooler attitude towards the King, most Britons say they plan to take part in at least one event related to the coronation this weekend, the poll found, with many communities planning street parties and lunches.
Artists Perry, Richie and Take That will headline the “Coronation Concert” at Windsor Castle on Sunday evening and people have also been encouraged to use Monday, the final day of the long weekend, to volunteer in their communities.
Bright Adu Larbi, a 38-year-old security guard making 500 Ghanaian cedis (US$45) a month, didn’t need the ongoing economic crisis to feel overwhelmed by the cost of living in Ghana’s capital city, Accra. For Larbi, the financial strain that came with his growing family had already pushed him to the edge.
In 2021, stagnant wages coupled with increased family expenses meant that he could no longer afford the GHS180 (US$16) monthly rent on his small apartment in Adabraka, a suburb of Accra. With work hard to come by in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Larbi also couldn’t afford to move out of Accra and sacrifice his security job within the city.
The only affordable housing available to him and his family of four was a small wooden kiosk, packed into an informal settlement called Ayigbe Town, built around high-tension electricity towers. These kiosks, built specifically as housing, range from about 16 to 20 square feet in size, with at least one window for ventilation. They rely on rudimentary connections for electricity, some of which are illegal, and with limited sanitation facilities, residents use makeshift baths and toilets.
“We didn’t have a choice. We can’t afford to rent,” Larbi tells Equal Times. But for GHS1000 (US$90), he was able to buy a small kiosk to live in.
Speaking to Equal Times while recuperating from appendix surgery, Larbi decries the high cost of living in Accra that has left him living from hand to mouth. Even though his employer pays for the health insurance that covered his surgery, he can’t shake off the fear that he may be laid off as he recovers. “I wouldn’t know what to do with my wife and two kids [if I lost my job]. It would be difficult.”
His priority remains his daughters, aged two and five. They are enrolled in a low-cost crèche costing him GHS 300 (US$24.78) per term so that both he and his wife can work. But there is nothing left at the end of the month. “I cannot buy clothes for myself. I cannot buy shoes…what can I save?” says the security guard. “When money comes at the end of the month, I pay for school fees, and it is done. We go back to square one and start the month again with nothing again.”
Innocent Tsey, a carpenter, was also forced by high rental prices in Accra to move his family into a kiosk about a kilometre away from Larbi’s. He says he lost his previous home, a boy’s quarters (stand-alone accommodation on the grounds of a bigger house, usually for domestic workers) on a residential property within Accra, without any warning. “One day our landlord came and told us that he had sold the place, so we had to move,” recalls Tsey.
The cheap accommodation in the kiosk estate was initially appealing. For someone who could make up to GHS1000 ($90) a month, the GHS600 (US$54) he pays yearly for his kiosk space was bearable. But he soon came to realise that where he currently lives is no place to raise two daughters.
“It is like a jungle. There is no authority here. No security,” says Tsey. “I feel very bad for moving my family over here. If I could leave here today, I would.”
Tsey’s kiosk is situated on land belonging to Ghana’s Rural Housing Department and the annual fee he pays for the land goes to the state. This means that he does not face the threat of having his kiosk demolished by the local government. Larbi’s family, on the other hand, is one of hundreds of low-income households in Ayigbe Town which occupies the land illegally, and he has had his kiosk demolished before.
These demolition exercises are the only time that Larbi feels the presence of the state in his life. He has never benefited from any welfare support despite his poverty. “Nobody is coming around to help anybody here, but every four years, they bring ballot boxes for us to vote,” fumes Larbi.
Searching for sustainable housing reforms
Ghana’s urban population increased from 50 per cent in 2010 to 56 per cent in 2021, with the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions accounting for 47 per cent of the increase. Research has shown that higher rates of rural-to-urban migration – caused by a lack of decent work in rural areas and a push for higher wages – is putting pressure on basic services such as education, health care, transport and housing.
Estimates put Ghana’s housing deficit at about 1.8 million units. This translates to about six million people out of a population of approximately 33 million in need of housing. However, these figures do not account for the quality of available housing. Ghana’s 2022 Voluntary National Review on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals noted that there were 8.8 million Ghanaians living in slums, as of 2020, an increase from 5.5 million in 2017.
Successive governments have tried to implement affordable housing schemes to counter the country’s decent housing deficit and help relieve the financial constraints faced by home seekers. But the government’s credibility recently took a hit because of the mismanagement of a high-profile affordable housing project in Saglemi, on the outskirts of the Greater Accra Region, which is currently the subject of a corruption trial.
Divine Aggor, the CEO of the Rent Chamber Group, which advocates for innovative housing solutions, wants the government to step away from affordable housing projects because of such mismanagement and concentrate on the “simpler” option of fixing the rental regime, which is contributing to some Ghanaians being priced out of the country’s cities.
In Ghana, 46 per cent of households in urban areas occupy rented dwelling units, according to a 2021 Ghana Statistical Service report.
“Developing solutions that are rental-based could immediately wipe out 90 per cent of the challenges we have in this sector,” says Aggor. “[State-led] affordable housing projects are a complete waste of time and resources,” he adds, mainly because the majority of people wouldn’t be able to afford to buy due to high mortgage interest rates and the low numbers of people even eligible for a mortgage.
In January, the government introduced a National Rental Assistance Scheme, under which the state will give out rent loans to eligible Ghanaians to cover rent advances. But this does nothing to tackle the structural issues impacting Accra’s housing market, particularly for low-income workers: a massive shortage in housing supply and low wages that aren’t keeping up with the cost of living.
Aggor says the simplest solution is for the government to enforce existing land and rent laws, which would make it easier for prospective landlords to purchase land without the threat of multiple payments for the same piece of land, or for extortion, the cost of which are passed on to tenants.
But he says there is very little incentive for such moves. “In Ghana, we don’t enforce laws because the people who are supposed to [do this] are complicit in the very activities that the laws seek to regulate,” says Aggor.
Rental interventions are not new in Ghana. Rent controls were implemented in the 1970s through to the early 1980s with a view to making housing affordable. But it had unintended consequences, as it became a disincentive for the private sector to provide rental housing units.
Regulatory failings not helping situation
Currently, the national Rent Control Department – supposed regulators of the rental regime – are hampered by a severe lack of resources when it comes to adequately monitoring Ghana’s rental market. One of the more scrutinised infractions is the law that limits demand for rent advances to six months. However, due to the limited supply of housing, this regulation is openly flaunted and rent advances of two to three years are the norm. Rent and housing committees are also unable to properly assess and value properties to ensure that fair rents are being charged.
“We have our challenges. I must be frank. We have logistical challenges,” the Rent Control Department’s press officer, Emmanuel Kporsu, said during an online forum, revealing that the department’s 58 national offices only have access to four vehicles to carry out assessments and inspections.
Current comprehensive data on rent is hard to come by. The last holistic housing survey in Ghana came after the 2010 census. But 2014 data viewed through the lens of the current economic reality, with over 50 per cent inflation and one of the world’s worst performing currencies in 2022, shows that the cost of housing outpaces household incomes and is contributing to the average Ghanaian being priced out of Accra, as well as other big cities such as Kumasi and Takoradi.
In its 2014 Housing in Ghana report, the Ghanaian Statistical Service noted a ‘dollarisation’ of the middle-class rental space in Accra, partly due to Ghanaians returning from the diaspora. At the time, middle-class professionals could expect to pay between US$80 (GHS880) to US$450 (GHS4,950) a month in rent with tenants sometimes expected to pay advances of up to two years.
Increasingly, peri-urban areas have featured significant housing development because of the cost of housing within major cities. According to the African Cities Research consortium, the pattern of urban physical growth reflects the rapid move from coastal cities like Accra, towards the peri-urban areas inland because of cheaper price of land, and thus, rent. In the last decade alone, an estimated 89 per cent of new urban physical development in the Greater Accra Region has occurred outside of the Accra Metropolitan Area.
Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, chief economist at Ghana’s Trades Union Congress, is one of the many working Ghanaians who spends as much as four hours commuting to and from work every day because they opted for more affordable housing outside the city. He lives on the outskirts of Accra’s sister city, Tema. “It is really expensive to live in the real Tema itself,” he notes to Equal Times.
Ghana’s cost of living struggles have been a cause of concern for the union. Aside from its advocacy, the TUC has also tried to put in place interventions for its members like rental allowances to support struggling members. The union is also working to establish a Labour Bank to cater to union members by offering loans and mortgages.
But Otoo acknowledges that these interventions can only go so far to address a housing problem that “overwhelms everybody”. There are “serious governance challenges” that limit the effectiveness of the state in this regard, he notes. But the state cannot escape the ultimate responsibility of making it easier for all Ghanaians to afford decent homes.
“We will do our part. But what we do might not fully solve the problem,” concedes Otoo. “The housing problem is so big that we need a major government intervention, and we will continue to push for that.”
Incumbent MP for the Bolgatanga East Constituency, Dr Dominic Akuritenga Ayine, has advised his constituents to avoid “skirt and blouse” voting.
That, he said, could become inimical to the fortunes of the party in the area. Dr Ayine who polled 292 votes out of 416 to be retained as the Parliamentary candidate of his constituency said winning with more votes should be their focus.
His contender , Dr Emmanuel Abeireinya garnered 121 votes and the presidential and Mr John Mahama former President of the NDC pulled 412, and Kojo Bonsu three . Dr Ayine, thanked all delegates and his contender Dr Abeireinya and his supporters.
He reiterated an earlier call made to the NDC membership in the constituency that the election was an eternal contest and should be devoid of insults and intemperate language. He thanked the constituency executives , who indicated had a constitutional mandate to organize the election and said the NDC’s victory in 2024 depended on the branches and in 2012 when the NDC was in court it was made clear and for a successful election to take place depended on the polling stations.
Dr Ayine thanked the Electoral Commission, the District Commander of Police and his men for security and peaceful election, as well as the media. Dr Emmanuel Abereinya in a statement thanked the delegates and his supporters and pledged his support to the winner.
Tens of thousands of well-wishers flocked in central London despite the rain to watch the crowning of Britain’s King Charles III, a once-in-a-generation royal event that was witnessed by hundreds of prominent guests inside Westminster Abbey.
The coronation on Saturday was the official crowning of the monarch, although Charles already held the title following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September of last year.
The service was a deeply spiritual occasion, fitting given that Charles is not only the head of state for the United Kingdom and 14 other nations, but he also serves as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
In the most significant moment of the day, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the 360-year-old St. Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head. The spiritual leader of the Anglican Church then declared: “God Save the King.”
The intricateservice lasted just over two hours – about an hour shorter than Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 – and followed a traditional template that has stayed much the same for more than 1,000 years.
However, it has been modernized in certain key ways. The archbishop acknowledged the multiple faiths observed in the UK during the ceremony, saying the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely.”
The King took the Coronation Oath and became the first monarch to pray aloud at his coronation. In his prayer he asked to “be a blessing” to people “of every faith and conviction.”
In what is considered the most sacred part of the ceremony, the King was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was also presented with the coronation regalia, including the royal Robe and Stole, in what is known as the investiture part of the service.
Then, for the first time in coronation history, the archbishop invited the British public, as well as those from “other Realms,” to recite a pledge of allegiance to the newly crowned monarch and his “heirs and successors.”
Ahead of the event, some parts of the British media and public interpreted the invitation as a command, reporting that people had been “asked” and “called” to swear allegiance to the King. In the face of such criticism, the Church of England revised the text of the liturgy so that members of the public would be given a choice between saying simply “God save King Charles” or reciting the full pledge of allegiance.
The ceremony also included a reading from the Bible by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and, in another coronation first, gospel music.
Once the King was crowned, his wife, Queen Camilla, was crowned in her own, shorter ceremony with Queen Mary’s Crown – marking the first time in recent history that a new crown wasn’t made specifically for this occasion.
Music played a central part in the proceedings, and five new compositions were commissioned for the main part of the service, including an anthem by Lloyd Webber, who is better known for West End musicals.
Charles and Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey in a splendid coach drawn by six horses, accompanied by the Household Cavalry.
After the ceremony, the newly crowned King and Queen rode back to Buckingham Palace in a much larger parade, featuring 4,000 members of the armed forces, 250 horses and 19 military bands.
The pomp and pageantry concluded with a royal salute and the customary balcony appearance by the King and family members.They and the crowds below watched a flypast of military aircraft, slimmed down because of the poor weather.
Some royal fans spent several days camping along the 1.3-mile (2km) route from Buckingham Palace, the British monarchy’s official London residence, to Westminster Abbey, the nation’s coronation church since 1066, in order to secure the best vantage point.
By early Saturday, the London Metropolitan Police Service announced that all viewing areas along the procession route were full and closed off to new arrivals.
The congregation, while including some 2,300 people, was much smaller than it was in 1953 when temporary structures had to be erected within the abbey to accommodate the more than 8,000 people on the guest list.
The doors to the abbey opened just before 8 a.m. local time and quickly started to fill up. Many of the guests, including top British officials, faith leaders and international representatives, were expected to take their seats more than an hour before the ceremony started – reflecting the huge logistical challenges presented by an event attended by hundreds of VIPs.
The guest list was a Who’s Who of British public life and politics: All Sunak’s living predecessors as prime minister were there: Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, UK opposition leader Keir Starmer and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt were also in attendance.
Approximately 100 of heads of states from around the world and dozens of members of foreign royal families traveled to London for the occasion.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel all attended the service, as did French President Emmanuel Macron.
US President Joe Biden did not travel to London. Instead US first lady Jill Biden led the American delegation, sitting next to Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska.
Plenty of celebrities also made an appearance, including singers Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, musician Nick Cave, actresses Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Joanna Lumley and Judi Dench, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and broadcaster Stephen Fry.
Last to arrive, just before the King and Queen, were the most senior members of King Charles’ family, his siblings and children, including Prince Harry who traveled to the UK from the US without his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and their two young children. Saturday is also Prince Archie’s 4th birthday.
Following the ceremony, Prince Harry did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with his father and selected members of the family. CNN understands that the prince, who is no longer a working royal, did not receive an invitation to join the family for this moment.
The King’s younger brother Prince Andrew was also missing from the traditional balcony appearance. Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his ties to disgraced financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In January 2022, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages after a judge ruled a sexual abuse civil lawsuit filed against him by Virginia Giuffre could proceed. The prince repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and the case was later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Despite the splendor of the occasion, it has not been without controversy. Some have objected to millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being spent on a lavish ceremony at a time when millions of Britons are suffering a severe cost-of-living crisis.
Security is by far the most costly element of large events and the Met said ahead of time that Saturday would be the largest one-day policing operation in decades, with more than 11,500 officers on duty in London.
The coronation has also attracted anti-monarchy demonstrations, with a small number of protesters arrested in central London on Saturday morning before the event began.
Republic, a campaign group that calls for the abolition of the monarchy, said the idea of the “homage of the people” was “offensive, tone deaf and a gesture that holds the people in contempt.”
Some eyebrows were also raised earlier this week when a controversial and widely criticized UK public order bill came into force.
Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year, there have been a number of instances of anti-monarchists turning up at royal engagements to voice their grievances against the institution.
The new rules, signed into law by the King on Tuesday, just days before the coronation, empower the police to take stronger action against peaceful protesters.
Republic said it was expecting between 1,500 and 2,000 people to join an anti-monarchy protest at Trafalgar Square, just south of the royal procession route. On Saturday morning, Republic said on Twitter that organizers of the protest had been arrested shortly after the demonstration started – including the group’s leader, Graham Smith.
The Metropolitan Police tweeted: “Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.”
A further three people were arrested “on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage,” the force added. And “a number of arrests” have been made of people suspected of breaching the peace.
Despite the pomp of Saturday’s events, the King is facing significant challenges. A CNN poll has found that Britons are more likely to say their views of the monarchy have worsened than improved over the past decade.
The results of the survey, conducted for CNN by the polling company Savanta in March, show Charles’ heir Prince William is viewed with greater affection than his father.
Despite their cooler attitude towards the King, most Britons say they plan to take part in at least one event related to the coronation this weekend, the poll found, with many communities planning street parties and lunches.
Artists Perry, Richie and Take That will headline the “Coronation Concert” at Windsor Castle on Sunday evening and people have also been encouraged to use Monday, the final day of the long weekend, to volunteer in their communities.
Miss Hilda Effiong is an inspiring entrepreneur and chef who has made a name for herself in the Nigerian food industry. Despite starting her career as a chef just recently in 2020, she has managed to build a successful brand for herself known as @Myfoodbyhilda.
Hilda Effiong Bassey Popularly known as Hilda Baci was born on September 20, 1996, in Akwa Ibom State. She is a multi-talented Nigerian TV producer, actress, head cook at FoodbyHilda and entrepreneur who started her journey from grass to grace.
Chef Hilda Baci
Name
Hilda Effiong Bassey
Date of birth
September 20, 1996
State of Origin
Akwa Ibom State
Occupation
Foodpreneur, actress, and TV presenter
Popularly known as
Hilda Baci
Net worth
$320,000
Hilda Bacihas embarked on a journey to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.
The cook-a-thon, which began on May 11 and will end on May 14, features a live-streamed show on multiple social media channels where Hilda will make over 250 rec
Before venturing into the food industry, Hilda studied Sociology at Madonna University in Okija, Nigeria. Her love for cooking and her passion for sharing her culinary skills with others led her to start her own business, which initially had only one location.
As the CEO and head chef of @Myfoodbyhilda, Hilda has developed a reputation for providing delicious and healthy meals using locally sourced ingredients. She is also known for her innovative cooking techniques and creative presentation, which have earned her a loyal following of customers and fans.
Hilda Baci’s World Guinness Record
Hilda Baci is an ambitious and determined chef who is on a mission to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking time. The 27-year-old graduate has set up a four-day ‘cook-a-thon‘ at Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos State, where she plans to cook multiple dishes for an expected period of time in order to get recognition from the Guinness World Records.
The current record for the world’s longest cooking marathon is held by Lata Tondon, who completed the task in 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 secs in Rewa, India in 2019. Hilda Baci is hoping to break this record and make history in the process. Hilda’s passion for cooking and her determination to break this record has garnered a lot of attention and support from her fans and followers on social media. Many have been following her progress and cheering her on as she embarks on this challenging feat.
If Hilda is successful in breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking time, it will be a major achievement not just for her but for the Nigerian food industry as a whole. It will showcase the talent and dedication of Nigerian chefs and put the country on the map as a destination for culinary excellence.
Chef Hilda Baci’s Cars
As a successful chef and entrepreneur, Hilda Baci has a passion for luxury and is known for her love of cars. She has been spotted driving a number of high-end vehicles over the years, including a Mercedes-Benz G wagon, which is a luxurious and powerful SUV that combines sportiness with elegance.
Chef Hilda Baci’s Mercedes-Benz G wagon
In addition to the G wagon, Hilda has also been seen behind the wheel of a Range Rover, a stylish and versatile SUV that’s perfect for both city and off-road driving. This vehicle is known for its distinctive design, advanced technology, and exceptional performance.
Chef Hilda Baci’s Range Rover
Hilda’s taste in cars reflects her status as a successful and accomplished businesswoman. Her love of luxury and her appreciation for high-end vehicles are a reflection of her hard work and dedication to her craft.
Chef Hilda Baci’s Cars
Whether she’s driving around town or heading to a catering event, Hilda Baci’s cars are a symbol of her success and her commitment to living life to the fullest.
Chef Hilda Baci Net Worth
Chef Hilda Baci Net Worth
Hilda Baci’s estimated net worth of $320,000 is a testament to her success as a chef and entrepreneur. She has built her career from scratch, starting with a passion for cooking and a determination to share her culinary skills with the world.
Today, Hilda makes money primarily from her cooking career, which includes hosting cooking shows on different television platforms and running her own catering business. She is also a YouTuber and has built a sizable following on social media, which has helped to boost her earnings.
What you should know about Chef Hilda Baci
Hilda Baci is a renowned foodpreneur, actress, and TV presenter known for her exceptional homemade recipes. She is the founder of “My Food by Hilda“, a premium restaurant and delivery service for African and continental dishes.
Hilda’s passion for cooking was inspired by her mother’s culinary techniques. Her cooking skills led her to the world of television, where she started with the cooking segment “In my Kitchen” on Rave TV’s breakfast show, Morning Rave. She was also the host of “Dine on A Budget” on Pop Central TV, where she engaged celebrities on topical issues and treated them to a good dining experience.
Hilda’s hard work and dedication paid off when she launched her first premium fast-food restaurant in June 2022, catering to an incredible number of clients. She has also showcased her acting prowess in various movies and soap operas, including Dream Chaser, which was nominated for Best Movie at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
As a humanitarian, Hilda believes that everyone deserves well-prepared meals. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she provided over 3,000 meals to less privileged communities for social impact. She has also trained over 2,500 students in the culinary arts, giving prizes and incentives to the best-performing students.
Ghanaian Vlogger, Wode Maya, has become a notable figure in the world of content creation, showcasing the power of creativity and the internet.
With a strong presence on YouTube, Maya has not only gained fame but has also generated a significant income from the platform.
In a recent interview with Kwaku Sintim Misa, Maya revealed that he earns between $20,000 and $50,000 per month from YouTube.
This financial success has propelled him into the ranks of being one of the most accomplished Ghanaian content creators on the platform.
Maya’s journey is not without its challenges. Despite his achievements, Maya faces criticisms and is often labeled as “jobless” by some individuals.
However, he remains undeterred by such remarks, expressing his contentment with his chosen path and asserting that he wants to be seen as “jobless.”
“People still call me jobless, and I absolutely love it! I want to be jobless,” he boldly declared.
Some skeptics even accused him of being an occultist, questioning the source of his wealth. Maya recounted encounters where individuals, impressed by his achievements, sought his mentorship but then veered into misguided suspicions.
“One guy approached me, praising my accomplishments and asking to be mentored. Then, out of the blue, he inquired about the occult group I supposedly belonged to. It’s not just him; others have asked the same bizarre question. They think I’m a scammer or hiding something behind my YouTube success. But trust me, the internet is my ally,” Maya revealed, dispelling the rumors.
Undeterred by the naysayers, Maya encouraged young people to pursue their passions, emphasizing the importance of monetizing one’s talents.
“Whatever your passion may be, seize the opportunity to monetize it and make the best out of it,” he advised with enthusiasm.
Wode Maya’s remarkable journey showcases the immense potential of YouTube and the limitless possibilities that await those who dare to dream. So, remember, your passion can lead to extraordinary success too!
During an interview on The Delay Show, Deloris Frimpong Manso delved into Oseikrom Sikanii’s extravagant lifestyle, questioning the source of his wealth. Oseikrom Sikanii defended himself, attributing his affluence primarily to his music career and the generous gifts he receives. The conversation aimed to shed light on the musician’s financial background and ascertain the authenticity of his claims regarding ownership of multiple apartments and luxurious cars.
Insisting that he is not into fraudulent acts, the musician posited that one does not even need to have a job to be successful in life, citing his relationship with other people as an avenue for making money.
According to him, he receives gifts from people who like his personality and has also earned enormous income from being a musician.
“I have so many friends and sometimes, for a whole month, I would have made no purchases with my money,” Oseirom Sikanii said. “People send me money. Some people send me money on the basis that they find me funny. I don’t have a specific job apart from music. I perform and get paid.”
This response was not convincing, triggering a reaction from the host of the show.
“Come on. As a musician, how many shows do you get to have built an 8-bedroom and acquired many cars? What kind of shows? Mention them,” said Delay.
“On 5th March, I even performed at F2 Rave at Offinso. They gave me 20,000. So, just imagine, if I perform at five shows for even a month, how much do you think I’d make?” Sikanii responded.
“So, you expect me to buy this story of yours?” a doubtful Delay asked.
“Don’t I deserve 20,000? That is even the least I take for performances,” Sikanii replied.
Delay who was still dissatisfied with the response explained why she was not convinced. In her narrative, some musicians have led the youth astray with their supposed legal earnings.
She said: “Frankly, you throw dust in people’s eyes. Some of you would claim to be doing music and you’d be buying expensive cars, living lavishly and the moment, you are arrested for fraud. This is what’s happening. Most of you are misleading the youth and they think all is rosy but that’s not the case. Are you a fraudster?”
In response, Oseikrom Sikanii who kept his composure said “No, I’m not. I’m a businessman. I do it one-on-one. People impersonate me.”
About Oseikrom Sikani
Oseikrom Sikani is a Ghanaian musician and rapper based in Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana.According to Oseikrom Sikani, he once spent about Ghc20,000 at a club just to proof to people he is wealthy.Oseikrom Sikani is an alumini of Sunyani Technical University.
Oseikrom Sikani was born in Kumasi. He started singing in Church at an early age. According to Oseikrom Sikani, all his family members lived abroad; he is the only one living in Ghana. His father is called sika gari ( means he has money like cassava flakes)
He started his music career in 2013 but did not show much seriousness in it. He only did music as a hobby.
Mr Sampson Tangombu Chiragia, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the Navrongo Central Constituency has congratulated Mr Simon Akibange Aworigo, the Parliamentary Candidate-elect (PC-elect) for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the area.
“I wish to congratulate my brother, Mr Simon Aworigo on his election as the 2024 Parliamentary Candidate for Navrongo Central Constituency,” he said in a statement.
Mr Chiragia polled 447 votes and lost to Mr Aworigo who got 475, pledged his “Unflinching support to Mr Simon Aworigo and urge all my supporters to support him unconditionally.
“As we prepare for the 2024 general election, I will continue to support the Constituency executive, the Parliamentary Candidate to ensure that we retain the seat in the 2024 general election,” he said.
Mr Chiragia emphasized that the NDC could not afford to lose the Navrongo Central seat to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and called for support for the PC–elect to enable the NDC retain the seat.
“To my teeming supporters, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the love you have shown me throughout this election process.
“To my other colleagues who couldn’t equally make it into the Office, congratulations. I indulge you to let us all support Mr Simon Aworigo to retain the seat for the NDC in the 2024 general election.
“We shall work together to win the seat again, and an overwhelming endorsement for Former President John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 general election, to form the government in 2025,” Mr Chiragia said.
Apart from Mr Chiragia and Mr Aworigo, Mr Pius Ayemva Avio and Jacob Paarechuga Anankware also contested the primaries and polled 135 and 88 respectively.
Parliamentary Candidate-elect for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Builsa North Constituency of the Upper East Region, Mr James Agalga, says the contest among aspirants in the just ended primaries has reactivated and repositioned the Party for power in 2024.
He, therefore, urged Party delegates and supporters to close their ranks and focus on the elections in 2024, as there was no individual winner or loser in the just ended primaries.
“The winner in this contest is the National Democratic Congress. As for the primaries, it is nothing but a spring board to success for the Party in the upcoming elections,” he said.
Mr Agalga, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, who was re-elected as the Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC in the 2024 general elections, said this in his victory address to delegates and supporters of the Party.
“The fact that there was competition here, I can say we have been able to reactivate the Party and positioned it in the manner that makes us prepared and ready to retain the seat and also deliver victory for Former President Mahama in the 2024 elections.”
Mr Agalga, who is the incumbent MP for the area and the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Select Committee of Parliament, polled 547 votes to beat Mr Simon Awog-Badek and Professor Godwin Awabil who polled 165 and nine votes respectively.
The 23VGMA artiste of the year Black Sherif has revealed that his father edits some of his songs when he is about to release them.
In an interview on the United Showbiz on UTV, Black Sherif said that he has a healthy relationship with his parents, who have supported him since the beginning of his music career and allowed him to showcase his talent to the world.
The Kweku The Traveler hitmaker said that he was motivated by his parents who stirred a passion for music as they used to play songs from some Ghanaian music legends.
Black Sherif added that his father would tell him that a line in his song could be slightly changed and tweaked to improve its meaning and give it a better lyrical punch. Blacko said that he would often do just that.
“I send some of my tracks to my parents to listen to it. My father is musically good, he would listen to my song and say that this line could be better if tweaked in this direction or done this other way. They have always believed in me and folded their arms to watch me prove myself. Nobody stopped me” he said.
About Black Sherif
Black Sherif was born and raised in Konongo-Zongo, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. As both his parents stayed overseas, Black Sherif lived with his aunt and other extended family members at the age of 10. His nomadic lifestyle exposed him to multiple influences and different cultures at a very early age.
He attended his basic education at Konongo Zongo Islamic Basic School and later at Pinamang Educational Complex, where he graduated junior high school (J.H.S). He then later completed his secondary education at Kumasi Academy, where he picked up an interest in music and dancing.
He is a former student of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) and is currently studying at the University of Ghana.
Career
Black Sherif began his career in 2019 with the release of his song “Cry for Me” on YouTube. His debut single “Money” was released on May 25, 2020, along with a music video. In May 2021, his single “First Sermon” was released, further increasing his audience. The song’s sequel, “Second Sermon,” was released in July and received a remix with fellow African artist Burna Boy.
His breakthrough came in March 2022 with his single “Kwaku the Traveller,” which reached number 1 on the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts and became his most popular song. He released his debut album, The Villain I Never Was, in October, supported by the singles “45” and “Soja”.
Black Sherif performed at the 25th anniversary of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, which took place at the OVO Arena in Wembley, UK In December 2022, Black Sherif hosted his debut concert, the “Mozama Disco Concert” in Accra.
On 20 February 2023, Black Sherif won the Best Hip Hop award at the Soundcity MVP Awards, which were held at the Eko Convention Center in Lagos
Artistry
Black Sherif’s music is a blend of highlife, reggae, and hip-hop, specifically UK drill. He has stated his musical influences are rappers Kanye West, Travis Scott, Saint John, Dave, Stormzy, J Hus, and Ghanaian artists Mugeez and Sarkodie.
Controversies
On 11 April 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Black Sherif for alleged breach of contract after Sherif signed a deal with Empire Shadrach Agyei Owusu, the CEO of Waynes Chavis Consult, was seeking the court to restrict Black Sherif from performing at events without his authorization. Fortunately for Black Sherif, the Accra High Court (Commercial Division) dismissed the injunction filed against him which sought to prevent the singer from performing music he released under his old management.
Karela United’s embattled winger, Philip Flamini, has been granted bail with three sureties by the Nkroful District Court in the Western Region of Ghana.
The court proceedings were overseen by Her Worship Awo Amissah French. Flamini was charged with sexual assault and defiling a 13-year-old school girl.
The alleged incident occurred on Saturday, April 29, at the club’s house in Edwakpole, a suburb of Aiyinase in the Ellembelle District.
Flamini, a 24-year-old Ghana Premier League player who previously played for Sekondi Hasaacas, was arrested and has been in police custody for the past two weeks.
Flamini is scheduled to reappear before the court on Monday, May 15, 2023. Karela United has suspended him pending the conclusion of the ongoing police investigation.
It is currently unclear whether the club will allow Flamini to return to training while investigations continue.
Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), General Asiedu Nketiah, has said money does not decide who gets voted for in the NDC anymore.
Speaking after the declaration of the results for the presidential primaries on Sunday dawn, Mr. Nketia expressed confidence that the party now has the men and women to ensure overwhelming victory in the 2024 general elections.
He commended the party delegates on the quality of candidates who were elected in the just-ended parliamentary primaries.
He said, “Money does not decide who gets the vote in [the] NDC anymore. We heard stories about big men, potentially rich men who could win elections; they all could not win in spite of their wealth and riches and the stories we heard about what they were intending to distribute, but we are happy that so far, the quality of candidates that have been produced in this election gives us confidence that we will go into 2024 and win presidential and win a significant majority in Parliament, and also deliver on the charge of rescuing this country.”
“We are not going to say we have the men; we want the men to prove themselves for you to say that ‘yes, NDC, you have the men’…” he added.
On Saturday, May 13, 2023, the NDC elected parliamentary candidates to represent the party in the 2024 election.
The party also elected former President John Dramani Mahama as its flagbearer for the 2024 elections.
Hilda Baci, an accomplished restaurateur based in Lagos, is currently making waves as she embarks on a remarkable endeavor to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest individual cooking marathon. The event has caught the attention of many, and her determination is capturing the hearts of people around the world.
The 27-year-old, who is currently on day 3, has 24 more hours to go to break the record now held by Indian chef Lata Tandon
The chef, who owns a restaurant in Lagos, has been the talk of many on social media as she continues on the daring attempt to break the record which Indian chef Lata Tandon currently holds.
With Nigerians on social media cheering her on, exciting facts about Baci and the cook-a-thon have surfaced.
Check out these ten things you need to know about Baci and the cooking challenge.
Who she is
Her real name is Hilda Bassey Effiong. She is a young Nigerian chef from Nsit Ubium LGA in Akwa Ibom State. She owns a food brand in Lagos called My Food by Hilda. She is 27 years of age.
2. Cooking duration and rules
Baci will be cooking for 4 days non-stop. She will cook around the clock with no sleep. She must stand to cook throughout.
She started the cooking on Thursday, May 11, and is expected to complete the target time frame by the evening of Monday, May 15, 2023.
3. What she can eat
While she can eat food and drink water or fruit juice, Baci cannot take coffee, stimulants or any energy drink to artificially boost her energy and bodily strength while cooking. She, however, can take glucose.
4. What she cooks and who can eat
Whatever she cooks is distributed to the people at the venue for free. She is not selling the food. She is to cook different meals simultaneously. She is at liberty to cook any meal she likes.
There are no restrictions on what she can or cannot cook. The World Record title concerns cooking within a time frame, not about what is cooked.
5. Number of meals cooked so far
Every meal cooked and every plate served is recorded. She has cooked over 115 meals with over 3,000 portions served.
6. Current record holder
The current holder of the title Hilda seeks to break is an Indian chef Lata Tandon, who set the Guinness World Record for longest cooking by an individual at 87 hours and 45 minutes in 2019.
7. Number of hours needed to break the record
To break the record, Hilda Baci is attempting to cook for 96 hours, using extra 9 hours to break the world record as the first human on earth to spend such an amount of time cooking in a marathon.
8. Foodstuff and items for the challenge
Most of the food items, ingredients and utensils she used for this project were provided by her sponsors. So, the money expended on this project is not 100% from Hilda or her food brand.
9. Location of event
The cooking is taking place at Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria.
10. About Hilda’s mum
Hilda’s mum is also a chef. She owns a food brand called Calabar Pot.
The chef recorded the milestone by hitting the 87-hour, 45-minute mark and is yet to set a new world record.
In the early hours of Monday, May 15, 2023, she beat the 87 hours, 45 minutes record set by the current World Record holder, Lata Tondon, an Indian chef who made the feat in 2019.
She expressed sheer joy and gratitude to God in a viral video, celebrating the triumphant accomplishment.
Cheers from fans gathered at the ‘Cookathon’ venue has also intensified.
Hilda has continued to receive a wave of support from government officials, celebrities, clerics, and other well-meaning fans worldwide.
She kick-started the competition on Thursday, May 11, at exactly 4 pm.
Challenges
Hilda was said to have experienced severe foot cramps during the contest due to standing the entire period.
At a point, when the pains intensified, she was spotted tearing up in a viral video while fans gathered at the venue backed her with prayers.
A driver has lost his life after he was trapped in a truck.
Firefighters from the Ejisu Fire Station were on Sunday, 14 May 2023, dispatched to respond to a twin accident and fire incident involving a Man Diesel Truck with registration number GA 5246 – 10 at Juaso Water Works in the Asante Akim South of the Ashanti Region.
According to the Fire Service, the dispatch from Ejisu Fire Station was due to an out-of-commission Konongo Fire Engine which could have gotten to the incident scene within 10 minutes to save the situation if it were to be functional at the time of the incident.
The Crew got to the twin incident scene and after a quick assessment, found that the affected Man Diesel Truck was scattered at the scene due to impact of the crash.
The driver’s mate, Mutala Yussif, 16 years, had escaped unhurt after the crash but the driver of the affected Man Diesel Truck, Sumaila Ibrahim, 36 years, was found trapped in the head compartment of the truck and badly burnt while about 500 bags of cashew nuts were on fire.
The firefighters doused the raging fire, retrieved the badly charred body of the deceased driver and handed it over to the Juaso Police for preservation and further investigation. The Man Diesel Truck and its contents also suffered fire damage.
According to the driver’s mate, a car wrongfully overtook their Tema-bound Man Diesel Truck which forced the driver to veer off its lane to save the overtaking car. The driver of the Truck then lost control to hit the pavement of the steel bridge causing great friction between the trailer and the metal rails of the bridge and as a result, the truck somersaulted and landed on the shoulder of the road and in a nearby bush with scattered parts.
Preliminary investigation showed that sufficient sparks from the trailer’s impact with the steel bridge caused the fire which gutted the rear of the trailer and also set the 500 bags of cashew nuts in the trailer alight.
The fire then spread quickly and affected the head compartment to burn the deceased driver who got trapped and could not escape the fire.
The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that two senior Russian military officers had died in eastern Ukraine, the most recent high-profile deaths for Moscow in a protracted conflict with its western neighbour.
Col. Yevgeny Brovko and Col. Vyacheslav Makarov, two officers who were in charge of Russian soldiers in the Donetsk region, were reportedly killed in action. They were killed, but it didn’t say when or when.
A statement from the Russian Defence Ministry stated, “The battle was personally led by Colonel Vyacheslav Makarov, commander of the 4th motorised rifle brigade, who was at the forefront.”
Brovko, the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, was leading troops in “repelling enemy attacks” and “heroically died after receiving multiple shrapnel wounds,” the ministry said.
The Donetsk region of Ukraine includes the city of Bakhmut, which has seen some of the fiercest and most relentless fighting of the war.
A months-long assault on the city by Russian forces, including Wagner mercenaries, has driven thousands from their homes and left the area devastated. But despite the vast amounts of manpower Russia has poured into capturing the city, they have been unable to take total control, and in the past week suffered heavy losses in the area.
Ukrainian forces have been able to capture more than 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram post on Sunday.
Maliar called the situation in Bakhmut “very hot.”
The Ukrainian military reported on Sunday that Bakhmut and Maryinka in eastern Ukraine remain the “epicenter of fighting”
“The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka directions. In total, about 30 combat engagements took place in the above-mentioned areas over the last day,” the military added.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine has made “massive attempts to break through the defense of our troops to the north and south of Artemovsk,” referring to Bakhmut by its Russian name.
“All the attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have been repelled. There has been no breakthrough in the defense of Russian forces,” the statement read.
Also in eastern Ukraine, Russian targets in the occupied city of Luhansk have been hit in missiles strikes in the past several days.
The city has become a significant hub for Russia’s invasion effort and has rarely been hit by Ukrainian attacks since the war began.
But two missiles hit in the area on Friday and another explosion was reported there on Saturday.
Some Russian bloggers, without providing evidence, suggested Ukraine used cruise missiles recently provided by the United Kingdom. But Kyiv also has Ukrainian-made Grom missiles, which have the range to hit Luhansk.
Elsewhere, unconfirmed reports said Russia may have had four military aircraft shot down over its own territory on Saturday, which if true would mark a significant coup for Ukraine.
One Russian media outlet said that at least two combat aircraft – an Su-34 fighter/bomber and an Su-35 fighter – and two Mi-8 helicopters crashed.
The aircraft were reportedly lost in the Russian region of Bryansk on the border with Ukraine.
Multiple crashes within Russian territory at the same time would be unprecedented. Some analysts believe Ukrainian air defenses may have been pushed forward as the Russian air force uses more “glide munitions” that can fire at targets from distance.
A political scientist at the University of Winneba (UEW), Dr Isaac Brako, has said that the overwhelming victory of the former President, John Mahama, in the just-ended primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) makes it possible to recapture power in the 2024 general election.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV and monitored by Ghanaweb, the political scientist said the former president’s grip on the NDC party and the victory margin in the primaries make him a force to reckon with in the 2024 general election.
“If somebody says the general election is going to be easy, that will be untrue. Both parties must work hard. Anybody who wants to underrate the chances of the former president will do so at his own risk. So all of them will have to work hard,” he said.
When asked if the return of the John Mahama could be a reality, Dr. Brako said it is possible.
“It is possible, but it will heavily rest in the message they sell out. The public is looking out for certain things. And whatever they are looking out for is embedded in the various campaign messages. What was your performance in your first administration? What are you going to say differently that will cause the public to trust you with power again,” he added.
To him, the NDC must invest in their messages to make them attractive enough to the public.
“You must be able to craft an effective message that is attractive,” he continued.
Background:
The opposition National Democratic Congress elected former President John Dramani Mahama as its flagbearer for the 2024 presidential election on May 13, 2023.
In a landslide victory, the former president polled 297,603 (98.9%) against his contender, Kojo Bonsu who polled 3,181 (1.1%) in the election.
The Electoral Commission’s returning officer made the declaration in the wee hours of May 14, 2023.
John Dramani Mahama became president of Ghana ahead of the 2012 general election after succeeding his boss, John Evans Atta Mills, following his demise.
The NDC later put John Mahama up as its presidential candidate in the 2012 presidential election, where he clinched victory over his closest contender, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party.
John Mahama lost power in 2016 to Nana Akufo-Addo and subsequently failed to recapture power in 2020 when he was elected flagbearer of the NDC.
Ahead of the 2023 presidential primaries, John Mahama enjoyed wide endorsement within the NDC and was presumed to be the party’s flagbearer in waiting.
Ahead of the election, Dr Duffuor, who is a former finance minister under the erstwhile NDC administration led by John Evans Atta Mills, had sought an interlocutory injunction against the party from going ahead with the election.
At the hearing of his application in Accra High Court, barely 24 hours before the election, Dr Duffuor’s lawyers informed the court that they had been instructed by their client to withdraw the application.
Later, at a press conference on Friday, Dr Duffuor announced his resignation from the flagbearership contest.
After days of fighting that cost the lives of at least 35 individuals, practically all of them Palestinians, Israel and Islamic Jihad decided to end hostilities on Saturday.
It was uncertain whether or not the ceasefire will hold or last when it was set to begin at 10 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET), according to Egyptian authorities in Gaza who helped negotiate it. Minutes after the ceasefire was due to go into effect, rockets were still being fired from Gaza, a CNN producer in the area witnessed.
More than an hour after the time the ceasefire was due to take effect, sirens continued to sound in Israel, warning of incoming rocket fire, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched more airstrikes on targets in Gaza, minutes before the ceasefire was due to come into effect.
The head of Israel’s National Security Council Tzachi Hanegbi thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Saturday night, and expressed Israel’s appreciation for Egypt’s vigorous efforts to bring about a ceasefire, a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. Hanegbi was acting on the guidance of Netanyahu, the statement said.
Hanegbi said Israel’s response to the Egyptian initiative means “quiet will be answered quietly, and if Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do everything it needs to do in order to defend itself.”
Hamas, the militant Palestinian movement that runs the Gaza Strip, issued a statement praising Palestinian resistance factions after the ceasefire appeared to take hold.
Hamas “hails the Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions for defending the Palestinian people against the most recent Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem said.
He added that “the unity of the Palestinian resistance is evidence of the Israeli occupation’s failure to provoke strife within the resistance.”
In a statement, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland welcomed the ceasefire and urged “all sides” to observe it.
“I look forward to the immediate restoration of humanitarian access and all social and economic measures to support Palestinian livelihoods in Gaza,” he added.
The violence this week left at least 33 Palestinians dead in Gaza and at least two people in Israel – an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man from Gaza working in Israel.
Word of the agreement came near the end of a day of intense fighting. A rocket launched from Gaza killed a Palestinian man working in Israel and seriously wounded another, Israel medical authorities said Saturday, as cross-border fire showed little signs of easing.
The two men were working in the Negev desert in southern Israel and were hit by shrapnel. IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht tweeted Saturday that the two men were brothers.
The Palestinian man who died is the second death in Israel due to rocket fire from Gaza since hostilities broke out on Tuesday morning.
The incident came as Israel’s military pounded targets in Gaza Saturday while Palestinian militants fired more rockets.
The IDF said it launched a series of attacks on sites which it said belong to Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
Israel accuses the group of planning attacks and since the flare-up began on Tuesday has killed six of its commanders.
In a televised speech following the ceasefire, Islamic Jihad’s secretary general Ziyad al-Nakhala acknowledged those losses and said the group was prepared to take up arms in the future.
“We are emerging from this battle with our weapons in our hands, and our fighters are still in the field, ready at all times to fight any aggression,” he said.
Islamic Jihad is the second largest armed group in Gaza after Hamas.
More than 1,200 rockets have been launched so far at Israel, said the IDF, which has struck more than 370 targets in Gaza as part of its “Shield and Arrow” campaign, in its fifth day as the ceasefire was declared.
Videos from Gaza showed that the airstrikes appeared to have also hit at least two civilian homes in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, but no injuries were reported.
Asked about the latest strikes by CNN, the IDF said that in the last 24 hours, they struck operational residences used as headquarters and command and control centers by the Jihad terrorists.
In its statement, the military said IDF fighter jets and aircraft struck launching sites for mortar shells and rockets “used by Islamic Jihad to fire projectiles toward Israel over the last few days.”
On Friday, at the beginning of an operation the al Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad called “Revenge of the Free,” Palestinian militants launched rockets towards Jerusalem for the first time, as well as Tel Aviv and Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.Clashes also took place on Saturday morning in the occupied West Bank and at least two Palestinian men were killed, Palestinian officials said.
Sa’ed Jihad Shaker Mashah, 32, and Adnan Waseem Yousef Al-Araj, 19, were shot in the head with live bullets, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. At least three other people were injured, the ministry said.
The clash took place in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus in the northern part of the West Bank.
The IDF and Shin Bet security agency said IDF and Israel Border Police forces were raiding “a hideout belonging to terror operatives” in the camp.
Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern region who doubles as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Michael Okyere Baafi has stated that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is the best candidate to become Ghana’s next President.
He said the era where flagbearership position in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was a preserve for Akans is over.
According to him, it is now time for other tribes to also take over to lead the party as presidential candidates and to ascend the presidential seat.
Mr. Okyere Baafi explained that the NPP is made up of members from different ethnic groups and religions, therefore, appropriate for anyone qualified to lead the party regardless of his or her background.
“What I want to say is that, with the direction of the country, it is not only one community which makes Ghana. We have Ashantis, we have Ewes, we have Gas, we have Krobos and Bonos in Ghana. Some of all these tribes are Members of NPP which means the era where only Akans lead the party is over. Now we need people from all these tribes listed to also lead the party to become president” Okyere Baafi said.
Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi made this comment when speaking at the official launch of “Women Delegates For Bawumia” in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital.
Okyere Baafi described as deceitful and untenable claims that Ghana is a Christian-dominated country therefore a Muslim cannot become president.
“They say Ghana is a Christian country so some say a Muslim cannot lead the country. This is where I want to speak briefly on. For all those contesting the election, the only one who can be president is called Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Among the aspirants the only one who can lead the party into victory, his name is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia”.
He continued, “Some Christians who want to deceive you that they are the majority so won’t vote for Muslim must cast their minds to Nigeria. In Nigeria, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. In Senegal, Muslims are majority but the President is a Christian. Listen very well! A country with diverse tribes means everyone could become president in future”.
He said Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has demystified the myth that Muslims cannot fellowship with Christians in church, and has set a standard that will become a yardstick for every Muslim who wants to be President.
“Christians must listen. For the first time, we are going to have a Muslim as President to serve as standard to every Muslim who dreams to be President. Dr.Bawumia will be the first Muslim to bring that standard because most Muslims don’t enter Churches to fellowship but we have a Muslim (Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia) who attends all-night services, a Muslim who goes to conventions, a Muslim who attends retreats, a Muslim who worships with Christians such a Muslim will become standard”.
He added “So henceforth, every Muslim who wants to be president will follow the standard. He must be a Muslim who can enter into churches, he should be a Muslim who can attend retreats, that is the paradigm shift brought to Ghana by Dr. Bawumia. He is setting a standard for everybody who is a Muslim who wants to become a president, for the first time he has set the standard for all of us. So don’t let anyone deceive you. Dr. Bawumia is well experienced, he has the will-power, he has the expertise, he has knowledge and wisdom to move Ghana forward.”
“Women Delegates for Bawumia” is a new political group within the ruling NPP made up of female delegates who have declared support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to become flagbearer of the party in 2024.”
The theme for the Women Delegates for Bawumia is “The Strength of a Woman, the force behind Bawumia.”
The launch was attended by female delegates of the NPP from all 33 Constituencies in the Eastern region.
The National Coordinator of “Women Delegates for Bawumia” Maame Esi Davenport said the aim of the group is to secure 80% female delegates’ votes for Dr. Bawumia.
This she said will be done through a vigorous campaign strategy trumpeting the achievements of the Akufo Addo/Bawumia-led government.
She touted the competence of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in leading the country describing him as an able and exceptional Vice President whose involvement in politics has changed the face of Ghanaian politics.
She stated that Dr. Bawumia’s experience in both the private and public sectors adds to his credentials as the best presidential material.
She averred that Dr. Bawumia has been instrumental in the Akufo Addo-led government’s policy interventions impacting positively the country
Maame Esi Davenport debunked propaganda by opponents that Dr. Bawumia is new in NPP stating that “he has been with the NPP for decades, worked so hard for the NPP to win power through his economic lectures that exposed the incompetence of John Mahama led government” therefore deserves to lead the party.
On women empowerment, she said Dr.Bawumia has demonstrated in many ways his commitment to empowering women to take leadership roles to change society, using his Wife the second lady Samira Bawumia as an example.
As reported by the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS), the human-wildlife conflict in the area has increased, killing ten lions in southern Kenya over the previous week, including six just on Saturday.
A KWS official told CNN on Sunday that this was “an unusually large number of lions to be killed at one time.”
It follows the earlier this week announcement by conservationists that Loonkiito, one of Africa’s oldest lions, had been killed at the age of 19.
He had ventured out of a protected area and into a livestock pen due to being “starving,” and was killed by the livestock owner, according to conservation organization Lion Guardians.
The organization said that the end of a drought is commonly marked by an increase in human-lion conflict, since wild prey becomes harder to hunt and livestock owners are “particularly vigilant” after losing so many animals. Kenya has been experiencing its worst drought in 40 years.
The six lions that died on Saturday had killed 11 goats and one dog, the KWS said in a press release on Saturday.
The lions were all part of Kajiado County’s Amboseli ecosystem, a UNESCO biosphere reserve site near Mount Kilimanjaro, according to the UN.
KWS hosted a meeting Saturday attended by locals and government officials to discuss the recent killings.
“The discussions centered on exploring ways to minimize the risk of human-wildlife conflict, including developing early warning systems to alert communities to the presence of wildlife in their vicinity,” said the KWS.
“Further discussions centered on the wider picture of exploring human-wildlife conflict in the context of community livelihoods and benefit sharing towards a harmonious coexistence in the open community and wildlife landscapes,” it added.
The shelling in eastern Ukraine, about 60 kilometres behind Russian borders, severely damaged a meat-processing industry and a chemical plant.
The Russian ministry said: ‘Storm Shadow air-to-air missiles supplied to the Kyiv regime by Britain were used for the strike, contrary to London’s statements that these weapons would not be used against civilian targets.’
It also claimed Russia had shot down two Ukrainian warplanes – an Su-24 and a MiG-29 – that had launched the missiles.
Britain became the first country to confirm it had started supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles on Thursday.
Buildings in Luhansk were completely demolished in the shelling (Picture: Mash/east2west news)
A batch of the missiles were sent to allow forces to hit Russian troops and supply dumps deep beyond the front lines as Ukraine prepares a major counteroffensive.
British defence minister Ben Wallace said the missiles could be used within Ukrainian territory, implying he had received assurances from president Volodymyr Zelensky that they would not be used to attack targets inside Russia’s internationally accepted borders.
Mr Wallace told parliament earlier this week the weapons will give Ukraine the ‘best chance’ of defending itself and highlighted Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilians as the reason why the missiles have been supplied.
He said: ‘Russia must recognise that its actions alone have led to such systems being provided.’
The Storm Shadow cruise missiles have a range of more than 155 miles, according to the manufacturer, in contrast to the US-supplied Himars missiles used by Ukraine which only have a range of around 50 miles.
Previously, the Kremlin said that if Britain provided these missiles it would require ‘an adequate response from our military’.
Russia’s ministry also claimed forces had gained control over another block in the eastern city of Bakhmut, which Moscow has been trying to capture for more than 10 months in an attritional artillery battle.
It added: ‘The units of the Airborne Forces provided support to the assault units and pinned down the enemy on the flanks.’
The ministry often uses the term ‘assault units’ to denote the Wagner private militia, which has been spearheading the assault on Bakhmut at great cost in casualties.
Russia also reportedly attacked the Ukrainian city of Ternopil as the country’s Eurovision act – who hail from the city – were about to perform last night.
After a horrific collision with a vehicle, a minibus caught fire, killing at least 26 people.
According to reports, there were several kids and a newborn on board when the horrible collision occurred in Mexico early yesterday morning.
The van was struck head-on by a tractor trailer on a highway in Tamaulipas, a state in northeastern Mexico, and both cars took fire.
The passenger van was completely destroyed by the fire, as seen in horrifying photographs released by the authorities.
The lorry was also severely damaged in the collision on a road between the towns of Guemez and Zaragoza.
According to local media reports, the victims may have all been members of one family who had rented the van to drive to the northern city of Monterrey in Veracruz.
Tamaulipas’s public security ministry said once authorities arrived at the site, they found the truck carrying the trailer was no longer at the scene.
At least 26 people, including children, were killed in the crash (Picture: Reuters)Emergency services have been dealing with the tragic incident in Tamaulipas, Mexico (Picture: AFP)
A source at the Tamaulipas prosecutors’ office said investigators were unsure whether the driver of the truck had fled or if he was also killed in the crash.
Passengers travelling in the van, believed to be from a private transportation business, included children, the source said.
The victims are all thought to be Mexicans as national IDs have been recovered from the scene.
Tamaulipas state governor Americo Villarreal Anaya said yesterday: ‘I deeply regret the tragedy recorded this morning on the Guemez-Zaragoza highway, where innocent people lost their lives.
‘My condolences to their families.
‘I have given instructions to investigate the cause of this accident and also to provide all possible help to the bereaved families.’
The Ukrainian president and the prime minister were seen strolling together after exiting a Chinook chopper.
The president’s most recent stop on his European tour is Britain, following a journey to Paris for a meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.
He will “meet my friend Rishi” for “substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations,” according to the leader of Ukraine.
A statement on Twitter this morning read: ‘Today – London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air.
‘This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.’
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It also follows meetings in Berlin and Rome, and comes three months after his first trip to London since the start of the war.
At the time, he attended an audience with King Charles and address Parliament in February.
It is yet unclear what the two leaders will discuss, but Mr Sunak has pledged the UK’s ‘sustained support’ for Ukraine.
The PM said: ‘This is a crucial moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke.
‘They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year. We must not let them down.
‘The frontlines of Putin’s war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and (Vladimir) Putin’s barbarism is not rewarded.
‘That is why the UK is sustaining our support to Ukraine – from tanks to training, ammunition to armoured vehicles.
‘And this message of solidarity will ring loud in all my meetings with fellow world leaders in the days ahead.’
This comes after Mr Sunak and defence secretary Ben Wallace announced that the government had agreed to authorise the supply of long-range cruise missiles.
That decision was welcomed by Mr Zelensky as a ‘significant enhancement’ of the efforts in the war.
The visit by Mr Zelensky comes ahead of a G7 gathering in Hiroshima, Japan later this week, which will be attended by Mr Sunak.
After four guys were rescued from the River Soar in Leicestershire, one adolescent has passed away.
In response to fire department complaints that four boys were in the river last night at 9:15 p.m., police were dispatched to the community of Barrow-upon-Soar.
The teenagers were saved, although one of them was declared dead right away.
A searchlight-equipped chopper was spotted assisting the ground effort.
At 9.40pm officers shut a number of roads and urged the public to stay away. A police presence remained in the village today and one footpath was closed off but the roads have reopened.
The family of the boy who died is being supported by specially trained officers and a file was being prepared for the coroner, reports the BBC.
A body has been discovered in a McDonald‘s walk-in freezer in New Iberia, Louisiana.
In a walk-in freezer at an Arby’s fast food outlet, a woman’s body was found.
According to KADN on Friday, the fatality was a worker at the Arby’s on E Admiral Doyle Drive in New Iberia, Louisiana.
Accordingly, an employee found the dead woman inside the cooler, according to New Iberia police Capt. Leland Laseter.
‘The deceased is an employee of the restaurant.’
The victim was an employee at the Arby’s restaurant (Picture: SOPA Images)
Her death is being considered suspicious, although investigators are not expecting to find foul play involved.
‘Nothing is set in stone yet,’ Laseter said.
‘A situation like this is unusual, so we’re taking extra precautions during the investigation.
‘(We) pretty much have completed our process at the crime scene. After completely processing the crime scene… this does not seem like a homicide, it seems like an accident.’
Investigators interviewed a few workers at the Arby’s.
There have been no suspects named.
An autopsy has been conducted to determine the woman’s identity and cause of death.
‘We’re going to re-examine all the evidence tomorrow,’ Laseter said. ‘So there are a few more steps that we need to take before a determination is made.’
It is not the first crime scene involving a walk-in cooler at a fast food joint.
In 2019, a McDonald’s manager allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in the walk-in fridge of the fast food establishment in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The manager, Andrew Albertorio, was accused of flirting with the teenage girl when she walked into the McDonald’s and then communicating through Snapchat. He allegedly attacked her in four other instances at the fast food outlet, and in his car and his home.
Another cooler death occurred in December, when a man’s body was found in a freezer box in a home in South Philadelphia. Cops found a bloody knife next to the body and the man’s son was taken into custody.
Communications to coastal areas have been cut off by one of the worst cyclones to ever hit Myanmar, and relief organisations have issued a warning that the damage may be “extensive” based on preliminary findings.
On Sunday, Cyclone Mocha ploughed through homes and downed power lines as it struck the northwest coast of Myanmar, off the Bay of Bengal. Wind gusts reached over 200 kph (195 mph).
Strong wind gusts were seen on video bringing down trees in the war-torn Rakhine state.
People can be seen huddling in temporary shelters, though the full impact of the storm is not yet known due to difficulties contacting people in the region.
“The ongoing wild weather in Rakhine and telecommunications interruptions mean it has not yet been possible to assess the full magnitude of the disaster,” said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“But early reports suggest the damage is extensive and needs among already vulnerable communities, particularly displaced people, will be high.
Before the storm, aid agencies in Myanmar, as well as neighboring Bangladesh, launched a massive emergency plan in a bid to minimize the risk of injury and destruction.
They had feared that Mocha would hit Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where about 1 million members of the stateless Rohingya community live.
But the tropical cyclone made landfall further south, just north of Sittwe, Myanmar, around 1:30 p.m. Sunday local time (3:00 a.m. ET), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
Hasina Rahman, Country Director for Bangladesh, International Rescue Committee, told CNN Monday it had been a “close call” for those living in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, adding there are no reports of casualties.
However, torrential rain battered Rakhine state in western Myanmar, bringing threats of flooding and landslides.
The last storm to make landfall with a similar strength was Tropical Cyclone Giri back in October 2010. It made landfall as a high-end Category 4 equivalent storm with maximum winds of 250 kph (155 mph).
Giri caused over 150 fatalities and roughly 70% of the city of Kyaukphyu was destroyed. According to the United Nations, roughly 15,000 homes were destroyed in Rakhine state during the storm.
One of the worst days for the Russian air force since the start of the Ukraine War may have just passed. Unverified sources state that four of its planes were downed on Russian soil, which would be a major victory for Ukraine.
There are different reports regarding the number of aeroplanes and helicopters that may have crashed inside the Russian area of Bryansk, but one Russian media site claims that at least two combat aircraft, a Su-34 and a Su-35, as well as two Mi-8 helicopters, went down.
Although the reported downing of the Russian aircraft on Saturday has not been confirmed by Ukraine, the country does claim that the plane “ran into some trouble.”
Bryansk is on the border with Ukraine and has seen previous attacks blamed on Kyiv.
Multiple crashes within Russian territory at the same time would be unprecedented. Some analysts believe Ukrainian air defenses may have been pushed forward as the Russian air force uses more “glide munitions” that can fire at targets from distance.
The Ukrainian air force spokesman, Yuriy Ihnat, said Sunday that a Russian “strike air group attacked Ukraine from the north, from Bryansk Oblast. They do this almost every day. They carry out strikes with guided bombs.”
In this instance, he said, “they ran into some trouble. They wanted to bomb our civilians, our peaceful people.” He went on to call it a “black day” for Russian aviation.
Social media videos geolocated by CNN show at least one helicopter crashing near the town of Klintsy in Bryansk, which is 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Aleksandr Bogomaz, the Governor of Bryansk, confirmed that a helicopter had crashed, injuring one civilian, but gave no details on the cause.
Another video, showing an aircraft coming down and a column of black smoke, has been geolocated to a village in Bryansk some 25 kilometers from Klintsy.
The official Russian news agency TASS published video of one helicopter exploding in mid-air and confirmed that an Su-34 fighter had crashed, without indicating the cause.
There’s been no word from the Russian Defense Ministry on the incident, but one unofficial Russian Telegram channel described it as the worst day for Russian military aviation since March last year.
The Russian newspaper Kommersant said that “a group of two Mi-8 helicopters and Su-34 and Su-35 fighters crashed in the Bryansk Oblast,” and suggested more helicopters might have been hit.
It added: “The attackers are being sought on the ground and in the air.”
Kommersant reported that the “fighters were to carry out a missile-bombing strike on targets in the Chernihiv Region of Ukraine, while the helicopters were to back them up, including to pick up the Su crews if they were shot down by enemy fire. All four machines did not return to the airfield. Their pilots were killed.”
The Kommersant report cannot be independently verified. But other Russian sources have begun discussing the incident, with one popular Telegram channel that posts about the conflict saying: “We are talking about a carefully planned [Ukrainian] operation here.”
Andrei Medvedev, a deputy on Moscow city council, said Saturday four aircraft had been lost and added: “Luhansk yesterday [a reference to missile strikes on the city], a strike on our air force today. Probing the defenses. Where it breaks. And strikes on the rear, infrastructure, and aviation.”
Another Russian Telegram channel that posts daily about the conflict claimed the Ukrainians were “launching rockets from the Chernihiv region, coming almost to the very border.”
Daniil Bezsonov, a Russian military blogger, posted Saturday that “The enemy most likely acted from an ambush by its air defense forces, which had moved into the border zone in advance, from which the distance would allow our air group to be hit. So the enemy most likely knew the route and time of our air group’s departure.”
There was also consternation among Russian bloggers that one Mi-8 helcopter shot down had advanced jamming equipment.
One Russian Telegram account said it was “complete idiocy” to send such a helicopter so close to Ukrainian defenses, saying “you had to be completely detached from reality” to send the specially-equipped Mi-8s into such a zone.
Military analysts assess that Ukraine may have pushed its air defenses forward to the border in regions such as Chernihiv to combat the Russians’ growing use of bombs that can be launched from distance, almost acting as a missile.
Ihnat said last month that the Russian military was converting FAB-500 high-explosive aerial bombs into cruise missiles. They are using these bombs “from a distance that is unreachable for Ukrainian air defense,” he said.
Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, has also suggested that the nature of the threat has changed.
“The planes of the Russians do not enter the zone of damage of our air defenses, striking remotely at the front line and near-frontline cities,” he said on Telegram in April.
Saturday’s events in Bryansk suggest that zone may now have been expanded into Russian territory.
It also suggests – as a number of unofficial Russian sources have pointed out – that Ukraine in this case possessed detailed intelligence about the planned Russian mission. That may be as of much concern in Russia as the loss of four aircraft over Russian territory
Authorities believe a school teacher who was attacked by a shark while surfing on Saturday is dead. They have discovered wetsuit fragments and what they believe to be the teacher’s surfboard.
On Saturday, Walkers Rock Beach on South Australia’s west coast received a call from emergency services reporting a shark attack, according to a statement from the local police force.
Simon Baccanello, a 46-year-old teacher at the nearby Elliston Area School, has been recognised by local CNN stations but has not yet been officially identified by authorities.
Police said in a statement Monday that they had recovered “two items of interests in relation to the search for a missing surfer, presumed dead after a shark attack.”
One of them appears to be a piece of wetsuit material, while the other item is believed to be some small pieces of white polystyrene possibly from the surfboard, said police, who are sending the items to be forensically analyzed.
Trevlyn Smith, a unit manager from SES, previously told CNN affiliate 9 News that the remains of the surfboard they retrieved showed “one bite mark.”
After consulting with Baccanello’s family, emergency services said they would continue to search the area and surrounding beaches in the coming days after high tide.
His family issued a statement saying his death was a “tragic loss,” according to 9 News.
Baccanello started his stint at the Elliston Area School in January, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“He had a real keenness with his students to make them feel good to build those relationships with the students,” the school’s principal Chad Fleming told 9 News.
Pulteney Grammar School – where Baccanello taught in Adelaide between 2007 and 2009, and then 2022 – also issued a statement on Facebook.
“He is well remembered by the School community as a fine teacher, a generous friend and a genuine, authentic human being,” the statement said.
Shark attacks are relatively rare off South Australia – according to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there were 20 shark encounters in 2022, resulting in 14 injuries and one death.
South Australia only contributed one case that did not involve any injury.
In February earlier this year, a 16-year-old girl was killed by a shark while swimming in a river in Perth, Western Australia.
A Chinese court has sentenced an American citizen, age 78, to life in prison for espionage.
According to a statement on the court’s social media account, John Shing-Wan Leung, who is also a permanent resident of Hong Kong, was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to life in prison on Monday.
According to the succinct statement, Leung was detained by state security forces on April 15, 2021 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. His allegations were not mentioned in the announcement.
The court also confiscated personal property worth 500,000 yuan ($71,797), the statement added.
Chinese authorities and state media have not previously disclosed any information on Leung’s detention or the court process that led to his conviction. In China, cases involving state security are usually handled behind closed doors.
The US Embassy in Beijing said Monday it was aware of reports of Leung’s sentencing.
“The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment,” a spokesperson for the US Embassy said in a statement to CNN.
The sentencing of Leung comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in half a century amid intensifying rivalry over trade, technology, geopolitics and military supremacy.
It also comes as American and Chinese officials are resuming high-level engagements since a dispute over a suspected Chinese spy balloon shattered efforts to mend ties earlier this year.
Leung is among a growing number of foreign nationals to have been ensnared in China’s widening crackdown on espionage under leader Xi Jinping.
In March, Chinese authorities detained a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma in Beijing on suspected espionage – the 17th Japanese national to have been detained in China since the counter-espionage law was introduced in 2014.
In another high-profile case, two Canadians – former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor – were detained by China for nearly three years.
Their arrest on espionage charges in late 2018 came shortly after Canada arrested Chinese businesswoman and Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant related to the company’s business dealings in Iran.
Beijing repeatedly denied that their cases were a political retaliation, but the two men were nonetheless released on the same day Meng was allowed by Canada to return to China.
Last month, China passed a wide-ranging amendment to its already sweeping counter-espionage law, which will take effect from July 1.
The new legislation expanded the definition of espionage from covering state secrets and intelligence to any “documents, data, materials or items related to national security and interests,” and to include cyberattacks against state organs or critical information infrastructure.
With barely twelve hours to the much anticipated National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential and parliamentary primaries, one of the major contenders in the Presidential race, Dr Kwabena Duffuor has pulled out of the race.
He made this known during a press conference on Friday, May 12, 2023, explaining that the party is not ready to conduct a free and fair election.
He said the exercise has been marred by a lot of irregularities; a situation which has not been resolved by the leadership of the party.
On the back of this, he, therefore, stressed that he will no longer vie for the flagbearership of the NDC; adding he’ll still keep in touch with the grassroots.
“As at this time, the party has begun distributing the ballot papers to the various regions and constituencies without our involvement. I wish to reiterate my commitment to the party and grassroots, however my concerns that the party is not ready to conduct free and fair elections is evident for all of us to see,” Dr Duffour said.
“Taking part in such an event will be acting to knowing drinking from a poisoned calabash. After consulting with my support base nationwide, I have been left with no choice but to withdraw as I cannot contest in an election blatantly flawed with irregularities regardless of all my effort to draw attention to the same.”
This comes hours after Dr Duffour withdrew the suit he had filed against the NDC following what he says are some discrepancies his team has identified in the party’s voters register to be used for the exercise.
At the court, the NDC contended that it has so far rectified most of the errors that have been identified by Dr Duffuor’s team.
Lawyers for Dr Duffour withdrew the case on his behalf and the court struck out the injunction application they had filed.
Meanwhile, the NDC primaries will come off on Saturday as scheduled.
The Electoral Commission has announced that all legal obstacles have been eliminated, allowing them to oversee the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 13th, 2023, according to the election management authority.
According to the EC, this follows the discontinuance of the Application for Injunction by Dr. Kwabena Duffour and Mr Edgar Asamoah Boateng that sought to restrain the Commission from conducting the NDC Primaries.
The EC on Thursday told the NDC to divest itself of all legal entanglements before it would supervise the election when it emerged that a flagbearer aspirant of the party had applied for an injunction against the polls following discrepancies in the photo album of delegates to be used for voting, scheduled for Saturday.
The EC said following the decision, it had suspended its intended distribution of logistics for the polls.
On Friday morning however, Dr. Duffour withdrew his application, and another one filed by a parliamentary aspirant, Mr. Edgar Asamoah Boateng was also withdrawn.
The party itself says it will no longer use the photo album for the polls.
A total of 356,024 voters are expected at 420 voting centres.
Each voting centre is supposed to take a maximum of 1,200 delegates.
A delegates list will be used at polling centres and a delegate will have to produce a valid national voters ID issued by the EC to be able to vote.
Whereas a total of 117 and 107 candidates are competing for seats in Accra and Kumasi respectively, the third most contested place is the Volta region with 75 candidates.
Late Friday evening, the EC issued a statement announcing it is all ready to supervise the polls and that arrangements were being put in place to ensure a credible and transparent election.
The statement was signed by the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa.
Fantana reveals that money is not her driving force for pursuing a music career.
According to the “so what” hitmaker, she ventured into music because she genuinely loves music. However, Ghanaians got her caught up in a “good girl gone bad” web.
“I entered music because I genuinely liked music but then y’all bullied me into having me prove a point,” she said in a chat with Giovani Caleb.
Fantana has had a great deal of a hard time from Ghanaians, especially the media, after signing with her former record label, Rufftown Records in 2019
A few months after she signed onto the label, she was hit with an ex-convict allegation. She also encountered a backlash from netizens for showing off her sanitary towel on stage during her performance at the 2019 Reign Concert to launch Shatta Wale’s ‘Wonderboy’ album.
She was also criticized for making controversial statements like ” I can’t cook but I can drive a man crazy”.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back, she exited her former record label in a turf- war between her and label mate, Wendy Shay.
The “Rich Gyal Anthem” singer has since been inconsistent in the music scene.
However, in a comeback, Fantana released her single “your man” and is set to release her EP dubbed “Pills and Concoctions” in July 2023.
A young rotational nurse has been found dead by hanging in an uncompleted building at Asankragua in the Asante Akim South Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
Paul Dodzi was posted to the Church of God Hospital at Esieninpong in the Ejisu Municipality where he was offering his national service.
Colleagues in the hospital began making inquiries of him when they realized he had not turned up at work the whole day only to receive news later on Thursday, May 11, 2023, that he had allegedly hanged himself.
Some information gathered by Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote–Fumador indicates that the Youngman in his early twenties had lately been complaining of his service allowances which he claimed had been unpaid for some months.
A close colleague indicated that the situation had compounded his (the deceased) economic woes and rendered him unable to cater to his responsibilities.
Ultimate News gathers that rotational nurses are owed by government to as much as ten months in arrears.
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has expanded its basic social security scheme to cover self-employed persons who before were not obligated by law to join the scheme.
The initiative, dubbed Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED), seeks to fulfil the mandate of SSNIT to extend pension coverage to all workers, including the self-employed.
At the launch of SEED in Kumasi last Wednesday, the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang, said the initiative would help to redefine social security in the country and give hope to the self-employed that they could also retire in dignity and comfort.
Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said currently, only about 1.9 million of the estimated 10 million workers in the country were covered under the SSNIT scheme.
He stressed that out of the 1.9 million active SSNIT contributor base, just 32,000 — representing about two per cent — were self-employed persons, “implying that most self-employed workers would have to rely on the state or family and friends for financial support when they are old and retired”.
“This unbalanced coverage of workers is a sad commentary of our social protection system, and we have a responsibility to change this narrative.’’
“The SSNIT scheme is not for formal sector employees only; it is for all workers in Ghana,” he noted.
Launch
In attendance at the launch were the Mamensenhene, Nana Osei Kwadwo II, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Samuel Pyne, and the Board Chairperson of SSNIT, Elizabeth Ohene.
The educational programme also adopted a drama enacted by the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi, to demonstrate the need to take advantage of the social intervention programme.
Dr Ofori-Tenkorang urged self-employed workers who had not registered under the scheme to visit the nearest SSNIT office, contribute regularly on their right earnings using ssnitpay, an electronic payment platform, via mobile money and debit cards.
Ms Ohene expressed satisfaction about the initiative, but also pointed out that the nation had not paid attention to the provision of pension for the self-employed.
She said reports indicated that of the two million people in the country who were above 60 years, only 11 per cent received regular pensions.
“What this means is that a lot of people in active service are burdened with taking care of their aged parents and relatives.
This trend is expected to continue if immediate steps are not taken to address it,” she said.
Update records
The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wereko Brobbey, urged the management of SSNIT to encourage members of SSNIT to periodically update their records, including names of nominees.
“Most people after registration forget to update their records.
So we have instances where people register at an early stage of their lives and after their death, it comes out that none of their children nor spouse was nominated.
I will urge the management of SSNIT to remind contributors to update their records,” he said.
SSNIT is a statutory public institution charged under the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766 as amended by Act 883), with the administration of Ghana’s Basic National Social Security Scheme.
The SSNIT Pension Scheme has an active membership of over 1.9 million.
In April 2023, the Trust paid a total of GH¢365.01 million to some 235,617 pensioners.
The highest pension earner receives GH¢169,725.89 per month, while the lowest-earning new pensioner gets GH¢300.
Kelvyn Boy expresses his discontent with the comparisons being drawn between his brand and that of Black Sherif.
After Sherif won the title on May 6, popular sports journalist, Saddick Adams gave out some reasons why the masses love the young musician.
Speaking on Angel TV, Saddick, widely known as Sports Obama, said Kelvyn Boy has talent but Black Sherif’s passion and hard work, distinguish them.
He stated that the ‘Kwaku The Traveller’ composer would go far if he doesn’t change his positive attitude in the future.
Reacting to this in a tweet, Kelvyn Boy averred he had forgiven, Saddick Adams.
He claimed to have found peace adding that he does music at his own pace.
Kelvyn wrote: “I forgive this media guy. I stop Dey rant. I’ve found peace! I’ll do music at my own pace. Approaching six years…this music thing no be race.”
He also complained: “Ghanaians are quick to condemn and judge you and super-slow to support you!”
Eleven constituencies in the Ashanti Region have been declared ‘Hotspots’ by the Regional Secretariat of the NDC, as it prepares for Saturday’s primaries.
The 11 ‘Hotspots’ are among 46 Constituencies in the region, where the flagbearer contest will take place. However, the Manhyia South Constituency has been declared ineligible to take part in the exercise.
Regional Organizer of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, Isham Alhassan Bonsu, disclosed this to GBCNEWS in Kumasi.
Ashanti Region has 47 Constituencies, the largest in the country. The elections which are in two parts, electing parliamentary and presidential hopefuls, will take place concurrently in most of the constituencies except a few of them.
Constituencies such as Mampong, Adansi Asokwa, Fomena, Obuasi East, Manhyia South, Kumawu and Tafo will take part in only the flagbearer polls because they are either presenting an unopposed parliamentary aspirant or there are unresolved issues among the party members.
In all, about 6,000 delegates from all the 6,737 branches of the party, and 1,425 constituency and regional executives, former ministers and deputy ministers of state, Council of Elders Members among others constituting 62,054 electoral colleges, are eligible to vote in the two elections in the region.
For now, only the Manhyia South Constituency has been stopped from taking part in both the parliamentary and flagbearer contest due to a Court Injunction. This means 46 Constituencies will participate in the polls with about 76 Parliamentary aspirants cleared to contest.
The Kumawu Constituency already has its parliamentary candidate for the upcoming by-election later this month and also next year’s election.
In an interview with GBCNEWS at the Regional Secretariat in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Organizer of the NDC, Isham Alhassan, said apart from two Constituencies with minor disagreements over the delegates’ list which he is certain will be amicably resolved in time, all the approved Constituencies are set to undertake the exercise.
According to the Regional Organizer, 11 Constituencies have been declared as ‘Hotspots’ with the potential of violent misunderstanding for which the Police have been asked to take charge to avert any disturbances.
Mr. Alhassan said a special arrangement has been made for delegates from the hinterlands as well as members of the Seventh Day faith to vote.
Mr. Alhassan assured that as a Party determined to win next year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the NDC’s regional executives have resolved to create a level playing field for all the contenders to reduce to the barest minimum, any acrimonies if any, to present a united and formidable front toward achieving the set goal for 2024.
He, therefore, appealed to all the interested individuals and groups within the party in the region to ensure mutual trust, respect and confidence in the measures put in place for the success of the primaries.
The Regional Organizer said even though the official schedule for the elections is between 7 am and 4 pm, polls could close at any time within the period and results declared only if every eligible delegate has voted.
The Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has expressed his disappointment in the Electoral Commission for charging to supervise internal political party elections.
According to him, the EC is a state institution, while the internal elections of the various political parties are of public interest. For this reason, the NDC stalwart believes that the supervision must be free.
“We have taken a position before that if the internal party primaries are public elections then, the Electoral Commission is under obligation to conduct those elections for the party free of charge without any charge to the political party.”
“Because if it’s a state institution that has a constitutionally imposed duty to perform as far as our party is concerned, then why should they be charging us?” he quizzed
Mr. Asiedu Nketia also mentioned that the EC has made it clear that internal elections are not part of their constitutional obligations, hence any help sought from them must be paid for.
“So we have been paying for all those services including the current one,” he said.
According to him, internal elections will continue to remain the responsibility of the NDC.
However, he added that they involve the EC to promote neutrality and credibility, and therefore if at any point the EC feels hindered to supervise the elections, the NDC will still be in good standing to proceed.
“At any point in time when we get to the point where the neutral party we have engaged to help us select our candidates becomes challenging or unavailable, we reserve the right to resort to our own means of selecting our candidates,” he said.
The NDC is set to conduct its presidential and parliamentary primaries on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Voting is set to begin at 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Ahead of the elections, the party has had to resolve some internal issues.
One of them was the lawsuit by flagbearer aspirant, Dr Kwabena Duffour to stop the process.
But on Friday, May 12, an Accra High Court struck out Dr Duffour’s injunction application after his lawyers withdrew the case.
The party chairman has commended Dr Dufuor for choosing to resort to the party’s internal structures instead.
Adane Best, a veteran musician, extends his appreciation to Black Sherif for recognizing his song at the 2023 Ghana Music Awards.
After Blacko was announced as the winner of the Artiste of the Year, he sang Adane Best’s song ‘George’ before delivering his acceptance speech.
The elated young Ghanaian musician sang the song with passion.
In a post sighted by Zionfelix.net, Adane Best thanked Sheirf for such a gesture.
He stated that Sherif’s humility and hard work have brought him where he is today.
The veteran musician is expecting him to keep going—as he wishes him the best.
He wrote: “Hello Black Sherif, I know this journey hasn’t been easy. For sure, you’ve got what it takes to get through it. Your humility and hardwork have brought you to where you are today, I don’t expect anything but the best. Keep on keeping on! Thanks for acknowledging my music. All the best #adanebest #blacksherif.”
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has commended Dr Kwabena Duffour for withdrawing the injunction suit filed against the party’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries.
According to chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the decision by the aspiring flagbearer proves his commitment to the progress of the party.
“ I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Duffour for good showmanship of statesmanship and the love for the party by withdrawing this case and resorting to the internal processes of the party, to seek resolutions to problems that have emanated in this process,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s polls, he encouraged all party members to take a cue from Dr Duffour by resorting to internal party structures should they have any concerns.
“I would like to recommend that path to all party members who may feel aggrieved by anything in the party, that the best thing to do is to resort to internal party processes to find solutions. When that solution is not found then you may go outside the party structures. So we commend the Duffour’s team for resorting to internal party processes to find solutions,” he said on Friday.
Earlier today, an Accra High Court struck out Dr Duffour’s injunction application against the NDC presidential and parliamentary primaries after his lawyers withdrew the case.
On May 9, Dr Kwabena Duffour filed a suit against the party following what he says are some discrepancies his team has identified in the party’s voters’ register to be used for the exercise.
In a writ filed at an Accra High Court, Dr Duffour indicated that the party failed to provide the required photo album register five weeks ahead of the elections as stated in the party’s rules.
He stated that a partial photo album register was given to his team on May 4, a few days ahead of the elections rather than in March when they had submitted a request for one.
Another member of the NDC who was also seeking a High Court order to prevent the party from proceeding with its primaries has also withdrawn the case.
Edgar Asamoah Boateng earlier today applied for the suspension of the May 13 presidential and parliamentary primaries due to similar concerns with the voters’ register.
In his statement of claim, the plaintiff alleged that the lack of an adequate photo album of qualified voters has caused significant animosity and hostility within the party.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Kwetey, says all is set for the conduct of the polls.
Worlali Senyo has been named the new Ghana Country Manager of Farmerline, a prominent agritech company now functioning as a group.
He succeeds the co-founder, Alloysius Attah, who is now the Group CEO of the company.
As the new Country Manager, Mr Senyo will be responsible for overseeing the company’s local operations and driving growth in the nation’s agricultural sector.
Profile
Mr Senyo, a seasoned expert in agriculture and ICT with over 15 years of experience in developing and implementing technologies that benefit farmers, has been instrumental in helping Farmerline reach over 1.7 million farmers, and partners over 3,000 organisations across 48 countries.
As a key member of Farmerline’s leadership team, Mr Senyo has been a driving force behind the company’s mission to empower farmers through innovative solutions at the last mile.
His expertise lies in building lasting partnerships to develop, sustain and scale solutions in education and behaviour change, climate resilience, financing and markets.
Mr Senyo’s passion is reflected in his drive for the digitalisation of agriculture and empowering smallholder farmers to contribute to a healthier planet.
With a Master’s degree in ICT for Development from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom (UK), and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science majoring in Economics from the University of Ghana, Worlali brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table as the Country Manager.
As a respected thought leader in agritech on the African continent, Worlali is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, and his insights and expertise have been featured in numerous publications.
Testimony
According to Alloysius Attah, “there is no better person to take on the role of Farmerline’s Ghana Country Manager other than Worlali Senyo.”
Farmerline, an agritech, was founded in 2013 serving 800 farmers and now has digitised millions of farmers globally with thousands of partnerships in many countries.
Farmerline also works with other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to provide access to financing, inputs and markets for smallholder farmers.
Farmerline’s Mergdata, a web and mobile application, also offers real-time traceability, certification audit, farm mapping, farmer education and analytics solutions to help organisations that work with farmers to achieve their sustainability and food security goals efficiently.
Appreciation
In a statement, Mr Senyo expressed appreciation for the appointment, and pledged to contribute towards the growth of the company.
He said: “My 10-year journey with Farmerline has been an incredible learning experience, and I am honoured to now lead the charge in Ghana to drive a positive impact for smallholder farmers.”
The two commissioned works of art—a photographic portrait and an oil painting – will decorate the hall of an 18th-century building, Cohen Quad, and the medieval 1600s dining hall of the college.
The artworks by the British photographer Fran Monks and the Tunisian-Belgian oil painter Naima Aouni were inaugurated and unveiled by the historian and Rector of the College, Sir Rick Trainor last Tuesday.
The event was attended by a galaxy of patrons that included the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and his wife Lady Julia, as well as Lord Boateng of the British House of Lords, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Ghanaian and other African Ambassadors in Europe and family members of President Kufuor.
Sir Trainor said the over 700-year college and the university was proud of Mr Kufuor as one of its best-known alumni.
He said the former President had also joined the founders and distinguished individuals through the hanging of his portraits.
The Rector said Mr Kufuor had become a rare individual to have received such honours after his Honorary Fellowship under Rector Frances Cairncross.
He also praised the commissioned planning team that over the last two years worked on the event.
The team included the Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the College, Yvonne Rainy; Historian and Mr Kufuor’s biographer, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, and the Alumni Relations and Events Officer, Amelia Crosse.
Humility
Later at a Fidelity Bank-hosted dinner, the Asantehene said Mr Kufuor humbled himself to the service of the country as President and that the pride Ghanaians had of him and the recognition he had received at the college, the university and around the world was squarely to do with his humility.
“He never changed before he became president, never changed during his presidency and remains the same after his presidency, “he stated.
Gratitude
Former President Kufuor said he never expected such an honour over half a century after he left Oxford where he had met his wife who, he regretted, could not be present because of ill health.
Placement value
Mr Agyeman-Duah, whose book, “Art and the Power of Goodness- A Collection of John Agyekum Kufuor,” with a foreword by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was later autographed by former President Kufuor for the Asantehene and other VIPs of the day, explained that the significance of “art in the University’s ancient traditions dated to its founding.
He said the commissioning of Mr Kufuor’s portraits in the almost sacred dining hall of the college amid the pantheon of intellectual gods of 700 years ago showed its placement value on the alumnus, Kufuor.
“For centuries to come, that portrait will resonate among the million who will see it,” he added.
WaterAid Ghana has recently launched a new Country Programme Strategy in Accra, aiming to establish sustainable and inclusive water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services throughout the country.
Under the five-year strategy (2023-2028), priority will be placed on WASH across the health sector, strengthening the resilience of WASH to climate change, and achieving universal, sustainable and safe access to WASH.
The strategy aims at reaching one million people directly and four million indirectly with sustainable, safe and inclusive WASH behaviour in 10 focused districts of the Upper West and Upper East regions, with a particular focus on Bongo District.
It will also focus on securing and normalising clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for everyone everywhere in Ghana.
The approaches adopted include strategic partnership and alliance building, advocacy and influencing, peace and security and gender equality and gender responsive WASH.
At the launch in Accra yesterday, the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, explained that the new strategy, known as the WaterAid Ghana’s Country Programme Strategy 7, was the result of months of consultation, research, and collaboration with its partners, stakeholders, and communities.
She expressed their desire to continuously partner the government, Civil Society Organisations, communities and other stakeholders to advocate WASH services for everyone.
She also expressed the hope that the team would work collaboratively to raise at least £12 million to implement the strategy over the next five years.
Mrs Yanyi-Akofur added that the new strategy embodied their commitment to strengthening the capacity of local authorities to expand and deliver water and sanitation services that were sustainable and equitable.
The Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, said the strategy provided a framework for concerted effort to secure and sustain the provision of WASH for everyone.
He said WaterAid Ghana CPS also aligned with Ghana’s national vision and commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Our vision for the WASH Sector should extend beyond the launch of strategies and programmes and rather envision a future where every person, regardless of their background, must have access to clean sources of water.
Collaboration
The Chief Executive Officer of Water Aid UK, Tim Wainwright, called for all hand to be desk to achieve a universal, sustainable and safe access to WASH.
The Regional Director for Water Aid West Africa, Dr Abdul-Nashiru Mohammed also expressed the hope for a time when WAG services would no longer be needed in the target communities.
Squatters residing near the Tema-Accra motorway disregarded safety precautions as they gathered around an overturned bulk road vehicle (BRV) to illegally extract diesel fuel following an early morning accident on Friday.
The incident which occurred at about 5:15 am some 50 metres away from the Accra end of the tollbooth according to the Director of Public Relations at the Ghana National Service, Timothy Affum attracted a huge crowd of squatters who brought along the popular “Kuffuor Gallons” in their quest to siphon the fuel for sale to unsuspecting motorists.
The Man Diesel truck with registration number, GE 4130 – 20, transporting 45,000 litres of diesel, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Affum said had cart the cargo from Tema heading to Accra when the incident occurred.
As of 11 am when Graphic Online visited the scene, a few squatters were seen scooping fuel substances from the surface of a nearby stream along the storm drains from the East Legon Boundary Road linking the motorway.
A motorcyclist, who gave his name as Prosper Sottie and his team who had come to the scene with gallons in a tricycle (aboboya) got a little.
He said he will go to sell to machine operators since the quality was no longer good for use by vehicles.
Sottie nevertheless was also seen negotiating with some of the squatters who were successful in siphoning some of the fuel which he said looked useful.
Safety
To ward off the crowd, a police reinforcement team, he said was also called in to manage the traffic spillover from the gridlock that formed on the stretch as a result of the incident.
“To also reduce the probability of a fire outbreak as a result activities of the crowd, the team further applied the firefighting foam to the fuel, suppressing it from combustion.
ACFO Affum counselled motorists from purchasing what may seem to be cheap fuels in such situations, mindful of the dangers they could pose to their lives and vehicles as well.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has assured the party’s supporters that the scheduled presidential and parliamentary primaries will proceed as intended on Saturday, May 13, 2023
He said the party has already taken steps to resolve a court suit brought against it by one of its three presidential aspirants, Dr Kwabena Duffour, which sought to prevent the party from the said elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday, May 12, 2023, the NDC’s chief scribe said, with the court case dealt with, all was set for the party to hold their internal elections.
He also commended Dr Duffour and his team for taking steps to withdraw the court case they initiated against the party.
Mr Asideu Nketia, however, urged party members to use the party’s internal structures to resolve any issues they may have with the party before resorting to the court.
He said the party has elaborate structures to deal with all issues regarding internal elections and that it was right for party members to exhaust such structures before going to the court.
He further indicated that although the party had entered into an agreement with the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct its internal elections for them, they party also reserves the right to use its own mechanisms to conduct the said elections if the EC fails to do so.
He said the party today [Friday, May 12, 2023] held a Zoom meeting with its executives and have come into conclusion that the internal elections remains an internal affairs of the party and no other external party.
He said the party engaged the EC to conduct the election since the EC was a neutral party, however, the party will not allow itself to be taken hostage by EC.
Mr Asiedu Nketia also admonished aggrieved party members who resort to court not to add the EC as a party to their suit since the party has granted the EC an indemnity concerning their internal elections.
Two people are reportedly dead following a gory accident on the Kumasi-Accra Highway.
According to a witness, they died on the spot when two trailers collided on the highway.
One of the vehicles with registration number GW 1567-11 was captured in a video report by a witness, while the other vehicle had its registration number destroyed after the accident.
The accident occurred at the Engleshie stretch of the Kumasi-Accra road on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at about 5:30 p.m.
The Assembly Member for Breman Electoral Area, Obour Sika, who was at the scene said one of the two trailers had one of its tires bust, leading to the collision.
He noted that it took travelers who stopped by to rescue the mangled bodies of a driver and his mate, who died from the dented vehicle after the accident.
Expressing concern over the recent trend of men killing their partners for financial reasons and abandonment, Afia Schwarzenegger expresses fear for the safety of other young women who find themselves in similar situations.
In a short time, social media has been filled with reports of a policeman killing his lover over claims of infidelity and deceit.
Most recently, a young taxi driver also evoked death curses on a young lady and her entire family over the same issue.
But reacting to this, Afia has asserted that if this trend persists, a lot of young ladies will be wiped out by December.
“By December, all of you will be dead. Young ladies nowadays are very stubborn. There is no generation who does not listen to advise like this one. If you don’t love a man don’t take his money. Let the one you love do all these things for you. Look for a job. Look for something to make ends meet. This year, women have been murdered.
“Physically and emotionally. But you can’t also go about breaking people’s hearts. You don’t take people’s sweat when, obviously, you know you don’t love this dude. So why are you taking his money? You guys will keep dying for it. If someone gives you money, ask them why they did it. It’s very important. By December all of you will be in the cemetery,” she stated in a TikTok video.
Sharing her thoughts further, particularly on the issue regarding the taxi driver who hurled curses on his ex-lover, Afia said,
“It isn’t that the lady denied him of sex. He had slept with him severally. As a matter of fact, they lived together. I am scared for the man for evoking the gods over this because he has slept with the lady countless times.”
She, however, cautioned men against upgrading women’s status at the expense of their own.
“Upgrade yourselves. While you were paying the lady’s school fees, you should’ve also gone to school. Even if it’s adult education. It will be very hard to keep up with the lady’s standard once they level up,” she added.
Former Chief Executive of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has recounted a compelling story that showcased the invaluable support he received from former Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho, and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman, Asiedu Nketia.
He recalled appearing before a Parliamentary Audit Committee, which had summoned him over allegations of engaging in sole sourcing and bypassing procurement procedures.
In an interview with Accra-based TV3, Prof Frimpong-Boateng explained that his actions were driven by a sense of urgency and the need to save Korle-Bu. He admitted to being desperate at the time and believed that drastic measures were necessary. During the committee meeting, he found unexpected allies in General Mosquito and Doe Adjaho, who came to his rescue. Despite accusations of deviating from proper processes, they argued in his defense, emphasizing the significant cost savings he had achieved for the country. Their stance was that while the process may not have been ideal, he had ultimately saved the nation a substantial amount of money. As a result, Prof Frimpong-Boateng was allowed to proceed without further repercussions.
In August 2007, Prof Frimpong-Boateng held a press conference where he revealed some remarkable achievements in cost reduction and financial management during his time at Korle-Bu. He mentioned that prior to his appointment, the hospital was spending ¢18 billion on sutures, whereas he was able to procure the same quantity from India for ¢450 million. This decision alone resulted in savings of over ¢17 billion for the hospital and the nation as a whole. Additionally, he successfully negotiated better deals for CSSD tapes, significantly reducing the hospital’s annual expenditure from ¢2.4 billion to a more manageable amount. These cost-saving measures allowed the hospital to utilize the tapes for three years. Prof Frimpong-Boateng also took pride in the hospital’s ability to generate its own funds, enabling the construction of a new administration block at a cost of ¢8.6 billion.
Overall, Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s account highlights the challenging circumstances he faced during his tenure, as well as the support he received from unexpected quarters. It sheds light on his determination to make necessary changes for the betterment of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the nation as a whole, ultimately leading to significant cost savings and improved financial management.
