Rishi Sunak got his important Rwanda bill approved by the House of Commons, despite a rebellion from some members of the Conservative party not happening.
The bill to prevent legal challenges against sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was passed with 320 votes for and 276 votes against.
Many Conservative party members thought the bill was wrong and had said they would not support it, but in the end, only 11 of them voted against it.
The bill will now be reviewed by the House of Lords, and it’s expected to meet strong resistance.
Mr Sunak thinks that sending some asylum seekers to Rwanda will stop others from trying to come to the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats. But the Labour party thinks this plan is just a costly trick.
The government wants to start the flights to Rwanda by the spring.
The prime minister will give a speech at Downing Street about the policy at 10:15 GMT.
In the last two days, some Conservative Party MPs have tried to make changes to the bill. They say that, without changes, the government’s plan for Rwanda could be stopped by the courts.
On Wednesday, ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick proposed a change that would allow the UK government to not follow some human rights laws when sending people to Rwanda.
Mr Jenrick suggested a change that would make sure that government officials will always say no to temporary orders from the European Court of Human Rights that come at the last minute.
This rule stopped a flight to Rwanda in June 2022.
The amendment was not supported by Members of Parliament but 61 Conservative members backed it – the largest rebellion during Mr. Sunak’s time as leader.
Some Members of Parliament said they might not vote at all or vote against the whole bill if it didn’t change.
If about 30 Conservatives had voted against the bill, it could have failed. This would have hurt the prime minister’s power a lot and could have been very bad for him.
However, only 11 Members of Parliament, including Mr. Jenrick and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, voted against it.
Other members of the Conservative party on the list are Miriam Cates, Sir Simon Clarke, Mark Francois and Danny Kruger.
Eighteen Conservative Members of Parliament didn’t vote, but some might have just missed the vote instead of intentionally choosing not to vote.
Danny Kruger, a Conservative, voted against the bill. He said some of his colleagues supported the bill even though they were worried about it, to avoid causing problems in politics.
Sir Simon Clarke, who is against the bill, said: “All Conservatives want the Rwanda policy to work well. Some of us are worried about the bill, but history will show who was correct.
Labour did not like the bill. Yvette Cooper, who is in charge of home affairs for Labour, called the policy a “expensive trick” because it has not yet sent any asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Home Secretary James Cleverly supported the plan by saying that it clearly shows if you come to the United Kingdom illegally, you can’t stay.
“He said that this law was carefully written to stop the cycle of court battles. ”
The argument about the law showed that Conservatives are still divided. On Tuesday evening, two deputy chairmen, Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith, gave up their positions to vote for the changes proposed by rebels.
Mr Clarke-Smith supported the bill at the end, even though he had worries about it, while Mr. Anderson did not vote.
One person opposing the government told the BBC that the vote tonight won’t be the last decision.
If the House of Lords decides to send back changes that make the bill less strong, some Conservative MPs might propose different changes to make the bill stronger.
The new law may face even more resistance in the House of Lords, where many members are worried about if it follows the rules of international law.
Crossbench peer Lord Carlile, a top lawyer and former independent reviewer of terrorism laws, said that although peers won’t stop the government, the Lords have a duty to safeguard the public from the government doing things that are not legally correct or principled.
He told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that we have seen in other countries the harm caused when governments think they are more important than the courts because of their political goals.
“This is a move towards a totalitarian government, which the United Kingdom usually disapproves of. ”
Mr Sunak will ask the other leaders to pass the bill quickly so that the policy can start.
However, some members of the conservative party who oppose the bill disagree and think that planes will still be stopped from flying due to legal challenges even after the bill is passed.
Chris Philp, who works for the government, said on BBC Breakfast that they want flights to start in the spring.
He downplayed disagreements in the party and said that almost everyone agreed that the bill was a good idea and a big step forward for the Conservative side.
On Wednesday, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, said that he would give the money back to the UK if they didn’t send any asylum seekers to his country.
The UK has already given £240 million to the east African country and plans to give another £50 million.
A Rwandan government spokesperson said that they don’t have to give the money back, but they will think about returning it if the UK asks.
In Westminster, a person from Downing Street said they are not trying to change the Civil Service rules to say that emergency orders from the European Court of Human Rights should be ignored.
Earlier in the day, Minister Michael Tomlinson from the Home Office said the government was considering changing the rules, but later No 10 said they were not trying to change them.
The Cabinet Office said that civil servants should follow a minister’s decision to not listen to court rulings.
Author: Chris Kodo
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MPs support Rwanda bill as Sunak defeats Tory rebels
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GES greenlights parents to support Free SHS through fundraising
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has conveyed that Parents Associations (PAs) are permitted to engage in fundraising activities as a means of contributing support to the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
As outlined by the GES, Parents Associations (PAs) have been granted the flexibility to pursue various fundraising channels for school development. However, it is emphasized that they are prohibited from levying any fees on students or pupils.
This information is detailed in the recently issued guidelines document by the GES, delineating the operational framework for Parents Associations in pre-tertiary schools.
There have been concerns about the operations of PTAs that supposedly thwarted the government’s efforts at ensuring universal access to education, specifically at the SHS level.
This was due to the outrageous imposition of levies by some PTAs which sought to defeat the purpose for which the Free SHS policy was introduced.
In response to these developments, the management of GES suspended the imposition of levies in all schools.
It also directed the reorganization of the Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) to Parent Associations (PAs) to limit the involvement of management and staff of the school.
The GES emphasised that PAs should operate independently, separate from school management and staff.
According to GES, PAs could undertake projects to support the development and growth of the schools to which they are related but emphasised that the management of the schools shall have full authority over the handling of such projects without interference from PAs.
GES stated that PAs may through the management of the school, offer support to teachers/staff of the school through the provision of incentive packages and other welfare schemes.
It maintained that no child shall be discriminated against or given preferential treatment in the official duties of the teacher/staff to which that incentive or welfare package is related.
“Aside from contributions made by PAs, individual parents/guardians may make voluntary donations or contributions to the school as that individual deems fit and such donation shall not confer any preference or privilege to any student in terms of access to and use of the facility or donation,” GES said.
The GES in the document clarified that although school management should not be signatories to Parents Associations’ activities, they can participate without assuming liability for decisions made.
However, PAs are required to submit their annual activities and plans for approval by school management.
Additionally, the accounts of PAs will undergo annual audits, and audit reports must be submitted to Regional Directors for forwarding to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger detained over EU levy on expensive watches
Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained at a German airport for failing to declare the expensive watch he was carrying to sell for charity.
The famous actor was delayed for three hours at Munich airport on Wednesday.
An inquiry into suspected tax dodging was started because the watch was supposed to be sold in the European Union (EU).
Under EU rules, if you bring more than €10,000 in cash or valuable items, you need to report it.
But someone who knows about it said to CBS News, the BBC’s American partner, that Schwarzenegger was not told to complete a form.
The person who is an actor, politician and someone who worries about climate change, was finally able to give the tax money, but had to solve a lot of problems first.
After the first card machine didn’t work, they found out the nearest bank was closed and the ATM would only let them take out a small amount of money. So the 76-year-old had to wait for customs officials to bring a new card machine.
The actor’s spokesperson told a German magazine that the airport incident was really funny and would make a great police movie full of mistakes.
Bild reported that he was not upset about the incident. They published a picture of Schwarzenegger smiling and holding a box with a note that said “For Austria. ”
Local news reported that the watch was specially made for the actor from the Terminator movie by a fancy watch company called Audemars Piguet. Their watches can cost a lot of money, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The watch was going to be sold at a dinner to raise money for The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative in Kitzbuhel, Austria, which is about 89 km (55 miles) from Munich. The dinner was going to happen on Thursday.
A statement about the event happening at the fancy Stanglwirt hotel said that there will be art, signed items, and experiences from sports and movies available for purchase.
Auction information for the watch, found by Bild, said it was one of just 20 made, and would come with a picture of Arnold in his famous pose and the words “Arnold Classic”. The bidding price starts at €50,000. -
Transport Ministry dismisses 20% increase in transportation fares; entreats public to disregard
Ministry of Transport has issued a statement urging the public to dismiss such claims an alleged increase in the cost of public transportation nationwide.
In an announcement made on Wednesday, the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU) disclosed that during a national management gathering convened at the Trades Union House on January 16, 2024, a unanimous decision was reached. It was agreed that a 20% increase in transport fares would be implemented at all loading points under the Union, with the new rates taking effect from January 24, 2024.
“This has become necessary as a result of excessive taxes on spare parts adversely affecting our operations due to hike in its prices,” parts of the statement from GPRTU read.
In reaction to the GPRTU’s announcement, the Ministry of Transport has advised the public to adhere to the existing fares, despite the anticipated increases that may be introduced by commercial drivers in the upcoming days.
“There has not been any negotiation with the transport operators for a review of transport fares” the Ministry stated.
It added that when it becomes necessary for such negotiations and decisions are taken, the public will be appropriately informed, as has been done in the past.
The Ministry of Transport says it will continue to ensure “fair and reasonable public transport fares, keeping in mind the needs of transport operators and the general public.”
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Seven people reportedly killed as Pakistan fires retaliatory attacks into Iran
Pakistan shot missiles at Iran and reportedly killed nine people because Iran had shot missiles at Pakistan on Tuesday night.
Pakistan said its attacks targeted places where terrorists were hiding in the south-eastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan in Iran.
Iran’s state TV reported that three women, two men, and four children were killed.
The air strikes are happening because there is a lot of tension in the Middle East with many different problems happening at the same time.
Israel is in a battle with Hamas in Gaza and is also exchanging gunfire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In addition, Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria are attacking US forces. The US and UK have also attacked the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, who have been attacking ships.
Pakistan and Iran have been blaming each other for supporting terrorist groups that launch attacks from areas near their shared border.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s government said that it had attacked an area near the city of Saravan in Iran.
Pakistan said it had taken action because it had received information that big terrorist attacks were going to happen soon. They also said they killed some of the terrorists.
It said that it respects Iran’s rights as a country but its actions on Thursday show that Pakistan is committed to protecting its national security from any threats.
Pakistan strongly condemned Iran’s attack on Tuesday. The attack hit an area in Pakistan’s Balochistan province near the Iranian border and Islamabad said it killed two children.
Iran said it only attacked Jaish al-Adl, a group from Pakistan, and not the people of Pakistan.
Earlier this week, Iran attacked places in Iraq and Syria. They said they targeted the Islamic State and Israel’s spy agency, Mossad. Iran claimed that these two groups were involved in a bomb attack in the city of Kerman, Iran, which killed 84 people.
Experts said that Pakistan’s reaction was expected and aligned with Iran’s, as both countries characterized the attack as targeting militants.
Pakistan’s response increases the chance of things getting worse, but it also gives a chance to pull back and avoid a bigger problem. “In reality, both sides are equal now,” said Michael Kugelman, the director for South Asia at the Wilson Center.
Islamabad wanted to make sure it could defend itself, especially because Iran was attacking other countries in the area using both direct and indirect methods. Simply put, if Pakistan hadn’t taken action, it would have been at risk of more attacks.
Some people said that the government in Islamabad felt pressure from people in Pakistan to do something about the situation. The country is having an election next month after Imran Khan, its former leader, was removed nearly two years ago.
Many people wanted the government to act, so they did this to show they are strong, according to retired Lt General Asif Yaseen, a former Pakistani defense secretary.
He felt strongly that the conflict would end and both countries could talk again. Pakistan might be able to start talking with Iran now.
Some people are saying that Iran attacked Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan this week because of the problems happening in the Middle East.
Tehran says they don’t want to join in the bigger fight between Israel and Gaza, but the groups they support have been attacking Israel and its allies to support the Palestinians.
Shashank Joshi, who is an expert on defense at The Economist, says he doesn’t think the attacks are because of the Hamas attacks on Israel in October. Those attacks killed around 1,300 people and led to Israel attacking Hamas in Gaza. The Hamas health ministry says about 24,000 people have been killed in the Israeli retaliation.
This is a story about Iran showing its strength, maybe because it was very upset about a serious attack on its country in Kerman on 3 Jan, which is the worst terrorist attack in Iran since the revolution of 1979. Iran is hurt and is striking back. “I don’t believe there is a strong reason to say the bombing was caused by or is a result of 7 October,” Mr. Joshi said on the BBC’s Today program.
He says that there have been border tensions before, but this is the most serious one he can remember.
China, a good friend of both countries, has asked both sides to calm down and not make the situation worse. -
US hits Houthi targets in Yemen for the fourth time
The US bombed the Houthis in Yemen for the fourth time, according to Pentagon officials on Wednesday night.
A few missiles were launched by the Houthi group, and the US stopped them. The US thinks the missiles were meant to attack ships in the Red Sea.
The US Middle East command, called Centcom, said that the sites were hit by Tomahawk missiles fired from US Navy ships.
The strikes happened after the US labeled the Houthis as “global terrorists”.
Jake Sullivan, who is in charge of keeping the US safe, said that the decision to cancel the removal of the militants’ designation was because they keep attacking ships in the area.
The Houthis started attacking ships that were carrying goods in November because they said it was in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Since then, the group has attacked many commercial ships in the Red Sea, which is a very busy shipping route.
In reply, the US and UK attacked many Houthi targets with air strikes on January 11th. The attacks started because Houthi forces did not stop their attacks even after they were told to. Australia, Bahrain, the Netherlands and Canada supported the strikes.
Wednesday’s attacks on Houthi targets came after more attacks on commercial ships. A few hours before, the group attacked a boat owned and run by the US for the second time in the past week.
The rebels used a one-way drone to attack the M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden, according to Centcom. The ship was hurt, but no one on the crew got hurt during the attack.
On Monday, the Houthis launched a missile at a US ship. It was the first time they successfully attacked an American ship since their campaign started.
US officials said that the strikes on Wednesday were done to stop an attack before it happened. They destroyed weapons that the militants were going to use very soon.
“The missiles on launch rails posed a serious danger to merchant ships and US Navy boats in the area. They could have been fired at any moment, so US forces had to defend themselves,” said Centcom in a statement.
These attacks, plus other things we have done, will weaken the Houthi’s ability to keep carrying out dangerous attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden, the statement said.
The UK’s military department said to the BBC that it didn’t take part in the recent attacks.
Gen Micheal Kurilla, who is in charge of Centcom, said that the US will keep fighting the Houthis because they are putting international sailors in danger and causing problems for shipping in the Southern Red Sea and nearby areas.
Yemen has been greatly damaged by a civil war that started in 2015. The Houthis took over parts of the country from the official government and a coalition led by Saudi Arabia got involved to try to take back control.
The fighting has caused over 160,000 people to die and has led to a major humanitarian crisis. About 21 million people, which is two thirds of the population, need help in some way. -
Cheddar ‘justifies’ Akufo-Addo’s poor performance; blames COVID
Founder and Leader of #TheNewForce Movement, has highlighted what he believes are formidable challenges that have hampered the progress of the Akufo-Addo led administration.
In an interview on Ekosisen on Asempa FM, Cheddar he stated that COVID-19 and the Russia Ukraine war are among key factors that has affected the progress of the current administration.
“Looking at Akufo-Addo it’s not like we are saying the economy under his tenure is bad. But I also think he’s a president that’s really good at promotion. He’s really promoted Ghana but it’s just that certain things did not go well during his regime,” he said.
Cheddar further commended the government on its initiatives like ‘The Year of Return’ and ‘Beyond the Return’ which he said has helped in promoting the country.
“During his time, there was COVID, there was the lockdown, the wars but when you look at the Beyond the Return project, it brought the diaspora into the country. December is a good year for Ghana since the NPP came to power,” he stated.
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Akufo-Addo did very well but for COVID, Russia-Ukraine War – Cheddar
Founder and Leader of #TheNewForce Movement, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, has provided a nuanced perspective on President Akufo-Addo’s performance, attributing certain challenges to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview on Asempa FM, Cheddar contended that the current administration could have performed better but for the COVID-19 pandemic that struck in 2020, and the Russia-Ukraine war which affected Ghana’s economy.
“Looking at Akufo-Addo it’s not like we are saying the economy under his tenure is bad. But I also think he’s a president that’s really good at promotion. He’s really promoted Ghana but it’s just that certain things did not go well during his regime,” he said.
Cheddar further commended the government on its initiatives like ‘The Year of Return’ and ‘Beyond the Return’ which he said has helped in promoting the country.
“During his time, there was COVID, there was the lockdown, the wars but when you look at the Beyond the Return project, it brought the diaspora into the country. December is a good year for Ghana since the NPP came to power,” he stated.
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GRA ‘chases’ Cheddar for GHC7m unpaid taxes
The Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) is the heels of businessman and Independent Presidential candidate Nana Kwame Bediako popularly referred to as Cheddar.
Cheddar, faces a series of tax evasion scandals following revelations from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). According to GRA documents, Cheddar has incurred significant penalties, exceeding GHC7 million, for failing to file his income tax returns.
The leaked documents expose a disturbing pattern of tax evasion in Cheddar’s financial history. Between 2013 and 2016, he faced penalties of GHC15,222, GHC14,492, GHC13,760, and GHC6,526 for neglecting to file personal income tax returns. Despite apparent compliance in the years 2018, 2019, and 2020, Cheddar’s non-compliance with tax obligations resurfaced in 2021 and 2022.
The GRA documents reveal alarming figures, estimating evaded taxes at GHC2,088,228 for 2021 and a staggering GHC5,096,536 for 2022.
Cheddar, whose presidential bid hinges on promises of ushering in a new era of development and change in Ghanaian politics, now faces a credibility crisis. The consistent failure to fulfill the fundamental civic duty of paying taxes raises questions about his commitment to transparency and financial responsibility.
This revelation poses a clear litmus test for Cheddar to address the allegations of tax evasion with transparency and accountability. As he declares his intent to contest the highest office in the land, voters may struggle to reconcile his proclaimed commitment to positive change with the perceived financial hypocrisy laid bare by the GRA documents.
With the upcoming election this year, Cheddar’s ability to navigate and respond to these allegations will undoubtedly influence public perception and voter trust in his capacity to lead the nation. The GRA’s disclosure has cast a shadow over Cheddar’s presidential aspirations, making it imperative for him to confront these accusations and address the concerns raised about his financial practices.
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Kufuor is my favorite President in the 4th Republic – Cheddar
Founder and Leader of #TheNewForce Movement, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, has disclosed that former President John Agyekum Kufuor is the inspirational figure for him among the Presidents in the Fourth Republic.
In a recent interview, Cheddar expressed admiration for the leadership and governance style of the former President, highlighting Kufuor’s impact during his tenure.
He noted that during the Kufuor regime, the living conditions of the citizenry significantly improved.
Asked which of Ghana’s presidents inspire him during an interview on Asempa FM, he noted that: “Kwame Nkrumah is the first one but after that, I think that it’s Kufuor.”
He acknowledged that Ghana’s other Presidents did their best and are still doing their best, however, in his view, President Kufuor’s performance outweighs that of the others.
“I’m sorry if I’ve not mentioned the names of some people but it’s not like they did not put in their best. We appreciate all they did but looking at the living conditions of people during the Kufuor regime, you realise that things were better then,” he said.
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Guinness World Records writes to Afua Asantewaa’s sing-a-thon attempt
Guinness World Records has addressed Ghanaian event organizer Afua Asantewaa‘s ambitious attempt to break the record for the longest singing marathon by an individual.
The global authority on record-breaking achievements has confirmed that they are currently in the process of reviewing the evidence submitted by Asantewaa and assured that the official results will be announced soon.
Asantewaa’s extraordinary singing marathon came to a close on December 29, 2023, after an impressive 126 hours and 52 minutes of continuous singing. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record held by Indian singer Sunil Waghmare since 2012, who had set the bar at 105 hours.
The acknowledgment from Guinness World Records follows a query from a TikTok user, cute_gyebuaxx, who sought updates on Asantewaa’s record attempt in a comment on a TikTok post announcing another record holder. In response, the official Guinness World Records account stated, “We’ve been reviewing Afua’s evidence and will be letting her know the results soon.”
After successfully concluding her singing marathon, Afua Asantewaa promptly submitted the evidence of her performance to Guinness World Records on January 6, 2024. The meticulous process of verification is currently underway, and the global community eagerly awaits the official announcement of Asantewaa’s status as a Guinness World Record holder.
As the first Ghanaian to make such an audacious attempt, Asantewaa’s achievement has garnered widespread attention and admiration. Supporters and fans are now eagerly anticipating the conclusive verdict from Guinness World Records, which will solidify her place in the record books.
The wait for the official results continues, and Afua Asantewaa’s journey towards potentially becoming a Guinness World Record holder adds an exciting chapter to the world of record-breaking achievements. The announcement of the results is expected to not only celebrate Asantewaa’s talent but also inspire individuals around the globe to reach for new heights in their respective fields.
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MP from New Zealand resigned after being caught on camera shoplifting
A Green MP from New Zealand had to quit because she was caught stealing clothes from expensive stores in Auckland and Wellington.
Golriz Ghahraman, who is 43 years old, has quit her job as the party’s justice spokesperson right away. She is leaving because of a scandal and says she is fully responsible for what happened.
The MP was accused of stealing from a shop called Scotties Boutique in Auckland on December 23rd.
Another possible incident at Scotties has come up and is being looked into.
New Zealand politician Golriz Ghahraman reportedly accused of taking things from a fancy shop without paying for them.
The people who own and work at Scotties Boutique chose not to talk publicly about the accusations against Ms. Ghahraman, even though the NZ Herald claims to have seen CCTV footage of the incident.
More accusations came out against Ms. Ghahraman from a store in Wellington called Cre8iveworx. The fancy store told the police that the MP was caught stealing on October 26th.
The MP was first accused of something on January 10 by Newstalk ZB Plus. The police said they were looking into a claim, but they couldn’t identify anyone involved.
In her first time talking publicly since the accusations came out, Gharaman said she is having mental health issues because of her job and a mental health expert has confirmed it.
She said: “My work is making my mental health very bad. ” This has made me do things that aren’t like me at all. I’m not trying to make excuses for what I did, but I want to tell you why I did it.
People have the right to expect that their elected leaders will behave well. I didn’t make it. -
Russians throw snowballs at police weeks before election
Vladimir Putin seems to be losing control of Russia with only a few months before the presidential elections. There has been a rebellion in one of the regions that produces oil.
Video shows a group of people throwing snowballs at police officers with shields and batons in a town called Baymak in Bashkortostan.
5,000 people came together to protest against a political leader who supports Putin. This happened because a rights activist was sentenced to four years in prison for extremism.
Fights started outside the court building in support of Fail Alsynov, who was accused of ‘encouraging hatred between different groups of people’.
Police used tear gas and hit the protesters with their batons.
Videos online show people yelling ‘Gas’ and running away during what many are saying is the biggest protest in Russia since the war in Ukraine began.
One video showed a row of police hitting people with batons. In another place, a woman was begging the police to stop hitting someone who was on the ground.
A lady was recorded shouting at a police officer, calling him a fascist and asking if he was going to fight with women. She also asked how he was not embarrassed.
Even though it was very cold at -17°C, a lot of people came to the area and shouted ‘Freedom’.
A lot of people were flying flags of Bashkiristan. Bashkirs are a group of people from Turkey who have fought against colonization for a long time.
In the town of Baymak, which has 17,000 people, there were some very unusual events. The government stopped the internet near the court because they were worried that more people would revolt.
The Kremlin is trying to stop any separatist or nationalist feelings among the Bashkirs in the oil-rich region by arresting and imprisoning Alsynov.
These types of protests almost never happen in the country because people can get arrested for gathering without permission from the authorities.
In the last two years, many people have been arrested for speaking out against the war in Ukraine.
The fighting in Bashkortostan happened a few months before Russians will vote for their new president. -
4-year-old girl becomes youngest person to get to base camp on Mount Everest
A little girl who is four years old went to the base camp of Mount Everest. She is the youngest person to ever do this.
Zara, her dad, and her little brother all traveled 170 miles to reach a very high base camp.
Zara’s dad, David Šifra, made sure to check his kids’ oxygen levels as they climbed up slowly.
Zara was walking in the mountains with her big brother and there were beautiful views of the Himalayas in the photos.
David said that the march went well and everyone adapted to the climate better than usual. Little Zara, who is very fit, even managed to outpace lots of other trekkers.
‘How can a 4-year-old girl handle something like this, both physically and mentally. ‘
Mr Šifra said that Zara’s unique childhood in Malaysia has prepared her to do well on the difficult hike, and that’s how she was able to set a new world record.
Prisha Lokesh Nikajoo was the youngest person to reach Mount Everest base camp at just 5 years old in 2023.
People start feeling sick between six and 24 hours after they go to a place that is higher than 9,800 feet above sea level.
Mount Everest is really high, it’s 29,030 feet tall.
In 2019, 11 climbers died within ten days because too many people were trying to climb at the same time and it caused a traffic jam and overcrowding in the most dangerous part of the climb.
During the climb to Mount Everest, hikers may have to walk past the frozen bodies of climbers who have died.
Even though it’s dangerous, even little kids still want to climb the famous mountain. -
Jon Venables to remain in prison for at least two more years
Jon Venables will stay in prison for another two years because he didn’t appeal in time to be released.
The man who killed toddler James Bulger is now 41 years old. He was told in December that he would not be released from prison because it would not be safe for the public. He said he will fight this decision.
People said he had gone crazy and was acting wild after the parole board hearing. He kept saying he was a victim of unfair treatment.
Venables had a deadline to challenge the decision, but his lawyers said it wouldn’t help.
And now he missed the opportunity, so he will stay where he is for a while.
He might never be released because they want to change the parole law. This means the justice secretary will decide if dangerous sex offenders can be freed.
James’ mum, Denise Fergus, said this is the best way to start the year.
“This is really important for us and for other families who might experience what we went through if this person gets out. ”
We’re relieved to hear that he can’t appeal anymore. It means we can go on with our lives for at least two more years without worrying about anything he might do to us or others.
‘It gives us room to relax and concentrate on the good things in our lives. ‘
They were found guilty and given at least eight years in jail.
Both murderers were let out of jail in June 2001 with the condition to be on good behavior for the rest of their lives. They were also given new names and will never be identified in public for their safety.
Thompson is believed to be in a relationship with a man who knows his real identity and is living in the northwest.
Venables went to jail again in 2010 for having pictures of kids that were not okay to have.
He was let go three years after, but then he was sent back to prison in 2017 for getting caught with bad pictures of kids. He has been in jail ever since.
He asked to be released from prison in 2020, but they said no because he had only served 40 months of his sentence.
Denise wants the government to investigate her son’s death. She said, “The government has two years to pass this bill and show that they are serious about it. ”
This week, she also won another victory in her fight to remove unpleasant videos that show AI simulations of her son talking about his death. -
23 individuals killed in fireworks factory explosion in Thailand
A big blast at a fireworks factory in Thailand has caused the death of 23 people, as per the local news.
The factory in Suphan Buri province, near Bangkok, appears to have been destroyed in the pictures from the scene.
Thai PBS news said that an explosion happened around 3:30pm in a village in Suan Taeng.
The news source said that the injured people were brought to Chao Phraya Yommarat Hospital, and the firefighters have now brought the fire under control.
Dr Ratthaphon Wetsanasuthee, a public health official, said that 23 people have died.
Kritsada Manee-In, a worker at the Samerkun Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation, said earlier that 15 to 17 people had died.
Channel 7 News said that 30 workers were in the factory. People nearby said they could hear the explosion from far away.
The explosion happened just before Chinese New Year, when people want to buy lots of fireworks in East and South-East Asia.
The head of the national police, Torsak Sukvimol, said that there was another explosion at the factory in November 2022, where one person died and three others were hurt.
We don’t know what caused today’s incident yet, so we are starting an investigation to find out.
Mr Sukvimol said they will take legal action if anyone does something wrong.
In July, a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand exploded. At least 10 people died and 100 were hurt.
The leader of the province thinks that the problem happened because of sparks from welding work during construction in the building.
The Thai Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation says about 100 houses within a 1,640ft area were damaged. -
Consider Special Voting for SDA members – Dafeamekpor tells EC
Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Dafeamekpor, has weighed in on conversations on the Seventh-Day Adventist’s petition to the EC to reschedule the December 7, 2024, elections.
The SDA church has submitted a petition to the Electoral Commission, seeking a review of the voting date due to a perceived conflict with their day of worship.
The church, known for its strict adherence to Saturday as the Sabbath, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to reconsider the December 7 date to avoid disenfranchising its members.
In response to this request, South Dayi Member of Parliament (MP) Rockson Dafeamekpor has weighed in, highlighting the legal complexities surrounding the issue.
“The process regarding date of voting is also a matter of law so only Parliament can repeal it and make some other alternative provisions but I’m saying, this is a storm in a teacup. So for me we shouldn’t spend a pesewa on this debate,” he said.
Mr Dafeamekpor, however, entreated the EC to accommodate members of the church under the special voting.
“The law is already there. Just assure the SDA people that you will accommodate them under special voting,” the MP added.
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Kate Middleton to rest for several months following stomach surgery
The Princess of Wales had an operation on her stomach and is now in the hospital getting better, according to Kensington Palace.
She went to The London Clinic yesterday and will stay there for about two weeks to get better after having a successful surgery on her stomach.
She will rest at home in Windsor for a few more weeks and be checked on regularly.
According to doctors, the Princess probably won’t be able to go back to her usual work until after Easter.
The Palace didn’t say what she was treated for but said it wasn’t cancer.
King Charles will have an operation for a big prostate next week, said Buckingham Palace.
Kensington Palace said that Princess Kate was taken to the hospital for a planned surgery on her stomach.
The surgery went well, and she will stay in the hospital for 10 to 14 days before going home to recover.
According to the doctors, it’s not likely that she will be back to work in public until after Easter.
The Princess of Wales is glad that people will be interested in this statement. She wants people to understand that she wants her kids to have a normal life, and she wants her health information to stay private.
Kensington Palace will only give updates on Her Royal Highness when there is important new information to share.
The Princess of Wales is sorry that she has to cancel her upcoming events and hopes everyone understands. She is excited to bring back as many people as she can, as soon as she can.
Prince William will also not do his official job when his wife is in the hospital and when she comes back home.
He will stay with her and take care of their three kids, George, Charlotte, and Louis, and will cancel some plans.
This means the couple will not be able to attend important events like the Bafta awards and the Royal Family’s annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
At the London Clinic, Kate is getting medical care.
Kate had surgery at a well-known hospital in London that has been used by important people like Prince Philip and Princess Margaret in the past. She is now getting better there.
A few doctors from Harley Street wanted to start a new nursing home with the best medical care available at that time.
The website says it was started with the idea of offering great service all in one spot.
The hospital does operations and tests to check for problems, treats sicknesses and injuries, and provides blood and blood products.
It has seven big rooms for surgery, three extra rooms for surgery, and six special areas for different kinds of surgery like urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopaedics, and spinal procedures.
Since 1935, the hospital has been a charity and has helped train new doctors and nurses. It has also paid for Europe’s biggest stem cell collection unit.
Several buildings at the site have been opened by royal family members since the 1980s.
Prince Charles opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, Princess Margaret opened the MRI unit in 1991, and the Queen revealed a new cancer unit in 2010.
In June 2021, a report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the hospital is doing a good job.
The hospital sees around 23,000 people staying overnight and another 110,000 people for appointments, according to the health organization.
Other well-known people who went to the hospital were former US president John F Kennedy and actress Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth Taylor went to the hospital after she fell from a movie set.
Kate will be in the hospital for 10 to 14 days to get better.
Kate and William won’t be traveling to other countries in the next few months. The royal officials will let us know how Kate is doing when the time is right.
Two trips abroad that were supposed to happen soon have been delayed.
The rest of the Middleton family will come together to support Kate at home.
This includes mom and dad, Carole and Michael Middleton, as well as brothers and sisters Pippa Matthews and James Middleton.
Kate went to the hospital because she had very bad morning sickness when she was pregnant.
Kate was last seen in public a little over three weeks ago during Christmas Day. She was celebrating at Sandringham.
She was seen with William and their three kids as they greeted people at the usual church service.
Kate celebrated her 42nd birthday on January 9 and shared a picture of herself from behind the scenes of King Charles’s coronation.
The London Clinic has helped other members of the royal family in the past, such as Prince Philip and Princess Margaret. -
Mahama called you thieves; purge yourselves – Kwamena Duncan to teacher unions
A former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has called on educators to defend their integrity over a recent claim made by former President John Dramani Mahama.
His comment is in reaction to an assrtion made by the former President in which he accused teachers of aiding students in cheating during the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Mr Duncan argues that by making such allegations, Mr Mahama is insinuating that teachers are akin to thieves.
“You have a former President denigrate them [teachers] and denigrate the efforts of teachers as well. He was able to tell all Ghanaian teachers that they are thieves.
Asked when he made the comment, Mr Amoah asserted that “if you connive with the kids and the children to cheat, isn’t it akin to being a thief?”
The controversy stems from Mr. Mahama’s remarks, where he suggested that teachers played a role in facilitating cheating during the WASSCE in 2023.
“In many places, they let the children cheat. You go to places and the teachers are conniving with the students to cheat. The effect will be seen later,” John Mahama averred.
Reacting to these accusations, Kwamena Duncan has taken a strong stance, urging teachers to purge themselves of any association with dishonest practices.
Duncan expressed his disappointment with Mr. Mahama’s insinuations, emphasizing that teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation through education.
“And this is a matter that, I believe the teacher unions [should not take lightly] – look, it will remain a tag on teachers forever until they purge themselves,” he said.
He believes that labeling them as accomplices to cheating tarnishes their reputation and undermines the crucial work they do.
The former Central Regional Minister called on educators to rise to the occasion and demonstrate their commitment to upholding the values of integrity and honesty in the education system.
He challenged teachers to collectively refute the allegations and showcase the dedication they have to maintaining a fair and transparent examination process.
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Former C/R Minister challenges teachers to defend their integrity over ‘Mahama/WASSCE cheating allegations’
A former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has called on educators to defend their integrity.
His comment is in reaction to a recent claim made by former President John Mahama accusing teachers of aiding students in cheating during the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Mr Duncan argues that by making such allegations, Mr Mahama is insinuating that teachers are akin to thieves.
“You have a former President denigrate them [teachers] and denigrate the efforts of teachers as well. He was able to tell all Ghanaian teachers that they are thieves.
Asked when he made the comment, Mr Amoah asserted that “if you connive with the kids and the children to cheat, isn’t it akin to being a thief?”
The controversy stems from Mr. Mahama’s remarks, where he suggested that teachers played a role in facilitating cheating during the WASSCE in 2023.
“In many places, they let the children cheat. You go to places and the teachers are conniving with the students to cheat. The effect will be seen later,” John Mahama averred.
Reacting to these accusations, Kwamena Duncan has taken a strong stance, urging teachers to purge themselves of any association with dishonest practices.
Duncan expressed his disappointment with Mr. Mahama’s insinuations, emphasizing that teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation through education.
“And this is a matter that, I believe the teacher unions [should not take lightly] – look, it will remain a tag on teachers forever until they purge themselves,” he said.
He believes that labeling them as accomplices to cheating tarnishes their reputation and undermines the crucial work they do.
The former Central Regional Minister called on educators to rise to the occasion and demonstrate their commitment to upholding the values of integrity and honesty in the education system.
He challenged teachers to collectively refute the allegations and showcase the dedication they have to maintaining a fair and transparent examination process.
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Iran demonstrates its missile might with localised attacks
Iran’s military, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), is showing its strength by launching attacks on Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan. This shows that Iran has become a powerful military force in the region.
The IRGC says its missiles can reach US and Israeli bases in the Middle East.
In just one day, it showed how powerful it is by firing missiles and drones at three different countries.
On Tuesday night, the IRGC attacked two places in Pakistan. The strikes destroyed two bases of the militant group Jaish al-Adl. This was in response to the killing of Iranian border guards in the past few weeks.
Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni group, claims it is fighting for the rights of Baloch people in south-eastern Iran. They said two houses where their members’ families were living were hit.
Pakistan said the attacks were very bad and caused the deaths of two children. They also warned that there will be bad results because of this.
Iraq was also against Iran’s actions when they fired 11 missiles at Irbil, the capital of Kurdistan.
The regional government said four civilians died. The Prime Minister called the attack a “crime against the Kurdish people. ”
Fars news agency, which supports the IRGC, said that the place where Israel’s Mossad spy agency worked was destroyed in the attacks. The Kurdistan Region Security Council said it strongly disagreed with the false reason, while Israel didn’t say anything.
Four missiles belonging to the IRGC destroyed the house of the well-known Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee. He died in the attack, along with his 11-month-old daughter.
A person who gives advice to Mr. Barzani said it was completely ridiculous to say that he was involved in spying or worked for Israel. But the Iranian Foreign Minister said that the IRGC did not make a mistake.
Dizayee started two companies called Falcon Group and Empire World after the US took over Iraq in 2003. He was good friends with the important Barzani family, which is led by the father of the prime minister and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani.
The Falcon Group works in different areas like security, building, and oil and gas. The security team helped Western representatives and companies in Iraq.
The attack in Irbil shows that the IRGC can carry out targeted strikes and hit military bases near Irbil’s airport where US and other foreign forces are.
The IRGC said they attacked Israeli buildings in Irbil. This was also meant to help Iran’s politics inside the country, after Israel probably attacked Syria and killed an important commander on 25 December.
On Monday night, the IRGC fired missiles at bases in Syria that it claimed belonged to the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups.
Idlib is the only place left where the Syrian opposition is strong after fighting against President Bashar al-Assad’s government for 12 years. Assad is still in charge because Russia and Iran support him with their armies. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sharm (HTS) controls Idlib, but IS and al-Qaeda are also there.
The IRGC said they attacked Idlib in revenge for two IS suicide bombings in Kerman, Iran. The bombings killed 94 people on 3 January. The bombers attacked many people near the tomb of Qasem Soleimani, who was a commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. They did this on the fourth anniversary of his death in a US drone attack.
The IRGC said it used a missile called Kheibar Shekan (Castle Buster) to attack Idlib. This missile can travel up to 1,450km (900 miles).
It also said the missile was launched from the southern province of Khuzestan, but it could have been launched from the western province of Azerbaijan, which is a lot closer to Syria.
Iran wants to show the world that they can reach different parts of Israel from where they are launching missiles. This is because Israel is next to Syria. -
Brosnan enters not guilty plea for hiking in Yellowstone Thermal Area
Pierce Brosnan, formerly known for his role as James Bond, insists he did not make any mistakes when he approached danger too closely.
He was accused of going into a dangerous part of Yellowstone National Park where the water is very hot and can burn people.
The 70-year-old was supposed to go to court on January 23 for something that happened on November 1.
But a judge in Wyoming said he could have his court hearing online on 20 February.
A lawyer in Wyoming mentioned Brosnan for two possible violations of the law.
Someone got in trouble for walking where they weren’t supposed to in a hot area, and another person wandered into a hilly area with hot springs in Yellowstone.
Mammoth Terraces is a hot spring in the park that shoots water and mud into the air and the water can be as hot as 175F (79. 4C)
Though it can be risky, the area is also very sensitive. Fixing the springs can take a long time, maybe even years.
People who visit national parks must stay on the paths that are marked for walking. If they do not follow this rule, they can be punished with up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 (£3,946).
A photo of Brosnan making fun of tourists at Yellowstone was posted on Instagram. He was wearing sunglasses and a hat and standing by the snowy hot springs.
The famous actor is not the only person who went off the usual path to see the beauty of Yellowstone.
Every year, many people get severely burned at Yellowstone because they go to places they aren’t supposed to. The Associated Press reported this.
At least 22 people have died from getting burned by the park’s hot springs and geysers.
Brosnan was in Montana filming a Western movie called The Unholy Trinity, where he plays a sheriff with Samuel L. Jackson
Aside from his four James Bond movies, Brosnan was also in a TV show called Remington Steele in the 1980s. He is also famous for his roles in the movies Mrs. Doubtfire and The Thomas Crown Affair. -
E Jean Carroll provides testimony in Trump slander trial
E Jean Carroll is now in court as the first person to give evidence in her second trial for saying that Donald Trump lied about her. This trial is happening in New York.
In May, it was decided that Mr Trump was responsible for sexually touching Ms Carroll in the 1990s and saying mean things about her after she told everyone about it in 2019.
The ex-president still says that Ms Carroll’s story is not true.
She got $5 million at first, and now she wants another $10 million.
On Tuesday, the person making the accusation and the person being accused were in the same room for the first time in over 20 years, when the jury was being chosen.
Mr Trump, who is 77 years old, was removed from his position in the previous trial. But he didn’t come in person or speak then. He is doing both things willingly in the current proceedings.
Ms Carroll, who is 80 years old, said that Mr. Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s after they ran into each other by chance.
Her claim, which was first made public in New York magazine in June 2019, was denied by Mr Trump from the White House as a “lie” and a “fake story”.
The lawyer for Ms. Carroll said that the Republican president used his power to publicly attack and shame her, and ruin her reputation.
Shawn Crowley said in court that Mr. Trump made death and rape threats and said mean things online that made her client very scared to live each day.
Asking jurors to decide how much money Donald Trump should pay for his actions and how much money it will take to make him stop, Ms Crowley demanded a large amount of compensation.
However, Alina Habba, who is representing Mr. Trump in the case, said on Tuesday that Ms. Carroll should not receive money because her claim of being sexually assaulted by Mr. Trump had actually made her well-known.
“Proof will reveal that her career has been successful and she has been put back into the spotlight like she has always desired,” Ms Habba said.
“She really enjoys her new brand, and she has been making money from it for a long time,” she said.
Mr Trump is the top Republican candidate for president, but he also has a lot of legal trouble with 91 criminal charges and a civil fraud trial in New York.
On Monday, he won by a large margin in the Iowa caucuses, which is the first contest in the race to become the Republican candidate for the White House.
He will be in court on Wednesday and is also doing more campaign events in New Hampshire, where the next contest is happening.
He keeps saying he doesn’t know anything about Ms. Carroll, and he’s said it many times on his Truth Social platform while he was at the hearing on Tuesday.
It is believed that Mr. Trump will speak in court on Monday. -
GTV cancels Cheddar’s interview after ‘order from above’
A scheduled interview between the face of #TheNewForce, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar and the Ghana Television (GTV) was abruptly canceled at the eleventh hour on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
The unexpected decision was allegedly attributed to an enigmatic “order from above.”
The interview, eagerly anticipated by Cheddar’s audience, was set to delve into his presidential ambition. However, just moments before the scheduled broadcast, Cheddar announced on his Twitter handle that the interview has been canceled.
“We are sorry to announce that my interview with @GTV_Ghana has been cancelled at the last minute by “orders from above”. This has brought back memories of The Convention. #TheNewForce The Voice of the people,” Cheddar tweeted.
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A foreign national detained in connection with murder of Kenyan woman
Kenyan police arrested a person from another country for killing a 20-year-old Kenyan student.
He got arrested on Tuesday when he tried to leave Kenya with a Mozambican passport, according to the authorities.
Rita Waeni’s body was found cut into pieces last Sunday at a temporary apartment in Nairobi.
Her family thinks that someone tricked her and then tried to get money from them, even after they killed her.
The person who killed Ms. Waeni sent three messages from her phone on Sunday morning. They said her family had to pay 500,000 Kenyan shillings (about $3,100 or £2,400) within 24 hours to get her back. Her family told this on Wednesday.
Her head was cut off and her body was discovered soon after.
“Unfortunately, the family didn’t get more information about the ransom or a chance to try this option. ” In addition, the family said that some requests were made after she had already been killed. They said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The police are searching for Ms. Waeni’s head, which was taken by the person who killed her, along with her phone and other things that belonged to her.
The family said that their lives have been completely destroyed by the murder, especially because of the way she was killed.
The police are also trying to find out if the person captured by security cameras picking up the keys to the rental apartment is the same as the suspect.
Two more people who may have been involved in the murder have been taken into custody.
Investigators looked at Ms. Waeni’s Instagram and think that the person who killed her tricked her using the app.
She was in her last year of studying at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Many people in Kenya are very upset and angry about the recent killing of Ms. Waeni and other women. This has led to an online campaign to protect girls and women.
Less than two weeks ago, a popular person from Kenya was also killed in a similar way. -
116 tonnes of cocaine seized in Antwerp
Belgian officials say they found the most cocaine ever at the port of Antwerp last year.
The city by the port has become the main way drugs from South America get into Europe.
Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem said that 116 tons of cocaine were caught in Antwerp, which is 5% more than the previous year.
Only a little bit of the drug, maybe about one-tenth, is actually found when it arrives at the port.
Customs officers told the media that they think they can never beat the strong drug gangs.
Rising violence is happening in Belgium because gangs are competing for control of the profitable illegal cocaine trade.
“Mr Van Peteghem said that these amounts are very dangerous for the safety of our ports, cities, customs and dock workers, and our families. ”
When you drive around the big port in Antwerp, you can see why the cocaine gangs want to use it as their main place for bringing drugs into the country. It’s a big problem for the authorities to stop them.
There are 160km (100 miles) of space along the water where lots of stuff from ships gets taken off and sent to different parts of the continent.
It’s a fast-moving belt that carries goods that can go bad quickly and gives a big chance for the people who sell cocaine. Hiding drugs in fresh fruit crates, especially banana containers, is still a popular strategy.
Last year, the BBC looked into how Antwerp became Europe’s biggest place to bring drugs into the country. Customs officials found out that gangs expected some of their drug shipments to be found and planned for it.
However, the money made is very large.
The Belgian authorities caught over 100 tonnes of drugs at the port for the first time in 2022.
Belgium’s neighbor to the north, the Netherlands, has also found a lot more cocaine, 59. 1 tons in 2023. This makes it even more of a place where cocaine is sent to other parts of Europe, like the UK.
In the Netherlands, most of the cocaine seized came from Ecuador, about 27 tons.
Panama and Colombia are important places where things come from, mostly to Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.
Police in Europe are teaming up to fight criminal gangs. They mention recent achievements, such as when they were able to break into a secure platform called EncroChat that is used by trafficking networks.
On Tuesday night, the police arrested 22 people for drugs in Belgium. Among them were three police officers.
Many searches were done in Brussels and Antwerp. The police found cash, expensive cars, and a weapon.
Antwerp has had a lot of fighting and violence in the past few years, with gangs fighting each other on the city’s streets.
Several attacks have hit the wrong places, and in January 2023, an 11-year-old girl was killed in a criminal attack.
Lately, there has been more fights and crimes related to drugs moving into the southern part of Brussels from the port.
Gangs shoot at their enemy’s homes to try and get the police to come and stop drug deals happening there. They don’t always want to hurt anyone, just to get attention.
Top European officials say that organized crime is just as bad as terrorism because it causes a lot of violence and trouble.
Former Belgian Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne had to go to a secret place because the police found out that some criminals from the Netherlands were planning to kidnap him.
The Dutch acting Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, has been given extra protection because the police are worried that a drug gang might try to harm him.
Belgium is having a big trial with over 120 people on trial for doing drugs. -
Somalia returns Ethiopian aircraft as port issue intensifies
Somalia said no to a plane carrying Ethiopian officials to Somaliland, making the ongoing disagreement between the countries even worse.
The person in charge of giving out information in Somalia said to the BBC that the plane was not allowed to be in the country’s sky.
The Ethiopian leaders were in Somaliland to talk about an agreement, and this has caused a big argument.
Somalia thinks that Somaliland belongs to it.
The deal, signed on 1 January, would let Somaliland rent out one of its ports to Ethiopia. In return, Somaliland would get a share in Ethiopian Airlines and might be recognized as its own independent country.
Somalia is really mad about the deal and says it’s an aggressive act.
On Wednesday, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) said that flight ETH8273 did not follow the international rules. Flights should get permission from the countries they fly over, but this flight did not.
It tried to land at the airport in Hargeisa, which is in Somaliland.
The SCAA said that normal flights between the two countries are still happening, even after the incident.
The Ethiopian government has not said anything yet, but the leader of Ethiopian Airlines said the plane had come back to the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
Somaliland used to be protected by Britain. It separated from Somalia in 1991 and now it looks like a country. They have elections, police, and their own money.
No country has accepted or approved this.
Somalia told the Ethiopian plane to leave its airspace, to show that Somaliland is not its own country.
During the argument between Somalia and Ethiopia, the US and the African Union supported Somalia’s land and asked everyone to calm down. -
BNI Ghana inaugurates 2nd chapter in Accra to extend networking opportunities
Business Network International (BNI) Ghana, a prominent business networking organization, celebrates a momentous achievement as it inaugurates its 2nd chapter at the prestigious Marriott Hotel in Airport City, Accra.
The launch event, graced by the presence of the newly appointed patron for BNI Ghana, Professor Robert Ebo Hinson, featured as the keynote speaker. The gathering witnessed the active participation of 24 esteemed members.
The recently established chapter demonstrated swift effectiveness by facilitating the passing of 32 referrals in just three weeks. This noteworthy achievement translated into an impressive revenue generation exceeding GHS560,000 for the members, highlighting the tangible business benefits of BNI’s referral system.
The core ethos of BNI is succinctly captured in the phrase ‘Givers Gain’.
This principle embodies the philosophy that by actively contributing to the success of others’ businesses, one can expect to receive reciprocal support. This approach emphasises the intrinsic value of fostering mutually beneficial relationships without the need for kickbacks or percentage cuts, aligning with BNI’s commitment to ethical and collaborative business practices.
BNI’s inclusive approach extends an open invitation to local business leaders who are eager to harness the power of referrals as a primary marketing tool to expand their businesses and cultivate a global network. This emphasis on leveraging referrals for business growth and global networking underscores BNI’s dedication to providing a platform for professionals to forge meaningful connections and drive sustainable business development.
The successful launch of the 2nd chapter of BNI in Accra serves as a testament to the organisation’s impact in catalyzing business growth and fostering collaborative partnerships among its members.
With its overarching ethos of reciprocity and collaboration, BNI continues to play a pivotal role in empowering businesses and professionals to thrive in an interconnected global marketplace.
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President of Comoros wins fourth term in a contentious poll
Comoros President Azali Assoumani has won another term in office, but the opposition says the election was not fair.
Ceni said he won with 63% of the votes.
However, not many people came to vote because the opposition did not participate – only 16% of the population voted in the presidential election.
Opposition candidates said that people put extra votes in the ballot boxes for Mr Assoumani and that the polls closed too soon, according to Reuters news agency.
Mr Assoumani’s team said no to what the opposition is saying.
Six people ran for president in an election on 14 January in a group of islands in the Indian Ocean.
“We can’t say anything about the outcome because there wasn’t an election,” said Mouigni Baraka Said Soilihi, who is running against Mr. Assoumani, according to Reuters.
Poll observers from other countries said that the voting process was mostly fair, even though the opposition reported some problems.
The election commission says that 189,000 people could have voted, but only 55,259 actually did – that’s only 16% of the people who could have voted.
The voter turnout was low because some opposition candidates asked people not to vote. As a result, some voters only voted in the governor elections and didn’t participate in the other elections.
Over 330,000 people signed up to vote out of a total of 836,000 people in the area.
Mr Assoumani used to be in the military and took control by force in 1999. He then won the first election in 2002.
He stopped doing politics in 2006, but then he won the presidential election in 2016.
He was allowed to run for president for a fourth time because the rules about how many times a president can run were changed in 2018. This caused many people in the country to protest.
Mr Assoumani’s time as leader has been filled with arguments, as some people say he has put his rivals in jail or made them leave the country.
He leads the African Union right now. -
Macron turns to right over birthrate and education
French President Emmanuel Macron has made a decision to support right-wing policies.
Everyone agreed after he talked for a long time on TV on Tuesday.
He wanted students to wear the same clothes at school, to stop drug gangs, and to increase the number of babies being born in France.
Left-leaning analysts were upset about his apparent change from the carefully balanced politics of the past few years.
But they believed that his true feelings were always on the right side.
People on the right were happy that he seemed to agree with them now, but they thought he was just pretending.
Macron spoke in front of about 100 reporters for 2. 5 hours at the Elysée palace.
It was supposed to be an opportunity for people to “meet the nation” and set the focus for his final three years in office, following criticism that he had lost his ability to make changes after being re-elected in 2022.
It happened a week after President Macron chose a new government with Gabriel Attal, who is the youngest prime minister in French history. Attal is in charge of a group of people in the government, and they are more conservative than the people who were in this role before.
Hugh wrote about Macron choosing a 34-year-old, Attal, as the youngest Prime Minister of France.
The president’s words showed that he changed his plans to deal with the increasing influence of the extreme right-wing nationalist Marine Le Pen. Her party, National Rally (RN), is expected to win the most votes in the European elections in June.
He believed that teaching French values to kids in school was important for keeping France’s identity.
He said that each new group of people must understand the Republic, including its history, responsibilities, freedoms, and culture, starting from when they are young.
He said that if an experiment in 100 schools next year goes well, everyone in school will have to wear a uniform in 2026. This idea is usually supported only by some of the political right.
He wanted schools to teach the national anthem and have ceremonies for giving out diplomas. He also wanted 16-year-olds to do community service. He also promised to make rules to limit how long kids can use screens.
However, the president’s most obvious use of conservative ideas was a promise to make more policies to encourage people to have more babies, because the birth rate in France is going down. In 2023, fewer than 700,000 babies were born, which is the lowest number since World War Two.
The French press often says that policies like these are only for “reactionary” governments, like the one led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary. Macron wants to make it easier for people to have fertility treatments and have more time off work when they become parents.
The left-wing newspaper Libération said that the speech showed a conservative view of France, and promised to keep fighting illegal immigration and drug gangs.
Le Monde said the president was looking back at the old France and feeling nostalgic.
The newspaper Le Figaro, which is conservative, thinks that the president openly changed his policy. He has never been so close to meeting the public’s expectations, and we should be happy about it.
The president picked a plan for his speech. He will talk for 30 minutes first. Then, he will answer questions from journalists for two hours.
The detailed format worked well for President Macron because he is very good at discussing every possible topic in great detail and he enjoys doing it. He didn’t do a good job of avoiding the risk of looking intellectually conceited. He may have been trying to hide the fact that he didn’t have much to say by using a lot of words.
Marine Le Pen said the press conference was “another never-ending talk”. -
US to reclassify Houthis as terror organisation
The US is planning to call the Houthi rebels in Yemen “global terrorists” again, according to senior officials in the Biden administration.
Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, will agree to the move while there are ongoing attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by a group supported by Iran.
US banks will have to stop Houthi money and Houthi people can’t come into the US.
It undoes Mr. Blinken’s decision in 2021 to take the Houthis off the list.
In the last days of the Trump administration, officials called the Houthis as global terrorists and a foreign terrorist organization.
They did it even though the UN and aid groups said it could make the hunger crisis in Yemen much worse.
But in 2021, shortly after President Joe Biden took office, the new Secretary Blinken changed the decision because of the urgent humanitarian crisis.
Before announcing on Wednesday, officials said they decided to reinstate the SDGT label but not the FTO label to keep aid going into Yemen.
“We made the right decision to cancel,” said one government official, explaining that it was done because of a very serious humanitarian crisis in the country and to make sure that US policies were not stopping civilians from getting urgent help.
However, they agreed that the Houthis’ continuous attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, with dozens of missiles being fired, are not acceptable.
The new SDGT title will start in 30 days. It means that people and companies in the US can’t help the Houthis.
However, officials want to make it clear that there will be exceptions in the new rules to make sure that aid can still get to Yemen, a country that has been extremely damaged by almost ten years of fighting.
“We know that the situation in Yemen is very serious and we are trying to make sure that these sanctions do not hurt the people of Yemen too much,” one official said. They also mentioned that they are working on creating special exceptions and permissions for certain situations.
The Houthis started attacking trade ships in November because they wanted to retaliate against Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Ever since then, the group has carried out many attacks on commercial ships traveling through the Red Sea, which is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
In reply, the US and UK bombed many Houthi targets on January 11th. The strikes started because the Houthi forces didn’t stop their attacks, despite being warned to do so. Australia, Bahrain, the Netherlands and Canada supported the strikes.
The Biden administration said the new label does not mean they think the air attacks will stop the Houthi attacks.
“We think these sanctions are part of a bigger plan to stop the Houthis from carrying out terror attacks,” said one government official. “Our sanctions are not meant to be looked at by themselves, but as part of a bigger plan. ”
After the strikes last week, the Houthis said that the US and UK will soon understand that the action was a big mistake in their history.
“America and Britain messed up by starting the war in Yemen because they didn’t learn from their past experiences,” said the group’s leader Mohammed al-Bukhaiti on social media.
Yemen has been badly damaged by a civil war that got worse in 2015. The Houthis took over big areas in the west of the country from the government that most countries approve of. Then, a group of countries with Saudi Arabia in charge stepped in to try to bring back the government’s control.
The fighting has caused more than 160,000 people to die and created a very bad situation where 21 million people need help. -
Rwandan president says UK might receive their money back
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame said he will give back the money to the UK if they don’t send any refugees to his country as part of their agreement.
The UK has given £240m to Rwanda, and will give another £50m later. Until now, no refugees have been sent to the country.
When Kagame was asked why he was taking the money, he said: “I will only use it if those people come. ” “If they don’t show up, we can give the money back. ”
Rishi Sunak is about to have an important vote in parliament for his Rwanda bill.
The prime minister says his idea to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda will stop other people from trying to come to the UK in small boats.
Labour thinks it is a costly trick that won’t be effective, and they would get rid of the policy if they win the election.
Some of Mr Sunak’s own Conservative party members disagree with him. They think the rules are not strict enough and the government should be willing to break international laws to start deportation flights.
On Wednesday evening, Members of Parliament will vote on changes to a law and decide if the bill should move on to the next step.
The government thinks they will win the vote, even though many right-wing Tory MPs rebelled on Tuesday.
The BBC’s economics expert, Faisal Islam, quickly spoke to Paul Kagame at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The president did not say how much money he will give back to the UK, or when. When asked about the problems with the deal involving his country, Mr. Kagame said that it’s not Rwanda’s problem. The President said that the UK should handle the problem, not Rwanda.
Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said she is happy that Mr. Kagame offered to give back the money. She promised to use the money to handle asylum requests and to stop the criminal gangs involved in this situation.
She said in Davos that it would be better to use the money for controlling small boat crossings, which is essential and more likely to succeed. -
ActionAid report reveals Fossil Fuel companies’ excess profits surpassing US$420 bn
A recent report by ActionAid has disclosed that thirty-six prominent companies in the fossil fuel industry, along with their backers, accumulated excess profits exceeding US$420 billion in the 24 months leading up to July 2023.
The report highlights the potential for generating additional funds for public spending, particularly in crucial sectors like education and climate action, by levying taxes on these extraordinary profits, termed as windfall profits.
Such windfall profits are typically associated with external contextual changes, representing a surplus beyond the anticipated and regular profits.
As world leaders convene at Davos for the World Economic Forum, the report suggests that imposing a 90% tax on the windfall profits of these 36 firms has the potential to generate a staggering US$382 billion in revenue.
This amount is almost 20 times more than the US$21 billion provided by donors for climate adaptation in 2021.
“The scale of profits that fossil fuel companies and their bankers are making in the wake of global crises is truly astounding, especially when compared to the hardships that these crises have brought upon regular people around the world,” says ActionAid Secretary-General Arthur Larok. “Windfall profits taxes make sense. They can bring in significant revenue for climate action and social services, while taxing only the extraordinary corporate profits.”
ActionAid’s research is an analysis of the profits of the top 14 fossil fuel companies and top 22 financial corporations by value on the stock market. In the 24 months to July 2023, these firms made
US$1,218 billion in profits. Windfall profits from this amount comes to US$425 billion. Fossil fuel company profits in the 12 months before July 2023 were up by an astounding 278% compared to the average in the period between 2017/8 and 2020/1.
Both the fossil fuel and the financial industries have been making extraordinary profits in recent years, widely attributed to the impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and high interest rates adopted by many countries in response to growing inflation.
ActionAid’s research in 2023 found that banks alone have poured over US$3.2 trillion into fossil fuels in the Global South since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, making them complicit in climate damage.
At COP27, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked governments to tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and redirect that money to those impacted by climate change. Over one year later, only some EU Member States, the UK, and a few Latin American countries, have introduced some forms of temporary and often limited windfall taxes on fossil fuel companies.
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Danish king releases a book three days after taking office
Three days after becoming the king of Denmark, Frederik X has written and released a book without warning.
Danes were surprised to see the book, and the media quickly started sharing quotes from it on their live blogs.
“The King’s Word” is about what Frederik thinks about Denmark’s position in the world and his relationship with his wife, Queen Mary.
Frederik became king on Sunday because his mother, Margrethe II, stepped down on New Year’s Eve.
It was written by Jens Andersen, who wrote a book about Frederik in 2017, and is based on interviews done in the past year and a half.
In one part, Frederik says that when he was a kid, he found it hard to believe that he would be the King of Denmark. He just wanted to be like any other boys his age.
I remember my 18th birthday feeling like the world was ending. “I felt like all the fun and excitement was going to stop now. ” “Thankfully, it didn’t,” Frederik says.
In the book, the king talks about his faith and how he and his wife pray with their kids every night.
He also talks about his family, saying that his father, Prince Henrik of Denmark, who died in 2018, was very traditional and tried to teach his two sons the same values.
Frederik says: “My wife sometimes tells me that I’m not always right and my words aren’t always believed just because I’m a man in the house. I’ve learned a lot from her. ”
Tens of thousands of people came to see King Frederik X become the new king of Denmark on Sunday, taking over from his mother.
With tears in his eyes, Frederik told a happy crowd outside Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen that he wanted to be a king who brings people together in the future.
His mother Margarethe II stepped down from being queen after ruling for 52 years. -
Brakwa-Breman Rural Bank PLC takes lead in digital innovation for rural banking
Brakwa-Breman Rural Bank PLC, stationed in Brakwa within the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of the Central Region, is ramping up efforts to enhance its utilization and incorporation of modern technologies. The aim is to offer innovative financial products to its clientele.
Brakwa-Breman Rural Bank’s Board Chairman, Alexander Koomson, declares the institution’s proactive stance in driving change, embracing fresh opportunities, and effectively tackling challenges.
He said, “Our strategic plans include further integration of technology to enhance banking experience, especially at the very dawn of the Agency banking with the introduction of innovative financial products and continued collaboration with local and international stakeholders.”
The Bank in recent years, has embraced digital innovations, enhancing accessibility and efficiency. It is to this end, that the Board Chairman stated that “We are poised to make headway in our efforts to digitize with the assistance of the ARB Apex Bank.
“Our commitment to financial literacy and inclusive banking has empowered even the remotest corners of our community. The partnerships forged with local businesses have stimulated economic growth, creating a ripple effect that benefits us all.”
These developments come as digitization continues to play a major role in various business sectors, including banking and commerce.
Giving an outlook of the Bank, at a durbar to mark the 40thanniversary at Brakwa, Mr. Koomson said the Bank has a vision in which it plays a pivotal role in sustainable development, fostering entrepreneurship, and contributing to the overall well-being of all its stakeholders.
“As we embark on the next chapter, we remain committed to the principles that have guided us this far; integrity, transparency, and a genuine concern for the welfare of our customers,” he stated.
However, he also acknowledged the beginnings of the Bank noting some of the economic hurdles it faced and achievements made amid a changing rural banking regulatory landscape, in the country.
Recognizing that the Bank started its operations in 1983, he expressed gratitude to all the founding fathers and promoters of the Bank.
He said, “As we stand on the precipice of the 40th year, let us reflect on the accomplishments that define our bank today. Our prudent financial management, unwavering commitment to customer service, and community-centric approach have set us apart.”
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank, Mr. Felix Dompreh, said over the past four decades, the bank has been an integral part of host communities, serving as a beacon of financial empowerment and fostering economic growth in the rural landscape.
“As we gather in this durbar to commemorate our 40th anniversary, it is not merely a celebration of time passed, but a reflection on the impact we have made and the lives we have touched. Our journey has been one of resilience, determination, and a shared commitment to the prosperity of our community.
“As we look to the future, we envision even greater strides, innovations, and collaborations that will contribute to the continued growth and prosperity of the communities we serve,” he said.
He also recognized the work and dedication of the management and staff of the bank adding that the success of Brakwa-Breman Rural Bank PLC is a testament to the collective efforts of each employee, past and present, customer and all shareholders.
Furthermore, Mr. Dompreh entreated all the stakeholders to look ahead with optimism and determination and collectively continue to build on the legacy that has defined the Bank.
“Our commitment to serving the financial needs of the rural community remains resolute, and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, of course, with credible partners like the ARB Apex Bank, ARB – National and Central Region Chapter, the Bank of Ghana on our side,” he added.
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More support troop in for flood victims in South Dayi as MOSAAG donate relief items
The Ministry of Commerce Alumni Association Ghana (MoSAAG) has made a charitable gesture by donating relief items valued at over GHS80,000 to victims of flooding in the South Dayi constituency of the Volta Region.
The donated relief items consist of mattresses, bags of rice, sachets of water, clothing, buckets, mosquito coils, sanitary towels, canned fish, cooking oil, and soaps.
The contribution comes in response to a plea for assistance from the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
“The flood has completely submerged houses and washed away farmlands, leaving many homeless and without a source of livelihood. This donation could not have come at a better time. With over 5,000 people affected by the flooding, these items will go a long way to help them recover,” he said.
He urged other organisations and individuals to assist the victims, who are in desperate need of food, water, clothing and shelter; saying that though the government through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has supported victims, more needs to be done.
“What the government has provided so far is inadequate, because the number of people affected is high. We therefore call on other institutions to complement these efforts.
“One of the key issues affecting our people is that they have not been resettled after being displaced over the years by flooding; and also, the inappropriate compensation paid to them by Volta River Authority,” he added.
President-MoSAAG, Sualah Yazid Zougrana, said the donation forms part of the association’s annual corporate social responsibility efforts funded through scholarships they receive from the Chinese government.
“We undertook studies in China, thanks to the Chinese government. So, we deem it an obligation every year to give back to society a portion of the funding as our widow’s mite,” Mr. Zougrana revealed.
The Chief of Todome, Togbe Adza Yeh Arku V, thanked MoSAAG for the kind gesture and appealed for other groups to assist victims in Todome and surrounding areas, who continue to face immense difficulties in the wake of the flood.
Last year, the association as part of its corporate social responsibility constructed a borehole for Anorteyman, a community in the Obom Domeabra constituency. two years ago, it made donations to an orphanage that houses children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
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Trial for lookalike murder begins for German woman
A German woman is on trial for allegedly killing a woman who resembled her to fake her own death. The case is called the “doppelganger murder”.
Sharaban K, who is 24 years old, and a 25-year-old man are accused of choosing the victim because of her appearance and age.
The lawyers say she was going to hide and start a new life, but she got caught the next day.
She and the person she was with say they did not do what they are accused of.
The court papers say that a 23-year-old man named Sharaban K, who is German-Iraqi, looked for women who resembled him on Instagram and then tried to meet them by making different promises.
The lawyers say that a 23-year-old woman from Algeria named Khadidja O was told she could get free treatment at a beauty salon.
She was taken from Eppingen to Ingolstadt in Bavaria by the two accused. They picked her up in the town of Eppingen in southern Germany and drove her to Ingolstadt.
During the journey, prosecutors say the person was stabbed 56 times and hit on the head before her body was left in a forest in Sharaban K’s black Mercedes car.
When they found her body, people thought that Sharaban K had died. However, she and a 25-year-old man named Sheqir K, were taken by the police as possible suspects the day after they were seen at a nearby pizzeria.
Sharaban K’s family comes from a Yazidi community in northern Iraq. It is said that her failed marriage might be the reason she tried to fake her own death, as reported by German media.
After looking at more evidence and talking to people who saw what happened and looking at their online conversations, the police decided to charge the two people with more crimes.
The couple is also believed to have paid someone to kill her ex-partner’s brother. The person who was supposed to do the killing did not do it even after getting €5,000.
Also, while in jail, the man tried to get another prisoner to kill people who saw what happened.
The trial on Tuesday was delayed for a long time. The lawyers defending the accused said they couldn’t have a fair trial because the prosecutors had given them more documents at the last minute. They needed more time to look at them, so they asked for the trial to be postponed.
The prosecution said they didn’t agree with the argument. They explained that it’s normal to submit more documents after being charged with a crime.
Next week, the court will decide if they should stop the trial for a while. -
Ecobank Group launches new brand campaign at AfCON 2023
Ecobank, a prominent pan-African financial services group, has introduced its latest brand campaign, ‘A Better Way | A Better Africa,’ during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 (AFCON).”
As an official sponsor of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, Ecobank takes pride in leveraging the unifying, exhilarating, and progressive spirit of African football.
Through this, the financial services group aims to showcase its commitment to the sustainable growth of the continent. The campaign emphasizes Ecobank‘s dedication to empowering its clients and customers in attaining their goals for a better future, contributing to the vision of a better Africa.
Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer-Ecobank Group said: “At Ecobank, we drive growth in Africa by our delivery of affordable, reliable and innovative financial services to our clients and customers, while making a significant contribution to Africa’s development. ‘A BETTER WAY | A BETTER AFRICA’ reflects our unwavering dedication to our continent. Driven by our commitment to continuous improvement, we deliver enhanced financial services, greater customer experience and more customer-centric solutions”.
The foundation of this brand campaign is rooted in the findings of a comprehensive pan-African brand survey, which encompasses insights and opportunities gathered through extensive research.
Jeremy Awori added: “Our pan-African purpose and single gateway platform, as well as the diversity of our leading workforce operating from 35 countries, position us as an enabler and partner for our clients and customers to identify and seize new opportunities”.
The campaign also highlights Ecobank’s digital network and its continent-wide connectivity; including its unified payment ecosystem, which supports market access and business growth, while capitalising on opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The fully integrated campaign features a diverse mix of digital and traditional media and includes a television commercial filmed on the continent. Following the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, the campaign will continue being rolled out across Africa.
Ecobank Group (or ‘Ecobank Transnational Incorporated’ or ‘ETI’)
Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 35 sub-Saharan African countries as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single gateway for payments, cash management, trade and investment.
The Group employs over 14,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers.
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Dozens demonstrate over activist imprisonment in Russia
Russian police used tear gas and hit protesters with sticks in Bashkortostan because a rights activist was given a four-year prison sentence.
Videos on social media showed Fail Alsynov’s supporters fighting with police and throwing snowballs near the court in Baymak.
Alsynov is in jail for encouraging hate between different ethnic groups, but he says he didn’t do it.
Big demonstrations in Russia hardly ever happen because people are afraid of getting arrested.
According to some news, a few thousand people are protesting. The protest has been going on for many days in very cold weather. There are also reports of some people getting hurt.
The protesters are yelling in support of Alsynov, and some of them tried to stop people from going into the courthouse after the decision was made.
Riot police shot tear gas and protesters threw snowballs at them.
He reportedly called people from Central Asia and the Caucasus region “black people”, which is considered a disrespectful term in Russia. These people make up most of the migrant population in Russia.
However, he says the words he used in the Bashkir language actually mean “poor people” and were translated incorrectly into Russian. He wants to challenge the decision.
Alsynov also disagreed with the military getting ready in the area and called it a “genocide” of the Bashkir people. The Bashkir people are similar to the Tatars and live in the southern Ural mountains.
Many people have said that a lot of people from ethnic minorities in Russia are being made to go and fight in Ukraine.
Alsynov led a group called Bashkort, which wanted to protect the culture of the Bashkirs. But in 2020, the government said it was a bad group.
Map – a picture that shows the details of an area, like roads and buildings. -
Pakistan struggles to manage internal insurgency, shifts blame to India
Pakistan expert Tilak Devashree has emphasized that Pakistan, grappling with internal insurgency challenges, is pointing fingers at India for the ongoing atrocities in Balochistan. This strategic blame-shifting is seen as an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan’s acknowledged inability to effectively address the escalating situation.
Highlighting a longstanding pattern, Tilak Devashree, a Pakistan expert, emphasized that Pakistan has a historical tendency of deflecting responsibility by not acknowledging its mistakes and externalizing them.
“Pakistan is not able to handle its internal insurgency and has been blaming India and Afghanistan for it,” he told ANI.
While answering the blame Pakistan has put on India for the ongoing situation of Baloch people, he said, “This is just an excuse, and they are not able to tackle the situation, so they are blaming it (India).”
Emphasising that the actual problem is the Pakistan Army, Devashree said that either their army does not have the potential to control the situation or they do not want to do it.
“For the last 2.5 years, the Taliban government has been there and they have been harbouring the Taliban for 20 years now; there is no such influence on them. so how can they blame India for it…? The basic problem is that the army is not able to control this situation. Either they don’t have the potential to do it or they don’t want to do it, neither TTP nor the Baloch,” he said.
This Baloch insurgency has been going on since 2003, and they are not able to control it, he highlighted.
“Pakistan is known for not accepting its own mistakes and will always externalise them,” Devashree emphasised.
Underscoring the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, he said that as the Taliban is not cooperating with Pakistan, they are pressurizing them.
“They said that the Taliban is not cooperating with us, so to pressure on the Taliban, they have pushed 8.7 million undocumented Afghans out of their country in these harsh winters,” he said, reiterating, “But the problem is with the Pakistani army.”
Moreover, Devashree told ANI that the Pakistan Army wanted to keep this hidden, but it has been exposed now.
On being asked whether the concerns and protests across the world will put any pressure on Pakistan or not, Devahsree replied, “Yes, of course,” adding that the Baloch people who are currently settled abroad are protesting and through their protests, people will get to know the atrocities done to them.
“Baloch people who are currently settled in London, the US, Germany, and New York, whenever they protest, people will get to know what exactly the issue is and why these people are protesting in this bitter cold,” he stressed.
“It will definitely impact Pakistan, but we still have to see how much it will impact the media and the politicians,” he added.
Further talking about the upcoming general elections in Pakistan, scheduled for February 8, he said that the Pakistani army is trying to ensure that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan does not contest the elections, raising concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.
“The Pakistani army is trying to ensure that Imran Khan does not contest elections and the PTI does not get enough seats; this is one of their strategies,” he said.
Additionally, he said, “Nawaz Sharif PML-N comes as the single largest party but not in a majority of its own. If there is a coalition party or it gets support from smaller parties, then it can be controlled.”
Now, the army has two options to keep Imran Khan out of the elections: “either to hold elections that are not credible, second, or to postpone elections.”
To which he added, “Both of these options are not good…”
Devashree further emphasised that the elections will not be credible at all as they have been harassing PTI.
“Presently, I think the elections will not be credible at all, as they have been harassing PTI… they have disqualified candidates, they are not being allowed to visit polling stations, and a lot of people are behind bars. this shows the elections are not credible,” he added.
The much-awaited general elections will take place on February 8, 2024, with the national poll organising authority finally issuing the schedule following the Supreme Court’s order.
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Jospong Chairman paves the way for innovation and excellence at JLC 2024
Executive Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, has inaugurated the 11th edition of the Jospong Leadership Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre in Gomoah Fetteh.
Held on Monday, January 15, 2024, the event attracted participants primarily from the leadership and staff of Jospong Group of Companies, with additional attendees joining virtually from various locations across the country.
Dr. Agyepong commenced the conference by expressing gratitude to God for another successful year, and extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests – including Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Samanjith Udumalagala; and CEO-Asian African Consortium, Mrs. Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong.
Before delving into the conference’s theme, Dr. Agyepong took a moment to remember colleagues who departed in the preceding year; emphasising the importance of unity and remembrance within the Jospong family.
Reflecting on the leadership conference’s past 11 years, Dr. Agyepong highlighted the annual event’s positive impact – attributing its success to dedication and hard work from the Group’s employees.
The 2024 Leadership Conference theme, ‘Driving Business Excellence through Innovation, Sustainability and Empowerment’, was unveilled with a clear message that innovation is crucial for achieving the Group’s vision of becoming a leading business in Africa.
Addressing sustainability, Dr. Agyepong underlined Jospong Group’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues. The call for collaboration and innovative thinking echoed throughout his speech, emphasising the need for intentional efforts in sustainable businesses and financial modelling to empower employees and stakeholders.
Capacity building emerged as a key focus, with Dr. Agyepong emphasising the importance of investing in the Group’s human capital. He highlighted various training programmes undertaken in the past year; including international initiatives such as waste recovery and recyclables training in Thailand, and participation in global conferences like COP 28.
The Jospong Academy’s role in designing innovative learning programmes has been critical to the conglomerate’s growth.
Speaking on the topic ‘Empower for Greatness: Igniting Businesses’, president of the Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship-International, Mr. Baba Mahama, asked business owners to simplify and define their missions to employees if they want them empowered.
He said the first place to look for competition is no other place than within one’s organisation.
Mr. Mahama was categorical that excellence can only be achieved when efficiency and effectiveness are in equilibrium.
He said the first customer for an organisation is none other than its employees, and their satisfaction extends to the external customer at all times.
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Prior to voting in Rwanda Rishi Sunak to face PMQs
Rishi Sunak will talk to Keir Starmer before a vote on the Rwanda bill tonight.
Two Conservative Party deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide quit their roles on Tuesday to go against the bill.
Even though some people are against it, the people in charge are still sure that the whole bill will be approved in a vote tonight.
If the bill is approved, it will then be sent to the House of Lords where they can suggest changes.The law wants to bring back the government’s idea to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda and stop people from crossing the Channel in small boats.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith, who were deputy chairs, left their positions to join around 60 Tory MPs supporting a change that made the law stricter.
At least four members of the Conservative party, including former cabinet ministers Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, have said they are ready to vote against the bill if it is not made better.
PMQs starts at 12:00 GMT. You can watch it on this page by clicking Play at the top.
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Israelis in far south Hostages receive medicine as Gaza strikes
People who live in Khan Younis in southern Gaza say they experienced a very heavy night of air strikes, which was one of the worst since Israel’s offensive began.
Videos showed fire in the sky and loud sounds of bombs and gunfire in the city.
Families who were forced to leave their homes because of the fighting are now running away from a nearby hospital.
At the same time, Hamas is sending medicines for Israeli hostages. In return, they are getting more aid for Palestinian civilians in a deal mediated by Qatar.
The White House says Qatar has been having important talks about a possible new release of hostages. A US representative was also involved in the discussions.
Yasser Zaqzouq, who is staying at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis with his family, said this is the biggest noise from fighting [between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters] he has ever heard.
“We never saw air strikes like this before. ” We were very afraid. All the children were yelling and crying.
Tariq Dahlan, a reporter from the area, said: “People who have been forced to leave their homes are very scared and worried at the hospital. “
“People are fleeing to the West, but they don’t know where they’re going or what will happen to them. “
It was said that Israeli tanks were very close to the hospital.
The Jordanian army’s hospital in Khan Younis was really damaged by Israeli shelling on Wednesday. The Jordanian army said that Israel broke the rules of international law.
The UN says that the war has forced most of the people in Gaza to leave their homes and live in crowded shelters where it’s hard to get things they need.
A group of UN experts said in a statement that everyone in Gaza is hungry, a quarter of the people are starving and having trouble finding food and clean water, and there may be a famine soon.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, said that Israel’s military operations against Hamas in the southern area of Gaza, including Khan Younis, will be ending soon. It is believed that leaders of the armed group may be hiding there.
He said the military started using more focused attacks in the northern area where they began their ground attack.
But now, some people from Gaza are thinking again about going back home because they saw that Israeli tanks have comeback to some areas in the north.
Israeli army leaders have said many times that the fighting will keep going for months.
Qatar is sending medicine from Doha, Qatar to El-Arish in northern Egypt. It will then be taken to Gaza. This is part of a deal Qatar made between Israel and Hamas.
The plan had been announced before, but it got stuck because of problems with organizing everything.
It’s not known how the medications will be given to about 45 of over 100 Israeli hostages who are sick and need life-saving drugs.
The Israeli prime minister’s office said that people from Qatar in Gaza will be involved, and the Red Cross may also have a role.
The deal also includes a big increase in medicine for Palestinians.
On Tuesday, the White House spokesman, John Kirby said that they are hopeful that a new deal to free the hostages could be made soon.
Qatar and Egypt, who are important negotiators, have made plans to have them released if the fighting stops. -
Iran claims strikes in Pakistan were directed at militant group
Iran says it bombed a militant group in western Pakistan. This is the third time they have bombed another country this week. They also bombed targets in Iraq and Syria before.
Iranian TV said that the attack targeted two places in Balochistan connected to the militant group Jaish al-Adl.
Pakistani leaders reported that two kids died and three got hurt.
Islamabad said the air strike was an “against the law” and warned it could lead to “bad results”.
The most recent air strike happened when things were very tense in the Middle East. There has been a long war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, and the US and UK also launched air strikes on Yemen. This is because the Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea.
On Tuesday, a bomb hit a village in the big border province of Balochistan in Pakistan. Tehran said it was going after Jaish al-Adl, a group of Baloch Sunni people who have done attacks in Iran and on Pakistani government forces.
On Monday night, Iran shot ballistic missiles at targets in the northern city of Irbil in Iraq, and the US condemned the attack.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they attacked an Israeli “spy headquarters” in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Four innocent people were killed and six were injured in the attack, according to local authorities.
Iran attacked places in Syria’s northwest Idlib province. This area is the last one where the opposition is strong and not controlled by the Syrian government. It has 2. 9 million displaced people living in bad conditions in camps.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards attacked Syria in response to a recent bombing that killed 84 people. They did this because it happened on the anniversary of the US killing one of their generals.
Tehran said it doesn’t want to be part of a bigger fight from the war in Gaza. But some groups in the “Axis of Resistance” like the Houthis, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and groups in Syria and Iraq have been attacking Israel and its friends in support of the Palestinians.
Pakistan is very angry because they say Iran attacked their land without any reason. It’s even more worrying that this illegal act happened even though Pakistan and Iran have ways to talk to each other.
Pakistan and Iran have a complex but friendly relationship. The attack happened on the same day that the leader of Pakistan and the foreign minister of Iran met in Davos, and while the Iranian and Pakistani navies practiced military exercises together in the Gulf.
Both countries have accused each other of sheltering violent groups that launch attacks across the border for many years. In 2017, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said they shot down an Iranian drone that was in their territory. And in 2014, Iranian security forces crossed the border to chase after militants.
Both governments are worried about the safety of their border which is about 900km long.
Tehran says Jaish al-Adl was responsible for last month’s attacks near the border that killed more than a dozen Iranian police officers.
Iran’s interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, said that the people who did the bad thing came into the country from Pakistan.
China asked Pakistan and Iran to remain calm and not do anything that could make the situation worse. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said that China considers these countries as “close neighbors”.
Jaish al-Adl is the most active and powerful Sunni militant group in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the US Director of National Intelligence office. Washington and Tehran both call it a terrorist group. -
Commercial transport operators announce 30% increase in transport fares
Commercial Transport Operators in Ghana have declared a 30% increase in nationwide transportation fares starting January 22, 2024.
The decision to implement a 30% fare increase, has been attributed to the significant surge in the costs of lubricants, spare parts, and an increment in DVLA service charges, as stated by the transport operators.
In their official statement, the operators highlighted that the public transportation sector is facing escalating expenses, posing a growing challenge to sustain their operations.
“The continuous surge in lubricant prices, driven by fluctuations in global oil markets, has resulted in a considerable burden on drivers who rely heavily on oil to keep our vehicles running efficiently,” the drivers said in a statement.
Additionally, they said the escalating costs of spare parts, particularly for maintenance and repairs, have severely affected their ability to keep their vehicles in optimal condition.
This has resulted in reduced operational efficiency and increased downtime, negatively impacting both drivers and the commuting public.
Recognising the adverse effects of these circumstances, the Transport Operators Association indicated that they have engaged in extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including some state agencies and other transport associations.
The proposal for a fare increase, according to them aims to address the drivers’ financial challenges and ensure the sustainability of the public transportation industry in Ghana.
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Ofori-Atta hints at another engagement with bondholders
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced on Monday the country’s plans to resume discussions with its international bondholders starting next week.
This move comes in the wake of a recent successful deal to restructure $5.4 billion of official creditor debt, as Ghana aims to further enhance its financial position.
Ghana, with approximately $13 billion in outstanding Eurobonds, plans to pursue ongoing discussions with bondholders following a meeting held in Marrakech in October.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta revealed this intention during an interview at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting.
Additionally, officials are scheduled to visit China on January 23, according to Ofori-Atta. The co-chairing responsibilities of Ghana’s Official Creditor Committee by China and France played a pivotal role in the agreement, unlocking further funding from a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) rescue loan.
Ghana defaulted on most of its overseas debt in December 2022 after debt servicing costs soared. It is looking to restructure $20 billion of external debt, which totaled about $30 billion at the end of 2022, and has already restructured most local debt.
Restructuring negotiations last year were a “very difficult, painful process,” but Ghana has “built pretty good momentum”, Ofori-Atta said.
The IMF board is due to meet on Friday to decide on a $600 million disbursement from Ghana’s bailout program. Getting approval is usually seen as a formality once a meeting has been scheduled and would unlock funding from other multilateral lenders.
The World Bank was expected to decide on $550 million of “sorely needed” funding on Jan. 25, Ofori-Atta added.
Ghana is reworking its debts under the Common Framework, a restructuring process set up by the G20 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic that has been criticized for slow results.
Ofori-Atta said the 2022 macroeconomic situation had been “cage rattling”, but was improving, and he pointed to a rise in revenue and a decline in inflation.
The latest data showed consumer inflation had slowed to 23.2% year-on-year in December compared to the more than 50% when the country tipped into default.
Meanwhile growth was running at 3%, more than twice the IMF’s projected rate of 1.2%, Ofori-Atta said.
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Civil Society in Ghana strongly backs FDA in legal battle over alcohol advertising guidelines
Civil society champions, led by Vision for Alternative Development Ghana and Ghana NCD Alliance, are rallying public support for robust measures to protect current and future generations from the harmful effects of alcohol. The initiative aims to reshape societal norms, advocating for healthier influences on children and young people in the wake of ongoing legal battles concerning alcohol advertising guidelines.
In a press release issued on January 15, 2024, the civil society fraternity in Ghana declared their firm support for the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in its legal proceedings involving an artiste manager challenging the constitutionality of FDA guidelines that restrict the participation of well-known personalities in alcohol advertising.
Recognizing the detrimental impact of alcohol advertisements, the coalition is spearheading efforts to foster healthier influences on children and young people.
Background
Since the introduction of child protection provisions under the FDA guidelines, some celebrities including Wendy Shay, Camidoh, etc. have opposed the regulations, igniting debates within the industry.
Subsequently, a lawsuit was brought against the FDA over the directive.
In the writ issued on November 11, the plaintiff, Mark Darlington Osae said those areas of the FDA’s 2015 regulations are tantamount to discrimination on grounds of economic status, and occupation among others.
The artiste manager and music publisher is praying the Supreme Court to render as unconstitutional the guidelines which stipulate that, “No well-known personality or professional shall be used in alcoholic beverage advertising.”
He contends that it is inconsistent with and in contravention of articles 17(1) and 17 (2) of the 1992 Constitution. The Attorney General was also mentioned as a party to the legal action.
It is against this backdrop that the aforementioned CSOs are throwing their weight behind the FDA as the hearing on the matter commences.
Below is the full statement:
Press Release 15 th January, 2024
Civil Society Champions Sobriety, calls for public support for the protection of present and
future generations from alcohol harm.
Civil society actors led by the Vision for Alternative Development Ghana, and Ghana NCD
Alliance among others recognizing the detrimental effects of alcohol advertisements,
spearheads efforts to reshape societal norms and advocate for healthier influences on
children and young people.
The civil society fraternity in Ghana, stands in solidarity with the Food and Drugs Authority
(FDA), in its ongoing suit involving the artiste manager who petitioned the Supreme Court to
render unconstitutional, FDA guideline which frowns on the participation of well-known
personalities in alcohol advertising.
Since the introduction of the child protection provision under the FDA guidelines, some
celebrities and some entertainment show hosts have attacked it. This is not the first time the law
has caused a stir in the entertainment industry. Earlier last year, “Sugarcane” hitmaker, Camidoh
also campaigned for his colleagues in the industry to unite against the guidelines. However, some
celebrities and entertainment commentary personalities support efforts towards improving the
quality of lives of young people and children which is commendable.
Ghana ratified the UN Convention on Children’s Rights in coherence with the Children’s Act
under section 5 of the 1992 Constitution to ensure that children are protected from all forms of
harmful activities which include alcohol exposure coupled with care, assistance, maintenance
and assurance that supports their development and wellbeing.
The Alcohol guidelines and the National Alcohol Policy marketing form part of government
efforts to ensure that children are protected from alcohol glamorization and early initiation of
alcohol use. As children are highly impressionable, they tend to emulate the lifestyles of
personalities they look up to and as role models. Celebrities should not only think about financial
gains but instead, take into consideration the health implications on minors and young people
who idolize them. The societal normalization of alcohol consumption exacerbates the public
health problem, with pervasive advertising and celebrity endorsements contributing to a culture
where drinking is often portrayed as the order of the day.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a renowned footballer, refrained from alcohol use after the tragic death of his
father, Dinis Aveiro, as a result of alcoholism. Likewise, Paul Pogba, the France midfielder
removed a bottle of Heineken beer that was placed in front of him at the European Conference
2020 and also Asamoah Gyan, the former captain of Black Stars in an interview admitted he
does not take in alcohol. These celebrities exemplified strong moral character worthy of
emulation by the youth.
According to WHO, the harmful use of alcohol is accountable for 7.1% and 2.2% of the global
burden of disease for males and females respectively and the leading risk factor for premature
mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10% of all deaths in this
age group.
There is strong evidence that alcohol use among the youth and its exposure causes severe health
implications such as long-lasting cognitive impairments affecting memory, increased risk of lung
cancer, liver damage, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, absenteeism in school, poor grades
and increased likelihood of dropping out of school.
According to Movendi International, when people consume alcohol, mechanisms such as
stiffness in arteries and increased wall thickness in blood vessels are strengthened, which causes
high blood pressure, leading to many serious diseases and conditions such as heart attack, stroke,
heart failure and kidney failure.
We need policies that protect children and young people, make healthy choices easy choices and
check the industry’s influence through strong partnerships with government and civil society
leaders who are committed to action. “Adam Karpati, Senior Vice President of Public Health
Programs at Vital Strategies.
More troubling is the 2023 report titled “Alcohol and Blood Pressure” showing the link between
alcohol, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The report shows only negative effects
of alcohol consumption on ischemic heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
“High blood pressure is the single biggest preventable risk factor for disease and death in the
world today, and alcohol’s contribution to high blood pressure is one of many overlooked
factors,” says Frida Dangardt, senior physician and researcher at the Children’s Heart Center at
Drottning Silvia’s Children’s Hospital in Gothenburg, who is one of the authors of the report.
We are calling on all Ghanaians including the media, parents, policymakers, civil society actors,
research and academic institutions to support the enactment of stringent measures that regulate
and limit the exposure of our children and young people to alcohol advertisements and other
substances of abuse such as tobacco, electronic cigarettes, shisha, energy drinks among others.
By so doing, it creates a safer, healthier environment that nurtures the growth and development
of the next generation.
The protection of present and future generations is a matter that requires our collective effort.
Let’s join forces to fight any group or individual whose actions derail any lifesaving measure
that protects health, moral standards and societal values.
Labram M. Musah
Executive Director, Vision for Alternative Development, Ghana
National Coordinator, Ghana NCD Alliance
labrammusah@gmail.com
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Deadly explosion strikes Ibadan, Nigeria
A big blast in the Nigerian city of Ibadan killed two people and hurt 77 others last night.
Rescue and recovery work is still happening in seven neighborhoods of Nigeria’s third biggest city.
The reason for the explosion is not known yet, but the officials think it could have been caused by mining explosives that were kept in a house.
Pictures show buildings almost completely destroyed and vehicles ruined by explosions.
People posted scary videos on social media. One person saw a mall being destroyed in Bodija, a neighborhood in the city.
A big noise woke us up at 07:30 in the evening. “Domino’s Pizza and Ace Mall in Bodija got destroyed,” he said.
The police said they will look into the explosion quickly.
“The security agencies found out that illegal miners were living in a house in Bodija and had kept explosive devices there, which caused the explosion,” said the regional governor Seyi Makinde. -
I ‘abandoned’ your constituency because you voted out my candidate – ‘Truthful’ Akufo-Addo tells Ekumfi Chiefs
President Akufo-Addo has disclosed that he deliberately neglected the needs of the people of Ekumfi because they voted the NPP candidate for the area, Francis Kingsley Ato Codjoe, out in the 2020 elections.
During a meeting with traditional leaders in the constituency, the President candidly shared his disappointment with the Ekumfi Chiefs, revealing that the electoral defeat of his preferred candidate prompted a reduction in his engagement with the constituency.
“Ato Cudjoe who was the MP for the area. I made him a deputy minister so that through that he would initiate development projects in the area but it didn’t last. During the subsequent election, he was voted out and these all accounted for my neglect for the area,” he stated.
Despite the disappointment, President Akufo-Addo assured the Chiefs that he will resume engagement with the constituency following their courtesy call.
“But once you’re here, I’ve heard what you’ve said,” he added.
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Nana Addo’s daughter flies King Promise to UK for her birthday party
THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON MAY 30, BY THE HERALD NEWSPAPER
Fun, fun and more fun, appears to be the lot of the members of the Akufo-Addo family and as many Ghanaians, continue to cry over poverty, a daughter of the President, has thrown an expensive bash in faraway London, to celebrate her birthday.
Edwina Akufo-Addo, who turned 35 this month, per a number of videos in the possession of The Herald, threw caution to the wind and partied hard with friends and love ones at a hotel identified as Cheddars Hotel- London.
It is not yet known, whether she is in any gainful employment or still dependent on her dad. She is not married and doesn’t appear to be in any serious relationship either.
She appeared drunk as her dance failed to follow a particular formula. She was seen with a glass filled with a liquid substance suspected to be hard liquor as she kept dancing.
Dressed in all red outfit with a penciled-heel shoe to match, Edwina, had taken the Centre stage with her dancing moves, to tunes from Ghanaian artistes, including “King Promise” and Tema-based “R2Bs” inviting cheers and applause from the guests she had invited.
On the low stage, was her name on an electronic board.
Ms. Akufo-Addo, reportedly flew artistes, including King Promise to the United Kingdom (UK) just after the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) for her birth bash, while Ghanaians, continue to debate about Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy clash at the awards ceremony.
Although the cost of the lavish birthday bash is not yet out, it may have cost her a fortune sending some friends, family members and the artists abroad.
The artists in particular, who will charge huge sums of money as performance fees, checked into hotels among other expenses for performing for her privately.
The spacious venue and the expensive chandelier, also show a lot of Pound sterling, may have been spent to celebrate the President’s last daughter birthday.