The Central Regional Police Command has recorded more than 200 defilement cases within 18 months.
Of the total number, about 147 males were arrested with some absconding and are being pursued to face the law.
A police source told the Ghana News Agency that about 101 cases had been taken to court, and 25 suspects had been charged and convicted.
It blamed the disparities in reporting, arresting, and prosecution of cases on the lack of incriminating evidence, cooperation from victims and families, and legal complexities.
The source condemned the act and attributed the rise in defilement cases to poverty and lack of parental guidance and protection of children, which pushed the victims “into the hands of paedophiles.â€
The source encouraged parents to strictly monitor their children in their usage of mobile phones, including the sites they visited and their relationships.
“Some children get paedophiles online asking them to snap half or full naked pictures of themselves and innocently, some of the children fall prey to such antics.â€
Parents must, however, devise stringent measures to protect children from smartphones, social media, and paedophiles as the police continued to put in all efforts to ensure that criminal activities were reduced across the regionâ€, the source said.
A recent report by the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit said a lot of cases on sexual-based violence were reported to the Unit, but only about five percent was convicted.
That was because some families later received compensations from the perpetrators and decided to settle the matter at home without considering the physical and psychological effects on the victims.
The practice had derailed the fortunes of many girls in terms of reproductive health and socio-economic well-being, the source said.
It’s time for music lovers to update their playlists as some Ghanaian artists have decided to give their fans new music to dance to. YEN.com.gh has compiled some songs released between 4 September and 9 September.
1. Stonebwoy
After serenading fans with the single Therapy, Stonebwoycomes through with GIDIGBA (Firm & Strong), a mid-tempo song which seeks to motivate the youth to believe in themselves. The song which saw Stonebwoy sing parts in Patois was produced by Phantom, the Nigeria producer behind Burna Boy’s Ye.
The Sugar Daddy KiDiis on tour in Europe with fellow labelmate Kuami Eugenebut dropped a danceable tune titled Champagne. Nigerian producer Telz, known for his work on Patoranking’s Abule, was involved in making the song. Champagne is the first song from KiDi’s upcoming 4 Play EP, with other songs likeHabibi, Zombie and Shakira.
4. Kelvyn Boy
Kelvyn Boy teamed up with British-Jamaican rapper Stefflon Don and Nigerian artist Tekno for the remix of his hit single; Down Flat. The remix sees Stefflon Don bragging about having the Caribbean sauce and using the word ‘jeje’ in her verse.
5. Camidoh
Following the success of his single Sugarcane, Camidohhas dropped an EP with six versions of the original. The EP includes already released remixes and a Dutch and Latin remix.
6. Tulenkey
After being silent for a while, Tulenkey returned with two singles, Point Of View and Fa Ne Fom, featuring Medikal. In Point Of View, Tulenkey acts like the spokesperson of Ghanaian personalities like Afia Schwarzenegger, Pappy Kojo and Abena Korkor.
The USWNT roster has plenty of question marks going into the 2023 World Cup. But some players like Alex Morgan, center, are a lock.
This is the point in the four-year cycle when the World Cup starts feeling real. The major continental tournaments of summer are in the books, teams have qualified, rosters are starting to get more consistent and opponents for friendlies are becoming more challenging. The 2023 Women’s World Cup begins in just over nine months. The draw? That’s six weeks from now.
Now, the pressure will ratchet up for players in the coming months as they try to make their dreams reality and position themselves higher up the depth chart with strong performances for club and country — or else, they will fall out of roster contention if form dips
The U.S. women’s national team head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, spent the past year overturning the core of a roster that won the past two World Cups to usher in a new generation. So which Americans will be on the plane to Australia and New Zealand in search of a three-peat?
ESPN will answer that question on a rolling basis throughout the next nine months, starting now with our USWNT Big Board, Vol. 1. A team loaded with so many bona fide stars offers some certainties, but the recent turnover within the team leaves plenty of roster spots up for grabs on the 23-player team. Add in the handful of potential starters who are recovering from injuries, and the field is further clouded.
Let’s start with the obvious: The team of 23 going right now will not be the team of 23 going to the World Cup (and for all we know, this could become a 26-player roster like the men’s edition in Qatar).
This is a ranking, by position, of how things stand right now. That means players with long-term injuries would not be on the roster if the World Cup started today. Plenty will change in the coming months as some of these players face competition unlike any they’ve faced before, including an Oct. 7 showdown with European champions England at Wembley.
Within each position, we’ve made tiers of players to add nuance to where things stand:
Tier 1: Roster locks. These players are either clear starters or pushing to be one, and as of today, would be on the plane for the World Cup.
Tier 2: The bubble. Players on both the right and wrong side of it, because if you aren’t a lock, you are part of the bubble where nothing is certain.
Tier 3: Outside looking in. Players who have had a passing look with the team without tangible progress, players performing well for club but who haven’t gotten a look, or players who were once integral but no longer seem part of the plans.
Wait and see: Former locks racing against time. This is a special category to account for injuries and absences — these are players who were once locks, but now need to recover quickly enough and regain their status for a spot on the plane. There are enough of them that it needs its own category because an injured starter can’t be Tier 1 right now, but we expect they should have a clear path to return to that tier – if they get back to 100% in time.
Goalkeepers
Tier 1: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy
Tier 2: Aubrey Kingsbury
Tier 3: Adrianna Franch, Jane Campbell, Bella Bixby, Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Wait and see: None
Alyssa Naeher, center, has not been challenged enough to lose her starting spot for the USWNT. Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images
The No. 1 goalkeeper job remains Alyssa Naeher’s to lose. Casey Murphy made a strong run at it earlier this year on the heels of some stellar performances in 2021, but she has struggled at times this NWSL season for the North Carolina Courage, a team whose erratic form frequently allows multi-goal thrillers — not exactly a goalkeeper’s dream game.
If anyone is going to challenge Naeher, it’s Murphy, but there is work to be done. Naeher is a two-time World Cup champion and was the starter for the 2019 triumph. After that, Aubrey Kingsbury is in a bubble of her own as the choice No. 3 right now, a position which she has had locked down for the entire calendar year.
Bella Bixby and Jane Campbell are the last goalkeepers to receive call-ups outside of that trio, and those came for relatively experimental games in Australia last November. Adrianna Franch hasn’t played for the U.S. in nearly a year following her emergency duties at the Olympics, where Naeher got hurt in the semifinal. Andonovski spoke on multiple occasions this year about learning from that moment, which is why Murphy has earned significant minutes this year, including at World Cup qualifying. Kingsbury still only has one cap.
Andonovski wants two options who are ready to be the No. 1 come the World Cup and right now, his trio is as set as it could be.
On the plane right now: Naeher, Murphy, Kingsbury
Full-Backs
Tier 1: Emily Fox, Kelley O’Hara, Sofia Huerta
Tier 2: Hailie Mace
Tier 3: Carson Pickett, Imani Dorsey, Caprice Dydasco, Kristen McNabb, Merritt Mathias
Wait and see: Crystal Dunn, Casey Krueger, Emily Sonnett
34-year-old Kelley O’Hara has been one of Vlatko Andonovski’s preferred options at right-back, even as he has tested new up-and-comers. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Ah, full-back: The position of eternal questions for the U.S. men’s and women’s teams alike.
Emily Fox is clearly the starting left-back right now and has been all year. Andonovski tabbed her for that role last year, when she was an NWSL rookie, and he said he would spend the year building up her minutes to get her ready for the World Cup. That is exactly what happened and Fox offers the U.S. pace to go with a unique attacking profile in the position.
Of course, left-back was previously the position held down by Crystal Dunn, who gave birth to her first child in May and has not played yet this year. She trained with the USWNT in the most recent camp and expects to play some minutes for club and potentially country before the end of the year. Yes, she can play in the midfield, but her services are of greater need for the USWNT at full-back. At her peak, Dunn is the best the team has at the position.
By the time the World Cup kicks off, the question might not be Fox vs. Dunn, but rather who gets which side? As for now, Dunn is still trying to get back on a pitch during a game, so we’ll revisit that.
Right-back is where were find more questions. Kelley O’Hara (recently, but not significantly injured) is the incumbent there and continues to show why when healthy. The health caveat is an important one that has been a factor for some time. Emily Sonnett’s injury is significant enough to have been season-ending for the Washington Spirit, or she would otherwise be Tier 1 based on how she has rotated into Andonovski’s lineups.
play0:40Huerta’s beautiful cross helps USWNT gain 4-0 lead
USWNT’s Sofia Huerta crosses the ball in that Ashley Hatch capitalizes on to up their score to 4-0 over New Zealand.
Sofia Huerta has earned her most extensive trial as a U.S. international after making the one-time switch from Mexico, a dream she thought she had lost after blowing her initial opportunity in the previous cycle. Huerta continues to make her argument as the best crosser from wide areas in the entire USWNT pool, and her defensive game has largely improved.
She did misplay the ball that led to Nigeria’s goal on Tuesday and ended the USWNT’s 880-minute shutout streak, but she was stellar on both sides of the ball and played a role in two goals in the first game against Nigeria, a 4-0 win. Whether Huerta is the starter remains a question, but right now she is solidly part of Andonovski’s plan. How she plays against England will tell how ready she is for a World Cup.
Casey Krueger also gave birth to her first child and has not played this year. She was used semi-frequently as a reserve full-back in 2021. The wild card, though, could be Hailie Mace, who only joined the USWNT for games against Nigeria as a replacement for O’Hara, but impressed enough in training to earn looks off the bench in both matches. Mace is in her best form ever in the NWSL as a wing-back for the Kansas City Current, who play a 3-5-2, but she had not been in camp in over four years prior to last week.
For all of the above players, there’s still time to get on the roster — especially at this position.
On the plane right now: Fox, Huerta, O’Hara
Center-Backs
Tier 1: Becky Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook, Naomi Girma
Tier 2: Abby Dahlkemper
Tier 3: Sam Hiatt, Alex Loera, Sam Staab, Emily Menges
Wait and see: Tierna Davidson
Naomi Girma, right, has made a strong case to join the USWNT in 2023 as a starting or reserve center-back. Sofia Huerta, left, is pushing for a full-back spot. Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Center-back is also a curious position right now. Becky Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook and Naomi Girma have been the three players rotating into those two spots almost exclusively since Tierna Davidson tore her ACL in March. Cook is the preferred starter alongside Sauerbrunn, who is the captain, but Girma has the skillset to claim the starting role.
Is there even a bubble after that? The most likely candidate for that is Abby Dahlkemper, but since returning from broken ribs earlier this spring, she has fallen out of favor as the starting center back alongside Girma at San Diego Wave FC, and the calls from Andonovski have stopped, too. Dahlkemper needs to get back in the XI for San Diego before she gets back into a USWNT camp, and does have the potential. She played every minute for the USWNT at the 2019 World Cup and has a passing range to rival any center-back.
From there, the rest of the talent pool is inexperienced, with Cook and Girma still early into their international journeys. A peek at the 55-player preliminary roster for the CONCACAF W Championship suggests that any of Alex Loera, Sam Hiatt, Emily Menges or Sam Staab are in Andonovski’s peripheral thoughts. Combined, they have zero caps.
Davidson’s return will be the most important to this position, and she could double as an emergency No. 6. Sonnett and even Mace also provide versatility between full-back and center-back, which is always a helpful trait when deciding on bubble spots. As it stands today, the USWNT is one more injury away from a major depth problem.
It’s difficult to envision a scenario in which Rose Lavelle, pictured, is not on the plane to Australia and New Zealand. Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Midfield features the most interesting bubble section. Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan and Andi Sullivan are Andonovski’s starting trio as the Nos. 10, 8 and 6, respectively, but there are at least three spots behind them wide open for the taking, although Ashley Sanchez is looking more likely and should claim one of those reserve spots. Plus, what happens when Sam Mewis returns?
Lavelle is undroppable and in form, and Horan is best as a two-way midfielder when asked not to shoulder too much of the defensive responsibility, which can also be said for Mewis. Catarina Macario might also be part of this conversation, but we’ll get back to that.
Sam Coffey earned her first cap on Tuesday and played the entire match in the No. 6 role. As debuts go, it was solid if not necessarily spectacular, which is about as much as anyone could ask for in a thankless role. As wild as it seems to go from first cap to World Cup, Coffey’s case for inclusion right now is as good as anyone else’s in the position, especially on form.
Julie Ertz previously defined the No. 6 role, so much so that it has been difficult for observers to evaluate any of her replacements. Ertz gave birth to her first child earlier this year and her playing future is unclear. Andonovski might know more about that, but for now, he must plan for life without Ertz.
play0:55Rapinoe makes instant impact with assist on Lavelle’s diving header
Right after Megan Rapinoe comes onto the pitch, she crosses one to Rose Lavelle for the header.
Kristie Mewis has filled in at the No. 6 in a pinch, but it has largely looked forced. NJ/NY Gotham FC is rounding out an awful season, which has not helped her club form. Still, her ability to play in any of the three positions is to her benefit. Morgan Gautrat played her best club season to date in 2021, earning a recall to the USWNT, but she only played 45 minutes at February’s SheBelieves Cup and has not played for the Chicago Red Stars since April 2 due to injuries.
Savannah DeMelo will have something to say about all this, and Racing Louisville FC teammate Jaelin Howell might still, too. For now, though, it’s possible the final midfield spot comes down to Coffey and Taylor Kornieck. Given current injuries and the numbers game of roster composition, they both go as of today.
Also, at what point does Lo’eau LaBonta’s NWSL form warrant a look in camp? She played for Andonovski at FC Kansas City, so there is familiarity there and a precedent set by Kristie Mewis’ return to the USWNT following a great league campaign.
On the plane right now: Lavelle, Horan, Sullivan, Sanchez, K. Mewis, Coffey, Kornieck
Wingers
Tier 1: Sophia Smith, Mallory Pugh, Megan Rapinoe
Tier 2: Margaret “Midge” Purce, Trinity Rodman
Tier 3: Christen Press, Morgan Weaver, Tobin Heath, Ally Watt
Wait and see: Lynn Williams
Mallory Pugh, center, previously tumbled down the depth chart and did not even make the squad that went to the Olympics last year after playing in the preceding World Cup, but she has reclaimed her spot on the USWNT. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh are NWSL MVP candidates and have the starting winger positions on lock for the U.S. national team. There really is not a debate. Both reiterated against Nigeria how dynamic they can be and why they are threats to any defense they come up against. The largest remaining criticism is their conversion rate at times, but that’s also a matter of setting realistic expectations for any forward — each is averaging better than a goal every other game in 2022.
Megan Rapinoe is also a lock as far as Andonovski’s plans go. Such a firm position sparked controversy when she returned to the team ahead of World Cup qualifying, which Andonovski said was always going to be the plan. There were some external concerns about that being too much of a choice based on leadership and not form, but those have since been squashed.
Rapinoe continues to affect games off the bench, as she did on Tuesday when she assisted Lavelle’s game-winning goal only 73 seconds after entering the match, and she is back to being a 90-minute player for OL Reign, notching four goals and three assists in four games in August. In short, Rapinoe is going to a fourth World Cup with sights set on winning a third straight.
Trinity Rodman might be next in line off the bench. In 2021, she put in an NWSL Rookie of the Year campaign that nearly doubled as worthy of MVP talk. She hasn’t quite had a sophomore slump, but the Washington Spirit’s generally horrible form has not helped Rodman’s case. Smith and Pugh are also playing extremely well, so Rodman’s role remains that of a reserve.
Margaret “Midge” Purce is in the mix after missing out on last year’s Olympics. Lynn Williams is the player who could disrupt the depth chart upon her return, but that likely won’t be until 2023. Elsewhere, Morgan Weaver will need a solid stretch run with the Portland Thorns to push her name back into the conversation, as would Tobin Heath, who was once a sure starter on the USWNT’s World Cup-winning teams but hasn’t been in the picture in nearly a year.
Christen Press’ absence from the CONCACAF W Championship roster was the most surprising given her form. She tore her ACL two days before the public announcement of the roster, but had already been informed she would not be on the roster. The necessary recovery time for that injury likely puts her back on the field around the start of the 2023 NWSL season, which would make for a tough timeline to get back into the mix for a third World Cup.
On the plane right now: Smith, Pugh, Rapinoe, Purce, Rodman
Strikers
Tier 1: Alex Morgan
Tier 2: Ashley Hatch
Tier 3: Mia Fishel, Bethany Balcer, Kristen Hamilton, Cece Kizer, Jessica McDonald
Wait and see: Catarina Macario
Alex Morgan, pictured, is the undisputed No. 1 at the No. 9 position — at least until Catarina Macario returns from injury. EPA/Miguel Sierra
Alex Morgan is once again the clear No. 9, as if nothing changed at all. That is not true, of course. Earlier this year, Andonovski began building the team around Macario as the false nine who seamlessly interchanged with Lavelle in the attacking midfielder role, which left Morgan on the outside, not earning call-ups.
The results with Macario were brilliant at times even if they featured growing pains against lesser competition. But Macario’s injury coincided with Morgan’s career-best form, and Morgan handily beat out Ashley Hatch in the competition for the starting role in the meantime.
Assuming Morgan stays in this form and Macario picks up where she left off, Andonovski has a champagne problem. He is not going to move away from the 4-3-3, and he isn’t going to drop Lavelle. So one of Morgan or Macario would have to sit, and they would rotate as needed in the World Cup (how’s that for a super-sub in either case). Otherwise, Macario could become part of a “double-10” alongside Lavelle — that would trigger a question of who as a pure No. 6 would then carry the defensive load, all while Macario would take a spot in an already crowded midfield depth chart.
Meanwhile, Mia Fishel remains in top form for Tigres as one of the best forwards in Liga MX, but Andonovski said last week that he has not had any conversations with her. Given the general lack of depth right now at the No. 9 position, and that Liga MX plays through the winter (when the NWSL is off), there remains an opportunity for her to change that.
Kunis, who plays the lead character from the bestselling book of the same name, says, “Ahhh-nee” — not “Annie,” when pronouncing her name in the trailer.
After she’s asked to participate in a documentary about a violent incident at the prestigious Brentley School that transformed her teenage years, her secret comes out.
The movie is directed by Mike Barker.
Also starring are Connie Britton as Ani’s mother, “Succession” actor Justine Lupe as her best-friend, Nell; Jennifer Beals as her editor and mentor; and Scoot McNairy as a high school English teacher from Ani’s past.
The adaptation of Jessica Knoll’s bestselling novel will be released on Oct. 7.
The 21-year-old starred as Stade Rennais travelled to Cyprus to beat AEK Larnaca, earning him a place in the best eleven of the week.
Sulemana provided a brace of assist to help Rennais to a 2-1 victory in Larnaca on Thursday night.
The talented winger served Arthur Theate with a sumptuous pass for the opener on the half hour mark, but the hosts quickly responded through Oier in the 33rd minute.
The Black Stars winger was unplayable on the flanks and with the game headed for a draw, he created the winner, which was scored by Lorenz Assignon in the 94th minute.
Kamaldeen Sulemena lasted the entire duration and he is expected to maintain his starting role on Sunday when Rennes face AJ Auxerre in Ligue 1.
He has now made seven appearances this season, providing two assists, and he is yet to open his goal scoring account.
At 72, Debbie Allenhas pulled off one of her biggest achievements, not for herself but for children.
Earlier this year, she finally opened a new 24,000-square-foot performing arts center for the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) in Los Angeles — The Rhimes Performing Arts Center. (Yes, as in Shonda Rhimes.)
Allen founded DADA two decades ago to ensure that children of color, in particular, had a chance to take part in the performing arts. The reason that has become her passion is personal.
“In my heart of hearts, I’m always one of those kids,” Allen told CNN in a recent interview. “I grew up in Houston, Texas where in the ’50s and ’60s, everything was segregated, and I couldn’t go to class. I wasn’t allowed to go to the best dance school.”
She studied and struggled and fought her way to success. Her first big break: “Fame,” the 1980 movie and subsequent TV series about high school students at a performing arts school in New York. Allen played Lydia Grant, a hard-charging but loving dance instructor who did not sugarcoat what it took to be successful in the world of dance.
“The role in ‘Fame’ did so many things for me because I did so many things. I was the choreographer, I became a director on ‘Fame,’ I was their mama, I was the psychiatrist, I was their cook, I did everything,” Allen recalled of her experience. “I fell in love with those amazing young people who were actors and dancers and became writers and composers and it was a footprint that we left all over the world.”
Her arts center was made possible with the help of some of her friends and colleagues, who stepped up when Allen wasn’t sure if her dream to expand would work out.
It’s been a long time coming.
In 2017, Hollywood powerhouse producer Rhimes, with whom Allen worked on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” purchased the building, a warehouse in LA’s Koreatown, and donated it to Allen’s program. The Rhimes Performing Arts Center opened this spring.
“Just making more opportunity for young people in the arts, that’s my purpose in life. That’s greater than almost anything else that I do,” Allen said.
And Allen has done a lot. From dancing, to producing, to choreography, to acting and directing, she has forcefully but gracefully pushed past boundaries the industry has laid in her path.
Allen remains a director and executive producer on “Grey’s,” a show, she says, that tackles real-life issues like Covid and women’s reproductive rights.
“Our show is very female-driven and the plight of women right now in this country is remarkable. What is happening, what lays ahead of us and what battles we’re gonna have to wage to not go back into some dark age, it’s frightening,” Allen said.
With the show set to enter its record-breaking 19th season, Allen admits, “we’ve talked about it being over for the last three years,” but ending the series hasn’t felt right.
“We can’t,” she said. “The fans — (we have) more fans now than ever.”
Another show she was on — “A Different World,” a groundbreaking series that Allen produced and directed from 1988-1993 — ended prematurely, she says, and she doesn’t mince words when the subject comes up.
“‘A Different World’ should never have gone off the air,” she said. “That’s my opinion about that because talk about relevance, talk about what’s really happening in our country. We addressed some things — the presidential campaign, racism, date rape, AIDS.”
With an impressive career to look back upon, Allen still spends most of her time looking forward.
Later this month, she’ll host a jazz festival with Grammy winner and legendary musician Arturo Sandoval to raise money for her school. She’s excited about teaching salsa, as well as the taco trucks and tequila.
Hell-bent on having fun while doing hard work, she laughs easily and embraces the new with the old. Like twerking.
Oh, yes, she twerks.
“Twerking has had many names; it was the shimmy way back,” she says. “Twerking is funny. It’s a booty move is what it is, and you could totally link it directly to African dance.”
Whether she’s raising money, being a boss on set or moving her feet, Allen keeps her mission to matter front of mind.
“I’d like to be remembered as someone who gave her all,” Allen said. “[Someone] who gave 150% all the way, to her family, to her community, and to the young people in the world.”
They may have broken up, but Kim Kardashianthinks Pete Davidson is “a cutie.”
While she and the actor and comedian split in August after being romantically linked since October 2021, Kardashian had nothing but kind things to say about him in a recently published Interview cover story.
“He’s literally such a good person, they don’t really make them like him anymore,” she said. “I’m excited for what he has coming up.”
The criminal justice advocate and law student also shared some details about her forthcoming true crime podcast on Spotify.
“I’m obsessed,” Kardashian said of her love of true crime. “I had to stop watching ‘Dateline’ and all the shows when I was studying in law school.”
Her new podcast is titled, “The System,” she said.
“The first season is about a really crazy case where a guy got the death sentence for a triple homicide that happened in Ohio,” Kardashian explained. “There are so many twists and turns with how it was handled—or mishandled—and we take the listener along for a journey in search of the truth.”
Broadway star Megan Hilty has broken her silence about her pregnant sister, brother-in-law and baby nephew perishing in a float plane crash.
The actress posted photos of her sister Lauren Hilty, brother-in-law Ross Mickel, and their toddler son, Remy on her verified Instagram account Wednesday.
“On Sunday afternoon, a small float plane crashed into Puget Sound off the coast of Whidbey Island. My beloved sister Lauren, brother-in-law Ross and baby nephew Remy were on that plane,” Hilty wrote. “To make this news even more devastating, my sister was eight months pregnant and we were expecting to welcome baby boy Luca into the world next month.”
Her family members were among the 10 people aboard the plane that went down shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release from the US Coast Guard’s Pacific Northwest District.
“The last three days have been the worst of our lives. There are truly no words to appropriately convey the depth of our grief,” Hilty wrote.
She is known for her roles on Broadway in “Wicked” and “Noises Off” and the TV series “Smash.”
“The last thing I wanted to do was acknowledge this painful family tragedy publicly, but it’s come to my attention that several news outlets have misgendered my sweet nephew and some haven’t even mentioned baby Luca,” she wrote.
She also requested that personal information, including the name of her niece, who was not on the flight with her parents and brother, be kept private because she is a minor.
“The outpouring of love and support has meant so much to everyone in our family,” Hilty wrote. “It has been so comforting to know just how loved Lauren, Ross, Remy and Luca truly are.”
The Seattle Times reported that, Mickel, 47, “was a renowned Washington vintner and founder of the Eastside-based Ross Andrew Winery,” while his 39-year-old wife “was an accountant who worked with small businesses on payroll and accounting.”
In February, Pitt sued Jolie and her former company over what his claim called the “unlawful” sale of her stake in Château Miraval, a country estate and winery in the south of France acquired by the couple in 2008.
A battle over a winery once co-owned by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt continues.
In a countersuit filed this week, obtained by CNN, Nouvel LLC, Jolie’s former company, accused Pitt of “waging a vindictive war against” Jolie and “hijacking” control of the lucrative winery business they once shared.
Pitt and Jolie were married on the property in 2014 and would, according to Pitt’s suit, spend the holidays there as a family.
Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in September 2016 following a heated encounter aboard a private jet investigated by the FBI.
Nouvel is seeking at least $250 million in compensatory damages.
CNN has reached out to representatives for Pitt and Jolie for comment.
The countersuit states Pitt “masterminded a so-far-successful plan to seize control of Chateau Miraval” and mishandled trademark registrations that had “devastating financial consequences” for Nouvel.
“Pitt has frozen Nouvel out of Chateau Miraval and treats it as his personal fiefdom,” the suit says.
It also says Pitt, “embarked on a multi-faceted, years-long campaign to seize control of Chateau Miraval and appropriate the company’s assets for his benefit and that of his own companies and friends.”
In his claim, Pitt had alleged that Jolie “did nothing to drive (the) growth” of the business, which he turned into a “multimillion dollar international success story.”
Nouvel’s countersuit disputes this, saying “Pitt refused to grant Jolie or Nouvel equal access to Chateau Miraval’s records or an equal voice over management,” effectively “holding the most significant part of her net worth hostage.”
Jolie stepped away from the business in October 2021, selling Nouvel and its stake in Miraval, to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group, controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler.
Pitt’s lawsuit alleges the sale was unlawful because he and Jolie had agreed when they purchased Château Miraval that neither would sell without the other’s consent. But Nouvel’s countersuit alleges Jolie made the sale after negotiations between Jolie and Pitt that would have sold Nouvel to Pitt fell apart over “a provision designed to prohibit Jolie from publicly speaking about the events that had led to the breakdown of their marriage.”
“Pitt knew that much of Jolie’s wealth and liquidity were tied up in Nouvel and used that fact to try to force Jolie to agree to his unreasonable terms,” her countersuit says.
Pitt’s suit did not specify an amount sought for damages but included a request for “relief that the Court deems just and proper.”
A dissolution of Pitt and Jolie’s marriage was granted in 2019, but their legal battle over property and custody of their minor children has continued.
A California appeals court ruled last year that a retired judge who had been hired by both parties to arbitrate the custody dispute should be disqualified because of undisclosed ties to Pitt’s attorneys.
In 2020, Jolie told Vogue India she split with Pitt for the sake of her children.
Pitt told GQ in 2017 he had quit drinking after having been “boozing” too much that past year.
In a June 2022 interview with British GQ, he talked about finding peace recently.
“I always felt very alone in my life,” he told the publication, “alone growing up as a kid, alone even out here, and it’s really not till recently that I have had a greater embrace of my friends and family.”
This story has been updated to correctly reflect that the countersuit against Pitt was filed by Nouvel LLC and not Jolie personally.
CNN’s Taylor Romaine and Chloe Melas contributed to this report.
“Fostering policy and regulatory environment conducive to both public and private sector investment to stimulate growth and also respond adequately to market trends and demands, a strengthened and well-coordinated research agenda is required to help drive quality and competitiveness in tree crop production, processing and trading,” he said.
“The illegal cutting of trees, mining and industrialisation are some of the challenges governments and the private sectors are battling with to ensure economic growth while the implementation of the forest bye-laws, accompanied by the growth of more economic trees to replace the old and the destroyed ones would help mitigate the issue at hand,†Mr. Quaittoo stressed.
The Executive Director, who disclosed this to the B&FT in an interview, noted that the authority is mandated to regulate and develop the shea sector to boost the economic activities of the shea pickers and processors who depend on them for their livelihoods.
Investment in the sector would also strengthen the business acumen and capacities of shea cooperatives and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating the value chain, targetting 150 cooperatives and 300 SMEs to create 90,000 work opportunities for women shea collectors and processors, he said.
He noted that the organisation was committed to developing a sustainable environment for the improvement of the agricultural sector to grow the economy and it focuses on the production, processing and trading of six tree crops in Ghana, namely: cashew, mango, coconut, rubber and oil palm.
“As an authority, our top priority is to take a systematic approach to build a world-class national institution capable of orchestrating a competitive and sustainable market-driven tree crop industry in Ghana,†he emphasised.
According to him, a thriving private sector is therefore required to drive the scale and sustainability of growth in the tree crop industry, hence, establishing the authority to champion the course for the growth of the sector and the economy.
He noted that the authority has developed a five-year strategic framework to nurture a competitive and sustainable tree crops industry. The plan, covering a period of 2022 to 2027, is expected to rake in US$ 12 billion annually from the six key tree crops.
The framework is divided into four areas, namely: conducting, helping and encouraging scientific, technological and socio-economic research on tree crops through national agricultural research institutions, production and value chain support in Ghana.
He said the authority would also embark on sensitisation exercises to ensure farmers and the public on the need to help protect the forest reserves, as well as the environment.
Barcelona‘s spending cap for the season has increased by almost €800 million to €656.5m following the sale of club assets this summer, LaLiga confirmed on Friday.
Barca sold 25% of their domestic television rights for the next 25 years and a 49% stake in Barca Studios for over €700m in total after receiving permission from the club’s members to do so.
That allowed them to spend more than €150m on new signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde in the transfer window, while Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso all arrived on free transfers.
It marks a remarkable turnaround from last summer, when the club could not afford to keep Lionel Messi and LaLiga brought their spending limit down to €96m. By January, that cap had been further reduced to -€144m, the only negative limit in the league.
Real Madrid still have the largest spending cap in LaLiga, though. Madrid are allowed to spend up to €683.5m annually on the running of their squad.
Atletico Madrid have the third highest limit, but it is around €300m less than Madrid and Barca’s at €341m. Sevilla (€200m) and Villarreal (€151m) complete the top five, while Elche and newly promoted Girona have the lowest caps at just over €42m.
LaLiga’s spending limit accounts for the maximum amount clubs can spend on wages, bonuses and amortisation payments on transfers across a season, not how much they are necessarily spending.
As Barca have previously been over their limit, they have only been permitted to spend at a ratio of 1:4 — 25% of anything they saved in wages or raised in fees could go on new signings or new contracts — but LaLiga confirmed to ESPN earlier in the summer they are now working at a 1:1 ration once again.
Ms Etti Berger, Chief Executive Officer of TripleP, an Israeli cybersecurity company, has underscored the need for a shift from acquisition of Information Technologies (IT) to human capital investment in cybersecurity.
She said the country needed to appreciate and build capacities as it prepared with right strategies to deal with the risks of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially when government was pursuing an agenda of digitalisation.
“We need to build more skills as there is a lot of unfilled positions in the cyber security space and not many hands-on experienced people.
“There are a lot of IT experienced people, and the natural step is to move them from IT to cyber,†she said.
She made the remarks during an interview at the beginning of a three-day workshop on cybersecurity, organised by the Israeli Trade and Economic Mission to Ghana for heads of private and public institutions in the country.
At the business level, Ms Berger said employers needed to be aware that the main threat to their organisations was internally posed by employees who may unconsciously compromise cybersecurity systems of the organisation.
In that regard, she called for a regular training and sensitisation of employees on cyber threats to safeguard the organisations.
Mrs Shlomit Sufa, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, said cyber-attacks were issues of great concern in most organisations the world over adding that, “asorganisations aim to reach various heights of digital transformation, they become more vulnerable to cyber-attacks.â€
She was hopeful that the workshop would lead to the establishment of good relations between players in both the Ghanaian and Israeli cyber ecosystem.
Mr Michael Selassie Agbeko, a participant, who is a security officer, said security was paramount for his organisation that handled files and documents.
The workshop, he said, would go a long way to improve knowledge and help him avert imminent cyber threats.
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne
“Things A Man Oughta Know”
Songwriters: Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson
“You Should Probably Leave”
Songwriters: Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stapleton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Producer(s)
“Beers On Me” — Dierks Bentley with BRELAND & HARDY
Producers: Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman
“If I Didn’t Love You” — Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood
Producer: Michael Knox
“Longneck Way To Go” — Midland (featuring Jon Pardi)
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Never Say Never” — Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson)
Producer: Zach Crowell
“Never Wanted To Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
Paul Franklin, Steel guitar
Brent Mason, Guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo
Derek Wells, Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR  
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)
“I Bet You Think About Me” (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) — Taylor Swift (featuring Chris Stapleton)
Director: Blake Lively
“Longneck Way To Go” — Midland (featuring Jon Pardi)
Director: Harper Smith
“Never Say Never” — Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson)
Director: Michael Monaco
“Never Wanted To Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Director: Alexa Campbell
“‘Til You Can’t” — Cody Johnson
Director: Dustin Haney
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
HARDY
Walker Hayes
Cody Johnson
Parker McCollum
Lainey Wilson
FINALISTS FOR BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (by market size):
Weekly National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) — Westwood One
“The Country Top 40 with Fitz” (Cory Fitzner) — Hubbard Radio
“The Crook & Chase Countdown” (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) — iHeartMedia
“Today’s Country with Kelleigh Bannen” (Kelleigh Bannen) — Apple Music Radio
“With Elaina” (Elaina Smith) — Westwood One
Daily National
“Angie Ward” — iHeartMedia
“The Big D and Bubba Show” (Derek “Big D” Haskins, Sean “Bubba” Powell, Patrick Thomas, and Carsen Humphreville) — Compass Media Networks
“The Bobby Bones Show” (Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, “Lunchbox” Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, “Morgan #2” Huelsman, “Raymundo” Ray Slater, “Scuba Steve” Stephen Spradlin, “Mike D” Rodriguez, and “Phone Screener Abby” Anderson) — Premiere Networks
“Nights with Elaina” (Elaina Smith) — Westwood One
“The Sam Alex Show” (Sam Alex) — Sam Alex Productions, LLC
Major Market
“The Andie Summers Show” (Andie Summers) — WXTU, Philadelphia, Pa.
“Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and McKaila Poppen) — KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
“Danny Dwyer” — KUPL, Portland, Ore.
“Josh, Rachael & Grunwald” (Josh Holleman, Rachel Hunter, and Steve Grunwald) — WYCD, Detroit, Mich.
“The Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllister” (Matt McAllister, Emily Raines, and Joe Wallace) — KKWF, Seattle, Wash.
Large Market
“Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman) — WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
“The Wayne D Show” (“Wayne D” Danielson and Tay Hamilton) — WSIX, Nashville, Tenn.
“The Dale Carter Morning Show” (Dale Carter) — KFKF, Kansas City, Mo.
“The Big Dave Show” (“Big Dave” Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, Jason “Stattman” Statt, and Ashley Hempfling) — WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
“The Wake Up Call with David and Kelli” (David Bugenske and Kelli Green) — KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
“The New Q-Morning Crew with Mike and Amanda” (Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry) — WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Medium Market
“Buzz Jackson” — KIIM, Tucson, Ariz.
“Cliff & Tanya in the Morning” (Cliff Dumas and Tanya Brakebill) — KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
“Julie and DJ in the Morning” (“Julie K” Kansy, “D.J. Thee Trucker” Dale Sellers, and Jon Dennis) — WPCV, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
“New Country Mornings with Nancy and Woody” (Nancy Wilson and Aaron “Woody” Woods) — WHKO, Dayton, Ohio
“Steve & Gina In The Morning” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) — KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
Small Market
“The Cat Pak Morning Show with Brent and Mel” (Brent Lane and Mel McCrae) — WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.
“Dr. Shane and Tess in the Morning” (“Dr. Shane” Collins and Tess Connell) — WPAP, Panama City, Fla.
“The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx) — WKSF, Asheville, N.C.
“Liz & Scotty in the Morning” (Liz Del Grosso and Scotty Cox) — KCLR, Columbia, Mo.
“Officer Don & DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) — WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.
2022 CMA BROADCAST AWARDS — FINALISTS FOR RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (by market size):
Spain’s female referees have called a strike as they demand better pay and working conditions, putting in danger the start of the domestic women’s league.
The referees issued a statement late Thursday saying they had “taken the decision to not work any matches of the women’s first division under the present working and economic conditions.”
The league is scheduled to start play on Saturday.
This will be the first season of a fully professional women’s league in Spain, after its players campaigned for years for better working conditions and pay.
But the referees argue they have been left behind.
They are asking for improved wages, saying that the €320 ($322) referees make and the €160 ($161) assistants make for each match is not enough.
“We want to get back on the field, but under the appropriate conditions,” their statement read.
The women’s league responded in a statement issued to local media by saying that it had presented a plan to the Spain football federation to increase their salaries but has yet to receive a reply.
The league added that if the referees did not show up for work they would face “legal and disciplinary action.”
The spat comes days after assistant referee Guadalupe Porras became the first Spanish woman to work a men’s Champions League match: Napoli’s 4-1 win over Liverpool on Wednesday.
Barcelona, the 2021 Champions League winner, have won the Spanish league for the past three seasons.
The two previous Charles’s both ruled controversial reigns – one of whom was the only British monarch in history to have faced execution
The minute Queen Elizabeth passed away yesterday was the minute Prince Charles became King.
He’ll now reign as King Charles III, with Downing Street swiftly confirming the title he will inherit.
But despite Charles being his Christian name, he could have chosen any of his four monikers to rule under – Charles Phillip Arthur George.
The Times reported in 2005 how the then Prince of Wales considered taking on the title George VII as a heartfelt tribute to his grandfather, the Queen’s dad who became a beloved King following the abdication of his brother, Edward.
Other reasons for the possible change in name, however, may have been that ‘King Charles’ is considered somewhat ‘jinxed’ among the upper echelons.
Charles is now King following the death of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday afternoon (Image: Getty Images)
The two Charleses to precede our now King both died relatively young – with the first executed in what is the only execution of a British monarch in history.
Charles I was beheaded at Whitehall in 1649 after being convicted of treason the year before. With Charles dead, the monarchy was abolished and his son and would-be king Charles exiled from the country.
England would not have another king for 11 years, when Charles II eventually took the throne.
A somewhat controversial king, Charles II was known for his many mistresses and saw the country through a tumultuous period of change and mass death, including the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London.
King Charles I of England (1600 – 1649) (Image: Getty Images)
King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 to 1685 (Image: Getty Images)
He died 25 years after being crowned at the age of 54, after falling into apoplectic fits.
Our now King will be the first Charles on the throne in almost 400 years.
Trusted friends of the then Prince told The Times in 2005 that the name “is tinged with so much sadness”.
“They (the Royal Family) will decide at the time, but he has talked about George,†one friend claimed at the time.
This story, however, was later rebuffed by another friend, who correctly predicted Charles would indeed keep his name.
Charles III will be the first Charles on the throne in nearly 400 years – the name has previously been thought to have been ‘jinxed’ (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“Anyone who knows the Prince of Wales knows he does not sit around talking to his chums, discussing what he wants to be called,†the source told The Guardian.
“Inasmuch as officials have discussed it with him at accession planning meetings the thinking was that he would remain, Charles,†they added.
Charles III will now lead the country in a state of mourning for his mother for 10 days, and will take on his first duty by addressing the nation in a speech tonight.
Dates for the Queen’s funeral and Charles’ coronation will be confirmed in the coming days and weeks.
Suddenly, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was up and running. A little uneasily in that suit and those shoes, sliding slightly as he headed down the touchline, but he was. And who could blame him for losing his head?
He knew better than anyone just how big this was, how much of a release, what it really meant, and what lay behind it. How hard it had been to get here. How well the plan had come together — better than even he had dared imagine. Well, him and the man he was now sprinting towards wanting to embrace, to share this moment with.
If the game had been as bad as you might imagine, added time was better than you ever could. After no goals in 90 minutes, for only the second time in Champions League history, three had been scored in added time: a 92nd-minute winner for Atletico that turned out not to be a winner at all, a 96th-minute Porto equaliser via a penalty committed by the man who had scored that “winner” and then, an actual winner in the 101st. Not just any winner; Antoine Griezmann had headed in the latest winning goal anyone had ever scored in the competition.
“This will be the last chance,” the commentator said, and it was. A corner was nodded on by Axel Witsel, and Griezmann was there to score at the far post. He turned and dashed across the south end of the Metropolitano, looking up and all the limbs in the stand, pulling at the badge on his shirt. As a crowd of players grabbed him and everyone went wild, Simeone sprinted from the bench to reach them, skidding round the corner. When he got there, he pushed his way through the crowd, grabbed Griezmann by the face, laid their heads together and, looking him in the eyes, screamed something, holding him hard.
“I love him; he knows the affection I have for him,” Simeone would say later when he had calmed down a little. And when he had hugged him some more. If Griezmann didn’t know before — which is pretty implausible given everything that had happened, all the conversations they had had, the pacts they had forged — he did now.
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has urged the Ghana FA to be compassionate with game time for recovering Antoine Semenyo‘s involvement in the international friendly double-header against Brazil and Nicaragua this month.
The City gaffer wants the Ghanaian gaffer Otto Addo to ease him slowly into the team as he yet to recover fully from an injury which has seen him make substitute appearances.
Pearson fears any rush could further exacerbate the situation of the Ghana striker due to the nature of his injury.
Semenyo has been called up by the four-time African champions for an international friendly against South American giants Brazil as well as Central American nation Nicaragua.
The 22-year-old has scored three times in his four appearances from the substitute bench for City since he made an injury return.
The striker missed out of Bristol City’s pre-season after he underwent a rehabilitation following an injury he picked while on international duty.
He is yet to start a game for following the shin injury he picked up while playing for Ghana in June this year.
Nigel Pearson has called for the Ghanaian FA to be sympathetic with Antoine Semenyo’s game time during the international break as he continues his road to full fitness from injury.
And City manager Nigel Pearson has called on the Ghanaian FA to be compassionate with the striker as he continues his road to full fitness.
“We need to make sure that his recovery continues because the nature of his injury is really important that we are mindful of the amount of exposure,” Pearson said.
Nigel Pearson has always been hugely supportive of Semenyo’s international exploits, saying he would never stand in the way between the player and representing his country.
“Hopefully the Ghanaian FA will be sympathetic to our requirements and the player’s requirements because I think Chris (Hughton, Ghana technical advisor) would like him fit for the World Cup and obviously Antoine wants to be available both for us and the national side so common sense should prevail.
“The World Cup is still a few months away which is continued recovery time so by the time he gets to that point, hopefully, we’re not thinking by the same terms.”
Ghana will have one more warm-up game against Switzerland in November before their tournament gets underway against Portugal.
They then play South Korea and Uruguay before determining whether they have progressed into the knockouts.
In honour of the memory of the deceased monarch of England, Queen Elizabeth II, President Akufo-Addo has directed that all official flags in the country fly at half-mast effective today, Friday, September 9, 2022. This is to last for a period of 7 days.
The Queen died yesterday, September 8, 2022, after her health deteriorated, Buckingham Palace announced.Â
In a tweet extending his deepest condolences to the Royal Family and on behalf of the general public, the President said the queen will be dearly missed.
“Ghanaians have very fond memories of the two visits she made to Ghana during her reign, and, on both occasions, we remember the friendliness, elegance, style and sheer joy she brought to the performance of her duties,†he said.
“As Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, she oversaw the dramatic transformation of the Union, and steered it to pay greater attention to our shared values and better governance. She was the rock that kept the organisation sturdy and true to its positive beliefs
“We shall miss her inspiring presence, her calm, her steadiness, and, above all, her great love and belief in the higher purpose of the Commonwealth of Nations, and in its capacity to be a force for good in our world,†he added.
President Akufo-Addo said the Queen “was a cherished and revered monarch of the British people, the longest-serving in their history, who will be sorely missed. We are saddened by her departure.
“May God bless her soul and give her peaceful rest in His Bosom until the Last Day of the Resurrection when we shall all meet again,†he addedÂ
Following her demise, her son Prince Charles is the new monarch of English.
Ghanaian songstress, Sista Afia, has thrilled fans with an answer she gave in an interview with GhanaWeb when she was asked if she would choose to be an independent woman or a housewife.
While speaking with Paula Amma Broni on Talkertainment, Sista Afia stated that she would want to be a housewife because being independent is overvalued by most people.
“Independent is overrated man. I need somebody to take care of me. I do work but I will go for housewife and go like baby can I get some money,†she stated.
Meanwhile, in the same interview, Sista Afia stated that although she doesn’t have a ‘type of man’ in mind, her dream man should be able to speak fluent English, have a high sense of fashion, and have some decent amount of money sitting in his bank account.
“I don’t have a type. The only type I have is that baby, you have to come looking okay, presentable. You need to be able to speak good English. I’m taking you around the world so yeah.
“You also have to come in fully loaded. I mean, this girl is not gonna take care of herself (laughs),” she said.
Black Stars midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh climbed off the bench to help Freiburg beat Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Kyereh was named in the team for the Europa League after missing the Bundesliga victory at Bayer Leverkusen. The Ghanaian midfielder featured for the team B against Ingolstadt.
He replaced Vicenzo Grifo with two minutes remaining as Freiburg defeated the Azerbaijani giants 2-1 at the Europa-Park Stadion.
Two quick-fire goals from Vicenzo Grifo and Doan Ritsu gave Freiburg a two-goal lead after 15 minutes.
Qarabag pulled one back through Marko Vesovic after connecting to a pass from Ghanaian forward Kwabena Owusu.
Daniel-Kofi Kyereh joined Freiburg in the summer transfer window and has made five appearances across all competitions
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has long been a target for Barcelona. Lynne Cameron – Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images
The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Barcelona have not given up on signing Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, according to Sport.
The Portugal international told ESPN’s Rob Dawson last month that his future at the Premier League champions was uncertain amid interest from Barca and Paris Saint-Germain, but he ended up staying at the Etihad stadium on deadline day.
“The truth is there have been no offers from Spain, so I’m staying in Manchester and I’m happy,” Silva said shortly before the transfer window closed. “That’s all, that’s my choice.”
However, Sport reports that Barcelona would have made a concerted bid to sign the 28-year-old in the summer were it not for the difficulties they had in registering their other new signings due to their financial constraints, and the Spanish giants plan to renew their efforts to bring him to Camp Nou as soon as they are able.
Silva has been at the Etihad Stadium since 2017 and is under contract until 2025.
Rodrygo and Eder Militao are set to follow Vinicius Junior in receiving Spanish passports early in 2023, sources told ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez, opening up the possibility of Real Madrid moving to sign more top talents from Brazil and other non-European countries.
LaLiga clubs are allowed to include three players from countries outside the European Union in their first-team squads. In Madrid’s case, those spots have been occupied by Vinicius, Rodrygo and Militao. Madrid confirmed earlier this week that Vinicius, 22, had been granted Spanish nationality, having begun the process — which was delayed by the pandemic — back in 2020. Sources told ESPN that Rodrygo and Militao are set to receive theirs early in next year, meaning the club could now target non-European players to improve the first team squad in the January window and again next summer.
Real Madrid were contacted about the possibility of signing Gabriel Jesus before he joined Arsenal, sources told ESPN, but the idea was dismissed because his Brazilian passport made such a deal impossible at the time.
In February, ESPN reported that Madrid were tracking the development of Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick, 16, although a move for him would have to wait until he turns 18 in 2024.
Madrid opted not to strengthen their forward line for this season, relying on the form and fitness of Karim Benzema, 34, and allowing the out-of-favour Luka Jovic to join Fiorentina. Benzema was injured this week during the Champions League win against Celtic and is now set to spend a month on the sidelines recovering.
 Jordi Alba says he remains 100% committed to Barcelona despite losing his place in the team and being linked with a move to Italian side Inter Milan.
Alba has been on the bench for Barca’s last three LaLiga games, with 18-year-old Alejandro Balde picked ahead of him. Barca have also signed Marcos Alonso from Chelsea, who will add further competition for the left-back position.
“It’s not about if it seems fair or not to me, the situation is what it is,” Alba told reporters at an Adidas event on Thursday when asked if he was annoyed by Barca’s negotiations with Inter.
“Everyone acts as they see fit. I am someone who likes it to be told as it is, I am like that with everyone. Not everyone likes it, but that’s how I am. I can’t say anything else. Nothing surprises me anymore in football with what I have seen.
“My thoughts have always focused around staying at Barcelona. I feel capable of staying here for the rest of my contract [until 2024]. I am 100% committed.
“I have been at the club for years and there have been moments when I have not played, but I always try to give my best. Right now, I am not getting [as many] minutes, but I try to help the team however I can.”
Chelsea are aiming to appoint a sporting director before the World Cup in November and new head coach Graham Potter will be involved in the selection process, sources have told ESPN’s James Olley.
Blues co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have met with several potential candidates and are keen to make an announcement before the mid-season domestic break to allow their new appointment time to influence planning for the January transfer window.
Sources have told ESPN that former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards informed the club last month he did not wish to be considered for the role, although it is unclear how he would react to a fresh approach.
Former head coach Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked on Wednesday, had previously expressed his relief at not being asked for his advice on the position but, in what represents a shift in philosophy from the new owners, Potter’s opinion will be taken into account before a final decision is made.
Potter’s appointment on a five-year contract was confirmed on Thursday afternoon and sources told ESPN his style of play and ability to improve players through coaching ranked as key reasons why they chose the 47-year-old.
Boehly appointed himself as interim sporting director following the departures of lead negotiator and club director Marina Granovskaia and technical and performance adviser Petr Cech, both leaving after Roman Abramovich’s sale of the club at the end of May.
Alongside Eghbali with input from Tuchel, Boehly oversaw Chelsea’s record spend in a single transfer window, committing more than £250m on nine new players including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Galatasaray announced the signing of former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata on Thursday on a one-year deal, with the option to extend a further year.
Mata, 34, moved to United from Chelsea in January 2014 and made 285 appearances, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during an eight-year spell. A skilful playmaker, he managed 51 goals and 47 assists for United.
The Turkish side also announced that they have taken Argentina striker Mauro Icardi from Paris Saint-Germain on loan for the 2022-2023 season.
Galatasaray also signed Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira last month on a four-year contract from Arsenal.
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) September 8, 2022
Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has passed his medical ahead of his proposed move to Wolves, according to The Times.
Costa, 33, had his initial application for a UK work permit rejected on Tuesday, but that was overturned on appeal. He has since arrived in England complete his transfer on a one-year contract.
Wolves have been left short of strikers in their squad after summer signing Sasa Kalajdzic sustained a knee ligament injury during his debut on Saturday, while Raul Jimenez missed the opening two games of the season with a knee injury.
Spain international Costa had been without a club since leaving Atletico Mineiro in January after five months at the club, during which he scored four goals in 15 games and lifted the Brazilian league title.
Costa previously helped Atletico Madrid to the LaLiga title in 2014 before embarking on a successful three-year spell at Chelsea, where he scored 59 goals in 120 games in all competitions and won two Premier League titles in 2015 and 2017, as well as the League Cup in 2015. He left to return to Atletico in 2017 and helped the club to another LaLiga title in 2021, but left to return to his native Brazil last summer and join Atletico Mineiro.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Abbie Ingham)
– Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has signed a short-term contract with Newcastle United, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 29-year-old German had not made any appearances for Liverpool since 2018, and had loan stints at Union Berlin and Besiktas since then.
– Leicester City have blocked Caglar Soyuncu‘s return to Turkey, reports Football Insider. Both Besiktas and Galatasaray were looking to sign the 26-year-old defender before the end of the Turkish transfer window, but following the departure of Wesley Fofana to Chelsea, Foxes coach Brendan Rogers wants to keep Soyuncu at the struggling side.
- Hatem Ben Arfa could be forced into retirement, according to Media Foot. The 35-year-old is still without a club, after leaving Lille this summer. The Ligue 1 side was the France international’s fifth club in five years, and his 10th transfer of his career. It is reported that the former Paris Saint-Germain star’s salary demands has left him with viable options.
– Following a bruising 4-0 defeat to Udinese at the weekend, AS Roma boss Jose Mourinho is searching search for a centre-back in the free agent market. According to Rudy Galetti, among the considerations are Jason Denayer, Dan-Axel Zagaduo and Nikola Maksimovic, but the Giallorossi may have to wait until the January transfer window to find a suitable addition for central defence.
- Agustin Rossi is set to leave Boca Juniors after rejecting their latest contract offer, which would have kept the goalkeeper at La Bombonera until December 2026. Cesar Luis Merlo reports that after failed negotiations, the 27-year-old shot-stopper will not sign a new deal with the Argentian side. With his contract set to expire in 2023, the Argentina international’s will likely depart the Buenos Aires club in the next transfer window, or he will leave on a free transfer in June.
The New Patriotic Party(NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso in the Ashanti Region, Dr Stephen Amoah, has said he was collaborating with the relevant agencies to set up a security task force to stop minors from patronising sports betting centres in his constituency.
The move, he said, was to stop the increasing trend of young people becoming addicted to gambling at the expense of their education, and in the event resorting to stealing, to make them responsible citizens.
Community engagement
At a community engagement, Dr Amoah said he was also collaborating with the police to stop the use of unregistered motorbikes within the Nhyiaeso constituency.
Already, he said 19 of such bike riders had been arrested and handed over to the police.
The community engagement dubbed, “Community Connect, Accounting to the good people of Nhyiaesoâ€, took the MP to communities such as Sokoban, Apraman, Santasi, Timpon, Ahodwo, Daban, Kwadee Junction, among others.
He reiterated his commitment to helping the youth to make a better life in the future and had, therefore, established a community development office at Parakuo Estate to address challenges confronting the youth and the citizenry.
Stewardship
Accounting for his stewardship during the past one and half years, Dr Amoah mentioned the procurement of 1,200 dual desks for 2,200 basic school pupils in all government schools within the constituency, computers, printers for all second cycle institutions, the provision of potable water for some schools, as well as financial support for some traders, among many others.
He gave the names of some of the beneficiary second cycle institutions as the Kumasi Senior High Technical School (KSTS), St Hubert, Opoku Ware Senior High School (SHS), Prince of Peace SHS, John Agyekum Kufuor Senior High (JAK SHS), among others.
Economy Dr Amoah acknowledged the current economic challenges facing the country coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war crisis had seriously impacted government programmes.
The sugar-producing factory, established in 1964, has become defunct due to technical difficulties and setbacks. The birth of the factory was based on the premise of producing sugar locally to reduce importation but that is yet to yield any results in recent times.
During an interview on Eagle FM in the central region, as part of a working visit to the area, President Akufo-Addo revealed that Park Agrotech Ghana Limited had been selected as the preferred strategic investor for the Komenda Sugar Factory, adding that their recommendation has been approved by Cabinet.
“However, negotiations between the Transaction Advisor (Price Water House) and the Strategic Investor have been unduly prolonged due to several demands made by the Strategic Investor, as well as the effects of the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted consultations between the investor and the Transaction Advisor,†the presidency wrote on its website outlining revival plans for the factory.
“With the delays in concluding negotiations between the Transaction Advisor and the Strategic Investor, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, after given the required notice, terminated the negotiations with the Strategic Investor on 1st September 2021 for their failure to fulfil the conditions precedent to the offer made to them,†it added.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has said the services of the Technical Partner with expertise in the sugar industry has been engaged to manage the technical operations of the factory.
As part of efforts to rope in local content personnel to revive the factory, traditional authorities in Komenda and the adjoining districts have been engaged to acquire large tracts of land for sugarcane plantations.
Though the erstwhile John Mahama administration recommissioned the factory on May 30, 2016, in a bid to get it functioning once again and offer employment for the youth, the move hit a snag as the Akufo-Addo-led government took office shortly in 2017.
The recommissioned Komenda Sugar Factory was expected to create some 7,300 direct and indirect jobs at full operational capacity. The factory is said to be able to crush 1,250 tonnes of sugar cane daily.
Two persons arrested in connection with the disturbances at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, have again, been remanded into police custody by the Asokore-Mampong District court.
The two, Daniel Osei Bonsu and Francis Atuahene, will reappear before the court presided by Mr. Samuel Quansah, on September 19, 2022.
The suspects, slapped with four charges of conspiracy to commit crime, rioting with offensive weapons, causing unlawful damage, and causing unlawful harm were first remanded into custody by the court on August 24, 2022.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr. Kofi Blagodzi, Head of Legal and Prosecutions at the Ashanti Regional Police Command, told the court that the police needed more time to continue with investigations into the case.
He said the suspects could obstruct investigations if they were granted bail.
Lead counsel for the suspects, Mr. William Asamoah Sarpong, pleaded with the court to grant the suspects, one of them a student and the other a worker, bail since their continuous detention could affect them.
However, the court denied them bail and asked them to reappear on September 19, 2022, for the trial to continue.
The two suspects were among a group of students who clashed on the university campus during the hall week celebration of the University Hall.
The confrontation led to the destruction of many properties, including vehicles at the Unity Hall of residence of the KNUST, and injuries to some of the students.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso in the Ashanti Region, Dr Stephen Amoah, has said he was collaborating with the relevant agencies to set up a security task force to stop minors from patronising sports betting centres in his constituency.
The move, he said, was to stop the increasing trend of young people becoming addicted to gambling at the expense of their education, and in the event resorting to stealing, to make them responsible citizens.
Community engagement
At a community engagement, Dr Amoah said he was also collaborating with the police to stop the use of unregistered motorbikes within the Nhyiaeso constituency.
Already, he said 19 of such bike riders had been arrested and handed over to the police.
The community engagement dubbed, “Community Connect, Accounting to the good people of Nhyiaesoâ€, took the MP to communities such as Sokoban, Apraman, Santasi, Timpon, Ahodwo, Daban, Kwadee Junction, among others.
He reiterated his commitment to helping the youth to make a better life in the future and had, therefore, established a community development office at Parakuo Estate to address challenges confronting the youth and the citizenry.
Stewardship
Accounting for his stewardship during the past one and half years, Dr Amoah mentioned the procurement of 1,200 dual desks for 2,200 basic school pupils in all government schools within the constituency, computers, printers for all second cycle institutions, the provision of potable water for some schools, as well as financial support for some traders, among many others.
He gave the names of some of the beneficiary second cycle institutions as the Kumasi Senior High Technical School (KSTS), St Hubert, Opoku Ware Senior High School (SHS), Prince of Peace SHS, John Agyekum Kufuor Senior High (JAK SHS), among others.
Economy Dr Amoah acknowledged the current economic challenges facing the country coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war crisis had seriously impacted government programmes.
The Ghana Police Administration has assured the public that all other accomplices, both Ghanaians and foreigners in connection with the missing excavators at Ellembelle, will be arrested and brought to face justice.
The Police through days of intelligence operations on Tuesday, 6th September, 2022 retrieved one of the excavators that was reported missing from Ellembelle.
According to the Police, a team of operations and intelligence officers working day and night discovered the missing excavator several kilometres into a forest within the Ellembelle District.
While the team of police officers were escorting the excavator to Takoradi, at the Axim Junction, it said the DCE of Ellembelle, Mr. Kwasi Bonzo organised and led some thugs to attack the police and obstruct the operation.
The DCE and three others were therefore arrested accordingly.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the Ellembelle excavators, the Police have also arrested five Chinese suspects for their involvement in the case.
An intelligence-led operation through the night of 7th September till the dawn of 8th September, 2022 led to the arrest of Shi zhong Qix, Wei Lin Xi, Huang Qian Xi, U Jian Wen and Huang Qian Sheng, at their hideout at Asiama, in the Ellembe District of the Western Region.
According to the Police, the Ghana Immigration Service has been contacted for details of their immigration status and their Ghanaian sponsors to assist with the investigation.
“As investigation continues, we would like to assure the public that all other accomplices, both Ghanaians and foreigners will be arrested and brought to face justice,†the Police stated.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major (rtd) Derek Oduro, says it is possible for the country to win the fight against galamsey but has also admitted that there are many obstacles .
He made the comments in relation to the recent issues concerning Chinese national, Huang Ruixia alias Aisha Huang and that of the missing excavators at Ellembelle.
After being deported in December 2018, Aisha Huangand three others were recently arrested and remanded for allegedly engaging in illegal mining in Ghana.
The accused persons were charged for engaging in sale and purchase of minerals without a licence.
Speaking on Atinka TVs morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Major (rtd) Derek Oduro said, “It is possible to fight galamsey, but there are so many obstacles, there are so many mine fields that should be protected but people are sabotaging it, and they know what they are doing is not good but they are using it to do politics. Because of the galamsey fight, a lot voted against the NPP, we are all aware that most of the places where the people do galamsey, they voted against NPP,†he said.
He also advised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government not to allow Members of Parliament (MPs) to lead the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) in their communities.
Derek Oduro observed that when it happens like that, the people tend to vote against the MPs during election, a situation he believes is unfair on the part of the galamseyers.
“If we want a solution to this menace, what we should do is that, we should not allow any MP in the areas where they mine to get involved in the fight against galamsey. We should not allow any of them to lead the fight against galamsey because his own people, the youth who vote for them are part of the galamseyers so when you go and speak against it then you have an issue. Meanwhile, if you do not talk about it to things go bad,†he said.
The appeal comes after the Commission decided not to employ the guarantor system for the registration of voters in 2024.
The Ghana Card will be the only form of identity accepted by the EC for voter registration.
This will become effective once a constitutional provision that has not yet been laid matures.
The Deputy Chairman of the Commission in charge of operations, Samuel Tettey, at a media engagement on Thursday, September 8, said it is feasible with the collaboration of all stakeholders.
“Again, we call on the NIA to accelerate the pace of the printing of the Ghana Card to make it easy for anyone who is interested in registering with us to do so,†he said.
Mr. Tettey also called on the political parties and other stakeholders to encourage qualified applicants to register.
“We expect all the players in the electoral process, including political parties, to encourage all those who do not have Ghana Cards to visit the offices of the National Identification Authority and register for the Ghana Card.â€
There will also be a new title for Charles’ wife, whose full title will be Queen Consort – consort is the term used for the spouse of the monarch.
Formal ceremonies
In the first 24 hours or so after his mother’s death, Charles will be officially proclaimed King. This happens at St James’s Palace in London, in front of a ceremonial body known as the Accession Council.
This is made up of members of the Privy Council – a group of senior MPs, past and present, and peers – as well as some senior civil servants, Commonwealth high commissioners, and the Lord Mayor of London.
Image source, PA Media
More than 700 people are entitled in theory to attend, but given the short notice, the actual number is likely to be far fewer. At the last Accession Council in 1952, about 200 attended.
The King does not traditionally attend.
At the meeting, the death of Queen Elizabeth will be announced by the Lord President of the Privy Council (currently Penny Mordaunt MP), and a proclamation will be read aloud.
The wording of the proclamation can change, but it has traditionally been a series of prayers and pledges, commending the previous monarch and pledging support for the new one.
This proclamation is then signed by a number of senior figures including the prime minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Chancellor.
As with all these ceremonies, there will be attention paid to what might have been altered, added or updated, as a sign of a new era.
The King’s first declaration
The Accession Council meets again – usually a day later – and this time, the King will attend, along with the Privy Council.
There is no “swearing in” at the start of a British monarch’s reign, in the style of some other heads of state, such as the President of the US. But there is a declaration made by the new King and – in line with a tradition dating from the early 18th Century – he will make an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland.
After a fanfare of trumpeters, a public proclamation will be made declaring Charles as the new King. This will be made from a balcony above Friary Court in St James’s Palace, by an official known as the Garter King of Arms.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Queen Elizabeth II crowned her son Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969
He will call: “God save the King”, and for the first time since 1952, when the national anthem is played the words will be “God Save the King”.
Gun salutes will be fired in Hyde Park, the Tower of London and from naval ships, and the proclamation announcing Charles as the King will be read in in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
The coronation
The symbolic high point of the accession will be the coronation, when Charles is formally crowned. Because of the preparation needed, the coronation is not likely to happen very soon after Charles’s accession – Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the throne in February 1952, but was not crowned until June 1953.
For the past 900 years the coronation has been held in Westminster Abbey – William the Conqueror was the first monarch to be crowned there, and Charles will be the 40th.
It is an Anglican religious service, carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the climax of the ceremony, he will place St Edward’s Crown on Charles’s head – a solid gold crown, dating from 1661.
This is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, and is only worn by the monarch at the moment of coronation itself (not least because it weighs a hefty 2.23kg).
Unlike royal weddings, the coronation is a state occasion – the government pays for it, and ultimately decides the guest list.
Image source, Mirrorpix / Getty Images
There will be music, readings and the ritual of anointing the new monarch, using oils of orange, roses, cinnamon, musk and ambergris.
The new King will take the coronation oath in front of the watching world. During this elaborate ceremony he will receive the orb and sceptre as symbols of his new role and the Archbishop of Canterbury will place the solid gold crown on his head.
Head of the Commonwealth
Charles has become head of the Commonwealth, an association of 56 independent countries and 2.4 billion people. For 14 of these countries, as well as the UK, the King is head of state.
These countries, known as the Commonwealth realms, are: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu.
The Ministry of Health(MoH) has announced it is recruiting medical and dental officers who have completed their House Job and have been verified by the Medical and Dental Council under the 25th and 26th list.
The recruitment according to the MoH will commence on Monday, 12 September 2022 at 12 noon.
Qualified applicants have been requested to formally apply on the Ministry of Health online application portal by logging-in onto https://hr.moh.gov.gh and follow the instructions to select the preferred agency under the Ministry.
Applicants who select Ghana Health Service will further be posted by the Director General to regions and facilities where there are vacancies and their services are needed.
Deadline for submission of application is Saturday, 17 September 2022, at 6pm.
The MoH in its statement said it does not charge money for recruitment and postings and, therefore, advised applicants not to make any payment for this recruitment, cautioning that, whoever pays, does so at their own risk.
“It is with profound regret and a deep personal sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my heartfelt sympathy to His Majesty King Charles and to the Royal Family on their very great personal loss. May I offer my deepest condolences to the British people and to the members of the Commonwealth on the loss of a unique, committed and deeply respected Head of State.
They have been released on police bail, along with a 13-year-old girl who was already in custody.
Leicestershire Police said there would continue to be a police presence at the school and in the local area over the next few days to provide reassurance to pupils, parents and staff.
“It’s always been a visible reminder that something is not normal here, and it was there for the right reason. It protected health and now we’re in a far different place.”
However, masks are still required in nursing homes, hospitals and other health-care facilities licensed by the state.
In April, President Joe Biden decided to stop enforcing a nationwide mask mandate on public transport after a federal judge in Florida ruled the directive was unlawful, but New York decided to continue with the rule.
Many New Yorkers then started ignoring the mandate despite widespread compliance early in the pandemic.
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Janno Lieber, chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, told a news conference that it had become “more and more difficult to justify and to enforce a mask requirement as so much of the city and so many other places were opening up”.
At one point New York was the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US.
There have been more than 6 million cases in New York state and 71,222 people have lost their lives to the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Around 78% of the state’s population have been fully vaccinated.
Compliance was spotty – to put it mildly
By Natalie Sherman, BBC News, New York
Whatever the health rationale of her decision, Kathy Hochul’s move to end the mask mandate was not surprising given the facts on the ground. Compliance with the rule has been spotty, to put it kindly, for months.
Renegades used to receive dirty looks or be given wide berths. But this week – as commuters facing renewed return-to-office calls crammed into subway cars – perhaps half of riders were masked, with people making little differentiation between masked and unmasked.
In fact, for some, the biggest surprise of Wednesday’s announcement may have been that the mandate was still in place, when so many others have long since lapsed.
Whether people will return to masking voluntarily as winter sets in remains to be seen. But for now, the decision simply formalises a regime that has already been largely in place.
Findings from an upcoming report from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveal that 7.9 million persons aged 6 years and older in Ghana are illiterate i.e. they cannot read and write with understanding.
This figure is broken down into 4.6 million illiterate females and 3.3 million illiterate males, indicating a female disadvantage that has been persistent over time.
The report also finds that between the 2010 and 2021 Population and Housing Censuses (PHC), 1.2 million more illiterate adults (15 years and older) were added to the population from 4.3 million in 2010 to 5.5 million in 2021.
Ghana has lower levels of adult literacy compared to its comparators (lower middle-income and sub-Saharan African countries), after three years of the provisions on illiteracy captured in the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2018-2030.
This has necessitated the production of the 2021 PHC Thematic Report Brief on Illiteracy in Ghana which will be released later this month. The report provides direction for stakeholders to target hotspots and drivers of illiteracy in Ghana as it focuses on three broad areas; trends, patterns and correlates of illiteracy.
An earlier report, the 2021 PHC General Report on Literacy and Education which presents data on literacy in English and local languages, current school attendance, and educational attainment disaggregated by sex, region and type of locality, is available to download from www.census2021.statsghana.gov.gh
The Ghana Statistical Service(GSS) has said that findings from an upcoming report reveals that 7.9 million persons aged 6 years and older in Ghana are illiterate.
In a statement issued on September 8 to commemorate World Literacy Day, the GSS stated that this means they are unable to read and write with comprehension.
This number, which is divided into 4.6 million illiterate females and 3.3 million illiterate males, shows a continuous disadvantage for women over time.
“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.â€- Mark Twain
The Ghana Library Authority wishes you a Happy International Literacy Day. pic.twitter.com/mo6t0UhEp2
The report also finds that between the 2010 and 2021 Population and Housing Censuses (PHC), 1.2 million more illiterate adults (15 years and older) were added to the population from 4.3 million in 2010 to 5.5 million in 2021.
— Ghana Statistical Service (@StatsGhana) August 3, 2022
Ghana has lower levels of adult literacy compared to its comparators (lower middle income and sub-Saharan African countries), after three years of the provisions on illiteracy captured in the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2018-2030.
This has necessitated the production of the 2021 PHC Thematic Report Brief on Illiteracy in Ghana which will be released later this month. The report provides direction for stakeholders to target hotspots and drivers of illiteracy in Ghana as it focuses on three broad areas; trends, patterns and correlates of illiteracy.
Oseadeeyo Nana Kumi Kodie I, the Nkosuohene of Akyem Osiem, UNACWA Goodwill Ambassador, Founder and EXECUTIVE Chairman of the DB Group has been named the Most Influential Change Maker of the Year by the Humanitarian Awards Global.
The award was in recognition of Oseadeeyo Nana Kumi Kodie I’s charitable projects nationwide.
The special guest of honour of the ceremony was, Reverend Father Andrew Campbell who delivered a keynote address on the need for humanitarian works to support the less privileged and make this nation a better place.
He said: “It is an honour to welcome you to this year’s Humanitarian Awards Global Engagement Sessions, a truly unique platform that gathers humanitarians, Changemakers, and conventions of personalities together to shape the future of humanitarian action.”
The awards ceremony aims at identifying, recognizing, and awarding extraordinary individuals and groups who are positively impacting the lives of people, nature, and society globally.
“As we have all witnessed, the world is still going through global challenges which, has been the biggest challenge to humanitarian operations around the world.
“However, the heroes of our world, here and now, are worthy of admiration and celebration because they have chosen the path to help in the most extreme circumstances — and their impact and stories show that real-life heroes exhibit an uncanny ability to persevere despite the odds, and do so with humility and dedication.
You are all heroes who are doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times to help women, men, and children whose lives have been upended by crises and difficulties over the past years.
“By these nominations, we do not seek to pay you back for your benevolence, but instead, to appreciate your efforts, hoping you get encouraged to do more for humanity and to serve as an inspiration to many others.
“This is a campaign that celebrates change-makers— a ‘thank you’ to everyone here and out there who has committed their lives to help others”.
When he appeared before South Holland District Council’s licensing committee on Tuesday Mr Rahman, denied being involved in “modern slavery” but told councillors: “I’m going to put my hands up, yes, we employed illegal workers.”
“I had to get some staff working, or I would have to close my business down,” he said.
Mr Rahman added: “The workers were paid above minimum wage, plus accommodation and food … there was no modern day slavery. They were loved and cared for as my own family.”
Image source, LDRSImage caption, South Holland District Council’s licensing committee said it “could not condone a deliberate decision to flout the law”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Mr Rahman told councillors: “If this license is revoked then we will probably have to close down the business because we cannot survive.”
Sgt Lee Cotton from Lincolnshire Police, told the committee: “I appreciate the difficulties with the furlough scheme, but responsible businesses do not employ illegal workers.
“They take the necessary steps to employ legal workers.”
Revoking the licence, the committee said the “calculated risk” taken by the business meant they “could not be satisfied the premises would never resort to employing illegal workers again if it faced difficult conditions.”
Councillor Paul Redgate said: “You keep saying you had no choice, everyone has a choice, you made the decision not to employ legal workers.”
It said it was in the “wider public interest” that she be struck-off.
The panel was told Mrs Mupereki was suspended in 2018 after she admitted having a medical condition which led to her impersonating a patient to try and receive a tramadol prescription, at some point between 2015 and 2017.
Following a 12 month suspension in 2018, two other panels had extended her suspension before the latest review in August.
In their decisions, the NMC panel said: “The panel could not be satisfied that, specifically in terms of insight, Mrs Mupereki had reflected on how her actions had impacted upon patients, colleagues, the wider public or the nursing profession as a whole.
There was a “risk of unwarranted harm” to patients in her care if she returned to unrestricted nursing practice, they said.
The panel also felt there was “a real risk of repetition of the misconduct and caution/convictions” in the absence of new information relating to her health concerns.
The striking off order will come into effect on 16 October, once her current suspension expires.
He said those who needed mental health beds but who could not get one might be left with their families or go to accident and emergency departments at hospital.
“A&E is full of people in severe mental health distress because there aren’t mental health beds,” he said.
NSFT is creating an extra 15 beds in the next year at Hellesdon Hospital, but Mr Harrison said that was not enough to help.
Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said: “We are concerned about the recent pressure on bed space.
“We will talk to NSFT to seek reassurance that this is only a very temporary issue.”
Image caption, Campaigners say more beds are needed
Stuart Richardson, chief executive officer at NSFT, said increasing demand had “led to difficulties with capacity due to the acuity of the patients who need our support and well-documented pressures across the wider system”.
He said: “We have been working closely with our health and care partners to free up capacity wherever possible and have seen some improvements as a result.
“We are keeping the situation under daily review and will continue to do everything we can to ensure our patients can access safe and timely care.”
The trust added it was still placing patients out of the area “where necessary”.
Analysis by Nikki Fox, BBC Look East health correspondent
The fact that more than 30 people in Norfolk and Suffolk have been without the mental health bed they need proves that the problems in the emergency care system are not just about physical health.
At one point seven patients were waiting for a mental health bed at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
This not only puts pressure on hospital staff but takes up beds that are needed for people waiting for physical healthcare.
In the past, it would be unusual for so many people to be waiting for mental health beds because patients would be sent out of area to be kept safe.
With trusts told they should avoid that and everywhere struggling with increases in demand, it means families and hospitals are being put under more pressure to look after those with severe mental health needs.
Prior to Ghana’s Fund-supported program, the new Mission Chief was in the nation to interact with various government agencies and other important players.
First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari, and Directors of the Bank’s Research, Financial Markets, Financial Stability, and Banking Supervision Departments made up Governor Addison’s team.
There were 3,200 deaths in the last 10 weeks, which is 16% more than the five-year average, according to NI Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) data.
The number of people older than 70 increased by 15% in the past five years.
Image source, BBC
Once the changing demographics are considered – chiefly people getting older – death rates are 12% higher than normal, which equates to 340 more deaths than what is expected at this time of year.
A large number of the 340 people will have been elderly who will have died from conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
While the pandemic may be a factor, compared to previous years, people have never been better protected against the virus.
Most have either been vaccinated, had the virus, or both, which means resistance to Covid-19 is higher.
There are also more effective drugs to treat the most chronic of cases.
Image source, Wavebreakmedia
Image caption, Even with Northern Ireland’s ageing population, the excess death rate is still much higher than normal
So why in recent months have there been more deaths that expected?
The founder of the Covid-19 Actuaries Response Group said it was difficult to see numbers falling because Northern Ireland’s healthcare system was under tremendous pressure.
“It’s hard to see the pressures that the health system is under relenting in the very short term,” Stuart McDonald told BBC News NI.
“So it’s quite possible that we see a continuation of this excess deaths pattern into the winter months, which would be a really bad outcome.
“We are talking about a third year of very high mortality.”
Cancer diagnoses ‘lag’
A virologist based at Queen’s University Belfast said the consensus was that the Covid-19 vaccines were highly unlikely to be contributing to or driving these excess deaths.
Dr Connor Bamford said the safety of the vaccine was taken very seriously, with any side effects being extremely rare.
He said that the known side effects were also very specific and are “not really fitting with the general cause of these excess deaths which we have seen”.
“The best evidence we have is that this seems to be a worse problem for the UK, which doesn’t really fit with the global usage of these vaccines over the last couple of years,” he added.
GP Dr Alan Stout agrees that excess deaths in Northern Ireland are likely to rise over the coming months.
He has also warned that the Nisra figures have yet to reflect the “lag” of delayed cancer diagnoses.
It could take another three to six months to translate those into statistics, he added.
Dr Stout also said an increase in mortality figures was predicted, mainly due to a growing and ageing population.
He said healthcare professionals had “struggled to change the system for a number of factors to accommodate that”.
It has created a free training course, external to help people spot the signs of someone struggling with their mental health.
Image caption, Help For Heroes said there was evidence that salon staff often provided informal therapy
Mr Baillie, who has taken the training course, said: “I regularly tattoo serving military and veterans and, a lot of the time, the tattoo appointments become almost therapy and venting sessions.
“Having gone through some really tough times during and after my military career, I am able to empathise with my customers, who become friends.
“I think tattooists are perfectly placed to take this training and learn how to spot signs when someone might be struggling.”
Image caption, Mr Baillie is a retired Royal Engineer with 22 years service
Help For Heroes said there was anecdotal evidence that salon staff often provided informal therapy sessions for veterans struggling with their mental health.
Scott Lovegrove is a friend, customer and former colleague of Mr Baillie.
He said: “I massively struggled when I first left the army and joined civvy street.
“So much so I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder.
“Trust is a massive issue when getting tattooed – it’s going to be on your body for the rest of your life so you need to trust the tattoo artist who is working on you.”
Mr Cole was the longest-serving chief constable in the UK when he retired from Leicestershire Police on 18 March.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, coroner Catherine Mason said: “Although Mr Cole had recently been suffering with his mood, anxiety and difficulty in sleeping, there was no evidence that he would take his own life when he did and had in fact denied any suicidal ideation to the medical professionals he was engaging with.”
Image caption, The inquest into the death of Mr Cole concluded at Leicester Town Hall on Monday
Following the inquest, Leicestershire Police paid tribute to Mr Cole, calling him a “respected and compassionate leader”.
Temporary chief constable Rob Nixon said: “His death was a great shock to all of us who knew him and served alongside him.
“Simon was a strong advocate for mental health support during his life. Following this tragedy, we encourage everyone to reflect on the importance of good mental health, to speak to friends and colleagues, and to get help and support.
“At Leicestershire Police, we will always remember Simon and his commitment to policing, his humour and kindness, and his strong bonds within the communities we serve.”
Brazilian consumer agency Senacon said Apple’s decision not to include power adapters with new iPhones discriminates against consumers by selling an “incomplete product”.
“We are confident that our customers are aware of the various options for charging and connecting their devices,” Apple said.
The fine and ban on sales of iPhones without USB power adapters was announced a day before Apple showcased its new iPhone 14, 14 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple stopped including power adapters and headphones in iPhone boxes with the launch of iPhone 12 in 2020.
It said the move, which came after first ditching power adapters from new Apple Watch boxes, would help reduce Apple’s carbon footprint, by making packaging smaller.
“Sometimes it’s not what we make, but what we don’t make that counts,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice-president of environment, policy and social initiatives, at Apple’s 2020 September keynote.
She added there were already more than two billion official Apple power adapters out in the world.
Senacon, which launched its case against the move last year, said Apple’s arguments for removing USB power adapters from iPhone boxes on sustainability grounds were “not enough”.
It said there was no evidence that removing chargers had environmental benefits.
According to Brazil’s Justice Ministry, Senacon said the company could have considered alternatives to reducing its environmental impact that would not place the burden on consumers – such as adopting USB-C cables and chargers to reduce e-waste.
The European Union provisionally agreed on plans to enforce a common USB-C charging cable for portable electronic devices earlier this year.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Apple has been criticised for exclusive charging products like the iPhone lightning cable
‘Incomplete product’
Senacon also said the sale of new iPhones without power adapters was an example of Apple effectively forcing consumers to buy a second product after purchasing a new iPhone.
It said a power adapter should form part of the product because it is required to operate the phone and is an “incomplete product” without it.
The organisation added the move has transferred responsibility to third-party providers, as well as consumers, because iPhones without power adapters have not fallen in price.
A 40-year-old cold store manager allegedly was shot during a heist at Asafo in Kumasi.
After returning from the bank at around 2:30 pm on Wednesday, Stephen Nyame was confronted by some unidentified shooters.
Eyewitnesses that the guy was paying for something at a nearby refrigerated store when the armed men on motorcycles rode up and demanded he hand over the money to them.
The armed individuals fired shots in the victim’s direction after which they fled with an undisclosed sum of money.
The victim was rushed to a nearby health facility and has since been treated and discharged.
Assembly Member for the Asafo Electoral area, Ernest Okai says the incident calls for an intensified police patrol within the populous business enclave.
He also advised traders within the area to be vigilant during their transactions.
All SIM cards, according to the authority, that are not reregistered by the specified date will be blocked.
This warning comes after the punitive measures Ghanaian SIM card users have begun to experience as of September 5, 2022.
After September 30, people whose SIM cards are blocked for violating the directive.
“Hopefully, people will realise that we mean business because now if we are blocking people for not registering, when we tell you that we are going to take you off the network from 1st October, you should know that can happen and indeed, it will happen,†the Director for Consumer and Corporate Affairs at the NCA, Kwame Gyan, said to Citi News.
He stressed that his outfit is poised to take further actions if people fail to heed their calls.
“There are people who were in the queue when the minister announced that we have two months to register. They left the queues and went home. They have not returned to register.â€
The window for the re-registration of SIM cards was extended on July 31, but a month after the extension, the number of persons who have visited the offices of the network service providers to have their SIMs registered dropped by 98 percent.
Data from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has revealed that as of August 20, 2022, only 5,861 persons had completed the biometric capturing for the re-registration exercise, compared to over 235,000 who had registered as of July 28th, two days before the extension was announced.
It has issued this latest action against the DIT and BEIS for what it calls “persistent failures” to respond.
It said the action comes as it renews its approach to regulating the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which commits to taking action against public authorities with consistently poor performance.
John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, said: “Accountability and transparency in the work of public authorities is fundamental to democracy and it is the ICO’s role to ensure that people’s right to access information is protected.
The ICO said DIT was late answering more than half of requests from January to March.
The department’s response times declined in 2021 despite no significant increase in requests or known resource issues at the department.
The ICO said the delays were “simply due to internal process failings, rather than more significant problems”.
The department has been told it must respond to any outstanding requests older than 20 working days within 35 calendar days of the enforcement notice.
It should also publish an action plan formalising measures to mitigate any future delays.
Failure to comply with the notice could lead to the department being found in contempt of court, it has been warned.
A DIT spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to our transparency obligations and responded to over 500 FOI requests received last year.
“We continue to evaluate and improve our internal processes and will respond to the ICO in due course.”
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
BEIS was told to improve its performance, after it “consistently failed to respond to a significant number of the information access requests received within the statutory time limit”.
BEIS has had a 55% increase in requests since 2020, but the ICO found the department’s internal procedures were the cause of many responses being delayed, as well as the volume increases.
The ICO said that because of mitigations by BEIS and its positive engagement with the watchdog, it was only issued with a practice recommendation rather than an enforcement notice.
But the regulator said an enforcement notice could be issued if performance does not improve.
Iga Swiatek may be the world No1 and have had a 37-match winning streak this year but says she is surprised to reach this week’s US Open semi-finals.
Swiatek qualified for her third grand slam semi-final for the season with a 6-3 7-6 victory over American eighth seed Jessica Pegula in one hour and 53 minutes on Wednesday.
The 2022 French Open champion and 2022 Australian Open semi-finalist became the first women’s top seed to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2016.
The victory comes after Swiatek’s 37-match winning streak was ended in the third round at Wimbledon in June by Alize Cornet, winning four out of seven matches at three tournaments following that as the WTA Tour moved to hard courts in the lead-up to the US Open.
Swiatek expressed her surprise at making the last four during her on-court interview after the match and explained that, following early losses in the lead-up tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto.
“Looking logically at the last tournaments, I just didn’t know if this one is going to be possible for me to be consistent and to win so many matches in a row,” Swiatek told reporters.
No.1 Iga Swiatek makes her 3rd major semifinal of the season, following on the Australian Open and her title run at Roland Garros.
She holds off Pegula 63 76(4) for her 8th straight Top 10 win, all in straight sets. Her last loss to a Top 10 was No.1 Barty in Adelaide. #USOpen
“I feel like I’ve been playing better and better every week since the start of this swing. So it surprised me because after the losses that I had in Toronto and Cincinnati, I just wasn’t expecting to play so well here.
“It gave me actually a lot because I could be kind of an underdog again, not maybe fully, but just not expect from myself that I’m going to win everything right now.”
The Pole said her game “clicked” against Pegula, hitting 22 winners compared to the American’s 14, winning 43-of-71 points on return.
“I’m pretty proud of it because I feel like I’m playing better and better every match,” she said.
“Jessie was a tough opponent today, for sure. Second set was really tight. We both were fighting till the last point. I’m proud of myself that I could be the one to win the last one.”
Swiatek will take on Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, while Pegula bows out having reached the quarter-finals at three of the four majors this year.
“I go back and forth, I should be positive,” Pegula said. “At the same time I’m like, three quarterfinals. Sorry, but it sucks. It sucks.
“I wish I could have done it here at my home slam, but I guess not. I wish I didn’t have to play Iga every quarter-final or Ash Barty, which seem to be the two people that don’t really lose that often. So it just sucks.
“I had a great year at the slams. I know there’s still some tournaments left. I’m a little deflated right now. I’m not real happy. It just sucks to lose. I just wish it would have been different tonight.”
