TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Andrea Pirlo returns to Juventus as Under-23 manager

    Juventus has appointed legendary former midfielder Andrea Pirlo as their new Under-23 manager.

    The 41-year-old, regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, has been out of the game since retiring as a player in 2017.

    Pirlo won 116 caps for Italy, helping them to win the World Cup in 2006.

    He won Serie A four times with Juventus after joining from AC Milan, with whom he spent most of his career and won two Champions League and two league titles.

    Pirlo left Juventus in 2015, finishing his playing career in Major League Soccer at New York City FC.

    Source: bbc.com

  • ‘Mozambique riot officers arrested for policeman’s murder’

    Two members of Mozambique’s riot police have been arrested for the murder of a police officer in the northern city of Nampula, according to the newspaper O Pais.

    Selemane Momade Hassane was shot in the chest when he was outside his house on Tuesday, the paper adds.

    It says that he was parking his car but the riot police allegedly intercepted him at his gate. It goes on to say that he brought out his wife and son to vouch that he lived there.

    He was reportedly shot and went in the car with his son to the hospital but died before arriving.

    An investigation into the murder has started, a spokesperson for the Nampula Provincial Police Command Dercio Samuel is quoted as saying in O Pais.

    O Pais quotes a colleague as describing Mr Hassane’s death as “inexplicable.

    Source: BBC

  • H1 2020: US$310.14 million received into the Petroleum Holding Fund

    In the first half of 2020, a total amount of US$310.14 million comprising lifting proceeds of the Ghana Group, surface rentals, Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) income and corporation income tax was received into the PHF, the 2020 the petroleum holding fund & Ghana petroleum funds semi annual report, has said.

    Total petroleum revenue distributed was US$322.57 million. GNPC received US$80.41 million, Annual Budget Fund Arrangement (ABFA) received US$169.50 million whiles Ghana Stabilisation Fund (GSF) and GHF received an allocation of US$50.85 million and US$21.79 million respectively during the period under review.

    GHF and GSF total return year to date (YTD) was 5.28% and 0.39% respectively. Realised income on the GPFs in H1 was US$8.57 million (GHF contributed US$7.14 million and GSF contributed US$1.43 million) as compared to H1 2019 total net realised income of US$11.20 million (GHF contributed US$6.72 million and GSF contributed US$4.48 million).

    GSF and GHF accumulated reserves were US$133.34 million and US$608.54 million respectively.

    As far as the performance of the Ghana Petroleum Funds is concerned, in the first half of the year, the difference between the U.S. 10-year Treasury note yield and the 2-year note yield widened by 29.88% from 18.76 % in January 2020 to 48.64% at the end of June 2020,

    This follows a 9.62% increment from 24.82 % in June 2019 to 34.44% in December 2019. The U.S Treasury launched a 20-year treasury bond for the first time since 1986 to help fund borrowing during the period under review.

    The 3-month Treasury bill fell by 141 bps from 1.54% to end Q2, 2020 at 0.13%.

    The U.S 10-year Treasury note yield fell by 85 bps from 1.51% in January 2020 to 0.66% in June 2020, while the yield of the 2-year note tumbled by 116 bps from 1.31% in January 2020 to 0.15% at half year-end leading to a steepening of the yield curve.

    Among the reasons accounting for this steepening of the yield curve were the net improvement in risk sentiment over reopening of the U.S economy, potential success in coronavirus vaccine development, upside surprise of the U.S May employment situation report offset by renewed geopolitical and social unrest, U.S-China trade tensions and health warnings of a premature reopening.

    The general fall in yields across all tenors during H1 led to an increase in the capital appreciation of bonds as prices increased, improving the marked- to-market performance of the Ghana Petroleum Funds.

    Total return on investment of the Ghana Heritage Fund (GHF) year to date (YTD), (1st half of 2020) was 5.28% as compared to 4.71% (1st half of 2019). The two-year annualised return (2Y (A)) of GHF was 6.58% whilst the three-year annualised return (3Y (A)) was 4.26%.

    The report further said during the first half of 2020, the Ghana Group, GNPC lifting on behalf of Government of Ghana, lifted the 14th and 15th parcels of crude oil from the Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) field, 53rd and 54th parcels from the Jubilee field, and the 4th and 5th parcels from the Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) field.

    The report further said the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) received a total amount of US$235.28 million from lifting proceeds in H1 2020 compared to receipts of US$311.22 million in H1, 2019.

    The total receipts from the 14th and 15th liftings from TEN field was US$110.25 million compared to US$117.37 million received in H1 2019 (10 th and 11 th liftings), whilst receipts from (53rd and 54th liftings) from Jubilee was US$65.88 million compared to US$123.85 million received in H1 2019 (47 th and 48th liftings).

    The 4th lifting from SGN field was US$59.15 million in comparison to H1 2019 2nd lifting amount of US$70.00 million. Crude oil sale proceeds fell in H1 2020 in comparison to H1 2019 sale proceeds. This is as a result of a drop in crude oil prices induced by Covid-19 related lockdowns.

    The 5th parcel of SGN and 16th parcel of TEN was lifted on the 7th of June and 21st of June respectively. The expected amount to be received in H2 2020 is US$30.56 million for SGN and US$36.01 million for TEN.

    During the period under review, a total amount of US$74.85 million was received from various entities for the payment of surface rental, corporation income tax, and interest accrued on the PHF account. The amounts received in respect of other income comprise US$0.659 million for surface rental, US$73.79 million for corporation income tax, US$0.18 million for interest on late payment and US$0.225 million from interest on undistributed funds held in the PHF account.

    Source: Laud Business

  • Heated arguments rock voters Registration Review Committee sittings in Dormaa Central

    The work of the District Registration Review Committee (DRRC) in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region, has been characterised with disagreements, political colourisation, heated arguments and controversies.

    The Committee has been mandated to examine challenges related to voters registration and determine whether the challenge should be upheld or rejected.

    Angry, unsatisfied, disappointed and disgruntled applicants and their accomplices threatened and invoked curses on the Committee and their challengers, alleging they were NPP officials who have been deliberately appointed to plot to disenfranchise potential NDC voters in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

    Two of the applicants who issued threats were whisked to Police custody and have been granted bail.

    Some of the Constituency Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party who were spotted at the vicinity and some of the applicants disrupted proceedings of the Committee with near brawl incident when verbal confrontations, disagreements ensued with members of the NPP at the Committee’s sittings held at the Department of Cooperatives Office Building.

    The Committee raised a number of concerns including the rejection of Ghana Card as the basis or evidence for registering applicants, whether or not party agents were allowed to challenge one’s eligibility during the Ghana Card registration exercise and language barrier in communicating to committee members.

    Although the Committee had accepted and approved some applicant’s eligibility having subjected them through thorough interrogations, both party faithfuls and applicants questioned why it refused to accept the explanation of those applicants who had both parents born and bred in Ghana, but whose children had farmlands in Cote d’Ivoire territory.

    Mr Kwadjo Damoah Afari, the Chairman of the Committee declined to comment on the matter.

    Mr Gordon Asubonteng, the aspiring NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Dormaa Central and former Municipal Chief Executive for Dormaa Central Municipality, who is one of the top ranking members of the Party, noted that there was the need to approach and address issues on the basis of level of competency rather than one’s political affiliation.

    The aspiring MP later held a meeting with members of the Committee to find ways to address sticking challenges and ensure calm and peace.

    Mr Anane Yaw Kwarteng, the Assembly Member for Danyame Electoral Area, accused the Committee members of being bias towards the NPP and deliberately scheming to delay and denying about 60 applicants most of whom were NDC supporters and residents of Danyame, a stronghold of the NDC a fair hearing.

    Some of the applicants had travelled from distant locations such as Dabaabi, Asunsu Number One, Tronang, Kwameasua, included mothers with babies and pregnant women who had reported at 0090 hours when sitting started and waited through till 1700hours when it ended.

    They complained that they were denied the opportunity to face the Committee due to time constraint and were rescheduled for the next day, while others were asked to seek appeal at the Sunyani High Court.

    The applicants described the process as a waste of time and resources for one to travel a long distance to attend to hearing.

    Ms Nameta Kramo, 22, said she was given a hearing but was disqualified as she failed to produce documents to support claims that she was a Ghanaian and was ask by the Committee to seek an appeal at the Sunyani High Court.

    Another applicant, Mr Gideon Kambire, a cashew farmer in Kukoa and wife after being disqualified, loudly protested the Committee’s decision outside forcing its Chairman, the Municipal Police Commander and other party representatives on the Committee to come out of the building to calm tensions down.

    Mr Francis Owiredu, the Municipal Electoral Officer, debunked claims that the Committee members were selected on partisan consideration.

    “Members of the Committee include a representative from each registered and active political party, the District Police Commander or his/her representative, a Representative of the Traditional Council and the District Electoral Officer serving as Secretary to the Committee,” he added.

    Mr Kwadjo Asare, the Deputy NDC Youth Constituency Chairman, told the Ghana News Agency they may seek legal redress as a vital step to resolve some of these outstanding matters.

     

    Source: GNA

  • SHS student collapses and dies during exams

    A second-year gold-track student of Oyoko Methodist Senior High School in Koforidua has died during exams.

    The female student collapsed while writing Literature in English WASSCE Thursday afternoon.

    She was immediately rushed to the St. Joseph Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

    Starr News has gathered that the General Arts student was not well in the last three days and was treated at the sickbay.

    The cause of death has not been ascertained as yet.

    Education officials in the region are currently at the hospital where she died.

     

    Source: Starr FM

  • Covered drainage is the way to solve drainage systems in Accra Atta Akyea

    The Minister for Works and Housing and Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta-Akyea has told Parliament that, covered drains system is the way to solve the drainage challenges in Accra.

    He explained that, every year, serious amount of money is released by successive and current governments in solving flooding and drainage issues across the country especially in the Greater Accra region.

    Mr Atta-Akyea said, in spite of several education given to the citizenry not to fill gutters with polythene and refuse, some section of Ghanaians keep dumping refuse into the open drains which usually choke the gutters and eventually leads to flooding whenever it rains.

    He made these comments at the plenary when the House was given an approval to a loan facility of Ten Million, Three Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Five Euros (€10,384,695.00) to construct the drainage and ancillary sewage system in Accra, specifically from the Nima drains through to Kaokudi and Odaw river basin.

    Source: NET2 Television

     

  • Donald Trump calls for delay to 2020 US presidential election

    Donald Trump has called for November’s presidential election to be postponed, saying increased postal voting could lead to fraud and inaccurate results.

    He suggested a delay until people can “properly, securely and safely” vote.

    There is little evidence to support Mr Trump’s claims but he has long railed against mail-in voting which he has said would be susceptible to fraud

    US states want to make postal voting easier due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Portland protests, Federal forces ready for phased pullout

    The Trump administration is planning to withdraw some federal security forces from Portland, Oregon, after weeks of clashes with protesters.

    US Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the pullout was conditional on local police protecting federal buildings, the focal point of unrest.

    Oregon Governor Kate Brown said federal agents would start leaving the state’s biggest city from Thursday.

    Portland has been rocked by 62 consecutive days of demonstrations.

    What did federal and state officials say?

    In his statement, the US homeland security secretary set no timeline for a pullout.

    But he said he and the governor had “agreed to a joint plan to end the violent activity in Portland directed at federal properties and law enforcement officers”.

    “That plan includes a robust presence of Oregon State Police in downtown Portland.”

    He added that “state and local law enforcement will begin securing properties and streets, especially those surrounding federal properties, that have been under nightly attack”.

    The governor tweeted on Wednesday: “They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence. Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland.”

    But she added that federal officers from the US Marshals Service and Federal Protective Service will stay at the courthouse, where they are usually based.

    Following the announcement, President Trump, a Republican, declared victory, tweeting: “If the Federal Government and its brilliant Law Enforcement (Homeland) didn’t go into Portland one week ago, there would be no Portland.

    “It would be burned and beaten to the ground. If the Mayor and Governor do not stop the Crime and Violence from the Anarchists and Agitators immediately, the Federal Government will go in and do the job that local law enforcement was supposed to do!”

    Hours after the announcement on Wednesday night, hundreds of protesters gathered in the city centre near the courthouse building.

    What happened in Portland?

    The security forces were sent there on 4 July to protect federal buildings that were vandalised during weeks of protests against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May.

    Their deployment exacerbated the civil unrest, especially when footage emerged of demonstrators being grabbed off the street by federal officers and forced into unmarked cars.

    The governor and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, both Democrats, complained they never asked for the federal intervention, blasting it as an election-year stunt by the US president.

    The Mark O Hatfield Federal Courthouse in the city centre has become a nightly battleground, with both federal officers and demonstrators injured in bloody confrontations.

    According to oregonlive.com, medics, journalists and legal observers have also been hurt by rubber bullets and pepper balls fired by the federal officers.

    In tandem with the crackdown in Portland, the Trump administration has sent in federal agents to several Democratic-run US cities rocked by rising gun crime: Chicago, Kansas City and Albuquerque.

    The US Department of Justice said on Wednesday it would also send federal officers to three more Democratic-run US cities – Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee – owing to “disturbing increases in violent crime, particularly homicides”.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Killing of 90-year-old should end attacks on women – Gender Minister

    The killing of a 90-year-old woman at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality should be the end to barbaric and horrific attacks on women in the country – Madam Cynthia Morrison, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection has said.

    The Minister, who said this when she met the family of the deceased at their home at Salaga on Thursday, noted “We are using the death of your mother as a change to end all these horrific things against women in the country.”

    Madam Akua Mariama Denteh, 90 year-old, was on Thursday, July 23, beaten to death at Kafaba by some residents and a spiritualist, who accused her of witchcraft and being behind certain strange happenings in the area including limiting the progress of the town.

    The spiritualist was brought to the town by some youth of the area to fish out all witches in the area, who were working against the progress of the town.

    The spiritualist mentioned Madam Denteh as a witch, which she denied but her denial was not accepted and she was subjected to beatings.

    The incident was captured on video, which had since gone viral on social media. The deceased had since been buried.

    So far, the Police have arrested Yenufunu Yahaya Seidu (V), a Chief at Kafaba, who had been granted bail, and five others in connection with the incident.

    The incident had attracted condemnation from civil society organisations, some politicians including President Akufo-Addo, as well as gender and human rights activists across the country.

    Madam Morrison, who was accompanied by the Savannah Regional Minister, described the incident as sad and barbaric saying “Through her death, things will change.”

    She said old age was a blessing from God, and old people should be respected but not abused.

    She presented five bags of rice, two gallons of cooking oil, cartons of bottled water, bags of maize, and an undisclosed amount of money to the bereaved family to support the funeral activities.

    She later visited Kafaba, where the incident happened and met the chief and elders of the town, and reiterated her call to end such incidents.

    She emphasised that all those behind the incident would be dealt with according to law and urged the perpetrators to surrender to the law enforcement agencies.

    Mr Vincent Issifu Bukari, who spoke on behalf of the bereaved family, said the family was in grief, adding “This is a good opportunity for women to be totally liberated.”

    Yenufunu Yahaya Seidu (V), a Chief at Kafaba appealed for a police station in the area to help ensure law and order.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Bill Gates says most coronavirus tests are a ‘complete waste’ because the results come back too slow

    ShareBill Gates, the former CEO and founder of Microsoft, believes Coronavirus tests are a ‘complete waste.’

    According to the Billionaire, the amount of time it takes for test results to come back means they don’t achieve the purpose for which they were carried out, which is a timely isolation of the patient before spread of the disease begins.

    According to Bill Gates, whose foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to treatment and vaccine research for Covid-19, people need to get results back sooner so that they’re able to “change their behavior so they’re not infecting other people.”

    “The simplest thing, which has to do with such insanity, is you should not reimburse somebody for getting a test that it takes more than 48 hours to get the result back,” Gates said in an interview with CNBC.

    “That test is a complete waste. And to all these numbers about how much we test, the majority is just complete waste,” he added, calling it “insane” to have to pay for test results that could take more than three days and up to a full week.

    Adm. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at the US Department of Health and Human Services, agrees with Bill Gates that testing needs to be improved.

    Giroir speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” said;

    “I started out by saying that we are never going to be happy with testing until we get turnaround times within 24 hours, and I would be happy with point-of-care testing everywhere. We are not there yet. We are doing everything we can to do that,”

    Source: cnbc.com

  • Malik Basit, founding member of The Roots, dead at 47

    Malik Abdul Basit, a rapper, singer and founding member of The Roots, has died, according to a statement posted on the group’s verified Twitter account. He was 47.

    “We regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit,” the statement read. “May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam and innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time. We ask that you please respect his family in our time of mourning.”
    A publicist for the group confirmed the news.

    No cause of death was released.

    Basit, who performed under the name Malik B., was part of the Philadelphia-based group from its early beginnings to about 1999, when he departed amid group tensions detailed in the song “Water” from The Roots album “Phrenology.” Written by Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, the track speaks to Basit’s struggles with addiction.

    Basit went on to produce solo material and, several years after his departure, also appeared on several tracks on Roots albums.

    Source: cnn.com

  • Pelosi warns maskless lawmakers may be thrown out

    The US House of Representatives has ordered all members and staff to wear masks as the nation’s death toll from coronavirus passed 150,000.

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned anyone who breaks the new rule face being removed from the chamber.

    She took the decision after Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican often seen around the Capitol without a face covering, tested positive on Wednesday.

    He had been due to travel that day with US President Donald Trump.

    What did the House speaker say?

    Mrs Pelosi, a California Democrat, said on the House floor on Wednesday evening that members would be allowed to remove their masks when addressing the chamber.

    “The chair expects all members and staff to adhere to this requirement as a sign of respect for the health, safety, and wellbeing of others present in the chamber and surrounding areas,” she said.

    What did Louie Gohmert say?

    Mr Gohmert, 66, discovered he was infected when he was routinely tested under White House travel protocol because he had been due to fly with President Trump to Texas on Wednesday.

    The eighth-term lawmaker returned to his office to inform his staff in person of the positive result. He wore a mask during the meeting, according to US media.

    He also gave an interview in which he pondered whether his mask was to blame for infecting him.

    “I can’t help but wonder if by keeping a mask on and keeping it in place, I might have put some germs – some virus – on to the mask and breathed it in,” he told Texas station KETK.

    He was one of a contingent of around two dozen Republicans often seen on the House floor without masks.

    On Tuesday, Mr Gohmert frequently removed his face covering during a nearly five-hour hearing with Attorney General William Barr.

    A photo on Twitter shows the two men in proximity, neither wearing masks. According to the Department of Justice, Mr Barr will be tested for Covid-19 as a result of the interaction.

    Despite mixed messages early in the pandemic, public health experts now agree that wearing face coverings greatly reduces the spread of Covid-19, and is vital to controlling the infection’s spread.

    Mrs Pelosi said she would view “failure to wear a mask as a serious breach of decorum”, warning the House Sergeant at Arms could kick out anyone who did not wear a mask.

    According to GovTrack.us, 10 members of Congress – three Democrats and seven Republicans – have confirmed they tested positive, or were diagnosed with coronavirus.

    Source: BBC

  • Wiley sorry for tweets ‘that looked anti-Semitic’ after Twitter ban

    Grime artist Wiley has apologised for “generalising” about Jewish people after being banned from social media.

    In an interview with Sky News, the artist insisted: “I’m not racist.”

    “My comments should not have been directed to all Jews or Jewish people. I want to apologise for generalising, and I want to apologise for comments that were looked at as anti-Semitic.”

    Twitter had earlier banned his account permanently after a public backlash over a perceived lack of action.

    “We are sorry we did not move faster,” Twitter said in a statement.

    Sky News reported that the offensive tweets were sparked by a falling-out between the rapper and his former manager, who is Jewish. The pair cut ties in recent days.

    “I just want to apologise for generalising and going outside of the people who I was talking to within the workspace and workplace I work in,” Wiley said.

    “I’m not racist, you know. I’m a businessman. My thing should have stayed between me and my manager, I get that.”

    However, the artist appeared in the interview to refuse to distance himself from most of the anti-Semitic comments he posted on social media.

    Wiley’s series of anti-Semitic tweets appeared on Friday night.

    One tweet read: “I don’t care about Hitler, I care about black people”, and compared the Jewish community to the Ku Klux Klan.

    Twitter did not immediately respond, prompting a public outcry and a 48-hour boycott of Twitter by many users over what they said had been an unacceptable delay.

    The social network eventually banned Wiley for violating its “hateful conduct” policy – a day after Facebook and Instagram had deleted the music star’s accounts for “repeated violations” of their rules.

    Twitter said it had decided to make an earlier temporary ban permanent, and wipe all his past posts from its platform, “upon further consideration”.

    “We deeply respect the concerns shared by the Jewish community and online safety advocates,” the statement said, promising to continue to tackle anti-Semitism.

    The star, known as the “godfather of grime”, was awarded an MBE for services to music in 2018.

    He told Sky News he would hand back the honour following calls for him to be stripped of it, saying he had “never wanted it”.

    “I never felt comfortable going to get it. Just look at Britain’s colonialism history,” he said.

    When asked what he would like to say to his fans, he responded angrily saying fans were fickle and, at 41, he was no longer “current” and was at the end of his career.

    Source: bbc.com

  • TUC lauds interventions announced in Mid-Year Budget Review

    The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has issued its preliminary comment on the mid-year budget review and says the measures announced by the Minister for Finance in the mid-year budget review have come at the right time.

    “TUC fully supports these initiatives and is ready to work with government and all other stakeholders to design and implement the important initiatives”, a statement from the umbrella-body of 18-affiliate unions in the country stated.

    The extension of financial support to larger businesses, the proposed unemployment insurance scheme, and the training and retraining programme are timely interventions that will help ease the burden on businesses and workers in these difficult times.

    It particularly applauded the decision to establish a National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS), saying the proposed Unemployment Insurance Scheme presents a great opportunity for assisting the current cohort of workers affected by COVID-19, and at the same time, prepare the nation adequately for future crisis.

    The TUC recalled that in May, it called for additional stimulus to support businesses and workers and is therefore pleased and welcomes the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (CARES) Programme.

    “In our view, the programme has the essential elements needed to address the impact of COVID-19 on workers and households as well as on businesses in the short to medium term as envisioned under the Ghana Beyond Aid Initiative”.

    TUC also lauded the increased funding to enable the CAP-BuSS to support a lot more MSMEs, saying it is a step in the right direction. Under the CAP Business Support Scheme (CAP-BuSS) government has rolled out a soft loan scheme to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as part of measures to preserve jobs and livelihoods.

    “Equally important and necessary is the decision to extend support to larger businesses that are not covered under the current CAP-BuSS”.

    It indicated that without the support many businesses, especially those in the hospitality, manufacturing, private education, and aviation sectors, would in no time be forced to terminate the employment of a significant number of workers.

    TUC also welcomed the seed-fund for training and retraining of workers who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

    Government also established the COVID-19 National Trust Fund which has so far mobilized over GH¢53 million in donations.

    The Trust Fund has supported the procurement of PPEs and other medical items, COVID-related education and sensitization, studies on the impact of the pandemic as well as the construction of the very first infectious disease centre in Ghana.

    Source: thebftonline.com

  • Philippines arrests former MP over wife’s killing

    A former Philippine congressman and religious cult leader was arrested Thursday over his wife’s killing and corrupt practices, police said, ending a years-long manhunt.

    Ruben Ecleo, 60, was head of a group called the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association when his wife’s remains were found in a bin bag at the bottom of a ravine on the central island of Cebu in 2002.

    He was arrested months later in a police raid on his home on the island of Dinagat, during which 17 people were killed.

    Ecleo was bailed in 2004 and won a House of Representatives seat in 2010 — held up as an example of an infamous culture of impunity in the country, where the rich and powerful are rarely held to account.

    In 2012, a year after he stopped attending the trial, a Cebu court convicted him of parricide and sentenced him to 30 years in prison.

    Manila police described Ecleo as the “#1 Top Most Wanted Person” in the Philippines.

    A police report said he was arrested Thursday at a gated housing enclave in the northern city of Angeles, where he had been living under another name.

    His driver was also detained for trying to obstruct Ecleo’s arrest, police added.

    In 2006, another court convicted Ecleo of corruption committed when he was a town mayor in Dinagat in the early 1990s.

    Police said they used an arrest warrant issued over the graft case to detain Ecleo after a lengthy stake-out.

    Ecleo became leader of his religious group, which claims millions of adherents, after the 1987 death of his namesake father, who had founded the group in 1965.

    Source: Pulse Ghana

  • Samsung slump makes Huawei the world’s biggest smartphone brand for the first time

    Huawei became the world’s top smartphone seller last quarter, overtaking Samsung for the first time ever, according to an independent market research report released Thursday.

    The Chinese tech company shipped 55.8 million phones in the three months ended in June, surpassing longtime rival Samsung, which shipped 53.7 million, according to the Canalys report.

    “Taking first place is very important for Huawei,” said Canalys analyst Mo Jia. “It is desperate to showcase its brand strength to domestic consumers, component suppliers and developers.”
    A years-long US pressure campaign against Huawei has handicapped the Shenzhen-based firm’s global business.

    Huawei still suffered an annual decline in smartphone shipments of 5%. But Samsung’s was a lot bigger at 30%, according to Canalys.
    The market research firm said Huawei’s victory over Samsung wouldn’t have happened without COVID-19. The company was able to take advantage of the economic recovery in China, where Huawei now sells over 70% of its smartphones. Samsung has a very small presence in China.

    Huawei’s global smartphone and telecom gear business continues to suffer the fallout from US sanctions that cut the company off from key American tech and supplies.

    Without access to popular Google (GOOGL GOOGLE) apps such as YouTube, maps and Gmail, Huawei’s latest smartphones are a lot less attractive to international buyers. That will make it very difficult for Huawei to hold on to the global No. 1 position, according to Jia.

    “It will be hard for Huawei to maintain its lead in the long term. Its major channel partners in key regions, such as Europe, are increasingly wary of ranging Huawei devices, taking on fewer models, and bringing in new brands to reduce risk. Strength in China alone will not be enough to sustain Huawei at the top once the global economy starts to recover,” he said.

    “Our business has demonstrated exceptional resilience in these difficult times,” Huawei spokeswoman Evita Cao said. Cao did not respond to questions on how the company can maintain its lead going forward.
    Huawei’s victory came on the same day Samsung posted a big profit bump for the second quarter, with strong chip demand helping the company weather the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

    Samsung reported operating profit of 8.15 trillion won ($6.8 billion) for the three months that ended in June, up more than 23% compared to the same period last year.

    Samsung said sales fell about 6% to 53 trillion won ($44.6 billion).
    Shares in Samsung were last up 0.7% in Seoul. South Korea’s Kospi (KOSPI) rose 0.1%.

    Despite the double digit declines in annual smartphone shipments for the quarter noted by the Canalys report, Samsung reported that the unit remained profitable thanks to savings on marketing costs. (Samsung does not break out specifics about its smartphone shipments, but noted that they declined.)
    For the second half of 2020, however, Samsung is warning that “uncertainties related to COVID-19 linger” for its mobile business.
    That could be enough to drag the company to revenue losses for the year, according to research firm Crisp Idea.

    The consumer electronics unit, which includes smartphones and TVs, is “expected to decline significantly as COVID-19 affects demand and leads to store and plant closures globally,” Crisp Idea analysts wrote in a note earlier this month.

    Smartphone shipments worldwide are expected to fall about 18% in the first half of the year as the pandemic continues to affect consumer spending, analysts at IDC said in a note last month.

    The market research firm added that global smartphone shipments are not expected to return to growth until the first quarter of 2021.
    That would also hurt Samsung’s memory chip business, because the company supplies chips for rival smartphone companies such as Apple (AAPL) and Huawei.

    Source: cnn.com

  • ‘I’ve only watched Shafiu Mumuni on TV’ – Ashgold coach Thomas Duah

    Interim coach of Ashantigold SC, Thomas Duah has disclosed that he cannot say much about former striker Shafiu Mumuni because he has only watched him on Television.

    Mumuni parted ways with the Miners ahead of next season’s Africa campaign following the expiration of his contract.

    The Black Stars ‘B’ attacker was in Romania earlier this year to have a trial session with CFR Cluj ahead of a possible transfer to the side but the deal couldn’t materialized becase of the Coronavirus break.

    According to coach Thomas Duah, he has not seen Mumuni since his appointment, hence he cannot give a proper assessment of the player.

    “I can’t say a lot about him (Shafiu Mumuni) because I’ve not seen him since my appointment with the AshGold.” I worked with the team for almost one month[before the Pandemic]. I didn’t work with him and haven’t seen his play,” coach Duah told OTEC FM.

    “I’ve only watched him on TV when the team (AshGold) participated in the last African Confederation Cup,” he added.

    According to reports, the Black Stars ‘B’ captain has agreed to join Asante Kotoko in the on-going transfer window.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Andre Ayew set for Swansea future talks after Premier League promotion failure

    Black Stars Andre Ayew is set to hold discussions with Swansea City in the coming weeks about his future after the club failed to qualify for the Premier League.

    Ayew’s dream of securing promotion with the Welsh club ended on Wednesday. They were beaten 3-1 by Brentford in the second leg of the Championship playoffs with the Swans exiting 3-2 on aggregate.

    Prior to the playoffs, Swansea manager Steve Cooper revealed that the club will hold talks with Andre Dede Ayew over his future when the campaign ends.

    “I’m sure we’ll have that conversation again, but now it’s just about Wednesday,” Cooper said ahead of tonight’s must-win game against Reading.

    “He’s fully focused on that and I’m fully focused on that. Let’s not let any thoughts interfere with getting it right on Wednesday.”

    The 30-year-old has been tipped to leave Swansea this summer with top-flight clubs in Europe prepared to invest in him after an excellent season.

    The Black Stars captain scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions this season.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Chief Imam calls for calm during Eid-ul-Adha celebrations

    The Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI) has called for calm and tolerance, as Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha amidst COVID-19 pandemic, tomorrow, July 31.

    A statement issued in Accra by Alhaji Khuzaima M. Osman, Director of Youth Development and Inter-faith Programmes, ONCI, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the country was not in normal times and that it demanded “a dose of sacrifice and compromise” during the celebration.

    “Therefore, it requires everyone to spread the words of Peace, harmony, tolerance and avoid creating unnecessary tension,” it said.

    The statement called on Muslims to observe the Eid-ul-Adha in moderation, with strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    “The ONCI wishes to inform the public especially Muslims that the EC plans to continue with the ongoing Voter Registration exercise on the day of Eid-ul-Adha, July 31 2020,” and said Muslims could register for the voter ID card on the Eid-ul-Adha day.

    “Indeed, the registration is a civic responsibility that can be discharged on any day within the schedule of the EC,” it said.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Complete Salaga-Bimbila road for us – Residents plead

    Some residents of Nkwanta, a suburb of Salaga in the Savanna Region have appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure the Salaga-Bimbila road is completed.

    Speaking to GhanaWeb’s regional correspondent in an interview, the residents bemoaned how politicians in the area always use the construction of the road as a political tool to canvas for votes during elections and after elections, it is dumped till another election year.

    Meanwhile, the construction of major drains on the road has commenced as part of the road project. The residents told GhanaWeb, they are hopeful that the project will not be abandoned as it has always been done.

    “Our request to the contractors is that, they should fast track work, at least they should make sure that all the material that will be needed are provided to the site supervisor to complete the drains for the construction to continue.

    “We are much grateful for what we have seen so far and we wish that the work will continue like that, it shouldn’t be like just for election sake,” Razak, a resident of Nkwanta told GhanaWeb.

    The residents pleaded for a continuation of the project after December elections, regardless of who wins power in the upcoming general elections.

    “Every election year, that is what they do to us, they will come and gravel it and go. We don’t want it to be the same this year too.”

    Alhassan Yusha, the Site Supervisor, popularly known as “Yes Sayi” disclosed to GhanaWeb New Modern World Construction, is the contractor working on the road project.

    He assured the residents that, he will do his part to complete the drains for the road to be worked on.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Asante Kotoko muslim stars get Eid al-Adha present from board member Kofi Abban

    Asante Kotoko board member Kofi Abban has given groceries to all Muslim players of the club ahead of Friday Eid al-Adha celebrations.

    The Oil and Gas entrepreneur has extended his philanthropy to the players as the new board begins work to get back to its glory days.

    In the photos circulated on social media, it looks like each player got cooking oil, a bag of rice and a box of chicken.

    Abban is the founder and CEO of Rigworld Group.

    Eid al-Adha is the feast of the sacrifice and Muslims all over the world will celebrate on Friday, 31 July, 2020.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Okraku can succeed if he unites football and media factions – Ampofo-Ankrah

    The Chairman of Ghana Beach Soccer has expressed confidence that Ghana football would soon bounce back as a stronger brand as long as all stakeholders suppprt the revival process.

    Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah has appealed to the media to be firm and objective in their analysis of the FA administration under President Kurt Okraku.

    Speaking to Nigerian based media house “Open Life Ng”, the media practitioner turned sports administrator, confessed that the current football terrain appears to be more volatile than it used to be mainly due to factions who are either for or against the new leadership.

    “I think it would be unfair to judge this new executive committee because they not yet settled when Covid-19 scuppered their game plan. I’m sure Kurt Okraku was still touching base with various partners and industry players in order to effectively navigate the rapidly evolving terrain “.

    Ampofo Ankrah further added that assessment of the GFA performance so far is in order but judgement would be premature.

    “The advantage that Kurt has is that football is the staple of Ghanaians because of the emotions and passion that fuels the sport. If you get it right, you are a hero or a saint but if you get it wrong, you can easily become a villain or a devil.”

    Touching on beach soccer progress so far under the Okraku administration, the beach soccer capo admitted to a shaky start which has improved significantly over recent months even during the Covid 19 crisis.

    “Apart from our own committee discussions, there has been regular communication with the hierarchy of the GFA including online dialogue and sessions among beach soccer clubs and the GFA”.

    He is hopeful that when Covid-19 restrictions are eased or lifted completely, beach soccer would come back strongly.

    Beach soccer clubs are currently preparing to commence registration online. This would be followed by the first major beach soccer tournament before the end of the year.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Holocaust survivors urge Facebook to remove genocide denial posts

    Holocaust survivors launched a campaign Wednesday in which they plan to upload daily videos to Facebook urging CEO Mark Zuckerberg to remove posts from the site that deny the Nazi genocide of Jews. Survivors from around the globe, including Anne Frank’s stepsister, have recorded 30-second messages that are then posted on social media, including Instagram and Twitter, with the hashtag #NoDenyingIt.

    The online campaign comes as hundreds of advertisers boycott Facebook as part of a call for them to take more aggressive action against toxic and inflammatory content that promotes violence and hate.

    “I lost all my family. Many, many family members. There is no denying it! Remove Holocaust denial from Facebook,” Eva Schloss, Frank’s stepsister, says in her video.

    Other survivors who have contributed to the project include 84-year-old Serge Klarsfeld, a prominent so-called Nazi hunter who has helped track down and expose Nazi war criminals.

    The campaign has been organized by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

    The non-profit works to seek compensation from the German government and the return of Jewish property stolen by the Nazis.

    Zuckerberg, who is Jewish, sparked controversy in 2018 when he argued that Facebook should not filter out posts denying that the Nazis killed six million Jews.

    In an interview with tech website Recode he said that while Facebook was dedicated to stopping the spread of fake news, it would not filter out posts just on the basis of being factually wrong.

    He said that while he found Holocaust denial “deeply offensive,” he said he didn’t think deniers were “intentionally getting it wrong.”

    Critics lashed out at Zuckerberg, saying these types of comments can incite hatred and violence and pointing out that Holocaust denial was “quintessential fake news.”

    Facebook said in a statement that it removes posts that deny the Holocaust in countries where such statements are illegal, such as Germany, France and Poland.

    In the US and Britain, where Holocaust denial is not illegal — because of free speech laws — Facebook monitors such posts to determine whether they violate the site’s guidelines.

    “We take down any post that celebrates, defends, or attempts to justify the Holocaust,” a spokesperson said.

    Nearly 1,000 advertisers, including behemoth brands such as Coca-Cola, Hershey and Adidas, have temporarily paused advertising on Facebook, saying the leading social network site needs to better police hate speech.

    Earlier this month, organizers vowed to press on with the boycott, saying top executives, including Zuckerberg, had failed to offer any meaningful action on curbing hateful content.

    Facebook has steadfastly refused to fact-check political speech and has a largely hands-off policy on comments from world leaders, but says it is committed to freeing the site of hate speech.

    Recently, Facebook did appear to make some changes, including removing a Trump campaign ad featuring a Nazi symbol.

    The company also said it would tag posts from world leaders that violate its policies even if they remain accessible because they are “newsworthy.”

    This month, an independent audit commissioned by Facebook in 2018 found that the California giant had undermined civil rights, including by allowing posts by Trump that violate the network’s values.

    Source: AFP

  • Madonna’s Instagram account flagged for spreading misinformation

    Pop star Madonna has been censured by Instagram after sharing a video about a coronavirus conspiracy theory to her 15 million followers.

    In her post, the singer claimed a vaccine for Covid-19 had already been found, but was being hidden to “let the rich get richer”.

    Instagram blurred out the video with a caption saying: “False Information”.

    It also directed users to a page debunking the claims in the video, noting there is no coronavirus vaccine.

    The video was later deleted from Madonna’s Instagram page, but not before fans protested at her decision to share the post.

    Among them was pop star Annie Lennox, who commented: “This is utter madness!!! I can’t believe that you are endorsing this dangerous quackery.

    “Hopefully your site has been hacked and you’re just about to explain it,” she added.

    The video in question showed a group called America’s Frontline Doctors speaking outside the US Supreme Court building at an event organised by Tea Party Patriots Action.

    In the clip, Dr Stella Immanuel, a doctor from Houston, said she had successfully treated 350 coronavirus patients “and counting” with hydroxychloroquine.

    Facebook and Twitter had previously removed the video, flagging it as misinformation; while Donald Trump Jr. was banned from tweeting for 12 hours as a penalty for sharing the clip.

    According to Instagram, flagging a post as false makes it harder for users to discover “by filtering it from Explore and Hashtags, and reducing its visibility in Feed and Stories.”

    This is not the first time Madonna has made controversial claims about coronavirus. In March, she posted a video from her bath, describing the virus as “the great equaliser”.

    Two months later, she revealed she had tested positive for antibodies, supposedly granting her immunity from the disease.

    “So tomorrow I’m just going to go on a long drive in a car, roll down the windows and I’m going to breathe in the Covid-19 air,” she told her fans.

    Source: BBC

  • I’ll change the face of Ghanaian politics – John Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama says he will change the face of the Ghanaian politics where no one will be considered more Ghanaian than others.

    In a Facebook post Thursday morning, [July 30, 2020], Mr Mahama said “We will change the face of our politics. No one will be considered less Ghanaian or more Ghanaian than the other on the basis of ownership of a political party card.”

    Former President Mahama is contesting the upcoming December Presidential polls on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    He has selected Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman as his running mate.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Brazil’s coronavirus death toll surpasses 90,000

    Brazil registered record daily numbers of infections and deaths from the new coronavirus Wednesday, sending its overall death toll surging past 90,000 people.
    Despite the record figures, the government issued a decree reopening the country to foreign visitors arriving by plane, ending a four-month travel ban in hopes of reviving a lockdown-devastated tourism industry.

    Brazil, which has been hit harder than any country except the United States in the pandemic, recorded 69,074 new cases and 1,595 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the figures to a total of more than 2.5 million infections and 90,134 people killed since the start of the pandemic, the health ministry said.

    Technical issues likely contributed to the high daily figures.

    The health ministry had said Tuesday that problems with its online reporting system had delayed figures from Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state and the one with the most cases and deaths.

    But in recent weeks the numbers of cases and deaths in the country of 212 million people have been stubbornly high even on normal days.

    A health ministry official put that down to increased testing.

    “The testing program in Brazil has expanded a lot in recent weeks. That’s an extremely important point,” Arnaldo Medeiros, secretary for health vigilance, told a news conference.

    Open to travelers The government meanwhile extended coronavirus-related bans on foreign travelers arriving by land or sea for another 30 days, but said the restrictions “will no longer bar the entry of foreigners arriving by air.”

    Brazil closed its air borders to non-residents on March 30, at a time when the virus was ravaging Europe and Asia and just taking hold in South America.

    Now, Brazil is the hotspot, with no signs its infection curve is close to tapering off.

    The tourism industry has already lost nearly 122 billion reals ($23.6 billion) because of the pandemic, the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC) estimates.

    As a whole, Latin America’s biggest economy is facing a record contraction of 9.1 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

    Leaving lockdown too soon? It remains to be seen how many foreigners will want to come.

    Brazil has regularly recorded more than 1,000 deaths a day since early July, and more than 30,000 new cases a day since mid-June.

    President Jair Bolsonaro’s government has struggled to bring the outbreak under control and faces criticism for its handling of the crisis.

    The far-right leader has dismissed the virus as a “little flu” and attacked lockdown measures by state and local authorities to contain it, arguing the economic fallout could be worse than the disease.

    Even after contracting the virus himself earlier this month, forcing him to work from quarantine at the presidential palace for more than two weeks, Bolsonaro has continued to downplay the severity of the pandemic.

    Rather than lockdowns, Bolsonaro is pushing the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as the way to fight the virus.

    Like US President Donald Trump, whom he admires, Bolsonaro touts the drug as a remedy for the virus, despite a slate of scientific studies finding it has no effect against COVID-19 and can cause serious side effects.

    After testing positive for the virus, the Brazilian leader took hydroxychloroquine himself, regularly showing off his box of pills.

    Bolsonaro is currently on his third health minister of the pandemic, an active-duty army general with no prior medical experience.

    The interim minister’s two predecessors, both doctors, left after clashing with Bolsonaro, including over his insistence the health ministry recommend hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19.

    Meanwhile, most states have begun relaxing their stay-at-home measures, encouraged by the fact the number of infections finally appears to have reached a plateau.

    But Brazil’s infection curve has flattened at a very high level of daily cases, and experts warn it is still too soon to exit lockdowns in many places.

    Source: AFP

  • AngloGold Ashanti announces increases in earnings

    Anglogold Ashanti has posted healthy earnings from gold sales and other production activities, with the company indicating to shareholders that they have reasonable certainty that headline earnings for the period are expected to be between US$392 million and US$416 million, with headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) of between US$94 cents and US$99 cents.

    Headline earnings and HEPS for the comparative period in 2019 were US$120 million and US$29 cents, respectively.

    The total basic earnings from continuing and discontinued operations (“basic earnings”) for the period are expected to be between US$410 million and US$432 million, resulting in total basic earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations (“EPS”) of between US$97 cents and US$102 cents.

    The basic earnings and EPS for the comparative period were US$114 million and US$27 cents, respectively.

    The expected overall increases in headline earnings and basic earnings for the Period compared to the comparative period were primarily due to the following reasons; the gold price received increased by more than 25%; weaker local currencies mitigated increases in cost of sales; higher foreign exchange gains of US$19 million; income from joint ventures, mainly Kibali, increased by US$41 million (post-tax) or US 10 cents per share; and care & maintenance costs of $21 million (post-tax) or US 5 cents per share incurred at Obuasi in the prior year were not repeated in the current period.

    The increases in earnings were partly offset by higher taxes, withholding taxes and royalties paid in most jurisdictions and deferred taxes raised in Brazil on foreign exchange movements relating to non-monetary assets; negative movements on realised and unrealised oil and gold derivatives of US$18 million (posttax) of US$4 cents per share.

    Another reason for the increase is the discounting of the Argentine export duties receivable resulted in a decrease in earnings of US$11 million (post-tax) or US$3 cents per share; and a Brazilian power utility legal settlement received in April 2019 of US$11 million (post-tax) or US$3 cents per share not repeated in the current period.

    In addition to the above, earnings were favourably impacted in the current Period by $17 million (posttax) relating to the non-cash impairment reversal on the South African producing assets and related liabilities classified as held for sale as a result of the agreement to sell these assets to Harmony Gold.

    Source: Business 24

  • Student arrests in Hong Kong deepen white terror fears

    Hong Kong has fallen into an era of “white terror”, democracy campaigners said Thursday after four students – one aged just 16 – were arrested for social media posts deemed to be a threat to China’s national security. Wednesday’s arrests were the first made by Hong Kong police’s new national security unit, which was set up after Beijing imposed a controversial law last month aimed at quashing the city’s democracy movement.

    The arrests added to a deepening sense of dread in Hong Kong that its cherished freedoms on speech — once thought to be guaranteed under a “One China, Two Systems” model — are on the way to being eviscerated.

    The four arrested were former members of Student Localism, a pro-independence group that announced it was disbanding the day before the new national security law was enacted.

    Police said the three males and one female — aged between 16 and 21 — were arrested on suspicion of organising and inciting secession through comments made on social media posts after the law came in.

    “They wanted to unite all the independent groups in Hong Kong for the view to promote the independence of Hong Kong,” Li Kwai-wah, from the police’s new national security unit, told reporters.

    Footage posted online showed plainclothes police leading Tony Chung, the 19-year-old former leader of Student Localism, being detained with his hands tied behind his back.

    Student and rights groups condemned the arrests, saying they heralded the kind of political suppression ubiquitous on the authoritarian Chinese mainland.

    “Hong Kong has fallen into the era of white terror,” the Student Unions of Higher Institutions, which represents 13 student unions, said in a statement overnight.

    “It is crystal clear that more and more Hongkongers (will) have to endure… Communist terror,” it added.

    Nathan Law, a democracy campaigner who went into exile after the law was imposed, expressed similar sentiments on Twitter.

    “White terror, politics of fear dispersed in Hong Kong,” referencing a Chinese idiom to describe political persecution.

    Online crackdown In an overnight statement, Hong Kong police warned people could commit crimes by what they write online.

    “Police remind the public that the cyber world of the Internet is not a virtual space beyond the law,” the force said.

    “Anyone who commits an unlawful act, whether in the real or in the cyber world, is liable to criminal prosecution.”

    Sophie Richardson, a China expert with Human Rights Watch, said Beijing’s new legislation was being wielded against peaceful political speech.

    “The gross misuse of this draconian law makes clear that the aim is to silence dissent, not protect national security,” she said.

    The security law gave China’s Community Party rulers far more direct control over Hong Kong, which was supposedly guaranteed 50 years of freedoms as part of 1997 handover from Britain.

    But last year the city was rocked by seven straight months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests.

    Beijing said the national security law was needed to end that unrest and restore stability, describing it as a “sword” hanging over the heads of lawbreakers.

    It targets four types of crime: subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces — with up to life in prison.

    Crushing dissent Critics, including many western nations, say it has demolished the “One Country, Two Systems” model.

    The law bypassed Hong Kong’s legislature and its details were kept secret until the moment it was enacted.

    It empowers China’s security agents to operate openly in the city for the first time.

    Beijing has also said it will have jurisdiction for especially serious cases, toppling the legal firewall that has existed since the handover between Hong Kong’s independent judiciary and the Chinese mainland’s party-controlled courts.

    China has also claimed it can prosecute anyone anywhere in the world for national security crimes.

    On the mainland Beijing routinely uses similar national security laws to crush dissent.

    The first arrests in Hong Kong came a day after the law was enacted against people who possessed pro-independence flags and slogans critical of Beijing — including a 15-year-old girl.

    At least 15 people have now been arrested under the new law since it was enacted on June 30.

    Source: AFP

  • Brighton sign Ajax defender Veltman

    Brighton signed Netherlands defender Joel Veltman from Ajax for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday. Veltman agreed a three-year contract with the Premier League side.

    The 28-year-old helped Ajax win the Dutch title three times after coming through the club’s vaunted academy.

    “We’re delighted to welcome Joel to the club,” Brighton boss Graham Potter said.

    “He has terrific experience from his time with Ajax including the Champions League and, of course, with the Dutch national team.

    “He’s an excellent defender who can play at right-back and at centre-half, but he’s also comfortable in possession.

    “He is really looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League and we’re delighted he is now a Brighton player and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

    Capped 22 times by Holland, Veltman was part of the 2014 World Cup squad and also played in Ajax’s Europa League final defeat to Manchester United in 2017.

    He becomes the second arrival at the AMEX Stadium this week after England midfielder Adam Lallana joined the Seagulls following his departure from Liverpool.

    Source: AFP

  • Donald Trump calls for delay to 2020 US presidential election

    Donald Trump has called for November’s presidential election to be postponed, saying increased postal voting could lead to fraud and inaccurate results.

    He suggested a delay until people can “properly, securely and safely” vote.

    There is little evidence to support Mr Trump’s claims but he has long railed against mail-in voting which he has said would be susceptible to fraud

    US states want to make postal voting easier due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

    This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

    You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.

    Source: bbc

  • New York City police accused of ‘kidnapping’ protester

    The arrest of a protester by New York City Police (NYPD) has led to outrage from officials and accusations of “kidnapping” by witnesses.

    Footage of the dramatic arrest shows mostly plain-clothed men grabbing a woman and pushing her into an unmarked van during a policing protest.

    The arrest on Tuesday comes amid furore over allegations of similar operations by federal agents in Portland, Oregon.

    Marches against racism and policing have continued all summer in the US.

    The NYPD later identified the suspect as 18-year-old Nikki Stone, saying she was wanted for vandalising police cameras near City Hall and spraying graffiti.

    Ms Stone, a trans woman from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, was released early Monday morning to cheers from a crowd of protesters. She was issued an order to appear in court to face charges of vandalism and criminal mischief.

    The arrest took place on Tuesday evening at 25th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan.

    Footage shared on social media shows men in T-shirts and shorts grabbing a skateboarder and shoving her into a silver Kia minivan. It was unclear if the officers making the arrest had badges or any identifying information.

    Uniformed police then rushed in and used their bicycles to form a barrier to keep other protesters back.

    “We didn’t see where they came from,” one witness told the Gothamist, adding: “It was like a kidnapping.”

    Police said the arresting officers were assaulted with rocks and bottles by the crowd, but protesters dispute this. Officers used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

    What is the reaction?

    Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents the Bronx borough of New York City, tweeted: “Our civil liberties are on brink. This is not a drill.”

    “There is no excuse for snatching women off the street and throwing them into unmarked vans.”

    “There must be an immediate explanation for this anonymous use of force,” tweeted fellow New York City Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

    The speaker of the New York City council called the video “incredibly disturbing” while the city’s comptroller said he was ‘deeply concerned”.

    The arrest comes as federal police in Portland, Oregon, have been criticised for operations that involved officers dressed in military-style gear grabbing protesters off the street and placing them in unmarked vehicles.

    President Donald Trump has vowed to deploy more federal police to cities that he says are facing unacceptable levels of unrest in wake of the 25 May death of George Floyd in police custody.

    New York city council member Brad Lander wrote on Twitter: “With anxiety about what’s happening in Portland, the NYPD deploying unmarked vans with plainclothes cops to make street arrests of protestors feels more like provocation than public safety”.

    What happens to arrested protesters?

    Any person arrested in the US is read “Miranda rights” by police, which inform them of their rights under the US constitution to refuse to answer police questions and the right to consult with a lawyer. However, some states do require people to identify themselves when asked by police.

    If a suspect speaks to police during the arrest, a judge could later rule that they have waived their Miranda rights, according to the National Lawyers Guild.

    Lying to investigators is a crime, and anything a suspect says during the arrest could be held against them later. Physically resisting can lead to additional charges, including resisting arrest or assault.

    Depending on the severity of the alleged offence, a judge may issue a summons to return to court at a later date or hold the suspect in jail pending trial.

    The NYPD Warrant Squad, who were involved in Ms Stone’s arrest, typically use unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers in order to catch suspects off guard, according to police.

    Broadly, US police do not have a requirement to provide identification, according to the Lawfare Blog.

    Some cities or police department require police to display name tags or badges, or identify themselves as law enforcement during an arrest, but no requirement exists at the federal level.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Government budgeted GH¢40.3m for basic uncooked food items but spent GH¢42.2 million

    Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister has told Parliament on Wednesday, July 29, that during the lockdown period the government budgeted GH¢40.3 million for basic uncooked food items but spent GH¢42.2 million.

    He also clarified that government used GH¢12 million to feed the vulnerable in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions during the three-week COVID-19 lockdown period. He said that: “It is truly unfortunate that an attempt has been made to politicise the issue of providing food for our brothers and sisters in need during the lockdown”, adding: “It is also unfortunate that the impression has been created that the total amount of GH¢54 million was used for hot meals over the three-week lockdown period.”

    Mr Ofori-Atta explained: “We estimated we would need an amount of approximately GH¢40 million to provide hot meals to the vulnerable at GH¢5 per pack during the lockdown period. However, we spent GH¢12 million on hot meals including the cost of distribution.”

    He noted that the “government budgeted GH¢40.3 million for basic uncooked food items. We spent GH¢42.2 million”.

    “It is this GH¢12 million spent on hot meals and the GH¢42 million spent on uncooked food items that gave a total of GH¢54 million as stated in the mid-year review”.

    “The GH¢12.1 million for hot meals served 150,000 people during the lockdown [period], including the cost of transportation and other operational cost.”

    Source: Laud Business

  • ‘Anthony Joshua would fight in my back garden’ – Eddie Hearn

    World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will fight “anywhere, anytime”, says his promoter Eddie Hearn.

    The British boxer, 30, has not fought since he regained his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles from Andy Ruiz Jr last December due to Covid-19.

    Hearn has erected a ring in the grounds of his Essex estate in a bid to resurrect the sport for an event dubbed ‘Fight Camp’.

    “Joshua would fight here [at Hearn’s home], no problem,” Hearn said.

    “If we were faced with the option of having no fans for an Anthony Joshua fight, we would still look to go ahead. He’s spent a lot of time training out here in this garden so he would have no problem fighting here himself.

    “He was here a couple of weeks ago. He loves to fight, to box and it’s not just about fighting in a huge arena – Wembley Stadium, Madison Square Garden – it’s about boxing.

    “We want him to be in front of crowds. But for his career, for his development, he needs to fight this year.”

    Joshua, who has also reached an agreement for two fights with fellow Briton Tyson Fury, was originally scheduled to fight Kubrat Pulev in June, but the bout was postponed because of coronavirus.

    “Of course fighters want to earn as much money as possible but they also need to develop as fighters and I think the Kubrat Pulev fight is a good, solid, tough fight for him and I am almost certain you will see that fight this year.

    “He wants to improve as a fighter and he will do it anywhere, anytime.”

    ‘Fight Camp’ opens with Sam Eggington defending his IBF international super-welterweight title against Ted Cheeseman on Saturday, with more events on 7 and 14 August, while James Tennyson will box Gavin Gwynne for the vacant British title.

    Former WBC interim heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte fights Russian Alexander Povetkin on 22 August, with undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor up against Delfine Persoon in a rematch on the same bill.

    “I wanted to bring boxing back with a bang – we’re a major sport and we had to make a big impression,” said Hearn.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Man opens fire on mother, son for failing to observe social distancing

    A man has been arrested for shooting at a mother and son in a Miami Beach hotel lobby after becoming upset over their lack of social distancing.

    Douglas Marks, 47, confronted the woman and her son in the lobby of the Crystal Beach Suites in Miami Beach on Monday evening, according to reports

    Veronica Pena and her son, both visiting Miami Beach from New Mexico, said they were in the lobby of the hotel when they first saw Marks.

    According to the affidavit, Marks, from Miami, told the pair: “You aren’t social distancing.”

    Source: Peace FM

  • PayPal profit jumps 86% on pandemic-driven online spending shift

    PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL.O) reported an 86% jump in second-quarter profit on Wednesday as the e-commerce payments processor benefited from the shift to online spending amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Net income increased to $1.53 billion, or $1.29 per share, in the quarter ended June 30, from $823 million, or 69 cents per share, a year earlier.

    The results reflected an unrealized investment gain worth 58 cents a share and included additional loan loss reserves amounting to 7 cents a share, down from the 17-cent reserve addition in the first quarter.

    On an adjusted basis, the company said net income rose to $1.26 billion, or $1.07 per share, from $848 million, or 71 cents per share, a year earlier.

    Source: reuters.com

  • Malaria morbidity rate among children under 5 dropped by 7% in 2019 Ghana Statistical Service

    Ghana appears to be making gains in malaria morbidity as the prevalence rate among children under five years has declined from 21 percent in 2016 to 14 percent in 2019.

    This is according to the 2019 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey conducted recently.

    The National Malaria Control Program set an agenda to eradicate malaria in the country by 2030 after it became the leading cause of death among children under five, mostly in rural areas.

    According to the Head of Field Operations at the Ghana Statistical Service, though the achievement can be attributed to some interventions carried out by the Program, a conscious effort to keep surroundings clean could help eradicate malaria entirely.

    “Malaria prevalence among children under five has reduced. We did a demographic and health survey in 2014. At that time, we had the prevalence at 27 percent. That of 2016 was 21 percent and now, it has dropped to 14 percent. We may introduce artesunate amodiaquine in the system so that when we get malaria, it could be treated with that medicine. As one intervention, they introduced sleeping under mosquito nets. At a point, women who attend antenatal care are given mosquito nets. So if we can intensify our advocacy and strategies, then by 2030, we can get there. But it is not easy because we are already in a mosquito prone zone. So if we can embark on clean environments and ensure that we obey the directives, definitely, we can get there,” he stated.

    First-quarter statistics

    Malaria is one of the highest leading causes of death in Ghana, with more of the victims being children under five.

    Over two million suspected malaria cases were presented in health facilities across the country between January and March but only about one million were confirmed to be malaria.

    The number of confirmed cases include over 311,491 involving children under age five while about 28,000 involved pregnant women.

    96 percent of the cases did not require admission and were therefore attended to as an out-patient-department case.

    According to the Health Service, the country has recorded a total of 54 malaria deaths between January and March in 2020 alone.

    Sixteen of these deaths were among children under five years.

     

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • BREAKING: Barcelona v Napoli might not be at the Camp Nou

    According to ‘RAC1’, UEFA has asked the Catalan government for guarantees to play the match there amidst the spike in coronavirus cases in Catalonia.

    Barcelona v Napoli might not be played at the Camp Nou. AFP
    Barcelona v Napoli in the Champions League last 16 second leg might not take place at the Camp Nou, According to ‘El Mòn a RAC1’, UEFA have contacted the Catalan government’s health department to demand guarantees for the match to take place.

    Catalonia in general and Barcelona, in particular, have been affected by a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain and the Europan body are doubting the match.

    UEFA inisst that they want to have a guarantee from the competent health authorities that the return leg can be played without risk for anyone.

    There are four Champions League last 16 second leg matches that have still to be played: Barcelona v Napoli, Manchester City v Real Madrid, Bayern Munich v Chelsea, and Juventus v Lyon.

    In Portugal, ‘O Jugo’ assures that the country already offered Guimaraes and Porto as alternatives for if any of the reaming Champions League last 16 matches couldn’t be played for one reason or another.

    Source: besoccer.com

     

  • A/R: Police investigate confrontation between armed civilian and officer

    Police in the Ashanti Region are investigating the incident in which a man is seen wielding a firearm during a confrontation with a police officer.

    The incident was captured on video and soldiers were seen trying to calm the situation.

    “All the uniformed persons in the video are known officers who are presently stationed in the Ashanti Region, where the incident took place. They all reported the incident to their commanders on Monday 27th July 2020 when it occurred,” the police said to Citi News.

    “We are investigating a video on social media in which a person in an apparent civilian dress is seen brandishing an object, which appears to be a pistol in the face of a Police Officer, with Soldiers apparently calming tensions down,” the police added.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Blame poor leadership for Hearts of Oak trophyless jinx – Dan Quaye

    Former Hearts of Oak defender, Dan Quaye says poor leadership has the been the reason behind the club’s trophyless jinx.

    The Phobians have failed to win a major trophy in the last decade and were struggling in the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season that has been annulled.

    And Quaye, who won multiple domestic and continental titles with the Phobians says his for club has veered away from all the things that made them a dominant force some years back.

    According to him, both Kotoko and Hearts of Oak will need good leadership and experienced players to win laurels.

    “Hearts of oak and Kotoko have to find experienced players, they need to blend the youth and senior players,” Dan Quaye told Citi Sports.

    “If you take Bayern Munich and Juventus for instance, they have a lot of experienced players, not to say the young ones are not pulling their weight.

    “However, they need some guidance or leadership on the field, because it is difficult controlling people who are of the same age in the team, but if there is a senior player in the team, he will command some respect,” he added.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Fortuna Dusseldorf finally part ways with Ghana forward Bernard Tekpetey

    German Bundesliga II side Fortuna Dusseldorf have officially parted ways with Ghana forward Bernard Tekpetey, after initially exempting him from club activities on Monday.

    The relegated club were angered by the conduct of the 23-year old, who was forcing himself out of his contractual obligation with the team.

    Tekpetey had a year left on a two year loan deal signed with the team, but following their drop to the second tier of German football, the Schalke owned player was adamant to stay.

    This has forced the club to excuse him from training and preparations for next season on Monday.

    “We have exempted Bernard Tekpetey from his duties and obligations as a squad player until Wednesday, July 29, so that he can look after his personal future during this time,” the Fligeraners posted on Twitter on Monday.

    But after several delibration on Wednesday, the club have released the player, who is on the radar of Bulgarian giants Ludogorets.

    Bernard Tekpetey endured a difficult campaign with Fortuna, after failing to break into the first team of the club.

    He made only 9 Bundesliga appearances for the club, providing just an assist without scoring a goal for the club.

    Meanwhile, Schalke O4 is not interested in recalling him from his loan stint with the Bundesliga II side.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Shafiu Mumuni not in our plans for next season – AshantiGold SC CEO

    AshantiGold SC Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Frimpong has disclosed that striker Shafiu Mumuni is not in the plans of the club for next season.

    Mumuni has reportedly cut ties with the Obuasi based club after declining to renew his expired contract.

    “It is true that some of our players’ contracts have expired but we are in talks with most of them for an extension,” he told Ashh FM in Kumasi.

    “Most of the players have taken their cheques already. Shafiu Mumuni came for his cheque today but It was a previous debt which was to be paid to him.

    Frimpong claims head coach of the club Roberto Landi doesn’t have the prolific attacker in his plans.

    “The coach said there is a problem with him because he has been on trials for 4 times and the videos he has watched on Shafiu would not suit his plans.”

    Mumuni who was top scorer at the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations in Senegal is reported to have reached agreement Asante Kotoko SC over a possible move.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Sanneh Institute, others petition Akufo-Addo to close healing centre for alleged witches in Bawku

    The Sanneh Institute and some members of the Bawku Traditional area have petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to order the closure of a so-called healing centre in Widana set up for the purpose of “identifying and exorcising” alleged witches.

    The centre is said to be established by a witch doctor, Rufai Sumaila and his father in Pulmakuom in the Pusiga District of Bawku.

    “At the base which is near the Ghana/Togo border post at Widana, the self-styled witchdoctors claim to use sachet water for identifying“witches” and for healing.

    “When a sick person goes for healing, they tell them their condition is caused by a family member who has bewitched them,” the petition said.

    The petition said several attempts to get both Rufasa Sumaila and his father arrested have not been successful.

    It hence called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene and ensure that the centre is closed.

    “All attempts on the ground to get Rufai and his father to stop the practice have proved futile. It is against this background that The Sanneh Institute, with the support of the undersigned leading personalities from the area, is petitioning your good offices for the base to be shut down.”

    This petition follows the lynching of Akua Denteh, a 90-year-old woman, who was accused of being a witch at Kafaba in the Savannah Region.

    Click here to view petition

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Wilfred Osei Kweku Palmer rejects to serve on GFA’s ad-hoc committee

    Tema Youth FC president, Wilfred Osei Kweku Palmer has rejected to serve on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Ad-Hoc Compensation Committee.

    On Wednesday, the country’s football governing body named Mr Osei Palmer as a member of the three-member committee.

    The Committee is chaired by Frederick Nana Kweku Moore, the Chief Executive Officer of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club.

    However, the spokesperson for Osei Kweku Palmer, Ebo Appiah has said after several consultations, the former Executive Committee of the GFA has rejected to serve of the committee.

    “Mr Osei Palmer has declined from the committee due to several consultations which cannot be disclosed but regard it as personal reasons,” he told Kumasi FM.

    “We will publicly release a statement on this soon,” he added.

    Mr Osei Palmer is in a tussle with the Ghana Football Association at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) over his disqualification by th Vetting Committee of the Normalization Committee ahead of the GFA Presidential elections in 2019.

    The ruling is expected to be out on August 4.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Coronavirus: Government budgeted GH¢40.3m for basic uncooked food items but spent GH¢42.2 million

    Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finnace Minister has told Parliament on Wednesday, July 29, that during the lockdown period the government budgeted GHS40.3 million for basic uncooked food items but spent GH¢42.2 million.

    He also clarified that government used GH¢12 million to feed the vulnerable in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions during the three-week COVID-19 lockdown period. He said that: “It is truly unfortunate that an attempt has been made to politicise the issue of providing food for our brothers and sisters in need during the lockdown”, adding: “It is also unfortunate that the impression has been created that the total amount of GH¢54 million was used for hot meals over the three-week lockdown period.”

    Mr Ofori-Atta explained: “We estimated we would need an amount of approximately GH¢40 million to provide hot meals to the vulnerable at GH¢5 per pack during the lockdown period. However, we spent GH¢12 million on hot meals including the cost of distribution.”

    He noted that the “government budgeted GH¢40.3 million for basic uncooked food items. We spent GH¢42.2 million”.

    “It is this GH¢12 million spent on hot meals and the 42 million spent on uncooked food items that gave a total of GH¢54 million as stated in the mid-year review”.

    “The GH¢12.1 million for hot meals served 150,000 people during the lockdown [period], including the cost of transportation and other operational cost.”

    Source: Laud Business

  • French police use ‘legitimate violence’ – New Interior Minister

    France’s recently installed interior minister dismissed on Tuesday the term “police violence” and told lawmakers the police exercise “legitimate violence”.

    “When I hear the term ‘police violence’, personally I choke,” said Gérard Darmanin, whose predecessor lost his job three weeks ago after becoming embroiled in a controversy over police use of a restraint method known as a chokehold.

    Deaths in custody of two men of African origin in separate incidents sparked widespread fury and led Darmanin’s predecessor Christophe Castaner to ban police use of the chokehold.

    But Castaner had to backtrack in the face of protests by the police and was later replaced.

    “The police do exercise violence, but legitimate violence,” Darmanin told a committee in the National Assembly.

    “They must do it in a proportional way, they must do it in a controlled way. If a few people do it outside the rules of professional ethics, the punishment must be immediate.”

    Darmanin’s appointment earlier this month outraged feminist campaigners as he is facing a renewed investigation into a 2009 rape allegation — which he denies.

    His use of the word “choke” concerning police violence was widely criticised by his opponents on social media.

    Darmanin and President Emmanuel Macron visited two police units in Paris earlier and announced a 10 million euros ($11.7 million) funding boost in a move designed to show solidarity with the force, according to the presidency.

    Police in France have been contending with regular demonstrations by anti-government “yellow vests”, groups opposing pension reforms and those angry at perceived racism in France generally and among the police in particular.

    Macron has promised a night work allowance for France’s police force, after officers demanded greater government backing in the face of protests over claims of brutality and racism in their ranks.

    On the surprise late-night visit to two specialised police units in the French capital overnight Monday to Tuesday, Macron promised a budget of 10 million euros ($11.7 million) for officers who work at night, the interior ministry announced.

    Source: france24.com

  • French health minister says observing social distancing ‘vital’ to avoid new lockdown

    France’s health minister urged the country on Wednesday not to drop its guard against COVID-19, saying it faced a long battle and that observing social distancing rules was vital to avoiding a new national lockdown.

    France reported 14 new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, a figure twice as high as the daily average increase of seven seen over the previous week. A total of 30,223 people have now died of COVID-19 in France, health authorities said.

    “We are not facing a second wave, the epidemic is continuing… Some people do not respect the rules. We must not let down our guard,” Health Minister Olivier Véran told LCI television.

    “We do not want to resort to another lockdown, we are examining the situation on a case-by-case basis. The war is not over… People must understand that we are going to live with this virus for a fairly long time.”

    Véran was asked whether he would advise against going on holiday in the Brittany resort of Quiberon after a COVID-19 cluster was reported there last week and local authorities ordered a night curfew for beaches.

    “On Quiberon, there is a cluster of about 50 people. We are looking at the situation. It will depend on the spread of the virus. If we need to take other measures, we will take them,” he said.

    The Quiberon prefecture later said there were now 72 confirmed cases, mostly people aged 18 to 25.

    Source: france24.com

  • Presidential aspirant Rwomushana charged for disobeying Museveni orders

    Renowned political commentator and former head of Political Intelligence Desk at Internal Security Organization (ISO), Charles Rwomushana, has been charged with disobedience of lawful orders contrary to section 117 of the Penal Code Act.

    According to a charge sheet, a copy of which has been seen by this reporter, the 51-year-old presidential aspirant is said to have been found driving at Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb during curfew time.

    “Charles Rwomushana on July 29 at around 1am at Kamwokya in Kampala District disobeyed the presidential order or command duly issued by the President of the republic of Uganda when he was found driving a vehicle during curfew time,” reads part of the charge sheet.

    Rwomushana who is being jointly charged with two People Power supporters, James Mubiru and Opondo Gaster, is expected to appear at City Hall Court this afternoon.

    Mubiru and Opondo were reportedly arrested on their way from visiting a sick friend in hospital.

    On the charge sheet is also one Ali Abdallah, a 37-year-old Ugandan-Arabian businessman and resident of Ntinda, Nakawa Division in Kampala.

    Rwomushana was on Tuesday night arrested from NBS offices in Kamwokya after being hosted on a talk show where he features as a regular panelist.

    The same show also featured MPs Betty Nambooze, Ibrahim Ssemujju, James Kakooza and Fred Nyanzi, a brother to Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

    Unlike Rwomushana, the MPs are reported to have spent a night at the TV station after getting information that police had deployed around the NBS building.

    President Museveni announced a curfew starting 9pm to 5:30am as part of the government measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus and criminality in the country.

    Uganda on Wednesday confirmed five new infections as the number of virus cases rose to 1,140.

    The East African nation has so far registered two virus deaths and 1,028 recoveries since the first case was confirmed in the country in March this year.

    Source: monitor.co.ug

  • Parliament approves GH¢11.8bn supplementary budget

    Parliament on Wednesday approved GH¢ 11.896 billion as supplementary estimates for the 2020 financial year.

    This followed a three-day debate on the estimates presented the House in the mid-year review budget by the Finance Minister last week.

    Winding up the contributions to the motion, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Majority Leader and MP for Suame Constituency lauded the Government for putting in measures for economic progress within the three years of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) being in power.

    Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu however said the mid-year review budget rather looked like a party manifesto, as the Finance Minister made projections into the 2021 to 2023, when the political fate of the NPP was not yet known in the next December elections.

    “Mr. Speaker, this mid-year review budget only comes to me as a manifesto pledge and promise and reflected the same COVID programme that the Minister stated.”

    He said the Minority expected the Minister to have shifted from economic management to management of an emergency public health problem of COVID-19.

    The Finance Minister in concluding, listed a number funds approved by Parliament for the management of COVID-19.

    He said: “please allow me to restate what the GHS11.8 billion supplementary estimates, which includes; an amount of GHS1.84 billion that Parliament approved in March 2020 for emergency COVID related expenditures was requested for. GHS1.34 billion [will be used] for the implementation of the COVID-19 preparedness plan to be implemented by the Ministry of Health, the plan to focus on expanding laboratories to increase the network for functional laboratories for COVID-19 testing for improved database management and coordination

    “It will also creating isolation centres in all regions and districts, revitalizing the systems for tracking case confirmation and management among others, GHS600 million to mobilise the construction for the Agenda 111 district hospitals, GHS1.204 million for CAP 1 programme which includes; the GHS600 million support for small businesses, relief for water during the first three months, support for frontline workers.”

    Source: GNA

  • Mali MPs say they won’t resign amid political crisis

    Malian MPs whose elections have been contested have said they won’t resign as recommended by five heads of state from the regional block Ecowas who are trying to resolve the political crisis in the country.

    The MPs said the suggestion made by Ecowas violates the constitution, according to news agencies.

    The opposition has been demanding for the resignation of the president over corruption and some 31 legislators from his party whose elections were contested.

    Ecowas proposed that the government and the opposition form a unity government and that the MPs resign to resolve the crisis.

    President Ibrahim Keïta formed a crisis cabinet to champion the formation of unity government, but there was no word on the resignation of the MPs.

    The prime minister met popular imam Mahmoud Dicko and asked him to lead the opposition in joining the unity government.

    The imam told journalists that he had asked the prime minister to resign and that a second wave of protests would begin after the Muslim festival Eid-al-Adha.

    Source: BBC

  • Gambia leader in isolation after VP contracts virus

    The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has gone into self-isolation after his vice-president tested positive for coronavirus.

    President Barrow will isolate for two weeks.

    A statement from the country’s State House said Vice-President Isatou Touray had tested positive for the virus.

    Ms Touray said she was in “good spirits and will be going into quarantine”.

    The Gambia has so far confirmed 326 coronavirus cases and eight deaths.

    The government has been urging citizens to wear masks and maintain a distance of three steps between each other to prevent the spread of the virus.

    The Gambia’s State House tweeted:

    Source: BBC