Argentine player Lionel Messi is one of the most celebrated athletes globally, thanks to his exceptional skills and successes in football. Fans’ admiration for Messi has soared, especially after he led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup.
Wherever the star player goes, he is greeted by large crowds and passionate fans seeking autographs or photos. In a recent incident, Messi found himself attending to a fervent fan while stuck in traffic. The fan, eager for an autograph, pleaded with Messi, who willingly obliged.
Amidst the traffic, the fan tossed his jersey into Messi’s car, requesting an autograph. Messi, without hesitation, grabbed a black marker and signed the jersey. He then handed it back to the fan, who extended a handshake in gratitude. After this close encounter, Messi drove off.
The fan, overwhelmed with joy, couldn’t believe his luck, and his excitement was audible as he screamed along with others in the vehicle.
Member of Parliament for Mpraeso Constituency, Davis Opoku Ansah, has joined the ranks of football enthusiasts unimpressed by the Kumasi Asante Kotoko jersey unveiled for the 2023–2024Ghana Premier League season.
The Porcupines debuted this jersey on Sunday, September 17, 2023, during their season opener against the Hearts of Lions.
On various social media platforms, numerous Ghanaians who followed the game expressed their dissatisfaction with the jersey’s quality.
They also criticised the club’s Interim Management Committee for entering into a partnership with a company that, in their opinion, produces jerseys of substandard quality.
Taking to social media to register his disapproval of the jersey, Davis Opoku Mensah said “Never knew we had disposal jersey”.
The uninspiring nature of the jersey may have had an unintended effect on the players, potentially robbing them of the inspiration needed to deliver a commendable performance in their season opener.
At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Asante Kotoko faced off againstHearts of Lions, and to the dismay of their fans, the match ended in a draw.
Nevertheless, Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum has called upon the fans to exercise patience and maintain their faith in the team. He expressed absolute confidence in the players’ ability to consistently perform at a level that will thrill the Porcupine family.
While Asante Kotoko dropped points at home, their rivals, Hearts of Oak, suffered a late defeat in their opening match against Real Tamale United on Friday, September 15.
A goalkeeper error by Richard Attah allowed RTU to secure their first win of the season at the Ali Mahama Sports Stadium.
Following the stabbing of an imam leading morning prayers, a guy was detained in New Jersey.
At the Omar Mosque in Paterson on Sunday morning, Serif Zorba, 32, is accused of stabbing Imam Sayed Elnakib, 65, and is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon.
On Sunday around 5.30 a.m., the incident took place before daybreak.
Security footage from the mosque’s building caught some of the horrifying attack. Zorba walked forward holding a knife as the other worshipers bent over to pray.
Suspect Serif Zorba’s mugshot after he was arrested in Paterson (Picture: Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office)
After the stabbing, members of the mosque were able to grab and subdue Zorba while waiting for police to arrive.
‘The suspect has been apprehended because of the heroic actions of Omar Mosque’s congregants,’ the mosque’s spokesperson Abdul Hamdan said. ‘They apprehended the individual swiftly and immediately.’
Authorities said Zorba had worshipped at the Paterson, New Jersey mosque before, but is not a member of the congregation.
Paterson City Councilmember Al Abdel-aziz reported that Elnakib was in stable condition at St Joseph’s University Medical Center and is expected to fully recover.
‘My heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragic event,’ Abdel-aziz said. ‘While it is unclear what motivated the attacker, there is no justification for violence of any kind, especially in a sacred space.’
Investigators are still working to determine a motive for the stabbing.
Zorba was arraigned in court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty with the help of a Turkish translator. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Paterson, the third-largest city in New Jersey, is also home to one of the largest populations of American Muslims.
Police in Paterson announced that they would be adding enhanced security at each of the city’s 12 mosques through the rest of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
A search for people after an explosion at a block of flats in Jersey that left three dead has found no signs of life.
Emergency service bosses said the search and rescue operation was now one of recovery.
“We have been searching and we will not stop searching for people’s loved ones,” Chief Fire Officer Paul Brown told a press conference.
It is understood there were nine known residents in the block before the blast in St Helier on Saturday morning.
Three bodies have been found at the Pier Road scene and specialist teams are continuing to look for six more.
It is estimated there could be up to a dozen, as details on visitors remain unknown.
Emergency crews are carrying out a “painstaking search of the debris”, Chief of Police Robin Smith said
The fire service had attended the flats just after 20:30 GMT on Friday after the smell of gas was reported, it has been confirmed.
The blast happened at about 04:00 GMT on Saturday.
Specialist teams and a search dog have been carrying out searches at the scene.
Chief of Jersey Police Robin Smith described how there had been a “meticulous and painstaking search of the debris following the explosion, to start carefully identifying bodies when and if we find them”.
He told the press conference: “That will take time. We are not going to be here for days we are likely to be here for weeks.”
Mr Smith said it was “difficult to be precise” on the total number of fatalities.
“The one area I can be precise on is we have three confirmed fatalities and it’s fair to say we expect to find more,” he said.
“Previously we have said in the region of a dozen but it’s difficult to make that assessment. That’s the number we hope we do not get to but that is the number we are working to.”
Mr Smith said “around 40” people had been displaced because of the blast and the damage it had caused to nearby buildings.
None of the emergency leaders could confirm the cause, but Mr Smith was asked to comment on whether it was down to a gas explosion.
“It looks likely that is the case,” he said.
“But as you often hear the police service say, we keep all our options open.”
He added: “We will seek experts who are independent, as we would do with any investigation where there is particular specialisms – be reassured this will be an independent investigation.”
Stating whether criminal activity was suspected, he added: “We rule nothing in and we rule nothing out.”
Paul Brown, Jersey chief fire officer, acknowledged something had gone “horribly wrong”.
‘Absolutely devastated’
He told reporters the fire service would be “co-operating fully” with “honesty” and “transparency”, but the main focus remained on the search operation.
“The most important thing is to understand the absolute truth and also be seen to establish the absolute truth,” he said.
Chief Minister Kristina Moore earlier told the BBC she was woken by the explosion.
“It’s unthinkable news, we’re all absolutely devastated and really concerned for the people who are involved, for those whose lives have been lost,” she said.
“Those families will get the answers they need.
“We’re so grateful to the emergency services and everybody who is absolutely committed to searching through the rubble to find everybody.”
Specialist teams from the UK’s Ministry of Defence and fire services have been supporting local crews.
They include the South West Hazardous Area Response Team, alongside an Urban Search and Rescue Team from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service.
Two people who were in hospital earlier have been released and one other person is receiving treatment.
The flats at Haut De Mont are shown as they appear following the explosion and as they were prior to the blast
Search teams continued their work through a bitterly cold night and into the morning
Jersey’s gas supplier, Island Energy, said it was working with the fire service to understand what had happened.
The three-storey building that collapsed is owned by Andium Homes, a state-owned but independent company that rents out properties.
It said it was focusing on supporting residents at the estate.
Ms Moore said residents displaced by the blast were being found somewhere to stay.
“This is going to take some days and we will keep everyone updated and fully informed, and we will do our very best to ensure everybody is properly looked after,” she added.
Specialist teams from the UK have arrived to support local crews in the search for survivors
The Town Church opened on Saturday evening for islanders to light candles and pay respects to those who had died.
On Monday, the flag of Jersey will fly at half mast on the island’s official buildings “as a sign of respect” for those affected by the explosion, the Government of Jersey said.
The flags will be lowered from 08:00 GMT until sunset on 23 December.
A one-minute silence will also be held at 11:00 GMT on Monday to give islanders a moment to “reflect on the incidents that have resulted in loss of life”, the government said.
Image caption, The site was lit up as the search for survivors continued overnight
Specialist teams from the UK’s Ministry of Defence and fire services have been supporting local crews in the search for survivors.
They include the South West Hazardous Area Response Team, alongside an Urban Search and Rescue Team from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service.
Chief fire officer Paul Brown earlier told a press conference: “The primary challenge is the fact that we have a dangerous structure that has collapsed.
“Anything that we do, or do in the wrong way, may then jeopardise the chance of survival of anyone who might be rescued.”
Two people who were in the hospital earlier have been released and one other person is receiving treatment.
The blast happened at about 04:00 GMT on Saturday.
Police chief Mr Smith said “there are a number of working hypotheses” as to what had happened but warned people “not to speculate”.
IMAGE SOURCE,MB INFOCUS/GOOGLE Image caption, The flats at Haut De Mont are shown as they appear following the explosion and as they were prior to the blast
Jersey’s gas supplier, Island Energy, said it was working with the fire service to understand what had happened.
It was earlier confirmed the fire service had attended the scene on Friday night after the smell of gas was reported.
The chief fire officer was asked if the call on Friday had had anything to do with the cause of the explosion.
Mr Brown said: “I will give you an answer to that but what I’d like to do for the moment is focus on the emergency response, talk to my colleagues and consider those bits that are subject to investigation and make sure I don’t tell you something that I need to tell someone else first.”
Ms Moore said “all the facts will have to be gathered” and there would be a “full investigation”.
The three-storey building which collapsed is owned by Andium Homes which is a state-owned but independent company that rents out properties.
It said it was focusing on supporting residents at the estate.
IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA Image caption, Emergency services continued their search through the night
Ms Moore said residents displaced by the blast were being found somewhere to stay.
“This is going to take some days and we will keep everyone updated and fully informed, and we will do our very best to ensure everybody is properly looked after,” she added.
Image caption, The Town Church opened for islanders to light candles and pay their respects
The Town Church opened on Saturday evening for islanders to light candles and pay respects to those who had died.
Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab tweeted he was “deeply saddened” by the news.
The incident comes days after three fishermen were reported missing following a collision at sea on Thursday.
Ms Moore said: “It’s been a really tough week, it’s just been unprecedented.
“Two very different tragedies, but I think it showed the resilience we have and the amazing emergency response that we have been able to muster, but also the companionship of our near neighbours who have joined in our efforts and we’re really grateful to them.”
New Jersey police found 17 bodies in one of the state’s largest nursing homes after an anonymous tip said a body was being stored in a shed.
A total of 68 people associated with the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation centres have recently died, with 26 having testing positive for Covid-19.
Police did not find the body in the shed, but said the facility’s tiny morgue was “overwhelmed”.
New Jersey has over 71,000 cases and 3,100 deaths due to the coronavirus.
Over the weekend, the nursing home had requested 25 body bags from authorities. On Monday, police received the anonymous tip about a body being kept in a shed.
Instead, they found the 17 bodies kept in a morgue built to house four.
“They were just overwhelmed by the amount of people who were expiring,” Andover police chief Eric Danielson told the New York Times.
It is unclear whether any of the 17 deaths were due to the coronavirus.
How big is the problem in care homes?
Seventy-six patients have tested positive for COVID-19 along with 41 staff members between the two buildings, according to the Times .
Thirteen bodies were moved to a refrigerated truck at a neighboring hospital, while the remaining four were to be sent to a funeral home.
The nursing homeowner has since obtained a refrigerated truck for bodies, local media reported.
