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  • International Arbitration in London to look into tax claims against Tullow Ghana Limited

    International Arbitration in London to look into tax claims against Tullow Ghana Limited

    Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) has announced that Tullow Ghana Limited (TGL) has filed requests for arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce in London in respect of two disputed tax assessments received from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

    The assessments relate to the disallowance of loan interest deductions for the fiscal years 2010 – 2020 and proceeds received by Tullow Oil plc under Tullow’s corporate Business Interruption Insurance policy. 

    The requests for arbitration have been filed in accordance with the dispute resolution process set out in the Petroleum Agreements which govern TGL’s activities in Ghana. A copy of the Petroleum Agreements can be viewed on the website of the Ghana Petroleum Register.

    Tullow considers that the two disputed tax assessments, which total $387 million plus penalties, breach TGL’s rights under its Petroleum Agreements. Tullow’s decision to file for arbitration on these matters does not result in any change to the overall exposure previously disclosed.

    http://backend.theindependentghana.com/tullow-plans-a-300-million-investment-in-jubilee-field/

    Tullow believes that resolution through international arbitration will bring certainty, which is in the best interest of all stakeholders. Notwithstanding this formal step, Tullow intends to continue to engage with the Government of Ghana, including the GRA, with the aim of resolving these disputes on a mutually acceptable basis.

    Background to the assessments

    TGL has received a revised corporate income tax assessment for $190.5 million from the GRA relating to the disallowance of loan interest for the fiscal years 2010 – 2020. Tullow has previously disclosed assessments by the GRA relating to the same issue; the revised assessment received in December 2022 supersedes all previous claims.

    TGL has also received a new corporate income tax assessment and demand notice for $196.5 million from the GRA relating to proceeds received by Tullow during the fiscal years 2016 – 2019 under Tullow’s corporate Business Interruption Insurance policy, previously referred to in Tullow’s Trading Update on 25 January 2023.

    Branch Profits Remittance Tax arbitration

    Tullow has previously filed a request for arbitration in respect of a separate assessment for Branch Profits Remittance Tax of $320 million in 2021. A hearing in respect of this dispute is scheduled for October 2023.

  • Iceberg larger than London breaks off Antarctica

    Iceberg larger than London breaks off Antarctica

    A giant iceberg almost the size of London has broken off the Brunt Ice Shelf in western Antarctica on Sunday (Jan. 22) after years of cracking. 

    The shelf calved during the spring tide, the regular swelling of the ocean that coincides with full and new moons, according to a statement (opens in new tab) from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), which reported the iceberg’s separation from the shelf. 

    Since the iceberg broke off, multiple satellites have flown over the area, taking images of the now-orphaned triangular ice fragment. BAS, which operates the Halley Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf, estimated the size of the calved iceberg to be 600 square miles (1,550 square kilometers). That’s about the size of the London metropolitan area and a little larger than Houston.

    The calving is not related to climate change, BAS said in a statement, and was caused by “natural processes” that have been underway for more than 10 years. The iceberg calved along a crack known as Chasm-1, which BAS scientists have monitored since 2012. The gradual widening of Chasm-1 in fact prompted BAS to move the Halley Research Station 14 miles (23 km) inland in 2016. The outpost has not been affected by the calving, BAS said.

    “Our glaciologists and operations teams have been anticipating this event,” BAS director Jane Francis said in the statement. 

    That said, the moon may have nudged the new iceberg on its way as the parting happened during the so-called spring tide, the “springing forth of the tide” that takes place around the new and full moons as a result of the moon’s gravitational pull, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (opens in new tab). In spite of the name, these phenomena have nothing to do with the season of spring!

    The Sunday calving is the second such event in the past two years affecting the Brunt Ice Shelf, BAS said in the statement. BAS monitors the area using an automated network of high-precision GPS sensors located around the station as well as data from Earth-observing satellites.

    Source: Space.com

  • Asuma Banda’s first wife files for divorce after 48 years together – Report

    Cassandra Banda, the first wife of business mogul Alhaji Asuma Banda has reportedly filed for divorce after close to five decades of their union.

    A report by mynewsgh.com cited court documents in which Mrs. Banda is seeking the annullment of their marriage with settlement.

    She argues in the court papers that she should be awarded 60% of Banda’s estate citing the role she played in supporting the now-ailing millionaire from his early days when they met in London.

    Cassandra met and married the then 41-year-old Asuma Banda in London in 1974 but she contends that the marriage “has now reached a point of irreconcilable differences after years of alleged philandering by her husband which she largely ignored,” the Mynewsgh.com report stated.

    Alhaji Asuma Banda has recently been in the news after viral videos of a custody battle around his bedside at the 37 Military Hospital was circulated on social media.

    His two sisters subsequently appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former president John Mahama and the National Chief Imam to intervene in the custody issues.

    A court has granted custody and care of Banda to his second wife Edwina Baaba Coussey Banda who he married in 1991.

    The one-time Anktrak Air CEO turned 89 this year and will clock 90 years by next year June.

  • Four in critical condition after crush at Asake gig

    Following a crush during a concert at the Brixton O2 Academy in south London, four people are in critical condition.

    On Thursday at 21:35 GMT, as the afro-pop artist Asake was performing, the police were called. The gathering was interrupted midway through and four other people were transported to the hospital.

    Social media video reveals a sizable crowd amassing outside the venue.

    One observer calculated that around 1,000 people showed up to the concert without tickets.

    The Nigerian musician, commonly known as Mr Money, performed at the Academy for the third of three sold-out performances. Before the show, Asake had tweeted on Twitter requesting that fans not attempt to enter without tickets.

    Brixton Academy

    The concert was abandoned part-way through

    One of the injured people, who was taken to St Thomas’ Hospital with suspected internal bleeding, spoke to the BBC after being discharged.

    The woman, from Battersea in south London, said: “I was just queuing up to give them my ticket and then the crowd out here was insane, they just came and pushed and I just fell down.

    “I was trying to get up, people were stepping on my head, all over me. I had more than 10 people on top of me.”

    ‘I was so scared’

    She described the fear she felt as she lay on the ground, saying: “I couldn’t breathe and I completely passed out. I thought I was dead.

    “I took my last breath and I could not get any more oxygen. I was so scared.

    “A man pulled me out so when I woke up I was in the back of the ambulance. I’m just so grateful.”

    In footage on social media, the crowd can be seen stretching from the road outside to the venue’s doors, with people screaming, shouting and struggling.

    A video taken by someone outside the Academy shows crowds of people on a side street, with a woman heard saying that people are pushing others.

    John, 32, who lives next to the O2, said: “I saw everyone at the front door of Brixton Academy, [then] everything just stopped.

    “It looked like the gig had been cancelled, and then some commotion, some pushing and shoving, and the police came shortly after. That’s when it kicked off and became aggressive.

    “People at the front of the Brixton Academy were really pushing and shoving and trying to break through the door and force their way in,” he added. “The glass of the doors was broken.”

    Journalist and author Jason Okundaye, who was also outside the venue at the time, said “there was absolutely zero communication” from Academy staff.

    He added that he went home after observing the dangerous conditions, saying: “Outside the venue was so unsafe, still slippery conditions because of the earlier snowstorm, freezing cold, a confused crowd and aggressive police dogs making the risk of a huge crush likely.”

    Scattered railings

    The O2 Academy Brixton has a standing capacity of nearly 5,000 people, according to its website.

    The venue is opposite Brixton police station, partly explaining the swift response on Thursday night. There are plenty of officers at the scene and you can see broken glass on the floor by the door to the venue.

    Underneath a “sold out” sign, the metal railings scattered across the pavement bear testament to what were chaotic scenes.

    File photo of Asake during a concert.GETTY IMAGES
    Asake is touring his debut album, Mr. Money With The Vibe

    Cdr Ade Adelekan from the Metropolitan Police said the scene would be examined by specialist officers as part of an investigation which will be “as thorough and as forensic as necessary”.

    He said: “This is an extremely upsetting incident which has left four people critically ill in hospital. My thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.”

    The Met’s directorate of professional standards will view all material, including body-worn video footage from the officers at the scene, Scotland Yard said.

    Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted to say he was “heartbroken”.

    Mr Khan added: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the awful incident at Brixton Academy.”

    General view of the O2 Brixton Academy showing abandoned metal gates outside on Friday.

    The legendary London venue on Stockfield Road is cordoned off while police investigate

    Serious crushes at British gigs are very rare.

    In 1974, a 14-year-old David Cassidy fan died at the pop singer’s concert at the White City Stadium in London, with another 700 people injured.

    At the Monsters of Rock festival in 1988, two people lost their lives in a crowd surge when Guns ‘N Roses played at a muddy Castle Donington in Leicestershire.

    Earlier this year, the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena – where next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be held – launched an investigation after fans complained of overcrowding at a concert by local hero Jamie Webster, although no injuries were reported.

    It has become common for artists to pause their shows if they suspect there may be a problem in the crowd, with heightened awareness of such dangers in the wake of the tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival, in Texas in November 2021, in which 10 people died.

    ‘Breakout star’

    Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, was nominated for BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2023 award.

    He had been described on the venue’s website as “one of the hottest breakout stars from Nigeria” and is touring his debut album, Mr. Money With The Vibe.

    Born and raised in Lagos State, his songs are part of the Nigerian street-pop subgenre that blends Afrobeats with Amapiano, pop melodies and street-smart rap lyrics.

    He had a breakout hit in 2020 with his single Lady.

    Source: BBC

     

  • Asake suffers wardrobe malfunction on stage at London show

    Nigerian rave of the moment Asake is currently trending online over a clip from his show in London.

    The clip showed the embarrassing moment the singer who is signed to Olamide’s YBNL label and known for his energetic performance did a kick mid-air which saw his trouser get torn during the action.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by King Tunde Ednut (@mufasatundeednut)

    To make it funny, Asake, upon noticing the wardrobe malfunction stylishly left the stage in a reverse manner.

    Source: Myjoyonline

     

  • London administrative court rejects petition against Morocco – UK Association Agreement

    The administrative court of London rejected, on Monday, the petition of a British NGO (WSC), working on behalf of the “polisario”, which challenged the association agreement between Morocco and Great Britain.

    With this verdict, the British justice confirms the validity of the partnership agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom, which fully benefits the populations and the development of all the regions of the Kingdom, from north to south, without exception.

    This judgment thus inflicts a new setback on the enemies of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, who are trying to hide their repeated failures by trying in vain to convince the British justice to re-examine the post-Brexit trade agreement, signed and supported by the two Kingdoms.

    As soon as the verdict became known, the British government reaffirmed its commitment to continue the partnership with Morocco.

    “We welcome today’s verdict. We will continue to work closely with Morocco to maximize the £2.7 billion of trade between our countries,” said a spokesperson for the UK Department for International Trade.

    “We look forward to continuing our exchanges with our Moroccan counterparts through the Association Council next year,” he assured.

    The Morocco-UK Association Agreement, signed in London on October 26, 2019, entered into force on January 1, 2021.

    The Agreement restores, within the framework of bilateral relations, all the effects that the two countries granted each other under the Morocco-EU Association Agreement.

    It thus ensures the continuity of trade exchanges between Morocco and the United Kingdom after December 31, 2020.

    By allowing the two Kingdoms to settle definitively in a structured strategic partnership, endowed with operational and institutionalised cooperation instruments, and driven by a common ambition, the Agreement constitutes a guarantee for Moroccan and British companies undertaking economic and trade relations in all sectors of cooperation and covering the whole of the Kingdom.

    Source: BBC

     

  • Russian businessman arrested in oligarchs investigation

    A Russian businessman has been arrested at his multi-million-pound London home by officers investigating potential criminal activity by oligarchs.

    The man, 58, was held on suspicion of money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit perjury.

    A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

    He was also arrested for obstructing an officer when trying to leave with a bag containing thousands of pounds in cash.

    A third man, 39, who is the former boyfriend of the businessman’s current partner, was arrested at his home in Pimlico, central London, for offences including money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

    The National Crime Agency (NCA) said more than 50 officers from its Combatting Kleptocracy Cell were involved in the operation at the businessman’s property, where a number of digital devices and a significant quantity of cash was seized following a search.

    Graeme Biggar, director general of the NCA, said the unit, which was established this year, was having “significant success investigating potential criminal activity by oligarchs”.

    He added: “We will continue to use all the powers and tactics available to us to disrupt this threat.”

    All three of the arrested men, who have not been named by the NCA, have been released on bail.

    The NCA said it was the latest operation carried out as part of its efforts to disrupt the activities of corrupt international business figures and their enablers.

    Almost 100 “disruptions” – actions that remove or reduce a criminal threat – have been carried out against Putin-linked elites and their enablers, including account freezing orders (AFOs) over accounts held by people closely linked to sanctioned Russians, according to the NCA.

  • Homelessness in London: Mayor of London calls for social housing rent freeze

    The mayor of London has called on the government to impose a rent freeze on social housing after a charity warned that the city has seen a 24% increase in rough sleepers year on year.

    Sadiq Khan stated that he has “repeatedly” pleaded for a rent freeze for private renters in London, but added that “those in social housing and shared ownership also deserve the benefits this would bring.”

    “A social housing rent freeze is the only sensible solution as we continue to build a fairer London for all,” he said.

    It comes after City Hall found there were 5,712 people on the capital’s streets between April and September – an increase of more than a fifth from the same time last year.

    The same research uncovered a steep 24% rise in homelessness between July and September, compared with the same period in 2021.

    The mayor said 3,500 people had been helped off the streets since 2016, with eight in 10 staying housed for good, but progress was being offset by extraordinary financial pressures.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Angry motorists drive Just Stop Oil protesters off London streets

    On Saturday, angry motorists removed Just Stop Oil protesters from central London’s blocked roads.

    Campaigners gathered in Charing Cross Road, Kensington High Street, Harleyford Street, and Blackfriars Road, demanding that the government halt the issuance of new oil licences.

    Drivers abandoned their vehicles in Harleyford Street to remove demonstrators, who returned repeatedly to reclaim their positions on the road.

    Met Police said 33 protesters were arrested and the roads later reopened.

    One motorist said during the protest: “We’ve asked you nicely, you are doing the wrong thing by blocking innocent people going about their business.

    “Can you please move before we pick you up and move you?

    “You are stopping the wrong people, I’ve got to go pick my kids up, I’ve got to get my lorry back to work. We can’t help you, go to Westminster.”

    Just Stop Oil protesters in central London
    IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS Image caption, Just Stop Oil protesters blocked four roads in central London

    Labour councillor Theresa Norton, 64, from Scarborough, attended to support the protest, saying: “Half an hour’s disruption is not a massive sacrifice.

    “It’s these people that are making the biggest sacrifice. They’ll be arrested, go to a police cell, go to court on Monday.”

    Just Stop Oil said the blockages follow four weeks of civil resistance, during which the police have made 626 arrests.

    Protester arrested by police
    IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS Image caption, Police made 33 arrests on Saturday

    Speaking after the protest, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said Just Stop Oil protests had “caused a significant amount of disruption and frustration among the public in London”.

    He added: “We will always provide a proportionate policing response to protest and try to work with organisers so that protests can go ahead safely.

    “However, the public rightly expects us to respond quickly and effectively where protest crosses the line into criminality.”

     

  • Money dispute: Jemma Mitchell was found guilty of murdering and decapitating her friend

    In a money dispute, a woman was found guilty of murdering and decapitating her friend.

    Jemma Mitchell, 38, was charged with murdering devout Christian Mee Kuen Chong and disposing of her headless body more than 200 miles away in order to inherit hundreds of thousands of pounds.

    Mitchell, an alternative therapist, hit the 67-year-old over the head with a weapon at her London home and left her decapitated and badly decomposed body in woods in Salcombe, Devon, two weeks later.

    The prosecution claimed Mitchell had planned to murder the divorcee and fake her will to inherit the majority of her estate which was worth more than £700,000.

    Jurors were told that Mitchell came up with the plan to murder her friend, known as Deborah after she backed out of giving her £200,000 to pay for repairs for Mitchell’s £4 million dilapidated family home.

    A jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for seven hours before finding Mitchell guilty of murder.

    Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, who led the investigation, described it as a “truly despicable crime”.

     

  • Shell reports $9.5 billion in profits for the third quarter of 2022, but not at the record levels seen in the first half of the year

    Despite soaring oil and gas prices, the London-listed oil and gas company reported record profits in the first half of the year.

    Shell reported operating profits of $9.5 billion (£8.19 billion) for the third quarter of this year, which were lower than the previous three months but more than double the same period in 2021.

    In the first half of the year, the London-listed energy giant reported two consecutive quarters of record profit despite rising oil and gas prices.

    The earnings are lower than expected. Shell had been forecast to report net earnings of $10.5bn in the third quarter, compared with net earnings of $11.5bn in the second quarter.

    The profits were lower compared with the second quarter because of lower liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading, lower chemicals, and refining margins, and higher underlying operating expenses.

    The total amount paid to shareholders during the three months was $6.8bn. The company paid a dividend of $0.25 for each share held.

    But Shell wants that amount to increase. Subject to board approval, it intends to increase the amount per share by 15% for the fourth quarter, which would be paid in March next year.

    On Thursday the company also said it is to buy back shares worth $4bn from shareholders by the time fourth-quarter results are announced, it follows a $6bn round of share buybacks announced in the second quarter results statement.

    The profits are likely to increase calls for more one-off windfall taxes.

    When she was prime minister Liz Truss ruled out any additional windfall tax beyond the one introduced in May. The May energy profits levy taxed profits at 25% and was introduced by current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he was chancellor.

    The chief executive of Shell had himself called on the government to tax oil and gas companies in order to protect the poorest people in society from soaring energy costs.

    Speaking at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London, Ben van Beurden said: “One way or another there needs to be government intervention that somehow results in protecting the poorest.

    “That probably may then mean that governments need to tax people in this room to pay for it.”

    The government recently announced it is to go ahead with a windfall tax on the renewable sector which has been enjoying bumper profits off the back of high gas prices.

     

     

  • Thinktank: Millions to see annual mortgage payments rise by more than £5,000 in next two years

    Mortgages are one of the many areas that have been thrown into disarray as a result of the government’s mini-budget at the end of September.

    A renowned think tank has now warned that annual mortgage payments for five million homeowners could climb by an average of £5,100 between now and the end of 2024.

    In total, mortgage payments are set to rise annually by £26bn over the next two years, according to the Resolution Foundation.

    Affected households in London will see the biggest increase, with average payments projected to rise by £8,000 over this period – more than twice the level of the £3,400 increase experienced by households in Wales.

    The impact in London will be concentrated, however, as less than a fifth (19%) of households, there has a mortgage.

    “Households across Britain are currently living through an inflation-driven cost-of-living crisis as pay packets shrink and energy bills rise,” said Lindsay Judge, research director at the Resolution Foundation.

    “With almost half of all mortgagor households on course to see their family budgets fall by at least 5% from higher payments, the living standards pain from rising interest rates will be widespread.”

     

  • ‘Jinxed’ history that saw King Charles consider choosing different regnal name

    The two previous Charles’s both ruled controversial reigns – one of whom was the only British monarch in history to have faced execution

    The minute Queen Elizabeth passed away yesterday was the minute Prince Charles became King.

    He’ll now reign as King Charles III, with Downing Street swiftly confirming the title he will inherit.

    But despite Charles being his Christian name, he could have chosen any of his four monikers to rule under – Charles Phillip Arthur George.

    The Times reported in 2005 how the then Prince of Wales considered taking on the title George VII as a heartfelt tribute to his grandfather, the Queen’s dad who became a beloved King following the abdication of his brother, Edward.

    Other reasons for the possible change in name, however, may have been that ‘King Charles’ is considered somewhat ‘jinxed’ among the upper echelons.

    Charles is now King
    Charles is now King following the death of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday afternoon (Image: Getty Images)

    The two Charleses to precede our now King both died relatively young – with the first executed in what is the only execution of a British monarch in history.

    Charles I was beheaded at Whitehall in 1649 after being convicted of treason the year before. With Charles dead, the monarchy was abolished and his son and would-be king Charles exiled from the country.

    England would not have another king for 11 years, when Charles II eventually took the throne.

    A somewhat controversial king, Charles II was known for his many mistresses and saw the country through a tumultuous period of change and mass death, including the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London.

    King Charles I of England (1600 - 1649)
    King Charles I of England (1600 – 1649) (Image: Getty Images)

    The monarch reigned from 1660 to 1685
    King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 to 1685 (Image: Getty Images)

    He died 25 years after being crowned at the age of 54, after falling into apoplectic fits.

    Our now King will be the first Charles on the throne in almost 400 years.

    Trusted friends of the then Prince told The Times in 2005 that the name “is tinged with so much sadness”.

    “They (the Royal Family) will decide at the time, but he has talked about George,” one friend claimed at the time.

    This story, however, was later rebuffed by another friend, who correctly predicted Charles would indeed keep his name.

    Charles III will be the first Charles on the throne in nearly 400 years - the name has previously been thought to have been 'jinxed'
    Charles III will be the first Charles on the throne in nearly 400 years – the name has previously been thought to have been ‘jinxed’ (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

    “Anyone who knows the Prince of Wales knows he does not sit around talking to his chums, discussing what he wants to be called,” the source told The Guardian.

    “Inasmuch as officials have discussed it with him at accession planning meetings the thinking was that he would remain, Charles,” they added.

    Charles III will now lead the country in a state of mourning for his mother for 10 days, and will take on his first duty by addressing the nation in a speech tonight.

    Dates for the Queen’s funeral and Charles’ coronation will be confirmed in the coming days and weeks.

    Source: The Mirror (U.K)

  • Car chase: Man shot dead by police after in south London

    At 9:51 p.m. on Monday in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill, a “suspect” vehicle was stopped after “tactical contact,” according to police.

    After a chase across south London, an armed policeman shot and killed a man in his 20s. He died in the hospital

    The Met Police said in a statement: “At 9.51 pm on Monday specialist firearms officers were in pursuit of a suspect vehicle in the Lambeth area.”

    Officers used a tactic where they deliberately collide with a car to force it to stop to bring the pursuit to an end in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill, shortly before 10 pm on Monday.

    Locals reported hearing gunshots and the police helicopter hovering overhead.

    A 39-year-old man, who lives on nearby New Park Road and asked not to be named, told the PA news agency: “The (driver) drove up New Park Road and turned up Kirkstall Gardens.

    “Another police car came in behind him and they had him locked in at the bottom of Kirkstall Gardens.

    “The car was immobile when he was shot.”

    Officers gave the man first aid while they waited for the London Ambulance Service and air ambulance to arrive.

    He was then taken to hospital where he died at 12.16 am.

    Rachel Cook, who lives on nearby Kirkstall Road, said it was a “very quiet residential street” and that people were “very shook up about it”.

    Cordons were in place on Kirkstall Gardens and New Park Road on Tuesday, with a forensic tent put up and officers gathering evidence at the scene.

    Friends of the deceased have also gathered in Kirkstall Gardens, with a few groups of young men congregating on the street.

    The statement said the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been contacted and an independent investigation launched.

    The charity Inquest, which works with bereaved families, said on Twitter it was seeking to make contact with relatives of the man who died.

  • Man arrested after Thomas O’Halloran stabbed to death

    The arrest over Thomas O’Halloran’s death comes a day after police issued pictures of a man they said was fleeing the scene with a knife. The 87-year-old died on a residential street in Greenford, where police put a forensic tent around his mobility scooter.

    A 44-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death on his mobility scooter.

    The man was arrested at an address in Southall, west London, in the early hours of Thursday and remains in custody, police said.

    Thomas O’Halloran, 87, was attacked on a road in nearby Greenford on Tuesday afternoon.

    Police believe he managed to travel about 70 metres on his scooter before flagging down a member of the public for help.

    He was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of police and paramedics to save him.

    On Wednesday police released images of a man “fleeing the scene” in Cayton Road “armed with a knife”.

    Mr O’Halloran was known for busking outside his local supermarket and Greenford station to raise money for charity, including for Ukraine.

    Police described him as a “very well known” and “much-loved” member of the community.

    “Mr O’Halloran’s family have been updated with this development and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

    “I would reiterate their previous request that their privacy is respected by everyone as they continue to come to terms with their tragic loss.”

    Met Police are asking anyone with video of the incident to upload it; detectives can also be contacted on 020 8358 0300; or information can be given anonymously via the Crimestoppers charity.

    Source:Skynews

     

  • Train strikes: ‘I’m missing the football because I can’t get there’

    Thomas De Fraye from north London was looking forward to the Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final between Germany and France in Milton Keynes – but now can’t get there because of the rail strikes.

    “I was going to go after work,” he said. “Now there are no trains.”

    The disruption comes as 40,000 RMT union members at Network Rail and 14 train companies take part in a fresh strike over pay, jobs, and terms.

    Only 20% of train journeys are expected to go ahead on Wednesday.

    Mr De Fraye said he booked his ticket for today’s Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final “many months ago before there was any news about strikes”.

    He does not drive and a bus would not get him there in time for kick-off.

    “I live in Enfield so it’s not even that far so I was going to go after work,” said the 37-year-old.

    “Now there are no trains running and an Uber would cost me £90 one way. That price would surely increase on the day due to demand and I have to get back too.”

    Mr De Fraye gave his ticket away on Twitter. “If I can help someone else go there that makes me happy,” he said.

    • Which trains are running?

    The Department for Transport said the RMT was “hell-bent on creating further misery for passengers across the UK”.

    But the RMT accused Transport Secretary Grant Shapps of not allowing the rail industry to do a deal with the union.

    Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said, despite its best efforts to find a breakthrough, there would be more rail disruption due to strikes.

    In addition to the members of the RMT, members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) at Avanti West Coast, which operates some trains to Birmingham, are also going on strike on Wednesday.

    The knock-on effects of the disruption are expected to roll into Thursday, Network Rail said.

    Separately, on Saturday, about 5,500 members of the train drivers’ union Aslef at seven rail companies will strike.

    Further RMT strikes are also planned for 18 and 20 August, with London Underground staff planning to strike on 19 August.

    Chart showing the different reasons for rail travel

    The Prime Minister’s official spokesman had urged the RMT union to call off the strikes, saying on Tuesday: “We are concerned about the impact this will have on the public going about their everyday lives.”

    Places including Blackpool, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth have no train services at all and elsewhere people are being told only to travel by train if necessary.

    Network Rail has published a special timetable for Wednesday, with trains set to start later and finish earlier than usual, between 07:00 and 18:30 BST.

    Passengers are being warned that the last trains from London will leave for Edinburgh at 14:00, for Birmingham at 15:43, and for Manchester at 15:40.

    Network Rail’s Andrew Haines said: “I can only apologize for the impact this pointless strike will have on passengers, especially those traveling for holidays or attending events such as the Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games [on Thursday].

    “It is frustrating to yet again ask our passengers to change their plans and only make essential journeys.”

    Network Rail said its latest pay offer was worth more than 5%, but that it depended on workers accepting “modernizing reforms”. However, the RMT union said this was a “paltry sum” and represents “a real-terms pay cut”.

    RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, on a picket line outside outside Euston station in London on 25 JunePA MEDIA
    RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, center, stood at picket lines during the first round of strikes in June

    RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The Department for Transport controls the 14 train operators we are in dispute with and Network Rail is a publicly owned company who does not have the final sign-off on any deal. That lies with the Secretary of State for Transport.

    “We will continue to talk to the employers but there remains a huge chasm between us around pay, job security, and working conditions.”

    A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “RMT’s actions will affect people in need of urgent care, hardworking families off on long-awaited holidays and day trips, and businesses.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Schools delay in UK means ‘inequality will go up’

    Labour leader Keir Starmer has told BBC Radio London that the government’s proposal for pupils returning to school is “completely in tatters”.

    Starmer said ministers should have built a consensus and listened to the “common sense” concerns of headteachers. He accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of making an announcement about the reopening without consulting schools.

    Now, after the government abandoned plans for all primary schools to return before the summer break, Starmer says many children face a six-month absence from school, meaning “inequality will go up”.

    Taking questions from listeners, he said “we want to support the government where we can” but Labour does “have to challenge” it on issues such as the lack of protective equipment in care homes.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Officials remove statue of 18th century slave trader in London

    A statue of Robert Milligan, an 18th century slave trader, was being removed from its plinth outside a London museum on Tuesday after officials decided it was no longer acceptable to the local community.

    The previously obscure statue, which stands in front of the Museum of London Docklands, came into focus after demonstrators taking part in a global anti-racism protest movement tore down the statue of a slave trader in Bristol, southwest England.

    Source: reuters.com

  • Ghana’s High Commission in London to resume operations on July 1, 2020

    Ghana’s High Commission in the United Kingdom says it will on Wednesday July 1, 2020 resume full-time operations following the easing of coronavirus restrictions by the UK government.

    In a statement issued by the High Commission and copied to GhanaWeb, it said all applicants whose appointments were affected by the lockdown and subsequent closure of the Mission should expect new appointment dates via email in the coming week.

    “As soon as the batch of applicants have been served, new applicants will be facilitated effective, July 15, 2020. Applicants are to note that anyone who turns up at the Mission without a confirmed appointment will not be served,” the statement read.

    Read the full statement below;

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • London’s Nightingale hospital ‘to stand down’

    The Nightingale Hospital in London is being “stood down” in the coming days.

    The Abu Dhabi-owned ExCeL Centre in London’s Docklands was turned into a field hospital for coronavirus patients and opened on 3 April by Prince Charles via video link, a week after he had tested positive for Covid-19.

    The BBC understands there are fewer than 20 patients being treated there at the moment and once they’ve been discharged, the UK government has confirmed that the 4,000-bed hospital will be placed on standby with staff and some equipment redeployed and redistributed.

    In a briefing to staff, Charles Knight, chief executive of the new hospital, said: “Thanks to the determination and sacrifice of Londoners in following the expert advice to stay home and save lives we have not had to expand the Nightingale’s capacity beyond the first ward.”

    Mr Knight added that the hospital would be “placed on standby, ready to resume operations as and when needed in the weeks and potentially months to come”.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Man jailed for stealing face masks

    A man has been jailed for six months for stealing personal protective equipment, including face masks, from an ambulance, police in London said on Thursday.

    Mark Manley, 35, pleaded guilty to theft, public order offences and assaulting a security guard who challenged him about the incident near a south London hospital last Saturday evening.

    The Metropolitan Police said he took a bag containing items including masks, paper suits and hand gel from the ambulance but some of the items were unusable because of contamination.

    He was sentenced at a court hearing in Croydon, south London, on Monday, it added in a statement.

    Another six-month jail sentence was given in London on Wednesday to a 55-year-old man who coughed on a police officer and threatened to infect him with COVID-19.

    Both incidents were classed under a specific law governing assaults on emergency workers, which was introduced in November 2018 and carries a maximum jail term of 12 months.

    Source: punchng.com

  • Coronavirus: 13-year-old boy dies – London hospital trust

    A 13-year-old boy who tested positive for coronavirus has died, a London hospital trust has said.

    Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton in south London, died in King’s College Hospital early on Monday. He is thought to be the youngest person to have died with the virus in the UK.

    A spokesman for the trust said the boy’s death had been referred to the coroner, but gave no further details.

    As of 17:00 BST on Monday, the number of UK deaths was 1,789.

    The latest figures saw a daily increase of 381 – the biggest rise so far.

    Ismail’s family said they were “beyond devastated” by his death, in a statement released by a family friend.

    They said he had no apparent underlying health conditions and tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, a day after he was admitted to hospital.

    BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said it was rare for teenagers to become seriously ill after being infected with coronavirus.

    “Just 0.3% of those who show symptoms require hospital care and 0.006% die – in other words, two out of every 30,000 infections among this age group will not survive,” he said.

    “But it does happen, as this distressing case shows.”

    Ismail’s family said he was admitted to the hospital in south London after he had begun showing symptoms and having difficulties breathing.

    “He was put on a ventilator and then put into an induced coma but sadly died yesterday [Monday] morning,” they said.

    “To our knowledge, he had no underlying health conditions. We are beyond devastated.”

    Mark Stephenson, college director at Madinah College, in south-west London, where Ismail’s sister works as a teacher, has set up a fundraiser to raise money for the funeral costs.

    A statement on the page said Ismail died “without any family members close by due to the highly infectious nature of Covid-19”.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Second patient cured of HIV, say doctors

    A man from London has become the second person in the world to be cured of HIV, doctors say.

    Adam Castillejo is still free of the virus more than 30 months after stopping anti-retroviral therapy.

    He was not cured by the HIV drugs, however, but by a stem-cell treatment he received for a cancer he also had,the Lancet HIV journal reports.

    The donors of those stem cells have an uncommon gene that gives them, and now Mr Castillejo, protection against HIV.

    In 2011, Timothy Brown, the “Berlin Patient” became the first person reported as cured of HIV, three and half years after having similar treatment.

    Stem-cell transplants appear to stop the virus being able to replicate inside the body by replacing the patient’s own immune cells with donor ones that resist HIV infection.

    Adam Castillejo – the now 40-year-old “London Patient” who has decided to go public with his identity- has no detectable active HIV infection in his blood, semen or tissues, his doctors say.

    It is now a year after they first announced he was clear of the virus and he still remains free of HIV.

    Source: bbc.com

  • ‘I was unprepared for fame’ – Ellie Goulding

    Ellie Goulding says she was “not warned” about the pressures of fame when she started her career in 2009.

    The pop star said her first few years in the spotlight were “tough” as she struggled with shyness while “being thrust in front of cameras”.

    “I thought that was just what my life was going to be, and what I’d signed up to,” she said.

    “It’s only in the last four years I’ve realised that’s not how it had to be. I wish there’d been a little more help.”

    The star admitted there had been “times when I felt really, really low,” but added: “I’m feeling good now.”

    Addressing a panel on mental health at Annie Mac’s AMP London conference, Goulding she had often faced situations where she felt compelled to perform against her better judgement.

    “I remember being really poorly once,” she said. “My voice was gone and I was just generally having a hard time, having toured solidly for about five years.”

    Knowing she was “unable to deliver” a live performance to her usual standard, she tried to withdraw from a live radio broadcast, only to be told: “‘We’ll never work with you again… You either do this or you’re blacklisted.’

    “So then you’re like, ‘I’ll have to do it, but it’s at the risk of completely shutting down,’” she said.

    She was joined in the discussion by Radio 1 presenter Maya Jama, who said she’d experienced a similarly aggressive work schedule at the start of her career.

    “There’s a mentality of no days off,” she said. “I didn’t take a holiday for the first two-and-a-half or three years [of my career] because I was scared I was going to miss out on a job; and that could be my big break.

    “Now I feel fortunate that I can take time off but there are probably people just starting out who are in the same state of mind.”

    Intense scrutiny However, both stars said the entertainment industry had become more attuned to people’s mental health in the last four years.

    Goulding was joined on stage by Ben Mortimer, co-president of her record label Polydor, who recalled the industry’s attitude to young artists a decade ago.

    “I remember going through an artist’s schedule and we were like, ‘There’s a free day there, what shall we put in?’” he confessed.

    “It sounds terrible but we didn’t know any different. We just thought we were doing our job.

    “But you come to it now and you’re like, ‘There’s a week free there. Great, Ellie’s got a holiday’.”

    Since becoming president of Polydor in 2016, Mortimer has introduced several mental health initiatives, and now works directly with artists to support them when issues like anxiety, depression and fatigue arise.

    The panel discussion also covered the impact of social media on celebrities’ mental health, with Jama calling services like Twitter and Instagram “a blessing and a curse”.

    “I wouldn’t have half my jobs if it wasn’t for social media,” she said, “but then everything you do is under a massive microscope. It’s not natural to hear so many other people’s opinions about yourself.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Harry and Meghan’s royal duties ending 31 March

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will formally step down as senior royals from 31 March, a spokesperson for the couple has said.

    They will no longer carry out duties on behalf of the Queen but arrangements will be reviewed after 12 months.

    Earlier this year Harry and Meghan announced they would be stepping back from royal duties and working to become financially independent.

    They will return to the UK for engagements at the end of this month.

    The couple intend to split their time between the UK and North America and the spokesperson said they would be in the UK “regularly”.

    They will attend six events in the UK in February and March, including the Commonwealth Day Service on 9 March.

    Harry is also expected to attend the London Marathon in April in his capacity as patron, while the couple will also attend the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in May.

    The couple will formally retain their HRH titles but will not use them. The use of the word “Royal” is under discussion, the spokesperson said, and an announcement on this will be made alongside the launch of the couple’s new non-profit organisation.

    Harry and Meghan’s foundation applied to trademark the Sussex Royal brand – used on their website and social media – in June last year.

    As the couple will no longer be undertaking engagements in support of the Queen, they will not be retaining an office at Buckingham Palace. Instead, from 1 April they will be represented via their UK foundation, the spokesperson said.

    Harry will retain the ranks of Major, Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader but his honorary military positions will be suspended. The roles will not be filled by anyone else during the 12-month review period.

    Further details about the couple’s new charitable organisation will be released later this year but the spokesperson said the causes they supported, including the Commonwealth, community, youth empowerment and mental health, would remain the same.

    Harry’s priorities also include the welfare of servicemen and women, conservation and HIV, while Meghan has focused on women’s empowerment, gender equality and education.

    Archie and Prince Harry

    - The couple and their son Archie spent time in Canada over Christmas

     

    The duke and duchess announced earlier this year that they planned to step back as senior royals. Details of how this would work were then unveiled, following days of talks with the Queen and other senior royals.

    The couple had previously spoken about how they had struggled under the media spotlight.

    The couple have been in Canada with their son Archie for much of this year, after briefly returning to the UK in January following an extended six-week Christmas break on Vancouver Island.

    Source: BBC