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Tag: 'spy' balloon

  • Ghana launches its first local ride-hailing app, GoRide

    Ghana launches its first local ride-hailing app, GoRide

    The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has unveiled GoRide, the country’s first ride-hailing mobile application developed locally.

    This initiative, a collaboration with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), seeks to empower local taxi drivers who have been increasingly challenged by foreign-owned digital transportation platforms.

    The official launch occurred in Accra on October 30 and emphasized GoRide’s mission to provide local drivers with fairer conditions and a viable alternative to international ride-hailing services.

    He noted that GoRide is a crucial part of the government’s broader strategy to bolster local businesses. “This is about restoring dignity to our drivers and ensuring their success. Our government is dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurship and promoting growth by keeping profits generated by GoRide within the country,” he added.

    “With a competitive commission of just 10%, our drivers are being empowered to retain their hard-earned money, allowing them to improve their financial stability and support their families.

    “This is about restoring dignity to our divers and ensuring that they thrive. This initiative reflects our government’s unwavering dedication to supporting local businesses and driving growth by keeping the profit generated by GoRide.

    Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the economic benefits of utilizing a homegrown platform. “Within our borders, we are conserving foreign exchange, fostering local wealth, and creating and enhancing our national economy. Every ride taken on GoRide contributes directly to Ghana’s economy, helping to build a sustainable forth for all of us,” he stated.

    Each ride taken on GoRide contributes directly to Ghana’s economy, paving the way for a sustainable future for all,” he stated.

    The GoRide app is now accessible on both Android and iOS devices, promising to redefine convenience and accessibility in Ghana’s transportation sector while fostering greater economic self-reliance and wealth retention within the nation.


  • China urges calm over ‘spy’ balloon in US airspace

    China urges calm over ‘spy’ balloon in US airspace

    China has urged “cool-headed” handling of a dispute over a giant Chinese balloon heading for the eastern US.

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier called off a visit to Beijing, saying the “surveillance” balloon’s presence was “an irresponsible act”.

    Later the US reported a second Chinese balloon floating over Latin America.

    China expressed regret over the balloon over the US, saying it was a weather airship that had been blown astray. It was last spotted over Missouri.

    It is expected to reach America’s east coast near the Carolinas this weekend.

    The US has decided not to shoot down the high-altitude airship due to the danger of falling debris.

    The incident comes amid fraying tensions between the US and China.

    In a statement on Saturday, the Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing “never violated the territory and airspace of any sovereign country”.

    It said its senior foreign policy official Wang Yi had discussed the incident with Mr Blinken over the phone, stressing that maintaining communication channels at all levels was important, “especially in dealing with some unexpected situations in a calm and reliable manner”.

    It added that Beijing “would not accept any groundless conjecture or hype” and accused “some politicians and media in the United States” of using the incident “as a pretext to attack and smear China.”

    According to US officials, the airship floated over Alaska and Canada before appearing over the US state of Montana, which is home to a number of sensitive nuclear missile sites.

    The incident angered top US officials, with Mr Blinken saying he had told Beijing the balloon’s presence was “a clear violation of US sovereignty and international law” and “an irresponsible act”. He called it “unacceptable” and “even more irresponsible coming on the eve of a long-planned visit”.

    America’s top diplomat had been set to visit Beijing from 5 to 6 February to hold talks on a wide range of issues, including security, Taiwan and Covid-19. It would have been the first high-level US-China meeting there in years.

    But on Thursday, US defence officials announced they were tracking a giant surveillance balloon over the US.

    https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.47.2/iframe.htmlMedia caption,

    Watch: ‘At first I thought it was a star’

    While the balloon was, the Pentagon said, “travelling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic” and did “not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground”, its presence sparked outrage.

    On Friday, China finally acknowledged the balloon was its property, saying that it was a civilian airship used for meteorological research, which deviated from its route because of bad weather.

    And late on Friday, the Pentagon said a second Chinese spy balloon had been spotted – this time over Latin America.

    “We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon,” said Pentagon press secretary Brig Gen Patrick Ryder. He provided no further details about its location.

    China has so far made no public comments on the reported second balloon.

    Source: Reuters