Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, delivers the keynote address during Wednesday's (July 22) Citizenship Oath Ceremony at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.New Jamaican citizen, Yanesty Cuellar Tamargo, delivers remarks at Wednesday's (July 22) Citizenship Oath Ceremony at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of National Security and Peace, Ambassador Alison Stone Roofe (right) presents new Jamaican citizen, Aleksei Nikolaevich Sadovnikov (left), with a certificate formalising his status during Wednesday's (July 22) Citizenship Oath Ceremony at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.Thirty individuals took the Oath of Allegiance as new citizens of Jamaica during a special ceremony hosted by the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) on Wednesday (July 22).The group, comprising 12 women, 13 men and five children, hail from countries such as Myanmar, Russia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Italy, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the United States.Addressing the citizenship ceremony at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, welcomed the new citizens into the Jamaican family.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (right), presents new Jamaican citizen, Yanesty Cuellar Tamargo (right), with a certificate formalising her status during Wednesday’s (July 22) Citizenship Oath Ceremony at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.He noted that the individuals, representing 14 nationalities, truly reflect the country’s enduring commitment to unity in keeping the national motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’.Dr. Chang encouraged the new citizens to embrace both the privileges and responsibilities of their new status.He noted that citizenship provides the right to participate fully in Jamaica’s democracy while requiring citizens to respect the rule of law, uphold honesty and integrity, care for their communities, protect the environment and contribute positively to national life.“As members of the Jamaican family, I encourage you to become active participants in your communities. Support your neighbours, volunteer where you can, raise your families with strong values, respect our institutions, celebrate our culture, defend the principles of justice, tolerance, and mutual respect that have shaped our nation for generations,” Dr. Chang said.Chief Executive Officer of PICA, Garth Williams, told the group that they are now full members of the Jamaican family.“When you walked through the door this morning, you may have walked in as the national of many other countries, but when you walk out today… you will walk out as Jamaicans. When we really say out of many, one people, we mean it… . You’re Jamaican. That’s it, and so we are happy to have you,” he said.Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Garth Williams, delivers remarks at Wednesday’s (July 22) Citizenship Oath Ceremony at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.Mr. Williams encouraged the new citizens to fully embrace their new identity.“The certificates that will be issued today, it’s not just a piece of paper. It’s really joining a family. It’s really joining a Jamaican family – Caribbean family and, indeed, a global family, and we want you to enjoy all of what we have and to contribute to what we have,” he said.Speaking on behalf of the new citizens, Yanesty Cuellar Tamargo expressed gratitude for the warm welcome they had received.“Today, those journeys have brought us together as we broadly embrace Jamaica as our home. This ceremony marks an important milestone in our lives. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to become citizens of this beautiful nation and to contribute to its future,” she said.“As new citizens, we pledge to respect the law and value of Jamaica, contribute positive to our communities, and help build an even stronger nation,” she added.

Jamaica Welcomes 30 New Citizens

RICHARD AKOTO WALLS

A global framework for reparatory justice has been adopted at a conference in Ghana, as African and Caribbean leaders demanded formal apologies from countries that benefited from the transatlantic slave trade.Heads of state and government and other officials formally approved the strategy on Friday at a gathering in a hotel in the capital, Accra, which was the first major meeting since the adoption of the landmark United Nations (UN) resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.The document lays out a 19-point global framework for reparatory justice. They include a call for “all state and non-state institutions yet to do so” to “offer full, formal and unconditional apologies as a foundational step towards reconciliation, trust-building and reparatory justice”.It also includes resolving to ensure fair and adequate compensation for Africans and people of African descent affected by legacies of enslavement, colonialism, genocide and apartheid, and to expedite the return of cultural property, human remains, archives and heritage to their countries of origin.The framework calls for multilateral measures to address sovereign debt burdens, including debt relief, to tackle lasting socioeconomic impacts of enslavement, colonialism and related historical injustices.“We recognise and honour the extensive efforts undertaken over generations by several governments, intergovernmental organisations, our forebearers, individuals and civil society partners across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, as well as in Europe and Asia in shaping the global reparations agenda,” the participants say in the document.“We adopt this document as a basis for global collaboration and commit to engaging in transparent, constructive and good faith dialogue in advancing reparations and reparatory justice among all state and non-state actors.”Ruth Ogbewekon, the project lead on reparatory Justice at the Pan African Lawyers Union who supported the preparation of the document, said the process tried to be inclusive given the pressures to build on the momentum of the resolution towards a global movement for reparatory justice.She added that representatives from Africa and the African diaspora, as well as non-African allies, were consulted over several weeks. “Ultimately, it was a process where people wanted to be heard and to see that they were heard, and the events in Accra provided that,” she said.The adoption came on the last day of a three-day conference billed Next Steps that also resulted in the establishment of three global panels on reparatory justice and restitution.Dancers perform in front of a backdrop displaying country flags. Photograph: Francis Kokoroko/ReutersOn Thursday, Ghana’s president, John Mahama, announced the creation of an advisory panel on reparatory justice, an expert panel on the restitution of cultural artefacts, and a legal panel on reparatory justice “to serve as the pillars of the next phase of this international effort”.“These panels are not intended to replace the work of governments, regional organisations, or international institutions,” Mahama told hundreds of participants. “Rather, they are intended to strengthen that work by providing intellectual, technical and policy support as the international community advances from recognition to implementation.”The advisory panel on reparatory justice comprises leaders of countries with historic ties to the transatlantic slave trade in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. They include Mahama, prime minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and presidents Joseph Boakai Sr, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Liberia, Namibia and Senegal.The three-day event started on Wednesday and attracted heads of state and government, ministers, civil society representatives, historians, researchers and legal experts from more than 80 countries.Speaking virtually from the Élysée palace, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said enslaved people “were torn from their homelands, deported, dehumanised, and treated as goods”. He said reparations should not be seen “as an end point, or a cheque written to bring the ​story to a close”.The conference came nearly three months after the UN general assembly voted to adopt a proposal by Ghana on behalf of AU member states to recognise the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the racialised chattel enslavement of people from the continent as the gravest crime against humanity.The resolution, a turning point for Africa’s quest for reparatory justice, calls for UN member states to have “inclusive, good-faith dialogue” on reparatory justice and “prompt and unhindered” restitution of properties that are of value to their countries of origin.In his keynote address, Mahama, who is also the African Union champion on reparations, said the adoption of the resolution was intended to provide the foundation for “more meaningful” engagement, reflection, and action on reparatory justice.He urged a global partnership by a broader community of nations and institutions in the pursuit of reparatory justice, noting that Caribbean Community’s (Caricom’s) 10-point reparation plan would serve as “an important starting point for the work of the new panels.“We’re here because recognition creates responsibility, and because the enduring consequences of this history continue to demand thoughtful, coordinated and sustained international engagement,” he said.Nigerian playwright and poet Wole Soyinka gives a speech during the conference. Photograph: Francis Kokoroko/Reuters“The crime we seek to address was transcontinental in its reach. Its consequences remain transcontinental in its impact, and the search for justice must therefore be transcontinental in its ambition.”Mottley announced a revision of Caricom’s 10-point reparation plan to factor in the disproportionate impact of slavery on girls and women. She also encouraged a coordinated global effort to pursue reparatory justice.“Let us not embark on separate journeys, but let us today reflect the unity of purpose, the recognition that whether it is through advocacy or advisory opinions or actions, our role is to ensure that there is no retreat from our requests and that we recognise that repair comes after recognition,” she said. “For in all that we do in the rest of our lives, where damage is perpetrated, repair is always, always required.Boakai Sr said the UN resolution “opened a door” and collective resolve would determine whether it would lead to “meaningful justice, reconciliation and healing”.“Let us not be remembered as another conference or another resolution that stirs consciences briefly before fading into history,” he said.Dr Julius Garvey, son of the Black nationalist Marcus Garvey, lays a wreath during the Juneteenth celebrations at Osu Castle. Photograph: Reuben Ekow Quansah/AP“Let us … leave Accra united in purpose and committed to ensuring that the greatest crime against humanity is met with one of humanity’s greatest responses: a determined global effort to restore dignity, repair historical wrongs and build a future founded on equality, shared prosperity, and our common humanity.”Thursday’s events were preceded on Wednesday by consultations led by technical experts to formulate the framework.Later on Friday, at Osu Castle, a 17th-century fortress in the capital built by the Danish that served as a hub for the transatlantic slave trade, attendees celebrated Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in the US. The event included wreath-laying to honour victims of the transatlantic slave trade.

Ghana conference calls for formal apology for transatlantic slave trade

As Guyana continues to transform, a family is betting on a different side of the country’s future, one centered on lifestyle, community living, and modern waterfront experiences.Monarch Group has officially launched Monarch Bay, a new waterfront community planned for Ogle that will feature Guyana’s first Crystal Lagoon, a massive man-made turquoise lagoon designed to bring a resort-style living experience closer to home.Behind the project are Guyanese entrepreneurs Clairmont and Iman Cummings, who say the development is rooted in a desire to invest back into Guyana and create spaces that reflect the country’s rapid evolution.Spread across 30 acres, Monarch Bay is being designed as more than just another housing development. The vision includes homes, shopping, dining, green spaces, recreational areas, and family-centered amenities all built around a modern waterfront setting.At the heart of the project will be the Crystal Lagoon, powered by internationally used Crystal Lagoons technology, known for creating large scale clear water lagoons in luxury and tourism developments around the world.For many Guyanese, the concept may feel unlike anything currently available locally, blending residential living with the kind of leisure experiences more commonly seen in international resort communities.Founder of Monarch Group, Clairmont Cummings, said the idea was always about creating a destination that matches the energy and optimism now shaping Guyana.He explained that the goal is not simply to build houses, but to create a community where people can live, relax, connect, and enjoy modern amenities within a safe and thoughtfully planned environment.Co Founder Iman Cummings said Guyana is entering a major period of transformation and developments like Monarch Bay are intended to contribute to that growth in a meaningful way.According to the developers, the project is targeting a wide cross section of buyers including young professionals, families, returning Guyanese in the diaspora, and regional investors looking for opportunities in one of the world’s fastest growing economies.The first phase of the project represents an estimated US$20 million investment and is being financed by Citizens Bank Guyana.Construction preparation has already started, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2028.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/xbxbxbx.jpg?resize=1500%2C999&amp;ssl=1">Monarch Group has also partnered with ARC Consultants, led by Toronto based real estate professional Kimberly Jeffrey D’Angelo, to oversee sales and market positioning.As Guyana’s economic boom continues to reshape skylines, industries, and communities, projects like Monarch Bay signal a growing demand not only for housing, but for a different style of living one that blends comfort, recreation, convenience, and long term investment into a single space.

Guyanese family unveils waterfront community featuring crystal lagoon

Their report concludes that Barbados’s population of African descent have suffered damages estimated at up to $2tn (£1.5tn) from 200 years of chattel slavery.The head of the research team, Coleman Bazelon, said the total reflected the magnitude of the damage done, but he emphasised that the figure was not a bill for damages but the factual foundation for dialogue.“This research is not creating an invoice for anybody to pay,” said Bazelon. “It is an accounting of the harm that was done … a recognition of the harm that was done that is the starting point for reconciliation.”Barbados was the first major British colony to force enslaved people to work on its plantations from the early 1600s. It is also a founding nation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) which advocates for reparations.Bazelon was the lead co-author of the 2023 Brattle analysis, which was included in the report on reparations for transatlantic chattel slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean. The analysis estimated that chattel slavery affected 19.9 million people, including those who were captured, those who lost their lives while being transported from Africa, and those who worked on plantations and their descendants.After Britain abolished slavery on 1 August 1834, £20m was paid in compensation to enslavers for loss of their “property”. The enslaved people themselves received nothing.Bazelon conducted this new research through the non-profit organisation Public Interest Experts. “What they asked me to focus on was: what was the value of the labour stolen through slavery in Barbados,” Bazelon said.Speaking at an event in Barbados to preview the research earlier this month, Barbados’s minister for pan-African affairs and heritage, Trevor Prescod, said: “You can’t erase history … My job is to give an Afrocentric redress to the imbalances that occurred during the period of slavery.”The minister said that the report will eventually go to the cabinet for ratification. “I feel the public must walk with us to our destination … Many areas of progress that we were denied will be at the heart of our call and claims for reparations and reparatory justice,” he said.<img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/03d1a4d93825a6fa88e80b5b6fa188ac29ea0c17/0_0_3000_2492/master/3000.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none"><h6>Workers on a sugar plantation in Barbados in the 19th century. Photograph: Chronicle/Alamy</h6>Bazelon has given a detailed breakdown of the methodology and figures: “The value of the labour that was provided but not compensated, it’s somewhere between$500bn and $700bn. But of course, an enslaved person working in Barbados had much of their life stolen from them as well. So, I think it’s very proper to include the short lifespan of people who were enslaved in Barbados. And the short lifespan estimate is anywhere from about $1.1tn to $1.3tn. So if you add them together you end up with a range of about $1.6tn to $2tn as the value of the labour and life directly stolen from people in enslaved Barbados.”He added: “The important contextual point is that there were [about] 379,000 people who got off the boat from Africa in Barbados … There were another 78,000 people who got on the boats but didn’t get off, who died during the middle passage. And then we estimate another 335,000 people who were born into slavery in Barbados.”The findings provide an understanding of the significant size of the harm done.Prof Alan Lester, from the University of Sussex, a leading expert on the British empire, said: “It’s not surprising that – when you add up the value of lives appropriated to make money in Barbados, Britain’s oldest slave plantation colony – you get such an enormous figure.“The inequalities entrenched by slavery have only been exacerbated since, as compensation was paid to slave owners rather than the enslaved and independence left Caribbean islands drained of capital and indebted to western institutions.”The 2023 Brattle analysis estimated that the value of harms from transatlantic chattel slavery in 31 territories in the Americas and the Caribbean amounted to $100–131tn in total, of which $77-108tn represented harms during the period of enslavement, and $23tn the continuing harms since.The analysis was commissioned after an international symposium on reparations and international law concluded that transatlantic slavery was unlawful.Last month 123 nations at the UN general assembly voted that chattel slavery was the gravest crime against humanity. The US, Israel and Argentina voted against the resolution, while 52 countries, including the UK and other many European countries abstained. Previously, the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, ruled out direct monetary payments for reparations.David Lascelles, the co-founder of Heirs of Slavery, a group of descendants of British enslavers who encourage others to acknowledge and discuss reparative justice, said: “My distant ancestor Henry Lascelles made his fortune in Barbados in the 18th century. Now, 300 years later, it’s high time we all recognise there is a debt to pay, a debt that is of course about money, but not just about money.”Alex Renton, another co-founder of the group, added that “addressing the legacies of this most terrible event in Britain’s modern history is the right thing for the nation to do, morally and practically”.

UK stole 25m years of life and labour through slavery in Barbados, says report

In late August, the term of the current secretary general of the 15-nation Caribbean Community, Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett, 68, would have come to an end and although leaders recently reappointed her to a second and final five-year term, it does not appear that she will survive a full second employment period.Speculation about whether she might even work a day after August 26 is rife and growing because of a relentless campaign by Trinidad’s government to see the back of her due to a row, dating back nearly four years, between Barnett and Kamla Persad-Bissessar, prime minister of the Trinidad and Tobago (T&amp;T) federation.The escalating public row about her tenure and the process used to reappoint has become so divisive that at the weekend, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness called for an emergency meeting of leaders to look at the issue all over again.The T&amp;T PM is gunning for the Belizean economist turned regional chief executive largely because of what she has basically said was a hurtful diplomatic snub that Barnett had allegedly inflicted on her while she was the country’s opposition leader back in 2022.The PM complained that she had written to Barnett because a Trinidadian national had allegedly been abducted from his hotel by local police while he was in neighboring Barbados during a joint operation with Barbadian officers. She said Barnett never had the decency to reply, but now that she is PM after winning general elections a year ago this month, the time to get rid of Barnett is now.The vitriol emanating from Port of Spain against Barnett has been so loud and has become so embarrassing that it appears that the issue of her reappointment might well trigger a second emergency meeting of heads of governments as early as this week, after one held earlier in April.“I think the solution really lies in assembling another heads meeting to have the matter addressed,” Holness told the local Guardian Media during a visit to New York over the weekend. “That’s something that I have been pushing for quietly behind the scenes. I think it is distressing for a lot of people within the region regarding what is being said in the public domain, but I know that all the heads are working behind the scenes to have this matter resolved.”Trinidad is contending that the process to reappoint Barnett at the late February meeting of leaders was highly flawed and suspicious because the local delegation and at least two countries were excluded from attending a closed-door caucus in sister isle Nevis.Leaders including Terrance Drew, prime minister of St. Kitts and the current regional chair have accused Foreign Minister Sean Sobers of not attending the session because of his fear of seasickness on the short boat ride to Nevis. Sobers had been the acting Trinidad delegation head to the meeting and would have been the one to attend after his PM had left the summit. He denies ever suggesting his fear of the sea but later admitted that he was simply joking.As preparations proceed for the second emergency meeting in weeks, a leading regional diplomat is suggesting that it is better for Barnett to walk away rather than stick around and stoke division in the bloc. Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua’s ambassador to the U.S., has argued that this will be the best solution to a contentious and divisive issue.“If I were the secretary general of CARICOM, and I’m being quite serious here, and this had occurred, I would have resigned, and I would have resigned because I would have said I must not stand in the way of Caribbean integration and the movement forward,” he said on the state-owned ABS Television, apparently signaling the position of the government. “Why am I still there? Because it is clear that I will never enjoy her support and why, therefore, would I put myself in a situation in which I am now the cause of the rift? If I were Carla Barnett, I would resign now on principle because … Kamla Persad will not attend the meeting if Carla Barnett is at that meeting; neither will her foreign minister,” he noted._Source: Amsterdam News

CARICOM to meet again as row over incumbent escalates

Nathan

Telecel Ghana has argued that the country's digital future depends on building the infrastructure, partnerships and ethical standards needed to use data and artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly.Over the 3-day period of the Ghana Data Science Summit at the Ho Technical University, a delegation of varied experts from the telecommunications giant contributed to national conversations on artificial intelligence, data governance and workforce development through executive panel discussions, technical workshops, career mentorship and practical demonstrations of emerging digital solutions.Opening the discussions, Danso Kwakye, Head of Enterprise Solutions at Telecel Ghana spoke on a panel debating whether limited access to data is slowing innovation and evidence-based policymaking. Acknowledging researchers' growing demand for telecommunications data, Kwakye said customer privacy must remain non-negotiable."Telecommunications companies hold some of the richest datasets in the country, but customer trust is built on protecting sensitive information. The opportunity lies in responsibly sharing anonymized and aggregated data that can support research, innovation and public policy without compromising individual privacy," he added.Kwakye argued that stronger partnerships between industry, universities and public institutions could provide significant value for Ghana's innovation ecosystem, particularly if accompanied by investment in digital infrastructure and secure sandbox environments where students and researchers can experiment with real-world data applications.Telecel Ghana’s team also participated in tutorials covering data engineering with Python, synthetic data generation for economic policymaking and production-scale machine learning systems. The sessions enabled the telco’s specialists to exchange knowledge with researchers and explore emerging techniques shaping modern data science.Leading one of the summit's career mentorship sessions, Asiedu Ansu, Head of the Data Analytics Centre of Excellence at the telco, encouraged aspiring data professionals to look beyond algorithms and programming languages."The most successful data professionals are those who continuously learn, understand business problems and communicate insights that drive decisions. Technical skills open the door, but translating data into meaningful business value is what builds lasting careers," Ansu said.As conversations around artificial intelligence grow increasingly urgent, Telecel Ghana also brought ethical considerations into focus through an interactive workshop on data ethics and algorithmic bias.Facilitated by Senior Data Analyst, Esumaba Okyir alongside Management Information Systems &amp; Data Science Manager, Raymond Normeshie and Marie-Pearl Akoto, the session examined how bias enters AI systems and explored practical approaches for building fairer, more transparent and accountable technologies. The workshop highlighted ethical design as essential to public confidence in emerging technologies.The summit also addressed another pressing issue facing Ghana's digital economy: whether the country's education system is producing graduates with the skills employers need. Speaking during a panel on employment opportunities in data science, Maxwell Darko, HR Manager for Talent Acquisition, Rewards &amp; Shared Services at Telecel Ghana, said employers increasingly value professionals who combine analytical expertise with commercial awareness and effective communication."Technical competence remains essential, but employers are increasingly looking for people who can translate data into business outcomes, think critically and communicate effectively. It is also important that AI is viewed as a productivity partner that enhances human capability, not as a replacement for talent," he said.Darko called for deeper collaboration between universities and industry through internships, practical projects and curricula that better reflect workplace realities, and encouraging graduates to demonstrate measurable impact on their CVs.Beyond the discussions, Telecel Ghana showcased its consumer digital innovations, including the Telecel Play App, engaging attendees through an exhibition that promoted connectivity solutions and registered new subscribers.This year’s Ghana Data Science Summit, held in the Volta Regional capital, on the theme “Data First: Unlocking Ethical and Inclusive AI in Ghana," brought together hundreds of participants from academia, government, industry, development organisations and the technology ecosystem to exchange ideas, showcase cutting-edge innovations and shape the country's digital transformation agenda.

Telecel champions ethical AI and data partnerships for Ghana's digital future

Cypress

Melia cited operational, legal, and financial difficulties as the determining factors for its departure from the island, where it has had a ​major presence since 1990. The hotels were run through its ​Portuguese subsidiary Ilha Bela Gestao E Turismo.Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto Friday’s complete withdrawal ⁠from Cuba follows Melia’s announcement last month that it was ceasing ​operations of 15 of its 34 hotels.Its departure follows recent announcements ​from privately-owned Iberostar and Barceló, marking the end of decades of involvement in the island’s tourism market by the three main Spanish hotel chains.Tourism, a key ​engine of Cuba's economy, has slumped this year as the ​island faces a widening economic crisis amid an oil blockade imposed by the ‌U.S. ⁠at the beginning of 2026. Between January and April, international visitor arrivals fell to 328,608, a 56% drop from the same period in 2025.“There is no tourism flow, there is no income, and ​no economy. The ​impact is huge,” ⁠said Teresa Carrillo, a 62-year-old resident of Havana.Pressure from Washington increased earlier this month when the ​U.S. imposed sanctions on Cuba's Ministry of Tourism.The hotel ​closures ⁠come amid a wider exodus of international companies, including financial and logistics businesses, evaluating the increased risk of operating in Cuba after Washington’s ⁠tightened ​sanctions.

Spanish hotel chain Melia completes exit from Cuba

&nbsp;Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that Ghana’s economy has crossed the $100 billion mark for the first time, as he outlined what he described as major gains in growth, inflation control, fiscal management and debt restructuring.Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, Dr Forson said the economy’s performance reflected what he described as the outcome of government’s economic management strategy rather than external factors alone.“Our recovery is as a result of superior economic management,” he told lawmakers.The Finance Minister said the 2026 budget remains unchanged, and government is not seeking a supplementary budget, but has undertaken a “strategic realignment” of expenditure within existing allocations.He maintained the government’s revised economic targets for the year, including a minimum GDP growth rate of 4.8%, end-year inflation of 8% plus or minus two percentage points, and a primary surplus of 1.5% of GDP.For the first time in our nation’s history, the size of Ghana’s economy exceeded 100 billion dollars, firmly establishing Ghana as a major emerging market economy,” he said.Dr Forson also stated that Ghana is now recognised as the eighth-largest economy in Africa.He further disclosed that per capita income increased by more than $850 within a year, rising from $2,527 in 2024 to $3,385 at the end of 2025.“These are not mere statistics,” he said.“They represent higher incomes, stronger businesses, greater opportunities, and an economy with an enhanced capacity to invest in its people,” he added.<h3>Fiscal reforms and spending controls</h3>Dr Forson attributed the economic turnaround to three major interventions — fiscal correction, tax reforms and coordinated fiscal and monetary policies aimed at stabilising inflation and the exchange rate.He said primary expenditure declined from 18.7% of GDP in 2024 to 13.2% in 2025, while the primary balance improved from a deficit of 2.9% of GDP to a surplus of 2.5% over the same period.The Finance Minister also highlighted the government’s decision to reduce the number of ministers from 123 to 60 and ministries from 30 to 23 as part of efforts to reduce public spending.He added that expenditure controls had been extended to state-owned enterprises, which he accused of contributing significantly to public debt through unpaid obligations.<h3>Tax reforms and revenue mobilisation</h3>Dr Forson said government had abolished several taxes, including the electronic transfer levy (e-levy), betting tax, COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, emission tax and VAT on motor insurance.He said the government also implemented the first comprehensive VAT reforms since 2015.Despite the removal of some taxes, the Finance Minister said non-oil tax revenue increased from 12.6% of GDP in 2024 to 13.1% in 2025.“Better policy, stronger compliance and smarter administration will always deliver more sustainable revenue than higher taxes,” he said.<h3>Growth, inflation and poverty indicators</h3>According to Dr Forson, Ghana recorded real GDP growth of 6.0% in 2025 — the strongest performance since 2019 — before accelerating to 6.4% in the first half of 2026.He said non-oil GDP growth reached 7.6%, describing it as the highest in 14 years.The Finance Minister also reported that per capita income increased from $2,527 to $3,385, making Ghana the eighth-largest economy in Africa.Inflation, he said, declined from 23.8% in December 2024 to 5.3% by June 2026, while unemployment reduced from 13.7% to 12.8%.He further disclosed that multidimensional poverty declined from 24.9% to 21.9%, representing about 950,000 Ghanaians moving out of poverty within one year.<h3>Debt restructuring and financial stability</h3>On debt management, Dr Forson announced that Ghana successfully raised $2.7 billion through a seven-year cedi-denominated bond in April 2026 — the first such issuance since the 2022 debt default.He described the development as Ghana overcoming the “original sin” of being unable to borrow long-term in its own currency.However, he acknowledged significant future debt obligations, revealing that GH¢111 billion in Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) bonds will mature between 2027 and 2028.He said government’s Sinking Fund, which he described as a “war chest,” had accumulated GH¢15.6 billion as of July 22, 2026, with plans to increase it to GH¢30 billion by the end of the year.According to him, the amount will be sufficient to cover the GH¢30 billion DDEP bond maturity expected in February 2027.<h3>Gold Board and reserves</h3>Dr Forson credited the Ghana Gold Board with generating an additional $15 billion in foreign exchange inflows.He said the intervention helped improve Ghana’s current account balance from a surplus of 1.9% of GDP in 2024 to 8.3% in 2025.The Finance Minister described the policy as a major contributor to reserve accumulation and exchange rate stability.<h3>Flood response and infrastructure support</h3>Dr Forson also disclosed that government had released additional resources for dredging and drainage projects in flood-affected areas following a directive from President John Mahama.He said funding for a permanent solution to flooding in Accra and other vulnerable areas would be provided in the 2027 budget.

Ghana’s economy tops $100 Billion for first time, now 8th largest in Africa – Ato Forson

Burkina Faso is increasing state and local ownership of its gold mines as President Ibrahim Traoré advances an economic sovereignty agenda to reduce foreign control over the country’s mining sector. [Getty Images/AI]<ul><li>Burkina Faso's government granted its state-owned company SOPAMIB the mining permit for the Bouboulou gold project, marking a move away from foreign and private control.</li><li>The project in north-central Yako commune is set to run for over 15 years, with an initial investment of approximately $56.1 million USD.</li><li>Estimates suggest the site will produce more than 7 metric tons of gold and generate at least $68.4 million USD for public funds via fees and taxes.</li><li>This state-led initiative is described as a structural revolution, aiming to maximize local benefit and reduce reliance on private and foreign companies.</li></ul>The move signals a bold departure from decades of relying heavily on Western and private corporations to extract the country’s mineral wealth.The Bouboulou gold extraction site is located within the north-central Yako commune and will operate under a specialized domestic subsidiary known as SOPAMIB Bouboulou.Following an executive session on Thursday, July 9, 2026, Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers confirmed that the commercial venture is slated to span more than 15 years.In a report by CBNC, it was noted that launching the project will require an initial capital allocation of 32 billion CFA francs, which equals roughly $56.1 million USD.Over the course of its operational lifecycle, geological assessments estimate the site will yield upwards of 7 metric tons of gold.The executive branch projects that this production volume will inject more than 39 billion CFA francs, or approximately $68.4 million USD, straight into public funds via baseline regulatory fees and local taxes.Mines Minister Yacouba Zabre Gouba described the framework as a structural revolution because it deliberately breaks away from legacy concessions that left domestic mineral processing in private hands.Before this state takeover, the Bouboulou concession was subject to typical private-led exploration frameworks common under former administrations.Foreign junior mining firms, notably Canada's Nexus Gold Corp, previously held the exploration permits to map out and test the gold-rich trends across the property.Under that traditional concession model, foreign private entities retained full operational control over project development while the Burkinabè state was relegated to collecting minor royalties and holding non-controlling equity stakes.This operational pivot reflects the core economic philosophy of the Ibrahim Traoré administration, which prioritizes pan-African self-reliance alongside strict local content mandates.Since assuming leadership, Traoré has focused on rewriting resource management laws to keep resource wealth within local borders.By revitalizing SOPAMIB, an entity that sat largely inactive following its establishment in 2014, the government is systematically substituting international dependence with state-backed capacity.The strategy ensures that resource profits are channeled back into civic infrastructure, regional security initiatives, and community development programs.This legislative trajectory mirrors a broader shift across the Sahel. Neighboring countries, including Guinea, are steadily empowering their state enterprises to secure equitable shares of national mineral output.By retaining full structural ownership of the Bouboulou development, Burkina Faso emphasizes a shifting regional reality where African nations transition from centers of foreign extraction to primary managers of their own natural assets.

Burkina Faso's administration asserts 100% state control over the new $68 million gold mine

People in queue for the Entry Exit System process after landing at Fuimicino Airport in Rome, Italy, in mid-JulyThe EU's new border system has nearly tripled the time it's taking for Brits to get through passport control even after improvements have been made, a boss at Rome's main airport has said.It comes as Ryanair has warned passengers travelling to Europe this summer to prepare for extended waits.Border police at Portugal's Faro airport also told the BBC the Entry Exit System technology suffered from bugs, but insisted any queues there would go down quickly.The European Commission (EC) has said in most EU airports disruption is limited, and added that it will continue to support member states in the system's implementation.It added: "This support will continue to the fullest extent possible."The digital Entry Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area - made up of 29 European countries - to register fingerprints and a photo when they arrive. The information is checked as they leave.It's often done using standalone, automated machines known as "kiosks" and sometimes with border officers - for example, for children under 12. The new process and machines have been phased in since October.Some European airports have seen hours-long queues at passport control. Passengers have even reported missing flights home.This week, Ryanair said "the failed EES rollout" was causing unnecessary delays and long queues.The airline said UK passengers should "allow extra time for their journey and be prepared for extended waits at passport control."In Rome, a perennially popular destination for tourists from the UK and around the globe, everyone we spoke to in the Piazza di Spagna had an EES story.Carl waited two hours to get through border control with young childrenCarl and his family travelled to Rome from Yorkshire."It was two hours queuing, from getting off the plane to getting through with children. I knew it was going to be bad, but not as bad as that."David, visiting from the US with his wife Marlo, said the queue took about an hour. "We actually missed our car, our driver."We met people who'd flown into other airports too. One group had landed in Barcelona before a cruise brought them to Rome.Barry, from Bracknell, said passport control had taken 45-50 minutes because some machines weren't working.His friend Sarah, who'd arrived in Barcelona on a different flight, said passport control took nearly as long as the flight. "The queue was huge, nearly an hour… it was just slow".Rome's Fiumicino airport has found it impractical to have large volumes of passengers using the self-service "kiosks", despite their €12m ($13.7m, £10.2m) cost.Now, UK nationals are among those who can register fingerprints and photos at passport e-gates, instead of having to use the standalone machines too. Children under-12 can't use them and must go to a border officer.Ivan Bassato, the airport's Chief Aviation Officer, told the BBC the integration with e-gates "improved things significantly".But still, the complexity of the system means the time taken for UK nationals to get through the border has risen from seven minutes to 20 minutes."We are not at the point where you have the same quality of the process [as] before the EES," he said.Bassato added the airport prides itself on being well set with technology, so it was "absolutely not okay with" waits of one or two hours."I think that we need to fix urgently certain aspects of the system."The BBC's Katy Austin goes through the Entry Exit System at an e-gate in RomeBassato believes that authorities should remove duplication from the process.He would also like to see more countries using the the EU's pre-registration app. Only two countries are doing so currently - Sweden and Portugal.Countries involved are able to suspend EES under exceptional circumstances.Airports and airlines have been pressing the EC to allow states to proactively suspend the process ahead of particularly busy times. However, a meeting earlier this month did not lead to any change.Another country where passengers have reported holdups due to EES is Portugal.The BBC spoke to Superintendent Pedro Oliveira, who is in charge of border control at Faro airport. He said "sometimes what used to be a 10-minute queue... takes over 30 minutes."The high number of UK passengers arriving means some degree of queuing is to be expected, but he insisted people should "not be afraid" because things would move quickly.Waits of over an hour were very rare at Faro, according to Supt Oliveira, but he added they could potentially happen if more planes than expected arrived at the same time.The automated machines were generally the quickest way of getting through the border, he said.The automated machines to take non-EU passengers' fingerprints and photos at Faro airport in PortugalSupt Oliveira also said the EU's new IT system has had bugs."[EES] makes us very dependent on the technology…. servers often are intertwined and connected, so sometimes something that happens in Warsaw affects our system here."At times, there are just complications with the server of the European Union. Sometimes crashes happen in all member states at the same time, and we need a few minutes to reboot everything."He did say this was now happening less often.More border officers have been recruited to help. In Portugal, children under the age of 16 go to a member of border police staff to have their biometric information recorded instead.

New EU border system tripling time at passport control, airport boss says

Ghana has secured offtake agreements with the UAE and Saudi Arabia for semi-finished cocoa products, expanding export options beyond raw beans.The deals, signed in July 2026, cover cocoa liquor, butter, cake, and powder, though specific values and volumes were not disclosed.The agreements align with Dubai’s ambitions in cocoa trading and meet Saudi Arabia’s growing need for cocoa ingredients in its food industry.If sustained, these offtake agreements could help Ghana capture more value from the cocoa sector, diversify its buyer base, and strengthen Africa's industrial export capabilities._Source: Business Insider Africa

World’s 2nd largest cocoa producer eyes new partnerships

September ICE NY cocoa (<a href="https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CC*0/overview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CCU26</a>) on Thursday closed up +274 (+5.51%), and July ICE London cocoa #7 (<a href="https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CA*0/overview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CAN26</a>) closed up +173 (+4.63%).Cocoa prices extended their two-week-long rally on Thursday, surging to 5.5-month highs.&nbsp;Concerns about the upcoming West African cocoa crop are pushing prices sharply higher.&nbsp;Heavy rains in the Ivory Coast and Ghana have flooded roads and cut off farmers’ access to farms and ports, threatening global supplies.&nbsp;Accumulated June rainfall through Monday has already reached levels near the typical average for the entire month in both countries.&nbsp;Excessive moisture also increases the risk of brown rot disease on cocoa trees, reducing yields and jeopardizing the harvest.Cocoa prices also have underlying medium-term support from future weather concerns.&nbsp;On June 10, Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed an El Niño weather pattern had formed across the equatorial Pacific.&nbsp;An El Niño typically brings warmer, drier conditions to West Africa, reducing soil moisture, stressing cocoa trees, and lowering yields.&nbsp;The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates a 67% chance of a “Super El Niño” this year, one of the strongest ever recorded.&nbsp;Cocoa prices also have support from early surveys of the 2026/27 West African cocoa crop, which show below-average cherelle formation on cocoa trees, signaling a weak outlook for the main cocoa harvest, which begins in October.&nbsp;Cocoa prices were under recent pressure amid signs of abundant supply.&nbsp;On June 11, the Ivory Coast boosted its estimate of cocoa that has reached its ports by more than 260,000 MT so far this season.&nbsp;Cumulative data from the Ivory Coast now show that farmers shipped 1.95 MMT of cocoa to ports in the current marketing year (October 1, 2025, through June 7, 2026), up +18.9% from the same period a year ago.&nbsp;The Ivory Coast recently said its cocoa production in 2025/26 would fall -10.8% y/y to 1.65 MMT from 1.85 MMT in 2024/25.Rising cocoa inventories are bearish for prices.&nbsp;ICE cocoa inventories rose to a 1.75-year high of 2,948,286 bags on Thursday.Weak global cocoa demand is bearish for prices.&nbsp;The National Confectioners Association reported April 23 that North American Q1 cocoa grindings fell -3.8% y/y to 106,087 MT.&nbsp;Also, the European Cocoa Association reported that Q1 European cocoa grindings fell -7.8% y/y to 325,895 MT, a bigger decline than expectations of -6% y/y and the lowest for a Q1 in 17 years.&nbsp;Conversely, the Cocoa Association of Asia reported that Q1 Asian cocoa grindings unexpectedly rose +5.2% y/y to 223,503 MT, stronger than expectations of a decline of -6.7% y/y.&nbsp;Smaller cocoa supplies from Nigeria, the world’s fifth-largest cocoa producer, are supportive for prices.&nbsp;On May 28, Bloomberg reported that Nigerian cocoa exports in April fell -20% y/y to 14,921 MT.&nbsp;Nigeria’s Cocoa Association projects that Nigerian cocoa production in 2025/26 will fall by -11% y/y to 305,000 MT, from a projected 344,000 MT for the 2024/25 crop year.&nbsp;In February, Ghana cut the official price it pays its cocoa farmers by nearly 30% for supplies for the 2025/26 growing season.&nbsp;In March, the Ivory Coast also said it would cut cocoa farmers’ pay by 57%, effective for the mid-crop harvest that began in March.&nbsp;The Ivory Coast and Ghana produce more than half of the world’s cocoa.&nbsp;The outlook for a smaller global cocoa surplus is supportive of cocoa prices.&nbsp;On April 29, StoneX cut its 2026/27 global cocoa surplus estimate to 149,000 MT from a January forecast of 267,000 MT, citing risks to the West African cocoa crop from an expected El Niño weather event.&nbsp;StoneX also cut its 2025/26 global cocoa surplus forecast to 247,000 MT from a January estimate of 287,000 MT.

Cocoa Prices Surge on West African Crop Concerns

Ghana's state-owned cocoa buyer is unable to purchase cocoa from farmers after accumulating debts of 673 million cedis ($60 million) ​that have left it facing an asset seizure, a company source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.The company, ‌Producer Buying Company, is legally mandated to purchase cocoa from any farmer as a buyer of last resort. The government pledged in February to restore it as the country's leading cocoa buying company.But three months later, PBC owes growers 24 million cedis for over 9,000 bags already delivered and lacks the ​liquidity to resume purchases, the company source said.A consortium of Ghanaian banks owed 257 million cedis secured a court order ​in March to sell off the company's assets, the source said.Ghana's cocoa industry has been in crisis as ⁠it has struggled to sell beans and pay farmers this year due to ample global harvests, lower cocoa prices and falling ​demand from chocolate makers for the ingredient.PBC's woes also stem from a loss of market share - it used to control 30% of the ​domestic market but currently buys less than 5% of cocoa produced in Ghana. Its problems risk further exacerbating financial hardship for Ghana's smallholder farmers, thousands of whom have not been paid for beans delivered since November 2025.The company source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief ​the media, said COCOBOD has yet to reimburse PBC for 800 metric tons of cocoa delivered more than two months ago.Under Ghana's ​cocoa system, PBC and other Licensed Buying Companies that purchase cocoa from farmers then sell it to COCOBOD, the market regulator, which sells it ‌on to ⁠international buyers.Neither the finance ministry nor COCOBOD has responded to requests from PBC for support, the source said.The finance ministry and COCOBOD did not respond to requests for comment.Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson said in February that the revival of PBC was central to the government's strategy of supporting cocoa farmers, promising a reliable and transparent avenue for growers to sell their product ​at fair prices.The source said ​the minister has since not ⁠had any discussions with the company on the way forward.COCOBOD says it has been disbursing funds to buying companies. But the company source said PBC had not received any money.PBC’s debt includes over 24 ​months of unpaid staff salaries, vendor arrears and outstanding statutory payments, in addition to the 257 ​million cedis owed to ⁠banks, the source said.Two of the five banks in the consortium that secured a court order to sell off PBC assets are state-owned and all report to the finance ministry.SSNIT, the state pension fund and a major shareholder, has been reluctant to inject fresh capital into PBC, ⁠having ​not received expected dividends since its initial investment, the company source said.A structured COCOBOD ​intervention could turn things around, the company source said, if the board directed a share of international buyers towards PBC and released funds for purchases.PBC operates in ​all 127 cocoa-growing districts, giving it a bigger reach than any private company.

Farmers go unpaid as Ghana's indebted state cocoa buyer faces asset seizure, source says

African culinary creator Chef Abbys has for the past few years now been building a reputation for herself as the go-to person for everything African and Ghanaian cuisine. Her short form videos of various food recipes that are easy to replicate have found their way into most homes on the continent and in the diaspora. This has led her to receive accolades such as being named one of TIME 100’s top creators of 2025, getting the chance to cook with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.In extraordinary fashion, Chef Abbys decided to throw a spotlight on her home country Ghana’s cuisine and rich culture during Ghana’s Heritage Month celebration for the month of March. Throughout the whole month, the tour planned by UK-based cultural and creative organization My Runway Group, set out to explore Ghana’s heritage through food and tourism and after 25 days on the road, she completed a groundbreaking tour spanning 12 out of the 16 regions in Ghana. This feat, never before attempted on the African continent, took Chef Abbys beyond the kitchen, into the heart of each community. The 24 videos she created on this journey amassed almost 100 million views across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Youtube and X. The feedback has been remarkable with Chef Abbys socials experiencing an 18% increase in just that short period.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/3e145da1eIMG_5069.JPG">Over the course of this four-week expedition, Chef Abbys traveled from the mountainous terrains of the Eastern Region to the historic castles of the Central Region, from the lush forests of the Ashanti Region to the desert landscapes of the Upper East. Each region presented unique flavors,cuisine, markets, rich traditions, and both expected and unexpected challenges. From navigating remote villages to securing filming permissions at heritage sites, the journey was as much about resilience as it was discovery.Critics and locals alike have praised Chef Abbys for bringing a fresh lens to Ghana’s cultural tapestry. In a series of pop-up cooking demonstrations, each region’s cuisine, culture and tourist destinations were celebrated, drawing millions of views across the world. She got to cook at iconic Ghanaian tourist destinations like the Umbrella Rock, Elmina Castle, Nzulezu Floating Village, Larabanga Mosque, Kintampo Water Falls and even the Desert Safari.Speaking about her experience on the tour, Chef Abbys says, “exploring the 12 regions through food showed me how rich and diverse Ghana truly is. My goal is to make the world see Ghanaian cuisine not as one thing, but as a powerful collection of cultures, flavors, and histories.” She goes on to add that, “what I’ve started is more than a tour, it’s a movement to document, celebrate, and elevate cuisines and cultures from across the world, and I look forward to bringing the tour to other parts of the world.”Beyond the numbers, the impact is seen in a revived pride among locals and a new global curiosity about Ghana’s diverse culinary story. Chef Abbys’s historic journey flips the script for African culinary exploration, one where every region, every bite, and every story is a bridge between the past, present and future.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/56c4f9867IMG_5163.JPG">Chef Abbys’ approach to food and content creation is very distinct amongst her peers. It’s not just about recipes, plating, or even taste, but for her, it’s about memory, identity, and the quiet power of culture being passed from one generation to the next.&nbsp;Long before the recognition, the awards, and the millions of followers, there was simply a deep curiosity to understand where dishes came from, why they mattered, and how they made people feel. That curiosity would eventually grow into something much bigger than a career.&nbsp;Today, Chef Abbys stands at the center of a new movement in African cuisine. Through her work, she has built a community of over 4 million people across platforms, including more than 2.2 million followers on TikTok. But what makes her influence powerful isn’t just the numbers, it’s the connection. People don’t just watch her content; they feel seen in it.

Chef Abbys Breaks New Ground With A First-of-Its-Kind Culinary and Cultural Journey Across Ghana’s Regions

International Breweries, Nigeria’s second-biggest beer maker, is out of the woods at last as it reported its first annual profit since 2017 in the 2025 financial year.The results signal profound relief for AB InBev, the Belgian majority owner, which had endured seven harrowing years of losses.The company booked N50.9 billion in post-tax profit for 2025, relative to a net loss of N113.6 billion the previous year, its audited financial report issued on Friday stated.International Breweries, which owns popular beer brands such as<a href="https://us.budweiser.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Budweiser</a>, Trophy, Hero and Castle Lite, is worth N739.7 billion in assets, placing it next to Heineken-backed Nigerian Breweries among the country’s top beer manufacturers.Its share price rose by 9.9 per cent to N13.35 in Lagos after the news went public. It is its strongest daily gain since the start of the year.<h3>Rough road to profitability</h3>AB InBev, in 2016, completed the purchase of SAB Miller’s interest in International Breweries, consolidating it with the stake it already held in the brewer, which totalled 72.2 per cent at the time.It proceeded to merge the entity with Intafact Beverages Limited and Pabod Breweries, two other companies where it held controlling stakes, the year after, hoping to unlock greater value from the broader economy of scale the consolidation would deliver.The deal was central to the investor’s strategic push to gain a huge swathe of Africa’s brewery business, following a slowdown in its European and North American operations, and targeted Nigeria as one of the most promising beer markets on the continent.International Breweries started reporting losses in 2018, when it posted negative earnings of N3.9 billion, driven by a 257.6 per cent surge in finance costs and the harmonisation of the accounts of the three entities that went through the business combination.Setting up a greenfield plant as vast as the Sagamu-based Gateway plant, completed at an initial cost of $250 million, added further pressure to its financials, particularly in financing costs and debt levels.Between 2019 and 2020, soaring operating costs and a flattish revenue growth lengthened the chain of losses.Post-tax loss, at its peak, crossed N113 billion in 2024, following four years when foreign exchange losses from a dollar crunch and far-reaching currency reforms in Nigeria hammered earnings.The winning factor that turned the tide last year, apart from an appreciable leap in revenue to N619 billion, was cutting back net foreign exchange loss to N13.7 billion from N165.7 billion.<h3>Free float troubles</h3>As of 2020, AB InBev had upped its shareholding to 87.3 per cent by virtue of a rights issue that raised N164.4 billion for the purpose of moderating the company’s debt level, which had been bloated by the cost of constructing the Gateway factory.Proceeds from another rights issue in 2024 helped it deleverage its balance sheet dramatically, as the cash was used to pay down a balance of $379.9 million on a sticky loan obtained from Citibank six years earlier.AB InBev fully exercised its rights under the share sale, driving its shareholding further up to 96 per cent.Allowing a single investor to own a stake that huge in a public company, to the extent that only 4 per cent of its issued shares are tradable in the open market, has been noted to make its shares hardly available to potential investors, consequently creating artificial scarcity.The practice tends to fuel jumps in share price without justifiable fundamentals to support most of the gains the stock records over time.The main board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), on which International Breweries is listed, requires that companies maintain a free float (the minimum number of shares that can be traded publicly) of 20 per cent or at least N40 billion worth of their shares.In a January 2025 disclosure, the brewer said the NGX had extended the deadline it had given the brewer to remedy the shortcoming._Source: Premium Times Nigeria

Nigeria’s second-biggest beer maker posts N51 billion profit after seven years of loss-making

Recent alerts over counterfeit cancer and antimalarial medicines have renewed concerns about Nigeria’s long-running fake drug crisis. Despite repeated regulatory crackdowns, falsified medicines continue to infiltrate the pharmaceutical supply chain, exposing millions of Nigerians to ineffective and potentially dangerous treatments.For Oladele, a Nigerian living in the United Kingdom, the call from home carried devastating news. His younger brother had taken antimalarial medication for what was believed to be a routine bout of malaria. Instead of recovering, he developed kidney complications. The family later suspected the medicines were counterfeit.Oladele’s experience is not an isolated one. Across Nigeria, reports of suspected counterfeit medicines continue to surface, even as regulators intensify efforts to remove falsified products from circulation.His account, shared publicly on social media in May 2026, came amid a series of alerts from a government agency responsible for overseeing drug registration, importation, manufacture and quality control in the country, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), warning of counterfeit drugs circulating within the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain.The alerts, coupled with repeated seizures of counterfeit medicines, suggest that despite sustained enforcement efforts, falsified products continue to find their way into the hands of patients.The persistence of fake medicines is not a new problem in Nigeria. For decades, the country has battled counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals that undermine treatment, erode public confidence in the health system and, in some cases, contribute to preventable deaths. However, recent incidents suggest the problem is evolving, affecting both highly specialised medicines used in hospitals and everyday treatments relied upon by millions of Nigerians.From cancer wards to malaria treatmentIn March 2026, NAFDAC issued a public alert warning healthcare professionals, distributors and the public about confirmed counterfeit versions of Avastin (bevacizumab) and Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) circulating in Nigeria.Manufactured by Roche, Avastin is a monoclonal antibody used to treat several cancers, including colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and glioblastoma while Tecentriq is used in the management of the cancers of the lung and liver. Because of their specialised use, the medicine is typically administered in hospitals under the supervision of oncologists.According to NAFDAC, the counterfeit products were identified following reports from Roche, which detected falsified versions of the medicine in Nigeria’s supply chain. The agency urged healthcare providers to carefully verify product authenticity and immediately report suspected counterfeit medicines.A vial of Avastin and Tecentriq cost about ₦1.1 million and ₦9.7 million, respectively, according to information from a licensed online pharmacy, HubPharm Pharmaceutical Limited, operating in Nigeria.Barely a month later, NAFDAC issued another public alert, this time warning about the circulation of counterfeit brands of Proguanil 100 mg tablets, specifically Projeanil and Re-granil. Proguanil is an antimalarial medicine commonly used to prevent and treat malaria.The back-to-back alerts suggest that counterfeiters are targeting medicines across vastly different therapeutic areas from expensive oncology drugs used in specialist hospitals to affordable antimalarial medicines commonly used by the general public.While counterfeit cancer medicines can deny patients life-saving treatment or allow disease to progress unchecked, fake antimalarial drugs may lead to treatment failure, severe illness and even death. They may also contribute to the growing challenge of antimalarial drug resistance.Enforcement continues, but counterfeit medicines persistIn May, NAFDAC announced another major enforcement operation, destroying counterfeit, expired and unwholesome products worth more than ₦1.8 billion in Abuja.The destroyed products included banned substances and improperly stored medical products considered unsafe for public use. According to the agency, the products had been seized during raids, surveillance activities and routine regulatory enforcement.The operation showed the scale of efforts to remove dangerous medicines from circulation. Yet the repeated discoveries of counterfeit medicines also raise difficult questions about how such products continue to penetrate Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.Each seizure represents medicines intercepted before reaching consumers. But the recent alerts involving Avastin and Proguanil suggest that some counterfeit products continue to evade detection until they have already entered the market.When fake medicines reach patientsUnlike the counterfeit Avastin and Proguanil cases, which were identified through regulatory surveillance, Oladele’s account illustrates what can happen when suspected fake medicines are consumed before concerns are raised.According to his social media post, his younger brother developed kidney complications after taking counterfeit antimalarial medication. Although the precise circumstances surrounding the medicine’s purchase and authenticity remain unclear, the incident resonated with many Nigerians who responded by sharing similar experiences of medicines that appeared ineffective or caused unexpected complications.Whether through treatment failure, toxic ingredients or incorrect dosages, counterfeit medicines can have devastating consequences. Patients may unknowingly continue taking ineffective medicines while their illnesses worsen, losing valuable time before receiving appropriate treatment.For malaria, delayed or ineffective treatment can rapidly become life-threatening, particularly among young children, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups. For cancers and other chronic illnesses, counterfeit medicines may undermine carefully planned treatment regimens, reducing the chances of successful outcomes.Dr Dasola Amusat while recounting her experience said she had encountered patients whose clinical response raised suspicion that they had received counterfeit or substandard medicines. In one instance, she explained, a patient failed to respond to treatment despite receiving the same medication and dosage that had produced good outcomes in another patient with the same condition.“We used the same drug and the same dosage for another patient with the same condition, and that patient responded well. That difference in response made us suspect that the medicine may not have been genuine,” she said.According to her, counterfeit medicines can have serious consequences for patients beyond the immediate failure of treatment. She noted that ineffective medicines often prolong illness, resulting in longer hospital stays and increasing patients’ exposure to hospital-acquired infections and other complications.The physician said it is not always difficult for experienced clinicians to suspect when counterfeit medicines may be involved. Over time, she explained, doctors become familiar with brands that consistently produce good clinical outcomes and often recommend those products when prescribing medications.“It is not always difficult. Physicians become familiar with brands that consistently work, and we often insist on those brands because of our experience with their effectiveness,” she said.To reduce the risk of purchasing counterfeit medicines, she advised patients to obtain exactly the brand prescribed by their healthcare provider rather than substituting it with another product without professional guidance.“Patients should make every effort to buy the exact brand prescribed by their doctor instead of switching to another brand on their own,” she advised.A long-standing problem with evolving risksNigeria has long battled counterfeit and substandard medicines but the problem has remained stubbornly persistent.One reason is that counterfeiters have become increasingly sophisticated. Rather than producing crude imitations, many now replicate packaging, holograms, batch numbers and fake NAFDAC registration numbers that closely resemble genuine products, making falsified medicines difficult for consumers and sometimes even healthcare professionals to distinguish from authentic ones.&nbsp;In some cases, counterfeit medicines are designed to mimic legitimate products so closely that they are only identified after laboratory testing or verification by manufacturers.The persistence of the problem is also driven by systemic weaknesses within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain. Counterfeiters continue to exploit gaps in importation, wholesale distribution, retail supply chains and regulatory oversight to introduce falsified medicines into the market.&nbsp;Previous reporting by HealthTabs found that policy inconsistencies, fragmented regulation, weak supply chain traceability and the country’s heavy reliance on imported medicines have also contributed to an environment that counterfeiters continue to exploit.The recent cases involving counterfeit cancer medicines, falsified antimalarial drugs, large-scale regulatory seizures and suspected patient harm suggest that Nigeria’s counterfeit medicine crisis is no longer confined to one category of medicines or one segment of the healthcare system.&nbsp;Instead, it reflects vulnerabilities across the pharmaceutical supply chain, posing a persistent threat to the safety of millions of Nigerians who depend on medicines for effective treatment.A community pharmacist, Pharm. Akeeb Adebayo, in a chat with New York Amsterdam News described counterfeit medicines as one of the biggest challenges facing the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector, saying virtually every category of medicines has been targeted by counterfeiters.“The problem is enormous, he said. “There is hardly any class of drug that has not been counterfeited, from oral medicines to injectables, including induction agents used in anaesthesia. It shows just how widespread the problem has become.”He said advances in counterfeiters’ techniques have made it increasingly difficult for pharmacists to distinguish fake medicines from genuine ones based on appearance alone.&nbsp;According to him, counterfeit drugs often infiltrate the pharmaceutical supply chain through wholesalers and distributors who fail to adequately verify the authenticity of their stock before supplying retailers.&nbsp;He therefore emphasized the importance of purchasing medicines only through authorized supply chains. He therefore warned members of the public to be cautious of medicines sold at unusually low prices, noting that significant price differences may indicate that a product is counterfeit.&nbsp;NAFDAC alert noted that the counterfeit cancer drugs were sold at significantly lower prices.Counterfeiters have criminal networks that are highly adaptiveA pharmacy intern at NAFDAC, Pharmacist Hajara Yakubu, who clarified she wasn’t speaking on behalf of the agency, said the recent alerts&nbsp;demonstrate that the counterfeit medicine problem extends beyond regulatory enforcement because the conditions that enable fake medicines to enter the market remain largely unchanged.“Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain is extensive and complex,” the intern said. “Raids and seizures remove counterfeit products from circulation, but they do not eliminate the underlying factors that sustain the problem, such as demand for cheaper medicines, weaknesses in parts of the supply chain, porous borders and the high profitability of pharmaceutical counterfeiting.”She added that counterfeiters often operate through highly adaptive criminal networks that quickly alter their distribution channels following enforcement actions. “Addressing the problem therefore requires not only enforcement but also stronger regulation, intelligence-led operations, supply chain oversight, stakeholder collaboration and continuous public education.”She stressed that open drug markets and community pharmacies should not be viewed in the same light. “Open drug markets present a significant regulatory challenge because medicines are often traded through fragmented and poorly traceable distribution networks, which creates opportunities for counterfeiters to enter legitimate supply chains,” the intern said.Community pharmacies were however described as an important part of the solution rather than the problem. She noted that licensed community pharmacies are regulated by the government agency tasked with governing pharmacy education, training and practice, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and NAFDAC and generally source medicines from legitimate distributors. While isolated lapses may occur, the intern said community pharmacists remain important partners in detecting, reporting and preventing counterfeit medicines.Yakubu said there are several challenges to the fight against counterfeit drugs. She identified maintaining end-to-end visibility across Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain, particularly where distribution channels are fragmented. “Regulators must also keep pace with increasingly sophisticated criminal networks that rapidly adapt to&nbsp;regulatory interventions while ensuring adequate resources for inspections, post-market surveillance, laboratory testing and intelligence gathering across a country as large as Nigeria,” she said.She also emphasized the importance of collaboration among regulators, customs authorities, security agencies, manufacturers and healthcare professionals while also noting that public awareness remains equally critical.For millions of Nigerians, the greatest danger is that counterfeit medicines are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. As counterfeiters grow more sophisticated and exploit weaknesses in the pharmaceutical supply chain, patients may unknowingly receive ineffective or dangerous medicines even when they believe they are doing the right thing.&nbsp;For families like Oladele’s, the consequences are measured not only in failed treatments but in prolonged illness, avoidable suffering and the devastating uncertainty of whether the medicines meant to heal have instead caused harm.

From fake cancer drugs to malaria pills: Inside Nigeria’s counterfeit medicine crisis

Recently I’ve noticed that when Little Man gets excited, he goes through a very specific set of behaviours. He will raise both arms up and out wide, lean in with wide eyes, and start shaking. This could happen over a new and exciting toy, a new experience (such as when we first took him to the seaside and dipped his toes in the ocean), or even a new food. It’s such a rapid shaking, it’s almost like he’s vibrating with excitement. This got us a bit worried… Why does my baby shake so much when he gets excited?<h3>Shaking when excited</h3>We’ve all heard the phrase “shaking with excitement”, but I have to admit I assumed it was a metaphor until I had a baby. It’s almost as if he gets so excited that he just can’t contain himself! Now, I know that babies do lots of things that seem weird (like staring at lights, or crawling backwards) but are actually totally normal. So, is it normal for babies to shake with excitement?<h3>Is it normal for babies to shake with excitement?</h3>Yes! It’s very common. It’s to do with baby’s immature nervous system. Their developing nervous system sends too many electrical impulses to the muscles and they get all twitchy. It’s normal for babies to shake with excitement, when they see someone they know or a favourite toy. This can present in lots of different ways – for instance, full-body shakes, or baby may clench his fists and shake, or tense up his whole body when excited.Some babies may also display shuddering or shaking at seemingly random times, when there’s no particular reason for them to be excited, and sometimes it can last for a few seconds. No-one really completely understands the cause of this infant shuddering, but it’s not harmful and usually goes away by the time they’re four years old. Sometimes it’s referred to as infant shudder syndrome, shuddering attacks, or shuddering spells.If baby is otherwise healthy, developing well and meeting his or her milestones, then there’s probably nothing to worry about if he or she tends to shake with excitement. Life is just that exciting when everything’s new! There’s no treatment for infant shudder syndrome, because it’s not an illness – it just goes away over time.However, of course it can look a bit peculiar, and as a parent you may worry that it looks like your child having a short fit. If you’re worried, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and speak to a medical professional.<h3>When to get worried about baby’s shaking movements</h3>Of course, as parents it’s natural to worry. Shaking can be evidence of a seizure, but there are some specific seizure warning signs to look out for:<ul><li>If shaking continues for over 20 seconds</li><li>If the shaking movement is accompanied by vomiting, unusual eye movements, or loss of consciousness</li><li>If it’s associated with illness or injury, or if baby sleeps for a long time afterwards</li></ul>If you notice any of these signs, you should seek medical help urgently.Ultimately, you know your baby best, so even if you don’t spot any of the warning signs, if you think it’s time to call the doctor or NHS 111, then do it. It may help (if you think of it at the time) to take a video of the shaking behaviour that’s worrying you, to show your health professional.<h3>Is baby shaking when excited a sign of autism?</h3>When I got onto Google and started researching about babies shaking with excitement and infant shudder syndrome, it was clear to me from the Google search bar that lots of parents who are researching this subject are worried that their baby’s shaking or shuddering could be a sign of autism. This is probably because some people with autism use repetitive or rhythmic movements to soothe themselves (also called ‘stimming’), and this can take the form of shaking or hand flapping.This may look similar to a baby who is prone to excited shaking spells; however, infant shudder syndrome is not commonly viewed as a sign of autism. These kind of behaviours are also common with neurotypical children, so just because your baby or toddler shakes with excitement or flaps his or her hands, doesn’t mean that it’s a sign of autism. There are other early markers of autism which are more reliable as red flags that something could be wrong, such as a lack of eye contact or smiling. Again though, you know your baby best – so if you’re concerned that something is wrong, talk to your doctor.<h3>Other causes of shuddering or shaking in babies</h3>There are other reasons that babies may display shaking or shuddering movements, beyond excitement, infant shudder syndrome, or epilepsy. Babies and toddlers often shake their heads from side to side when falling asleep – it can actually be a motion they use to help themselves fall asleep (not that it looks very restful, especially when they start head-banging!), or a sign of teething or even an ear infection. My own Little Man is very much in the habit of shaking his head from side to side when he’s teething, especially after meals – it’s a sure sign for us that his teeth are playing up.There’s also some suggestion that infant shudder syndrome could be an early sign of vitamin d deficiency in very young babies, so if you’re exclusively breastfeeding make sure that baby is getting their vitamin D drops in line with NHS guidance (babies who are formula fed get their vitamin supplements from the formula, so they don’t need any more).<h2>In conclusion…</h2>So, in conclusion… there are loads of reasons your baby may shake or shudder, but if he or she is specifically displaying this behaviour when excited, it’s probably nothing to worry about. In some situations, continued shaking or shuddering could be a cause for concern though, so exercise your best judgement as a parent, err on the side of caution, and check with a doctor if you think you need to.Shaking with excitement isn’t the only weird behaviour that babies use to freak out their anxious parents! Have you ever wondered why your baby stares at lights, why your baby is crawling backwards or even why your baby doesn’t blink?_Source: TheSicklyBaby.com

Why Does My Baby Shake With Excitement?

"I'm still not accepting in my mind all parts of it," Glover told People in an interview published July 1. "There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I'll never forget."The 79-year-old reflected on accepting his diagnosis, adding that it is "in some sense, acknowledging that it's happening to you and at the same time that there are millions of people suffering from it."Although Glover is holding on to his wits the best her can, he had already made peace with the prospect of eventually losing his memories. As he told Lester Holt on July 1, "I could live with it, in a sense.""I'm sure, as it advances," he added, "things are gonna be different and changing."As his condition continues to progress, Glover reflected on his expansive acting career and the film he holds closest to his heart: 1984's Places in the Heart, starring Sally Field. He dedicated the project to his mom Carrie, who died in a car accident the same day he told her about his role.Glover ultimately turned his grief into change throughout his career, focusing on social justice.&nbsp;"The one thing about my parents was their activism," he explained. "A sense of being and belonging and making the contribution. When I saw the Montgomery bus boycott (in 1955-56), I knew I wanted to be like those people. I wanted to be in that moment and part of the role."And now, the Color Purple actor hopes he can foster that passion in young people before the disease truly takes hold."It's talking to young people and their responsibility," he said. "We have challenges in the world. I think art becomes a reframe, a way of looking at that.""Justice is our collective responsibility," he continued. "One thing I learned from my parents most of my life is the capacity of people to change through their own. They become the architect of their change."Meanwhile, Glover's daughter Mandisa Glover—whom he shares with ex-wife Asake Bomani—shared a glimpse into her dad's decision to share his diagnosis."We all get old. It happens. That's what I think is important: that he tells his story and he has ownership of his life," she told Holt. "The time is now. What better time than now for him to speak for himself?"And she knows it will also bring light to the reality of navigating the debilitating disease."It's important because people ask questions sometimes," Mandisa added. "I don't want to be a dishonest person and say, 'Oh, yeah, everything is all right. It's all great.""&nbsp;As Glover and his loved ones grapple with their new normal, keep reading for more celebrities who've shared insight into their own health journeys.In May 2026, the BFFs podcaster underwent emergency surgery after doctors discovered a large ovarian cyst that had been twisting her organs and causing internal bleeding."There was a half a liter of blood in my pelvic floor," Brianna shared in a TikTok video after the operation. "I have five incisions all over my stomach. They went in through my belly button with a camera so they could find all the blood."

Danny Glover Shares Alzheimer's Diagnosis

A Chinese team of medical experts has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for a three-month frontline mission to contain an expanding Ebola outbreak across a mining region with extensive Beijing-backed mineral investments.The five-member team of specialists in epidemiology, clinical medicine, research and traditional Chinese medicine arrived in the capital Kinshasa on Tuesday.According to China’s National Health Commission, the experts will work with local authorities to strengthen Ebola prevention and treatment capacity, providing training and epidemic-control guidance for local medical institutions, Chinese-funded enterprises and local Chinese communities.The deployment marks a major moment for Beijing’s health diplomacy in a region central to its economic interests, given the high number of Chinese investors seeking gold and other critical minerals.Members of a Chinese medical expert team arrive in Kinshasa on June 2. Photo: XinhuaIt also stands in stark contrast with the approach taken by the United States, which has focused on barring travellers from the outbreak zone and building a divisive isolation facility in Kenya for its own personnel.

Chinese medical team arrives in DR Congo to help fight Ebola, ‘filling US void’

Ghana reportedly rejected a health deal with the US over terms that would require sharing citizens’ personal data, the latest sign of mounting privacy concerns around the agreements being pursued by Washington.More than a dozen African countries — including Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda — have signed up to the Trump administration’s America First Global Health Strategy, which asks countries to share data about pathogens that could spark epidemics, as a condition of receiving the funding. But data-sharing concerns prompted Zimbabwe to abandon talks this year over a similar deal to Ghana’s, and led a Kenyan court to suspend implementation of an agreement between Washington and Nairobi. The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has previously expressed “huge concerns” over data and pathogen-sharing between African countries and the US.Washington’s pursuit of deals comes after last year’s shuttering of the US Agency for International Development, which had disbursed $40 billion a year across 130 countries. USAID’s closure, along with aid budget cuts by other Western countries, has left some African governments struggling to cover health budget shortfalls.

Ghana ‘rejects’ US health deal over data concerns

Marvel has done it again. Spider-Man: Brand New Day&nbsp;has officially swung into the record books, earning an astonishing&nbsp;$74.5 million in domestic preview screenings, making it the&nbsp;largest preview night in box office history. The film surpasses the previous record held by&nbsp;Avengers: Endgame, which earned approximately&nbsp;$60 millionduring its Thursday previews in 2019.The record is even more impressive considering&nbsp;Endgame&nbsp;was the culmination of more than a decade of Marvel storytelling.&nbsp;Brand New Day&nbsp;is the fourth solo Spider-Man film starring&nbsp;Tom Holland, yet fan demand has reached levels few expected.The enormous preview total has dramatically raised expectations for the film’s opening weekend. While Sony has publicly projected a debut closer to&nbsp;$195 million, several independent box office analysts believe the film could finish between&nbsp;$280 million and $300 million&nbsp;domestically if audience turnout continues at its current pace.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.amazonaws.com/6364bf8e3IMG_5014.webp">Daniel Loria of Box office Pro recently pointed to extraordinary advance ticket sales and the sheer number of theaters dedicating screens to the film as major reasons for the bullish projections.“The movie has nearly half of all available screenings this weekend.”That level of theatrical dominance is almost unheard of and reflects just how much confidence exhibitors have in Marvel and Sony’s latest blockbuster.The film arrives at a pivotal moment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following several years of inconsistent box office results,&nbsp;Brand New Day&nbsp;has been viewed as one of the studio’s most important releases heading into&nbsp;Avengers: Doomsday. Early audience reactions have praised the film’s emotional story, grounded approach to Peter Parker, and action sequences, fueling strong word of mouth before its nationwide release.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/cea49d926IMG_5015.png">Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker alongside&nbsp;Zendaya,&nbsp;Jacob Batalon,&nbsp;Jon Bernthal,&nbsp;Mark Ruffalo, and&nbsp;Sadie Sink in a film that sees Spider-Man rebuilding his life after the events of&nbsp;Spider-Man: No Way Home. With audiences already turning out in record numbers, the latest chapter appears poised to become one of the biggest superhero releases ever.Whether&nbsp;Brand New Day&nbsp;ultimately surpasses&nbsp;Avengers: Endgame’s&nbsp;opening weekend remains to be seen.&nbsp;Endgame&nbsp;still holds the all time domestic opening weekend record at&nbsp;$357.1 million, a mark many believed would stand for years. However, after already rewriting the record books with its preview performance,&nbsp;Spider-Man: Brand New Day&nbsp;has proven that betting against Marvel’s most popular hero is rarely a good idea._Source: Coastal House Media

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Breaks All Time Box Office Preview Record, Surpassing Avengers: Endgame

Just days after South African singer Tyla released the dates for her upcoming world tour, Nigeria has been removed from the list of destinations.On Monday, the Grammy winner announced details of her globetrotting appearances coming on the heels of the release of her second album A*POP.Her official website initially named 34 cities, including Lagos, Johannesburg and Cape Town, where she would be performing, but by Friday, an updated list was published without the Nigerian city.No reason has been given for the change but there have been growing calls in Nigeria for the 24-year-old to cancel her concert in the country over the recent wave of anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa.Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have soured over allegations that Nigerians have been the target of xenophobic violence.Nigeria, along with other African countries, has accused South Africa of not doing enough to deal with attacks on foreign nationals.There have also been a series of protests with people calling for all undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. Tens of thousands of foreigners have left the country, including Nigerians, many of whom boarded specially chartered repatriation flights.While there have been diplomatic efforts to calm tensions, most recently with a meeting between their foreign affairs officials in Abuja, the issue has spread beyond politics.On Wednesday, an online petition titled "Ban Tyla from entering Nigeria until xenophobic attacks stop in South Africa" was launched in Nigeria and it has already attracted thousands of signatures.On Tyla's social media pages, where the initial tour dates still appear, Nigerians cautioned her against performing in the country as they criticised her for failing to speak out against the protests in South Africa.Tyla has so far not responded to a BBC request for comment.Tyla is not the only South African artist facing a backlash for their seeming silence on the anti-migrant protests.&nbsp;Comedian Trevor Noah also came under fire following an advert he fronted for the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.The promotional clip, shared across the council's various social media accounts, generated many comments criticising the former Daily Show host for promoting South Africa but failing to call out xenophobic attitudes.&nbsp;Users even went as far as to add context under the video saying South Africa was "a xenophobic country [that] doesn't allow visiting migrants".The backlash has extended beyond criticism; some South African artists have reportedly lost out on performances across the continent.South Africa's Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said in June that a local artist had told her that "all her gigs were cancelled". The minister did not name the artist.&nbsp;"So the [South Africa] brand does get affected," she said at the time.&nbsp;The South African government has also pushed back on the growing wave of criticism.&nbsp;It says that it does deal with anyone who takes the law into their own hands, pointing out that more than 900 people were arrested after recent protests, but that it has a right to control migration into the country.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/6b844491dIMG_5013.webp">The online debate around Tyla's world tour has opened a much wider conversation on whether African artists be held responsible for the political tensions between their countries.Nigerian activist, opposition politician and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore said on X that anger over anti-migrant attacks should be directed at political leaders in Nigeria and South Africa, rather than artists.In a post, he said: "No-one should hold a talented musician like Tyla vicariously liable for the crimes of xenophobia. Artistes are not responsible for the failures of politicians except where there is ample evidence they're enablers."Nigerian culture journalist Mayowa Idowu told the BBC that while the anger may come from a desire for accountability, directing it towards an artist risks missing the wider issue."I think they are well intentioned because people are seeking accountability and they're looking beyond governments who they do not trust or have faith in. That said, I think they are misguided and they risk devolving into acts of hypocrisy. The artist in question has worked with Nigerian artists and performed in Nigeria previously," he said.Idowu argues that performers should not be pressured into taking political positions simply because of their nationality.Tyla has found herself at the centre of rivalry between the two countries before.&nbsp;Earlier this year, she beat four other African artists, including three from Nigeria, to clinch her second Grammy award in the Best African Music Performance category.She won the inaugural version of the prize in 2024, again beating a field that included Nigerian heavyweights such as Burna Boy and Davido.With two wins in the category's first three years, Tyla has become one of the biggest Grammy success stories in African music - while also becoming a symbol in a fan rivalry that often frames Nigerian and South African artists against each other.UK-based Nigerian culture journalist and writer Dami Ajayi said that Tyla has never presented herself to be anti-Nigeria but "we interpret her winning two Grammy Awards in a nominations list full of Nigerian musicians as being anti-Nigerian"."These targeted retaliatory campaigns are not particularly new. There were also calls to boycott the recent hit Netflix show The Polygamist, adapted from Zimbabwean Sue Nyathi's novel and co-directed by Akin Omotosho, a Nigerian living in South Africa," he added.South African journalist Thango Ntwasa said that while it was difficult to comment on the removal of Lagos from Tyla's world tour line-up, "it's a very interesting time because we're seeing arts and politics... really confronting each other now more than ever".He also touched on the criticism levelled at artists like Tyla and Noah on their apparent silence on the migration issue, saying that while it's understandable for artists to want to be apolitical, it was important for "celebrities... to understand that as a public figure, your opinion or position on a political issue does matter".Ntwasa noted that South African artists had reported facing animosity when visiting other African nations and that, because touring is a big part of how they make money, the negative attitudes could affect them down the line._Source: BBC

Nigeria date removed from South African pop star Tyla's world tour after boycott petition

Sean Combs was involved in a fight with another inmate at Fort Dix earlier this week, resulting in the Bad Boy founder being sent to solitary confinement, a source familiar with the incident confirmed to Rolling Stone.&nbsp;A fellow inmate at the low-security federal prison in New Jersey allegedly taunted Combs, who reportedly lashed out at the man, TMZ first reported. The pair are said to have exchanged shoves and throws, before prison guards were able to separate them. Afterward, Combs was reportedly put in solitary confinement. It is not clear if the other inmate was also reprimanded for his part in the scuffle.&nbsp;A representative for Combs said they were “unable to confirm this [report] at the moment” when asked for comment.&nbsp;A spokesperson for Fort Dix declined to comment when approached by Rolling Stone. “We are not at liberty to disclose or provide internal information pertaining to any inmate in our custody,” said a prison representative. “Such information would not be available for the public domain.”&nbsp;Combs is currently serving a 50-month sentence after his conviction on transportation to engage in prostitution charges last July. It followed a high-profile, eight-week federal criminal trial in New York where Combs was acquitted of more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.&nbsp;The 56-year-old’s notorious temper and his propensity for physical violence played a dominant role in his trial last year. Combs was accused of routinely beating his then-girlfriend, the singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, throughout their decade-long relationship, which ended in 2018. Former staffers alleged they also were subjected to violence at the hands of their boss.&nbsp;

SEAN COMBS PLACED IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AFTER BRAWL WITH FELLOW INMATE: REPORTS

King Kaka continued the celebration of his latest album, Year of the Pen, with a vibrant post-release event held on the evening of Friday, 17 July 2026.The event brought together fans, producers, featured artists, members of the press and other key players who contributed to the creation and success of the album. King Kaka was joined by several of the producers who worked on the project, as well as featured artists including acclaimed Kenyan rapper Scar Mkadinali.During the evening, King Kaka delivered an energetic performance that blended music from his celebrated catalogue with records from his new album. He performed fan favourite “Dundaing” before being joined on stage by Scar Mkadinali for a special performance of “Silence.” He also treated the audience to a performance of “Naling’i Yo.”The performances were met with excitement from fans, who sang along, recorded the memorable moments and celebrated King Kaka’s return with Year of the Pen. The evening also created an opportunity for the artist to connect personally with his supporters.King Kaka spent time interacting with attendees, holding conversations, taking selfies and sharing moments with fans. The close interaction created an intimate and memorable experience, with supporters visibly excited to meet and engage with him.Members of the press and digital media were also in attendance to document the performances, fan reactions and the overall atmosphere surrounding the album celebration.Released on 3 July 2026, Year of the Pen represents a new creative chapter for King Kaka, built around writing, storytelling, artistic growth, and musical collaboration. The album has continued to receive a positive response from listeners, with the post-release event further demonstrating the excitement and momentum surrounding the project.Fans are encouraged to continue streaming Year of the Pen on their preferred digital music platforms and sharing their favourite tracks.The celebration of the album is set to continue with the upcoming release of the official music video for “Silence.” Additional information regarding the video release will be announced soon.

King Kaka Brings Year of the Pen to Life at Vibrant Post-Release Celebration

Contestants of the 69th Miss Ghana pageant have received vital, practical lessons in financial literacy, personal empowerment, and environmental sustainability during a comprehensive mentorship session hosted by Fidelity Bank Ghana LTD at the Bank’s head office in Accra.Held under the theme “Empowering Women, Enduring Legacy,” the engagement formed part of a strategic coaching series designed to prepare the contestants beyond the pageant stage, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to become effective ambassadors, entrepreneurs, and leaders in their communities.Addressing the contestants, Chair of the Miss Ghana Foundation, Inna Patty, Esq., expressed her profound appreciation to Fidelity Bank Ghana for partnering with the organization to empower the young women through financial education. “Partnering with an institution that consistently champions financial inclusion and national development is an honour, and we thank you for your warm hospitality and shared commitment to empowering young women,” she said.Speaking directly to the contestants, whom she described as the nation’s future queens, Inna Patty stressed that financial confidence and strategic independence are just as essential as beauty, intellect, and passion. She explained that winning the Miss Ghana crown comes with significant responsibilities, including leading community projects under the Miss Ghana Foundation’s Beauty With A Purpose initiative.&nbsp;“The Miss Ghana crown is a powerful platform, but to make a lasting, sustainable impact on your communities, you must be equipped to make sound financial decisions. Whether you are funding a community project, pitching to corporate partners, or building your own entrepreneurial path, your financial literacy is your foundation,” Inna Patty added.&nbsp;Driving Practical SustainabilityAs part of the session's focus on creating a lasting legacy, Fidelity Bank Ghana LTD highlighted its internal and community-led environmental initiatives, underscoring that sustainability is a collective responsibility. Contestants learned about the bank's innovative "Waste-to-Cash" system, which actively reduces paper waste and cuts operational costs by converting archived paper into toilet rolls.Fidelity Bank also shared its stringent internal policies against plastic pollution, which include a total ban on single-use plastic bottles and takeaway containers within office premises."We see what waste is doing to our communities. Areas that never used to flood are now experiencing severe flooding due to plastic waste clogging our drains and ending up in our oceans," stated by Majorie Quansah, the Bank's representative during the presentation. "Sustainability isn't just for people who studied environmental science; we all have a vital role to play in protecting our environment for future generations."The bank also highlighted its Corporate Social Responsibility, Employee Volunteering Program and the Orange Women’s Network (OWN), which actively support community healthcare, financial literacy, menstrual hygiene, and the construction and renovation of education infrastructure, such as the schools under the Orange Impact initiative and the recently renovated Dzorwulu Special School playground funded by the Orange Women's Network.Fueling Youth and Female EntrepreneurshipTo bridge the funding gap for young innovators and provide tangible avenues for the contestants' entrepreneurial dreams, Fidelity Bank Ghana LTD detailed several tailored financial and non-financial support mechanisms available through its youth and women empowerment initiatives:The Orange Corners Innovation Fund: A partnership with the Kingdom of Netherlands providing grants and loans at concessionary rates to established, legitimate youth-led businesses (ages 18 to 35).Fidelity Young Entrepreneurs Initiative: Offering concessionary loans at a competitive 10% interest rate. To account for local economic realities and support women, the bank has progressively extended the eligible age framework up to 40 years for men and 45 years for women.Green Tech Innovation Challenge: An annual initiative that has supported 16 agricultural businesses with a total of GHS 1.02 million over the past year.Orange Inspire Creative Challenge: A program designed to foster growth in Ghana’s thriving creative arts, fashion, and content creation industries, which awarded GHS 550,000 in grants to its finalists in the 2025 competition.Beyond capital, the bank offers extensive non-financial support, including a comprehensive 6-month mentorship program pairing young business owners with experienced industry professionals to instill robust business ethics and financial discipline.A Lasting Partnership for National DevelopmentIn her welcome remarks, the Director of Marketing at Fidelity Bank Ghana, Esi Mills-Robertson, said empowering women begins with equipping them with the knowledge to make confident financial decisions. She noted that while many people spend years in school, few receive formal education on managing money, making financial literacy one of the most essential life skills. She added that Fidelity Bank was proud to support the contestants with practical financial knowledge that would serve them well beyond the pageant and enable them to create lasting impact in their communities."At Fidelity Bank, we believe success is built not only on talent, confidence and ambition, but also on knowledge. Financial literacy is a life skill that everyone deserves because it empowers people to make informed decisions, build wealth and plan for the future. Through initiatives like our Orange Women's Network, we are intentional about investing in the growth and empowerment of women, and we are delighted to extend that commitment to the remarkable young women of Miss Ghana.We hope they leave here not only better informed, but inspired to become champions of financial literacy wherever life takes them.Representing the contestants, Davinia expressed profound gratitude to Fidelity Bank for opening its doors and providing invaluable mentorship that will guide them well beyond the pageant stage. The session concluded with an interactive Q&amp;A session, networking, and a group photography session.The 69th edition of the Miss Ghana pageant is organized by Exclusive Events Ghana, with key support from Multimedia Ghana (including Joy FM, Hitz FM, Luv FM, MyJoyOnline, and Joy News) and Fidelity Bank Ghana LTD, alongside a robust network of corporate and media partners dedicated to nurturing women who inspire positive change and contribute to the country’s development through service and advocacy.

Fidelity Bank Equips Miss Ghana 2026 Contestants With Financial Literacy, Sustainability, And Entrepreneurship Skills

Manhyia Palace has publicly contradicted claims by former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Adwoa Safo, denying that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II approved any burial date for her late father, Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka. Manhyia Palace publicly denies Adwoa Safo's claims of Otumfuo approving the burial date of her late father Kwadwo Safo Kantanka. A representative of the palace addressed the matter on Opemsuo Radio, a Kumasi-based station widely regarded as the official mouthpiece of Asanteman, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The spokesperson stated plainly that Otumfuo had not fixed any date for the funeral of the late Kristo Asafo Mission founder. He said: "Prof Ing. Kwadwo Safo lived an accomplished life and achieved everything. After his death, Otumfuo was informed as part of tradition, just like Daddy Lumba's own. It is not Manhyia who has set a date for someone to organise any burial."

Manhyia Denies Adwoa Safo's Claims of Otumfuo Approving Burial

For years, Eghosa Obaizamomwan Hamilton believed she knew what a teacher was supposed to look like. For years, she regularly straightened her hair to blend into an educational system in which professional standards mirrored Eurocentric norms, and taught the standard curriculum, careful not to stray from the norm.Then the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools online.Away from the classroom and the daily scrutiny of institutional expectations, Hamilton began growing her locs. As they grew, she also found herself including more Black voices in her classroom. She became more willing to challenge traditional teaching methods.Most importantly, Hamilton said, she became more herself.“As I started wearing protective styles and eventually got my locs, I realized my pedagogy was changing with my hair,” Hamilton told attendees during an author talk focused on her new book, “Articulations, A Radical Methodology for Black Pedagogy: Redefining Education Through Black Women’s Hair Experiences” last month in Sacramento, California. “When I got my locs, I felt like I was fully loaded with having a very Black-centered approach to teaching.”Appearance and acceptanceFor Hamilton, every Black woman carries a hair story. The sting of chemical relaxers that burned their scalps. Being told their natural hair looked “unkempt” or “unprofessional.” Family, media, schools, or workplaces often deliver the same message: Their natural hair is unacceptable and must be changed.Hamilton argues that their stories are far more than memories about appearance.“They shape how Black women move through educational spaces,” she said. “How do students’ views of their hair impact their experience of school?”That message connected with many educators in the audience.Tiffany Herndon, an education consultant and founder of the nonprofit College Engine Inc., said Hamilton’s discussion captured a tension Black educators commonly navigate: motivating students to accept their identity while preparing them to succeed in systems that have not always embraced them.“How much do I ask you to assimilate for advancement?” Herndon said. “And how much of that means losing your identity?”‘Blackness is greatness’For Herndon, the challenge is helping Black students understand that they do not have to sacrifice who they are to succeed.“It’s that negotiation between self-love and survival,” she said.As a former high school teacher and Black Student Union advisor, Herndon said educators need to build spaces intentionally where Black students feel seen and appreciated. “You have to walk the walk,” she said. “You have to have honest conversations, and you have to instill cultural pride. My thing is that Blackness is greatness.”Hair, she explained, is connected with race, identity, history, and belonging. Before the transatlantic slave trade, African hairstyles communicated family lineage, status, and community. Enslaved Africans often had their heads shaved upon capture, stripping away those cultural markers.Centuries later, Hamilton argues, Black women still negotiate messages about which hairstyles are acceptable. Those pressures continue despite growing legal protections such as California’s CROWN Act), which prohibits discrimination based on natural hairstyles associated with race.Hamilton described hair as a “racial marker” that still influences how Black women are perceived in classrooms and workplaces. Her research explores “post-traumatic hair subversion” — the phenomenon of Black women regaining agency after years of hearing their natural hair is less professional, beautiful, or acceptable.Rather than framing Black women’s hair stories solely through trauma, Hamilton wanted to document the strength and creativity they bring to dealing with those experiences. Those experiences spoke to Rita Barrera, a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher in Stockton, California.‘You won’t get a job’As a teenager, Barrera admired successful Black women who wore locs, and she wanted to wear them herself. Her mother discouraged the decision. “‘Don’t do that. You won’t be able to get a job,’” Barrera recalled being told.She wore them anyway, but repeatedly faced questions about whether they were clean or if she had washed her hair. Later, as she experienced hair loss, Barrera said, she worried whether a shaved head would be acceptable.“I was afraid to show up at my job without any hair,” she said. “Those who wanted to say something negative stayed silent. Those who said, ‘Oh, my gosh, I love it’ helped lift me up.”Barrera said she has seen progress since California passed the CROWN Act in 2019. She no longer hears colleagues criticizing Black students’ hairstyles, but she believes schools still have work to do.Many campuses now have “care closets” stocked with hygiene products for low-income students, she said, but few include combs or products for Black hair. “Even if a [Black] child did need help with their hair, they have nowhere to go,” Barrera said.Hamilton said authentic change begins with shifting the messages children receive about themselves. She said one participant in her research intentionally wore cornrows to a job interview. “‘If they have a problem with my hair,’ Hamilton recalled the woman saying, ‘I don’t want to work there.’”Hairstyle as self-determinationFor Hamilton, growing her locs was as much an act of self-definition as a hairstyle. She challenged families, educators, and communities to think carefully about the messages children receive about their hair.“If you’re altering your appearance because of outside pressure,” she said, “there’s danger there.”Instead, she hopes young people learn to make choices rooted in confidence rather than conformity. That lesson has become strongly personal.Hamilton, now the mother of a young daughter, said she is constantly aware of the words she uses while doing her daughter’s hair and the messages those words might carry. Every night, she gives her daughter the same affirmation: “I love my hair.”For Hamilton, those four words are part of a broader vision of liberation, one in which Black children enter classrooms already believing the parts of themselves that institutions have often questioned are worthy, beautiful, and enough.

How one teacher’s locs changed her classroom

Africa’s largest cement producer is targeting a debut on the London Stock Exchange as early as September 2026.The planned secondary listing, which adds London alongside its primary home market on the Nigerian Exchange, aims to broaden global investor participation for Africa’s largest building materials producer, which holds a market valuation of over $11 billion.By offering shares on a secondary exchange, Dangote Cement will allow international funds across Europe and North America to buy and trade its stock directly in major global currencies, bypassing local currency conversion and settlement hurdles.While the company previously evaluated multiple venues across Europe and the Middle East, recent regulatory adjustments in the UK have made London a more accessible and efficient option for dual-listed emerging market corporations.<h2>Reasons Behind the Exchange Preference</h2>According to Bloomberg, Mariya Dangote, daughter of Africa’s richest man and a board member of Dangote Cement Plc, stated that shares can be sold more quickly on the UK exchange compared to alternative international listing hubs.The decision underscores the conglomerate's commitment to securing swift access to global institutional liquidity while maintaining its primary market foundation in Lagos, Nigeria.<h2>Expansion and capital market objectives</h2>The proposed offering could involve selling approximately 10% of the firm's equity to foreign institutional investors.Aliko Dangote (President &amp; CEO - Dangote Group) speaks on stage during Semafor World Economy 2026 on April 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. [Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Semafor World Economy]Dangote Cement currently operates across 11 African nations with an installed production capacity of 55 million tonnes annually. The company has a goal of reaching over 80 million tonnes by 2030.This secondary listing forms part of a broader capital markets plan for Dangote Industries, which also includes preparing its $20 billion petroleum refinery and fertilizer divisions for future public market debuts.The move aligns with commitments made by Aliko Dangote during an interview with the School of Hard Knocks channel.Explaining that valuation models on Forbes and other platforms often underestimate his wealth because major assets remain unlisted, the billionaire stated,"Most of our businesses are not listed yet... It will come out soon."

Daughter of Africa’s richest billionaire reveals why her father picked London over Dubai for cement listing

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has installed 59 natural gas turbines for its Colossus 2 data center project in Tennessee without securing federal clean air permits, according to communications between regulators and xAI representatives.Potential emissions from the turbines are far beyond the threshold that would require a federal permit, and would be released near predominantly Black communities already estimated to be suffering disproportionately high rates of lung disease, according to a Reuters analysis based on government data and information in the correspondence with regulators.The findings, which have not been previously reported, reflect how exploding electricity demand from AI data centers is driving companies to build off-grid power plants at a pace outstripping environmental oversight, with potentially big risks to public health.The number of unpermitted turbines identified by Reuters is about double what xAI has publicly acknowledged. The company previously said it was running 27 unpermitted turbines for Colossus 2 as of January and has argued the permits are not required. At least 57 of the 59 turbines are located in Mississippi, just over the state line from Tennessee where the data center is located.The xAI turbines are among scores of off-grid power plants for data centers proposed or under construction around the country. Local authorities often fast-track approvals in just weeks or months, without the years of environmental studies and public hearings typically required for such power generation projects that connect to the grid, Mississippi regulators in March issued a permit for permanent turbines for Colossus 2, allowing construction of 41 gas-fired turbines. The approval came three weeks after the state's only public hearing on the project.The xAI cluster of temporary turbines in Mississippi is already among the biggest off-grid data center power projects, according to Ben King, an analyst with think tank Rhodium Group, who reviewed the Reuters analysis.“This looks to be an unprecedented level of behind-the-meter gas being installed in one place,” he said, referring to off-grid natural gas plants serving just one customer.The communications reviewed by Reuters show xAI, now owned by trillionaire Musk’s SpaceX, has installed 57 off-grid turbines in Southaven, Mississippi, just across the state line from its Colossus 2 data center in Memphis, a facility supporting the Grok chatbot and other AI systems. The records show the company has also installed two other unpermitted turbines for the project on a different site. Reuters could not determine the location.The communications, obtained through a Reuters public records request, included emails between Trinity Consultants, representing xAI and subsidiary MZX Tech, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).xAI did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.xAI's turbines are part of a widening environmental justice battle over whether the AI boom is adding disproportionate pollution burdens to communities of color.Civil rights groups including the NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center sued xAI in April to halt their operations, arguing the turbines produce emissions subject to the federal Clean Air Act and shouldn’t be operated without permits. They contend the turbines are polluting homes, schools and churches in historically Black communities.“The scale of it is astonishing,” said Patrick Anderson, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. “This is an absolutely huge Clean Air Act violation that threatens public health.”Securing a Clean Air Act permit would have exposed xAI’s project to extensive review and public comment, potentially taking years. Mississippi environmental regulators and xAI have argued in court filings that the turbines are exempt because they are “mobile” and intended to operate onsite for less than a year.“MDEQ has determined that portable/temporary turbines do not require an air permit,” the agency said in a statement to Reuters.An xAI shuttle sign for workers, in Southaven, Mississippi, U.S., May 30, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin WurmThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in January 2026 that even temporary turbines exceeding emissions thresholds must obtain permits. The agency, however, told Reuters it’s considering changes allowing “regulatory flexibilities” for portable units while continuing to protect public health.xAI, the MDEQ and the EPA did not answer questions from Reuters about pollution impacts on communities of color from power generation to serve data centers.The U.S. Justice Department weighed in on the lawsuit in a June 15 filing, saying that restricting the turbines could threaten national security interests because xAI's systems support U.S. military operations, including operations involving Iran.The outcome of the lawsuit filed by civil rights groups could help define how environmental laws apply to the fast-growing AI sector, where companies are scrambling to bring power supplies online to support energy-intensive computing.“This sets up scenarios where the government can create sacrifice zones and tell communities they have to breathe illegal air pollution," said Mary Rock, a senior attorney for Earthjustice which is representing the NAACP and SELC.This is a massive amount of turbines and an unfathomable amount of air pollution.&nbsp;Southaven resident Shannon SamsaThe dispute echoes the findings of a 2022 study by researchers from UCLA and Columbia University and published in the Nature Energy journal that found that previously redlined communities – where banks historically discriminated against Black mortgage applicants – now face disproportionately high exposure to pollutants from fossil fuel facilities."Air pollution from these and other sources contributes to systemic racial disparities in chronic disease and ultimately shorter lives," Lara Cushing, a UCLA public health professor who co-authored the study, told Reuters.The emails reviewed by Reuters included the manufacturer emissions profiles for 32 of the 59 turbines, including 30 at the Southaven site.A Reuters analysis based on that information found that those 30 turbines alone could emit nearly 2,500 short tons of nitrogen oxide, 4,000 short tons of carbon monoxide and 22 short tons of formaldehyde annually, assuming they operate continuously at 80% of capacity. According to the EPA, gas turbines are typically operated at loads of 80% or more to achieve efficiency.Nitrogen oxides contribute to smog and respiratory inflammation, according to the American Lung Association. Carbon monoxide deprives the body of oxygen, and formaldehyde is a carcinogen.The xAI site’s potential emissions far exceed a Clean Air Act threshold that requires permitting for facilities capable of more than 100 short tons annually of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide.“This is a massive amount of turbines and an unfathomable amount of air pollution,” Southaven resident Shannon Samsa said in an interview.“It’s not a hypothetical,” she said, “that air pollution is bad for you.”Director of the Safe and Sound Coalition, Shannon Samsa, poses for a portrait as xAI security drives past in Southaven, Mississippi, U.S., May 30, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin WurmThe nitrogen oxide emissions calculated by Reuters for about half the plant’s turbines would put the facility “up there with some of the heaviest polluting natural gas power plants across the entire country,” said Nicholas Mailloux, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies air quality and health benefits of the clean-energy transition.He said the facility would be on par with the top 25 U.S. gas plants for nitrogen oxide emissions, citing EPA data for actual emissions.In the Colonial Hills neighborhood of Southaven, the turbines serving Colossus 2 can be heard around the clock, often firing off noisy bursts that residents compare to jet engines.Ervin Laws, a Colonial Hills resident in his 20s, said the noise wakes him up at night. “I can’t do anything about it, because he’s got more money than me,” he said, referring to Musk.The turbines were installed in communities already estimated to be facing relatively high respiratory disease burdens, according to a Reuters analysis of CDC data.In 27 of 28 census tracts within five miles of the site – spanning both Mississippi and Tennessee – the estimated asthma rates were higher than their respective countywide figures. In 24 tracts, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rates were also higher.Five miles is a distance commonly used in environmental health research to capture populations likely to be exposed to air pollution from a stationary source.A separate Reuters analysis of Census Bureau data found that the residents living near the facility are disproportionately Black. Because the five-mile radius crosses state lines, Reuters compared each side against its own county baseline.Within five miles of the facility in DeSoto county, Mississippi – where the turbines are located – about 46% of residents are Black, compared with 33% countywide, according to census data.Ervin Laws, a Colonial Hills resident, poses for a portrait in front of his home in Southaven, Mississippi, U.S., May 30, 2026. Ervin lives in the Colonial Hills neighborhood that sits adjacent to xAI's gas turbine facility, where the constant noise of the turbines can be heard throughout the community. REUTERS/Kevin WurmAcross the state line in Tennessee, where residents have no say in Mississippi’s permitting process, about 94% of residents within five miles of the facility are Black, compared to 52% in surrounding Shelby County.Jayajit Chakraborty, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said the Reuters analysis was consistent with research that shows communities of color face higher exposure to fossil fuel pollution.Shelby County and portions of DeSoto County have also previously failed to meet federal ozone standards and remain subject to EPA-approved plans to ensure they do not slip back into violation, according to regulatory documents. Nitrogen oxide is a key precursor to ozone formation, which the EPA says can harm respiratory health."Given this community struggles with high asthma rates, additional NOx exposure at such high rates could exacerbate public health issues in a community that is already seeing more than its fair share of exposure to toxic air pollution," said Victoria Nelson, an independent environmental engineer, formerly at EPA.Sarah Gladney, 72, has watched the rapid expansion of xAI's Memphis-area presence from her home in the historically Black neighborhood of Boxtown, a few miles from where the company built its Colossus 1 data center in 2024."Once they got their foot in the door in Memphis, I feel like it's going to be a continuous movement of xAI into these other communities," she said. "It's all about the money, and it's not about the health or wellness of the people that live in or near these communities."

Pollution from Musk’s unpermitted xAI power project hits hardest in Black communities

Spain says smugglers exploited July court rulingMigrants cite online videos of successful crossings as triggerExperts question whether Moroccan authorities turned blind eyeGovernment will install maritime buoys to mark borderMADRID/CEUTA, July 31 (Reuters) - As 16-year-old Moroccan Ayoub El Abyad scrolled through Instagram videos showing ​migrants crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, he and his cousin, then still a 12-hour drive from the border, decided to try their luck."Migration ‌is about improving our lives. We agreed we would try the idea of crossing and trust in Allah," El Abyad told Reuters on the Moroccan side near the border with Ceuta, after completing the journey by hitching rides with two drivers.Get a look at the day ahead in European and global markets with the Morning Bid Europe newsletter.El Abyad was hoping to be one of roughly 60,000 migrants who entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco this week, in the biggest surge in recent history.In Morocco, ​where deep-seated anger towards poor public services and poverty spilled over late last year into major protests, many young people spend years waiting for a chance to ​cross the border in search of better prospects.A quarter of Moroccans aged between 15 and 24 are not in education, employment or training, ⁠official data show.When reports spread on social media about a Spanish Supreme Court ruling earlier in July that migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla ​could not be immediately turned back, many saw an opportunity.And calm seas at this time of year make swimming a more feasible option for migrants, said Mauricio Valiente, director of ​Spanish refugee charity CEAR."I came here to seek a better future," said Dounia Kherradi, a waitress from Lqliaa, a centre of last year's protests. "My salary is not enough to take care of my parents and I have a daughter... may God help us."<h2>FALSE INFORMATION</h2>Spain's Socialist government, which has generally taken a positive stance on migration, responded firmly to the surge. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called it a "violation of Spanish ​sovereignty" and pledged to return migrants to their countries of origin as quickly as possible.The foreign ministry blamed misleading information online that suggested migrants arriving by sea would be ​allowed to stay in Spain. While the court ruling ended immediate pushbacks, it still allows returns through normal legal procedures.Advertisement · Scroll to continueSanchez said Spain was considering changes to immigration law to strengthen repatriation measures.As an ‌interim measure, ⁠he said the government would install maritime buoys to signal a border in the sea.<h2>DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS?</h2>Some analysts have questioned whether Moroccan authorities turned a blind eye to the crossings, noting previous occasions when Rabat was accused of using migration as political leverage.The last major surge occurred in May 2021, when Moroccan authorities appeared to relax border controls, a move widely interpreted as retaliation for Spain's hosting of a Western Sahara independence leader.Advertisement · Scroll to continueMorocco does not recognise Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and the other Spanish enclave, Melilla, characterising the territories - both in Spanish hands ​for several centuries - as "occupied".Relations between Madrid and ​Rabat have improved in recent years after ⁠Spain backed Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Morocco but also sought as an independent state by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.However, Sanchez's visit to Algeria earlier this month was "not viewed positively in Rabat", said Haizam Amirah-Fernandez, director of the Centre for ​Contemporary Arab Studies in Madrid.Spain's Congress also recently approved a bill granting Spanish nationality to the descendants of Sahrawis, a move ​which experts say likely ⁠angered Morocco."One way of handling that is to send a not very subtle message," Amirah-Fernandez said.Morocco's government has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the crossings.Some commentators noted that the highest volume of crossings occurred on Throne Day, a major public holiday in Morocco marking the anniversary of King Mohammed VI's coronation, when most government offices are closed.In 2021, Morocco's foreign minister ⁠attributed the ​lax response by border authorities to the wave of migrants to "fatigue" among Moroccan police after Ramadan celebrations.Lahcen Haddad, ​who heads a Moroccan parliamentary committee on EU relations, rejected suggestions that politics played a role, echoing Spain's official interpretation that the crossings were triggered by misinformation about the Supreme Court ruling.Spain's foreign ministry said on Thursday ​bilateral ties with Morocco were "excellent and not affected by our good relationship with Algeria."

Social media rumours, economic hardship fuel migrant surge into Ceuta

The changes removed the previous first-generation limit for certain people born abroad before that date, potentially allowing more people with Canadian ancestry to claim Canadian citizenship.However, the changes do not mean everyone with a Canadian connection automatically becomes a citizen.Here are five things to know about the new rules.<h2>1. The First-Generation Limit Has Been Removed</h2>Bill C-3 removed Canada’s previous first-generation limit on citizenship by descent for people born before December 15, 2025.This means some individuals born outside Canada may now be recognised as Canadian citizens through a parent or more distant Canadian ancestor.The change could affect people who were previously unable to claim Canadian citizenship because their connection to Canada extended beyond the first generation born abroad.<h2>2. You Still Have to Prove Your Canadian Citizenship</h2>Being eligible for Canadian citizenship and proving that citizenship are two different things.People who believe they are Canadian under the new rules may need to apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate, which serves as official proof of their citizenship.The certificate can then be used when applying for a Canadian passport and accessing other rights and benefits associated with Canadian citizenship.<h2>3. You Need Documents Linking Each Generation</h2>Applicants cannot necessarily rely on a single document showing that an ancestor was Canadian.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires evidence establishing the family connection through the relevant generations.For example, an applicant may need birth certificates, marriage certificates and other official records showing how they are related to their Canadian ancestor.IRCC has emphasised the importance of providing “proof of parentage and Canadian citizenship for your Canadian parent, grandparent and parental ancestor as applicable.”The aim is to establish a clear documentary chain between the applicant and the Canadian citizen in their family history.<h2>4. Certain Circumstances Can Affect Eligibility</h2>Having a Canadian ancestor does not automatically guarantee citizenship.The citizenship chain can be affected by circumstances such as a parent renouncing Canadian citizenship before a child was born.Another issue can arise where a parent became a Canadian citizen only after their child was born. In such cases, the child may not have acquired Canadian citizenship through that parent at birth.Because citizenship histories can be complicated, applicants with unusual circumstances may need professional advice before submitting an application.<h2>5. Check Your Family History Before Applying</h2>Anyone who believes they may qualify should first establish their family’s citizenship history.This includes finding out where each relevant family member was born, when they acquired Canadian citizenship, whether anyone changed their name and whether anyone renounced their citizenship.Applicants should then gather official documents that establish the connection between the generations.The new rules could open the door to Canadian citizenship for people who were previously excluded by the first-generation limit, but eligibility still depends on the details of each individual case.Before applying for proof of citizenship, it is therefore important to understand your family history and ensure that the necessary documentation is available.

Canadian citizenship rules changed: 5 things to know

Ghana is stepping up efforts to transform its downstream petroleum sector, betting on the expansion of its first privately owned Sentuo refinery alongside upgrades to its state-owned refining infrastructure as it seeks to produce 70% of its fuel domestically.<ul><li>Ghana aims to produce 70% of its fuel domestically by expanding both its privately owned Sentuo Oil Refinery and the state-owned Tema Oil Refinery.</li><li>The Sentuo Oil Refinery, built by a Chinese group, is being expanded from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day with significant financial backing.</li><li>Tema Oil Refinery has resumed operations and plans for further expansion, though costs and timeline are yet to be announced.</li><li>Ghana's strategy is to meet domestic fuel demand and potentially support regional trade.</li></ul>The ambitious target, announced by Minister of Energy and Green Transition John Abdulai Jinapor during the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhIPCon 2026) in Accra, marks the country's latest attempt to reduce its dependence on imported refined petroleum products despite being an oil-producing nation since 2010."A refinery is much more than an industrial facility. It creates an ecosystem of economic activity by supporting transport and logistics companies, engineering services, local contractors, manufacturers, technology suppliers and thousands of skilled jobs," Jinapor said during the conference.The minister added that Ghana aims to become "a leading energy and petroleum hub in West Africa."The strategy centers on two major refinery projects that could significantly reshape Ghana's energy landscape while adding to West Africa's growing refining capacity.At the heart of Ghana's plans is the Sentuo Oil Refinery, the country's first privately owned refinery.Built by Chinese group Sentuo at a cost of $1.98 billion, the refinery began operations in January 2024 with an initial processing capacity of 40,000 barrels per day (bpd). The facility is now undergoing a major expansion backed by a $200 million loan coordinated by Ecobank Ghana, which will raise its capacity to 100,000 bpd.Alongside Sentuo, the government is also planning to expand the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Ghana's historic state-owned refinery.Tema resumed operations in December 2025 after years of inactivity and is currently processing about 28,000 bpd, below its installed capacity of 45,000 bpd. While the government has confirmed plans to expand the refinery, it has yet to announce the project's cost or implementation timeline.To ensure the refineries have sufficient feedstock, Ghana has allocated one million barrels of crude oil from the Jubilee oil field for domestic refining, with future allocations expected to prioritize the Tema Oil Refinery.Earlier this year, President Mahama welcomed the Sentuo Oil Refinery Phase 2 project, aiming for 100,000 barrels a day.Combined, the expansion of Sentuo and Tema would substantially increase Ghana's ability to process crude domestically, reducing reliance on imported fuels while strengthening energy security.Ghana's latest push comes as several West African countries accelerate investments in refining capacity in an effort to capture more value from their crude oil production and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.Nigeria has emerged as the region's refining powerhouse following the commissioning and subsequent expansion of the Dangote Refinery, which now has a refining capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day (bpd).The facility has significantly reduced Nigeria's reliance on imported petrol while increasing exports of refined petroleum products to neighboring African countries.Beyond the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria is also seeking to revive its state-owned refining sector.In May, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) signed a partnership framework with two Chinese firms to complete outstanding rehabilitation work, restart and expand the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, underscoring the country's broader ambition to strengthen domestic refining capacity.For Ghana, the strategy is different. Rather than competing directly with Nigeria's scale, it is focused on building enough domestic refining capacity to satisfy most of its own fuel demand while creating room for future regional trade.The combined expansion of Tema and Sentuo could also strengthen competition within West Africa's downstream petroleum market, giving buyers more supply options and reducing the region's historical dependence on fuel imports from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.Greater refining capacity across West Africa could improve fuel security, lower transportation costs, reduce exposure to global supply disruptions and encourage more intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).While Nigeria is expected to remain the region's dominant exporter of refined petroleum products for the foreseeable future, Ghana's investments signal that other West African producers are increasingly pursuing domestic refining as a strategic priority.If Ghana achieves its goal of producing 70% of its fuel locally, it would represent one of the country's biggest downstream energy milestones in decades and further strengthen West Africa's position as an emerging refining hub on the continent.

Ghana bets on its first privately owned $1.98 billion refinery in push to produce 70% of its fuel locally

The Black Maidens showed tremendous character to recover from an early setback before prevailing in a nerve-racking penalty shootout, with the second leg ending 1-1 and the overall tie finishing 2-2 across both matches.Having battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Dakar, both teams entered the return fixture knowing victory would secure a place at the global tournament in Morocco. Senegal made the stronger start and silenced the home crowd by taking the lead after just 10 minutes, placing Ghana under immediate pressure.Despite the early blow, the Black Maidens refused to panic. Coach Joe Nana Adarkwa’s side gradually settled into the contest, enjoying more possession and creating openings as they searched for an equaliser.Their persistence was rewarded moments before halftime when captain Seidatu, who plays for Oaks FC, produced a composed finish in the 44th minute after a well-worked attacking move. The goal brought the Accra Sports Stadium to life and ensured the teams headed into the break level at 1-1.The second half was fiercely contested as both nations pushed for the decisive goal. Ghana looked the more adventurous for long spells, while Senegal remained dangerous on the counterattack. However, both defences stood firm and neither goalkeeper was beaten again during regulation time.With the aggregate score tied at 2-2 and the qualification format requiring no extra time, the contest went directly to a penalty shootout.The shootout proved every bit as dramatic as the match itself. Both teams converted several spot-kicks with remarkable composure before Ghana eventually edged the Teranga Lionesses 7-6 to spark wild celebrations among the players, coaching staff and supporters.The victory underlined the Black Maidens’ resilience and mental strength, as they recovered from conceding early before holding their nerve in one of the most pressure-filled moments of their campaign.Ghana’s qualification is another major milestone for the country’s women’s youth football programme and gives the Black Maidens another opportunity to compete against the world’s finest young talents.The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be staged in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, with the Black Maidens now set to proudly represent Ghana on the global stage after an unforgettable qualifying triumph.

Ghana’s Black Maidens edge Senegal on penalties to secure 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams, who featured in Bafana Bafana's run to the World Cup round of 32, has died, the South African Football Players Union confirmed Saturday. He was 25.Adams started two of South Africa's three group games and came off the bench in a 1-0 win over South Korea that sealed their place in the knockout rounds for the first time in their history on June 24.He was an unused substitute when South Africa were knocked out of the tournament by Canada on June 28."Jayden had only recently represented South Africa at the FIFA World Cup, carrying the hopes of the nation with pride, courage and distinction," the South African Football Players Union said in a statement. "His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, teammates, clubs, the football fraternity and the country at large."We extend our deepest condolences to the Adams family, Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch FC, Bafana Bafana and all those whose lives he touched."South African football has lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer."Further details of his death were not given."Cape Town Central police registered an Inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday, 2026-07-11 at 11:06 at a premises in Military Road, Scotscheskloof," Western Cape South African Police Service spokesperson F.C. van Wyk told ESPN."Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation."Jayden Adams, who appeared for South Africa at the World Cup, has died at the age of 25. Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesAdams started South Africa's 2-0 loss to Mexico and 1-1 draw with Czechia, playing in the latter game despite the death of his grandmother, Marianna Adams, the previous day.Adams then came off the bench in the 1-0 win over South Korea, which proved to be his final game."When I reached out to Jayden [following the death of his grandmother] to offer my condolences and encouragement, I shall carry forever the humble, appreciative response he gave me," Minister of Sports, Arts &amp; Culture of South Africa Gayton McKenzie said in a Saturday statement."That he chose to wear the national jersey and give his all for his country in that moment speaks to a depth of character and professionalism well beyond his years, and it reflects the caliber of young man South Africa has lost."A moment of silence in memory of Adams was held before Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal between Norway and England."It is so incredibly sad to hear that South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has passed away just weeks after featuring in his nation's historic FIFA World Cup campaign," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement posted on social media."My thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and team-mates. The Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace."Adams played several seasons for Stellenbosch before joining Mamelodi Sundowns last year.Adams won the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in May and dedicated his winners' medal to Oshwin Andries, a former Stellenbosch teammate who died in 2023 after a stabbing.Mamelodi Sundowns said they were "devastated by the tragic passing of Jayden Adams.""We pray that the Almighty God comforts and strengths the Adams family, his friends and everyone that knew him," the club added."Sundowns respectfully ask that the family's privacy be honoured as they grieve this profound loss."Adams and Andries came up the ranks at Stellenbosch together, and the club suffered the loss of another young player early in 2026 with the death of Jeandre Gaffoor.

South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams dies at age 25, weeks after World Cup appearance

Premier League and Ghana international forward Antoine Semenyo has been appointed Global Brand Ambassador for Ahmad Tea, the British tea company announced on Wednesday, June 10.The partnership comes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Semenyo is expected to play a key role for the Black Stars.According to Ahmad Tea, the collaboration is built on shared values of dedication, discipline and preparation, and forms part of the company’s new global campaign dubbed “Preparation is Everything.”The campaign seeks to highlight the importance of commitment, attention to detail and excellence in achieving success, drawing parallels between the process of crafting tea blends and preparing for elite-level sport.As part of the partnership, Semenyo will feature in Ahmad Tea’s global marketing activities, including television advertising, digital and social media campaigns, retail promotions, experiential events and public relations initiatives.The company said the forward will also star in a television commercial later this year that explores how preparation contributes to success both on and off the football pitch.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.amazonaws.com/e3b43f8f8SEMENYO-2.png">In Ghana, Ahmad Tea plans to roll out a dedicated programme under the campaign, featuring nationwide retail promotions, fan engagement activities, consumer competitions and digital content centred on the Black Stars’ World Cup journey.The company said it will also use the initiative to share Semenyo’s story from grassroots football to the international stage, with the aim of inspiring young Ghanaians through messages of hard work, discipline and perseverance.Speaking on the appointment, Semenyo said he was proud to partner with the brand, describing its emphasis on preparation as a principle that aligns closely with his football career.“One of their important messages is that preparation is everything. They are talking about making their tea, and in that is a message that I live by in my career: you have to be ready,” he said.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1984fb849SEMENYO-1.png">He added that preparation extends beyond matchday and includes training, recovery, nutrition, studying opponents and reflecting on performances.Head of Global Brand Marketing at Ahmad Tea, Tracey Wakelin, said Semenyo’s journey and values made him an ideal ambassador for the company.“We are delighted to welcome Antoine Semenyo to the Ahmad Tea family as our new Global Brand Ambassador. Antoine’s story is one of hard work, determination and continuous improvement – qualities that perfectly embody our ‘Preparation is Everything’ campaign,” she said.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/f3e487adbSEMENYO-3.png">Wakelin noted that Semenyo’s popularity in Ghana and beyond, coupled with the upcoming World Cup, presents an opportunity for the brand to connect with consumers through an authentic story about excellence and achievement.Ahmad Tea products are sold in more than 90 countries worldwide. The company said Semenyo will feature in a range of international campaigns across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia throughout 2026 and beyond.About Ahmad TeaAhmad Tea is an award-winning British tea company founded in Hampshire, England. Family-owned and operated, the company combines four generations of tea expertise with an unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship.Today, Ahmad Tea products are enjoyed in more than 90 countries worldwide, serving over 30 million cups of tea every day. The company sources the finest leaves from leading tea-growing regions around the world and maintains rigorous tasting and quality-control standards to ensure every blend delivers an exceptional tea-drinking experience.Beyond tea, Ahmad Tea is committed to creating a positive impact in communities around the world through its charitable and sustainability initiatives. Through Ahmad Tea’s sustainability programme, ‘Infused with Impact’, the company supports projects focused on education, healthcare, community development and humanitarian relief, helping improve the lives of thousands of people globally.The company has funded schools, hospitals, clean water programmes and emergency aid projects across multiple countries and remains committed to supporting the communities connected to its global supply chain. Ahmad Tea also works closely with tea-growing partners and industry organisations to promote responsible sourcing practices and support the long-term sustainability of tea-growing communities.Driven by a passion for quality and a belief in bringing people together, Ahmad Tea continues to connect cultures and communities around the world through the shared enjoyment of great tea.About Antoine SemenyoAntoine Semenyo is one of the most exciting attacking talents in world football and a Ghana international who currently plays in the Premier League for Manchester City.Born in London and proudly representing Ghana on the international stage, Semenyo’s rise to the top of the game is a story of determination, resilience and relentless self-improvement. Having progressed through the English football pyramid before establishing himself in the Premier League, he has become renowned for his pace, power, versatility and work ethic.Since making his senior debut for Ghana in 2022, Semenyo has become a key figure for the Black Stars, representing the nation at major international tournaments including the FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. He has earned more than 30 senior international caps and scored crucial goals for his country, cementing his place as one of Ghana’s leading footballing ambassadors.Following a standout spell in the Premier League, where he scored 30 league goals in just over 100 appearances and established himself as one of the division’s most dynamic forwards, Semenyo completed a high-profile move to Manchester City in 2026.Admired for his professionalism, humility and commitment to continuous improvement, Semenyo embodies the values of preparation, dedication and excellence that sit at the heart of Ahmad Tea’s global “Preparation is Everything” campaign. As Ahmad Tea’s Global Brand Ambassador, he will help inspire consumers around the world through a shared belief that success is built long before the moment of performance._Source: Citi News

Antoine Semeny; Ghana’s star boy.

The goalkeeper you see prostrating in front of you is genuinely living the best days of his life.This is Benjamin Asare, Ghana’s 33-year-old goalkeeper, who made three saves today and kept a clean sheet against England before celebrating after the game with this prostration.What makes his story special is that almost nobody knew who he was. For most of his career, he played in Ghana’s second division. On top of that, his financial situation was so difficult that he had to work on cocoa farms for three straight years just to support his family and keep his football dream alive.The remarkable part is that Asare kept pushing until he earned a move to Ghanaian top-flight side Accra Hearts of Oak in 2025. He then received his first-ever call-up to the Ghana national team during the World Cup qualifiers, where he played six games and conceded just one goal.Asare went on to become the first Ghanaian player in history to represent his country at a World Cup while playing in the domestic league. He also made six saves across games against Panama and England and didn’t concede a single goal.Glory to those who never stop working for their dreams. To every Ghanaian reading this: congratulations. You should be proud. Stories like Benjamin Asare’s are what make football beautiful, and seeing one of your own rise from cocoa farms to the World Cup stage is something worth celebrating. 🇬🇭❤️

Benjamin Asare - Ghana secrete weapon

The northeast corner of Lower Simcoe and Bremner Boulevard turned into a celebration on Monday night as hundreds of Ghanaian soccer fans gathered to welcome their beloved Black Stars to Toronto.Ghana's national team arrived in the city ahead of its FIFA World Cup opening Group K match against Panama on Wednesday, and the players were greeted with a traditional jama celebration outside their downtown hotel.Fans began gathering outside the hotel a few hours before the team bus arrived, singing and cheering to help pass the time and build anticipation. When the team bus pulled in around 6 p.m. on Monday evening, the fans erupted.<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZoE3x5PEKf/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1074&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogto.com&amp;rp=%2Fsports_play%2F2026%2F06%2Fhundreds-ghana-fans-surprise-team-toronto%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A13691.29999999702%2C%22ls%22%3A4031.3999999910593%2C%22le%22%3A13618.09999999404%7D"></iframe>When the team got off the bus, Ghana's former captain and all-time leading scorer, Asamoah Gyan, joined supporters outside the hotel and led a light jama session of his own.For those unfamiliar with jama, it's a style of group singing and chanting, accompanied by dancing and percussion, that's popular among Ghanaian soccer supporters.The fact that hundreds of supporters greeted the team in Toronto isn't surprising, given that an estimated 28,000 Canadians of Ghanaian descent live in Ontario.That passion should carry through to the game and the FIFA Fan Festival on Wednesday.Ghana is also one of three West African nations scheduled to play matches in Toronto during the tournament. Ivory Coast will face Germany this weekend, while African powerhouse Senegal takes on Iraq next week.Before Ghana's opening match against Panama, the team will first hold a training session at Centennial Park in Etobicoke on Tuesday night.After Wednesday's game, the Black Stars will head to Boston for a showdown with England, while Panama will remain in Toronto to face Croatia on June 23.

Hundreds of Ghana fans surprise FIFA World Cup team at Toronto hotel

SEOUL, July 25 (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung ​Electronics (005930.KS), and SK ‌Hynix (000660.KS),&nbsp;will pursue memory chip supply ​partnership with ​U.S. big tech companies ⁠including Nvidia (NVDA.O), worth $950 billion overall, ​South Korea's presidential adviser said on Saturday.It ​includes the ​long-term supply of $750 billion ‌in ⁠memory chips to U.S. companies by SK Hynix ​and $200 ​billion ⁠in chips by Samsung ​Electronics to ​Broadcom (AVGO.O), the presidential adviser, Kim Yong-beom, ⁠told ​a briefing.

South Korea's SK Hynix, Samsung Elec sign $950 bln partnership with US big tech

Home Affairs is working on new South African digital IDs that will store all particulars on your smartphone. And yes, it is a big deal …Good news, Home Affairs is working on new South African digital IDs that will keep all pertinent information on your smartphone. Think of it as a digital version of your identity document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and any other official government documents (UIF, SARS, SASSA, etc) that you can keep on your smartphone.But hang on a moment, do the planned South African digital IDs mean the end of the current paper booklet and plastic Smart ID cards? Yes and no … Yes, in the future you will be able to prove who you are only using facial or fingerprint recognition (biometrics) digitally. However, traditional green ID books and Smart ID cards are not going anywhere.The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) explains that South African digital IDs are merely ‘an extra option’ and not an outright replacement. It is completely voluntary and nobody will be forced to use it. But why …?Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber is focused on fully digitising his department, but not to the point he exclude any residents. Image: FileSo, why is the DHA creating South African digital IDs, only to make them non-mandatory? There are a few reasons:<ul><li>The added security will it make it harder for criminals to steal your identity.</li><li>It will cut down on fraud, corruption and illegal immigration.</li><li>To let you access government services directly from your smartphone.</li><li>It speeds up processes that currently require you to stand in long queues.</li></ul>In turn, government says nobody should be left out of this system. Physical IDs will remain in use, so the neediest residents who don’t have a smartphone or reliable internet, won’t be any worse off.Moreover, security experts say the new South African digital IDs actually possess very strong security. This includes face-matching technology to confirm you’re a real person, fingerprint checks to prevent duplicate identities, and encrypted digital documents that are impossible to fake.Likewise, privacy laws (POPIA) will also strictly govern how your data is used.

South African digital IDs: Here’s everything you need to know

Dr. Hallowed Oluwadara Olaoluwa has emerged as one of Africa’s most remarkable academic prodigies, earning recognition as one of the youngest PhD holders on the continent after completing his doctorate in Mathematics at the University of Lagos at just 24.His journey, marked by exceptional academic milestones and record-breaking achievements, continues to inspire young scholars across Nigeria and beyond.Born on September 27, 1989, in Bangui to Nigerian missionary parents from Ekiti State, Olaoluwa’s journey has been defined by exceptional brilliance and record-breaking achievements from an early age.He completed his primary and secondary education with four double promotions and passed the French Baccalauréat (equivalent to A’ Levels) in Sciences at the age of 14, making him one of the youngest to achieve that milestone in the Central African Republic at the time.Olaoluwa went on to attend the University of Bangui, where he undertook the rare challenge of studying two degree programmes simultaneously. At just 18, he graduated in 2007 with First Class Honours in both Mathematics and Physics.His outstanding performance earned him multiple accolades, including the All-Time Best B.Sc. Student in Mathematics and the Best B.Sc. Student in Physics.Not stopping there, he repeated the extraordinary feat at the postgraduate level, completing two Master’s degrees in Mathematics and Physics concurrently at the same institution. He graduated at 19 with first class in both programmes, becoming the first and only student at the university to accomplish such.Related NewsIn pursuit of higher academic excellence, Olaoluwa enrolled at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he obtained his PhD in Mathematics in January 2014 at age 24. Specialising in Functional Analysis with a focus on Fixed Point Theory, he graduated with a perfect CGPA of 5.00/5.00.His doctoral performance earned him the Overall Best Graduating PhD Student award for the 2012–2013 academic session, as well as the Best PhD Graduate in the Engineering/Sciences category.Olaoluwa’s academic journey also includes international recognition. He received an offer to pursue advanced studies at Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI) in France and later became a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University between 2015 and 2016, where he worked on quantum ergodicity in mathematical physics. He is also a fellow of the Next Einstein Forum.Over the years, he has received several awards, including the Ekiti State Merit Award (2014), Youngest PhD Holder in Africa of the Year (2014), and the Young Achievers Award by the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation. He was also recognised by the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum as the Youngest Academic Achiever in Nigeria.Fluent in French, English, and Yoruba, Olaoluwa currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Lagos, where he continues to teach, mentor, and inspire the next generation of scholars.

Meet Hallowed Olaoluwa, UNILAG lecturer who had double First Class at 18, PhD at 24

An Indian entrepreneur has claimed that he was denied a US visa after officials ruled he lacked sufficient ties to his home country. Swapnil Srivastav, founder of a sustainable bamboo kidswear brand with $12 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), shared the setback on social media. Despite employing over 100 people and securing top-tier venture capital backing, Srivastav was deemed disconnected from the country his business actively serves.Srivastav explained that having been born and raised in India, he has strong family and cultural ties, making it difficult for him to understand exactly what US officials were looking for in his visa application."Got denied a US visa today. Reason: “Not enough ties to home country.” I built a Series A company from scratch, employ 100+ people, have backing from top VCs and investors, and serve millions of Indian families through our brand," Srivastav said in an X (formerly Twitter) post.Srivastav sought advice from those who were similarly denied their visa as to what could be done differently in the next attempt."Apparently, that's not enough ties. Anyway, founders are used to hearing “no.” Will reapply after some time. If you've been through this and eventually got approved, would love to hear your suggestions."As the post gained traction, social media users empathised with Srivastav, sharing similar experiences, while others suggested a workaround for the issue."This is unfortunate, a friend of mine spent four years in the US got O1 Visa and when she went back to India, she was denied on similar grounds," said one user, while another added: "Wish you luck for your next application. I was rejected 5 times before I got US stamp on my passport."A third commented: "Have seen this trick working in most of the cases. Book any Event ticket happening in the USA. That should be your purpose of visit. This eliminates a number of questions and make smooth process. As it makes sure once event is done, you'll fly back to your home country. Eg. Want to experience a FIFA WC match."A fourth said: "Yeah same stuff. They don't even check your bank balance lol. Whatever. Going to Morocco instead. Will apply later when things calm down maybe. Not that I need to go there for anything important."

'Not Enough Ties To India': Entrepreneur's US Visa Denied Despite Building $12 Million Empire

A total of 262 passengers and three officials were on board the flight to Lagos, according to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry earlier said over 1,000 Nigerians have registered for voluntary return.Authorities in South Africa said the returnees were found to be in the country illegally, contradicting Nigerian officials that they were fleeing xenophobic attacks.Nigeria is the latest African nation to organize such evacuation flights from South Africa. Since April, a series of anti-immigration protests have led to attacks against some foreigners. The protests highlight tensions between foreign workers and locals who claim foreigners are taking their jobs. South African officials have condemned them as xenophobic acts.Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the president ordered the “evacuation of imperiled Nigerian citizens who consider their lives at risk by continued stay in South Africa.”“The price of your peace, and the safety of your children is not worth any sacrifices you have to make, or any assets you have to leave behind when fleeing a conflict zone or hate-infested environment,” the minister said in a message to those returning.Humanitarian Affairs Minister Bernard Doro criticized the treatment of Nigerians, who he said were “living in South Africa legally.”“If there were issues of illegality, that would be determined on a person-to-person basis. You can’t just crown the entire Nigerians living in South Africa as living there illegally,” Doro said.Some returnees told The Associated Press they didn’t have proper documentation in South Africa. And some said they had not been able to renew their residency papers for years, because of immigration bottlenecks they say were imposed on Nigerians by South African authorities.“I was in South Africa for 11 years, and I was treated badly. They did not give us (Nigerians) resident permits because we were Nigerians,” Eminaba Beatrice said.The evacuation by Nigeria follows Ghana ‘s repatriation of about 1,000 nationals from South Africa. Officials in South Africa said that most of the Ghanaians who returned home were undocumented.

First group of Nigerians returns home after anti-immigration protests in South Africa

A pregnant woman from Ghana and her young son who spent more than a week in a windowless detention room at a Washington airport have been ordered deported and are flying back to Africa, her lawyers said Friday.Annabella Gyasi, 38, arrived May 19 at Washington Dulles International Airport ahead of a medical appointment for her son, who was born with severely malformed hands, according to a petition filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.Both were traveling on valid visas, but they were detained by immigration officers after Gyasi said they had faced persecution in Ghana and feared returning, the lawyers said.After days in detention and two hospitalizations for pregnancy complications, including vaginal bleeding and high blood pressure, Gyasi felt she had no choice but to agree to leave the U.S., they said.“While we’re relieved that Ms. Gyasi and her son will soon be free from this nightmare, no one should be subjected to the inhumane conditions they endured,” ACLU Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer said in a statement.Gyasi had repeatedly told guards that she and her son were hungry but were not given additional food, according to her lawyers. The Department of Homeland Security denied that, saying everyone in custody “has access to appropriate care, including medical evaluation by a doctor, medication, and food.”A Friday order by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said that “the welfare of the petitioners and the interests of justice are best served by allowing petitioners to return home immediately.”An earlier order from Brinkema quoted immigration officials as saying Gyasi’s tourist visas were not valid because she had told them that she came to the U.S. to seek asylum and didn’t plan to return home.&nbsp;Gyasi and her son were expected to leave for Ghana on Friday evening._Source: AP News

Ghanaian mother and child who arrived in US on valid visas to fly home after detainment, lawyers say

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has temporarily suspended travel to Egypt through the OK-to-Board authorization system after Somali citizens reported being stranded and mistreated at Cairo airport, immigration officials said Sunday.The Immigration and Citizenship Agency said that starting May 24, 2026, all Somali citizens traveling to Egypt must obtain an official visa from the Egyptian Consulate before departure.The agency said it had monitored recent problems faced by Somali travelers using the OK-to-Board system and decided to suspend the arrangement temporarily.Officials stressed that the measure does not affect Somalia’s wider relationship with Egypt, describing travel and friendship ties between the two countries as important.The agency urged Somali citizens planning to travel to Egypt to contact the Egyptian Consulate and secure official visas before their flights.The decision follows reports that 35 Somali citizens were stranded at Cairo airport for two nights. Some travelers said they were treated poorly, had their passports confiscated and were prevented from leaving the airport or continuing their journeys.OK-to-Board is a pre-flight travel authorization used by some airlines and countries to confirm that passengers meet visa and entry requirements before departure. In some cases, travelers with valid documents can still be denied boarding if the authorization is not properly updated in the airline system.The suspension comes as Somali authorities seek to prevent further travel disruptions and ensure that citizens have formal entry clearance before arriving in Egypt.

Somalia suspends OK-to-Board travel to Egypt after airport complaints

Liberian authorities have seized nearly four tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated $317 million (€277 million) in what authorities call one of the country's largest drug busts.The operation took place on the road leading to Roberts International Airport, about 30 kilometres from the capital, Monrovia, and led to the arrest of two foreign nationals.The seizure "revealed an organised, sophisticated, complex and well-funded narcotics trafficking network," said the attorney general and justice minister.Investigators recovered "approximately 3,971 kilograms of processed plates of suspected cocaine" with an estimated street value of $317.7 million (€279.1 million), they added.The Liberian National Police released photos showing a large open-bed truck carrying what appeared to be bags of suspected drugs and other evidence following Tuesday's raid.The seizure follows another major drug bust at the same airport in June, when authorities intercepted 237.6 kilograms of cocaine concealed in what appeared to be ordinary commercial cargo, leading to charges against five men and a logistics company.Following the seizure, Liberian President Joseph Boakai vowed to "expose and destroy" the networks behind Liberia's drug trade, announcing a coordinated investigation to ensure that "every individual found responsible is fully accountable under the law."

Liberia seizes €277 million worth of cocaine linked to 'organised and well-funded' trafficking network

Jason Statham's movies might not always have the best track record with critics. The Expendables, Death Race, The Meg, The Transporter, and The Mechanic were all torn apart by critics upon their respective releases. However, the British action icon has a talent for finding movies that land with audiences. All of the above films were big hits with viewers, and Statham's popularity has shot through the roof thanks to streaming. Some of his more recent action movies, like Wrath of Man and The Beekeeper, have become major successes thanks to their time on streaming. But one of Statham's most critically underrated films has become one of the most popular movies on streaming in 2026.Directed by The Beekeeper's David Ayer, Jason Statham's A Working Man is currently streaming on Prime Video, and people cannot get enough of it. The streaming platform releases weekly rankings of its most popular movies, and Jason Statham's 2025 hit has made the cut. The film is constantly bouncing on and off the weekly streaming charts. According to Prime Video's latest figures, A Working Man was the fifth most popular film on Prime Video over the past week. Your Fault: London was the most popular movie last week, with Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War (such a long title) in second, and My Fault: London (which is different, somehow) in third. Another action thriller has snuck into the top 10, with Chris Hemsworth's Crime 101 in eighth.Written by Chuck Dixon, Sylvester Stallone, and David Ayer, with the latter directing, A Working Man is a Jason Statham action flick like any other. Statham plays Levon Cade, who used to be a trained killer before giving up his life of violence to earn an honest living and be a good dad to his daughter. But when a local girl is kidnapped, Cade has to dust off his brutal skills to track her down and save her. The former assassin turned good who must come out of retirement to save someone is a very overdone story. The plot feels derived from Taken, while the action was clearly inspired by John Wick. But, for some reason, when it's Jason Statham leading the film, it's incredibly engrossing.As well as following the usual plot structure of a Jason Statham action movie, A Working Man also followed the same critical narrative. The film was lambasted by critics, holding a weak 46% Rotten Tomatoes rating. But, just like Jason Statham dusting off his martial arts skills, audiences once again came to the rescue, bestowing A Working Man with a far stronger 87% audience score on RT.<h2>Jason Statham's Newest Action Movie Is a Similar Affair</h2><img src="https://static0.moviewebimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/jason-statham-shelter-title.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2">Black Bear PicturesWe said that Statham playing a retired killer who comes back to save a young person in danger is a well-worn archetype. It just so happens to be the story for Jason Statham's newest action hit, Shelter. In Shelter, which is also a major fan-favorite on streaming, Statham plays a former special forces soldier who lives in solitude and comes out of retirement to protect a young girl caught in the middle of a violent conspiracy. Also, like A Working Man, it's awesome.

Jason Statham's 116-Minute Action Thriller Is Officially One of the Biggest Movies on Streaming

The global spotlight is set to shine on Ghanaian actress, filmmaker, and producer Juliet Ibrahim as her short film Behind A Lie prepares for a special screening in Cannes, marking an important moment not only for her career but also for African women in film and storytelling.The announcement comes at a symbolic time for Juliet Ibrahim, who is also celebrating 20 years in film in 2026. In a recent social media post, the actress shared her excitement about taking the project to Cannes, revealing that she both directed and produced the short film under Juliet Ibrahim Studios.&nbsp;The screening is expected to take place alongside activities connected to the Nigerian International Film &amp; TV Summit (NIFSUMMIT), bringing together creatives, filmmakers, executives, and media professionals from different parts of the world.For many African creatives, Cannes represents more than just a glamorous destination. The Cannes Film Festival remains one of the most influential film platforms globally, often shaping conversations around cinema, storytelling, funding, and international collaborations. Having Behind A Lie screened within that environment signals growing visibility for African independent films and especially female-led productions from the continent.What makes this moment even more significant is the involvement of WIFT Ghana, which is using the Cannes moment as part of its global launch and visibility push. Organizations like WIFT Ghana are increasingly important in Africa’s creative ecosystem because they create opportunities, mentorship, visibility, and support systems for women working across film and television industries that have historically been male-dominated.Across Africa, conversations around women in film have become louder over the last decade. Female directors, producers, screenwriters, and cinematographers are gradually gaining more recognition, but challenges around funding, distribution, representation, and leadership opportunities still remain.&nbsp;<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/15e41b926IMG_3020.jpg">According to UNESCO reports on gender representation in film industries globally, women remain underrepresented in directing and technical roles despite growing participation rates. Moments like this therefore become important because they push African women-led storytelling into international spaces where deals, partnerships, and long-term opportunities are often created.Juliet Ibrahim’s journey also reflects the evolving nature of African entertainment itself. Over the years, she has built a career that cuts across acting, directing, producing, and entrepreneurship, becoming one of the recognizable names within West African cinema. Her decision to direct and produce Behind A Lie herself suggests a growing movement among African creatives who are taking ownership of their narratives rather than waiting for outside validation.The film’s screening in Cannes also speaks to a larger trend happening across African cinema today. More African stories are traveling internationally through streaming platforms, festivals, and global partnerships. In recent years, films and projects from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and other African countries have increasingly gained international attention, proving that audiences around the world are interested in stories rooted in African realities and perspectives.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/b734dbbd1IMG_3086.jpg"> Beyond the screening itself, the networking and cocktail events hosted around the showcase are expected to create room for collaboration between African filmmakers and global industry players. These gatherings may seem social on the surface, but they often become spaces where funding conversations, distribution agreements, co-productions, and future partnerships begin.

Juliet Ibrahim’s “Behind A Lie” Heads To Cannes As WIFT Ghana Launches On The Global Stage

We always celebrate when a visionary steps up to shift the cultural landscape. Byron Allen is doing exactly that. The media mogul and founder of Allen Media Group is officially expanding his empire, taking majority ownership of BuzzFeed in a move that promises to disrupt the digital content space.For audiences passionate about pop culture, media representation, and the intersection of technology and entertainment, this acquisition is a massive milestone. It represents a powerful moment for Black media ownership and signals a drastic shift in how we will consume free-streaming video in the near future.<h2>How did Byron Allen secure the BuzzFeed acquisition?</h2>The deal officially closed on May 27, when Allen Family Digital acquired nearly 51% of BuzzFeed’s outstanding shares. According to Variety, Allen acquired 40 million shares of the media company at $3 per share, bringing the total purchase price to $120 million. The transaction was completed with $20 million in cash and a $100 million promissory note, which is due in five years at a 5% annual interest rate. Furthermore, $12.5 million in cash from the transaction was utilized to pay down BuzzFeed’s existing debt.Byron Allen brings immense capital and structural power to the table. Allen holds an estimated net worth of $1 billion. His company, Allen Media Group, already boasts a massive portfolio featuring nearly 400 local TV broadcast affiliates and a network of 650 free, ad-supported television channels.<h2>Why is Jonah Peretti stepping down as CEO?</h2>After two decades of leading the company he founded, Jonah Peretti is passing the baton to Allen. Peretti will now step into the newly created role of President of BuzzFeed AI.Peretti firmly believes that artificial intelligence will fundamentally transform the media industry. He sees this transition as an enormous opportunity to empower creative people to build in entirely new ways. According to Peretti, Allen’s deep relationships with advertisers, partners, and sources of capital free him up to focus on his true passion: the intersection of technology and media.“I’m thrilled to pass him the baton, and even more excited about what comes next,” Peretti stated. “AI is going to create a new medium for content that wasn’t possible before, and I’m convinced the opportunity is enormous.”<h2>What is the new vision for the BuzzFeed streaming platform?</h2>Byron Allen is not playing small. His immediate vision is to build upon the iconic foundations of both BuzzFeed and HuffPost by expanding heavily into free-streaming video, audio, and user-generated content.Allen made his ambitions crystal clear: “As of this moment, with the power of AI, BuzzFeed is officially chasing YouTube to become another premier free-streaming video service.”This bold push will work in conjunction with Allen Media Group’s Local Now, an existing free streaming platform that delivers original local news, weather, traffic, sports, and customized entertainment based on a user’s zip code. By integrating advanced artificial intelligence, the company plans to accelerate content creation, distribution, and discovery, bringing a highly tailored, free-streaming experience directly to consumers globally.<h2>Join the Conversation on Media’s Next Chapter</h2>This acquisition is more than just a corporate buyout. It is a powerful example of taking up space, building community-driven platforms, and challenging the heavyweights of the tech world. Byron Allen is empowering a new generation of creators to share their voices on a global scale.What do you think about Byron Allen taking on YouTube? Drop your thoughts, share this article with your community, and let us know how you feel about the future of AI in media.<h2>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)</h2><h3>How much did Byron Allen pay for BuzzFeed?</h3>Byron Allen’s company acquired 40 million shares of BuzzFeed at $3 per share, totaling a $120 million purchase price. This included $20 million in cash and a $100 million promissory note.<h3>What will Jonah Peretti do at BuzzFeed now?</h3>Jonah Peretti stepped down as CEO to become the President of BuzzFeed AI. He will focus exclusively on integrating artificial intelligence into the media company to empower creators and develop new content mediums.<h3>How will artificial intelligence change the BuzzFeed platform?</h3>BuzzFeed will use artificial intelligence to accelerate content creation, optimize distribution, and improve video discovery. This technology aims to help the brand transition into a premier free-streaming video destination to rival platforms like YouTube.

Byron Allen Acquires BuzzFeed to Rival YouTube

The biggest two movies in America right now, “Backrooms” and “Obsession,” come from twentysomething filmmakers who honed their craft on YouTube.Their films were made with relatively low budgets and were marketed online. Now that they’re filling theaters with teens and young adults who rarely show up at the movies, all of Hollywood is paying attention, with experts predicting that studios will copy this moviemaking model many times over.“Obsession,” directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, opened in theaters May 15. Filmed for roughly $750,000, the darkly funny horror film has made almost $150 million to date, a jaw-dropping return on investment for Focus Features and Blumhouse Productions.Then came “Backrooms,” directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, who developed the project for years on his YouTube channel.Parsons had a bigger budget — about $10 million — and famous actors like Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve and Mark Duplass. But it was still astonishing to see “Backrooms” dominate the box office so thoroughly in its opening weekend.The psychological horror film took the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office, raking in about $80 million in North America and $120 million worldwide, with ticket sales fueled by Gen Z.The studio A24, which has been trying hard to boost young directors, said Parsons now ranks as the youngest filmmaker in Hollywood history to release a film that finished No. 1 at the weekend box office.“Obsession” was No. 2 for the weekend, pushing “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which opened a week earlier, to No. 3.Michael Johnston, Curry Barker, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter attend a screening of Focus Features' "Obsession" at the Hollywood Legion Theater on May 11, 2026. Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesFor most movies, the opening weekend is the most lucrative, with ticket sales tapering off from there. But “Obsession” keeps growing: Focus Features said Sunday that “exclusive of Christmas, ‘Obsession’ is the first film since 1982 that went up in box office over its second and third weekends.”So what does this hot streak mean? Well, it means young people are actually willing to buy movie theater tickets if they know and relate to the YouTube-era talent.And it means Hollywood studios are going to chase the success of “Obsession” and “Backrooms” by scouring online video sites for the next great auteur.It might even mean that some studio bosses will place a few more bets on original concepts rather than predictable franchises and sequels.Duplass, who plays a scientist in “Backrooms,” said in a social media video that the two films were giving the movie business a “glimmer of hope.”“We’ve got an example of creators woodshedding things, putting them online, building an audience,” he said. “And now the people with the purse strings are going to notice … because they see what they can do at the box office, you know, in the form of these two films that are over-performing.”Producers and agents have been building a YouTube-to-Hollywood pipeline for a while now. And last winter’s robust ticket sales for YouTuber Mark Fischbach’s self-financed film “Iron Lung” demonstrated the potential for success.Still, as screenwriter Zack Stentz wrote on X, “This feels like a genuine cultural moment in moviegoing, watching Zoomers who honed their craft doing YouTube shorts breaking into features the way the MTV directors did in the ’80s and Sundance kids did in the ’90s.”The Hollywood Reporter’s Steven Zeitchik wrote that the YouTuber hits are “a teetering, if not the first hints of a collapse, of a legacy-driven studio system.”This moment, Zeitchik wrote, is about a lot more than discovering fresh talent. The Alphabet-owned YouTube platform makes filmmakers famous, streams their work, helps them strike brand partnerships and gives them a huge marketing megaphone.“This is a phenomenon generated, driven and controlled by creators and the biggest company in the world that amplifies them,” he wrote.Speaking at an industry conference on Saturday, Warner Bros. Motion Pictures co-chair Michael De Luca said filmmakers like Parsons, who “worked on ‘Backrooms’ for five years,” are “in a dialogue with their audience from the word ‘go.’ Their subscribers have direct input in each iteration of these things.” Warner Bros. Discovery is CNN’s parent company.And “by the time you get to the movie,” he said, “they’ve had a billion test screenings.”

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