If you were alive and clubbing in the boroughs in the 1980s and ‘90s, chances are you saw advertisements for a “sound clash.” If you were lucky—and near enough to Flatbush, Jamaica or Wakefield—you attended these wild, bombastic, occasionally dangerous and ultimately legendary dancehall parties.&nbsp;Born in Jamaica in the late ‘70s, dancehall found its second home in New York (and, specifically, central Brooklyn) in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Often harder, faster and, later, more digital than its progenitor reggae, dancehall relies on instrumental “riddim” tracks that would be the bedrock for a toaster to sing and talk over. At parties and festivals, dancehall music was blasted over massive sound systems and these “sounds” would battle for supremacy in a clash. Held between competing systems from different cities, boroughs and countries, these sound clashes were the Caribbean equivalent of a rap battle.“It's hard to explain to somebody if you weren't there,” says DJ, MC and producer Walshy Fire, one half of the Grammy-winning group Major Lazer. “To experience the level of danger, the level of fashion, the flyness. To see people floss at a time where flossing was never a thing, to see floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall speakers … Thankfully, we have the flyers."&nbsp;Birth and death by flyerWalshy grew up in Kingston’s Half Way Tree neighborhood—home to many legendary dancehall clubs and sounds—and spent years in Miami’s scene and in Connecticut before moving to Canarsie, Brooklyn in 1994. While he was a “very serious cassette seller” from age 14, it was Walshy’s collection of a different kind of ephemera that sparked his newest project: a book titled The Art Of Dancehall.Beginning with his own collection and expanding to that of selectors and soundmen from Jamaica, the U.K., New York and even Japan, the flyers in Art of Dancehall highlight the culture's broad influence. The New York flyers showcase popular local crews like Earth Ruler, LP International and Emperor Hi-Power, who clashed with each other and occasionally, alongside live appearances by Jamaican superstars of the day—including Capleton, Buju Banton, Super Cat, Shaggy and Bounty Killer. The flyers highlight shuttered but not forgotten venues including Flatbush’s Biltmore Ballroom and Tilden Ballroom, Act Three in the Bronx, as well as The Q Club in Jamaica.&nbsp;“The flyers are always trying to make it look like, if you miss this, you’ll die the next day and you’ll regret in the afterlife,” Walshy says. “A weak flyer meant a weak party, 100 percent. If you didn’t see ‘musical murder’ splashed across the front with a bomb exposure behind it, yeah, you’re not going.”The flyer was everything, Walshy says and Lee Major—a DJ from East Flatbush by way of Panama and member of Earth Ruler Soundsystem—couldn't agree more. “The first time I was on a flyer, I slept with it,” he says.&nbsp;In a world without social media, flyers designed by Errol “Irie” Myrie and others were crucial in spreading the word about dances and clashes. While many ‘70s- and ‘80s-era flyers were hand drawn, later posters typically featured the artists clashing in bold colors and typography, with humorous text—a reflection of the movie posters they were often inspired by.“Just like everything else in life, the way you present yourself, that’s the way it’s going to be reciprocated. So your flyer had to be good, and the top man at that time was Irie Myrie. He took it to a different dimension,” Major says, adding that Myrie and other designers also went to dances to party, see who to put on their flyers and, of course, drum up new business.Dancehall takes shape in New YorkNew York’s dancehall scene wasn’t relegated to those now-legendary clubs. Lee Major recounts dancehall parties in basements in the ‘70s and makeshift spaces like barber shops and plazas. “You had to kind of graduate” to the Biltmore, Starlite Ballroom or Act Three, he says. “Those was the arena. That’s when you know you made it, because those are the big platforms … It was definitely a battle, you had to be worthy.”The Biltmore era of New York dancehall is mythical not only for its epic clashes, but for the diversity of its audience and formidable crews. “There’s King Addies and LP International, Earth Ruler and Soul Supreme. And then you go over to the Bronx, and it’s Downbeat, Stereo Five, and Young Hawk. In Harlem, you got like Firgo Digital and some other sounds. Every sound was on the level,” Walshy says. “It's New York in the ‘90s. You can’t compare it; it’s like everything was happening in a mecca format.”&nbsp;The dancehall scene developed parallel to the golden age of hip-hop, and influenced the likes of KRS-ONE, Busta Rhymes and Wyclef Jean. The Notorious B.I.G.—the child of Jamaican immigrants whose Bed-Stuy stomping grounds weren’t far from Flatbush’s dancehall epicenter—even did a dub plate for LP International Sound System. “Kool Herc was very influential, because he brought that trademark from Jamaica: the sound system,” Major says, adding that these musical communities largely remained at a respectful distance. “Hip-hop, we integrated, but we never really integrated that much.”Like aspects of hip-hop at the time, dancehall could be violent. “There were bottles thrown at each side of the place, garbage cans on fire being thrown at each other, gunshots, flinging at each other,” Major recalls of a 1992 clash. “[People at the venue] escorted me out because they said there was people who wanted to kill me. We valued life, but honestly … we didn't.”Dancehall in the ‘90s “was still underground,” Walshy says. “It was still fire and goddamn dangerous. You know, you literally risked your life for music.”Dancehall lives onToday things are more calm, respectful. Crews and remaining soundmen that used to violently clash now support each other’s parties—often at still underground events where OG dancehall fans can reminisce, Major says. Dancehall as a genre, however, has moved into the mainstream: there are dancehall parties on yachts and Sean Paul can pack clubs like Elsewhere. “Queen of Dancehall” Spice has 5 million followers on Instagram. At an average club night, dancehall will be among the sounds of the diaspora, alongside hip-hop, Afrobeats, etc.But in New York, dancehall culture is still going strong, from more “traditional” parties to DJ nights and more.Hosted by Hot 97’s Bobby Konders and Jabba of Massive B soundsystem, Fire Sundays in East Flatbush is one of the longest-running dancehall parties in the city. Founded in 2007 as a monthly and now a pop-up event, Rice and Peas is the project of DJ Gravy and Max Glazer of Federation Sound, with resident DJs Maya, Orijahnal Vibez, and the late Micro Don. In Manhattan, the monthly Sattama Sundays has been bringing dancehall, Afrobeats and reggae to the masses since 2003; Yard N Abroad is held weekly on Thursday at Miss Lily's in Alphabet City. Back in Brooklyn, DJ Ayanna Heaven's monthly Good Ting party returns May 10 with a dancehall queen contest and a round robin of DJs, including Lee Major. Sister Nancy, an original dancehall name, performs annually at Union Pool's Summer Thunder series (and recently performed at VP Records' Record Store Day event). And for sound system fans, Dub-Stuy uses its 15-kilowatt stack to highlight a range of Jamaican music—including dancehall.&nbsp;While they have largely evolved from print-outs and paste-ups to the IG grid, flyers from back in the day still hold a deep value. “It's really like a treasure,” Major says. “My thing is to collect flyers so my kids can see that I had importance, and I contributed to such a major platform.”

Inside NYC's bustling dancehall scene that still lives on today

Nathaniel Quaye

Venezuela will resume flights for its nationals deported by the US, after reaching an agreement with the Trump administration.Venezuela, which does not have diplomatic relations with the US, had initially agreed to accept deportees in February. But President Nicolás Maduro halted flights in March after a dispute with the Trump administration."Tomorrow, thanks to the government's perseverance, we'll resume flights to continue rescuing and freeing migrants from prisons in the United States," Maduro said in a televised address on Saturday, Reuters reports.The White House and US State Department did not respond to BBC requests for comment.Trump's special envoy, Richard Grenell, had initially brokered a deal with Venezuela's government to take back its citizens deported from the US."Venezuela has agreed to receive, back into their Country, all Venezuela illegal aliens who were encamped in the US, including gang members of Tren de Aragua," Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. "Venezuela has further agreed to supply the transportation back."But Maduro halted deportation flights from the US on 8 March, after the US Treasury Department suspended the energy giant Chevron's permission to export oil from Venezuela, the AP reported.On 15 March, the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelans, who they alleged belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang, to El Salvador, where they were detained at a mega-prison.The administration has not named the individuals deported, or provided details of their alleged criminal behaviourIn a statement issued on Saturday, Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela's national assembly, appeared to address the matter of the Venezuelan nationals currently held in El Salvador.He said Venezuela accepted a deal to assure "the return of our compatriots to their nation with the safeguard of their Human Rights," the AP reported."Migrating isn't a crime, and we won't rest until everyone who wants to return is back and we rescue our kidnapped brothers in El Salvador."Trump has used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as a legal basis for removing 137 of those Venezuelan deportees, which immediately prompted a legal challenge.A federal judge in Washington, DC sought to block the deportation flights to El Salvador via a verbal order.However, the planes landed in El Salvador, and the country's president Nayib Bukele posted on social media that the intervention came "too late".The White House has faced allegations of defying the judge's order, which it refutes.The judge, James Boesberg, demanded more details from a government lawyer at a hearing on Friday.

Venezuela to resume repatriation of migrants after deal with US

Tensions have flared as a Venezuelan navy vessel breached Guyana's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the morning of 1 March 2025, prompting a swift response from Guyanese authorities.&nbsp;President Irfaan Ali has condemned the incursion, labelling it a "matter of grave concern" and reaffirming Guyana's commitment to defending its maritime boundaries.At approximately 07:00 GMT, the Venezuelan patrol vessel, identified as "ABF Wakari PO-11 IMO 4695542," entered Guyana's EEZ, approaching key assets including the Prosperity floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.This critical infrastructure, operated by US oil giant ExxonMobil within the prolific Stabroek Block, is central to Guyana's burgeoning oil industry.In a televised address, President Ali revealed that the Venezuelan vessel issued a radio transmission claiming the FPSO was operating in "disputed international waters."Despite this assertion, the vessel continued its course southwest, heading towards other FPSOs within the Guyanese EEZ."Let me be unequivocal," President Ali stated. "Guyana’s maritime boundaries are recognised under international law and this incursion is a matter of grave concern."﻿<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ca6475945venezuela-vessell_large.jpg">In response, Guyana has deployed air assets and mobilised its Coast Guard to the area. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Venezuelan Ambassador to register a formal protest, and Guyana has committed to informing all its international partners of the incident.This incursion comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations. Just weeks ago, Guyanese soldiers were reportedly attacked by a Venezuelan gang along the border.The incident further underscores the fragile state of relations, dominated by a long-standing territorial dispute.The heart of the conflict lies in Venezuela's claim to over two-thirds of Guyana's territory, the Essequibo region.This claim directly challenges the 1899 Arbitral Award, which legally established the boundary between the two countries. While Venezuela initially accepted the award, it declared it null and void in 1962.Guyana subsequently sought recourse through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2018, following a determination by UN Secretary-General António Guterres that judicial settlement was the most appropriate path forward.In a significant ruling in 2020, the ICJ confirmed its jurisdiction over the case, dismissing Venezuela's objections.The ongoing ICJ proceedings aim to resolve the long-standing territorial dispute. However, this latest naval incursion raises the spectre of further escalation, potentially destabilising the region.

Venezuelan vessel breaches EEZ, sparking a diplomatic crisis

Chichi

The World Bank has delivered a damning verdict on the Caribbean’s education system, labelling it as being in a state of crisis and warning of severe consequences if urgent reforms are not implemented.During a virtual webinar on Monday, senior officials from the international financial institution laid bare the systemic inadequacies plaguing Caribbean schools, highlighting outdated teaching practices, ill-equipped infrastructure, and widening educational inequities. They stressed the need for significant financial investment and enhanced teacher support to reverse the region’s educational decline.The World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean, Lilia Burunciuc did not mince words as she described a dire state of affairs.&nbsp;“We are confronting a crisis that is jeopardising the future of the Caribbean, a crisis in education,” she said. “This may sound dramatic, but the impact on education is so critical, and the systems are failing. Indeed, this constitutes a crisis. We must ask ourselves and answer questions about how we can strengthen foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking to improve learning outcomes.”The World Bank’s scathing assessment pinpointed numerous flaws within the Caribbean’s education system.In a detailed analysis, Victoria Levin, senior economist in the World Bank’s education global practice cited outdated teaching methods, inadequate infrastructure, and severe disparities in educational access as key contributors to the region’s educational underperformance.“Teaching practices in the Caribbean are still quite traditional, focusing on rigid curricula that do not meet the needs of 21st-century learners,” Levin said. “Teachers lack the necessary support to adapt their instructional methods, incorporate social-emotional skills, or assist students with special educational needs. Additionally, some countries lack professional standards for teacher recruitment and deployment, leaving inexperienced educators struggling in the classroom. Consequently, classroom time is not utilised effectively, hindering students’ knowledge and skill acquisition.”Levin also raised concerns about the declining quality of educational infrastructure.“Countries are not investing enough in capital expenditures or educational infrastructure. Schools are outdated and ill-equipped to handle the increasing frequency of extreme climate events. Digital infrastructure is equally inadequate, with poor Internet access and unequal access to digital devices, limiting students’ opportunities for continued learning and digital skills development.”The World Bank’s report also criticised the Caribbean’s highly stratified secondary education system, which entrenches social inequalities.Levin highlighted the so-called “two-tier system” where elite schools cater to students from wealthier families, while under-resourced institutions serve lower-income communities.“The elite secondary schools maintain their privileged status through highly selective admissions processes based on standardised entrance exams. This serves as a sorting mechanism with lifelong consequences for students,” Levin said. “Meanwhile, the rest of the secondary school system fails to deliver the necessary competencies, perpetuating social inequality.”The World Bank also condemned the region’s inadequate provision for special education, citing a lack of reliable data, insufficient specialised schools, and a shortage of qualified teachers. Levin pointed to rigid curricula that fail to accommodate diverse learning needs and highlighted the absence of essential facilities such as accessible toilets and ramps.&nbsp;“Special education remains under-prioritised, with missing policies and procedures for transitioning students into or out of special education,” she added.Despite notable progress in educational access such as an increase in pre-primary enrolment from 65 per cent to 85 per cent over the last two decades, learning outcomes across the Caribbean remain worryingly low. Results from the global database of harmonised test scores show that students in the Caribbean are significantly underperforming compared to their peers in high-income and upper-middle-income countries.Levin revealed that “students are struggling with foundational skills, such as literacy and numeracy, even in primary schools. Numeracy skills, in particular, are lagging behind literacy by the end of primary education in most countries.”This learning deficit extends into secondary education.&nbsp;Levin said: “Students who fall behind in early grades on foundational skills are unable to master more advanced competencies later on. This is evident in CSEC exam results, where less than 80 per cent of students passed English and fewer than half passed Maths, even among the better-performing students.”The situation is further exacerbated by persistently low post-secondary and tertiary enrolment rates across the region, which limit young people’s access to higher education and better job opportunities.The World Bank also highlighted a growing disconnect between education and labour market requirements. Burunciuc noted that Caribbean employers consistently report skills shortages, indicating that the current education system is failing to prepare students for the workforce.She also expressed concern about declining parental engagement.Both Levin and Burunciuc stressed the urgent need for increased investment in education across the Caribbean. Levin noted that while the region spends more per student on tertiary education than high-income countries, it allocates significantly less funding to primary and secondary education.“With the share of the young population declining across the region, it is crucial to invest more in every child to ensure they receive quality education and acquire the skills necessary to be productive adults,” Levin argued. “If we can fix the quality of education, we can achieve tremendous impacts, including higher productivity, reduced crime and risky behaviours, improved health, and greater civic engagement.”Although the World Bank’s findings paint a bleak picture of the current state of Caribbean education, they also provide a roadmap for change. The organisation urges Caribbean governments to modernise curricula, enhance teacher training, and increase investment in digital infrastructure.Officials said that addressing the deep-seated inequities within the education system is critical to ensuring that all students regardless of their socio-economic background have access to high-quality education.Burunciuc concluded with a stark warning: “This is not just an education crisis; it is a crisis that threatens the future of the Caribbean. The time for action is now.”

Caribbean education in crisis, World Bank warns

Trinidad and Tobago is beginning to reap the benefits of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s visit to Ghana, as the West African country recently gifted the country with ten thousand yam seeds.According to Dr Rowley, the gift of yams will hopefully play a part in improving local diets and reducing the country’s billion-dollar food import bill.But, he said this can only be achieved if citizens consume it over other imported products.Speaking at the Tucker Valley Shade House, Chaguaramas Agricultural Park in Chaguaramas yesterday, Rowley said the intention was to multiply and propagate the species into the farming community.“We recently received as a gift from Dr Mitchell at the Ghanian authorities, 10,000 units of planting material of four varieties of yams, so, we are introducing those varieties into Trinidad and Tobago now. I am particularly pleased this morning to associate my office and myself with this initiative, because I believe that it will have far-reaching contributions to something that we talk about a lot and that is reducing our food import bill,” Rowley said.“If you talk to anybody in this country about food import, they will tell you that this country imports too much of its food and we need to reduce our food import bill. But, that objective can only be achieved in two ways; if we produce more food locally and if we consume what we produce.”“I believe that if we produce high-quality ground provisions here in Trinidad and Tobago and make it known to those who prepare meals, that we can have an impact as producers of those components,” he added.While reminiscing on his early days growing up in Tobago, in a community that grew and planted local produce, Rowley said for it to become part of our diets, citizens are going to have to embrace provision and see it as an alternative to other imported products.He said, “While I was in Ghana, I was able to sample a number of these white yams, smooth, soft, beautifully tasting white yams which can replace the white potato that we import. You know we import a lot of what you call ‘Irish potatoes.’ It’s white potato from Canada. That forms a huge part of our diet in very many ways.“A lot of that can be replaced by yams and the older ladies will tell you that just having boiled the yam as part of the diet associated with stews and vegetables and so on, that had been a part of our diet which we have lost over time. So, we are aiming to put back on the table in Trinidad and Tobago tasty, healthy, white yams.”He said the four variety of yams will be planted across both islands and should be harvested within the next six to nine months.In addition to planting at Chaguaramas, he said yams were already planted in the western part of Tobago and in two weeks’ time, yams will also be planted in Mason Hall.The PM said he hopes that by planting the yams at different locations across the country, Government will be able to see what soils they will do best in. He said it is against that backdrop a decision will be made on which varieties to invest in and encourage local farmers to grow those.“I really would like to see the output of these yams in the market of T&amp;T, because it is only when we plant more, to plant more and to do so sensibly, we will be able to bring in new varieties. The ones that we’ve lost, we need to improve our gene pool by bringing in better gene quality as tested in other countries. We test them here, make our own research, come up with our own data and choose our own varieties.“So, when we do that, we can now encourage the farmers confidently to plant these varieties. And when we plant them, we could say to our national population, ‘Get to know these produce. They are good for you. They are good for the country.’“We want to grow what we eat and we’re asking you to eat what we grow. That is the only way that we can impact significantly on this food import bill—by having more food grown locally and we consume what we grow. These yams are now in our hands. As we grow them, we won’t have to spend any foreign exchange on them. All we have to do is want to eat them.“So, let’s look forward to the harvest and let’s look forward to the main news that will come where slices of white yams obtained from Ghanian diets, from Ghanian fields, from our friends in Ghana, from the government and people of Ghana to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”Also present were prime minister-designate Stuart Young, Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Kazim Hosein and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Avinash Singh.

Ghana gifts Trinidad and Tobago 10,000 yam seeds

When Ghana launched her innovative Zipline medical drone service in 2019, it was a rare global novelty changing medical delivery in the country.With limited operational services in Rwanda, Ghana led by then Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, engaged the services of Zipline medical drone— a partnership which turned out to be the biggest drone medical delivery service in the world, gaining global plaudits.With six centers making over 2000 daily delivery of essential medical supplies to remote villages, this innovation has resulted in massive transformation in Ghana’s health sector ensuring real-time air transport of medical supplies.Interestingly, while Ghana launched this service six years ago, health officials in England, only last year, announced it was getting ready to launch its medical drone service.Following this announcement, a CNN report has shared what it portrays as a fascinating medical drone delivery in London from a journey of 30 plus minutes to two minutes.The CNN health report, described this as a&nbsp;“new way of delivering time-sensitive blood samples”.What health officials in London are portraying as remarkable success, Ghana hassix years earlier achieved it on a national scale under the remarkable leadership of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Bawumia vindicated as CNN celebrates blood-carrying drones in London 6 years after Ghana launched it

RICHARD AKOTO WALLS

Farley was speaking to the author Walter Isaacson during a panel at the Aspen Ideas Festival when he was asked about China's EV market. Farley said he'd made about six or seven trips to China in the past year."It's the most humbling thing I have ever seen. Seventy percent of all EVs in the world, electric vehicles, are made in China," Farley said."They have far superior in-vehicle technology. Huawei and Xiaomi are in every car," Farley added. "You get in, you don't have to pair your phone. Automatically, your whole digital life is mirrored in the car."Farley told Isaacson that part of the reason Ford couldn't offer something similar was because tech giants such as Google and Apple "decided not to go in the car business.""Beyond that, their cost, their quality of their vehicles is far superior to what I see in the West," Farley said."We are in a global competition with China, and it's not just EVs. And if we lose this, we do not have a future Ford," he added.This isn't the first time Farley has praised his Chinese competition.Last year, Farley said the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi was an "industry juggernaut and a consumer brand that is much stronger than car companies." Farley had praised the tech company during an appearance on "The Fully Charged Podcast" that aired in October."I don't like talking about the competition so much, but I drive the Xiaomi," Farley said of the Xiaomi Speed Ultra 7. The SU7 is Xiaomi's maiden electric vehicle."We flew one from Shanghai to Chicago, and I've been driving it for six months now, and I don't want to give it up," he added.Last month, Xiaomi unveiled its second EV, the YU7. The company called the YU7 a "luxury high-performance SUV" and pitched it as a cheaper alternative to Tesla's Model Y.Xiaomi said last week that it had received more than 200,000 orders for the YU7, which is priced at $35,000 compared with the Model Y's $36,760.In August, Ford's chief financial officer, John Lawler, said the company was changing its EV strategy. Lawler said Ford would replace its planned electric SUVs with hybrid models instead. The switch is set to cost Ford nearly $2 billion.

Ford's CEO says China's EV progress is 'the most humbling thing' he's ever seen

Rwanda is endowed with vast natural wealth—ranging from dense forests and rich biodiversity to unique ecosystems and protected landscapes like Nyungwe and Akagera.Yet, this environmental treasure remains largely undervalued in the country’s economic planning and reporting, according to the newly released Rwanda Country Focus Report 2025 by the African Development Bank (AfDB).The report urges Rwanda to start formally recognizing its natural assets as critical economic contributors—an essential step toward unlocking climate finance and building a more sustainable, resilient economy.The report, launched on June 24, 2025, as part of AfDB’s Africa Economic Outlook series, reviews Rwanda’s macroeconomic performance in 2024 and outlines strategies to enhance domestic resource mobilization in support of inclusive, climate-smart growth.Rwanda’s natural capital is valued at $56.1 billion (1.4% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s total), according to the report.Renewable resources dominate agriculture ($51.6 billion), forests (USD 1.73 billion), and hydropower ($608 million), making up 98%. Non-renewables contribute only 2%, despite Rwanda holding up to 30% of the region’s tantalum, tin, and tungsten deposits, currently excluded from this valuation.Strengthening natural asset accounting can unlock investment, support green growth, and align development with Vision 2050 goals𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 2024 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻:Rwanda posted robust GDP growth of 8.9% in 2024, driven by solid performance in industry, agriculture, and services—particularly construction, tourism, and mining. Inflation dropped sharply to 1.8%, and several key social indicators improved: poverty declined to 27.4%, life expectancy climbed to 70 years, and access to electricity and clean water rose to 72% and 90%, respectively. Yet, major financing gaps persist.Although tax revenue reached 14.8% of GDP and financial inclusion improved to 96%, Rwanda’s revenue base remains narrow, with 93% of businesses operating informally. Moreover, the country has yet to fully tap into property taxes, carbon finance, and other innovative funding streams, leaving it with an estimated $2.9 billion annual funding gap to meet development goals.The report identifies natural capital—including carbon stocks, forests, protected parks, and biodiversity—as an untapped economic pillar. Rwanda has been internationally recognized for its achievements in environmental conservation, forest restoration, and low-emission development.However, these successes are not yet reflected in national accounts, making it difficult to leverage them for climate-related finance. Bernis Byamukama, a Senior Macroeconomist at AfDB said that the bank recommends Rwanda to take up the initiative of counting (valuating) its natural capital to leverage other sources of financing (climate financing windows) which the bank offers.He revealed that the bank has started supporting in capacity building to support national statistical systems to increase natural capital accounting. Walter Odero, the Principal Country Economist explained that while Africa is considered a rich continent in the world, but the poorest in recorded books (value) thus a need for the bank to start factoring in the value Africa’s natural resources.Odero explained that the bank wants to factor in the natural capital in the accounting system so that the world knows Africa’s true worth and this has already influenced the UN to revise and introduce a new system of natural accounting which put in the natural capital- such as the Nyungwe, Akagera, Virunga national parks, the mountain gorillas among others in Rwanda that are not accounted for in value.“Currently we are borrowing at high interest rates because they believe we are the poorest. If we factor in all this and they discover we are rich, they will start lending to us at favorable rates, the credit agencies will also rate us fairly,” Odero explained the benefits stating that this means superpowers which have no natural resources will start borrowing from Africans.AfDB Country Manager for Rwanda, Aissa Toure Sarr said that the current context is to make natural resources count for Rwanda and Africans more than ever as they have a potential to increase and finance country economic transformation agendas.For instance, Sarr stated the even when the AfDB has a $2.2billion portfolio for Rwanda, natural capital accounting can open up more (double) financing windows for Rwanda. She explained that as today, Rwanda has reached its borrowing cap, but limited to access other windows which the bank has not rolled out for Rwanda since it doesn’t meet this measure/ requirement. The bank will continue to support Rwanda building on its current portfolio which she said was is a testimony to more financing possibilities at the bank.Representing the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Stella Nteziryayo, chief economist, called the report’s subject timely but stated that Rwanda recognizes the challenges – which are both micro and macro shocks and include recent diseases outbreaks but also stated that structural challenges have to be addressed innovatively and differently.“As we move forward in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), this report shows how we need to be innovative about how we approach development issues and how we need to make the best of what we have,” Nteziryayo said.

RWANDA’S $56 BILLION NATURAL WEALTH IS UNDERUTILIZED – AFDB

A new survey has ranked Dangote Industries as Africa’s most formidable consumer goods manufacturer in 2025.According to a report by The African Exponent, an analytical business information source for entrepreneurs and potential investors in Africa, the group has leveraged vertical integration and pan-African logistics to lead in affordable food staples and household essentials, with growing exports across West and Central Africa, adding that their flagship brand includes Dangote Sugar, Dangote Salt, and Dangote Pasta.Nestlé with its operations across Africa was ranked second by the survey, noting that it continues to lead in nutrition, health, and wellness products across the continent.“It operates key factories in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire. New investments in local product adaptation have boosted market share. Their flagship brands include Milo, Nescafé, Cerelac, and Maggi,” the report stated.In the third position is Unilever, with a presence in over 20 African countries, which remains one of the most recognisable names in African households.“In 2025, the company deepened its localisation efforts, sourcing more raw materials locally, with their flagship brands including OMO, Close-Up, Lipton, Vaseline, and Knorr cubes.Tiger Brands, a South African company, with flagship brands such as Jungle Oats, Koo, All Gold, and Ingram’s, came fourth. The brand dominates the South African food space and continues to recover its footprint in Nigeria and Ghana.This is followed by brewing giant, SABMiller AB InBev of South Africa, with massive influence across Southern and East Africa. Their flagship brands include Castle Lager, Carling Black Label, and Eagle.Société Anonyme des Brasseries du Cameroun (SABC) of Cameroon came sixth, being the largest beverage manufacturer in Cameroon, producing beers, soft drinks, and bottled water. Backed by the Castel Group, SABC controls over 75% of Cameroon’s beverage market. Their flagship brands include Castel Beer, Beaufort, Tropical, and Spécial.At number seven is Fan Milk, a Danone subsidiary, with a strong presence in Ghana, Nigeria, and Francophone West Africa. The brand continues to innovate in the dairy segment with health-focused products,and the flagship brands include Fan Yogo, FanChoco, and FanVanille.Dufil Prima Foods, a subsidiary of Tolaram Group, and Nigeria’s leading instant noodles manufacturer, is ranked eighth. The company has become synonymous with quick meals in West Africa and continues to dominate the fast food FMCG segment, best known for its instant noodle brand, Indomie.At number nine is Bidco Africa of Kenya, a key player in East Africa with a diverse portfolio covering soaps, margarine, juices, and detergents. Its flagship brands are Kimbo, Elianto, Bidco Juice, and Nuru.Bringing up the rear is Bakhresa Group of Tanzania, a dominant East African brand known for its flour, beverages, and biscuits. The company operates in over 10 African countries with flagship brands including Azam and Uhai.The report noted that Africa’s consumer goods industry is evolving quickly, driven by population growth, changing tastes, and urban lifestyles.In response to the rising demands, leading manufacturers, both homegrown and multinational, are scaling operations, innovating product offerings, and deepening their reach across African markets. These firms not only meet local demand but also play a key role in driving industrialisation, job creation, and economic diversification.According to Qiraat Africa, the value added in the consumer goods market is projected to be $20.9 billion by the end of 2025 with fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) becoming a key sector, as household consumption in Africa is projected to reach $2.1 trillion by the end of 2025.

Africa’s biggest consumer goods manufacturers in Nigeria — Report

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a warning to the public regarding certain Money Transfer Organisations (MTOs) operating within the remittance and foreign exchange markets without authorisation from the central bank.In a statement released on Friday, 27 June, the Bank stated that it had identified several entities conducting unauthorised activities in these sectors.As a result, the public, banks, Dedicated Electronic Money Issuers (DEMIs), and Enhanced Payment Service Providers (EPSPs) have been cautioned to refrain from engaging in any transactions with these unapproved organisations.The unauthorised Money Transfer Organisations are listed as follows:<img src="https://ads.graphic.com.gh/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=0&amp;campaignid=0&amp;zoneid=10&amp;loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphic.com.gh%2Fbusiness%2Fbusiness-news%2Favoid-these-money-transfer-firms-bank-of-ghana-releases-cautionary-list.html&amp;cb=e7c34bfded">1. ACE Money Transfer2. Remit Union3. Remit Home4. Roze Remit5. Monty Global6. Nairagram7. i-Transfer8. Hurupay9. Eversend10. Izi SendThe statement referenced Section 3.1 of the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723), which states: “A person shall not engage in the business of dealing in foreign exchange without a licence issued under this Act.”Furthermore, Section 15.3 of the same Act specifies that: “Each transfer of foreign exchange to or from Ghana shall be made through a person licensed to carry out the business of money transfers or any other authorised dealer.”The Bank of Ghana reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s financial system and advised the general public to conduct foreign exchange transactions only with licensed and approved institutions.Read the BOG statement below;<img src="https://www.graphic.com.gh/images/2025/drag/BOG.jpg">

Avoid these money transfer firms – Bank of Ghana releases cautionary list

South Africans with a sweet tooth are unlikely to find any price relief on store shelves this year as global cocoa prices remain high and are expected to rise further.Despite headline inflation sticking below the South African Reserve Bank’s 3%-6% target range, food and non-alcoholic inflation rose to 4.0% in April 2025.This is lower than the SARB’s current 4.5% target but reflects the category slowly edging upward.Inflation for sugar, confectionery, and desserts was even higher at 5.6%, with tracked pricing for chocolates specifically up 6% year-over-year.While the increases may seem marginal, the longer-term price increases are more pronounced, with a chocolate slab now costing almost 27% more than it did in 2023, and a chocolate bar up 18.6%This reflects the continued strain on global cocoa prices, which have been severely impacted by adverse weather conditions in key cocoa-growing regions.Global cocoa prices have surged almost 300% over the past year, hitting a peak of $12,565 per metric tonne in December 2024.The global cocoa shortage is being driven by the poor weather and disease that devastated crops in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.Two-thirds of the world’s cocoa beans are grown in these regions.While exports from the Ivory Coast increased in early 2025, easing prices, the nation has now signalled a tighter supply, sending futures in the opposite direction.Analysts have warned that prices are likely to rise further as there are now quality concerns about the country’s mid-crop, which is currently being harvested through to September.“Cocoa processors are complaining about the crop’s quality and have rejected truckloads of Ivory Coast cocoa beans,” Reuters analysts said.“Processors said about 5% to 6% of the mid-crop cocoa in each truckload is poor quality, compared with 1% during the main crop.”The quality is likely tied to late-arriving rain, which impacted growth, and could result in yields dropping 9% from 2024’s harvest.<a href="https://businesstech.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Chocolate-prices-2022-25.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(13, 110, 253); background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250);"><img src="https://businesstech.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Chocolate-prices-2022-25-660x1024.jpg"></a><h2>Chocolate producers plan for the worst, hope for the best</h2>Major confectionery producer Mondelez International flagged the supply issues this week, with an iffy outlook on earnings ahead.Mondelez is the company behind the Cadbury’s brand, as well as other popular chocolate confectionery labels, such as Oreo.The group has flagged “unprecedented cocoa cost inflation” in its forecasts and stated that it is preparing for a potential cocoa pricing spike in the coming months.The group expects global cocoa pricing levels to remain elevated but stable in 2026, while acknowledging that making accurate predictions is challenging.“Cocoa futures might come down, but we’re not there yet. So we will continue to plan various scenarios with the base case for a continuation of elevated levels,” it said.“If cocoa stays high, we would expect to gradually price more. If cocoa starts to come down, then we would expect earnings delivery to be higher.”Other international producers, such as Nestlé, have also floated the possibility of increasing prices due to the cocoa shortage and associated costs.More locally, Tiger Brands, the owner of Beacon chocolates and the iconic marshmallow easter eggs, has more to deal with than high cocoa prices.The group is looking to sell its chocolate business altogether, citing a lack of business interaction and investment in the segment for about 30 years.Beacon has been in South Africa for almost a century, but Tiger Brands admitted not having kept up with changing technology in the sector or interacting with the brand that much.It stated that it had fallen behind competitors like Cadbury’s and that the brand would likely fare better under new ownership.Despite this, the group said it would continue to work to turn around Beacon’s operations and support it until the ‘right exit’ comes along.Wherever the brand ends up next, it will have to deal with the pressure of rising cocoa prices and growing supply issues, which are looking to be settling in for the long term.

Bad news for chocolate lovers in South Africa

A yam germplasm bank has been launched by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), in collaboration with the Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development (DFSNRESD) and the Member of Parliament for Tobago East Ayanna Webster-Roy.The bank was launched at the Goldsborough Demonstration and Training Centre in Goldsborough on March 18 and is the second planting of the Ghanaian yam and aims to improve the agriculture industry and reduce the national food import bill.The initiative introduced five new varieties of yam from Ghana that will serve as a crucial resource for local farmers by providing high-quality planting material, enabling improved productivity within a seven- to eight-month growing period.Speaking at the event, Webster-Roy said her initial thought was about reigniting a sense of pride in the people of Goodwood and in the New Yam Festival.She also spoke of the potential for economic development and improving food security.“It is the start of something beautiful for the people of Tobago and the people of TT. Hopefully, when we have the yam planting festival to mark the harvesting of the yam, it signals to the people of TT that Tobago East is not only taking their food security seriously but also our health seriously.”She pointed to the importance of agriculture and food security in Tobago’s development:“We have to ensure that we promote within our communities, within our schools, within our community-based organisations, the importance of food security. We have to drive agriculture as a meaningful area for investment, not only through the community-based organisations but also through the private sector and through various agencies.”She commended the THA and the island’s farmers for coming on board. THA Secretary of Community Development, Youth Development and Sport Assemblyman Joel Sampson, who represented the Food Production Division, endorsed Webster-Roy’s sentiments.Sampson said the introduction of the yam varieties greatly expands the diversity of the local crops and also strengthens the island’s ability to enhance food security and support sustainable agriculture.“This exchange of knowledge, research and planting materials reinforces Tobago’s place in the regional and international agricultural landscape.“Agriculture has long been a pillar of our economy and our culture. For our farmers, agriculture is more than just a job, a source of income and a foundation for their family’s well-being. The ability to cultivate new varieties provides them with a unique opportunity to expand their production capacity, increase their earnings and secure a more stable future."A stronger agricultural sector means increased income for farmers, reduce dependence on imported goods and a boost for Tobago’s agro-processing industry. With consistent investment on initiatives like these, we can ensure that our famers have resources, knowledge and the support they need to thrive in a competitive agricultural market.”Sampson further highlighted the broader impact of the initiative.“This collaboration with CARDI to establish a yam germplasm bank in Tobago truly highlights the importance of global-cultural exchange and marks an exciting opportunity for our agricultural sector. This initiative speaks to a broader vision, one where Tobago continues to strengthen its food systems, empower its farmers, and build a future where we can feed itself with high-quality, locally grown produce.”The event closed with a formal yam planting ceremony, marking a significant milestone in Tobago’s agricultural development.

Stakeholders back Ghana yams to boost Tobago food security

Global coffee traders and roasters have dramatically cut back on purchases as the industry grapples with a sharp increase in prices that retailers are proving reluctant to absorb.The mood was sombre at the U.S. National Coffee Association's annual convention in Houston this week, with attendees expressing shock at a staggering 70% jump in Arabica coffee futures since November.This benchmark price on the ICE exchange dictates coffee deals worldwide, and the sudden surge is sending shockwaves through the supply chain.Renan Chueiri, director general at Ecuadorian instant coffee producer ELCAFE C.A., revealed the unprecedented impact, stating that for the first time, the company has not sold its expected annual production by March."We would usually be sold out by now, but so far we [have] sold less than 30% of production," he explained. "The big price increase eats clients' cash flow; they don't have all the money to buy what they need."The root cause of these price hikes lies in reduced production in key coffee-growing regions, most notably in Brazil, the world's top producer. This scarcity of beans has created a climate of extreme caution among traders."Nobody wants to be exposed; nobody is buying for future delivery; it is all hand to mouth," one experienced coffee broker revealed, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation.By "hand to mouth", the broker clarified, he meant the practice of purchasing only the immediate necessities, abandoning the usual practice of stockpiling.He described recent deals in Brazil as highly conservative. "You close a deal, and then you have seven days to go to the farm or warehouse and get your coffee. You check the quality, and if it is ok, you make the payment on the site and drive away with the coffee."While a recent Reuters poll suggests some respite may be on the horizon, predicting a potential 30% drop in Arabica prices by the year's end as high prices dampen demand and early indicators point to a strong Brazilian harvest next year, the immediate future remains bleak for many in the industry.A chief executive of a major roaster in the United States, the world's largest coffee consumer, painted a stark picture."Some people are going down," he admitted, also requesting anonymity. "They don't know if they will be able to sell their product at the new prices."The CEO further explained that supermarkets and grocery stores have been pushing back hard against the higher prices demanded by roasters.Negotiations are protracted, and some retail outlets are already experiencing shortages on their shelves. "It has been a nightmare," he added.The strain is evident further down the supply chain. Executives at major storage companies in the US, which house beans arriving from Central and South America, report that warehouses near ports are operating at half their usual capacity.One executive even stated, "Some storing companies are returning silos to the owners, cancelling leasing contracts early."Michael Von Luehrte, owner of broker MVLcoffee, anticipates consolidation within the coffee market, particularly on the trading side.Companies with more capital will be able to increase trading volumes, while others will suffer with reduced financing, he predicted.Despite the current turmoil, there are signs of long-term adaptation. Commodities trader Louis Dreyfus noted in a conference presentation that the area dedicated to coffee planting has been expanding in response to the higher prices, with growth seen in countries like India, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Brazil.The company believes that a large Brazilian crop, combined with these newly planted areas, could ultimately lead to a significant fall in prices.For now, however, the global coffee industry remains in a precarious position, navigating soaring costs and uncertain demand, with the potential for significant disruption and hardship for businesses across the supply chain.

Coffee industry faces "nightmare" as prices soar

The Ghanaian government is embarking on an ambitious plan to transform its agricultural sector and slash reliance on imported food through a new partnership with a leading regional research body.Officials have met with the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), based at the University of Ghana, to explore commercialising seed production and introduce cutting-edge agricultural innovations.The initiative comes as Ghana seeks to bolster its economy, create jobs, and ensure food security for its growing population.Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of the Presidential Initiative for Agriculture and Agribusiness, recently hosted a high-level delegation from WACCI, led by Professor Eric Danquah, at the presidential offices in Accra.During the meeting, Professor Danquah outlined WACCI’s vision for Ghana’s agricultural future, themed "Ghana’s Resetting Agenda: Harnessing STI for Agricultural Transformation."He presented compelling figures highlighting the urgency of the situation, stating, "The message is clear: without bold intervention, Ghana risks worsening food insecurity and economic instability."The collaborative effort aims to achieve significant milestones, including a 50% reduction in food imports, increasing agriculture's contribution to the national GDP to $28 billion by 2028 and $50 billion by 2034, generating 20,000 direct agribusiness and over 190,000 indirect jobs, and reducing post-harvest losses to below 5% by 2028.Furthermore, the initiative aims to ensure that 30% of Ghanaian farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture practices by 2028.WACCI has proposed a four-pronged strategy to achieve these goals, focusing on:<ul><li>Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI): Leveraging the latest research and advancements to improve crop yields and resilience.</li><li>Agro-Industrialisation and Value Addition: Developing local processing capabilities to increase the value of agricultural produce.</li><li>Human Capital Development: Investing in training and education for farmers and agricultural professionals.</li><li>Climate Resilience and Sustainability: Promoting environmentally friendly farming practices to mitigate the impact of climate change.</li></ul>Dr. Otokunor warmly welcomed WACCI’s proposals, underscoring the government’s strong commitment to working hand in hand with the research organisation."We are ready to explore opportunities for commercialising WACCI’s research outputs to ensure long-term sustainability," Dr. Otokunor affirmed. "This partnership will be a game-changer in Ghana’s agricultural sector."The collaboration signals a determined effort by Ghana to harness scientific expertise and innovation to drive agricultural transformation and build a more resilient and prosperous future for its citizens.The focus on commercialising seed production is seen as a crucial step towards empowering local farmers and reducing the country's dependence on external food sources.This initiative is likely to be closely watched across the West African region as a potential model for boosting agricultural output and achieving food security.

Ghana and West African Crop Centre join forces to boost food production

Ethiopian On Northbourne might look like a brand-new restaurant, but it marks the return of a Canberra icon to the Jolimont building.Dining here is a chance for Canberrans to explore the diversity and incredible flavours of Ethiopian food, served by a family who have become a local institution for their hospitality and food.Elsa Berhane and Girmay Abraha owned and ran Global Cafe for 11 years before closing shop due to the impacts of COVID-19. In the meantime, they’ve been running Flavours of Ethiopia on Allara Street, but when an opportunity came up to open a second venue close to their old location, they jumped at the chance.“Our first business was here; we started here!” Elsa told Region.“Global Cafe was just a small takeaway, but this is bigger, more classy, with a big kitchen, a full bar and our international beer.”Girmay agreed: “We wanted to show more. We have a lot to offer.”Ethiopian On Northbourne has a much larger menu than either of Elsa and Girmay’s previous businesses, allowing them to show off a broader range of Ethiopian foods. They’d mostly showcased wot dishes (stews) served from bain maries but now have Ethiopian salads, samosas, tibs (sauteed meat dishes) and desserts.I visited with my sister to taste the vegetarian beyaynetu, a sharing plate of many different dishes served on injera, a traditional sourdough flatbread. We also ordered the crunchy lentil samosas for our entree, which were served with a very tasty spiced yoghurt.Among the dishes on the platter was shiro, a rich and creamy dish served in a pot.Elsa explained that shiro is a dish made from ground chickpeas, creating a naturally creamy texture. We found the flavour a little smokey and spiced. Other dishes on the platter included duba wot (pumpkin stew) and misir wot (red lentil stew), both cooked with the traditional Ethiopian spice mix berbere, which is beautifully aromatic with just the right amount of heat.I also particularly enjoyed the fasolia side dish of spiced green beans and carrots. At $25 per person, the sharing plate is remarkably good value and very filling, with an extra plate of injera served on the side.Girmay said that they wanted their food to be accessible.“We want to be a local attraction, serving local wine, good coffee and good food at an affordable price … and in a good location!” he said.In addition to table service, the restaurant also serves quick, affordable lunches from a hot box around the corner to cater to the busy public servants in the area. For now, table service at lunchtime is by reservation only, and coffees are only available dine-in, but they’re hoping to expand that in the new year.The couple came to Canberra from Ethiopia in 2002, and Girmay enthusiastically describes himself as ‘a Canberra Ambassador’. He is also a big fan of Canberra region wines, especially Pankhurst Wines which Girmay was delighted to discover has a connection to Ethiopia. Richard Pankhurst (a family member of the winemakers) is a well-known Ethiopian historian and was a professor at the University of Addis Ababa.The service is very friendly (most of the staff are family members), and Elsa said they’ve been pleasantly surprised to have Global Cafe regulars from over four years ago returning to support them and order their favourite dishes again.I’m keen to return and try other dishes on the menu, like the roasted eggplant entree, green lentil azifa salad and asa tibs (sautéed Nile Perch), and Ethiopian coffee gelato, a cup of traditional cinnamon tea, or a cold Ethiopian beer all sound like excellent ways to finish a meal.Ethiopian On Northbourne is located in the Jolimont Building, 65 Northbourne Ave, Canberra. Their takeaway lunch special is available from 11 am to 2 pm Monday to Friday (or book ahead for table service). Dinner is from 5 pm until late, Monday to Saturday. Visit their Ethiopian On Northbourne to book and see their menu.Flavours of Ethiopia is located at 33 Allara St, City Walk and is open for lunch from 11 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

Ethiopian on Northbourne showcases the best of Ethiopian cuisine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug lenacapavir as a twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV.The drug, called&nbsp;Yeztugo&nbsp;from company Gilead Sciences, was approved Wednesday based on data from clinical trials that showed 99.9% of participants who received it remained HIV negative.Daniel O'Day, Gilead's chairman and chief executive officer, called the approval a "milestone moment in the decades-long fight against HIV.""Yeztugo will help us prevent HIV on a scale never seen before. We now have a way to end the HIV epidemic once and for all," O'Day said in a news release.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were&nbsp;31,800 estimated new HIV infections&nbsp;in the United States in 2022, the most recent year with available data.While the drug's approval meets an existing need, the Trump administration's funding decisions have rolled back progress for a vaccine.Last month, the administration moved to end funding for a broad swath of HIV vaccine research, saying current approaches are enough to counter the virus.Dr. Barton Ford Haynes, the director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute,&nbsp;recently told CBS News&nbsp;lenacapavir is a "wonderful development for the field," but said there was still a need for a vaccine."For HIV vaccine design and development, we've begun to see light at the end of the tunnel after many years of research,"&nbsp;Dennis Burton, an immunology professor at Scripps Research, previously told CBS News. "This is a terrible time to cut it off. We're beginning to get close. We're getting good results out of clinical trials."Burton warned that their HIV vaccine research could not simply be turned back on, even if a future administration decided to change course on HIV funding. He said ongoing experiments would be shuttered, and researchers assembled to study the issue would be forced to refocus their careers on other topics."This is a decision with consequences that will linger. This is a setback of probably a decade for HIV vaccine research," Burton said.

HIV prevention drug lenacapavir approved by FDA as twice-yearly injection

Nathan

President John Mahama has said that the hospitalisation of Vice President Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang abroad calls for building the capacities of the country’s health facilities to handle emergency cases.He said this during the welcome ceremony for the Vice President on May 22 in Accra.“…I think in all this, it raises the issues of us improving our health care so that we can handle emergencies like this. We built a critical hospital, which is the UGMC, but it’s still not at the stage where it can handle some of these cases.And so, it’s a call to duty that we should implement it the way Professor Mills had intended it to be, so that in the future, emergencies like this can be handled without us having to fly out,” he said.The Vice President fell ill on March 28 and had to be flown abroad for medical treatment.She has returned home from London United Kingdom and was welcomed at the Kotoka International Airport by a host of government officials and family members.Welcoming her President Mahama told Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang about the void created by her absence.The President said her absence nearly cost him his job.“…your colleagues we’re very happy to have you back. I particularly have missed you, because even traveling out of the country has been difficult. They’ve threatened to impeach me for going to Togo when you were away. So, you are warmly welcome,” he said.“On behalf of the people of Ghana, we wish to warmly welcome our beloved Vice President. It has been a trying time for everybody, and a lot of prayers were said for your safe return, and so today is a special day that you have stepped back in the country, on the land of Ghana, looking younger, looking cheerful, and we thank God for his mercies,” the President said.He added that, “Since you left, your colleagues, we’ve all missed you. We held a 120-day social contract program, and everybody said you should have been there. But with all the work you did before you went, we continued, and I think that we were able to present to the people of Ghana a significant percentage of the things that we had promised. But in all this, you were missed. Ghana is safe, things seem to be on the right track, and you’ve come at the right time to come and continue the work that you so beautifully started.”He commended the staff of the staff of the Ghana High Commission in UK for taking good care of Prof Opoku-Agyemang while she was in London.“We are grateful to all the staff outside there who looked after you, our embassy staff in London. I came there myself, and you told me how courteous they had been and how they had been of help,” President Mahama stated.The President urged Prof Opoku Agyemang to take it easy.“…we’re happy to have you. The doctors say you are 20 years younger, and that you are okay and fit for the job. But we’ll ask that you take it easy for a little while, and after that, we’ll see how things go. So, thank you very much on behalf of all our colleagues, on behalf of all Ghanaians. I’m sure today Ghanaians will be very happy. I want to say thanks to God,” the President said.For her part, the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang expressed joy over her successful return to the country after seeking treatment in the UK.“His mercies have been infinite, as always, and I’m very grateful. I express gratitude to the medical staff, too, for seeing the right thing, for making the right proposals. So I’m very happy to be back, and there’s so much that has happened that we all need to do. And I know that with our collective will, we’ll do much more for our country,” she said.Prof Opoku-Agyemang thanked President Mahama for the support shown her during the trying times.“And to my boss. That day, I don’t know where you appeared from, but he came and quickly set in motion what we needed to do. And I also want to thank all of you, your prayers, for your good wishes. I can’t be thankful enough,” she stated.The Vice President singled out President Mahama’s brother, Ibrahim Mahama for praise.“I’m very grateful. But I need to isolate, beyond family and friends, your brother, Mr. Ibrahim. He stopped at nothing to ensure that I had what I needed. And then he also came to the hospital. He came to sit by me, and that was healing by itself. So, my little boss, I’m very, very grateful,” she said.Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s health became a public concern after she reportedly fell ill on Friday, March 28, 2025. She was admitted to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) the following day for medical attention.In a statement issued by the Office of the President on Sunday, March 30, it was confirmed that the Vice President had received the necessary treatment and will seek further treatment abroad.

It raises issues of improving our healthcare so we can handle emergencies like this – Mahama on Veep’s illness

Scientists have created a powerful new chemotherapy drug, NUC-7738, by modifying Cordycepin — a natural compound found in a Himalayan fungus traditionally used in Chinese medicine.Normally, Cordycepin breaks down quickly in the body, limiting its cancer-fighting potential. To solve this, biotech company NuCana applied ProTide technology, chemically enhancing Cordycepin to resist breakdown and penetrate cancer cells more effectively, boosting its potency by up to 40 times.Early lab experiments and Phase 1 clinical trials have delivered promising results with minimal side effects.During Phase 2 trials, combining NUC-7738 with pembrolizumab helped control disease progression in 75% of patients who had run out of other treatment options.Buoyed by these outcomes, NuCana plans to expand Phase 2 trials in 2025 and is in talks with the FDA about potential approval._Source: Hot97

Scientists working on powerful cancer drug from Himalayan fungus

Uganda has officially declared an end to its latest outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, caused by the Sudan strain.The announcement came on Saturday, three months after authorities confirmed cases of the highly infectious illness in the capital, Kampala.The Ministry of Health confirmed the end of the outbreak on the platform X (formerly Twitter), stating it had "officially come to an end".The declaration follows 42 days passing without a new case being reported since the last confirmed patient was discharged – a key criterion for declaring an outbreak over according to World Health Organisation guidelines.The ministry's announcement did not provide an updated total caseload for the outbreak. However, in early March, the last time figures were publicly reported, authorities had confirmed at least 10 cases and two deaths.The outbreak was initially declared on 30 January, following the death of a male nurse who tested positive for the virus.Ebola outbreaks are not uncommon in Uganda, an East African nation with tropical forests that serve as natural reservoirs for the virus.This marked the country's ninth outbreak since 2000 and was caused by the Sudan strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.Uganda shares a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has experienced over a dozen outbreaks of the virus, including a major epidemic between 2018 and 2020 that claimed nearly 2,300 lives.Starting in Kampala, a densely populated capital city home to some four million people, the outbreak presented a significant challenge due to the potential for rapid spread.Kampala serves as a crucial crossroads, with major transport routes branching out to eastern DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan.Despite the recurring threat and the high-risk starting point, health experts note that Uganda has increasingly leveraged its extensive experience in battling previous outbreaks.This expertise has allowed authorities to implement swift public health measures and bring infections under control relatively quickly compared to some other regions facing similar challenges.The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids and tissues of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.Initial symptoms often include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and fatigue, which can progress to vomiting blood, internal and external bleeding, and organ failure.

Uganda declares end to latest Ebola outbreak

Ghanaian singer and songwriter Akwaboah has revealed he no longer writes songs for other artistes, citing years of being denied due credit for his work. According to him, the decision was born out of frustration with how his contributions were repeatedly overlooked by those he helped create hits for.Speaking in an exclusive interview on 3 Music TV on Saturday, July 5, 2025,&nbsp;Akwaboah shared a personal experience that ultimately pushed him to put his focus entirely on his own music career.“Initially, I was writing songs for people but sometimes I don’t get the credit,” he said. “They get on stage and then say, ‘I thank God, I thank my manager, I thank Charterhouse,’ and leave.”The multiple award-winning singer and songwriter recalled a specific incident involving a female artiste who won an award for a song he had written. According to him, she expressed gratitude to everyone involved — except the person behind the lyrics.“There was this lady who once won an award and was thanking everyone on stage: her manager, her team, even the producer, but not me. Meanwhile, the song she won the award with was one I wrote,” he recounted.That moment, Akwaboah said, was an eye-opener and marked a turning point in how he views his role as a creative.“I was like okay, that’s a lesson. So, from now, I will sing mine,” he stated.Over the years, ‘I do love you’ singer has written songs for a number of top Ghanaian musicians, including Becca, Sarkodie, DSP Kofi Sarpong, and others — contributing significantly to some of their most celebrated records. Despite this, he said recognition for his songwriting has not always followed.While he acknowledges the importance of collaboration in the music industry, he insists that proper credit is crucial for the growth and motivation of behind-the-scenes creatives.The singer also spoke about his latest single Smile Again, which features popular Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari. According to Akwaboah, he wanted a female voice to help interpret the emotional depth of the song — and Nadia was his ideal choice.Though his songwriting has powered the success of many in the industry, Akwaboah’s recent shift signals a personal decision to take full ownership of his work and step into the spotlight with his own voice and story.

I Sometimes Don’t Get the Credit – Akwaboah Explains Why He No Longer Writes for Others

Three separate indictments involving Ghanaian nationals have been unsealed in the United States, as part of a sweeping federal crackdown on transnational romance fraud schemes targeting elderly Americans.The U.S. Department of Justice announced the developments in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting the efforts of law enforcement agencies to dismantle criminal networks that prey on vulnerable seniors.Among those charged is Ghanaian citizen Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, also known as “Dada Joe Remix”, who was indicted in the District of Arizona on May 30, 2025. According to U.S. court documents, Boateng and his co-conspirators ran a romance and inheritance scam from 2013 to 2023. The scheme involved tricking elderly victims into believing that gold and jewels were being held for them, but could only be released after the payment of fictitious taxes and fees.Boateng was arrested in Ghana on May 28 pursuant to a U.S. extradition request and is awaiting transfer to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The case is being investigated by the FBI.In a related case, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, David Onyinye Abuanekwu, Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, and Nader Wasif have been charged in the Northern District of Ohio with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Unsealed on June 4, the superseding indictment alleges that from December 2017 through March 2024, the defendants participated in fraudulent schemes targeting elderly U.S. citizens through romantic deception and false business claims.According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the accused laundered proceeds and shared funds with co-conspirators in Ghana and other locations. “The defendants used various wire fraud and romance fraud schemes — often targeting elderly individuals — to obtain funds by means of false pretenses,” the statement said.Another case, unsealed on May 13 in the same district, involves Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Hannah Adom, Portia Joe, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, and again, Dwayne Asafo Adjei. The group faces similar charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. Authorities allege that these individuals, too, preyed on elderly Americans through fake romantic engagements and promises of wealth, extracting large sums of money under fraudulent circumstances.All three cases were investigated by the FBI and form part of a broader Justice Department initiative to combat transnational fraud targeting older Americans. “Prosecutors across the country are stepping up the fight against malicious schemes that target older Americans,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are working with domestic law enforcement and foreign counterparts every day to hold criminals accountable and ensure that justice is done for our seniors both here at home and abroad.”The Department emphasised that romance fraud remains one of the most common schemes used by fraudsters globally, especially in targeting older, isolated individuals. These scams often begin on social media or dating platforms and evolve into sophisticated ploys to defraud victims of their life savings.The accused individuals remain innocent until proven guilty in court. However, U.S. authorities are pursuing extraditions and pledging continued international cooperation, especially with countries like Ghana, which have been identified as major nodes in these fraudulent networks.Victims of elder fraud in the U.S. are encouraged to report their cases to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11&nbsp;or through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Dada Joe Remix, other Ghanaians charged in US over romance scams following FBI investigations

Twelve New York jurors gathered around 10:00 (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday in a wood-panelled courtroom to tell Sean "Diddy" Combs that they found him not guilty of running a criminal enterprise with employees, and sex trafficking his ex-girlfriends.The disgraced hip-hop mogul fell to his knees and buried his head in a chair at the defence table where he had just spent two months on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering.Before the verdict came down, Combs sat quietly in his chair, looking forward, wearing the same off-white sweater and pants he wore for much of his trial.The court grew quiet as the jury foreperson handed the verdict sheet to the court deputy. Then it was handed back to the foreperson.And they began to read.As the sound of the "not guilty" rung out in court for the first time, acquitting Combs of the most severe crime of racketeering, the rapper kept his head low.By the time the foreperson announced Combs was not guilty of sex trafficking, Combs had his head in his hands.What it was like inside courtroom when verdict came inThe jury did find him guilty on the least severe charges of transporting people to engage in prostitution. As they confirmed their decision, Combs buried his face in his hands.A flurry of small celebrations followed for Combs, who has been in a federal jail in Brooklyn since September. He made a prayer sign with his hands to the jury, then turned around and made the same gesture to his family - twin daughters, sons and 85-year-old mother.He appeared to mouth: "I'm coming home."The moment seemed equally emotional for Combs' many lawyers, including Teny Geragos, seated next to him and wiping away tears with a tissue after the verdict was read.Crowds react to the verdict outside the court in New YorkCombs' attorneys wasted no time in telling the judge that the verdict, reached after roughly two days of deliberations, meant Combs should be able to walk out of the Manhattan courthouse a free man that very day.His acquittal on the most serious charges meant he no longer needed to be jailed, his attorney Marc Agnifilo told the court, noting that his client's plane was inaccessible - chartered and in Maui."Mr Combs has been given his life by this jury," he said. "He will not run afoul of anything this court imposes on him."Then, in the perhaps the most emotional gesture of the day for Combs, he appeared to express his gratitude by pressing his head into his chair at the defence table.He rose, clapping his hands loudly, to hug several of his lawyers. Many family members and supporters in the main courtroom and a packed overflow room joined him, cheering.Then, with one final hug to his lawyer and a wave to his family - blocked by a mass of people and court benches - he was escorted out of the court.The hip-hop mogul's homecoming hopes were later dashed as Judge Arun Subramanian denied him bail at another hearing on Wednesday afternoon.Outside the Manhattan court, there were repeated calls of "free Diddy" in a large crowd behind barriers.But he will remain behind bars until his sentencing later this year.

Dramatic moment Sean 'Diddy' Combs fell to his knees after learning his fate

The jury in&nbsp;Sean “Diddy” Combs’&nbsp;sex trafficking trial said Tuesday that it has reached a verdict on four of five counts against the hip-hop mogul. But the partial decision remained under wraps after jurors were told to keep deliberating because they were stuck on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy.Prosecutors, Combs’ defense team and Judge Arun Subramanian reasoned that after just two days of deliberations, it was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts. So rather than taking a partial verdict, Subramanian told the jury to continue weighing the remaining charge. Deliberations will continue Wednesday.The developments came late Tuesday afternoon, when the jury sent a note saying it was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge because there were jurors with “unpersuadable" views on both sides.But in less than 13 hours of deliberations, the jury did reach a verdict on two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The latter concerns allegations of arranging to fly the women and sex workers across state lines.If there is a conviction, the sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.The outstanding charge, racketeering conspiracy, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.After hearing about the jury note, Combs, 55, appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point,&nbsp;the hip-hop mogul&nbsp;solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him.After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day.Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, “Love you” and “I’ll be all right.”Marshals then led him from the room.Jurors are weighing charges that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force two girlfriends into drug-fueled&nbsp;sex marathons&nbsp;with male sex workers known as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”He has pleaded not guilty.&nbsp;His lawyers contend&nbsp;prosecutors are trying to criminalize Combs’ swinger lifestyle and that, if anything, his conduct amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies.Racketeering conspiracy is the most complicated charge because it requires the jury to decide not only whether Combs ran a “racketeering enterprise,” but also whether he was involved in committing such offenses as some or all of various types of offenses, such as kidnapping and arson.Earlier Tuesday, the jury asked to review critical testimony from one of the prosecution’s most important witnesses: the hip-hop mogul's former longtime girlfriend&nbsp;Cassie, the R&amp;B singer born Casandra Ventura.The panel of eight men and four women&nbsp;asked for Cassie’s account of Combs beating, kicking and dragging her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 — an assault captured on now-infamous&nbsp;security camera footage.They also asked to see Cassie’s testimony about when she said Combs accused her of taking drugs from him and kicked her off their yacht at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2013. On their way back to the U.S., she said, he threatened to release explicit videos of her having sex.In addition, the jury asked for Cassie and stripper Daniel Phillip’s testimony about her jumping into his lap at a New York City hotel. Phillip testified that “she was terrified,” and he suspected Combs had been slapping and slamming her around an adjacent room.Phillip testified that he told her she was in real danger. Cassie, he said, “basically tried to convince me that it was OK: ‘It’s OK. I’m fine, I’ll be OK.’"Tuesday's court session began with the lawyers and judge considering the jury's request late Monday for clarification about what qualifies as drug distribution, an aspect of the racketeering conspiracy charge.Subramanian ultimately reminded jurors of instructions he'd already given on that part of the case.On Monday, barely an hour into deliberations, the foreperson sent a note complaining that there was one juror “who we are concerned cannot follow your Honor’s instructions."In response, the judge reminded jurors of their duties to deliberate and follow his instructions on the law.At the trial, Combs&nbsp;chose not to testify. His lawyers built their arguments for acquittal mostly through lengthy cross-examinations of dozens of prosecution witnesses.

Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating

Nigerian artiste Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Baba has sparked fresh debates with his claim that men are not made to be sexually faithful to a single woman.Speaking in a recent episode of the 234 Mzansi podcast, hosted by Ani Emmanuel, also known as Nedu Wazobia, the 49-year-old artist argued that biologically, the genetics of a man makes it impossible for a man to be sexually faithful especially in romantic partnerships.“I will speak for myself. Man is not built to sexually be with one woman. Your heart, love, respect can be given to one woman but sexually it is impossible for a man.“A man can love a woman completely but when it comes to that sexual satisfaction, can’t be with only one woman. It’s the biology of a man,” he stated.2Face Idibia emphasised that the earlier society accepts what he termed as the fact, the better it will be for many people who experience broken hearts due to the inability of their partners to remain faithful.“It is what has gotten so many people into trouble, its simple fact and we need to accept it. Because so many heartaches, unnecessary stress will be avoided if we understand this simple fact,” he added.He explained that while some men may choose a different path, the average man is driven by natural instincts.“Some individuals may choose to live differently, but I’m talking about the natural biology of a man,” he said. “A man has many seeds and can’t just drop them for one woman.”2Baba’s comments come amid renewed interest in his personal life, particularly his past relationship with actress Annie Idibia. While he did not delve into details, he confirmed that their separation was mutual and rooted in emotional disconnection.“Annie and I had a good bond. She’s an amazing and wonderful person, but it wasn’t working anymore,” he said. “Annie and I gave it our best. The reason we’re no longer together isn’t something I want to start discussing here. We have our understanding, and she is amazing. It just wasn’t working anymore, that’s the simple truth.”He advised couples to be honest about their challenges and not stay in unhappy marriages due to societal expectations. “If a marriage is not working, the couple should try to fix it, but if it still doesn’t work, I don’t think anyone should be forced to stay,” he said. “Only the couple inside the marriage truly knows what they are going through.”

‘A man is not built to be with one woman sexually’ – 2Baba

The National Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill reaffirmed the holiday to be celebrated on September 21 to commemorate Nkrumah’s legacy as Ghana’s founding leader.The holiday was moved to August 4 under the NPP-led Akufo-Addo administration in 2019.But on June 26, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama issued an Executive Instrument that restored the holiday to September 21.In a press release signed by Acting Executive Director of the Park, Dr. Collins Rawlings Nunyonameh hailed the move as a “victory for truth and historical justice,” highlighting Nkrumah’s unmatched role in Ghana’s liberation from colonial rule.“This decision is not only a victory for truth and historical justice, but a reaffirmation of the indisputable legacy of Dr Kwame Nkrumah as the true founder of Ghana.“As in all cases, while we note that others may have contributed in various ways to Ghana’s political development, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah remains peerless in Ghana’s political history,” the statement read.The statement quoted former Guinean President Sekou Touré’s 1972 tribute: “Those who attempted to humiliate him only succeeded in glorifying him.”The memorial park urged lawmakers to further entrench the holiday in law to prevent future revisionism and invited the public to visit the Accra site to learn more about Nkrumah’s legacy.“We would now call on the Government, Parliament and the Constitutional Review Committee to take steps to entrench Founder’s Day in law, to safeguard it from future political revisionism and historical distortions.“We commend government for this singular decision, which exemplifies in more ways than one, the government’s determination to correct historical distortions and assert Dr. Nkrumah’s status as the founder of our beloved nation, Ghana,” the statement added.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park commends gov’t for reinstating Founder’s Day to Sept. 21

A Ghanaian professor, Wisdom Tettey, has been inducted as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, a leading public institution in Canada.He assumed the role officially on January 1, 2025.According to Carleton University’s official website, the formal installation ceremony took place on Monday, June 16, 2025, during the university’s spring convocation.The event marked the official beginning of Professor Tettey’s leadership, ushering in a new era of inclusive academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement at Carleton.Prof Tettey joined Carleton from the University of Toronto, where he served as Vice-President and was Principal of the Scarborough campus between 2014 and 2018.Previously, he held the roles of Dean of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences and of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, both at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, and was Interim Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Culture at the University of Calgary.He is an elected Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and serves on advisory and editorial boards for several academic publications.Prof Tettey has also contributed to regional and local development through board service with organisations such as the Toronto PanAm Sports Centre and CivicAction.<a href="https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=1988718&amp;comment=0#com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Comments</a><a href="https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/television/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> WI</a>

Ghanaian Professor inducted as Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University in Canada

Nathaniel Quaye, a rising voice in Ghana’s digital media landscape, has been honored with two major accolades—Brand Blogger of the Year and Discovery Author of the Year—at the 2025 Iconic Excellence Awards. These awards recognize his creativity, consistency, and growing impact as a content creator and youth-focused digital storyteller.He plays a key role at Aukiss Media, where he serves as a Content Creator and Social Media Agent. Through the platform, he blogs on topics that resonate with youth and community development, while managing the brand’s social media presence sharing timely stories, driving engagement, and promoting meaningful campaigns.“Aukiss Media gives me a powerful platform to connect with audiences through stories that matter. As a content creator and social media agent, I aim to spark dialogue, inspire action, and represent the voice of young people,” Nathaniel shared.Aukiss Media is a dynamic Ghanaian entertainment and lifestyle brand known for blending media, technology, and purpose. Through its blog, TV app, and digital outreach, it champions youth innovation and creative expression across Africa. Nathaniel Quaye’s contributions help shape the platform’s voice and extend its reach across both traditional and digital channels.The Brand Blogger of the Year award reflects his consistent delivery of engaging, value-driven content, while the Discovery Author of the Year award celebrates his debut book, The Internet &amp; You, which empowers young people to use social media responsibly and purposefully.

Nathaniel Quaye Wins Brand Blogger of the Year and Discovery Author of the Year at Iconic Excellence Awards

Jordan Lloyd had been praying for something big to happen. The 35-year-old screenwriter was quarantining in her apartment in North Hollywood in June 2020. Without any work projects to fill her days, she picked up the novel Roots, by Alex Haley, to reread.The novel tells the story of Kunta Kinte, Haley’s ancestor, who is captured and sold into slavery in the Gambia and then brought to Virginia, where he is forced to labor on a plantation. It was adapted into an Emmy-award winning television series in the 1970s, and while reading it again, Lloyd thought to herself, “Wouldn’t it be nice if they could make another Roots?”A few days later, out of the blue, she received an email from an undergraduate student at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The email was short. The woman introduced herself as Carissa Chen, a junior at the college studying history. She was working on an independent research project to find descendants of enslaved people connected to the university. By using historical records and modern genealogy tools, she had found Lloyd.“I have reason to believe through archival research that you could be the descendant of Tony and Cuba Vassall, two slaves taken from Antigua by a founding member connected to Harvard University,” the email read. “Are you available anytime for a call?”The note linked to a website containing a family tree that Chen had created, tracing the lineage of people enslaved by Isaac Royall Jr, an Antiguan planter and businessman whose endowment would eventually create Harvard Law School.Chen hadn’t expected to find any living descendants, she told the Guardian, but through dogged research, she managed to uncover 50 names and found Lloyd through an old website she had made when she had first moved to Los Angeles.“It all felt too specific to be a scam,” Lloyd recounted, so she agreed to a call that would eventually blow open everything she thought she knew about her family history, linking her with one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions and launching a phase in her life that would be colored with equal parts joy and pain.US universities and the legacy of slaveryThough it contradicts a common perception of colonial New England, enslaved people were brought to work in northern cities in North America as well. In her book New England Bound, the historian Wendy Warren records the remarks of one European traveler who noted in 1687 that “there is not a house in Boston, however small may be its means, that has not one or two [enslaved people]”.As the country’s oldest and wealthiest university, Harvard’s history is inextricable from the history of transatlantic slavery. The enslaved labored in campus buildings, university presidents and professors owned people forced into bondage, and the school’s wealth grew through a circle of donors intimately connected to the plantation system in the Caribbean, the American south and the trafficking of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic.Harvard began, informally, to research its relationship to slavery as early as 2007, when the history professor Sven Beckert started leading undergraduate research seminars such as the one Chen took. In 2016, then Harvard president Drew Faust acknowledged the university was “directly complicit” in slavery and, in 2022, the university released an official report, Harvard &amp; the Legacy of Slavery, which detailed its history over more than a hundred pages.Harvard is not the only academic institution with this burden. Currently more than 100 universities across the world are investigating their ties to slavery, the vast majority of which are in the US. A small subset of the universities researching their ties to slavery – approximately five – have committed to conducting genealogical research and identifying living descendants. Religious denominations such as the Episcopal church and the Evangelical Lutheran church and more than a dozen cities and four states have also begun researching their legacies of slavery. The California state reparations taskforce published a 1,000-page report two years ago, and state legislators have been developing – and passing – reparations-related initiatives.The Guardian, founded in 1821 in Manchester, England, began its own process in 2020, when its sole owner, the Scott Trust, commissioned independent academic researchers to uncover its links to transatlantic slavery. It revealed that the newspaper’s founder, John Edward Taylor, and nine out of 11 of his financial backers had direct ties, mainly through Manchester’s cotton industry. In 2023, the Scott Trust apologized for its role in transatlantic slavery and committed to a 10-year restorative justice program, with millions earmarked for descendant communities. That year, the Guardian also launched an ongoing series called Cotton Capital, which explores the legacies of slavery globally.The 2022 Harvard report included a list of recommendations by the presidential committee: develop educational partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities, create a public memorial, and – perhaps most contentiously – identify living descendants of people enslaved by university staff, leaders and faculty. The announcement was accompanied by a $100m endowment for “implementation”.The person the university tapped to lead the descendant research is a man named Richard Cellini, who has a kind of mythological status in the world of institutional accountability and slavery research. By his own admission, his skill lies primarily in selecting talented researchers, and “keeping them happy”. The university, it seemed, was fully committed to beginning a process of discovery and atonement, putting resources and brainpower behind a project that could set the tone for institutions around the country, and the world. If successful, Harvard could demonstrate that truth-telling and reconciliation are possible on a large scale, that an institutional culture around silence and historical revisionism can be overturned, and that light can shine into even the deepest cracks. But that would ultimately not be the case. Not yet, at least.A source of guilt and shame for Harvard’When I visited Cellini in the archives of the Harvard Business School in mid-February, he was bent over a 19th-century ledger book, trained on a set of records with a magnifying glass. He is a trained attorney and tech entrepreneur, and though jovial and quick to joke, he becomes stoic when speaking about his research.In 2015, he started an independent project at Georgetown University in Washington DC to locate the descendants of 272 enslaved people sold by Jesuit leaders in the mid-1800s to raise money for the university. Cellini said he was driven by a sense of moral outrage upon learning about the sale, as well as a curiosity to see what he could find. Along with 10 other researchers, they would eventually locate more than 10,000 direct descendants. Cellini’s effort, called the Georgetown Memory Project, remains independent although the university has given preferential consideration during the admissions process to descendants and created a “reconciliation fund’ for their benefit.In the winter of 2022, before the Harvard report was made public, Cellini said he was approached by the former president of the school, Larry Bacow, and a dean, Tomiko Brown-Nagin, who asked him if he could do the same thing for Harvard.When he started the research, Harvard had already identified the names of 70 people that had been enslaved with ties to the university. Over the course of the past three years, working alongside American Ancestors, the country’s pre-eminent genealogical institute, Cellini and his researchers have identified more than 900 people that had been enslaved by university affiliates (faculty, staff and people in leadership positions) and nearly 500 of their direct living descendants.It wasn’t long after the work began to pick up steam that Cellini started running into trouble.In March 2023, he said he was asked to meet with the project’s executive director, Roeshana Moore-Evans, and the Harvard staff member overseeing the initiative, the public health professor and vice-provost for special projects, Sara Bleich.These informal meetings were held in a boardroom in the student center, a tall glass building overlooking the gates of Harvard Yard. It was here and during extended phone calls that Cellini claims he was told repeatedly by Bleich “not to find too many descendants”.“At one point the fear was expressed that if we found too many descendants, it would bankrupt the university,” he said.Cellini told Bleich that was “ludicrous”, he said. Was he supposed to falsify the evidence, to destroy it, to ignore it? “I asked for guidance, and the answer was that she didn’t know,” he said, “but we shouldn’t report too many descendants.”Bleich denies this. “The university never issued a directive to him to limit the number of direct descendants that could be identified through the work,” she told the Guardian during a phone interview. Moore-Evans declined to comment on the meetings.In the process of trying to get additional funding for the project, arguing that the amount of work had increased tenfold because of all the additional names that were being uncovered, Cellini met with the finance director for the president’s office, Patricia Harrington, this past fall.Harrington wouldn’t give him a clear answer about his funding request, telling him, “Unfortunately you keep finding more slaves,” he said, and that “every new person is a source of guilt and shame for Harvard”. A spokesperson for the university said: “Any assertion that Patricia Harrington disparaged the work of the Legacy of Slavery Initiative, including descendant research, is false.” Even though Cellini was eventually given a budget for 2025, albeit a fraction of what he had asked for, the university would soon halt his work entirely.A family’s rich history tied to the founding of the USThe early days of discovery were a golden time for Lloyd and her immediate family. Together with Lloyd’s father, Dennis, and Chen, they would meet over Zoom and swap stories. Her dad was sharing parts of family history that Lloyd had never heard before: about his soft-spoken mother and his dad, who owned a flower shop in a neighborhood of Boston called Charlestown.“People will open up to a stranger in a way that’s more honest and unfiltered, wanting to be thorough in a way that you would never with your family,” Lloyd said. Chen, in turn, detailed the findings of her research to the Lloyds and they began to fill in their histories, tracing connections to the colonial period and height of the “triangular trade”.Lloyd’s ancestor seven generations back, Cuba Vassall, was three years old when she was forcibly moved from Antigua to a suburb of Boston along with her family by Isaac Royall Jr, in 1737. The Royalls were the largest slave-owning family in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, owning nearly 70 enslaved people who labored on a 500-acre plantation just north of Boston, as well as controlling more than 100 people on their plantation in Antigua.Before long, Lloyd’s ancestors were transferred to another wealthy Cambridge family, the Vassalls, for whom they labored in an elaborate Georgian mansion currently known as the Longfellow House, near the campus of the then growing Harvard University.The Vassalls owned plantations in Jamaica where more than a thousand people were enslaved. John Vassall was a Harvard graduate, along with his brother Lewis, who once paid for a portion of his tuition with a large barrel of sugar, one of the most lucrative commodities produced by enslaved people. Cuba’s original enslaver, Isaac Royall Jr, didn’t have any direct ties to Harvard while he was living, but he endowed a professorship in his will, likely to ensure his legacy would live on as a member of the colonial elite. The seal of Harvard Law School was the Royall family crest until 2016, when students protested to demand its replacement. The Royall professorship was retired in 2022.At the Longfellow House, Cuba met and married a man named Tony, originally from Jamaica, who was also enslaved by the Vassalls. They had six children, including Lloyd’s ancestor Darby. During the American revolutionary war, the royalist Vassalls fled and the house was occupied by George Washington, who used it as his headquarters during the siege of Boston. According to one anecdote, Washington asked then six-year-old Darby to work for him, who replied he wouldn’t work without wages.After the war, Tony and Cuba petitioned the state to stay in a small dwelling on the property, where they cultivated a piece of land for farming. They had both spent 60 years of their life in slavery, Tony wrote in the 1781 letter, and “though deprived of what makes them now happy beyond expression yet they have ever lived a life of honesty and have been faithful in their master’s service”.

Harvard hired a researcher to uncover its ties to slavery. He says the results cost him his job: ‘We found too many slaves’

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement for Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United for a fee of around £55million ($74.7m).A medical is scheduled to take place on Thursday ahead of Kudus signing a six-year contract at the north London club.The Athletic reported on July 5 that Tottenham had made a £50m offer for the 24-year-old, which was turned down as talks continued.The Ghana international is prioritising a move to Spurs if he leaves West Ham and personal terms are not expected to be an issue.Kudus’ contract runs until 2028 and has a buyout clause that is only active for the first 10 days of July, valued at £80million ($108m) for teams on the continent, £85m for those in the Premier League and £120m for those in Saudi Arabia.Kudus registered five goals and four assists in 35 Premier League games for West Ham last season, his second after joining for €41.5m from Ajax in the summer of 2023. That output was slightly down on that from his debut league campaign in England, when he managed eight goals and nine assists.Tottenham have been keen to add forward options to their squad, as well as securing a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, who spent the second half of last season on loan from Bayern Munich. Tel, 20, has signed a six-year contract after moving for a fee worth up to €45m.Spurs have shown interest in Bryan Mbeumo in a move that would reunite the Cameroonian with his former head coach at Brentford, Thomas Frank. But Mbeumo, 25, has informed the north London side that he wishes to join Manchester United, who are working to complete a deal after seeing two bids turned down.Spurs have spent the first few weeks of the transfer window trying to sign a right winger. However, Bryan Mbeumo has made it clear he wants to join Manchester United and Antoine Semenyo signed a new long-term contract with Bournemouth. Kudus might not have been their first-choice target but he is still a significant coup for new head coach Thomas Frank.Frank loves players who are positionally versatile. Kudus has spent the majority of his time with West Ham United on the right wing but he operates as a No 10 for Ghana. Frank could use the 24-year-old as a threat cutting inside onto his stronger left foot or as a powerful and dynamic dribbler in tight central areas.Tottenham’s squad struggled to cope with the demands of the Premier League and the Europa League last season so it was crucial that they boosted their numbers this summer. Mathys Tel arrived permanently, after spending the second half of last season on loan from Bayern Munich, but he only turned 20 in April and is still raw. Kudus has a lot of room for growth but is far more experienced and proven.It will be interesting to see how Kudus’ arrival impacts Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski. Johnson was Tottenham’s top scorer in all competitions last season and he scored the winning goal in the Europa League final. Johnson primarily plays on the right and Frank tried to sign him when he was in charge of Brentford. Will Kudus replace Johnson as the first-choice right winger or will he take over Kulusevski’s playmaking responsibilities in the middle of the pitch? Spurs have a lot of attacking talent at their disposal and it will be fascinating to see how Frank will effectively combine them.

Tottenham reach agreement for West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus

In Parliament on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the matter about the use of the Dispatch Box came up just after Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, walked to the Dispatch Box to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness an urgent question.But his question could not be taken as a confusion broke out when the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga sought to block him from performing that exercise, using the Dispatch Box.The Minority Leader argued that there’s no provision in the standing orders that limits the use of the Dispatch Box to ask a question.“It is my case that the invitation by the Majority Leader to you to deny me the opportunity to use the Dispatch Box to ask a question is not founded on any rule. Mr. Speaker, I have gone through the rules and where the Standing Orders intends to make something mandatory, it expressly states so…“Mr. Speaker, there’s no such express provision that when you file a question and the Minister is here to answer, the Member must necessarily stand in his place before asking, moreso when the question is in the name of the leader,” the Effutu lawmaker argued.But the Majority side was against this position of the Minority.The Majority Caucus maintained that the Dispatch Box is only used for statements by Ministers, Ceremonial heads of State or leaders of the House but not to ask a question.This led to a back and forth in the House until the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who was presiding over proceedings suspended the House for a deliberation with the leadership of Parliament and finality brought to the matter.A clause of Order 88 of the Standing Orders of Parliament states that “a member called shall rise and ask the question that stands in the name of the member on the order paper.’In fact, the Dispatch Box has by convention been reserved for Ministers who come to respond to questions in the House, ceremonial State Heads who come to give a speech on the floor of the House.Leaders of the House, acting in their capacity as such, can also use the Dispatch Box.This was the argument from the Majority side that an MP in his or her capacity as an MP representing his or her constituency must ask a question from their seats using their mics and not use the Dispatch Box as Afenyo-Markin sought to do.After nearly an hour recess, the House resumed sitting and the Speaker ruled on the matter.The Speaker gave a ruling that barred members of parliament from using the dispatch box to ask questions in their representative capacity.“Any member in his representative capacity [as MP] but not in the capacity of the caucus should rise in his or her place to ask a question, and not use the dispatch box,” Bernard Ahiafor declared.

All you need to know about the Dispatch Box debate in Parliament

Suspended Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has filed a fresh legal action against the Republic of Ghana at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria, challenging her ongoing suspension and alleging multiple human rights violations.Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, confirmed the development on Tuesday on his Facebook page, stating that the suit was filed on July 4.“I can confirm that the Chief Justice—Her Ladyship, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo—has filed another court case, this time at the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria, against the Republic,” Dr. Srem-Sai said.According to him, the ECOWAS filing reiterates allegations of human rights violations that are also the subject of ongoing cases before Ghana’s Supreme Court and High Court, in relation to the removal proceedings currently being undertaken against the Chief Justice.In the new application, Justice Torkornoo argues that her suspension effectively amounts to a removal from office without a final determination, thus undermining her constitutional right to function in a position to which she was duly appointed.Background to the SuspensionJustice Torkornoo was suspended on April 22, 2025, following the establishment of a prima facie case against her after the receipt of three separate petitions. Her suspension, carried out in line with Article 146(6) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, was done in consultation with the Council of State.Subsequently, a five-member committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang was appointed by the President to investigate the allegations.However, the suspended Chief Justice has consistently raised serious concerns over her treatment during the inquiry process. She has accused the committee of actions that she claims amount to abuse and violation of her fundamental human rights. These include:Invasive body searches&nbsp;Confiscation of her mobile devices and laptop&nbsp;Denial of access to her family during hearing sessions&nbsp;Her legal challenge at the ECOWAS Court adds an international dimension to what is already one of the most significant judicial controversies in Ghana’s recent legal history. The move has drawn widespread attention from legal experts, civil society groups, and international observers.Justice Torkornoo’s legal team is seeking a declaration that her suspension is unlawful, and that the procedures followed by the investigative committee and the state constitute a breach of her fundamental rights under both Ghanaian and international law.The ECOWAS Court has yet to set a date for hearing the case.

Suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo sues Ghana at ECOWAS Court over alleged human rights violations

Police in Entebbe have launched a full-scale investigation into the gruesome murder of an elderly couple, believed to be victims of an aggravated robbery at their residence in Lugonjo, Nakiwogo Cell, Kiwafu Ward, Division ‘A’, Entebbe Municipality.According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SSP Patrick Onyango, officers from Entebbe Police Station responded to an emergency call and found the lifeless bodies of David Mutaaga (69) and Deborah Florence Mutaaga (62), both bearing multiple stab wounds.The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the quiet lakeside community, is being treated as a double homicide likely connected to a violent break-in.“The victims were found inside their home with deep stab wounds. Initial assessments suggest the attackers may have used sharp objects and possibly gained access with the intent to rob,” SSP Onyango said in a statement issued Monday.Police recorded statements from multiple witnesses at the scene, including the informant Ronald Golooba, a close family acquaintance; the housemaid Daphine Naudo, who is said to have discovered the bodies; and several neighbors who reported unusual movements and noises during the night.Crime scene investigators processed the house and collected evidence for forensic analysis, including fingerprints, blood samples, and household items that may have been used or tampered with during the attack.The bodies were transferred to Mulago City Mortuary for postmortem examination to determine the exact cause and timing of death.Investigators are now piecing together the couple’s last known movements, reviewing neighborhood CCTV footage, and interviewing more residents for leads on potential suspects.While no arrests have been made, SSP Onyango confirmed that police are pursuing “all available leads” and urged anyone with information to come forward.The murder comes amid growing concerns over violent crime in peri-urban areas surrounding Kampala and Entebbe.According to police crime statistics, Entebbe Municipality has recorded 11 homicide cases so far in 2025, a sharp rise compared to the same period last year.Kampala Metropolitan Police region has registered 94 murder cases this year, with 21 attributed to aggravated robbery.Local leaders and residents have called for increased night patrols, community policing, and installation of security cameras in high-risk areas.“This is a tragic loss to the community,” said a neighbor who requested anonymity.“The couple was known to be peaceful and generous. We are living in fear, and we want justice.”

Elderly Couple Brutally Murdered in Entebbe Home

Ministers are facing calls to not cut education plans for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).Campaigners say education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are "precious legal protections", warning that thousands of children could lose access to education if the plans are abolished.The government says it inherited the system "left on its knees". Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described it as a "complex and sensitive area" when asked if she could rule out scrapping EHCPs.But Neil O'Brien, the shadow education minister, has criticised the government for "broken promises and U-turns".An EHCP is a legally binding document which ensures a child or young person with special or educational needs in England gets the right support from a local authority.Full details of the proposed changes are due in October, but ministers have not ruled out scrapping the education plans - insisting no decisions have been taken.In a letter to the Guardian newspaper, campaigners have said that without EHCPs in mainstream schools, "many thousands of children risk being denied vital provision, or losing access to education altogether"."Whatever the Send system's problems, the answer is not to remove the rights of children and young people. Families cannot afford to lose these precious legal protections," they added.Signatories to the letter include the heads of charities, professors, Send parents including actor Sally Phillips, and campaigners including broadcaster Chris Packham.Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Phillipson said: "What I can say very clearly is that we will strengthen and put in place better support for children."I've been spending a lot of time listening to parents, to disability rights groups, to campaigners and to others and to colleagues across Parliament as well, because it's important to get this right."O'Brien, the shadow minister, said the government had "no credibility left"."This is a government defined by broken promises and U-turns. They said they would employ more teachers and they have fewer. They said they would not raise tax on working people but did," O'Brien said.The Liberal Democrats' education spokesperson Munira Wilson said talk of removing EHCPs would be "a great cause of concern for parents", adding that "no child, or their family, should face uncertainty over receiving the support they need".Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme on Monday, education committee chair Helen Hayes said the Send reforms should be carried out in a way which "builds the trust" of parents who had lost faith in the system.Although the government may not set out its plans on Send until later in the year, she also said she hoped ministers would "learn the lessons from the welfare Bill and the events we saw last week in Parliament".The U-turn on proposed welfare changes, triggered by a large rebellion of backbench Labour MPs, has made future spending decisions "harder", the education secretary said on Sunday.Data from the Department for Education released in June showed that the number of EHCPs has increased.In total, there were 638,745 EHCPs in place in January 2025, up 10.8% on the same point last year.The number of new plans which started during 2024 also grew by 15.8% on the previous year, to 97,747.Requests for children to be assessed for EHCPs rose by 11.8% to 154,489 in 2023.A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We have been clear that there are no plans to abolish Send tribunals, or to remove funding or support from children, families and schools."The spokesperson added that it would be "totally inaccurate to suggest that children, families and schools might experience any loss of funding or support".

Government urged to keep education plans for children with special needs

US President Donald Trump has suggested that Doge, the cost-cutting agency Elon Musk helped set up, could be used to hurt the billionaire's companies - as the former allies continue their public dispute over Trump's budget plans."Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far," he wrote on social media. "Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!"The tech billionaire wrote in reply: "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now."Musk has repeatedly criticised Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill", suggesting that it undermines the work he undertook to cut government spending.A row between Trump and Musk first blew up last month, with the pair trading barbs publicly before Musk backtracked on some of his attacks.Congress is currently voting on Trump's bill. The president's Republican Party holds majorities in both chambers, though some lawmakers in the party have voted against it - siding with opposition Democrats.The proposed legislation includes increased spending for border security, defence and energy production that would be partially offset by controversial cuts to healthcare and food-support programmes.Musk was in charge of Doge (the Department of Government Efficiency), which has been tasked with finding ways of cutting government spending, until his acrimonious White House departure over the "big, beautiful bill".Trump has suggested that the dissent from the Tesla and SpaceX owner relates to a part of his bill that would remove incentives to buy electric vehicles, such as those Musk produces.The president has also threatened to remove government subsidies from which Musk's companies benefit."He's upset that he's losing his EV mandate, he's very upset, he could lose a lot more than that, I can tell you that," Trump told reporters on Tuesday morning."Doge is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. He gets a lot of subsidies," he added.Musk, however, has argued he is ideologically committed to cutting government spending. If passed, Trump's bill would add an estimated $3.3tn (£2.4tn) to the national debt.Among a string of posts on his social media platform X while voting took place, Musk shared a graph showing US debt over time with the caption: "When are they going to flatten this curve?"In another, he wrote: "Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!"Musk said he would make sure these lawmakers lost their primary races next year. The billionaire businessman - who spent hundreds of millions of dollars to help Trump's re-election bid last year - has even touted the idea establishing a new party to run against both Republicans and Democrats.In an apparent response to Trump's claim about EV incentives, Musk reposted a clip from an interview in which he said removing them would see Tesla's "competitive position would improve significantly".

Trump threatens to set Doge on Musk as pair feud again over budget plan

After hours of stalemate, Republicans in the US Senate have narrowly passed Donald Trump's mega-bill on tax and spending, meaning the proposed legislation has cleared one of its key hurdles.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed with Vice-President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote after more than 24 hours of debate.It now heads back to the House, or lower chamber, where it still faces more opposition. An earlier version was cleared by House Republicans by a single-vote margin.Trump had given the Republican-controlled Congress a deadline of 4 July to send him a final version of the bill to sign into law.But disputes over the deficit, social programmes and spending levels could create delays, with the president conceding on Tuesday morning it would be "very hard" to meet that deadline.Despite efforts to galvanise his party, Senate Majority Leader John Thune lost three Republicans - Maine's Susan Collins, North Carolina's Thom Tillis and Kentucky's Rand Paul - in the narrow vote. Collins, Tillis and Paul joined all Democrats in voting against the bill.Republican leadership was able to convince Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who previously expressed doubts about the legislation, to back the bill.That made the final Senate vote tally 50-50, and prompted Vance to step in to cast his tie-breaking vote.The bill, considered a cornerstone of Trump's second-term agenda, would make permanent large tax cuts that were temporarily put in place when he was first in office.To make up for the expected loss of revenue, Republicans have looked to cut spending in a wide range of programmes, including food subsidies and healthcare for lower-income Americans.The vote came on Tuesday morning, concluding a whirlwind voting session on Capitol Hill.Democrats had attempted to flex their muscles by putting up procedural hurdles against the bill to delay its passage.That included requiring Senate clerks to read all of the bill's 940 pages aloud, and launching a lengthy debate process over proposed amendments in what is called a "vote-a-rama".It is now up to House Republicans to approve the changes made by the Senate before the president can sign the bill into law.But its fate remains uncertain, as it has been opposed from different angles.A group of fiscal conservative hawks have signalled their unhappiness with how much the Senate proposal could add to the US national deficit - which refers to the difference between what the government spends and what it raises in revenue each year.According to the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, the Senate proposal could add $650bn (£472bn) to the deficit each year. "That's not fiscal responsibility," caucus members said in a social media post on Monday. "It's not what we agreed to."Meanwhile, other House Republicans are concerned that the Senate legislation would make steeper cuts to the Medicaid health insurance program for lower-income Americans than they had approved.Democrats in both chambers of Congress, too, have criticised the proposed welfare cuts.

US Senate Republicans narrowly pass Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill

The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has raged since April 2023. It’s turned Sudan into the site of one of the world’s&nbsp;most catastrophic humanitarian and displacement crises.At least&nbsp;150,000 people have been killed. More than&nbsp;14 million&nbsp;have been displaced, with over 3 million fleeing to neighbouring countries like Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Once a vibrant capital city,&nbsp;Khartoum is now a “burnt-out shell”.This devastating war,&nbsp;rooted&nbsp;in long-standing ethnic, political and economic tensions, has been compounded by what international and regional actors have done and failed to do. As&nbsp;Amnesty International notes, the international response remains “woefully inadequate”.The problem lies in the fact that&nbsp;external involvement&nbsp;has not been neutral. Instead of halting the conflict, many external players have complicated it. In some cases, international interventions have escalated it.More than 10 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia have been drawn into Sudan’s war. This has turned it into a&nbsp;proxy conflict&nbsp;that reflects the interests of&nbsp;external actors, such as Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.Several actors&nbsp;have taken sides.Saudi Arabia, for instance, backs the Sudanese army. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is&nbsp;alleged to support&nbsp;the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Egypt, citing historical ties, backs the army. For their part, Ethiopia&nbsp;reportedly supports&nbsp;the paramilitary group, while Eritrea backs the army.&nbsp;Chad&nbsp;has been accused of facilitating arms shipments to the Rapid Support Forces via its eastern airports. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Iran have also been linked to diplomatic and military support to Sudan’s army.These geopolitical entanglements have made peace nearly impossible, deepening the conflict instead of resolving it.I have studied Africa’s governance failures for more than 30 years, from&nbsp;military elites and coups&nbsp;to&nbsp;state capture&nbsp;and&nbsp;political instability. Based on this, my view is that Sudan’s conflict cannot be resolved without serious international commitment to neutrality and peace.The involvement of foreign actors on opposing sides must be reversed. International involvement must be premised on helping the Sudanese people develop the capacity to resolve governance problems themselves.For this to happen, regional diplomacy must be stepped up. The African Union must assert its legitimacy and&nbsp;take the lead&nbsp;in addressing this challenging crisis. It can do this by putting pressure on member states to ensure that any ceasefire agreements are enforced.The East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development can provide assistance in securing a peace agreement and ensuring it’s enforced. Members of these continental organisations can encourage external actors to limit their intervention in Sudan to activities that promote democratic governance and sustainable development.<h2>The African Union</h2>The&nbsp;African Union&nbsp;should play a central role in bringing peace to Sudan. But its absence has been conspicuous.Despite adopting the “African solutions to African problems” mantra, the African Union has neither held Sudan’s warlords accountable nor put in place adequate civilian protection measures.First, it could have worked closely with the UN to deploy a mission to Sudan with a mandate to protect civilians, monitor human rights (especially the rights of women and girls), assist in the return of all displaced persons and prevent any further attacks on civilians.Second, the African Union could have sent an expert group to investigate human rights violations, especially sexual violence. The results could have been submitted to the union’s Peace and Security Council for further action.Third, the African Union could have worked closely with regional and international actors, including the Arab League. This would ensure a unified approach to the conflict, based on the interests of Sudanese people for peace and development.Finally, the AU could have addressed the root causes of Sudan’s conflicts, which include extreme poverty, inequality, political exclusion and economic marginalisation.The African Union could also make use of the insights and knowledge gleaned by African leaders like&nbsp;Kenya’s William Ruto and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who have attempted to mediate, but have failed. The AU should also use the political expertise of elder statesmen, such as Thabo Mbeki, Moussa Faki and Olusegun Obasanjo, to help address the conflict and humanitarian crisis.<h2>The United Arab Emirates</h2>The&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;is alleged to back the paramilitary troops in the war. In recent years, the UAE has become increasingly involved in African conflicts. It has supported various factions to conflicts in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel region and Libya.Its increased involvement in Africa is driven by several strategic interests. These include fighting terrorism, securing maritime routes, and expanding its trade and influence.In 2009, the UAE helped Sudan&nbsp;mediate&nbsp;its border conflict with Chad. The UAE supported the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, as well as Sudan’s&nbsp;transitional military council.In 2021, the UAE signed a strategic partnership with Sudan to modernise&nbsp;its political institutions&nbsp;and return the country to the international community. The UAE has stated that it has taken a neutral position in the present conflict. However, on&nbsp;6 March 2025, Sudan brought a case against the UAE to the International Court of Justice. It accused the UAE of&nbsp;complicity in genocide, alleging that the UAE “has been arming the RSF with the aim of wiping out the&nbsp;non-Arab Massalit population&nbsp;of West Darfur.”<h2>The United States</h2>During his first term, US president Donald Trump spearheaded the&nbsp;Abraham Accords. These agreements were aimed at normalising relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including Sudan. Subsequently, Sudan was&nbsp;removed&nbsp;from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.The accords appeared to have brought Khartoum closer to Washington. They provided avenues for the type of engagement that could have placed it in good stead when Trump&nbsp;returned&nbsp;to the White House in 2025.However, Sudan’s internal political and economic instability, including the present civil war, has complicated the situation.The Abraham Accords were a significant&nbsp;foreign policy achievement&nbsp;for Trump. A peaceful, democratically governed, and economically stable and prosperous Sudan could serve as the foundation for Trump’s “circle of peace” in the Middle East.But Trump and his administration are preoccupied with other domestic and foreign policy priorities. During his May 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump did not officially address the conflict in&nbsp;Sudan. Instead, he placed emphasis on securing&nbsp;business deals and investments.<h2>The European Union</h2>The&nbsp;European Union&nbsp;has strongly condemned the violence and the atrocities committed during the war in Sudan, especially against children and women. The&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;has appealed for an immediate and lasting ceasefire while noting that Sudan faces the “most&nbsp;catastrophic&nbsp;humanitarian crisis of the 21st century”.Unfortunately, member countries will remain&nbsp;preoccupied&nbsp;with helping Ukraine, especially given the growing uncertainty in Washington’s relationship with the authorities in Kyiv.The preoccupation and focus of the EU and the US on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran may, however, be&nbsp;underestimating the geopolitical risks&nbsp;Sudan’s war is generating.A peaceful and democratically governed Sudan can contribute to peace not just in the region, but also in many other parts of the world.<h2>What now?</h2>To end Sudan’s war and prevent future ones, international and African actors must do more than issue statements. They must act coherently, collectively and with genuine commitment to the Sudanese people’s right to peace, democratic governance and sustainable development.Democracy and the rule of law are key to peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in Sudan. However, establishing and sustaining institutions that enhance and support democracy is the job of the Sudanese people. The external community can provide the financial support that Sudan is likely to need. It can also support the strengthening of electoral systems, civic education and citizen trust in public institutions.

Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them

Minister of Foreign Affairs,&nbsp;Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa&nbsp;says Ghana’s intensified economic diplomacy drive is beginning to yield significant results, particularly in the area of industrial partnerships.Following a high-level visit to China, Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that Chinese Electric Vehicle (EV) giant, GAC Group, has expressed strong interest in establishing an EV manufacturing plant in Ghana.“GAC, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has agreed to give favorable consideration to Ghana for the establishment of an EV manufacturing plant,” Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed.<img src="https://aukisscontent.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/125454906513447301_1262353751912362_6626691726480424990_n-1024x683.jpg">The Foreign Affairs Minister said, China, which hosts seven of the world’s top ten EV brands, is widely acknowledged to be at least a decade ahead of global competitors in EV technology.“Ghana is poised to forge strategic partnerships that leverage our lithium discovery and economic recovery efforts for transformation and massive job creation,” the minister added.He expressed gratitude to the board and management of GAC for their warm hospitality during a visit to the company’s Panyu Headquarters, describing the engagement as a major step forward in Ghana’s industrialisation drive.Okudzeto Ablakwa affirmed that Ghana’s renewed focus on economic diplomacy aims to ensure that the country’s international engagements directly benefit its people through investment, innovation, and employment opportunities.

Ghana secures EV manufacturing interest from Chinese auto giant GAC

Asante Kotoko sealed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hearts of Oak in the President’s Cup, with striker Kwame Opoku scoring the winner to seal the comeback victory.In a charged atmosphere at the Accra Sports Stadium, it was Hearts of Oak who drew first blood when forward Hamza Issah capitalized on a goalkeeping blunder from Kotoko’s Mohammed Camara to put the Phobians in the lead.The goal, scored by the most prolific player under erstwhile coach Aboubakar Ouattara (Hamza Issah), was the first goal under new boss Didi Dramani.However, after going into the break with the advantage, Hearts’ joy was short-lived.Kotoko levelled seven minutes after the recess through Peter Amidu.Amidu’s goal swung the game’s momentum in Kotoko’s favour, and it was telling two minutes later when Kwame Opoku shot Kotoko ahead.Opoku’s effort ensured the Porcupine Warriors had successfully turned the game on its head.Although Hearts of Oak made late incursions to get back into the game, Kotoko held out for a 2-1 win.The Phobians came closest to equalising when Emmanuel Amankwah was handed the opportunity to convert a penalty late in the game.His effort went straight at Kotoko’s Camara as the Kumasi-based club extended their unbeaten run in recent outings against their sworn rivals to five games.The latest win means Kotoko are champions of the 2025 President’s Cup.Kotoko add the President’s Cup success to their FA Cup triumph and top four Ghana Premier League finish.

Kwame Opoku’s strike seals comeback win for Kotoko against Hearts of Oak

Some 76 Ghanaians who were trafficked to Nigeria under a fraudulent recruitment scheme have been rescued, Ghanaian police say.The victims, mostly young men, were lured with promises of football contracts with top foreign teams, job placements abroad or assistance with visa processing.Upon arrival, their travel documents and mobile phones were seized, and they were housed in overcrowded rooms under poor conditions, police say.The victims were forced to contact their families to solicit about $1,000 (£727) in the guise of paying training or facilitation fees. The fraud masterminds also allegedly used the victims' phone contact lists to scam their friends and relatives.Seven Ghanaian suspects have been arrested in connection with the trafficking.The head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, said at a press briefing that the rescue operation was conducted in collaboration with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement agencies.The victims were rescued from different states in Nigeria between 19 May and 27 June this year, and are yet to be repatriated to be reunited with their families in Ghana.The CID boss cautioned families to verify lucrative job offers and educational opportunities abroad before taking them up.She said once the victims are convinced into the scam, they are usually instructed to travel by road to an unfamiliar country.They are later transferred to "holding camps" - rented rooms where as many as 40 people are forced to live in substandard conditions. Under pressure, they are coerced into recruiting others, deceiving even their own families and friends, Ms Donkor said."The psychological and economic harm caused to these victims and their families is devastating," she said, adding that in many cases, the victims are "so malnourished and psychologically affected" that they are unable to resume their normal lives.QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness marketing company allegedly linked to the recruitment scam, has been banned from operating in Ghana since 2022 for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme.The company has repeatedly denied any involvement in fraudulent activities.Cases of individuals being lured with false job promises and getting into internet fraud schemes are not uncommon in Ghana and Nigeria.The police say efforts are ongoing to arrest all of those behind the scam.

Dozens of Ghanaians trafficked in football job scam rescued in Nigeria

The accident occurred on the A52, near the municipality of Palacios de Sanabria, reports Marca.&nbsp;The star was reportedly in the car with his brother Andre when the vehicle went off the road.Local paper enfoque reports his brother also died in the crash.Jota played on the left wing for Liverpool after joining from Wolves in 2020 for a fee of £41million.He had got married 10 days ago to his partner Rute Cardoso and the couple have three children.They shared pictures of them in front of the altar with their children.In the caption, they said: “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever.”The Instagram post received over 190,000 likes and over 1,000 comments.

Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jiga ‘dies aged 28 in tragic car crash

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association with violating its anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test and could now face up to a four-year ban.The Ukraine international, 24, was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after an "adverse finding in a routine urine test".Players found to have intentionally taken a prohibited substance can be banned for up to four years under the guidelines of world football's governing body, Fifa.At the time Mudryk said he was in "complete shock" and he "never knowingly used any banned substances".He has not played for Chelsea since 28 November and has not been included in a matchday squad since 1 December.Mudryk cannot train with Chelsea either, and the club are supporting him and his mental wellbeing.He attended the Blues' Uefa Conference League final win in Poland last month in a private capacity and was not with the squad.In a statement on Wednesday, the FA said: "We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with anti-doping rule violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of regulations 3 and 4 of the FA's anti-doping regulations."As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time."Chelsea have not commented but in December said, external they would work to establish what caused the failed test, adding: "Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances."Blues manager Enzo Maresca said in December: "We support Mykhailo and trust means that we believe Mykhailo."Under FA rules, players have the right to request analysis of the B sample from a urine test, in the event of an adverse analytical finding in an A sample.If the B sample analysis confirms the adverse finding, charges will be brought.Players can either accept the finding and the applicable consequences, or request that the matter proceed to a hearing.Chelsea signed Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £89m, and he is under contract at the club until June 2031.Mudryk has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.

FA charge Chelsea's Mudryk with doping offences

Seven seconds is all it took. On a June morning in Hubei Province, engineers at Donghu Laboratory slid a sleek one-ton test vehicle onto a magnetic guideway, counted down, and fired 30,000 newtons of electromagnetic force.By the time observers blinked, the car blazed through a speed gun at 650 km/h (404 mph) then braked to a crawl before smashing into the end wall of the 1-km tube. Chinese state media promptly declared a fresh rail speed record, edging past Japan’s storied 603 km/h run from 2015.From Olympic sprinter to marathonerBack in 2008—when Beijing still painted fresh lanes for its first Olympics—China’s high-speed rail network amounted to a 120-km shuttle between the capital and Tianjin. Seventeen years and 45,000 tracked kilometers later, the country hosts two-thirds of the world’s bullet-train mileage and sells the technology everywhere from Serbia to Indonesia. The new maglev experiment signals that Beijing has no interest in tapping the brakes.The prototype’s party trick lies in brute acceleration. Linear motors embedded along the guideway push and pull powerful magnets on the vehicle’s underbelly, replacing wheels with a friction-free cushion of repulsion. According to project chief Li Weichao, the sled hit top speed after just 600 meters and safely stopped within the remaining 400. Engineers liken the motion to a pinball: all juice up front, gravity-free glide in the middle, opposite current to arrest the surge.Until now, bragging rights belonged to Japan’s superconducting maglev, which clocked 603 km/h on a 42-km mountain track near Mount Fuji. China’s sprint beat that by 47 km/h, but it did so with a much smaller vehicle and without a human driver aboard. Still, speed is speed—and the gap restarts a friendly but fierce technological rivalry spanning three decades.Why maglev loves speed—and hates airLevitation removes wheel drag, yet air resistance balloons exponentially past 500 km/h. Donghu’s test tube isn’t evacuated, but its ends seal quickly, letting fans lower air density slightly—think 3,000 m elevation. Future 800 km/h versions may need partial vacuum tunnels or deep-underground routes, concepts similar to the U.S. hyperloop proposals shelved in 2023.Researchers say their current magnets can handle 800 km/h, though they must lengthen the test track. A 30-km segment outside Wuhan is scheduled for 2027, at which point the team hopes to flirt with four-digit speeds—1,000 km/h—once power electronics, cooling, and passenger safety hurdles fall.Hardware is hard—and expensiveEvery extra 100 km/h demands disproportionate capital. Tracks must stay arrow-straight, tunnels must be wide enough to bleed off pressure waves, and stations need aircraft-grade security buffers. China’s answer is scale: it already built the 164-km Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct, the world’s longest bridge, just to keep its Beijing–Shanghai high-speed line flat. If any nation can pour enough concrete to domesticate 1,000 km/h rail, critics admit it is probably China.Airlines still own long-haul routes above 1,500 km, but maglev’s sweet spot —city pairs 500-1,000 km apart— throws shade on jets. The existing 431 km/h Shanghai maglev covers its 30-km airport hop in 7 minutes, yet tickets cost only $8. If 650 km/h prototypes mature into 50-car passenger sets, they could link Shanghai and Wuhan (810 km) in 90 minutes at business-class pricing, all on grid electricity instead of jet fuel.American rail watchers view the sprint as both sobering and inspiring. While California’s high-speed project inches along at 350 km/h, China leapfrogs toward airliner speeds. Baltimore’s shelved maglev proposal might revive if Chinese suppliers promise turnkey systems. Europe, wary of fresh competition, is already lobbying for stricter international safety rules.A seven-second experiment does not guarantee 1,000-km/h commuter runs next decade, but it shifts the Overton window of rail speed. For now, we can only sit and envy China’s new revolution in train systems.

China achieves a new world milestone with its magnetic levitation train, which now exceeds 650 km/h and redefines the future of transportation

BEIJING, (Reuters) - Chinese tech giant Huawei (HWT.UL) launched its Pura 80 smartphone series on Wednesday, as the company seeks to cement its comeback in China's premium smartphone market following years of U.S. sanctions.<h2>WHY IT'S IMPORTANT</h2>Huawei's latest flagship launch demonstrates the Chinese tech giant's continued efforts to reclaim the top spot in its home market despite ongoing U.S. sanctions. Each new phone release is closely watched as a barometer of the company's technological capabilities and market resilience following years of restrictions that severely impacted its smartphone business.The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day.Huawei's resurgence has intensified pressure on Apple&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/AAPL.O" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">(AAPL.O), opens new tab</a>, which has seen its market share in China steadily decline and has increasingly relied on price discounts to stimulate sales.<h2>THE EVENT</h2>Huawei unveiled the Pura 80 series through a livestream event, with consumer business unit head Yu Chengdong focusing heavily on camera capabilities and AI features while staying silent about the chips powering the devices.<h2>THE PHONES</h2>The series includes four models: Pura 80, Pura 80 Pro, Pura 80 Pro+, and Pura 80 Ultra. Pricing starts at 6,499 yuan ($905) for the Pro series launching June 14, with the Pro+ also launching June 14 at 7,999 yuan and the Ultra at 9,999 yuan on June 26. The base model launches in July.<h2>KEY FEATURES</h2>The cameras use XMAGE technology and feature ultra-wide-angle and macro telephoto lenses with embedded AI that can identify objects and provide information like tourist guides.<h2>THE RESPONSE</h2>Huawei phone launches generate significant interest as many view them as the company defying U.S. sanctions. On Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, three of the top ten trending topics on Wednesday were Pura 80-related. User reactions were mixed, with many praising the camera capabilities and sleek design while others complained the prices were too high and not worth the cost.Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Huawei launches Pura 80 smartphone series in next step of China comeback

The French Riviera resort of Cannes is set to implement what its city council describes as "drastic regulation" on cruise ships, banning any vessels carrying more than 1,000 people from its harbour starting next year. The move, effective from January 1, positions the home of the world's premier film festival at the forefront of a growing global backlash against overtourism.Cannes joins a list of destinations grappling with the impact of excessive visitor numbers, following recent uproar over Jeff Bezos' and Lauren Sanchez' Venice wedding, water-gun protests in Spain, and a surprise strike at the Louvre Museum.The city council, which voted on the measures on Friday, aims for cruise tourism to be "less numerous, less big, less polluting and more esthetic." Under the new limits, only ships with fewer than 1,000 passengers will be allowed in the port, with a maximum of 6,000 passengers permitted to disembark per day. Larger ships will be expected to transfer their passengers to smaller boats to enter Cannes.France — which drew in some 100 million visitors last year, more than any other European country and more than the country's population — is on the front line of efforts to balance economic benefits of tourism with environmental concerns while managing ever-growing crowds."Cannes has become a major cruise ship destination, with real economic benefits. It's not about banning cruise ships, but about regulating, organizing, setting guidelines for their navigation," Mayor David Lisnard said in a statement.Cruise operators have called such restrictions damaging for destinations and for passengers.Two cruise ships were scheduled to dock in Cannes on Sunday, each bigger than the upcoming 1,000-passenger limit and with a combined capacity of more than 7,000 people. Their owners did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new restrictions.

Another European city issues cruise ship ban as overtourism anger grows

The world is full of beautiful destinations that are must-sees for travellers across the globe. However, there are many destinations that are yet to be discovered.&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;is a continent that boasts plenty of incredible places where holidaymakers can enjoy a&nbsp;memorable trip.However, there are still many parts of the continent that remain hidden gems, including one stunning yet tiny country that boasts&nbsp;sandy beaches, tropical weather, and breathtaking views. This quiet nation that is built on volcanoes is well worth the visit, especially for those who like to&nbsp;get away from the crowds.<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/europe/2071094/pretty-underrated-spain-island-no-crowds?int_source=mantis_rec_top&amp;int_medium=web&amp;int_campaign=more_like_this_top" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(238, 0, 12);"><img src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/200/285x190/6241231.jpg"></a><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/europe/2071059/spanish-city-beautiful-no-tourists-cheap-flights?int_source=mantis_rec_top&amp;int_medium=web&amp;int_campaign=more_like_this_top" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(238, 0, 12);"><img src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/200/285x190/6241038.jpg"></a><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2073709/uk-best-seaside-spot-revealed?int_source=mantis_rec_top&amp;int_medium=web&amp;int_campaign=more_like_this_top" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(238, 0, 12);"><img src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/285x190/6254170.jpg"></a><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/2073408/uk-whitest-beach-soft-sand-cornwall?int_source=mantis_rec_top&amp;int_medium=web&amp;int_campaign=more_like_this_top" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(238, 0, 12);"><img src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/25/285x190/6252517.jpg"></a><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/2074001/british-mum-scares-off-spanish-thieves?int_source=mantis_rec_top&amp;int_medium=web&amp;int_campaign=more_like_this_top" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(238, 0, 12);"><img src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/25/285x190/6255600.jpg"></a>Just off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa lies a small two-island nation called São Tomé and Príncipe. The country is one of the world's least visited, welcoming as few as 15,000 tourists annually.&nbsp;Despite seeing so few visitors, those who have been there are often blown away by its beauty. Sao Tome tour guide Luis Miguel told&nbsp;CNN Travel&nbsp;that most tourists feel like they've visited "heaven on Earth".According to Lonely Planet, "Sao Tome and Principe is amazingly safe and welcoming to visitors" and boasts "tidy and unspoiled" landscapes.Principe is highlighted as a location not to be missed. The island is home to picturesque beaches and lush jungles, and it is the perfect spot for a variety of activities, from snorkeling to birdwatching.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/25/590x/secondary/Sao-Tome-6208280.jpg?r=1749063667451">Visitors have described it as heaven on earth&nbsp;(Image: Getty)The island's Praia Banana beach, renowned for being the shooting location of a famous Bacardi advert, has an impressive score of 4.9 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and is named by the travel company as the number one thing to do when in Principe.A visitor who went there in February said: "It was amazing the experience we had in the place, the comfort, peace and beauty was something impossible to describe how perfect everything was there, [it was] just magnificent and recommend anyone to go to the place."Another wrote: "This beach is a must-go for any diver! Snorkeling here is tremendous! You will be amazed by the biodiversity level and how beautiful is the landscape. You will desire to stop time when you are here, so you can enjoy this pearl forever!"

The beautiful African Island that's 'heaven on Earth' but ignored by tourists

Coconut Grove Hotels, one of Ghana’s leading hospitality brands, with facilities in Accra, Elmina and Obuasi, has announced significant price reductions of between 15% and 30% in response to the recent appreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi and a nationwide decline in inflation.The decision comes as manufacturers, airlines, and businesses across the informal sector begin adjusting their prices downward, following sustained currency stability and reduced import costs.In an interview with Myjoyonline, Ralph M.K. Ayitey, Chief Executive Officer of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, said the hotel group is fully aligned with national efforts to lower the cost of doing business.“All hospitality players in Ghana depend on imported supplies in one form or another,” Mr Ayitey explained. “Some rely on imported products for up to 75% of their needs. With the strengthening of the cedi, the cost of some of these imported items, such as linen, crockery, and even certain foods, has gone down.”According to him, Coconut Grove Hotels has responded by reducing rates for guest rooms, conference halls, banquet packages, and other services by as much as 30%.“These reductions are not just promotional. They are a reflection of our long-standing appreciation for our loyal customers,” he said. “Our clients have stood with us through various phases of our business journey. It is only right that we give them the best value, especially at a time like this.”When asked how long the discounted rates would remain in place, given ongoing geopolitical uncertainties such as the Iran-Israel conflict, Mr Ayitey said he remained confident in the local economic strategy.“I do not doubt in my mind that the government's domesticated and indigenous approach is contributing to the current improvements. Business thrives on trust and predictability; so does the economy. We all have a role to play in shielding Ghana from external economic shocks,” he noted.Looking ahead, Mr Ayitey called for bold policy interventions to consolidate the macroeconomic gains. He applauded initiatives such as the recently launched Black Star Experience, which he said would boost tourism and give international visibility to Ghana’s fashion and creative industries.“It’s exciting to see the President himself commit to walking the catwalk at the launch. This kind of engagement sends a strong message about the creative economy,” he remarked.He also urged increased investment in local poultry production and called for support towards Ghana’s struggling cotton industry.“We need to drastically cut down on the $400 million spent annually on poultry imports. As hoteliers, we must serve locally sourced chicken, duck, quail, and guinea fowl. This will help retain value within the local economy.”Mr Ayitey further advocated for the establishment of a first-class hospitality training institute to build capacity and support the growing trend of Ghanaian professionals managing 3 to 5-star hotels across the country.“We must also offer patient capital, loans with a 10-15 year window at a maximum interest rate of 6% to 9% to businesses ready to invest in expansion or innovation,” he added.Mr Ralph M.K. Ayitey is not only the CEO of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel but also serves as the National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).His insights reflect a broader vision for local enterprise development and economic resilience amid global uncertainty.

Coconut Grove Hotels slash rates by up to 30% in response to strengthening Cedi, falling inflation

Vacations have been thrown into turmoil after JetBlue announced plans to slash summer flights.The budget airline is launching new cost-saving measures after weak travel demand is threatening its bottom line.&nbsp;JetBlue admitted that its chances of breaking even this year are 'unlikely', in a memo seen by Reuters.&nbsp;As a result the carrier is planning to wind down less popular routes and cutting its leadership team, CEO Joanna Geraghty told employees in the note.&nbsp;'We're hopeful demand and bookings will rebound, but even a recovery won't fully offset the ground we've lost this year and our path back to profitability will take longer than we'd hoped,' Geraghty said.&nbsp;US airlines have taken a hit after President Trump's aggressive trade policies and border crackdowns have seen a significant pullback in travel to the US.JetBlue is not alone in scaling back capacity ahead of the summer travel season, with United also cutting four in every 100 of its domestic flights.&nbsp;'While most airlines are feeling the impact, it's especially frustrating for us, as we had hoped to reach break-even operating margin this year, which now seems unlikely,' Geraghty explained.&nbsp;JetBlue is set to cut flights to help rebalance its bottom line amid a drop in demand.

Vacations in turmoil as major airline slashes flights and grounds planes amid recession fears

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning the citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, saying the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats.The directive is part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term, which has included the deportation to El Salvador of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members, as well as efforts to deny enrollments of some foreign students and deport others.The countries affected by the latest travel ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.The entry of people from seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela - will be partially restricted."We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm," Trump said in a video posted on X. He said the list could be revised and new countries could be added.The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). Visas issued before that date will not be revoked, the order said.The African Union's Commission expressed concern on Thursday about the potential negative impact of the new travel ban on educational exchanges, commercial engagement and broader diplomatic relations.In retaliation, Chad's President Idriss Deby instructed his government to stop issuing visas to U.S. citizens. Congo Republic's government spokesperson Thierry Moungalla said his country's inclusion was a "misunderstanding.""Congo is neither a terrorist state, nor does it harbor any terrorists, or known for having any terrorist tendencies," Moungalla told journalists.During his first, 2017-21 term in office, Trump announced a ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded Trump, repealed that ban on nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen in 2021, calling it "a stain on our national conscience".Trump said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbor a "large-scale presence of terrorists," fail to cooperate on visa security, have an inability to verify travelers' identities, inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the United States."We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States," Trump said.He cited Sunday's incident in Boulder, Colorado in which a man tossed a gasoline bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators as an example of why the new curbs are needed.An Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been charged in the attack. Federal officials said Soliman had overstayed his tourist visa and had an expired work permit - although Egypt is not on the list of countries facing travel limits.BEING IN THE U.S. A 'BIG RISK'Somalia immediately pledged to work with the U.S. to address security issues."Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised," Dahir Hassan Abdi, the Somali ambassador to the United States, said in a statement.Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a close ally of President Nicolas Maduro, responded on Wednesday evening by describing the U.S. government as fascist and warning Venezuelans against being in the United States."The truth is being in the United States is a big risk for anybody, not just for Venezuelans ... They persecute our countrymen, our people for no reason."A spokesperson for the Taliban-led Afghan foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on how it would handle the thousands of Afghans waiting in Islamabad who had been in the pipeline for U.S. resettlement.Calls early on Thursday to the spokesperson for Myanmar's military government were not answered.The travel ban threatens to upend a 31-year-old Myanmar teacher's plan to join a U.S. State Department exchange program, which was slated to start in September."It is not easy to apply nor get accepted as we needed several recommendation letters," said the teacher, who currently lives in Thailand and asked not to be named because her visa application is still outstanding."In my case, I would get to work at universities that provide digital education," she said, adding that she had not been updated by the program after Trump's announcement.Trump's presidential campaign focused on a tough border strategy and he previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security."

Trump reinstates US travel ban, bars citizens of 12 countries

Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, a former traditional priestess turned evangelist, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Circuit Court in Accra.The sentence follows her conviction for charlatanic advertisement and obtaining money by false pretenses.Nana Agradaa was found guilty of deceiving victims during a televised broadcast in 2022, where she falsely claimed to have spiritual powers capable of doubling money.Many individuals were persuaded to part with large sums, hoping for miraculous financial returns that never came.The court’s decision is seen as a major victory in the fight against fraudulent spiritual schemes and dishonest religious practices.Prior to sentencing, the court ordered a mandatory pregnancy test, which confirmed she was not pregnant, allowing the sentencing to proceed without delay.The verdict has generated widespread public reaction, with many praising the ruling as a strong stand for justice and a clear warning to those involved in similar scams.

Agradaa jailed for 15 years

The summer movie season of 2025 has been fruitful thus far, with movies like "Final Destination Bloodlines," "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning," and "Lilo &amp; Stitch" bringing out patrons en masse to multiplexes all around the world. Unfortunately for Lionsgate, that party didn't continue as "Ballerina," aka "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina," opened far below expectations — so much so that the studio might now have to reckon with the idea that its planned John Wick Cinematic Universe may not be as viable as it had hoped.Director Len Wiseman's "Ballerina" opened to $24.5 million domestically this past weekend, coming in at number two behind "Lilo &amp; Stitch" ($32.3 million), which is in its third weekend of release. Overseas, the "John Wick" spin-off earned $26 million, giving it a global start just north of $50 million. Against a $90 million budget and as part of a $1 billion franchise, that's not what Lionsgate was hoping for, especially since "Ballerina" had been expected to open between $30 and $40 million less than two weeks ago.Starring Ana de Armas, the film centers on Eve Macarro, a member of the Ruska Roma who seeks revenge for her father's death. Keanu Reeves also appears as John Wick, which was hyped up a great deal in the marketing to help let audiences know that this was part of the "John Wick" universe. It clearly didn't matter all that much, though.The only movie in the franchise to open lower was the original "John Wick," which debuted to $14.4 million in 2014 before pulling in $86 million worldwide. From there, the property took off like a rocket, with each new entry making far more than the last. "John Wick: Chapter 4" then bowed to a franchise best $73.8 million before finishing its run with $447 million worldwide.Ballerina proved that the John Wick universe has its limitations"Ballerina" opened much closer to "John Wick: Chapter 2," which pulled in $30.4 million on opening weekend before finishing its run with $174.3 million globally. Unfortunately, with a $90 million price tag (before marketing), Lionsgate was depending on this one playing closer to "John Wick: Chapter 3" ($56.8 million opening and $328.3 million worldwide).The good news is that audience members who did turn up really liked the film, with "Ballerina" earning an A- CinemaScore and a 93% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critic score is less great, currently sitting at 75%, but that's still good and, as we've seen time and time again, word of mouth from audiences is what matters most. Under normal circumstances, we could expect good legs in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, a deluge of big releases including "How to Train Your Dragon," "Materialists," "28 Years Later," "Elio," "F1," and "M3GAN 2.0" are all coming down the pipeline.All of that competition is going to make this a steep uphill battle for Lionsgate's first theatrical "John Wick" spin-off. To profit in theaters, it probably needs to make closer to $300 million worldwide than $200 million. At this rate, it will be lucky to crack the latter.Meanwhile, Lionsgate has several other "John Wick" spin-offs in the works, including one centered on Donnie Yen's Caine and an anime showcasing Mr. Wick's impossible task, which has only ever been alluded to in the movies. There's also "John Wick 5." The good news is two of those are Reeves-heavy. The bad news is Reeves can't do this forever, and the hope was to expand this universe beyond a single assassin.It appears as though there are limitations to that idea, as this universe was built on one man's good name. That's not to say Lionsgate can't make more spin-offs, it's just that it will need to be more cautious with the budgets and hope that it can build interest in these films, even if Reeves isn't in them. In the early going at least, this was at best a disappointment and at worst a death mark for the larger franchise.&nbsp;"Ballerina" is now playing in theaters.

Ballerina's Box Office Opening Might Be A Death Sentence For The John Wick Universe

Stormzy says his first acting role was a challenge he was honoured to be part of.Stormzy says playing a rapper in his first lead role made it hard to separate himself for the part.Big Mike stars as Tenzman in Big Man - the first release from the grime star's production company #MerkyFilm and his first lead role.Speaking at the film's premiere, he tells BBC Newsbeat: "It was really tough if I'm honest."It felt like I'm playing a rapper but I am a rapper, it's tough to totally separate."#MerkyFilm follows Stormzy's other projects like #MerkyBooks and #MerkyFC which have aimed to elevate black British voices and talent."In every single area that we've tried to infiltrate we've said, 'if this is the status quo, we want to try and do things a little bit different'," he says.He says moving into film has been a dream of his for a long time - as for why he's waited until now, he says he can't describe it."I just know why it's important in general," he says.Stormzy's acting debut sees him star as Tenzman, a former rap star who rediscovers his love of musicThis year marks 10 years since actors started boycotting the biggest event in the film world, The Oscars, over criticism about a lack of diversity.Since then, campaigns like #OscarsSoWhite have seen calls grow louder for improved representation on screen."What we've tried to do at Merky, whether it's music, sports, whatever, we do we just want to stand in our truth, tell our stories, but also not from the same perspective that it's always been told from," Stormzy says."Even being black British, it's such a nuanced experience – you've got the black experience, you've got the British experience, and then you've got the black British experience."We want to tell it from our perspective which is nuanced, it's brilliant, it's different, it's not always the same, it's not a monolith."One of Stormzy's co-stars, 15-year-old Klevis Brahja, tells Newsbeat how he was scouted for the film on the street."I never knew I wanted to do acting and then out of nowhere I'm in auditions," he says."It's crazy to be near someone like Stormzy and to have an opportunity like this. A lot of people dream for this and we're the lucky ones, it's amazing."Stormzy also worked with Oscar-winning director Aneil Karia, known for projects including The Long Goodbye and Surge, on Big Man, which was shot entirely on a phone."It was really tough but it was a challenge I was so honoured to be a part of," Stormzy says."I like to be challenged, I like to be a bit uncomfortable so I love it."

Stormzy: Lead acting role was uncomfortable but I loved it

A California doctor accused of giving Friends star Matthew Perry access to ketamine in the weeks before the actor's overdose death has agreed to plead guilty, according to federal prosecutors.Dr Salvador Plasencia will plead guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine, federal prosecutors said in a statement on Monday. The plea carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and the doctor is expected to make his plea in the coming weeks.Perry – best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends – was found dead in his hot tub in Los Angeles in October 2023. He was 54 and although he'd been open about struggles with depression and addiction, fans around the world were shocked by his death.According to text messages shared with prosecutors from Dr Mark Chavez - a doctor who already pleaded guilty in the case - Dr Plasencia called Perry a "moron" and wondered how much he'd be willing to pay for the drugs.According to documents filed for the plea agreement, Dr Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine at his home and in the parking lot of the Long Beach Aquarium. Dr Plasencia taught Perry's assistant - who is also a defendant - how to administer the drug and would sell extra vials for them to keep at home, according to the plea deal.The doctor is one of five people charged with what prosecutors allege was an underground network of dealers and medical professionals who supplied Perry with ketamine. The actor was taking legal, prescribed amounts of the drug to treat his depression, but wanted more than what was prescribed.In total, the plea agreement says, between 30 September 2023, and 12 October 2023, Dr Plasencia sold twenty 5ml (100mg/ml) vials of ketamine, less than a full package of ketamine lozenges, and syringes to Perry and his assistant.

California doctor to plead guilty to supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine

Three years after he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, Will Smith says making a mistake so publicly was "brutal"."The last few years for me have been really deep reflection," the actor tells 1Xtra's Remi Burgz."After the Oscars I shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work and just taking a big, strong, honest look at myself."Will was banned from the awards ceremony for 10 years after he hit the comedian for joking about his wife's shaved head - a result of alopecia, a hair loss condition."For the first time in my career, [I was] having to deal with a level of disapproval that I never had to experience," Will says."The addiction to the approval of others that I had to dissolve, it was brutal."At the 2022 ceremony in Los Angeles, Chris Rock mocked Will's wife Jada's appearance.Clips showing Will immediately marching on stage and slapping him across the face and telling him to keep his wife's name out his mouth have been viewed millions of times online.Will resigned from the Oscars Academy shortly after, saying his actions were "shocking, painful, and inexcusable".The 56-year-old tells 1Xtra the fallout has also given him to time to reflect."It was just like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas and the manhole cover came off," he says."It was scary for a minute what was in there."But then all of a sudden, all these new thoughts, new energies, new creativity came through like a geyser and it started showing up as music."

Will Smith says Oscars slap fallout was brutal

Boy meets girl. Girl falls for boy. Girl fends off love rivals and boy - finally - declares his affection for her.If you are a fan of reality TV dating shows, you will have seen several variations of this plot - it is a well-worn storyline that has played out on the likes of Love Island, Love is Blind and The Bachelor.But in Ethiopia, this romantic scenario has broken convention.Content creator Bethel Getahun won over insurance agent Messiah Hailemeskel in Latey: Looking for Love - a reality TV show that ignited debates about dating norms in the conservative East African country.Latey's premise mirrored that of the aforementioned hit US show, The Bachelor (in fact, Latey is Amharic for bachelor/bachelorette).Ten women had to compete for the affection of Mr Messiah, a 38-year-old Ethiopian-American who grew up and lives in Dallas.Throughout the series, the women battled it out in boxing matches, basketball contests and even a bizarre task where they had to devise a TV advert for a mattress, à la The Apprentice.Broadcast on YouTube, Latey is a rare dating programme in a country where courtship is traditionally a private affair.Winning such a ground-breaking show felt "surreal", 25-year-old Ms Bethel told the BBC's Focus on Africa podcast. Weeks on from the finale, which racked up more than 620,000 views, her victory still "feels like a badge of honour".Of course, not everyone feels the same way."The concept of a dating show is entirely [a] Western idea," says Ethiopian vlogger Semere Kassaye."Dating in Ethiopia has always been a private matter, something that is nurtured carefully and only brought to the attention of family or society when it reaches a level of maturity."Mr Semere, 41, also feels that the show devalues women, treating them as objects to be acquired.Several viewers voiced the same opinion - one commenter on YouTube wrote: "Ladies, you are not an object that the one with money can easily pick you up."Another asked: "Lots of creativity on the production but if it is against the culture, what is the point?"Ms Bethel agrees that the concept of women openly competing for a man clashes with Ethiopian traditions, but insists that the show is more than its central premise."The whole point of the show is to represent different kinds of women," she says."If you have seen the episodes, you can see every woman in that episode has a lot of different struggles, backgrounds, and all different kinds of stuff that hasn't really been expressed or represented in media in Ethiopia."Arguably, Latey succeeds in this respect. The women - who include hotel managers, flight attendants and accountants - swiftly bond, sharing their personal stories with each other and the viewers.In one of the more heart-breaking scenes, actress Vivian divulges that she fled to Ethiopia from Eritrea, a neighbouring country that enforces indefinite military conscription for all able-bodied citizens. It has also been widely accused of human rights violations.Vivian travelled alone to Ethiopia and has not seen her mother in five years."I miss her so much," she says tearfully.Elsewhere, Rahel, a model, explains that she dropped out of school to take on multiple jobs and provide for her siblings, while other women have emotional conversations about grief and their reverence for those who raised them.By baring these women's realities - and their romantic desires - Latey cemented its place as the "content of its times", producer Metasebia Yoseph tells the BBC.Ms Metasebia, co-founder of D!nkTV, Latey's production company, says the show "rocked the boat", but is far from an affront to Ethiopian culture."Number one - it is not hyper-sexualised," she says."We leave it on the more innocent, get-to-know-you, stages of dating."She says the show also asks its viewers to interrogate the concept of culture, "sparking dialogue about 'What is our culture? Are we a monolith?'"Adapting a universal reality TV formula to Ethiopia has delighted many, with one fan commenting: "I totally love the risk-taking, considering how reserved we are as a society... I have always wanted to see other shows in Ethiopian version. This is a ground-breaking moment."A second viewer wrote: "I never imagined watching The Bachelor in Ethiopia, but you have done an excellent job bringing it to life."Off the back of this success, D!nk TV is planning a second series.This time, Ms Metasebia says, a single woman could be the one picking her match from 10 male hopefuls."We're getting a lot of feedback from the audience, people want to see the roles reversed," she explains.As for Ms Bethel and Mr Messiah? Sadly, their love story has come to a halt."It is long distance because he's in America right now with his son. So it's really difficult... I don't know where it's going to go, basically," she says.But Ms Bethel is still close to some of her fellow contestants, who she fondly refers to as her "sorority".She is proud that Latey showcased "the romantic side of Ethiopia" and believes the show will lead to better representations of women in Ethiopian media."It is a new way of showcasing women and how they express themselves," she says."It is a new way of seeing."Source: BBC

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