The Government of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has issued a strong public warning to Ghanaians, particularly those seeking to travel abroad, against the use of falsified immigration stamps and fraudulent travel endorsements in passports.In an official statement released in Accra, the ministry cautioned citizens to avoid engaging so-called travel agents or intermediaries who offer to manipulate passports by inserting fake entry and exit stamps to fabricate travel history.According to the Ministry, several recent cases have emerged involving Ghanaian nationals abroad who were arrested and detained by foreign authorities after forged immigration stamps were discovered in their passports.Authorities stressed that falsifying travel documents is a serious criminal offence, both under Ghanaian law and international legal frameworks. Offenders risk severe consequences, including arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, hefty fines, deportation, and long-term travel bans that could permanently affect future mobility.The Ministry further warned individuals posing as travel consultants that such illegal activities expose both themselves and their clients to significant legal risks.<h2>Key Directives to the Public</h2>To safeguard themselves, the ministry urged citizens to adhere strictly to the following guidelines:<ul><li>Process all visas and travel documents through officially recognised and accredited institutions.</li><li>Conduct thorough background checks to verify the legitimacy of any travel agent or intermediary.</li><li>Understand that passport holders are fully responsible for the authenticity and integrity of their travel documents at all times.</li></ul>Additionally, Ghanaians living abroad have been advised to comply strictly with the immigration laws of their host countries and seek assistance from Ghana’s diplomatic missions when necessary.The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare of Ghanaian citizens globally, adding that it will continue to collaborate with diplomatic missions and international authorities to clamp down on document fraud and related offences.

Ghana issues strong warning against fake immigration stamps in passports

The Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has been elected Second Vice President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), marking a major milestone for Ghana’s representation and advancing female leadership within the African Union system.She secured a commanding victory in the election, polling 131 votes against 51, underscoring strong backing from lawmakers across the continent.<h2>Strengthening Ghana’s Role in African Governance</h2>The Pan-African Parliament, an organ of the African Union, serves as a platform for promoting regional integration, democratic governance, and cooperation among member states. It also provides advisory input on critical policy issues affecting Africa.Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ election is expected to significantly enhance Ghana’s voice in continental legislative affairs, particularly at a time when African institutions are intensifying efforts toward deeper integration and stronger democratic systems.<h2>Key Role in PAP Leadership</h2>As second vice president and a member of the PAP Bureau, she will help steer the Parliament’s legislative agenda, shape its strategic priorities, and contribute to institutional reforms aimed at strengthening its effectiveness.Her elevation to this high-ranking position reflects both her growing influence in African politics and the increasing role of women in leadership across the continent.

Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings elected 2nd Vice President of Pan-African Parliament

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has barred more than 40 invigilators from participating in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.ghnewsmedia.com/news/ges-warns-against-bece-apor-as-620000-candidates-prepare-for-exams">2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination</a> (BECE) in a decisive move to curb examination malpractice and restore credibility to the system.The sanctions follow investigations into misconduct during the 2025 BECE, where several officials were found to have aided cheating in various forms, raising serious concerns about fairness and integrity.Addressing a press conference in Accra on April 30, the Director-General of GES, Ernest Kofi Davis, stated:“On the issue of punishment for teachers who were aiding and cheating, asking them not to do anything with examinations is the least of the punishment. We are processing them, and once everything is in, we will be taking them to the appropriate councils and boards to be sanctioned."<h2>Breakdown of Offences</h2>According to GES, the offences committed by the sanctioned invigilators include:<ul><li>17 cases involving mobile phone-related malpractice, including sharing devices with candidates</li><li>13 cases of distributing prepared answers to students</li><li>6 cases of invigilators actively solving questions inside exam halls</li><li>4 cases involving possession of unauthorised materials</li><li>3 cases of coordinated cheating schemes</li><li>1 case involving an attempted bribe by a parent</li></ul>GES confirmed that beyond the ban, further disciplinary and legal action is being pursued against those found culpable.<h2>Over 620,000 Candidates to Sit BECE 2026</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777582517315-g4uie51u53.webp" alt="BECE Candidates" data-credit="BECE Candidates" title="BECE Candidates" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The crackdown comes as Ghana prepares for the 2026 BECE, with 620,141 candidates expected to sit the exams nationwide.<ul><li>304,349 boys</li><li>315,792 girls</li><li>From 20,395 schools</li></ul>This represents a 2.7% increase compared to the 603,328 candidates recorded in 2025.<h2>Major Changes to School Selection Process</h2>GES has also announced key reforms to the Senior High School (SHS) selection process.For the first time:<ul><li>Candidates will complete their final school selection after the release of BECE results.</li><li>The selection process will begin immediately after exams, but final submission will be delayed.</li></ul>Professor Davis explained:“Selection will finally be submitted to GES and, for that matter, CSSPS for processing after the results have been released. However, the process will start immediately after the examinations."He added:“We think it is doable because we are finishing the BECE on May 11. Our calculations suggest that we have 19 to 20 weeks to get the students to school because SHS will open on September 18, 2026."<h2>More School Choices for Candidates</h2>GES has expanded the selection options for candidates:<ul><li>Students can now choose two category A schools</li><li>Total school choices increased from seven to eight</li></ul>“What has changed this year is that in the previous arrangement, they were given the opportunity to choose Category B and Category C schools as day schools that are not Category A. But now we are giving them the opportunity to choose two Category A schools, in addition to the rest, bringing the total to eight schools instead of seven"<h2>Support for Students in Conflict Areas</h2>GES also assured candidates in conflict-prone areas that arrangements have been made to ensure their participation.“We have an arrangement with national security to relocate those students to different communities for them to write the exams."<h2>Strengthening Exam Integrity</h2>GES says the measures are part of a broader strategy to:<ul><li>Eliminate examination malpractice</li><li>Ensure fairness across all centres</li><li>Restore public confidence in the BECE system</li></ul><h2></h2>

GES bans over 40 invigilators ahead of BECE 2026 

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a firm warning to candidates ahead of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), stressing that there will be zero tolerance for examination malpractice, commonly known as "apor".Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, April 30, the Director-General of GES, Ernest Kofi Davis, urged candidates to rely solely on their preparation.He revealed that the Service has put in place strict monitoring systems and enhanced supervision across all examination centres nationwide to prevent any form of cheating.Candidates were also assured that all questions will be based strictly on the approved syllabus, eliminating the need for external assistance.<h2>Over 620,000 Candidates to Sit BECE 2026</h2>The 2026 BECE is expected to record 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools across the country.Breakdown:<ul><li>304,349 boys</li><li>315,792 girls</li></ul>This marks an increase of 16,813 candidates (2.7%) compared to the 603,328 candidates who sat for the exams in 2025.<h2>Ban on Compromised Officials</h2>In a major move to strengthen credibility, GES has also announced a ban on all supervisors and invigilators implicated in malpractice during the 2025 BECE.According to the Service, individuals still under investigation will not be allowed to participate in any capacity in this year’s examination process.<h2>Restoring Integrity in the Exam System</h2>GES says the measures are part of broader efforts to<ul><li>Protect the integrity of the BECE</li><li>Ensure fairness for all candidates</li><li>Restore public confidence in the examination system</li></ul>Candidates have been advised to remain calm, focused, and confident as they prepare for the exams.

GES warns against BECE ‘apor’ as 620,000 candidates prepare for exams

A dramatic incident at Nkwatia Government Hospital has sparked widespread debate after a viral video showed how a family allegedly paid long-overdue medical bills only after being told their relative had died.According to the narration in the video, the patient, identified as Mr Ketekra, had been receiving treatment at the facility for about three weeks. During that period, his family reportedly failed to visit or provide financial support despite the mounting cost of his care.The situation is said to have placed significant pressure on hospital staff, who continued to treat the patient while expenses increased.<h2>‘Death Announcement’ Changes Everything</h2>In a controversial twist, the video claims that a plan was devised involving the patient and some hospital staff. Mr Ketekra was allegedly declared dead, and a message was sent to his family through a nurse.The reaction was immediate.Upon hearing the news of his supposed death, family members reportedly rushed to the hospital and quickly settled all outstanding medical bills.<h2>Shock as Patient Is Found Alive</h2>After completing the payments, the family requested to see the body—only to be met with a shocking reality. Instead of a lifeless relative, they reportedly found Mr Ketekra alive and seated, calmly drinking a bottle of malt.The moment, captured on video, has since circulated widely online, triggering mixed reactions across social media.<h2>Public Reaction and Ethical Questions</h2>The incident has reignited conversations around family responsibility and healthcare ethics in Ghana.While some viewers have defended the move as a desperate tactic to recover medical costs, others have questioned the ethical implications of staging a false death, especially within a healthcare setting.The situation also reflects a common sentiment often expressed locally—that some families show more urgency after death than during illness.<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 178.277%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Freel%2F844173898727726%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div>

Video: ‘Death prank’ at Nkwatia government hospital forces 'stingy' family to pay medical bills

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Tema Region, has informed its cherished customers and the general public that the ongoing power outage affecting several communities is due to a fault in its distribution network.According to ECG, engineers have been deployed to the affected areas and are currently working to identify and rectify the fault in order to restore electricity supply as quickly as possible.The company has assured residents and businesses that every effort is being made to bring power back online and stabilise the network without further delay.ECG has also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and thanked customers for their patience and understanding during the interruption.<h2>AFFECTED AREAS</h2>ECG has listed the following areas as currently affected by the power outage:<ul><li>Bel Acqua</li><li>Star Cement</li><li>Sethi Realty</li><li>Abodakpi Farms</li><li>Ghana Steel</li><li>Kpone (B5 Plus, Barrier, Dumpsite, Kokompe, Township)</li><li>Shang Hai</li><li>Community 25 &amp; 26</li><li>Lovely</li><li>Palace Mall</li><li>Kent Estates</li><li>ARS</li><li>Mt Carmel</li><li>DPS</li><li>Devtraco</li><li>PS Global</li><li>Bulasu</li><li>Ghana Flag</li><li>Adi Steel</li><li>Afienya Zongo</li><li>Mckeon</li><li>Sky Quarry</li><li>Westrafo</li><li>Surrounding areas</li></ul><h2>ECG RESPONSE</h2>ECG has assured the public that technical teams are working around the clock to restore power and normalise supply across all affected locations.<h2></h2>

ECG announces power outage in Tema due to network fault - See affected areas

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested a foreman linked to illegal mining activities at Akyem Morso near Juaso in the Asante Akim South District of the Ashanti Region.The operation forms part of intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, which continues to threaten water bodies and farmlands across Ghana.NAIMOS officers carried out a coordinated enforcement exercise along the Kume River corridor, covering Morso, Kyekyebiase, and Bimma, where illegal mining activities were actively ongoing.At Kyekyebiase, miners reportedly fled into nearby bushes upon sighting the task force, abandoning equipment at the site.<h2>Equipment Destroyed and Seized</h2>During the operation, NAIMOS dismantled and destroyed several illegal mining tools, including:<ul><li>Eight chanfang machines</li><li>Four wooden gold washing platforms</li><li>Twelve water pumping machines (seized)</li></ul>The destruction was carried out through controlled burning as part of the enforcement action.A further sweep of the area revealed excavator tracks leading into a nearby cocoa farm, where a Sany excavator had been concealed.The machine was immobilised by the task force to prevent further illegal use.<h2>Foreman Identified and Arrested</h2>A man who initially claimed he was visiting his farm was later identified by intelligence officers as the foreman overseeing the illegal mining operations.He was confirmed as David Bobie Peter, who admitted during interrogation that he was supervising a galamsey site at Morsu.He further revealed that he had been sent by his employer, identified as Mr Appiah, to confirm whether NAIMOS officers were operating in the area.The suspect also disclosed that he is an elder of The Church of Pentecost at Konongo, a detail that has drawn public attention to the case.<h2>Environmental Damage Recorded</h2>At the Morso site, NAIMOS officers discovered extensive environmental destruction, including:<ul><li>Severe land degradation</li><li>Pollution of the Kume River</li><li>Diversion of the river to support mining operations</li></ul>A second excavator found at the site was also immobilised.David Bobie Peter has since been handed over to the Konongo District Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.NAIMOS has warned individuals engaged in illegal mining to desist regardless of social or religious status.The agency also called on traditional leaders and security agencies to intensify enforcement efforts in affected mining communities.

A/R: Pentecost church elder arrested for galamsey supervision

The<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.ghnewsmedia.com/news/how-to-check-ecg-power-outage-schedule-in-ghana"> Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)</a> has released a fresh power outage schedule affecting parts of the Western Region on Thursday, April 30, 2026, as ongoing disruptions continue to impact electricity supply.According to ECG, the interruptions are linked to the recent fire outbreak at the Ghana Grid Company substation at Akosombo Dam, which has significantly reduced generation capacity and affected the stability of the national grid.As a result, power supply in several communities will be temporarily curtailed as part of emergency load management measures.<h2>Power Outage Time</h2>ECG has confirmed that the affected areas will experience outages between<ul><li>12:00 PM and 6:00 PM</li></ul>The company says the planned interruption is necessary to help stabilise electricity distribution while repair works continue.<h2>Additional Technical Faults Worsen Situation</h2>Beyond the Akosombo-related challenges, ECG also reported separate technical faults contributing to the outages in the Western Region.These include:<ul><li>An underground cable fault at GSTS</li><li>A broken high-tension pole at Bawdie</li></ul>These issues have led to localised power disruptions in some communities.<h2>ECG Assures Quick Restoration.</h2>ECG has assured residents that its engineers are actively working to resolve all faults and restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.The company added that power will be restored immediately once technical issues are fixed and generation levels improve.The Electricity Company of Ghana has apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused and thanked the public for their patience during the ongoing repair process.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777544326192-qcchg8bg6gr.webp" alt="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" data-credit="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" title="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" width="auto" height="auto"></div><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777544363574-yzz77ijz56.webp" alt="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" data-credit="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" title="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" width="auto" height="auto"></div><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777544403512-zwow7rg443g.webp" alt="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" data-credit="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" title="ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas" width="auto" height="auto"></div>

ECG announces power outages in Western Region today – See affected areas

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.ghnewsmedia.com/sports/globe-soccer-awards-2025-full-winners-list-as-dembele-ronaldo-psg-shine">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> was on target once again as Al-Nassr secured a crucial 2-0 victory over title rivals Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.The Portuguese superstar continued his impressive form by scoring the opening goal at Al-Awwal Park, helping Al-Nassr strengthen their position in the title race.After a tense contest, Ronaldo rose highest in the 76th minute to head home and give Al-Nassr the breakthrough.The goal was another important contribution from the 41-year-old, who remains one of the key figures in Al-Nassr’s title push this season.The win moves Al-Nassr eight points clear of second-placed Al-Hilal and 13 points ahead of third-placed Al-Ahli, although both chasing teams still have a game in hand.Al-Ahli nearly opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Merih Demiral met a cross with a powerful header, but Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento produced a strong save to push the effort wide.Galeno also tested the hosts shortly after, but Bento remained alert.The visitors thought they had taken the lead early in the second half when Riyad Mahrez found the net, but the goal was quickly ruled out for offside.At the other end, Joao Felix missed a clear chance after firing over the crossbar from close range.<h2>Ronaldo Delivers Again</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777496651932-1jcbge9w6lm.webp" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo" data-credit="Cristiano Ronaldo | Photo via Getty Images" title="Cristiano Ronaldo" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Felix later provided the decisive assist when his dangerous cross from a set-piece was brilliantly flicked into the far corner by Ronaldo.Despite an Al-Ahli defender on the line, the veteran striker’s finish found the net to send the home crowd into celebration.Al-Nassr wrapped up the win in the 90th minute when Kingsley Coman finished powerfully past Edouard Mendy after being played through by Aiman Yahya.The late strike ensured all three points for Jorge Jesus’ side in a major result for their title ambitions.Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest goal underlines his enduring quality, with the legendary forward continuing to deliver decisive moments for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.ghnewsmedia.com/sports/ronaldo-scores-a-brace-on-his-100th-spl-appearance-as-al-nassr-thrash-al-najma">Al-Nassr</a>.As the Saudi Pro League season enters a critical stage, his goals could prove vital in the race for silverware.<h2></h2>

Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Al-Nassr defeat Al-Ahli to  boost Saudi Pro League title hopes

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic deaths of a senior lecturer and his teaching assistant who were killed in a road accident on Tuesday.The victims have been identified as Dr Kwabena Koforobour Agyemang of the Department of Geography and Regional Planning and Peter Amoadu-Asmah, his teaching assistant.According to reports, the two lost their lives after they were crushed by a tipper truck at Third Ridge along the Cape Coast–Accra highway.<h2>UCC Issues Statement of Condolence</h2>In an official statement, the university described the incident as a painful loss to the institution.“The management of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the untimely passing of one of its distinguished faculty members, Dr Kwabena Koforobour Agyemang, and Mr Peter Amoadu-Asmah, his teaching assistant.”The statement added that both men died in a tragic motor accident at Third Ridge on the Cape Coast–Accra highway.<h2>Tributes to a Dedicated Lecturer and Outstanding Graduate</h2>The statement, signed by Acting Director of Public Affairs Dr Kwabena Antwi-Konadu, described Dr Agyemang as a committed academic and respected member of the university community.He was praised for his valuable contributions to:<ul><li>Teaching</li><li>Research</li><li>Community service</li></ul>The university also paid tribute to Peter Amoadu-Asmah, who was serving as a National Service person and teaching assistant.UCC noted that he had distinguished himself academically as the overall best graduating student in the department.<h2>UCC Calls for Sensitivity</h2>The university extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the public, especially the media, to handle reportage of the incident with care and sensitivity.“Management and the entire university community extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 50%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Fcapevars%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0347dGHP6iHhfvtQVvoHapGMSR1pSwuFZYdcDY9jpLTvqTw4BJJVNC3yCLo8sueaHrl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div><h2>Profile of Dr Kwabena Koforobour Agyemang</h2>Dr Agyemang served as senior lecturer in the Department of Geography and Regional Planning from February 2022 until his passing in April 2026.He had previously lectured in the same department between 2009 and 2022.He earned:<ul><li>PhD in Geography and Regional Planning from UCC in 2019</li><li>Master’s degree in the same field from KNUST</li></ul>His previous professional experience included roles at:<ul><li>Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)</li><li>Atwima District Assembly</li><li>Ghana Education Service</li></ul>He was also the immediate past senior hall tutor of Casely Hayford Hall.<h2>Profile of Peter Amoadu-Asmah</h2>Peter Amoadu-Asmah attended Methodist Senior High School before enrolling at UCC.He studied BSc Geography and Regional Planning from 2021 to 2025 and later served as a teaching assistant in the department.He also completed internships with the Mfantsiman Municipal Assembly in 2023 and 2024.The deaths of Dr Agyemang and Peter Amoadu-Asmah have left the UCC community in mourning, with students, staff and alumni paying tribute to two promising lives lost too soon.

UCC mourns lecturer and teaching assistant killed in road crash

Every year, millions of people around the world choose to alter, refine, or reimagine their appearance. Some do it for confidence. Some for culture. Some because their neighbour did it, and it looked incredible. Whatever the reason, global cosmetic surgery is booming — with nearly 38 million procedures performed in 2024 alone, up a staggering 42.5% from just four years prior. But which countries are leading the charge? Here, ranked from #10 to #1 by procedures per 1,000 people, are the nations with the highest plastic surgery rates on Earth.<h2>10. Italy — 4.7 </h2>Italy may be synonymous with art and beauty, but its citizens don't just admire it — they invest in it. With around 668,784 cosmetic procedures performed in 2021, breast augmentation tops the list, followed by eyelid surgery and lip enhancement. Italy's rigorous medical accreditation standards and competitive pricing make it one of Europe's most active cosmetic surgery markets, drawing both domestic patients and visitors from across the continent.<h2>9. Mexico — 5.31 </h2>Mexico performs over 1.27 million cosmetic procedures annually, with liposuction, breast augmentation, and buttock augmentation among the most popular. It is also one of the world's top medical tourism destinations — around 20% of its cosmetic surgery patients travel from abroad, primarily from the United States, drawn by quality care at a fraction of the cost. Mexico's border cities in particular have built thriving cosmetic surgery industries catering to international visitors.<h2>8. Turkey — 5.48</h2>Turkey has transformed itself into one of the world's most sought-after cosmetic surgery hubs. With nearly 950,000 procedures performed annually, it ranks third globally for rhinoplasties alone. A remarkable 32% of its cosmetic surgery patients are medical tourists — mostly from Germany and the UK — lured by world-class surgeons and prices that can be 60–70% lower than in Western Europe. Istanbul, in particular, has become a global capital for hair transplants and nose jobs.<h2>7. Germany — 5.72 </h2>Germany has one of the highest per capita plastic surgery rates in Europe, with particular demand for facial and head procedures and breast implants – recording between 271 and 287 such procedures per 100,000 people. A strong economy, high disposable income, and a growing acceptance of aesthetic enhancement have all fuelled demand. Germany is also one of the biggest source markets for medical tourism to Turkey and Eastern Europe.<h2>6. United States — 5.91 </h2>The United States is the undisputed world leader in sheer volume, performing over 6.1 million cosmetic procedures in 2024 — roughly 22% of the entire global total. It also has more plastic surgeons than any other country, with around 7,752 practising professionals. While it ranks sixth per capita, the scale of its industry is unmatched. Non-surgical treatments like Botox and dermal fillers are the primary growth drivers, with liposuction and breast augmentation leading surgical demand.<h2>5. Greece — 6.33 </h2>Greece punches well above its weight in the cosmetic surgery world. High disposable incomes, a culture that places significant value on physical appearance, and a thriving medical tourism sector have all pushed Greece into the top five per capita. Rhinoplasty, liposuction, and breast augmentation are among the most commonly performed procedures, and Athens has established itself as a destination for patients from across the Balkans and the Middle East.<h2>4. Colombia — 7.26 </h2>Colombia has built a global reputation for body contouring and aesthetic surgery, with Medellín and Bogotá emerging as world-class cosmetic surgery destinations. Liposuction, tummy tucks, and breast augmentations dominate the procedure list. The country's combination of highly trained surgeons, modern clinics, and prices far below those in the US or Europe has made it one of Latin America's top medical tourism markets, attracting patients from North America, Europe, and beyond.<h2>3. Brazil — 7.62 </h2>Brazil leads the entire world in surgical cosmetic procedures, performing approximately 2.3 million operations in 2024. Its culture of body confidence and beauty is deeply embedded — Brazil performs more liposuctions and rhinoplasties than almost any other country and is first globally in eyelid surgeries. With around 6,497 plastic surgeons and a medical system that has made cosmetic procedures relatively accessible, Brazil has normalised aesthetic surgery across all income levels to a degree unmatched anywhere else on Earth.<h2>2. Argentina — 8.81 </h2>Argentina is one of the most cosmetically active nations on the planet. Despite economic turbulence, demand for cosmetic procedures tripled between 2019 and 2021. Breast augmentation, liposuction, and rhinoplasty are perennial favourites. Argentina's cosmetic surgery culture is driven by a society that openly celebrates and discusses aesthetic procedures – there is minimal stigma, and surgery is often viewed as a form of self-care rather than vanity. Buenos Aires has long been considered the cosmetic surgery capital of Latin America.<h2>1. South Korea — 8.9 </h2>South Korea is the undisputed plastic surgery capital of the world. With roughly 1 in 25 people having undergone a cosmetic procedure, it tops every per capita ranking on Earth. The industry is worth an estimated $1.8 billion and is deeply intertwined with K-beauty and K-pop culture, where flawless, carefully sculpted appearances are the norm. Double eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), rhinoplasty, and jawline contouring are the most popular procedures. Between 40 and 50% of South Korea's cosmetic surgery patients are medical tourists, drawn from across Asia and beyond. In South Korea, cosmetic surgery is not a secret – it is a graduation gift, a career investment, and, in many social circles, simply expected.

Top 10 countries with the highest plastic surgery rates

We've been over the biggest, but what about countries on the other end of the scale? Some nations are so small you could drive across them in minutes, yet each one carries a story that punches well above its weight.From tiny monarchies tucked inside major cities, to remote Pacific atolls that are slowly disappearing beneath rising seas, to sun-drenched islands where couples go to celebrate the rest of their lives, the world's smallest countries are anything but small in character.So, to keep things short and sweet, here are the ten countries with the tiniest total land area on Earth, counted down from #10 to #1.<h2>10. Malta — 316 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777462706004-yz4hz1xubof.webp" alt="Malta ©iStock/Gatsi" data-credit="Malta ©iStock/Gatsi" title="Malta ©iStock/Gatsi" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The largest of the ten, Malta is a densely populated archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. With a history stretching back 7,000 years — including megalithic temples older than Stonehenge — Malta is one of the most historically rich countries relative to its size. It joined the European Union in 2004 and is a popular tourist and expat destination.<h2>9. Maldives — 298 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777462807801-9d8d7l2iwgi.jpg" alt="Maldives | Photo via CNN" data-credit="Maldives | Photo via CNN" title="Maldives | Photo via CNN" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The Maldives is the world's lowest-lying country, with an average ground level of just 1.5 metres above sea level. Spread across more than 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, it is one of the world's premier honeymoon and diving destinations. The country faces an existential risk from rising sea levels — its government has made climate advocacy a cornerstone of its foreign policy.<h2>8. Saint Kitts and Nevis — 261 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777462891696-0rgkaaz4cf3.jpg" alt="Saint Kitts and Nevis | SeanPavonePhoto | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto" data-credit="Saint Kitts and Nevis | SeanPavonePhoto | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto" title="Saint Kitts and Nevis | SeanPavonePhoto | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere, Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two-island federation in the Caribbean. It was the first Caribbean island to be colonised by Europeans and a major sugar producer for centuries. Today, it is known for its volcano, rainforest, and a citizenship-by-investment programme.<h2>7. Marshall Islands — 181 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777463447658-ith2bsgzbqb.jpg" alt="Marshall Islands" data-credit="Marshall Islands" title="Marshall Islands" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Comprising 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific, the Marshall Islands gained independence from US administration in 1986. The islands have a complex history with nuclear testing — the United States conducted 67 nuclear tests at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls between 1946 and 1958. Today, climate change-driven sea level rise poses the gravest threat to the nation's existence.<h2>6. Liechtenstein — 160 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777463557312-ss8088d43r.webp" alt="Liechtenstein" data-credit="Liechtenstein | Getty Images" title="Liechtenstein" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Liechtenstein is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world (surrounded by landlocked countries — Switzerland and Austria). Despite its tiny size, it boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita globally, driven by a specialised financial sector and precision manufacturing. It also abolished its army in 1868 — and never reinstated it.<h2>5. San Marino — 61 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777463682018-l76xvhrvlqn.png" alt="San Marino " data-credit="San Marino " title="San Marino " width="auto" height="auto"></div>Landlocked within northern Italy, San Marino claims to be the world's oldest republic, founded – according to tradition – in 301 AD. It is one of only three countries entirely surrounded by a single other country (the others being Vatican City and Lesotho). Its historic centre and Mount Titano are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<h2>4. Tuvalu — 26 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777463760382-9fymg819i36.jpg" alt="Getty Images Image caption, Funafuti, Tuvalu. The UN has classified the low-lying South Pacific island nation as ‘extremely vulnerable’ to climate change" data-credit="Getty Images Image caption, Funafuti, Tuvalu." title="Getty Images Image caption, Funafuti, Tuvalu. The UN has classified the low-lying South Pacific island nation as ‘extremely vulnerable’ to climate change" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Scattered across nine atolls and reef islands in the central Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu is perhaps the nation most acutely threatened by climate change. Most of the country sits less than two metres above sea level, making it one of the most vulnerable places on Earth to ocean flooding. It is also one of the least visited countries in the world, with annual tourist arrivals typically in the hundreds.<h2>3. Nauru — 21 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777464318901-9ht0e9y60mp.jpg" alt="Nauru | Photo via AP" data-credit="Nauru | Photo via AP" title="Nauru | Photo via AP" width="auto" height="auto"></div>A raised coral island in Micronesia, Nauru is the world's smallest island nation and the smallest republic. Once one of the richest countries per capita thanks to phosphate mining, Nauru now faces serious economic challenges and the existential threat of rising sea levels — its highest point is only 71 metres above sea level.<h2>2. Monaco — 2 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777464416910-dcprlp68o7p.jpg" alt="Monaco" data-credit="Monaco | Photo via Travel Guide" title="Monaco" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The second-smallest country is also the world's most densely populated, with around 38,000 people squeezed into 2 km² on the French Riviera. Monaco is a constitutional monarchy famous for its casino in Monte Carlo, the Formula 1 Grand Prix street circuit, and some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. Like Vatican City, it is a country within a country — bordered on three sides by France and on one by the Mediterranean Sea.<h2>1. Vatican City — 0.44 km²</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777464474380-31tkqeyvela.jpeg" alt="Vatican City" data-credit="Vatican City" title="Vatican City" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The undisputed champion of smallness, Vatican City is both the world's smallest country by area and its least populous sovereign state, home to roughly 800 people. Enclosed entirely within Rome, Italy, it is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and the official residence of the pope. Despite its size, it contains an extraordinary concentration of Renaissance art and architecture, including St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

Top 10 smallest countries on earth

The United States is set to introduce a limited edition passport design featuring an image of President Donald Trump as part of commemorations marking the country’s 250th independence anniversary.A State Department official confirmed on Tuesday that the specially designed passports will begin rolling out this summer, with availability initially limited to the Washington Passport Agency for in-person renewals.<h2>Limited Release for In-Person Renewals</h2>According to the official, the new passport design will be the default option for applicants renewing their documents in person at the Washington Passport Agency once it becomes available.However, standard passport designs will remain unchanged for online applications and other processing locations across the country.<h2>Design Features Trump Image and Gold Signature</h2>A mockup of the new passport shows President Donald Trump’s image and signature printed in gold on the inside cover.The design is part of a broader series of commemorative projects tied to the United States’ 250th independence anniversary in July.State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said:“As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports to commemorate this historic occasion.”He added that while the passports will feature customised artwork and enhanced imagery, they will still maintain the same high-security standards as regular U.S. passports.<h2>Additional Historical Artwork Included</h2>The back cover of the passport is expected to feature an illustration from John Trumbull’s famous painting The Declaration of Independence.Currently, U.S. passports display artwork related to the national anthem’s origins, including Percy Moran’s depiction of Francis Scott Key after the Battle of Fort McHenry.<h2>Part of Wider 250th Anniversary Celebrations</h2>The passport design is one of several commemorative initiatives tied to America’s 250th anniversary.Earlier announcements include the following:<ul><li>A redesigned national parks pass featuring Donald Trump alongside George Washington</li><li>A commemorative coin approved by the Commission of Fine Arts featuring Trump’s likeness</li><li>The addition of Trump’s name to major national institutions such as the Kennedy Center and the U.S. Institute of Peace.</li></ul><h2>Unclear Number of Passports to Be Issued</h2>While the State Department has confirmed the rollout timeline, it has not disclosed how many of the special passports will be produced or distributed.The design was first reported by The Bulwark, with Fox News later publishing mockups of the new passport.

US to issue limited edition passports featuring Donald Trump for 250th independence anniversary

The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has issued a fresh weather advisory, warning of unstable weather conditions across several parts of the country.According to the latest forecast, thunderstorms, overcast skies and intermittent rainfall are expected to continue from Tuesday evening through Wednesday night, April 29, 2026.<h2>Areas Likely to Be Affected</h2>GMet said rain-bearing clouds are currently developing over the<ul><li>Coastal sector</li><li>Middle belt</li><li>Transition zone</li><li>Northern sector</li></ul>These conditions are expected to bring widespread cloud cover, thunderstorms and rainfall in some areas.The agency also warned that occasional strong winds may accompany the storms in affected communities.<h2>Fog and Reduced Visibility Expected Wednesday Morning</h2>For the early hours of Wednesday, GMet forecast misty or foggy weather over mountainous and forested areas.This could significantly reduce visibility for motorists, commuters and road users, especially during the morning hours.<h2>Rain to Continue During the Day</h2>The agency added that rainstorm activity may continue into Wednesday morning, bringing light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms across the following:<ul><li>Parts of the coast</li><li>Inland communities</li><li>Sections of the middle belt</li></ul>Although some sunny intervals may develop later in the day, GMet cautioned that the improvement could be temporary.<h2>More Rain Expected Later Wednesday</h2>From late afternoon into the night, thunderstorms and rainfall are expected to redevelop across parts of the following:<ul><li>Coastal areas</li><li>Middle belt</li><li>Transition zone</li><li>Northern regions</li></ul>GMet has urged residents, especially people living in flood-prone communities and road users, to remain alert and take the necessary safety precautions due to the changing weather conditions.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777454366964-rgoiwf9jnf.jpeg" alt="GMet warns of thunderstorms, rain and strong winds across Ghana" data-credit="GMet warns of thunderstorms, rain and strong winds across Ghana" title="GMet warns of thunderstorms, rain and strong winds across Ghana" width="auto" height="auto"></div>

GMet warns of thunderstorms, rain and strong winds across Ghana

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that several areas in Accra will experience temporary power outages in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, 2026.According to ECG, the disruption follows the recent fire outbreak at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) substation at Akosombo Dam, which has significantly reduced electricity supply to the Accra West Region.<h2>Power Interruption Time</h2>In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 28, ECG said electricity supply in affected areas will be curtailed between the following times:<ul><li>12:00am</li><li>6:00am</li></ul>The planned outage is aimed at helping engineers stabilise the power system and manage the reduced supply capacity.The company stated that electricity will be restored immediately once the generation profile improves.ECG also apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused and thanked the public for their patience and understanding.The announcement comes as authorities continue working to resolve the impact of the Akosombo substation fire and restore normal electricity flow to affected parts of Greater Accra.Residents and businesses in impacted communities are advised to make the necessary preparations ahead of the temporary outage.<h2>Full list of affected areas:</h2><ol><li>Baah Yard</li><li>Odorgonno</li><li>Awoshie</li><li>Demod</li><li>CMB Flats</li><li>Olebu</li><li>New Ayawaso</li><li>Amamole</li><li>Ayigbe Town</li><li>Lartebiokorshie</li><li>Alogboshie</li><li>Neoplan</li><li>Kaneshie Flats</li><li>Cocoa Clinic</li><li>Kaneshie Sports Complex</li><li>Parts of Katamanto</li><li>Asofan</li><li>Amen, amen.</li><li>Agya Herbal</li><li>Nsawam Township</li><li>Adoagyiri</li><li>Pentecost University</li><li>Israel</li><li>Parts of Alhaji</li><li>Parts of Sowutuom</li><li>Antieku</li><li>NIC</li><li>Joma Township</li><li>Ablekuma Agape</li><li>Mataheko</li><li>Adeiso</li><li>Coaltar</li><li>Borkorborkor</li><li>Manhean</li><li>Afoaman</li><li>CP</li><li>Joma</li><li>Mayera</li><li>Kuntunse</li><li>Amasaman</li><li>Fise</li><li>Toman</li><li>Part of Kwashieman</li><li>Nii Boye Town</li><li>Abrantie Spot</li><li>Darkuman</li><li>Parts of Tesano</li><li>Parts of Ofankor</li><li>Mallam Junction</li><li>Menskrom</li><li>Sakaman</li><li>Mallam Market</li><li>Parts of Dansoman</li><li>Parts of Sukura</li><li>Parts of Lartebiokorshie</li><li>Parts of Adabraka</li><li>Atico</li><li>Parts of North Kaneshie</li><li>Parts of New Fadama</li><li>Parts of Abossey Okai</li></ol>Residents in these areas are advised to plan accordingly during the outage period.Sowutuom, Dansoman, Kaneshie and 57 other areas in Accra to be hit with power outages on April 29

Full list of 60 areas in Accra to be hit with power outages today

The Government of Ghana has officially declared Friday, May 1, 2026, as a statutory public holiday in observance of Workers’ Day, also known as May Day.The announcement was made in a statement dated April 27, 2026, and signed by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who directed that the holiday be observed nationwide.<h2>2026 Workers’ Day Theme Announced</h2>This year’s May Day celebration will be held under the theme“Pivoting to Growth, Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods Beyond Macroeconomic Stability.”The theme highlights organised labour’s call for Ghana to move beyond fiscal consolidation and focus more strongly on economic growth, job creation, and long-term livelihoods for workers.<h2>Main Celebration to Be Held in Koforidua</h2>The 2026 national May Day celebration is scheduled to take place in the Eastern Region, with the main event set for Jackson's Park in Koforidua.Workers, labour unions, government officials, and stakeholders from across the country are expected to participate in the annual event.<h2>Brief History of May Day in Ghana</h2>Ghanaian workers first celebrated May Day in 1960, when Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was named the First Number One Worker and honoured with a May Day Award by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).However, the celebration was suspended in 1966 following the military coup that overthrew Nkrumah’s government. It was later reinstated in 1967 and has since remained an important national observance.<h2>Workers’ Rights on Public Holidays in Ghana</h2>Under Ghana’s Holiday Act, 2001, and the Labour Act, 2003, public holidays are recognised as paid non-working days across the country.Employers who require staff to work on such days are legally required to grant them a substitute paid day off.<h2>Importance of Workers’ Day</h2>Workers’ Day is celebrated annually to honour the contribution of workers to national development and to advocate for better labour conditions, fair wages, and social protection.<h2></h2>

Government declares Friday, May 1, 2026 Public holiday

<h2>What Are the Epstein Files?</h2>The Epstein Files are thousands of pages of government records, emails, videos, flight logs, and investigative documents tied to the federal prosecution of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Their release has been one of the most politically charged transparency battles in modern American history.<h2>Origins: Who Was Jeffrey Epstein?</h2>Jeffrey Epstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. Despite not completing a university degree, he taught mathematics at the elite Dalton School in Manhattan before transitioning to Wall Street. After leaving Bear Stearns following a regulatory violation, he founded his own financial management firm serving ultra-wealthy clients, which enabled him to build relationships with powerful figures across politics, business, academia, and royalty.In 1991, Epstein met Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of British media tycoon Robert Maxwell. She became his close associate and, according to prosecutors, a key enabler of his crimes.<h2>The Criminal Cases</h2>Epstein first came under investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, around 2005–2008, when local police documented allegations that he had paid underage girls for sexual massages. A controversial 2008 non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with federal prosecutors granted Epstein and potential co-conspirators broad immunity, a deal widely criticised as a miscarriage of justice.On July 6, 2019, Epstein was arrested again and charged with federal sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy, with allegations involving victims as young as 14. He was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell on August 10, 2019 — a ruling officially classified as suicide, though the circumstances fuelled widespread conspiracy theories.Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021, receiving a 20-year prison sentence.<h2>The Fight for Transparency: 2024–2025</h2>Public pressure for document disclosure intensified in January 2024, when over 4,500 pages from the civil case Giuffre v. Maxwell were unsealed by a federal judge. While generating global headlines, most of the material confirmed already-known details without producing dramatic new revelations.During the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump pledged to release the Epstein files. After taking office, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in February 2025 that she was reviewing approximately 100,000 records at the president's direction.In July 2025, the Department of Justice released a memo concluding that no formal "client list" existed in the files and that Epstein's death was a suicide — findings that drew both support and fierce criticism.<h2>The Epstein Files Transparency Act (2025)</h2>The decisive turning point came in November 2025, when the House of Representatives voted 427–1 to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The Senate approved it unanimously, and President Trump signed it into law on November 19, 2025. Modelled on the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, the law required the Attorney General to publicly release all unclassified Epstein-related records within 30 days.<h2>The Document Releases: December 2025 – January 2026</h2>On December 19, 2025, the DOJ released the first batch of files — but the release was criticised for extensive redactions, with hundreds of pages entirely blacked out, prompting bipartisan condemnation.On January 30, 2026, the DOJ published its largest release: over 3 million additional pages, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images seized from Epstein's properties. The files were drawn from five key sources: the Florida and New York prosecutions of Epstein, the Maxwell case, investigations into Epstein's prison death, and multiple FBI enquiries. Combined with earlier releases, the total production reached approximately 3.5 million pages — making it one of the largest government document disclosures related to a criminal case in US history.<h2>What Have the Files Revealed?</h2>The released files include email chains, FBI interview summaries, financial records, flight manifests to Epstein's private island, and internal DOJ communications about the controversial 2008 NPA. One FBI document confirmed that survivor Maria Farmer had reported Epstein to the bureau as early as September 1996 — nearly a decade before his first arrest — with no meaningful response from authorities.While the files exposed the extraordinary breadth of Epstein's social network, the DOJ confirmed that notable individuals were not redacted in any release.<h2>Key Takeaway</h2>The Epstein Files represent a landmark moment in government transparency, revealing systemic failures in law enforcement and raising enduring questions about accountability for the powerful. With over 3.5 million pages now public, researchers, journalists, and the public continue to examine one of the most consequential document releases in modern legal history.Last updated: April 2026 | Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Wikipedia, Britannica, PBS NewsHour, Al Jazeera

The Epstein Files: A brief history of the most controversial document release in U.S. history

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed that three civilians were killed after unknown gunmen attacked a military-escorted civilian convoy in Binduri, located in the Upper East Region.According to an official statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin of the Ghana Navy, Acting Director General of Public Relations, the incident happened on Monday, April 27, 2026.The convoy, which was transporting approximately 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga under military protection, reportedly came under repeated heavy gunfire from armed attackers.<h3>Three Civilians Dead, One Injured</h3>The military disclosed that the ambush resulted in the deaths of three civilians, while one other person sustained injuries.However, security forces swiftly responded to the attack and successfully repelled the assailants.“In the process, the military successfully repelled the attack on the convoy, resulting in the death of seven assailants,” the statement said.<h3>Weapons and Ammunition Recovered</h3>Following the attack, troops launched a pursuit operation and recovered several weapons and rounds of ammunition from one suspect who allegedly attempted to hide inside a mosque.The recovered items included:<ul><li>One G3 automatic rifle</li><li>Two fully loaded magazines containing 20 rounds each</li><li>An additional 176 rounds of ammunition</li></ul><h3>10 Suspects Arrested</h3>The Ghana Armed Forces further confirmed that ten additional suspects have been arrested and are currently assisting with ongoing investigations into the Binduri attack.<h3>Military Urges Public Cooperation</h3>GAF urged residents and the general public to cooperate fully with security personnel during operations, warning against interference that could endanger lives or obstruct ongoing missions.The military also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.<h3>Rising Security Concerns in Bawku Area</h3>The latest violence adds to growing security concerns in the Bawku enclave and surrounding communities, where recurring tensions have led to multiple clashes and civilian displacement in recent years.Authorities say operations will continue to restore calm and protect civilians moving through affected areas.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777325237586-t53vioriimb.png" alt="GAF Confirms 3 Civilians Killed in Binduri Convoy Attack, 10 Arrested" data-credit="GAF Confirms 3 Civilians Killed in Binduri Convoy Attack, 10 Arrested" title="GAF Confirms 3 Civilians Killed in Binduri Convoy Attack, 10 Arrested" width="auto" height="auto"></div><h2></h2><h2></h2>

GAF confirms 3 civilians killed in Binduri convoy attack, 10 arrested

Police in the Assin South District of Ghana’s Central Region have arrested a self-styled prophet over allegations that he set fire to the home of his former partner, leaving the woman and her children homeless.The suspect, identified as Mark Dzimah, is the founder and leader of Christ Pentecostal Church. Reports indicate he was arrested in connection with the alleged attack at Abura Kwaduagya.Confirming the development, District Police Commander Robert Kyeremeh said investigations are ongoing. He added that the suspect has denied the allegations but will be put before court after investigations are completed.The victim, Joyce Akomaning, a 47-year-old seamstress, said she ended her relationship with the suspect in an attempt to escape what she described as repeated physical and emotional abuse. She believes the alleged fire incident was a retaliatory act following the breakup.According to reports, the fire broke out around 9:00 p.m. and completely destroyed her single-room residence, along with all her belongings.Speaking after the incident, she said she had lost everything and was struggling to rebuild her life.The Ghana National Fire Service reportedly responded from Abura Dunkwa but was unable to save the structure due to poor access roads and the narrow layout of the settlement.Joyce Akomaning and her two children are currently displaced and relying on support from friends for temporary shelter.She has also expressed concern over the pace of investigations, noting that two months have passed since the incident. She appealed to authorities to speed up the process and ensure justice is served.Items reportedly destroyed in the fire included three industrial sewing machines, television sets, cash, personal documents, and school materials belonging to her children.Police say the case remains under active investigation, with the suspect currently on bail pending further action.

Prophet arrested for setting ex-girlfriend's house on fire after break-up

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has announced a nationwide exercise to replace a batch of defective 2026 vehicle number plates after internal quality checks uncovered durability concerns.According to the Authority, routine inspections revealed that some embossed number plates failed to meet the required standards, causing printed characters and markings to fade earlier than expected.In an official statement released on Monday, April 27, the DVLA confirmed that the affected batch was immediately withdrawn from circulation once the defect was detected. However, some of the plates had already been issued to motorists before the problem was identified.The Authority has therefore invited all affected vehicle owners to visit any DVLA office across the country for a free replacement of the faulty number plates.The DVLA apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused and accepted responsibility for the issue. It also assured the public that corrective measures are being implemented to avoid similar incidents in the future.As part of the response, the authority said it is strengthening its quality control and assurance systems to guarantee safe, reliable, and high-standard vehicle registration services nationwide.Motorists with recently issued 2026 number plates are encouraged to check with the nearest DVLA branch for guidance on the replacement process.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777305631228-5quq71b56yr.jpeg" alt="DVLA to replace defective 2026 number plates free" data-credit="DVLA to replace defective 2026 number plates free" title="DVLA to replace defective 2026 number plates free" width="auto" height="auto"></div>

DVLA to replace defective 2026 number plates free of charge nationwide

The soldier who shaped Mali's junta — and died defending itSadio Camara was born on 22 March 1979 and spent his life in uniform. He graduated from the Joint Military School and rose through Mali's military ranks with quiet determination, eventually becoming head of the Kati Military School – the garrison town just outside Bamako that would later serve as the cradle of his country's revolution and, ultimately, the site of his death. During this period he also trained in Russia, building relationships that would later reshape the entire geopolitical orientation of his nation.The coup that changed everythingIn August 2020, Camara stood alongside Colonel Assimi Goïta and helped bring down the government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. It was a decisive, coordinated move, and Camara's reward came in October of that year: he was appointed Minister of Defence in the interim government under Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. But the political ground remained unstable.In May 2021, interim leader Bah Ndaw reshuffled his cabinet and cut Camara out. The response was swift and dramatic. Goïta launched what analysts called a "coup within a coup", ordering the arrest of Ndaw and his cabinet — a move condemned by the United Nations and governments around the world. On 11 June 2021, Goïta was firmly in control, and Camara was reinstated as defence minister. He would hold that post until the day he died.The most powerful man you hadn't heard ofWithin Mali's ruling junta, Camara occupied a singular role. He was the operational mind to Goïta's political face—consistently demonstrating, as observers noted, mastery of the Malian military apparatus. While Goïta held supreme authority of the state, Camara ran its armed forces and navigated its most consequential strategic decisions. Their relationship grew increasingly tense over the years, with whispers of rivalry circulating in Bamako's corridors of power — yet Camara remained indispensable. He was, in every real sense, the junta's backbone."He was one of the most influential figures within the ruling military leadership," said Al Jazeera's correspondent Nicolas Haque, who had reported extensively from Mali, "and had been seen by some as a possible future leader of Mali."Russia's man in the SahelWhen Mali pivoted away from France and towards Moscow after the coups, Camara was the natural broker. His early training in Russia had preceded the Wagner Group's arrival in Mali by years, but it positioned him perfectly when the junta chose to embrace Russian military partnership. He became the hinge point of Mali–Russia security cooperation — close enough to Wagner's networks that Washington imposed sanctions on him in July 2023 for those links. The designation also revealed something unexpected: Camara held French citizenship alongside his Malian nationality. The American sanctions were ultimately lifted in February 2026, just weeks before his death.A final campaignIn April 2026, Camara launched Operation Dougoukoloko – meaning "Reconquest of the Territory" – his most ambitious military initiative. The goal was bold and public: he declared Mali would never again be "humiliated or weakened by terrorist groups. "The campaign targeted jihadist strongholds in Timbuktu, Kidal, and Gossi and was intended to mark a structural shift in how the Malian state confronted armed groups — not reactively, but with sustained, organised force. It was the signature move of a minister who had spent five years consolidating military power, finally ready to use it on his own terms.He would not live to see it through.Death in KatiOn 25 April 2026, fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM and Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front launched simultaneous coordinated attacks across Mali. One of the most fortified towns in the country — Kati, home to the garrison and the interim president himself — was not spared. A suicide car bomber drove directly into Camara's residence. The blast was so powerful it destroyed the building entirely. Camara was killed. So were his second wife and two of his grandchildren. He was 47 years old.Interim President Goïta survived and was moved to safety. But the junta he leads is measurably weaker for Camara's absence. As the architect of its military strategy and its most important link to Russia, he leaves a void that will not easily be filled – in the armed forces, in foreign relations, and in the fractured, embattled country he had spent six years trying to hold together by force.

Who was Sadio Camara? Mali's powerful defence minister who survived 2 coups - Until he didn't

A traditional priest has invoked curses on individuals involved in illegal mining activities along the River Tano in a dramatic ritual aimed at condemning the ongoing destruction of one of Ghana’s key water bodies.In a video circulating widely on social media, the chief is seen performing traditional rites at the riverside, calling on the spirits of the river to punish those responsible for polluting and degrading the environment through illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.As part of the ritual, the priest is seen using a loaf of bread, which he throws into the river while pronouncing curses on those allegedly involved in the activities.His invocation is said to target not only the miners but also individuals believed to be supporting or enabling the illegal operations.The curses reportedly extend to landowners who sold concessions, financiers of the operations, and officials accused of facilitating or ignoring the activities.The video has since sparked widespread reactions online, with many social media users engaging in discussions about illegal mining, environmental protection, and the role of traditional authorities in addressing galamsey-related issues.Video<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 178.277%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1271248738489490%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div>

Watch Video: Chief invokes curses illegal miners with sugar bread

Engineers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti Region have successfully restored electricity supply to residents of Ahodwo after a dramatic incident involving a python infestation at one of the company’s substations.The power outage occurred around 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2026, when a fault on a distribution feeder disrupted supply to residents along the Ahodwo–Daban–Dr Asafo Adjei Road in Kumasi.Following the incident, a fault response team from the ECG Ahinsan District was immediately dispatched to assess the problem and restore electricity to affected communities. While engineers were able to reconnect power to some parts of the area, customers around the Cocoa Depot and Star Sawmill enclave remained without supply due to a persistent technical fault.As the team worked to resolve the issue, they moved to a nearby transformer to replace a blown fuse. However, they made an unexpected discovery after spotting a python hiding inside the substation.The Ahinsan District Engineer, Kwaku Appiah, confirmed the incident and explained that some residents initially attempted to capture the reptile but were unsuccessful after it retreated beneath the substation structure.Despite the dangerous situation, ECG engineers continued repair works to ensure power was restored to affected households and businesses.To safely remove the reptiles, the Kumasi Zoo was contacted for assistance. During the operation, officials discovered that more than one snake was living at the facility. Reports indicate that both adult snakes and eggs were later retrieved from the substation at about 9:00 p.m. the same day, suggesting the reptiles had occupied the site for some time.Meanwhile, the general manager of ECG’s Ashanti West Region, George Amoah, has urged customers to report power outages promptly through official ECG channels or designated stakeholder WhatsApp platforms to enable quicker response times and faster resolution of faults.Video<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 100%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1356614999640834%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=476&amp;t=0" width="476" height="476" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div>

ECG restores Ahodwo power after over 5 feet python invasion at substation - Video

Jordan Ayew is no stranger to the highs and lows of professional football. But right now, the Ghana international finds himself navigating one of the most testing stretches of his career – a sixth relegation in just over a decade, this time with Leicester City.For a player of his experience, quality, and longevity, the numbers make for sobering reading. Six relegations across five clubs is a record that raises eyebrows — but it also tells a far more nuanced story than a simple statistic can capture.<h2>Jordan Ayew's Full Relegation Record</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777242280461-qkibgoc9dgl.jpg" alt="Jordan Ayew Photo via CAF" data-credit="Jordan Ayew Photo via CAF" title="Jordan Ayew Photo via CAF" width="auto" height="auto"></div>To fully understand the weight of Ayew's situation, it's worth mapping out exactly how this record has accumulated over the years.Here is every relegation Jordan Ayew has experienced in his professional career:<ul><li>2013/14 — FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (Ligue 1 to Ligue 2)</li><li>2014/15 — FC Lorient (Ligue 1 to Ligue 2)</li><li>2015/16 — Aston Villa FC (Premier League to Championship)</li><li>2017/18 — Swansea City AFC (Premier League to Championship)</li><li>2024/25 — Leicester City FC (Premier League to Championship</li><li>2025/26 — Leicester City FC (Championship to League One)</li></ul>That final entry is the one making headlines in 2026. Leicester City — a club that famously won the Premier League title just a decade ago — has now suffered back-to-back relegations, dropping from England's top flight into the Championship last season and now sinking further into League One in the 2025/26 campaign.For Ayew, who was part of the squad throughout this collapse, it means a second consecutive relegation with the same club — and a sixth in total across his career.<h2>A Difficult Pattern, But Not a Reflection of Individual Failure</h2>It would be easy — and lazy — to look at those numbers and draw the wrong conclusions. Relegation, in almost every case in Ayew's record, has been a team failure rather than an individual one.The Ghanaian forward has consistently been praised throughout his career for his work rate, tactical intelligence, and ability to perform under pressure. His versatility — operating across the front line, pressing from the front, and contributing both defensively and offensively — has made him a valued presence at every club he has represented.The uncomfortable truth in football is this: even talented, committed, and experienced players can find themselves caught in clubs that are structurally, financially, or managerially unprepared to compete at the required level. Ayew has, unfortunately, found himself in that position more times than most.<h2>Leicester City's Collapse — The Backdrop to Ayew's Latest Setback</h2>To understand Ayew's 2025/26 relegation, you need to understand the broader collapse happening at Leicester City FC.Once celebrated as the greatest underdog story in Premier League history following their 2015/16 title triumph, Leicester have since undergone a painful decline. Financial pressures, managerial instability, and a lack of investment in the squad have all played their part in the club's dramatic fall from grace.After dropping out of the Premier League at the end of the 2024/25 season, many expected Leicester to mount an immediate promotion challenge in the Championship. Instead, their struggles continued, and the club ultimately suffered a second successive relegation — landing in League One for the first time in decades.It is a stunning fall for a historic club and one that has caught several experienced professionals — Ayew included — in its wake.<h2>Jordan Ayew's Career in Context — More Than Just Relegations</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777242363825-d4mgpuwt6a.jpg" alt="Jordan Ayew [AFP]" data-credit="Jordan Ayew [AFP]" title="Jordan Ayew [AFP]" width="auto" height="auto"></div>It would be a disservice to define Jordan Ayew's career purely by team relegations. The 33-year-old has had stretches of real quality at the top level, and his international record with the Ghana Black Stars speaks for itself.A long-serving member of the national team, Ayew has represented Ghana at multiple Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments and FIFA World Cup campaigns. On the international stage, he has often been one of Ghana's most reliable performers — a leader in attitude if not always in goals.At club level, his stint with Crystal Palace stands out as his most sustained period of Premier League football, where he became a fan favourite and demonstrated exactly what he is capable of when surrounded by a stable, well-organised team environment.The contrast between his individual quality and his club's relegation record is, frankly, striking – and it underscores a broader truth: a player's career cannot be judged by his clubs' league finishes alone.<h2>What Happens Next for Jordan Ayew?</h2>The question now is what the 2026/27 season holds for the experienced Ghanaian forward.Ayew faces a genuine crossroads. The options in front of him are broadly the following:1. Stay at Leicester and help rebuild Some players choose loyalty, particularly when they believe in a club's long-term vision. Leicester, despite their fall to League One, remain a large club with significant infrastructure, a strong fanbase, and the financial motivation to bounce back quickly. Staying and helping drive promotion could be a powerful story.2. Seek a move to a higher division At 33, Ayew's priority may be to remain competitive at the highest level possible. A move to a Championship club – or even a Premier League side – would allow him to continue performing on a bigger stage and potentially avoid a third consecutive relegation battle.3. Explore opportunities abroad. European leagues, the MLS, or other international competitions could offer Ayew a fresh environment and a chance to end his career on his own terms, away from the turbulence of English football's lower divisions.Whichever path he chooses, one thing is clear — Jordan Ayew still has something to offer. His experience, professionalism, and resilience are qualities that clubs at multiple levels would value.<h2>The Resilience Factor — Why Ayew's Story Isn't Over</h2>There is something quietly remarkable about a player who has suffered six relegations and is still competing at a professional level, still representing his country, and still being discussed as a relevant figure in the game.Many players — particularly those who have experienced repeated relegation — fade from the spotlight, move into lower leagues, or retire early. Ayew has done none of those things. He has kept going, kept competing, and kept turning up.That resilience is, perhaps, his most underrated quality. And in football — a sport that demands mental strength just as much as technical ability — it is one of the most valuable traits a player can possess.<h2>Key Facts: Jordan Ayew's Relegation Record at a Glance</h2>Season Club Division Dropped From 2013/14: FC Sochaux-Montbéliard Ligue 1 2014/15 FC Lorient Ligue 1 2015/16 Aston Villa FC Premier League 2017/18 Swansea City AFC Premier League 2024/25 Leicester City FC Premier League 2025/26 Leicester City FC ChampionshipTotal: 6 relegations | 5 clubs | 12+ years

Jordan Ayew: 6 relegations, Five clubs — What's next?

Are you thinking about working abroad in Europe? Whether you're a skilled professional, a recent graduate, or someone simply curious about where your paycheque could stretch the furthest, knowing which European countries offer the highest salaries is a great place to start your research.Europe is home to some of the world's wealthiest and most productive economies – but not all of them pay the same. The gap between the highest and lowest-paying countries is staggering. In 2026, workers in Luxembourg earn more than four times what their counterparts in Bulgaria take home each month.In this guide, we break down the top 10 European countries with the best salaries in 2026, based on the latest data from Eurostat, the OECD, and official national statistics. We'll look at average gross monthly pay, what's driving those high wages, and what you should really think about before packing your bags.<h2>What Drives High Salaries in Europe?</h2>Before diving into the rankings, it helps to understand why some countries pay so much more than others. It's not random.The biggest factors include the following:<ul><li>Economic productivity — Countries with high-value industries like finance, tech, and pharmaceuticals generate more wealth per worker, which means higher wages.</li><li>Labour unions and collective bargaining — Nordic countries, in particular, have strong unions that negotiate excellent pay across entire sectors.</li><li>Cost of living — Higher salaries often come hand-in-hand with higher living costs. A €6,000/month salary in Zurich doesn't go as far as you might think.</li><li>Foreign investment — Countries like Ireland have attracted major multinational corporations through low corporate tax rates, pushing average salaries up significantly.</li><li>Education and skills — Countries that invest heavily in education and training tend to have a more productive, higher-earning workforce.</li></ul>With that in mind, let's get into the list.<h2>Top 10 Highest-Paying Countries in Europe (2026)</h2><h3>1. Luxembourg — ~€6,900 to €7,000/month</h3>If there's one country that consistently tops every European salary ranking, it's Luxembourg. Despite being one of the smallest nations on the continent, it punches far above its weight when it comes to pay.The average gross monthly salary in Luxembourg sits at around €6,900 to €7,000, and the average full-time annual salary exceeds €75,000. The financial sector is the main engine here — Luxembourg is one of Europe's premier banking and investment hubs, home to hundreds of international funds and financial institutions.What also sets Luxembourg apart is that it hosts major EU institutions, which creates strong demand for multilingual, highly educated professionals in law, finance, policy, and administration. All of that demand pushes wages up across the board.Worth noting: Luxembourg also has one of the highest costs of living in Europe, so your salary will go further in some countries than it will in the Grand Duchy itself.Top sectors: Banking, finance, legal services, EU institutions, logistics<h3>2. Switzerland — ~€6,800/month</h3>Switzerland is arguably the most famous high-salary destination in Europe, and for good reason. The average gross monthly salary is around €6,800, and the country has seen steady wage growth — rising from CHF 7,024/month in 2024 to CHF 7,150/month in 2025, with continued increases into 2026.Switzerland's strength comes from its world-class pharmaceutical industry (think Novartis and Roche), its powerful banking sector (UBS and Credit Suisse), precision engineering, and a thriving tech scene. Cities like Zurich and Geneva are global financial hubs that attract top talent from around the world.One big plus? Switzerland's income tax rates are lower than most EU countries, meaning workers keep more of what they earn. That said, living in Zurich or Geneva comes at a serious price — rent, food, and services are among the most expensive in the world.Top sectors: finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, international organisations<h3>3. Iceland — ~€6,400 to €6,500/month</h3>Iceland often surprises people on these lists. It's a small island nation with a population of just 370,000 – yet it ranks among the top three highest-paying countries in Europe in 2026.The average gross monthly salary falls in the range of ISK 920,000 to 1,020,000, which converts to roughly €6,400 to €6,500/month. About 90% of workers are covered by trade unions, giving employees strong collective bargaining power and consistently high wages.Iceland also has an impressively low unemployment rate and a culture that values work-life balance. However, be aware that Iceland is also a high-price country. Everyday costs — particularly rent, food, and imported goods — are steep, which can eat into that attractive gross salary.Top sectors: fishing and aquaculture, tourism, energy, technology, and healthcare<h3>4. Denmark — ~€5,800 to €6,200/month</h3>Denmark is one of those countries that just works. High wages, excellent public services, strong job security, and a culture that genuinely values employee wellbeing — it's no wonder it keeps appearing near the top of global quality-of-life rankings.The average gross monthly salary in Denmark is around €5,800 to €6,200, with annual full-time earnings exceeding €60,000. Denmark also ranks second in the EU for total hourly labour costs, right behind Luxembourg.Strong labour unions, a well-educated workforce, and thriving industries in clean technology, pharmaceuticals, and design all contribute to Denmark's high wages. The famous "flexicurity" model — which combines flexible hiring with strong unemployment benefits — creates a dynamic, productive labour market.The catch? Denmark has one of the highest personal income tax rates in the world, so your take-home pay will be noticeably lower than your gross figure.Top sectors: pharmaceuticals, clean energy, shipping, design, and IT<h3>5. Norway — ~€5,700/month</h3>Norway's wealth is no secret. Backed by vast oil revenues and one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, Norway has built a high-wage, high-welfare society that is the envy of many nations.The average gross monthly salary in Norway is approximately €5,700 (around NOK 55,150/month as of early 2026). What makes Norway particularly appealing is its relatively low wage inequality — the gap between top earners and lower-income workers is much smaller than in most countries. This is partly thanks to a progressive tax system and strong collective bargaining traditions.Higher education in Norway is also largely free, contributing to a highly skilled workforce that commands strong pay. And while Oslo is expensive, it's generally more affordable than Zurich or Geneva.Top sectors: Oil and gas, maritime, engineering, healthcare, public services<h3>6. Ireland — ~€5,000+/month</h3>Ireland's transformation into one of Europe's economic powerhouses has been remarkable. In the span of a few decades, it went from one of Western Europe's poorer nations to one of its highest-paying.The average gross monthly salary in Ireland now exceeds €5,000, driven largely by a massive influx of multinational corporations. Google, Meta, Apple, Pfizer, and dozens of other global giants have chosen Dublin as their European headquarters, attracted by Ireland's low 12.5% corporate tax rate.This concentration of high-paying tech and pharma roles has significantly raised Ireland's average salary. Senior software engineers in Dublin, for example, can earn upwards of €80,000 to €100,000+ per year. The job market is particularly strong for professionals in IT, data science, finance, and life sciences.Top sectors: Technology, pharmaceuticals, financial services, legal<h3>7. Belgium — ~€3,800 to €4,800/month</h3>Belgium might not always get the attention it deserves in salary discussions, but it belongs firmly in the top 10. Average annual salaries are above €50,000, putting it comfortably among Europe's elite earners.Brussels, in particular, is a unique case — it's effectively the political capital of Europe. The presence of the European Commission, European Council, NATO headquarters, and hundreds of lobbying and policy organisations creates enormous demand for multilingual, highly educated professionals who command top salaries.Belgium also has a strong industrial base in chemicals, logistics, and manufacturing and a statutory minimum wage that helps keep the floor relatively high for all workers. The downside is Belgium's notoriously high taxes and social contributions, which can significantly reduce take-home pay.Top sectors: EU institutions, chemicals, logistics, finance, healthcare<h3>8. Austria — ~€4,500 to €4,800/month</h3>Austria is one of Europe's most stable and prosperous economies, and its salary levels reflect that. The average gross monthly salary sits at around €4,500 to €4,800, with annual earnings above €50,000 for full-time employees.Vienna is consistently rated one of the world's most liveable cities, and Austria's economy is driven by a strong industrial base, exports, tourism, and a well-developed services sector. Project managers, engineers, and IT professionals in particular tend to command excellent salaries.Like many high-paying European countries, Austria has high income taxes and social contributions. However, the quality of public services — from healthcare to transport to education — is exceptional.Top sectors: Engineering, manufacturing, tourism, IT, finance<h3>9. Germany — ~€4,500/month</h3>Germany is the largest economy in Europe, and it consistently delivers above-average salaries to its workforce. The average gross monthly salary is around €4,500, with full-time annual earnings averaging approximately €53,791.Germany's strength lies in its world-renowned industrial base — automotive (BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen), machinery, chemicals, and advanced manufacturing. Add to that a booming tech sector and strong demand for skilled tradespeople, and you have a labour market that rewards expertise well.Germany is also one of Europe's most popular destinations for skilled migrants, partly because of its well-organised immigration pathways for qualified professionals from outside the EU. Wages vary significantly by region — Munich and Frankfurt typically pay more than smaller cities.Top sectors: automotive, engineering, technology, finance, healthcare<h3>10. Netherlands — ~€4,600/month</h3>Rounding out the top 10 is the Netherlands, which ranks third in the EU for total hourly labour costs behind only Luxembourg and Denmark. The average gross monthly salary is around €4,600.The Dutch economy is highly internationalised, with Rotterdam hosting Europe's busiest port and Amsterdam serving as a major financial and tech hub. Companies like ASML, Philips, Shell, and Unilever are all headquartered here. The Netherlands is particularly attractive for professionals in logistics, semiconductors, agriculture-tech, and finance.The Dutch also enjoy a good work-life balance — part-time working is more common and culturally accepted here than almost anywhere else in Europe, though this can reduce average earnings somewhat.Top sectors: logistics, technology, agritech, finance, energy<h2></h2>

Top 10 European countries that pay the best salaries in 2026

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has assured Ghanaians of a more stable and improved power supply nationwide between April and September this year, as it intensifies efforts to address ongoing electricity challenges.The assurance was given by ECG’s general manager for external relations, Dr Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, during the launch of a transformer replacement and upgrade exercise at the Teshie Substation in Accra.Speaking to the media, Dr Ayiku Ayiku acknowledged the power disruptions currently affecting some customers but emphasised that the company is taking decisive steps to resolve the issues.He expressed confidence that the measures being implemented would significantly improve the situation within the stated period, resulting in a more reliable electricity supply across the country.According to him, the transformer upgrade project forms part of ECG’s broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen Ghana’s power distribution infrastructure.Dr Ayiku Ayiku further explained that some of the recent outages were linked to technical challenges at the Akosombo Substation, which impacted electricity supply in several communities. However, he noted that interventions are already underway to restore full stability.Meanwhile, ECG’s general manager for sub-transmission in Accra, Ing. Francis Kofi Atsyatsya, revealed that the transformer replacement exercise will not be limited to the capital but will also be extended to Kumasi and other parts of the country.He stated that the nationwide project is expected to improve the overall performance of the electricity distribution network while enhancing service delivery to consumers.The latest announcement comes as many Ghanaians continue to call for a dependable power supply to support businesses, households, and economic activities nationwide.

ECG assures Ghanaians of stable power supply between April and September

Climate change is changing life beneath the sea, and one of the smartest creatures feeling the pressure is the octopus. Famous for their intelligence, camouflage skills, and ability to solve problems, octopuses are known as natural survivors. But even these incredible animals are now facing serious challenges from rising ocean temperatures, habitat loss, and changing marine ecosystems.Scientists say climate change is creating both winners and losers among octopus species. In some parts of the world, octopus populations are growing and moving into new waters. In other places, ocean warming is harming their breeding, growth, eyesight, and long-term survival.So, how is climate change affecting octopus populations across the world?<h2>Why Ocean Warming Matters to Octopuses</h2>The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat caused by global warming. As sea temperatures rise, marine animals are forced to adapt, move, or die out.Octopuses are especially sensitive because they grow quickly, live short lives, and depend heavily on stable environmental conditions to reproduce successfully.Unlike some fish species that take years to respond to environmental change, octopuses react much faster. This means rising ocean temperatures can quickly increase or reduce octopus numbers.<h2>Some octopus populations are increasing.</h2>Not all the news is bad. In some colder parts of the world, warmer seas are helping certain octopus species expand their range.For example, researchers have reported unusually high numbers of octopuses in waters around the United Kingdom. Species normally found in warmer Mediterranean seas are now appearing farther north as those areas become more suitable.This suggests climate change may temporarily benefit some octopus populations by opening new habitats.<h2>Rising Heat Is Hurting Baby Octopuses</h2>While adult octopuses may move into new waters, baby octopuses are far more vulnerable.Studies show warmer water can damage eggs, embryos, and hatchlings. Scientists found that future ocean temperatures may reduce important proteins linked to vision in young octopuses.This is a serious issue because baby octopuses need good eyesight to hunt, hide from predators, and survive. If hatchlings struggle in early life, future octopus populations could decline sharply.<h2>Ocean Warming May Damage Octopus Vision</h2>Octopuses depend heavily on their eyes. They use vision to hunt prey, escape danger, and communicate through body colour and movement.Researchers found that heat stress may weaken proteins responsible for lens clarity and healthy vision. In simple terms, hotter oceans could make it harder for octopuses to see properly.For such an intelligent hunter, poor eyesight can be life-threatening.<h2>Climate Change Is Disrupting Ocean Food Chains</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1777150053733-zl5tgjw3gf.webp" alt="Octopuses are known for their extraordinary intelligence and for being masters of camouflage | Getty Images" data-credit="Octopuses are known for their extraordinary intelligence and for being masters of camouflage | Getty Images" title="Octopuses are known for their extraordinary intelligence and for being masters of camouflage | Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Octopuses are both hunters and hunted animals. They feed on crabs, shellfish, and smaller sea creatures. At the same time, they are eaten by sharks, dolphins, seals, and large fish.As climate change disrupts marine ecosystems, prey species may decline or move elsewhere. This can leave octopuses with less food in some areas, while other regions may suddenly provide more feeding opportunities.Because of this, octopus numbers may rise in one location and fall in another.<h2>Some Regions Face Greater Risk.</h2>Climate change does not affect every ocean in the same way.Already warm tropical seas may become too hot for some octopus species. Cooler waters in northern or southern regions may become safer habitats.That means countries that currently have healthy octopus populations may see declines, while new areas could experience population growth.<h2>Fisheries and Coastal Communities Could Suffer</h2>Octopuses are important for fishing communities around the world, including parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.Thousands of families rely on octopus fishing for income and food. If warming seas reduce breeding success or push octopuses into new waters, many coastal communities could lose an important source of livelihood.This makes octopus decline not just an environmental issue but also an economic one.<h2>Why Octopuses Adapt Better Than Many Species</h2>Octopuses do have some natural advantages that help them survive:<ul><li>Fast growth rates</li><li>Short life cycles</li><li>High intelligence</li><li>Flexible diets</li><li>Ability to live in many habitats</li></ul>These traits allow octopuses to adjust faster than many slower-breeding marine animals.However, even smart and adaptable species have limits. Extreme heat, pollution, low oxygen levels, and ocean acidification can still overwhelm them.<h2>The Bigger Picture</h2>The story of octopus populations under climate change is mixed.<h3>Positive Effects of Ocean Warming on Octopuses</h3><ul><li>Expansion into cooler waters</li><li>Temporary population increases</li><li>New feeding opportunities in some regions</li></ul><h3>Negative Effects of Climate Change on Octopuses</h3><ul><li>Heat stress</li><li>Poor hatchling survival</li><li>Damaged eyesight</li><li>Food shortages</li><li>Fishery losses</li><li>Habitat disruption</li></ul>

How climate change is affecting octopus population worldwide

Former spokesperson for Ghana’s Ministry of Education, Kwesi Kwarteng, has revealed that popular Ghanaian teacher and content creator Teacher Kwadwo was dismissed by the Ghana Education Service over prolonged absenteeism, not political reasons, as many previously believed.Speaking on TV3 Ghana’s NewDay programme on Wednesday, April 22, Kwarteng addressed public discussions surrounding discipline, transfers, suspensions, and dismissals within Ghana’s public education sector.<h2>Teacher Kwadwo Was Sacked for Absenteeism – Kwesi Kwarteng</h2>According to Kwarteng, Teacher Kwadwo’s termination was based on his failure to report to duty for an extended period, rather than criticism of the former Nana Akufo-Addo administration.“There is a guy called Teacher Kwadwo, and when he was sacked… for about a year he had not been at post. No institution anywhere in the world will normalise that,” he said.His comments challenge the long-standing speculation that the teacher’s dismissal was politically motivated.<h2>GES Teachers Subject to Discipline and Professional Standards</h2>Kwarteng stressed that all public sector workers, including teachers and headteachers, are required to follow professional rules and can face disciplinary action when necessary.“We create an impression as though when you come into government or public service, somehow you become immune to disciplinary measures,” he stated.He noted that institutions such as the Ghana Education Service must enforce standards to maintain accountability and efficiency.<h2>Concerns Over Indiscipline in Ghana’s Education Sector</h2>Beyond the Teacher Kwadwo case, Kwarteng also expressed concern about what he described as rising indiscipline within parts of Ghana’s education system.He criticised instances where school authorities bypass official communication structures and involve political groups to address internal challenges.“If a headmaster believed that there was no food in the school, there are channels of communication… You don’t go and invite a political party to come and talk to students. Would that solve the problem?” he questioned.<h2>Who Is Teacher Kwadwo?</h2>Teacher Kwadwo became widely known in Ghana for his humorous and engaging educational videos on social media, where he creatively highlighted classroom life and issues affecting teachers.His sudden absence from the public spotlight in recent years sparked widespread debate, with many Ghanaians questioning why he was removed from the classroom.<h2></h2>

Why Teacher Kwadwo was sacked by GES revealed

Federal authorities arrested a special operations soldier who was involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for allegedly pocketing more than $400,000 by betting on his removal from office, the Justice Department announced Thursday.&nbsp;Federal investigators said Gannon Ken Van Dyke bet more than $33,000 on the prediction market Polymarket just days before President Donald Trump announced Maduro's capture.&nbsp;The series of bets -- which netted more than $409,000 -- immediately prompted scrutiny within the world of prediction markets and resulted in a monthslong investigation about whether inside information was used to place the bets.&nbsp;Van Dyke was indicted on charges that included unlawful use of confidential information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, and wire fraud.When, after placing the bets, he saw reports about unusual trading associated with the mission, Van Dyke allegedly tried to hide the evidence of the trades by attempting to delete his Polymarket account and change the email address registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account, according to the indictment.&nbsp;"Rather than safeguard that information as he was obligated to do, VAN DYKE decided to use that classified information to place trades on a prediction market platform for his personal profit," the indictment said. "VAN DYKE subsequently tried to conceal his unlawful use of classified U.S. Government information by attempting to obscure the source of his unlawful proceeds and to disguise his connection to the accounts linked to the illicit trades."It was not immediately clear if Van Dyke had legal representation.Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed federal agents as they make their way into an armoured car en route to a federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026, in New York.Days before President Trump announced that Maduro was captured during "Operation Absolute Resolve", Van Dyke placed a series of bets on Polymarket, including whether Maduro would be removed from office by Jan. 31 and if the U.S. would invade Venezuela, according to officials."We're a respected country again like, maybe, like never before," Trump said following the carefully planned overnight operation. "These highly trained warriors, operating in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement, caught them in a very ready position."&nbsp;While the indictment does not go into detail about Van Dyke's involvement in the raid, prosecutors noted that he was photographed on the deck of the USS Iwo Jima -- the ship Maduro was moved to following his capture -- wearing military fatigues and holding a rifle alongside other service members.&nbsp;According to Polymarket, a trader who created an account in Dec. 2025 bet $33,933 across four predictions related to the U.S. invasion of Venezuela and the capture of Maduro. The largest position -- a $32,537 bet that Maduro would be out of office by Jan. 31 -- resulted in a 1,242% profit of $404,222.&nbsp;A Polymarket spokesperson said the company referred the suspicious bets to the Department of Justice and cooperated with the investigation, according to a statement posted to X."Insider trading has no place on Polymarket. Today's arrest is proof the system works," the statement said.&nbsp;The arrest and indictment are&nbsp;believed to be the first instance of the Department of Justice prosecuting a case of insider trading on a prediction market. Polymarket, the world's largest prediction platform, allows traders to anonymously bet on future events using event contracts based on yes or no questions.While prediction markets are primarily regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, suspiciously timed trades on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have sparked concerns about insider trading. In addition to the $400,000 Maduro bet, another Polymarket user made roughly $550,000 through a series of bets related to the U.S. striking Iran and the removal of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Asked on Thursday what he thought about Van Dyke's wagers, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, "That's like Pete Rose betting on his own team.""Pete Rose, they kept him out of the Hall of Fame because he bet on his own team. Now, if he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team," Trump said. "I'll look into it."Regarding concerns about federal employees making insider trading bets on the Iran conflict and other developments, Trump said, "The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino.""You look at what's going on all over the world, in Europe and every place; they're doing these betting things. I was never much in favour of it. I don't like it conceptually, but it is what it is. No, I think that I'm not happy with any of that stuff. But they have all these different sites. They have predictive markets. It's a crazy world. It's a much different world than it was."&nbsp;In an interview in early March, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton confirmed that prosecutors in his office were actively looking at ways to potentially prosecute individuals who seek to game the system through manipulating prediction markets.&nbsp;"My prosecutors are busy looking at what laws we can use that are like insider trading laws," Clayton said on CNBC.&nbsp;While prediction markets are relatively new, prosecutors may be able to apply a decades-old statute to bring an insider trading case, according to Noah Solowiejczyk, a partner at law firm Fenwick &amp; West and former federal prosecutor in Manhattan.&nbsp;"The Commodities Exchange Act deals with a situation like this," said Solowiejczyk, who as a prosecutor charged the first-ever cryptocurrency insider trading case. "There's a particular provision ... that actually prohibits employees or agents of the federal government from trading on confidential government information that they learn."&nbsp;However, Solowiejczyk noted that prosecutors may need to plan for a "learning curve" for a potential jury to understand how prediction markets work.&nbsp;"A major undertaking for the government would be distilling and simplifying what happened so that the jury can understand it," he said. "That's often one of the challenges for the government in these cases that involve new technology that jurors may not be familiar with."&nbsp;While Thursday's arrest marks a first for U.S. authorities, the prosecution is not unprecedented globally. In February, an Israeli army reservist and civilian were charged in Israel in connection with using classified information to place bets on Polymarket.Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="https://abcnews.com/US/doj-arrests-soldier-made-400000-betting-maduros-removal/story?id=132325426">ABC News</a>

DOJ arrests soldier who made $400K betting on Nicolas Maduro's removal

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has criticised the Ghana AIDS Commission over the distribution of lubricants to men who have sex with men.Speaking during deliberations on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, on Friday, April 23, Sam George argued that such resources should rather be directed toward improving maternal healthcare.The lead sponsor of the bill questioned the rationale behind the commission's approach, suggesting it contradicts its mandate to fight HIV.“We have evidence of Ghana AIDS Commission officers meeting with pro-LGBTQ groups and giving them lubricants. If the Ghana AIDS Commission is supposed to fight HIV, why are you giving lubricants to men to have anal sex with men?” he said.He added that the justification that the materials are meant to prevent the spread of HIV among affected persons is not acceptable.“And the excuse given is that these are people who already have HIV, and so they don’t want them to spread it. So they are giving them lubricants. That in itself is an activity that continues to perpetuate anal sex between men,” he stated.<h3>Calls for Maternal Healthcare Investment</h3>Mr George further insisted that public health funding should be channelled into other critical areas, particularly maternal healthcare.“If they really want to fund public health, they should go and give maternal beds for women who do not have beds for delivery. This one, we won’t open the door,” he added.His comments come amid ongoing national discussions surrounding the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, which continues to generate significant political and public debate in Ghana.

Sam George fires the AIDS Commission for sharing lubricants with gays

Football is a sport that runs on passion, pride, and silverware. For players and clubs, lifting a trophy at the end of a gruelling season is the ultimate reward, but not all trophies are created equal.Some are worth a few thousand dollars; others are valued at millions. Whether it's the intricate craftsmanship, the precious metals used, or the sheer weight of history attached to them, these are the trophies that every footballer dreams of one day holding above their head.Here's a deep dive into the 10 most expensive football trophies in the world, ranked by estimated monetary value, including what they're made of, who made them, and why they're worth what they're worth.<h2>10. Premier League Trophy — ~$10,000–$30,000</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776972192827-rpvsblgn0c.webp" alt="Premier League Trophy | Getty Image" data-credit="Premier League Trophy | Getty Image" title="Premier League Trophy | Getty Image" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Silver, gilded silver, malachite, American gemstone Height: 104 cm | Weight: ~4.5 kg Established: 1992The Premier League trophy is, in terms of raw material value, one of the more modestly priced on this list — estimated at around $10,000 to $30,000. But in terms of global recognition and the commercial juggernaut that surrounds it, few trophies in the world generate more attention when it's lifted.Its design is based on the Three Lions of English football. Two lions sit above the handles on either side; when the winning captain lifts the trophy and its gold crown above their head, they symbolically become the third lion. The base is made from malachite — the same semi-precious African stone used in the World Cup base — and its green colour represents the football pitch.There are actually two Premier League trophies: the authentic version and a replica, kept ready in case two different clubs are in contention on the final day of the season. Liverpool ended Manchester City's four-year dominance by claiming the 2024/25 title in one of the most dramatic recent seasons in the league's history.9. UEFA Champions League Trophy — ~$15,000–$75,000<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776972421676-n3lql0a1pw.webp" alt="Champions League Trophy " data-credit="Champions League Trophy" title="Champions League Trophy " width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Sterling silver Height: 73.5 cm | Weight: 7.5 kg Manufacturer: Koch und Bergfeld, Bremen/Berne Introduced: 1967 (current design)Known affectionately as "Big Ears" thanks to its distinctive large handles, the UEFA Champions League trophy is perhaps the most universally recognised club trophy in the world — even if its raw material value is relatively modest. The trophy is made entirely from sterling silver, and the cost of materials when it was first made in the current design was about 10,000 Swiss Francs. Today, accounting for silver prices and craftsmanship, estimates range from $15,000 to $75,000 for the physical trophy.Standing at 73.5 cm—making it the tallest major trophy in football—and weighing 7.5 kg, "Old Big Ears" was designed by Jürg Stadelmann and manufactured by silversmiths Koch und Bergfeld. It took 340 hours to make, during which Stadelmann and his father literally covered the floor of UEFA's offices with drawings, debating what different European nations would prefer in the design.The original trophy now lives permanently at UEFA's Swiss headquarters. Winners receive a full-size replica. Real Madrid hold the record with 15 Champions League titles — a number that feels almost impossible when you see it written down.8. Bundesliga Meisterschale — ~$250,000+<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776972538332-hv0ojkon2iw.webp" alt=" Bundesliga Meisterschale | Alexander Scheuber/Bundesliga | Credit: Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images" data-credit=" Bundesliga Meisterschale | Alexander Scheuber/Bundesliga | Credit: Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images" title=" Bundesliga Meisterschale | Alexander Scheuber/Bundesliga | Credit: Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Silver, gold, and a 71.98-carat tourmaline Weight: 11 kg Designed by: Elisabeth Treskow (1964)The Bundesliga trophy is unique among the top football prizes in the world — it's not a cup or a shield in the traditional sense but rather a salver (a large plate or dish). The Meisterschale, which translates to "Champion's Bowl", was designed in 1964 by Elisabeth Treskow, a renowned art professor. FC Köln were the first club to receive it.What makes it genuinely distinctive — and valuable — is a 71.98-carat tourmaline gemstone embedded at its centre, alongside gold and silver elements. Tourmaline of that size and quality is extraordinarily rare, which contributes significantly to the trophy's value. The bowl weighs 11 kg, making it one of the heavier trophies in football.Bayern Munich have absolutely dominated this trophy, winning it more times than any other club in Bundesliga history. The competition has become more open in recent years, but Bayern remain the benchmark by which all other German clubs measure themselves.7. Serie A Trophy — ~$300,000–$500,000<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776972743530-qpw28rwgow.jpg" alt="Serie A Trophy " data-credit="Serie A Trophy " title="Serie A Trophy " width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Sodalite and gold Height: 58 cm | Weight: 8 kg Designed by: Ettore Calvelli (1960)Often incorrectly called the "Scudetto" (which is actually the shield sewn onto winners' kits, not the trophy itself), the Serie A trophy is one of the most visually striking pieces of silverware in world football. Designed by Italian artisan Ettore Calvelli in 1960, it stands 58 cm tall, weighs around 8 kg, and features a distinctive blue sodalite base adorned with gold rings.Sodalite is a rich royal blue gemstone, and its use here gives the trophy a look unlike anything else in football. Juventus hold the record for the most Serie A titles with 36 championships, though their legacy in recent years has been complicated by off-field controversies. Inter Milan and Napoli have been the dominant forces in the modern era. Napoli won the title in the 2024/25 season, finishing one point ahead of Inter Milan.6. La Liga Trophy — ~$600,000<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776972849560-jks1mwbi1hg.webp" alt="The trophy of the Spanish Liga Championship (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)" data-credit="The trophy of the Spanish Liga Championship (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)" title="The trophy of the Spanish Liga Championship (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Silver and gold Established: 1929Spain's top-flight league, La Liga, has produced some of the greatest footballers and clubs in history, and its trophy reflects that grandeur. Valued at approximately $600,000, it's crafted from a combination of silver and gold, and its elegant design has made it one of the most recognisable pieces of silverware in European football.Real Madrid are the most successful club in La Liga history, while Barcelona have historically traded blows with them at the top. The trophy has gone back and forth between the two clubs for decades, though in recent years newer challengers like Atletico Madrid and Girona have made it more competitive than ever.5. Ballon d'Or — ~$600,000+ (Prestige Value)<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776973047126-ra1hgvm0ve.jpg" alt="Ballon d'Or trophy" data-credit="Ballon d'Or trophy" title="Ballon d'Or trophy" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Brass, 18-carat gold plating, pyrite base Height: 31 cm | Weight: ~7 kg First Awarded: 1956 Designer: Mellerio dits Meller (original); François Mellerio (current design from 1983).The Ballon d'Or occupies a strange place on this list. In terms of raw material cost, the trophy is worth approximately $3,000–$3,500—not exactly astronomical for something so coveted. But factor in its prestige, its 70-year history, and the global frenzy it generates every single year, and estimates of its inflated prestige value climb well above $600,000.The trophy is made from two brass plates soldered together in the shape of a football, filled with a wax-like material, and then bathed in gold plating. It rests on a pyrite base – also known as "fool's gold", which is either ironic or appropriately theatrical depending on your point of view. Despite the name "Golden Ball", there is no solid gold in the trophy itself, though the surface contains around 5 kg of 18-carat gold plating.Created by French magazine France Football and presented annually since 1956 (with UEFA co-organising since 2024), the Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in football. Lionel Messi holds the all-time record with eight wins. Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five. Winners receive a replica — the actual trophy stays with France Football.4. FA Cup Trophy — ~$1.18 Million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776973126859-1a8ab3jpevo.webp" alt="FA Cup Trophy | Getty Images" data-credit="FA Cup Trophy | Getty Images" title="FA Cup Trophy | Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Sterling silver Height: 61.5 cm | Weight: 6.3 kg Established: 1871The FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, and there's something about the simplicity of its trophy — elegant, classic, unmistakably English — that captures the soul of the sport. It's estimated to be worth approximately $1.18 million, making it the most expensive domestic cup trophy in English football.The trophy has had a surprisingly eventful existence. The very first FA Cup trophy was stolen from a shop window in Birmingham in 1895, where it was on display for fans to admire. A replica was made, then another after Manchester United controversially had their own version made in 1909. A new design was commissioned in 1911, which is broadly the one we still recognise today. The current trophy — technically the fifth version — was introduced in 2014, built to be sturdier than its predecessors.Made from sterling silver, the trophy stands at 61.5 cm and weighs 6.3 kg. Arsenal hold the record for most FA Cup wins, with 14 titles. Given the competition's 150-year history, there's an argument that no price tag could adequately capture its value.3. UEFA Europa League Trophy — ~$4.5 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776973520173-btf01k898a.JPG" alt="UEFA Europa League Trophy | Getty Images" data-credit="UEFA Europa League Trophy | Getty Images" title="UEFA Europa League Trophy | Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Silver on a yellow marble plinth Height: 65 cm | Weight: 15 kg Designer: Silvio Gazzaniga / Bertoni Workshop, Milan Introduced: 1972Here's something that surprises most people: the UEFA Europa League trophy is actually the heaviest piece of silverware in all of UEFA competition, weighing in at a back-breaking 15 kilograms. It's also – somewhat counterintuitively – the second most expensive European club trophy, valued at around $4.5 million.Designed by the same Silvio Gazzaniga who created the World Cup trophy, and crafted by the Bertoni workshop in Milan, the Europa League trophy sits on a yellow marble plinth. Just above the base, a cluster of sculpted players appears to be battling for a ball — though technically, they're holding up the octagonal cup above them. It's a detail most people miss until someone points it out.The trophy stands 65 cm tall, 33 cm wide, and 23 cm deep. The original always stays with UEFA; winning clubs receive a full-size replica. Any club that wins the competition three consecutive times or five times overall earns a special badge of recognition — an honour only Sevilla has achieved so far, with a remarkable seven Europa League titles to their name.2. Copa Libertadores Trophy — ~$8.5 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776973657394-fc0v114a8av.jpg" alt="Copa Libertadores Trophy | Copyright Rex Shutterstock" data-credit="Copa Libertadores Trophy | Copyright Rex Shutterstock" title="Copa Libertadores Trophy | Copyright Rex Shutterstock" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: Sterling silver with a silver-coated bronze base Introduced: 1960South America's answer to the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores is the most important club competition on the continent — and its trophy reflects that importance. Valued at an estimated $8.5 million, it's crafted from sterling silver with a silver-coated bronze base, and the sheer craftsmanship involved in its construction justifies every cent of that price tag.Introduced in 1960, the Copa Libertadores trophy has become one of the most iconic pieces of silverware in world football. The weight of it, both physical and symbolic, is something that clubs like Boca Juniors, River Plate, Flamengo, and Santos have fought bitterly to possess over the decades. In a continent where football is practically a religion, this trophy is the holy grail for club sides.The passionate scenes that greet Copa Libertadores victories — ticker-tape parades through city streets, fans weeping openly, players carrying the trophy through entire neighbourhoods — say more about its value than any price tag could.1. FIFA World Cup Trophy — ~$20 Million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776973750697-c3mgf57ipxq.jpg" alt="FIFA World Cup Trophy | Getty Images" data-credit="FIFA World Cup Trophy | Getty Images" title="FIFA World Cup Trophy | Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Material: 18-carat gold with a malachite base Height: 36.8 cm | Weight: 6.1 kg Creator: Silvio Gazzaniga (Italy, 1974)If there's one trophy that makes even the most hardened footballers emotional, it's this one. The FIFA World Cup trophy is not just the most expensive football trophy in the world — it's arguably the most valuable sporting trophy on the planet.Crafted in 1974 by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, the trophy depicts two human figures with their arms raised, holding up the globe. It's made from 18-carat solid gold and sits on a base of malachite – a semiprecious green stone. The raw gold content alone is estimated at around $600,000, but the trophy's insured value sits at approximately $20 million, a figure that reflects its unparalleled prestige and cultural significance rather than just its materials.What makes this trophy particularly fascinating is the strict rules FIFA imposes around it. The original trophy never leaves FIFA's custody permanently — winning nations receive a gold-plated replica. Only four countries have ever been permitted to keep an original version, and that era is now over. Nations like Brazil, Germany, Italy, and Argentina have had the honour at various points, but today's winners get a full-size replica. Some might call it a technicality. Nobody who's ever lifted it seems to care.Argentina are the current World Cup holders, having claimed glory at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

10 most expensive football trophies in the world

FC Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, the club confirmed on Thursday. However, there is optimism that the young star will recover in time to feature for Spain national football team at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.The 18-year-old winger, who netted the decisive goal in Barcelona’s 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Wednesday, was forced off just before halftime after appearing to injure his left leg. He was subsequently replaced by Swedish youngster Roony Bardghji.In an official club statement shared via social media, Barcelona confirmed the nature of the injury: "The tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle)."The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season, and he is expected to be available for the World Cup."With Barcelona holding a comfortable nine-point lead at the top of La Liga—their only remaining competition this season—the club is prioritising long-term fitness over a rushed return, especially in a World Cup year.Yamal has been one of the standout performers this campaign, registering 16 goals and 11 assists in La Liga, along with six goals in the UEFA Champions League. Despite a demanding schedule that has seen him feature in 51 matches for club and country, injury issues have been minimal, limited to two brief groin setbacks earlier in the season.The Spanish international is now set to miss Barcelona’s final six matches of the campaign, including the highly anticipated El Clasico clash against Real Madrid on May 10—a fixture that could potentially seal the league title for the Catalan giants at Camp Nou.

Breaking: Lamine Yamal out for season but fit for World Cup, Barcelona confirm

Power outages remain a common challenge across Ghana, affecting homes, businesses, and daily productivity. Fortunately, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) provides several official platforms where you can check planned power outages and stay informed ahead of time.Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or household user, this guide explains the most reliable ways to monitor ECG outage schedules in Ghana.<h2>What Is ECG, and Why Do Power Outages Occur?</h2>The Electricity Company of Ghana is responsible for electricity distribution across southern Ghana, including major regions like Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Western, Central, and Volta.<h3>Types of Power Outages in Ghana</h3><ul><li>Planned Outages: Scheduled interruptions for maintenance, upgrades, or repairs. These are announced in advance.</li><li>Emergency Outages: Unexpected power cuts caused by faults, storms, or equipment damage.</li></ul>Understanding the difference helps you know whether to check schedules or report a fault immediately.<h2>5 Best Ways to Check ECG Power Outage Schedule in Ghana</h2><h3>1. Visit the Official ECG Website</h3>The most trusted source is the official ECG website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="http://www.ecg.com.gh">www.ecg.com.gh</a>Steps to check:<ol><li>Go to the website</li><li>Navigate to Services → ECG Status → Current System Status</li><li>Select your region (Accra East, Accra West, Tema, Ashanti, etc.)</li></ol>You’ll find:<ul><li>Planned outage schedules</li><li>Ongoing maintenance updates</li><li>Emergency outage notices</li></ul>Tip: Bookmark your regional page for quick access.<h3>2. Use the ECG Power App (Mobile App)</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776898382230-jt2b6na07l.jpg" alt="Ghana ECG Power App Creator: BUSINESS PC" data-credit="Ghana ECG Power App Creator: BUSINESS PC" title="Ghana ECG Power App Creator: BUSINESS PC" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The ECG PowerApp is one of the fastest ways to receive real-time outage alerts.Key features:<ul><li>Instant outage notifications</li><li>Fault reporting</li><li>Prepaid top-ups</li><li>Bill tracking</li><li>Customer support access</li></ul>How to use:<ol><li>Download from Google Play or App Store</li><li>Register with your metre number</li><li>Enable notifications</li></ol>You can also access it online via <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="http://powerapp.ecg.com.gh">powerapp.ecg.com.gh</a>.<h3>3. Follow ECG on social media.</h3>ECG regularly posts outage updates on the following:<ul><li>Facebook</li><li>X (Twitter)</li><li>Instagram</li></ul>Follow @ECGghOfficial to receive the following:<ul><li>Advance outage notices</li><li>Affected areas</li><li>Restoration timelines</li></ul>Turn on notifications so you don’t miss updates.

How to check ECG power outage schedule in Ghana

Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League has been confirmed following a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, ending their return to the top flight after just one season.The decisive moment came early as Erling Haaland struck inside five minutes to hand Manchester City the lead. Burnley failed to respond, struggling to create clear chances as their survival hopes slipped away.With no equaliser forthcoming, the final whistle confirmed the Clarets’ drop to the Championship with four matches still remaining.It has been a disappointing campaign for Scott Parker’s side, who have managed just 20 points so far. Despite sitting above bottom-placed Wolves, Burnley are 13 points adrift of safety, making survival mathematically impossible.The defeat marks their 22nd loss of the season, underlining a year of inconsistency and missed opportunities.Burnley have recorded just four wins this season—one of the lowest totals in the league—with victories over Sunderland, Leeds, Wolves, and Crystal Palace.However, there were notable performances against top teams. The Clarets secured draws against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea, showing flashes of quality despite their struggles.The victory sees Manchester City climb to the top of the Premier League standings as Pep Guardiola’s side continue their push for the title.Club captain Kyle Walker, who previously enjoyed major success at Manchester City, joined Burnley on a two-year deal last summer. Following relegation, his future at the club remains unclear ahead of next season.<h3>Burnley Face Unwanted Record Threat</h3>Burnley now risk recording their lowest-ever Premier League points tally. Their current record low stands at 24 points, set during their previous relegation campaign.With fixtures remaining against Leeds, Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Wolves, the Clarets need at least two points to avoid setting a new unwanted record.Burnley’s return to the Premier League has ended in disappointment, with poor form and lack of goals proving costly. Focus now shifts to rebuilding for a stronger push in the Championship next season.<h2></h2>

Burnley relegated from Premier League

Chelsea FC have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after less than four months in charge, following a sharp decline in form that culminated in five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring.The club confirmed the decision after a disappointing run that saw Chelsea suffer a 3-0 defeat to Brighton &amp; Hove Albion on Tuesday, extending a goal drought that has not been seen at the club since 1912.Rosenior, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in January on a five-and-a-half-year contract, leaves having won just 11 of his 23 matches in all competitions. Despite early expectations, results quickly deteriorated, with Chelsea slipping to seventh place in the Premier League and facing a major setback in their push for UEFA Champions League qualification.Following the Brighton defeat, Rosenior publicly described the team’s performance as “indefensible” and "unacceptable", amid visible frustration from travelling supporters who voiced their anger during the match.In an official statement, Chelsea praised Rosenior’s professionalism and conduct during his tenure but stressed that recent performances had fallen below the club’s required standards.The club stated, "Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season. This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly; however, recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season.”The decision marks Chelsea’s continued struggle for stability this season, as they now turn their attention to finding a new direction for the remainder of the campaign.

Chelsea sack Liam Rosenior after 3 months

Every country’s name tells a story. Across Africa, some nations are named after influential figures whose legacies have endured for centuries—from Arab traders and European royals to powerful African kings. Here are five African countries named after real people and the fascinating histories behind them.<h3>1. Mozambique</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776845756987-3f98sf2ja3c.jpg" alt="Mozambique | Photo timbuktutravel" data-credit="Mozambique | Photo timbuktutravel" title="Mozambique | Photo timbuktutravel" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Full Name: Republic of Mozambique Named After: Mussa Bin Bique (Mussa Ibn Malik)Mozambique derives its name from Mussa Bin Bique, a prominent Arab trader and Islamic leader encountered by Portuguese explorers along the East African coast. His authority and influence were so significant that the Portuguese adopted his name for the island, which later extended to the entire country.Today, Mozambique stands as a nation of over 33 million people, with a name that reflects centuries of trade, culture, and historical interaction.<h3>2. Mauritius</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776845912450-xjbd63lso9p.jpg" alt="Mauritius via Shutterstock image" data-credit="Mauritius via Shutterstock image" title="Mauritius via Shutterstock image" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Full Name: Republic of Mauritius Named After: Prince Maurice van NassauMauritius was named in 1598 by Dutch explorers in honour of Prince Maurice van Nassau, a key military leader in the Dutch Republic. Interestingly, he never visited the island.Over time, the island passed through French and British control, but its original name was restored in 1814—and remains unchanged today.<h3>3. Eswatini</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776846433671-uw1l3xdwse.webp" alt="King Mswati III, centre, has ruled the country since 1986 | AP/Getty Images" data-credit="King Mswati III, centre, has ruled the country since 1986 | AP/Getty Images" title="King Mswati III, centre, has ruled the country since 1986 | AP/Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Full Name: Kingdom of Eswatini Named After: King Mswati IIEswatini means “land of the Swazis", a people named after King Mswati II. He is celebrated as one of the most powerful rulers in the nation’s history, expanding and unifying the kingdom during his reign.In 2018, the country officially changed its name from Swaziland to Eswatini, reclaiming its indigenous identity.<h3>4. Seychelles</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776846549483-o5woplzn7w.jpg" alt="Seychelles | Photo via maarcofrancis " data-credit="Seychelles | Photo via maarcofrancis " title="Seychelles | Photo via maarcofrancis " width="auto" height="auto"></div>Full Name: Republic of Seychelles Named After: Jean Moreau de SéchellesSeychelles is named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, France’s finance minister during the reign of Louis XV. Though he never visited the islands, French colonists honoured him by naming the archipelago after him.The name evolved over time into "Seychelles", which remains today.<h3>5. São Tomé and Príncipe</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776846668860-6bnbstukm96.jpg" alt="São Tomé and Príncipe | Shutterstock" data-credit="São Tomé and Príncipe | Shutterstock" title="São Tomé and Príncipe | Shutterstock" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Full Name: Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Named After: Saint Thomas the Apostle and Prince Afonso of Portugal.This island nation carries a dual legacy. São Tomé was named after Saint Thomas the Apostle, as Portuguese explorers arrived on his feast day. Príncipe was named in honour of Prince Afonso of Portugal, linked to the island’s economic importance during the colonial era.<h2></h2>

African countries named after dead people

Full list of authorised Forex Exchange Bureaux in Ghana

Chelsea have endured one of the most alarming goal droughts in their history, failing to score in five consecutive Premier League matches as they set an unwanted 114-year record that underlines their growing attacking crisis.Brighton &amp; Hove Albion delivered a commanding performance to defeat Chelsea 3-0, significantly boosting their hopes of securing European football next season while deepening the Blues’ struggles.Brighton made an explosive start, nearly taking the lead in the third minute when Kaoru Mitoma’s close-range effort was tipped over the bar by Robert Sánchez. Moments later, the breakthrough arrived as Ferdi Kadioglu found the net with a deflected strike following a clever flick-on from a corner.The Seagulls maintained relentless pressure and should have extended their lead before halftime. Jan Paul van Hecke saw his powerful header from six yards brilliantly saved, while Trevoh Chalobah cleared Jack Hinshelwood’s effort off the line after a costly mistake from Sánchez inside the box.<h3>Hinshelwood and Welbeck Seal Dominant Victory</h3>Brighton eventually doubled their advantage in the 56th minute. Jack Hinshelwood calmly slotted home after a surging run from Georginio Rutter carved open Chelsea’s defence.Kadioglu remained a constant threat and forced further saves from Sánchez as Brighton continued to dominate proceedings.Chelsea, largely ineffective throughout the match, came closest through Alejandro Garnacho, whose effort narrowly missed the target. However, any hopes of a comeback were ended in stoppage time when substitute Danny Welbeck scored his 13th league goal of the season, finishing off a precise pullback from Maxim De Cuyper.<h3>What the Result Means for Both Teams</h3>The victory lifts Brighton into sixth place in the Premier League standings, strengthening their push for European qualification.For Chelsea, the defeat sees them drop to seventh, with their UEFA Champions League ambitions fading. The Blues are now seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, having played a game more, and are currently on a five-match winless run in the league.

Chelsea set 114-year unwanted record after 5 scoreless Premier League defeats

Leicester City have been relegated to League One, completing a dramatic fall from grace exactly 10 years after their unforgettable English Premier League title-winning season.The Foxes confirmed their drop to England’s third tier after a 2-2 draw against Hull City on Tuesday night, a result that ended their slim hopes of survival. Leicester needed all three points at the King Power Stadium but failed to secure the victory required to remain in the Championship.Hull took the lead in the 18th minute when Liam Millar capitalised on a costly mistake by goalkeeper Asmir Begović, calmly curling the ball into the net after a poor clearance.Leicester fought back after the break as Jordan James converted from the penalty spot after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was brought down by Lewis Koumas. Minutes later, Luke Thomas gave the home side hope with a superb volley that put Leicester ahead.But their advantage did not last long. Oli McBurnie scored in the 63rd minute to earn Hull a crucial point and condemn Leicester to another painful relegation.Leicester’s decline has been one of English football’s most shocking stories. In 2016, the club stunned the world by winning the Premier League against all odds. In 2021, they lifted the FA Cup, and in 2022, they were still competing in Europe.However, relegation from the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign triggered the departure of several star players, including James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Çağlar Söyüncü and Youri Tielemans.From Premier League champions to League One, Leicester City’s collapse will be remembered as one of the most dramatic declines in modern football history.

Leicester City relegated to League One 10 years after Premier League title

The Electricity Company of Ghana has announced scheduled and emergency power outages across multiple regions on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to improve electricity supply and fix faults within the national grid.According to ECG, the maintenance works will take place at different times depending on location, with both planned and emergency interruptions expected to affect homes and businesses.<h3>Accra West power outage (9:00am – 5:00pm)</h3>Residents in parts of Accra will experience an eight-hour outage due to planned maintenance. Affected areas include:<ul><li>Amasaman</li><li>Plywood</li><li>Bubuashie E.P. Church</li><li>Surrounding communities</li></ul><h3>Western Region outages (9:00am – 1:00pm)</h3>Planned maintenance in the Western Region will impact:<ul><li>Achantaman</li><li>Parts of West Tanokrom</li><li>Nearby areas</li></ul><h3>Central Region outages (9:00am – 12:00pm)</h3>In the Central Region, affected communities include:<ul><li>Tuba township</li><li>Mama Africa</li><li>Lamgba</li><li>Surrounding areas</li></ul><h3>Emergency outages (10:00am – 3:00pm)</h3>ECG also announced emergency maintenance affecting several communities, including the following: Abotareye, Hiawa Nkakaa, Manso, Amenfi, Akyekyere, Bonuama, Suroso, Asankragwa, Mota Kwesi, Bokoro, Aboi Nkwata, Dunkwa, Enhie, Samreboi Moseaso, Asakra, Breman and Odumasi.The Electricity Company of Ghana apologised for the inconvenience caused and assured the public that engineers are working to resolve faults and stabilise power supply.ECG emphasised that these maintenance works are essential to strengthen the electricity network and reduce future outages across affected regions.

ECG announces power outages across Accra, Western, Central Regions April 22

Baba Rahman is in line for a return to the Ghana national football team after being contacted by new head coach Carlos Queiroz as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.According to Ghanasoccernet, sources indicate that Queiroz has reached out to the experienced left-back as part of efforts to strengthen his squad, with the coach seeking a quick decision amid limited preparation time.Rahman has been absent from the national team since September 2023, when he featured in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Stadium. Following that appearance, he stepped away from international duty to focus on recovery and rebuilding his fitness at club level with PAOK FC.The defender also opted out of Ghana’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to prioritise his fitness after a series of injury setbacks, a decision that followed criticism after his last outing.Now 31, Rahman brings significant experience, having earned 52 caps for Ghana between 2014 and 2023, scoring two goals. He was also part of Ghana’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, marking his most recent appearance at a major international competition.Ghana, preparing for their fifth World Cup appearance, have been drawn in Group L alongside the England national football team, the Croatia national football team and the Panama national football team.As preparations gather pace, Queiroz is focused on assembling a competitive squad, and Rahman could make a return if he agrees to rejoin and fight for a place in the team.

Baba Rahman set for Black Stars return for 2026 World Cup

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled his linguist, Kofi Nti, following a decision reached at a meeting of the Asanteman Council held at the Manhyia Palace.The ruling was made after a series of allegations were presented against Kofi Nti, raising concerns about his conduct and responsibilities in his role as Okyeame.According to reports shared on social media, one of the key issues discussed involved questions surrounding his royal lineage. Concerns were also raised after he was reportedly unable to properly invoke the revered Otumfuo Ntam Kɛseɛ, a sacred oath deeply rooted in Asante tradition.He was further accused of mishandling the sacred oath by retaining multiple invocations of the Otumfuo Ntam Kɛseɛ, a practice considered inconsistent with established traditional customs observed by previous holders of the office.Additionally, his alleged failure to properly document or report these invocations in his official capacity as Okyeame was described as a significant breach of duty. Council members reportedly viewed these actions as inappropriate for a person occupying such a highly respected traditional position.Further concerns were also raised by the Ayaasehene, who alleged that Kofi Nti was involved in the improper enstoolment of an Ayaase Dikro.Following deliberations on the various allegations, the Asanteman Council concluded that his removal was necessary, officially ending his tenure as Otumfuo’s linguist.

Otumfuo destools linguist Kofi Nti over misconduct allegations

The Office of the Auditor-General has issued a formal apology following a significant error in its nationwide payroll audit report that mistakenly linked a public servant to an unearned salary exceeding GH₵427 million.The clarification comes after the audit, which covered the period from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, was widely reported in the media, with Frank Oliver Kpodo cited as having received GH₵427,995,661.40 in unearned salary.The figure was initially highlighted in a report by The Fourth Estate, which suggested that Mr Kpodo had been receiving an average of more than GH¢14 million per month in unearned payments.In a statement released on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Auditor-General’s office clarified that the amount resulted from a transpositional error and was not attributable to Mr Kpodo.“The GH₵427,995,661.40 relates to the Ministry of Education in respect of 3,476 unaccounted staff during the payroll audit,” the statement said.The Auditor-General extended an apology to Mr Kpodo, the government, the general public, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, acknowledging the consequences of the error.“We extend our most sincere and unreserved apologies to Frank Oliver Kpodo for the distress and unwarranted public scrutiny this error may have caused.”Meanwhile, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a senior civil servant at the Ministry of Defence received unearned salaries amounting to GH¢427 million over a 29-month period, stressing that Ghana’s payroll system is designed to prevent such anomalies.“The Government of Ghana payroll system runs on controls and automations which allow only approved pay structures by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to be processed for employees eligible under their conditions of service,” the department said.The department further explained that salary payments undergo multiple layers of validation, including approvals by heads of institutions and internal verification mechanisms to prevent irregularities and overpayments.“Monthly salaries are paid to eligible employees on the Government of Ghana payroll after online validation… These monthly payments are further subjected to internal quality processes to validate each salary payment,” it added.

GH₵427m salary claim a transpositional error — Auditor-General apologises to Frank Oliver Kpodo

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been mathematically relegated from the Premier League following West Ham United’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.The result at Selhurst Park proved decisive, as West Ham moved further clear of the relegation zone, leaving Wolves stranded on 17 points well adrift of safety with just five matches remaining. The points gap is now insurmountable, confirming their drop to the EFL Championship.It marks the end of an eight-year stay in the top flight for Wolves, who last suffered relegation in 2012.Their fall is particularly striking given the heights they reached after promotion in 2018. Wolves impressed immediately, finishing seventh in their first season back, before repeating the feat and reaching the UEFA Europa League semi-finals in the 2019/20 campaign.However, the gradual departure of key players and inconsistency in performance saw them slide down the table in subsequent seasons. This campaign proved disastrous from the outset, with Wolves losing their opening five matches and failing to win any of their first 19 league games, effectively sealing their fate early.Managerial changes, including the arrival of Rob Edwards, brought some improvement, but the Midlands club never mounted a serious survival push.<h3></h3><h3></h3>

Wolves relegated from Premier League

The National Service Authority (NSA) has significantly reduced its annual payroll from approximately GH¢1.6 billion to GH¢700 million following the implementation of stricter verification and payment control systems.Deputy Director-General Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu explained that the Authority has overhauled its disbursement procedures to ensure that only properly validated personnel receive allowances. The enhanced system is specifically designed to curb irregular payments, particularly those associated with ghost names, through rigorous pre-payment checks.He emphasised that the substantial cost savings were not the result of a reduction in the number of deployed service personnel but rather due to improved oversight and tighter control mechanisms governing the payroll process.Under the revised framework, every national service member is required to undergo a monthly assessment, which must be verified and endorsed by a supervisor at their assigned post before any payment is approved.Lt Col. Kpeungu noted that these reforms underscore the NSA’s renewed focus on fiscal discipline, transparency, and ensuring value for public funds.“Previously, the payroll of the government was about 1.5 to 1.6 billion every year. As of last year, we paid barely about GH¢700 million,” he said in an interview with Joy FM.The development comes amid ongoing legal proceedings involving former NSA Director-General Osei Assibey Antwi and his deputy Gifty Oware-Mensah over alleged payroll fraud linked to ghost names.Prosecutors claim the scheme involved 9,934 fictitious national service personnel and may have resulted in financial losses exceeding GH¢38 million to the state.Lt Col. Kpeungu further disclosed that the Authority has settled the majority of outstanding arrears owed to service personnel, with only one month—March—remaining unpaid. He added that steps are currently being taken to clear the outstanding balance.

NSA cuts payroll from GH¢1.6bn to GH¢700m after eliminating ghost names

WrestleMania 42 has officially concluded after a two-night spectacle in Las Vegas, delivering a mix of underwhelming moments and standout performances that defined this year’s biggest event in sports entertainment.While Night One struggled to fully ignite the crowd, Night Two elevated the event significantly—culminating in a thrilling main event where Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.The headline clash lived up to expectations. Reigns delivered what many are already calling the best WrestleMania performance of his career, while Punk—who has long fought for consistent main-event recognition—proved why he belongs on the grandest stage. Both superstars commanded the audience with intensity and storytelling, turning a previously subdued crowd into an electric one.<h2>Full WrestleMania 42 Results</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776669254093-gl9jpo8xgzo.webp" alt="Roman Reigns and CM Punk look set to meet in the WrestleMania 42 main event. Image: Getty" data-credit="Roman Reigns and CM Punk look set to meet in the WrestleMania 42 main event. Image: Getty" title="Roman Reigns and CM Punk look set to meet in the WrestleMania 42 main event. Image: Getty" width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3>Night One Highlights</h3><ul><li>Six-Man Tag Team Match: The Usos &amp; LA Knight defeated Logan Paul, Austin Theory &amp; iShowSpeed.</li><li>Unsanctioned Match: Jacob Fatu defeated Drew McIntyre</li><li>WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Brie Bella &amp; Paige defeated Nia Jax &amp; Lash Legend, Charlotte Flair &amp; Alexa Bliss, and Bayley &amp; Lyra Valkyria</li><li>Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee</li><li>Singles Match: Gunther defeated Seth Rollins</li><li>Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer</li><li>Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton</li></ul><h3>Night Two Highlights</h3><ul><li>Singles Match: Oba Femi defeated Brock Lesnar</li><li>Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Penta defeated Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Rusev, JD McDonagh &amp; Je’Von Evans</li><li>United States Championship: Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn</li><li>Street Fight: Finn Bálor defeated Dominik Mysterio</li><li>WWE Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill</li><li>World Heavyweight Championship (Main Event): Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk</li></ul><h2>Key Takeaways</h2>WrestleMania 42 will ultimately be remembered for its dramatic turnaround. After a relatively flat opening night, WWE rebounded with a strong Night Two that showcased high-stakes storytelling and marquee performances.Roman Reigns’ victory further cements his legacy as one of WWE’s most dominant modern-era superstars, while CM Punk’s performance reaffirmed his place among wrestling’s elite despite the loss.With new champions crowned and rivalries intensified, WrestleMania 42 has set the tone for the next chapter in WWE programming.

Full WWE WrestleMania 42 results from (Night 1 & 2)

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has released a comprehensive list of 62 unrecognised institutions, warning the public to be cautious when dealing with certificates issued by these entities due to serious quality assurance concerns.In a public notice issued on Friday, 17 April 2026, the Commission named a mix of universities, colleges, seminaries, and training institutions from across the world, including some operating within Ghana. GTEC cautioned students, parents, and employers to exercise due diligence before enrolling in or accepting qualifications from these institutions.The full list of 62 unrecognised institutions as at April 2026 includes:<ol><li>Universidad Azteca Mexico</li><li>Indian School of Management and Studies, India</li><li>Breyer State Theology University, USA</li><li>Debest College of Science, Arts and Business, Ghana</li><li>Osiri University, USA</li><li>Atlantic International University, USA</li><li>Faith University Seminary (FUS), Ghana</li><li>Christian University College Monrovia, Liberia</li><li>Rhema Bible Training College (RBTC), USA</li><li>Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica, Costa Rica</li><li>Selinus University of Sciences and Literature, Italy</li><li>Crown University International Chartered, USA</li><li>Monarch Business School, Switzerland</li><li>City University, Cambodia</li><li>Kesmond International University, USA</li><li>Washington University of Barbados, Barbados</li><li>London Academy of Technology and Management, UK</li><li>IICSE University, USA</li><li>Doxa Open University, Ghana</li><li>Brandeis University, USA</li><li>University of Haana, Germany</li><li>Christian Leadership University, USA</li><li>International Institute of Church Management Inc., USA</li><li>Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Training School, Ghana</li><li>Louisiana Baptist University &amp; Seminary, USA</li><li>Tech Global University, Andorra</li><li>International Christian University, Nigeria</li><li>LIGS University, Hawaii, USA</li><li>Swiss Management Centre University, Switzerland</li><li>Quest International University, Ghana</li><li>Isles International University, Ireland</li><li>Kingsnow University, USA</li><li>New Life Bible College and Seminary, USA</li><li>East Bridge University, France</li><li>Texila American University, Guyana</li><li>Vision International University, USA</li><li>Keisie International University, USA</li><li>Dublin Metropolitan University, UK/CYPRUS</li><li>Logos University, USA</li><li>University of America, USA</li><li>Kazian School of Management, India</li><li>University of Northwest, USA</li><li>Akamai University, Hawaii, USA</li><li>Trinity Graduate School of Apologetics and Theology (TGSAT), India</li><li>American Bible University, USA</li><li>California Creek University, USA</li><li>Delta International University, USA</li><li>National Institute of Business Management (NIBM), India</li><li>Southern California International University, USA</li><li>CASS European Institute of Management Studies, France</li><li>Quetzalcoatl University of Veracruz, Mexico</li><li>Swiss International Management Academy, Switzerland</li><li>IBM Institute of Management, India</li><li>Dunster Business School, Switzerland</li><li>World Academy for Research and Development (WARD), UK</li><li>American Management University, USA</li><li>All Nations Church International University, Texas</li><li>Freedom University and Theological Seminary, USA</li><li>Global Theological University, USA</li><li>Jorasome International University, Zambia</li><li>Kingdom Living Bible Institute, Kumasi, Ghana</li><li>Global Professional College, Effiduase, Ghana</li></ol>GTEC reiterated that some of these institutions operate without proper accreditation or recognised academic standards, urging the public to verify all institutions through official regulatory bodies before making academic or financial commitments.

Full list of 62 unrecognised institutions in Ghana by GTEC

Three points up. Five games left. But City have six — and that changes everything.Let's be completely honest, because that's the only way to make a real argument. Arsenal lost 2-1 at the Etihad today. Manchester City, riding that momentum, now have a game in hand — six fixtures remaining to Arsenal's five. If City win that game in hand on Wednesday against Burnley, the gap closes to zero. Same points, same position, but City with a game more to play.So yes, this title race just got real. But here's the thing — when you actually look at what both clubs have left to play, Arsenal's path to the title is still the cleaner, more reliable one. And City's remaining schedule has enough genuine difficulty in it to give every Arsenal supporter real reason to believe.This is not blind faith. This is maths and fixtures.<h2>First, The Table as It Stands</h2><div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 111%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FChristophersededzik%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0AuyosbvuabP7gQjM7NfXN52vQviLvUkURaucAxYa1TmAVG6623VRmvYomn8MVim5l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="555" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div>Arsenal are on 70 points. The city is on 67. That's a three-point gap with Arsenal having played 33 games and City having played 32. The city's game in hand comes first — Wednesday evening, away at Burnley.If City win that, we're level on points, with Arsenal having one fewer game to play. If City drop points at Burnley — and we'll get to why that's not as crazy as it sounds — Arsenal are suddenly in a much stronger position heading into the final run.Everything starts Wednesday.<h2>City's Six Games — Where the Cracks Could Appear</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776626785438-lxm8g3ybp4.webp" alt="Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and goal scorer Erling Haaland embrace after winning the match [Carl Recine/Getty Images]" data-credit="Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and goal scorer Erling Haaland embrace after winning the match [Carl Recine/Getty Images]" title="Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and goal scorer Erling Haaland embrace after winning the match [Carl Recine/Getty Images]" width="auto" height="auto"></div>This is where the Arsenal case gets genuinely interesting, because City's remaining schedule is not the cakewalk it might appear at first glance.Wednesday 22 April — Burnley vs Manchester City (Away) On paper, this is the easiest game left for City. Burnley are 19th, rock bottom, with 20 points. The win probability sits at 83% in City's favour, and realistically, they should win this. But Burnley away, under the lights, with a team that has absolutely nothing to lose and an angry home crowd behind them? Stranger things have happened. The city needs to be professional here, not complacent.Monday 4 May — Everton vs Manchester City (Away) This is the fixture that should genuinely concern City fans. Everton are 10th with 47 points — a proper, motivated, mid-table side with European ambitions still mathematically alive. Goodison Park is one of the most hostile away grounds in England, a place where atmosphere and intensity can suffocate even the most technically superior visitors. Everton beat teams like this. They have players who turn up in big moments. This is far from a guaranteed three points.Saturday, 9 May — Manchester City vs Brentford (Home). Brentford sit 7th on 48 points and have had an excellent season. They drew 1-1 with Arsenal at their place earlier this year and have shown they can take points off anyone. City at home are obviously strong, but Brentford travel well and are not the kind of side that rolls over. Contested, but the city should edge it.Sunday 17 May — Bournemouth vs Manchester City (Away) Bournemouth are 8th with 48 points and have been one of the stories of the season. They beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates just a few weeks ago — that result is still fresh in the memory. Bournemouth at home, energetic, with nothing to fear? This is another game where City could very easily drop points.Friday 22 May — Manchester City vs Crystal Palace (Home) — City's penultimate game. Palace are 13th and should have little to play for by this point, making this a relatively comfortable home fixture.Sunday 24 May — Manchester City vs Aston Villa (Home) — Season Finale And here is City's final game — and it is a monster. Aston Villa are 4th on 58 points, locked in a fight for Champions League qualification. Villa will come to the Etihad on the last day of the season with everything to play for. Unai Emery's side don't travel to big grounds and lie down. If the title is still on the line on the final day, this is a terrifying fixture for City to have.<h2>Arsenal's Five Games — The Cleaner Path</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776626740273-k2y0xl9a5v.webp" alt="Mikel Arteta [Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters]" data-credit="Mikel Arteta [Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters]" title="Mikel Arteta [Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters]" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Now compare that to what Arsenal have left, and the contrast is striking.Saturday 25 April — Arsenal vs Newcastle United (Home). Newcastle are 14th. They have little to fight for. The Emirates will be a cauldron. Win probability at 63% in Arsenal's favour, and that number feels conservative given home form. These are three points that Arsenal must take and fully can.Saturday, 2 May — Arsenal vs Fulham (Home). Fulham are at 12th, another comfortable mid-table side. City already beat Fulham 3-0 at home this season. Arsenal at the Emirates, with the title in sight and the crowd fully behind them? Fulham will struggle to contain the energy in that stadium. Another very winnable home game.Sunday 10 May — West Ham United vs Arsenal (Away) West Ham are 17th, in real relegation danger on just 32 points. They will be desperate, yes — but desperate in a way that makes them disorganised and nervous, not dangerous in a structured, threatening way. An Arteta side built on defensive solidity and counter-pressing is precisely the kind of team that exploits chaotic, survival-mode opponents. Arsenal should get the job done here.Sunday 17 May — Arsenal vs Burnley (Home) The same Burnley that City play on Wednesday — and by mid-May, Burnley will almost certainly already have been relegated. A home game against a broken, already-down Burnley side with the title still potentially in the balance? The Emirates crowd will be deafening. This is as close to a certainty as football allows.Sunday 24 May — Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (Away) — Season Finale. Palace are 13th, nothing to play for, home fans already mentally on the beach. Meanwhile, Arsenal could arrive at Selhurst Park needing just a point – or be champions already. Either way, the motivation disparity between these two sides on that final day is enormous.<h2>The Crunch Comparison</h2>Here's the brutal summary. The city's remaining six opponents sit at positions 19th, 10th, 7th, 8th, 13th, and 4th. Arsenal's five opponents sit at 14th, 12th, 17th, 19th, and 13th.The city faces Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa – four sides who are all firmly in the top half of the table, all with something to play for, all capable of taking points. Arsenal face no one currently above 14th. Not one opponent who is locked into a meaningful fight at the top of the table.If you were drawing up the ideal set of fixtures to close out a title race, you'd draw Arsenal's schedule, not City's.<h2>The Mentality of a Team That's Been Here Before</h2>There's something else worth saying, and it matters more than any fixture analysis. This Arsenal squad has felt the pain of coming close and falling short. The players who have lived through those near-misses under Arteta are still here — and that experience has not broken them. If anything, watching City pip them to the title in previous seasons has created a collective hunger that no external pressure can shake.A 2-1 defeat at the Etihad today, as painful as it is, will not derail this group. They know they're still in control. Win your games, and the trophy is yours. It is that simple, and this squad is built for exactly that clarity of purpose.<h2>The Verdict</h2>The city absolutely deserves credit for winning today and bringing this race back to life. Their game in hand on Wednesday against Burnley makes this genuinely tight. But step back and look at the full picture – the quality of opponents, the home advantage, and the pressure on City's schedule in those crucial May fixtures against Everton, Bournemouth, Brentford, and Aston Villa – and Arsenal's path to the title remains the more navigable one.The city needs to be near-perfect over six games, including some genuinely difficult away trips and a potentially title-deciding home clash with a top-four-chasing Villa side on the last day.Arsenal need to win five games against opponents who are mostly fighting to stay up or have nothing left to play for.Back the Gunners. The 2026 Premier League title is heading to North London.Arsenal: 70 pts (33 played) · Manchester City: 67 pts (32 played) · Arsenal have 5 games left. · The city has 6

Why Arsenal will still win the 2026 Premier League title

The PKO Foundation has carried out a successful outreach to Emmanuel Orphanage Home, providing vital support and essential supplies to improve the welfare of the children.The initiative reflects the organisation's ongoing commitment to community impact, compassion, and social responsibility.The outreach brought together leadership, athletes, and staff of PKO in a shared effort to give back to the community.Through coordinated planning and execution, the foundation ensured that the orphanage received meaningful assistance aimed at supporting the children’s daily needs and overall well-being.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776624902094-4ejvg8undaq.jpeg" alt="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" data-credit="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" title="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" width="auto" height="auto"></div>A key highlight of the initiative was the personal involvement of PKO chairman and CEO, Dr Edward Osei, who made an additional cash donation to support the cause.His continued dedication to humanitarian work and his genuine love for children remain a driving force behind many of the foundation’s outreach efforts.Professional boxer Prince Kamaldeen also contributed by donating a portion of his fight purse, reinforcing the spirit of giving that extends beyond the sport and into the community.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776624964567-9sk9oqwumb.jpeg" alt="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" data-credit="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" title="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" width="auto" height="auto"></div>The outreach was further strengthened by generous contributions from members of staff and associates, including Celeste Roba Marie, Emmanuella of Azalea Academy, and the executive and personal assistant to the chairman, all of whom made additional donations to support the initiative.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776625041669-5as2guzv0pp.jpeg" alt="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" data-credit="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" title="PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Their collective effort played an important role in enhancing the overall impact of the outreach.Representatives of the foundation noted that such initiatives form part of a broader mission to continuously support vulnerable communities and inspire a culture of giving.The successful outreach to Emmanuel Orphanage stands as a testament to what can be achieved through unity, compassion, and a shared commitment to making a difference.

PKO Foundation supports Emmanuel Orphanage with donations and essential supplies

Asamoah Gyan remains Ghana’s most iconic FIFA World Cup scorer, delivering crucial goals across multiple tournaments and cementing his legacy as Africa’s all-time leading marksman.Watch his World Cup goals here.<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WINozsPduhI?si=WAg_IaM6kfuSnEdL" width="560" height="315" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.youtube.com</div></div>

Asamoah Gyan | Every FIFA World Cup Goal For Ghana

Manchester City reignited the 2025–26 title race with a crucial 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, moving to within three points of the summit in what is shaping up to be a dramatic Premier League finale.In a high-intensity contest between the division’s top contenders, City’s control in possession ultimately proved decisive, even though the margins were razor-thin. Both sides struck the woodwork twice in a match defined by fine margins, while Arsenal marginally edged the expected goals metric (1.53 to 1.41), underlining the evenly balanced nature of the encounter.City took the lead through a moment of brilliance from Rayan Cherki, who produced a superb solo effort to light up the Etihad. However, Arsenal responded almost immediately, as Kai Havertz pressed aggressively to force an error from Gianluigi Donnarumma, capitalising to restore parity for the visitors.With the game finely poised, it was Erling Haaland who delivered the decisive moment. The Norwegian striker calmly swept home in the second half, ending a two-month Premier League goal drought in emphatic fashion. His timely intervention not only secured all three points but also reinforced his status as the league’s leading scorer.The result carries significant implications at the top of the table. City now sit just three points behind Arsenal and could draw level if they win their game in hand, piling immense pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side.For Arsenal, the defeat deepens a worrying slump. The Gunners have now suffered four consecutive domestic losses, a run not seen since 2018, leaving their title ambitions hanging by a thread at a critical stage of the campaign.Attention now turns to the decisive fixtures ahead. Arsenal must regroup quickly ahead of a crucial home clash with Newcastle United, while City have a golden opportunity to seize top spot with a midweek victory over Burnley.

Haaland fires Man City past Arsenal to blow open Premier League title race

Atletico Madrid booked their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after edging past FC Barcelona on aggregate, despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.Barcelona made a strong start, with Lamine Yamal testing Juan Musso early before opening the scoring with a composed finish. The visitors maintained control and were rewarded again when Ferran Torres capitalised on a defensive lapse to score a stunning goal, levelling the tie on aggregate.However, missed chances proved costly for Barcelona. Atlético responded through Ademola Lookman, who tapped in from close range to restore their aggregate lead and swing momentum back in favour of the hosts.After the break, Atlético shifted to a more compact defensive setup, frustrating Barcelona while remaining dangerous on the counterattack. Barcelona briefly thought they had regained control when Torres found the net again, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.As the game entered its final stages, Barcelona increased the pressure, with Yamal driving most of their attacking play. Their hopes, however, were dented when Eric Garcia was sent off late on.Despite a late surge, Barcelona were unable to find the decisive goal, as Atlético held firm to continue their remarkable record of progressing from knockout ties after winning the first leg away. Barcelona exit the competition at the quarter-final stage and will now shift focus to securing the LaLiga title.

Atletico Madrid knock out Barcelona to reach UCL semi-finals

From oil empires to billion-dollar business ventures, these are the wealthiest leaders on the continent right now.Africa is home to some of the most powerful and wealthy political leaders in the world. Their fortunes come from a mix of oil revenues, private business empires, decades-long political tenures, and inherited wealth. Here is a comprehensive look at the ten richest presidents on the continent in 2026, what they are worth, and how they got there.1. King Mohammed VI — Morocco | $2.1 billion<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776176702204-tdc9lziv3w.jpg" alt="King Mohammed VI" data-credit="King Mohammed VI" title="King Mohammed VI" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Morocco's King Mohammed VI sits at the top of this list by a considerable distance. Though a monarch rather than an elected president, his financial influence over the continent is impossible to ignore. His wealth flows from a vast royal business empire that spans agriculture, finance, real estate, and telecommunications across Africa and Europe. He is not just Morocco's head of state — he is one of the most powerful economic forces on the continent.2. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo — Equatorial Guinea | $600 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776176962851-7liqp8l01ar.JPG" alt="Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo | Getty Images" data-credit="Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo | Getty Images" title="Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo | Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Obiang has been in power since 1979, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world. Equatorial Guinea struck oil in the 1990s, and that discovery transformed both the country and its president's personal finances. His estimated $600 million fortune is built primarily on oil revenues and real estate holdings, though his administration has long faced serious questions about transparency and the equitable distribution of the country's natural resource wealth.3. Cyril Ramaphosa — South Africa | $450 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776177487726-6fqi3o7an6f.webp" alt="Cyril Ramaphosa | Getty Images" data-credit="Cyril Ramaphosa | Getty Images" title="Cyril Ramaphosa | Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Ramaphosa is unique on this list because his wealth is largely a product of his business career before he returned to full-time politics. He built his fortune through strategic investments and shareholding in major corporations, most notably MTN — one of Africa's largest telecommunications companies — and the South African franchise of McDonald's. He entered the presidency in 2018 as an already wealthy man, making him the richest democratically elected president on the continent.4. Ali Bongo Ondimba — Gabon | $350 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776177986590-w0owtn5s4r.jpg" alt="President Ali Bongo Ondimba looks on during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa in February 2023. AFP - EDUARDO SOTERAS" data-credit="President Ali Bongo Ondimba looks on during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa in February 2023. AFP - EDUARDO SOTERAS" title="President Ali Bongo Ondimba looks on during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa in February 2023. AFP - EDUARDO SOTERAS" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Gabon's Ali Bongo inherited both political power and considerable wealth from his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the country for over four decades. The family's fortune is rooted in Gabon's oil sector and timber industry, two of the country's most lucrative natural resources. Ali Bongo continued to grow his inherited wealth during his own presidency, though his administration has faced persistent allegations of corruption and financial misconduct.5. Denis Sassou Nguesso — Republic of Congo | $250 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776178216269-cczyzovufh7.jfif" alt="Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Brazzaville in August 2025. © Benoît Doppagne/Belga/AFP" data-credit="Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Brazzaville in August 2025. © Benoît Doppagne/Belga/AFP" title="Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Brazzaville in August 2025. © Benoît Doppagne/Belga/AFP" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled the Republic of Congo — not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo — across two separate spells, accumulating enormous wealth over a political career spanning more than four decades. His fortune, estimated at $250 million, is primarily tied to the country's oil sector and extensive real estate holdings, both domestically and abroad. Like several others on this list, his wealth has attracted sustained scrutiny from international anti-corruption bodies.6. Paul Biya — Cameroon | $200 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776178382438-64epbkv9qo.webp" alt="Paul Biya" data-credit="Paul Biya" title="Paul Biya" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Paul Biya has been Cameroon's president since 1982 — one of the longest uninterrupted presidential tenures in African history. Over more than four decades in power, he has accumulated an estimated $200 million fortune through investments and the financial privileges of an extraordinarily long political career. At 92 years old, he remains in office, though his presence at public events has become increasingly rare.7. Yoweri Museveni — Uganda | $75 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776178539185-1fz9b8hn7g9.jpg" alt="Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni speaks during a Reuters interview at his farm in Kisozi settlement of Gomba district, in the Central Region of Uganda, January 16, 2022. (Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters) Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters/File" data-credit="Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni speaks during a Reuters interview at his farm in Kisozi settlement of Gomba district, in the Central Region of Uganda, January 16, 2022. (Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters) Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters/File" title="Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni speaks during a Reuters interview at his farm in Kisozi settlement of Gomba district, in the Central Region of Uganda, January 16, 2022. (Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters) Abubaker Lubowa/Reuters/File" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Uganda's Yoweri Museveni has led his country since 1986 and has built his fortune through a combination of agricultural investments and the financial advantages of a long presidential tenure. His estimated $75 million net worth reflects a career that has kept him at the centre of East African politics for nearly four decades. Museveni's family has also developed significant business interests in Uganda's agricultural sector over the years.8. Ismail Omar Guelleh — Djibouti | $50 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776178615689-dypriw6q8og.jpg" alt="Ismail Omar Guelleh | Getty Images" data-credit="Ismail Omar Guelleh | Getty Images" title="Ismail Omar Guelleh | Getty Images" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Djibouti may be one of Africa's smallest nations, but its geographical position — sitting at the mouth of the Red Sea on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes — makes it one of the continent's most strategically valuable. Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has led the country since 1999, has built his $50 million fortune through port-related investments and the considerable revenues that flow from Djibouti's position as a key global logistics hub.9. Muhammadu Buhari — Nigeria | $40 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776178997963-xxhj2hepde.jpg" alt="Muhammadu Buhari | AP" data-credit="Muhammadu Buhari | AP" title="Muhammadu Buhari | AP" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Nigeria's former president Muhammadu Buhari, who served from 2015 to 2023, built a fortune through a long military career and subsequent political influence in Africa's most populous nation. His estimated $40 million net worth is relatively modest compared to others on this list, particularly for a leader of a country that produces billions in oil revenue annually — a contrast that his supporters have long cited as evidence of personal financial restraint.10. Alpha Condé — Guinea | $30 million<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776179192828-s6uogrwusc.jpg" alt="Photo by Bloomberg Guinea President Alpha Conde" data-credit="Photo by Bloomberg Guinea President Alpha Conde" title="Photo by Bloomberg Guinea President Alpha Conde" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Alpha Condé served as Guinea's president from 2010 until he was removed in a military coup in 2021. During his presidency, Guinea — one of the world's largest producers of bauxite, the raw material used to make aluminium — became increasingly lucrative territory for mining interests. Condé's $30 million fortune is tied largely to that mining economy and the political influence he wielded over one of West Africa's most resource-rich nations.

Top 10 richest presidents in Africa in 2026 

LaLiga leaders FC Barcelona face a must-win challenge as they travel to face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg. The tie has already delivered high drama and goals, with both sides showing dominance at different stages of the season.Atletico Madrid hold a crucial 2-0 advantage and will rely heavily on home support at the Metropolitano Stadium. Barcelona, however, remain confident despite the deficit, having shown strong attacking form in previous meetings.<h2>Head-to-Head Record (2025/26 Season)</h2>This fixture has been one of the most intense rivalries in Europe this season, with five previous encounters already producing 16+ goals combined.<ul><li>Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid (LaLiga)</li><li>Atletico Madrid 2-1 Barcelona (LaLiga – away)</li><li>Atletico Madrid 4-0 Barcelona (Copa del Rey – first leg)</li><li>Barcelona 3-0 Atletico Madrid (Copa del Rey – second leg)</li><li>Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona (UCL first leg)</li></ul><h3>Season Summary</h3><ul><li>Barcelona wins: 3</li><li>Atletico Madrid wins: 2</li><li>Aggregate competitiveness: Extremely balanced despite Atletico’s UCL advantage</li></ul><h2>Key Tactical Insight</h2>Barcelona have shown superiority in possession-based dominance and chance creation, but Atletico Madrid’s compact defensive structure and clinical finishing in key moments have tilted the European tie in their favour.Set-pieces and transition moments are expected to play a decisive role in this second leg.<h2>Match Prediction</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1776166032645-qgljxzp1dvo.webp" alt="Yamal takes on Matteo Ruggeri [Albert Gea/Reuters]" data-credit="Yamal takes on Matteo Ruggeri [Albert Gea/Reuters]" title="Yamal takes on Matteo Ruggeri [Albert Gea/Reuters]" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Despite Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 aggregate advantage, Barcelona’s attacking urgency and recent ability to break Atletico’s defensive line suggest a strong response.Atletico are expected to score at some stage, but Barcelona could edge the 90 minutes.<h3>Predicted Score (Second Leg):</h3>Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona<h3>Predicted Aggregate:</h3>Atletico Madrid 3-2 BarcelonaAtletico Madrid progress to the semi-finals despite a narrow home defeat on the night.

UCL: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona – Head-to-Head analysis, preview & match prediction

Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has been subjected to racist abuse on Instagram following his side’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Chelsea FC on Sunday.The 26-year-old delivered an impressive performance in west London as Pep Guardiola’s team capitalised on Arsenal FC’s slip-up against AFC Bournemouth, securing all three points at Stamford Bridge.The result reduced the gap between Manchester City and league leaders Arsenal to six points, with a game in hand, setting up a crucial encounter at the Etihad Stadium this weekend. Teammate Jeremy Doku has already described the fixture as a potential title decider.However, attention has shifted away from the on-field performance after Semenyo revealed he received a racist message in the aftermath of the victory.<h3>Semenyo Shares Evidence of Abuse</h3>Since his £64 million move from Bournemouth in January, Semenyo has made an immediate impact, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in Guardiola’s setup.Alongside fellow January signing Marc Guehi—who found the net against Chelsea—the Ghana international has strengthened an attack that previously relied heavily on Erling Haaland.Following the match, Semenyo shared a celebratory post on Instagram, which drew a racist response from a user. The forward later posted a screenshot of the offensive comment on his Instagram story on Monday, bringing wider attention to the incident.<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 121.6%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FChristophersededzik%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02TKdg7nK95u5NFHWX7aUucUDg5giVuy8JRtAgu8Zn11fJr9rA4k5EMMBCTsMBS772l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="608" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div><h3>Renewed Focus on Racism in Football</h3>The incident once again highlights the persistent issue of racism in football, particularly on social media platforms. Similar cases have occurred in the past, including the abuse suffered by former Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling during a match at Stamford Bridge in the 2018–19 season, which led to sanctions against those responsible.Semenyo is expected to receive strong support from his teammates at Manchester City, a squad widely recognised for its diversity and unity, as he continues to focus on upcoming fixtures, including the high-stakes clash against Arsenal.

Semenyo racially abused after Man City win over Chelsea

The Ghana Football Association has appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars, in collaboration with key stakeholders.GFA appoints The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, Portugal national football team and Iran national football team coach will lead Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.Queiroz brings a wealth of World Cup experience, having guided the South Africa national football team to qualification for the 2002 tournament, led Portugal to the knockout stage in 2010, and managed Iran at both the 2014 and 2018 editions.He has also held coaching roles with the Egypt national football team, Oman national football team, Japan national football team and Qatar national football team and is expected to leverage his vast experience on the global stage.Coach Queiroz will assume duty immediately as preparations begin for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, 2026.Ghana will open their group campaign against the Panama national football team on June 17, 2026, in Toronto, before facing the England national football team and the Croatia national football team in subsequent matches.

GFA appoints Carlos Queiroz as Black Stars head coach for World Cup

Pope Leo told Reuters on Monday that he plans ​to continue speaking out against war after U.S. President Donald<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC qbe-widget qbe-widget" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump/"> </a>Trump's direct<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC qbe-widget qbe-widget" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-issues-scathing-attack-pope-leo-calls-him-weak-terrible-2026-04-13/"> ‌</a>attack on the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church.In comments aboard the papal flight to Algiers, where the first U.S. pope is starting a 10-day tour to ​four African countries, the pontiff also said the Christian message ​was being "abused"."I don't want to get into a debate with ⁠him," Leo told Reuters as he greeted journalists on the plane. "I don't ​think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused ​in the way that some people are doing.""I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the ​states to look for just solutions to problems," he said, speaking ​in English."Too many people are suffering in the world today," said Leo. "Too many innocent ‌people ⁠are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way.""The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers. I do ​not look at ​my role as ⁠being political, a politician," he said.Leo, originally from Chicago, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the ​U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in recent weeks and decried ​the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC qbe-widget" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-leo-urges-end-madness-war-us-iran-start-talks-2026-04-11/">"</a>madness of ⁠war<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC qbe-widget" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-leo-urges-end-madness-war-us-iran-start-talks-2026-04-11/">"</a> in a peace appeal on Saturday.Trump, in an apparent response to the pope's criticisms of both the conflict and the White House's ⁠hard-line ​immigration policies, said late on Sunday that ​Leo was "terrible"."Pope Leo is WEAK on crime and terrible for foreign policy," Trump wrote in ​a post on Truth Social.Source:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.reuters.com/"> Reuters</a>

Pope Leo vows to keep speaking against war after Trump attack

Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout, 18, produced a sensational performance at the Australian Championships in Sydney on Sunday, clocking 19.67 seconds in the 200 metres to record the fastest time in the world this year and set a new world under-20 record.His remarkable run is reported to have eclipsed the time set by sprint legend Usain Bolt at a similar age. Bolt recorded 19.93 seconds in the under-18 category in 2004.It also marked the first legal sub-20-second 200m performance of Gout’s career. Although he had previously run 19.84 seconds, that effort was wind-assisted. His prior personal best stood at 20.06 seconds, achieved when he was just 16 years old.Fellow Australian sprinter Aidan Murphy also impressed, finishing second in a strong 19.88 seconds.Speaking after the race, Gout expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting that competing against high-calibre athletes in Australia has played a key role in his rapid development.Reports indicate that the teenager will skip the upcoming Commonwealth Games to focus on the World Under-20 Championships in Oregon this August.Born in Queensland to South Sudanese parents, Gout’s rise continues to highlight his discipline, talent, and growing status as one of the most exciting young sprinters in global athletics.

Gout Gout breaks U20 record, outruns Usain Bolt’s age benchmark

Berekum Chelsea have officially confirmed the tragic passing of their forward, Dominic Frimpong, following a violent armed robbery attack on the club’s team bus on Sunday evening.The incident occurred while the team was returning to Berekum after their Ghana Premier League Matchday 29 encounter against FC Samartex at Dun’s Park, a fixture they lost 1-0.In a statement, the club disclosed that the team bus was ambushed along the Bibiani–Goaso road near Ahyiresu. Armed assailants reportedly blocked the highway, forcing players and officials to abandon the vehicle and flee into nearby bushes to seek safety.Amid the ensuing chaos, several members of the team sustained injuries. Frimpong, aged 20, reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to the Bibiani Government Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, who remain at large. Authorities are also working to locate some players and officials who became separated during the attack.Frimpong joined Berekum Chelsea on loan from Aduana FC in January, with the deal expected to run until the end of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season. He made 13 appearances for the club, scoring two goals before his untimely death.

Berekum Chelsea forward Dominic Frimpong shot dead during armed robbery on team bus

A United States District Court in Nevada has taken a significant legal step by certifying the extradition of Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu to Ghana, where she is expected to serve a 10-year prison sentence.<h3>What the U.S. court actually decided</h3>The Nevada court did not directly order her immediate return to Ghana. Instead, it confirmed that all legal requirements for extradition have been met. Specifically, the court ruled that:<ul><li>It has proper jurisdiction over both the case and the individual.</li><li>The extradition treaty between the United States and Ghana is valid and enforceable.</li><li>The person before the court is indeed the individual Ghana is seeking.</li><li>Ghana submitted properly certified legal documents</li><li>There is probable cause to believe she committed the offences.</li></ul>Based on these findings, the court certified her extradition and ordered that she be held by the United States Marshals Service.<h3>What happens next?</h3>The final decision now shifts from the judiciary to the executive branch. The U.S. secretary of state will determine whether she is ultimately surrendered to Ghana.This is a standard step in extradition cases in the United States—courts assess legal eligibility, while the government makes the final diplomatic decision.<h2>Why Ghana wants her back</h2>Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, former CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), was convicted in April 2024 by a Ghanaian court.She received a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour after being found guilty on 78 counts, including the following:<ul><li>Causing financial loss to the state</li><li>Stealing and conspiracy</li><li>Money laundering</li><li>Violations of procurement laws</li></ul>She left Ghana during the trial after being granted permission to travel abroad for medical reasons and did not return. As a result, she was tried in absentia.<h2>The case itself: What went wrong at MASLOC</h2>The prosecution focused on financial misconduct between 2013 and 2016 involving funds meant for public support programmes.Key findings included the following:<ul><li>GH¢500,000 loan anomaly: A loan to Obaatampa Savings and Loans was refunded but never recorded in MASLOC accounts.</li><li>Misuse of GH¢1.7 million: Funds meant for a nationwide sensitisation exercise were largely unaccounted for, with only a small portion used as intended.</li><li>Kantamanso fire relief diversion: Out of GH¢1.4 million allocated to victims, less than half was actually distributed.</li><li>Procurement irregularities: Vehicles and Samsung phones were purchased at inflated prices despite bulk procurement.</li></ul>Her co-accused, Daniel Axim, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.<h2>Why this extradition matters</h2>This case is significant for several reasons:<ul><li>Accountability: It signals Ghana’s determination to pursue high-profile financial crime cases beyond its borders.</li><li>International cooperation: It demonstrates that Ghana’s legal processes are recognised under international extradition frameworks.</li><li>Public interest: The case has drawn attention due to the scale of alleged losses involving public funds meant for vulnerable groups.</li></ul><h2>Bottom line</h2>The U.S. court’s certification is a major legal milestone, but not the final step. If the U.S. Secretary of State approves the surrender, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu will be returned to Ghana to begin serving her sentence—closing a long-running chapter in one of the country’s most closely watched financial crime cases.

Why the U.S. has approved extradition of Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to Ghana

The Ministry of Health has announced that it is fully prepared to implement the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, stating that all essential structures and stakeholder consultations required for a successful rollout have been completed.Speaking in an interview on Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, April 11, the ministry's spokesperson, Tony Goodman, indicated that substantial preparatory work has already been undertaken to ensure a smooth launch of the initiative.The programme is expected to significantly broaden access to basic healthcare services across the country.“What it takes to implement such a policy, what we have to do as a ministry, has been done,” he said.He further disclosed that infrastructure development is currently underway, with new health centres being constructed to support the programme. He noted that approximately 30 facilities are presently under development, including some at locations such as the Madina Market.“As I speak to you, we have what we call the health centres, which will also be part of this programme. They are being put up. If you go to Madina market as I speak, some are being put up there… So far about 30 are being put up,” he added.According to Goodman, the Ministry has also intensified stakeholder engagements aimed at refining the programme’s implementation strategy while incorporating feedback from key actors within the health sector.“Today in Dodowa there were some stakeholder engagements. We began stakeholder engagements with various stakeholders in the sector last week, and I can tell you that we’ve taken their concerns on board and we are ready to roll out this programme,” he stated.He explained that beyond providing treatment, the initiative is designed to emphasise preventive and promotive healthcare, with the broader objective of easing congestion at major hospitals.“It is not for the fun of it but to make sure that the people of this country receive healthcare, reduce the rush to the hospital, identify people at the early stage, get them to understand the conditions they live with, help them to manage them… We are looking at the promotive and preventive aspects of healthcare,” he said.On eligibility, Goodman clarified that the programme will be available to all Ghanaians residing within the country.“The criteria are you being a Ghanaian and you living in this country,” he noted.The development follows a renewed assurance by the minister for health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rolling out free primary healthcare nationwide before the end of April 2026 as part of efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

Ghana ready to launch Free Primary Healthcare nationwide

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially opened applications for the recruitment of new teachers, inviting qualified graduates to apply for positions nationwide.In a vacancy notice dated April 10, 2026, the Service stated that it is seeking committed and competent individuals holding a Bachelor of Education degree or related qualifications to join its workforce.According to the announcement, successful candidates will be expected to employ modern, technology-driven teaching methods, support learners with diverse educational needs, and promote the development of strong research skills through digital tools.In addition, recruits will be required to evaluate student performance using varied assessment approaches while maintaining strict adherence to national professional and ethical standards.GES further emphasised the importance of continuous professional development, noting that applicants must demonstrate a willingness to stay current with evolving teaching methodologies.To be eligible, applicants must possess a degree in education or a relevant qualification supplemented by a postgraduate diploma or certificate in education. They must have completed their National Service, hold a valid teaching licence from the National Teaching Council, and exhibit strong communication and classroom management skills. Applicants must also be prepared to accept postings to underserved or deprived areas.Interested candidates are required to submit their applications through the official recruitment portal by completing an online form and uploading relevant documents, including academic certificates, National Service certificate, teaching licence, Ghana Card, and a passport-sized photograph.The application window runs from April 10 to April 17, 2026.GES noted that the recruitment exercise forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s education system by enhancing teaching quality and expanding access to education across the country.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775897350792-1wvvpsyb2qu.jpeg" alt="GES statement" data-credit="GES Statement" title="GES statement" width="auto" height="auto"></div>

GES opens teacher recruitment nationwide

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has parted ways with Black Stars technical advisor Winfried Schafer as part of an ongoing restructuring of the senior national team’s backroom staff, according to Joy Sports.Schäfer was appointed in late 2024 to support then-head coach Otto Addo and his technical team following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.However, reports indicate that the German tactician’s departure follows the recent dismissal of Addo.Sources suggest that several members of the technical team could also be relieved of their duties, as the incoming head coach is expected to be given the autonomy to assemble his own support staff.Among the names reportedly under consideration to replace Addo are Slaven Bilić, former West Ham United manager; Carlos Queiroz, who previously managed Egypt; and Fernando Santos, former head coach of Portugal.While the GFA is yet to officially announce a new appointment, Sports Minister Kofi Adams indicated in a recent interview that a new Black Stars coach is expected to be named next week.The incoming coach will face an immediate challenge, with less than 60 days to prepare the team for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.Ghana has been drawn in a group alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars will begin their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.

GFA fires Winfried Schafer amid Black Stars overhaul

Bournemouth delivered a major setback to Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions with a deserved 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.The visitors struck first through Kroupi, before Viktor Gyökeres restored parity from the penalty spot in a tightly contested first half. Despite Arsenal briefly levelling the score, Bournemouth remained composed and continued to grow into the game, showing the confidence of a side in excellent form.Arsenal thought they had turned the match around early in the second half when Gyökeres found the net again, but the goal was ruled out for offside. That proved pivotal, as Bournemouth immediately responded with a decisive blow—Scott finishing off a well-worked move to restore their lead.Mikel Arteta’s side pushed late on, with chances falling to Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Magalhães, but they lacked the cutting edge needed to salvage a result.The defeat means Arsenal remain nine points clear at the top, though Manchester City hold two games in hand, keeping the title race firmly alive.For Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, the result extends their remarkable unbeaten run to a club-record 12 matches and strengthens their position in the top half of the table.Arsenal now face a defining week, hosting Sporting in the Champions League before a crucial league clash with Manchester City that could have major implications for the title race.

Bournemouth beat Arsenal to blow open EPL title race

The Ghana Police Service has arrested a Nigerian national captured in a viral video wearing police uniforms.In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, the service announced: “Police arrest Nigerian national seen in viral videos wearing police uniforms.”According to the police, the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team (CVET) intercepted viral footage of a woman identified as Esther Obasi, a Nigerian national, allegedly dressed in official Ghana Police camouflage and the standard black police uniform.The statement explained that the videos sparked widespread public concern and outrage over the unauthorised use of police attire and alleged impersonation.Following investigations, the CVET reportedly traced the suspect to the Prestea area in the Western Region, where she was subsequently arrested.The police further disclosed that the officer whose uniform was allegedly used has been identified and will face internal disciplinary processes.<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 50%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FGhPoliceService%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0BdFtDrpi7EiYa3A7e869scZ6gTM9wW8wRa8Zj47jqGydxKXrLZ838VvpyqQLvifYl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div>

Ghana Police arrest Nigerian lady wearing a police uniform in viral video

A social media manager has reportedly deleted a company’s Instagram account with more than 400,000 followers after being denied a promotion.According to reports, the manager spent two years building the page from zero to over 400,000 followers, earning recognition within the organisation for his efforts.However, dissatisfied with what he believed was inadequate compensation relative to his contributions, he approached his employer to request a promotion that would better reflect his role and performance.The request was declined, as the position he sought was already held by the employer’s daughter.The manager was reportedly told his expectations were unrealistic, with questions raised about his tenure at the company.Although he initially chose not to escalate the matter, he later deleted the company’s official Instagram page, stating that the individual who occupied the role he had sought should rebuild the platform from the ground up.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775899328533-1y69dvz4zoh.webp" alt="Social media manager deletes company’s page with 400k followers over promotion snub" data-credit="Social media manager deletes company’s page with 400k followers over promotion snub" title="Social media manager deletes company’s page with 400k followers over promotion snub" width="auto" height="auto"></div><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775899353126-u6w1c6f0nxj.webp" alt="Social media manager deletes company’s page with 400k followers over promotion snub" data-credit="Social media manager deletes company’s page with 400k followers over promotion snub" title="Social media manager deletes company’s page with 400k followers over promotion snub" width="auto" height="auto"></div>

Social media manager deletes company’s page with 400k followers over promotion snub

President John Dramani Mahama has nominated public finance expert Pamela Graham for the position of auditor-general, pending consultation with the Council of State.The nomination, communicated by the secretary to the president, is in accordance with Article 70(1)(b) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the president to seek the Council’s advice prior to making a final appointment.According to sources, the decision forms part of a broader strategy by the presidency to enhance financial oversight and restore public confidence in key governance institutions.Pamela Graham is widely regarded for her extensive expertise in public financial management, auditing, and institutional governance, as well as her strong reputation for integrity and professionalism.The Auditor-General plays a pivotal role in Ghana’s accountability architecture, overseeing the auditing of public accounts and ensuring adherence to financial laws and regulations across state institutions.The Council of State is expected to review the nomination in the coming days and provide its counsel to the president.If approved, Graham will succeed Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, who has served in the role since his appointment in September 2021.

President Mahama nominates Pamela Graham as Auditor-General

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has outlined significant international advantages of the Ghana Card, positioning it as a key tool for easing travel and enhancing identity verification for Ghanaians abroad.According to the NIA, the Ghana Card is increasingly becoming relevant beyond Ghana’s borders, particularly for citizens in the diaspora seeking smoother travel and administrative processes.Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Friday, April 10, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, Williams Ampomah E. Darlas, revealed that the Authority is actively engaging foreign embassies to expand the global acceptance of the Ghana Card. These discussions aim to integrate the card into international systems, especially in visa application procedures.He explained that while visa policies are determined by individual countries, ongoing diplomatic engagements are focused on encouraging embassies to recognise the Ghana Card as part of their documentation requirements.“We are still having conversations with embassies. These are states on their own, so you cannot force them unless through civil engagement. We are doing that and exploring the possibility of embassies requesting the Ghana Card when you apply for a visa. So far, it has been positive, and we are hopeful we can strike that deal,” he stated.Mr Darlas further highlighted that Ghanaians living abroad are already benefiting from the Ghana Card, particularly in terms of travel convenience. He noted that holders of the card can return to Ghana without the need for a visa in certain cases.“For those in the diaspora, if you are a Ghanaian and you have a Ghana Card and you want to travel from Canada to Ghana, you do not need to acquire a Ghanaian visa. With just the Ghana Card, you get your ticket and fly to Ghana,” he explained.The NIA emphasised that this initiative forms part of a broader strategy to elevate the Ghana Card into a globally recognised identity document. The move is expected to improve mobility, streamline verification processes, and enhance administrative efficiency for Ghanaians living and working overseas.

Ghana Card holders in Canada can travel to Ghana without Visa – NIA

Europe is a continent of extraordinary contradictions. On one end sits Luxembourg, where GDP per capita soars to around $140,000 — one of the highest figures anywhere on the planet. On the other end sit nations where the average person earns less in a year than a Western European worker earns in a month. The gap is not a minor statistical footnote; it is one of the defining economic realities of the modern world.Using the most current GDP per capita data for 2026 – drawn from the IMF World Economic Outlook, World Bank estimates, and Eurostat's purchasing power standards framework – here are the ten poorest countries in Europe, ranked from least poor to poorest, along with the structural forces that have shaped their economic realities.<h2>10. North Macedonia — GDP per capita: ~$9,439</h2>Nestled in the heart of the Balkans, North Macedonia is a small, landlocked nation of just over two million people that has been quietly trying to rewrite its economic story since breaking away from Yugoslavia in 1991. Progress has come, but it has been painfully gradual.Limited export industries and persistent unemployment have kept wages low and opportunities scarce, particularly for young people. The result is a steady and debilitating brain drain — thousands of educated Macedonians leave each year for Germany, Austria, and beyond, taking their skills and ambitions with them and leaving behind communities that struggle to generate the growth needed to keep the next generation at home.EU accession talks, which many had hoped would catalyse a surge of foreign investment and structural reform, have moved in fits and starts. Until membership becomes a near-term reality rather than a distant aspiration, North Macedonia will continue to lag behind its European neighbours.<h2>9. Albania — GDP per capita: ~$10,386</h2>Few countries in Europe have undergone as dramatic a transformation as Albania. Emerging from one of the world's most isolated and repressive communist regimes in 1991, the country has rebuilt itself from near-total economic collapse into a functioning market economy with genuine areas of strength.The most visible of these is tourism. Albania's coastline — stretching along both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas — has become one of Europe's most talked-about emerging destinations, and visitor numbers have grown sharply in recent years. The economy posted average GDP growth of around 4% annually between 2022 and 2025, a performance that outpaces many of its neighbours.Yet for all this momentum, Albania remains one of Europe's poorer nations. Widespread informal employment means a large share of economic activity goes untaxed and unrecorded, suppressing productivity figures and limiting the government's capacity to invest in public services. A rapidly ageing population adds long-term pressure. Albania is moving in the right direction — but it still has a considerable distance to travel.<h2>8. Bosnia and Herzegovina — GDP per capita: ~$8,668</h2>More than three decades after the end of the Bosnian War, the economic wounds inflicted by that conflict have not fully healed. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains one of the most politically complex and economically fragile states in all of Europe — a country whose very structure works against the kind of coherent, decisive governance that sustained development requires.The nation is divided into two semi-autonomous entities — the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska — whose competing interests have made unified economic policymaking a near-impossible task. Foreign investors, wary of the bureaucratic labyrinth and political instability, have largely looked elsewhere. Average pay remains among the lowest in the region, and youth unemployment is severe enough that emigration has become not just common but expected.Bosnia's EU candidacy was formally acknowledged, but progress remains slow. Without the structural anchor of genuine integration into European institutions, the country faces a long road ahead.<h2>7. Belarus — GDP per capita: ~$8,460</h2>Belarus occupies a peculiar position in Europe's economic landscape. It has a sizeable industrial base — factories, machinery, and potash exports — that many of its neighbours lack. And yet it sits near the very bottom of Europe's income rankings, a paradox explained almost entirely by politics.The country's economy is overwhelmingly state-controlled, with the government directing the allocation of resources in ways that have strangled entrepreneurship and made genuine private sector growth almost impossible. Following the disputed 2020 presidential election that saw Alexander Lukashenko cling to power amid mass protests, Western sanctions compounded the country's isolation. Belarus's subsequent role in supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine deepened that isolation further.The average Belarusian earns around 655 euros per month before tax — a figure that reflects not a lack of economic potential but the consequences of a system that has chosen political control over economic development.<h2>6. Kosovo — GDP per capita: ~$8,030</h2>Kosovo is Europe's youngest country and one of its most economically vulnerable. Having declared independence from Serbia in 2008, it remains unrecognised by Serbia itself, Russia, China, and several EU member states — a status that has created significant practical obstacles to development. Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations, which limits its access to multilateral financial institutions and constrains its ability to attract foreign capital on the same terms as its neighbours.Structurally, the economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, some mining activity — particularly lignite and zinc — and remittances from the large Kosovar diaspora living across Western Europe. Those remittances represent roughly 15% of GDP, which illustrates both the strength of family ties and the fragility of domestic economic opportunity.Youth unemployment exceeds 25% nationally and reaches around 50% among young people – a figure that is not just an economic statistic but a generational crisis. Kosovo has shown resilience, maintaining average growth of around 4% in recent years, but without broader international recognition and deeper structural reform, that growth may not be enough to break the cycle.<h2>5. Serbia — GDP per capita: ~$13,490</h2>Serbia is the largest economy in the Western Balkans and, in some respects, the most strategically positioned. It sits at the crossroads of major transport corridors, has a well-educated population by regional standards, and has attracted meaningful foreign investment — particularly in automobile manufacturing through companies like Stellantis and increasingly in technology and logistics.And yet, with a GDP per capita of around $13,490, Serbia remains firmly in the lower tier of European economies. Growth has been real, but it has not translated into the broad-based prosperity that would lift average wages to levels competitive with EU members. Corruption remains deeply embedded in public institutions, and Serbia's EU accession process — technically ongoing — has effectively stalled due to political disagreements over Kosovo and the country's refusal to align with EU sanctions on Russia.Belgrade's technology scene and the country's improving infrastructure offer genuine grounds for optimism. But Serbia's economic trajectory will depend heavily on whether it can resolve its political ambiguities and commit fully to the reform agenda that meaningful development requires.<h2>4. Bulgaria — GDP per capita: ~€28,300 (PPP)</h2>Bulgaria holds the uncomfortable distinction of being the poorest member of the European Union — a position it has held since joining the bloc in 2007. In 2026, it shares the bottom of the EU's internal income rankings with Greece at 68% of the EU average in purchasing power standards terms, compared to Luxembourg's extraordinary 239%.The minimum wage in Bulgaria stands at around 550 euros per month, against Luxembourg's 2,637 euros — a gap that illustrates just how wide the internal disparities within the EU remain. Average pre-tax earnings of just over 1,200 euros per month place Bulgarian workers among the lowest-paid in the entire bloc. Corruption and organised crime, while reduced from their post-communist peaks, continue to deter the kind of high-value investment that would accelerate income growth.Bulgaria's adoption of the euro in 2026 was a landmark moment and a signal of its deepening integration into European structures. Whether it translates into stronger growth and higher living standards will depend on reforms that successive governments have promised but only partially delivered.<h2>3. Moldova — GDP per capita: ~$8,161–$8,240</h2>Moldova is, by most conventional measures, the poorest fully recognised and internationally uncontested country on the European continent. A landlocked nation of around 2.5 million people sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova has spent much of its post-Soviet existence navigating between economic stagnation and political turbulence.The economy is heavily agricultural and deeply dependent on remittances. Money sent home from Moldovans working abroad accounts for one of the highest shares of national GDP of any country in the world — a figure that speaks to both the loyalty of its diaspora and the limited economic opportunities available at home. High-paying jobs are scarce, and the formal private sector remains underdeveloped.Compounding Moldova's challenges is the unresolved separatist region of Transnistria – a sliver of territory along its eastern border that has operated as a breakaway state since 1992 under Russian political and economic patronage. The frozen conflict has long suppressed foreign investor confidence and complicated Moldova's efforts to fully integrate with the European economy. The country received EU candidate status in 2022 — a development that offers genuine long-term hope — but the road to membership, and to the prosperity it typically brings, will be neither short nor easy.<h2>2. Georgia — GDP per capita: ~$17,000 (transcontinental context)</h2>Georgia sits at the boundary between Europe and Asia geographically, but it is unambiguously embedded in European political and economic structures—holding an EU association agreement and having applied for formal candidate status. Its inclusion in this ranking reflects that reality.Georgia has pursued ambitious economic reforms since the mid-2000s, earning recognition for improvements in ease of doing business and reductions in petty corruption. Tbilisi has developed a vibrant start-up and digital economy scene, and tourism has grown significantly. Yet the broader economy remains constrained by low wages, deep rural poverty, and the unresolved territorial disputes of South Ossetia and Abkhazia — two regions under de facto Russian control that have cast a long shadow over investor sentiment and domestic political stability.<h2>1. Ukraine — GDP per capita: ~$5,759–$6,380</h2>Ukraine's position at the very bottom of Europe's economic rankings is not a reflection of its potential — it is a reflection of war. Before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine was already one of Europe's lower-income economies, burdened by decades of post-Soviet institutional weakness and endemic corruption. The invasion transformed an existing challenge into a catastrophe.Critical infrastructure — power plants, bridges, factories, railway lines — has been systematically targeted and destroyed. Millions of citizens have been displaced internally or have fled abroad entirely. Entire industrial regions in the country's east and south, once the backbone of its manufacturing economy, have been damaged, occupied, or cut off. Ukraine was one of the world's great grain exporters; that sector has been severely disrupted, with consequences felt not just in Kyiv but in food markets across Africa and the Middle East.With a GDP per capita of approximately $5,759 to $6,380 — around 7.5% of US levels — Ukraine sits at a level of income that is extraordinarily low for a country of its size, history, and human capital. The economy has shown surprising resilience in patches, posting growth in 2023 through 2025 largely on the back of international financial support. But growth statistics mask a lived reality of hardship, uncertainty, and loss that numbers alone cannot capture.Rebuilding Ukraine will be one of the defining economic and political challenges of the coming decades. The scale of international commitment required — in financing, in reconstruction expertise, and in institutional support — is without modern precedent in Europe. What is not in doubt is that Ukraine, before this war, possessed the foundations of a genuinely competitive economy. Recovering them will take time, resources, and above all, peace.

10 poorest countries in Europe, Ranked (2026)

Youth Arise Organisation (YAO) has carried out the 2026 edition of its flagship Community Hope and Charity Campaign (CHCC) at the Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home in Bawjiase, bringing hope and practical support to over 100 children.The outreach, held on Easter Saturday, April 4, 2026, focused on improving both the learning and living conditions at the facility while engaging the children in impactful educational and health activities.The campaign, driven by YAO’s network of students, entry-level professionals, and young executives, combined service, learning, and humanitarian support.Throughout the day, the children participated in sessions such as drawing and storytelling, a spelling bee competition, personal hygiene education, malaria prevention, menstrual hygiene education, study skills, adolescent relationship guidance, and basic financial literacy for teenagers. A mini party with games, music, and refreshments added excitement and joy to the day’s activities.As part of efforts to promote health and well-being, the outreach featured malaria testing and health education sessions led by health professionals from the Arise Center for Holistic Health Wellness and Nutrition.In addition, the Youth Alliance for Agricultural Transformation (YAFAT) held a home gardening training session to equip the children and staff with sustainable skills to support their daily needs, reinforcing the campaign’s commitment to long-term impact.Beyond the educational and health interventions, YAO made significant donations to support both the welfare of the children and ongoing infrastructure development at the home.Items donated included one trip of sand, one trip of gravel, 20 bags of cement, bags of clothing, sanitary pads, toiletries, food items, stationery, detergents, drinks, and biscuits.These contributions are expected to support the completion of a three-unit classroom block currently under construction, as well as improve the general living conditions at the facility.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775754622105-i0gx5yc4ef.jpg" alt="CHCC 2026: Youth Arise Organisation brings hope and support to Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home" data-credit="CHCC 2026: Youth Arise Organisation brings hope and support to Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home" title="CHCC 2026: Youth Arise Organisation brings hope and support to Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home" width="auto" height="auto"></div>A needs assessment conducted prior to the outreach revealed that materials donated during the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="https://youth-arise.org/youth-arise-organization-10th-anniversary-chcc/">2025 edition of CHCC</a> had been used to initiate the classroom project, which has now reached lintel level.Portions of the roofing structure of the existing study and sleeping areas have also been improved. The 2026 intervention therefore builds on this progress, with a renewed commitment to completing the classroom block and renovating other structures within the home.Presenting the items, the Community Development Officer of YAO, Samuel Nii Adjetey, expressed appreciation to the management of the home and highlighted the source of the donations.“We want to say a very big thank you to management and all the staff of Graceland; you are doing a great job... “All the items you are seeing here are from your brothers and your sisters here," he said.He further assured the children of the organisation's continued commitment, adding, “Even though we are not here with you, we still think about you all the time and how we can make your stay here better and help you become very great people in the future," he added.The Global CEO of the Youth Arise Organisation, Mr Moses Baffour Awuah, explained that the decision to support Graceland was inspired by a report from a past participant of YAO’s leadership programme who had earlier visited the home and highlighted its needs.“Three years ago, one of our people visited this place and saw the situation, especially when it was raining and parts of the building were leaking. When he shared it with me, I said we had to come here,” he noted.He added that although he was unable to attend the previous outreach, the organisation remained committed to returning to make a meaningful impact, particularly in addressing the roofing challenges.Mr Awuah also emphasised that the support provided went beyond physical items.“We know we cannot donate everything, and there may be other needs that are not immediately visible. That is why we have also presented a token to support any pressing needs of the home,” he said, reaffirming the organisation's commitment to supporting the home holistically.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775754522681-48fxqj3jmaa.jpg" alt="CHCC 2026: Youth Arise Organisation brings hope and support to Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home" data-credit="CHCC 2026: Youth Arise Organisation brings hope and support to Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home" title="CHCC 2026: Youth Arise Organisation brings hope and support to Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Receiving the items, the founder of Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home, Madam Grace Wobill, expressed deep gratitude for what she described as a timely and impactful intervention.“The love and compassion you have shown to these vulnerable children is truly remarkable. It is difficult these days to find people who give wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return,” she said.She further highlighted the challenges faced by the home, explaining, “We dine here, learn here, sleep here; everything happens in one hall."The classroom project is very important to us, and what you have brought today, especially the sand, gravel, and cement, is exactly what we need at this moment.”The Community Hope and Charity Campaign is an annual initiative by Youth Arise Organisation aimed at mobilising young people to give back to society through practical acts of service and support.Each year, the campaign targets vulnerable communities and institutions, providing not only donations but also education, health outreach, and sustainable interventions. The initiative continues to reflect YAO’s belief that consistent, youth-led action can create lasting impact and contribute to building a more compassionate society.Written by Samuel Nii Adjetey

CHCC 2026: Youth Arise Organisation brings hope and support to Graceland Needy Child Shelter Home

The sacking of Otto Addo has once again left the Ghana national football team at a crossroads. It is a familiar place, a void filled with uncertainty, pressure, and urgent calls for a new coach. But this moment is more than just another managerial change.It is a rare opportunity for a total transformation of Ghana football. If this opportunity is misunderstood or wasted, it may take the nation many years to return to its days of dominance and pride on the continental and global stage.This might be one of the longest articles you will read today, but it will be worth your time, because Ghana’s football problem is deeper than most conversations allow. The instinct now is to search for the next coach, someone with fresh ideas and a strong résumé.But history tells us that Ghana has already tried that approach repeatedly, moving from Avram Grant to Kwesi Appiah, to C. K. Akonnor, to Milovan Rajevac, and to Chris Hughton. Each came with tactical ideas, yet the same inconsistencies remained. So, the real question is not who the next coach should be but whether Ghana even needs a coach in the first place.To understand the present, we must revisit the past. Ghana was once a symbol of African football excellence. From the dominance of earlier generations to the near-historic run at the 2010 World Cup, the Black Stars were feared, respected, and admired.There was identity, resilience, and a sense of collective purpose. Compare that to recent years, where performances have been underwhelming, tournaments have ended in disappointment, and the team often looks disconnected. The decline is not because Ghana suddenly lost talent. It is because something fundamental has been lost.That brings us to the current squad, a group that is arguably one of the most technically gifted in recent times. Players like Mohammed Kudus embody creativity, confidence, and modern football intelligence.Around him are players competing in top European leagues, exposed to elite coaching environments and high-level tactical systems. These are not raw or inexperienced players. They are well trained, well coached, and individually brilliant. Yet when they come together, the team struggles to reflect that quality. What really is the problem?<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775753869919-x1zbgk5ozy.JPG" alt="Black Stars of Ghana " data-credit="Black Stars of Ghana" title="Black Stars of Ghana " width="auto" height="auto"></div>The explanation lies in the difference between club football and national team football. At their clubs, these players operate under structured systems, rehearsed patterns, and clearly defined roles, often guided by managers like Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti.But in the national team, these different football educations collide. One player expects positional play, another thrives on direct transitions, and another is used to defensive rigidity. Without time to harmonise these differences, the team becomes tactically confused rather than cohesive.This is why the core issue is not a lack of coaching knowledge. Ghana has had coaches with experience and tactical understanding. The real issue is integration. The team lacks a unifying structure that simplifies rather than complicates.It lacks clear roles that every player understands and accepts. It lacks a strong central authority that can align individuals into a collective. That is why the statement remains true and powerful. “Club football is about coaching systems. National team football is about managing people.”There is a clear example to learn from. The France national football team once faced internal chaos despite having world-class players. It was only when Didier Deschamps took charge that stability returned.He did not rely on complex tactics. Instead, he focused on discipline, role clarity, and unity. He managed egos, simplified the game plan, and built a strong identity. The result was a team that functioned as one, not as scattered individuals.Ghana’s root problem is therefore not tactical weakness but managerial absence. There is too much reliance on individual brilliance and not enough emphasis on collective responsibility.In difficult moments, the team looks for a hero instead of trusting a system. Even players like Kudus, who can change a game in seconds, need a structure that amplifies their impact. Without that structure, their brilliance becomes isolated rather than transformative.The solution is not another cycle of hiring a “tactically gifted” coach. Ghana needs a manager with authority, someone who can command respect in the dressing room and make tough decisions without hesitation.The next leader must define a clear identity, simplify the team’s style of play, and demand discipline from every player regardless of status. He must prioritise balance over reputation and unity over individuality. Just as importantly, the Ghana Football Association must commit to stability and give this manager the time and support needed to build something lasting.This moment, painful as it may seem, is an opportunity. It is a chance to rethink the direction of Ghana football and correct years of reactive decision-making.If handled well, it could mark the beginning of a new era. If mishandled, it risks prolonging a cycle of inconsistency and missed potential. The talent is there. The history is there. What remains is the courage to choose the right kind of leadership.Written by Samuel Nii Adjetey,Journalist, fact-checker and football lover

Otto Addo Sacked: Why the Black Stars don't need another coach

FIFA has confirmed the officiating lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with seven African referees earning the right to represent the continent at football's grandest stage.The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the largest in World Cup history, featuring 48 teams for the first time, making the competition for officiating spots particularly fierce.Here is everything you need to know about African referees named for 2026 FIFA World Cup and the notable names who missed out.<h2>The Selected Seven</h2><h3>1. Mustapha Ghorbal — Algeria</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775752921846-yvt16vp8zms.jpeg" alt="Mustapha Ghorbal" data-credit="Mustapha Ghorbal" title="Mustapha Ghorbal" width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3>Born: 19 August 1985 | FIFA listed since: 2014</h3>A native of Oran, Mustapha Ghorbal made his debut in the Algerian first division in 2011 before earning FIFA international status in 2014. Now 40, he is one of the most decorated African officials of his generation. His international career highlights include refereeing two matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as well as fixtures at the 2019, 2021, and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He has also handled games in the FIFA Club World Cup across editions from 2019 to 2025, the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, and various CAF Champions League finals.Over the past year, he has officiated major competitions, including the Club World Cup in the United States, qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, and several CAF interclub matches. Notably, he was also nominated for the World's Best Referee Award by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) for 2025, alongside 24 other candidates from five continents. Algeria will also have additional representation at the tournament through VAR official Lahlou Benbraham.<h3>2. Amin Mohamed (Amin Omar) — Egypt</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775752980363-siouzn0cct.jpg" alt="Amin Mohamed" data-credit="Amin Mohamed" title="Amin Mohamed" width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3>Born: 1985 | FIFA listed: Veteran international</h3>Egypt's Amin Mohamed — also referred to in official documentation as Amin Omar — is one of the continent's most experienced match officials. Born in 1985, he is a long-standing FIFA-listed official who has handled some of the most consequential fixtures in African football. He has been a regular presence in CAF Champions League assignments and has featured prominently in World Cup qualifying matches across the African qualification cycle. His selection continues Egypt's strong tradition of producing high-calibre referees at the international level, with the country also having a VAR official, Mahmoud Ashour, among those named for the tournament.<h3>3. Pierre Ghislain Atcho — Gabon </h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775753079966-jb26vd35hjj.webp" alt="Pierre Ghislain Atcho" data-credit="Pierre Ghislain Atcho" title="Pierre Ghislain Atcho" width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3> Born: 1992 | FIFA listed since: 2012</h3>A 47-year-old referee who has been on FIFA's international list since 2012, Pierre Ghislain Atcho has officiated in major African tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, CAF Champions League matches, and the 2023 AFCON finals in Ivory Coast, where he handled group stage games. Most recently, he was appointed to officiate Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Comoros in Accra, as well as the high-stakes qualifier between South Africa and Nigeria in Bloemfontein. A calm and methodical presence on the pitch, Atcho is widely regarded as one of Central Africa's most dependable officials.<h3>4. Jalal Jayed — Morocco</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775753157781-jvgyizsd4vf.webp" alt="Jalal Jayed " data-credit="Jalal Jayed " title="Jalal Jayed " width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3>Born: 1987 | FIFA listed: Active international</h3>Born in 1987, Jalal Jayed is a Morocco-based FIFA-listed referee who has steadily built one of the stronger reputations among the current generation of African officials. He has handled top-level fixtures in the CAF Champions League, including the high-profile tie between Al Ahly and Espérance Sportive de Tunis. Jayed will serve as one of the main referees from the African continent at the 2026 World Cup, alongside Algeria's representative. He also represented Africa at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, underlining the consistency of his performances at an elite level. His selection brings Morocco full circle — having hosted the 2025 AFCON, the country now also has a referee heading to the senior World Cup.<h3>5. Dahane Beida — Mauritania</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775753223943-65tf0rki58j.jpg" alt="Dahane Beida " data-credit="Dahane Beida" title="Dahane Beida " width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3>Born: 31 December 1991 | FIFA listed since: 2018</h3>Born on 31 December 1991, Dahane Beida has been a FIFA-listed international referee since 2018 and is considered a prominent referee in CAF tournaments. He has overseen notable matches, including the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations between Ivory Coast and Nigeria, as well as the second leg of the 2025 CAF Confederation Cup final between Simba SC and RS Berkane.His résumé is remarkably rich for someone from a nation with limited traditional football infrastructure. Beida was selected for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where he refereed two group-stage games, including a Real Madrid victory over Red Bull Salzburg. He also handled the Round of 16 match between Senegal and Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. His IFFHS nomination for the World's Best Referee Award in 2025 — alongside Ghorbal — further underscores his rapid rise to the pinnacle of world refereeing.<h3>6. Tom Abongile — South Africa</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775753282559-6wg2h6xjuv7.webp" alt="Tom Abongile " data-credit="Tom Abongile " title="Tom Abongile " width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3>Born: 16 December 1991 | FIFA listed since: 2020</h3>Born on 16 December 1991, Abongile Tom became a FIFA-listed international referee in 2020. In 2022 he was selected to officiate at the African Nations Championship, and in 2023 he was one of two South African referees granted professional contracts by CAF. He also officiated at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2023 African Football League.Tom grew up in Tlokoeng, a rural area in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, and has cited fellow South African referees Jerome Damon and Zakhele Siwela as key influences on his career. At the 2025 AFCON, he handled four on-field matches, including the DR Congo vs Benin group opener, the Mali vs Tunisia Last 16 tie, and the Mali vs Senegal quarterfinal — while also serving VAR duties in three further games. His selection for the World Cup is a significant personal milestone and a proud moment for South African officiating.<h3>7. Omar Abdulkadir Artan — Somalia</h3><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775753335403-93rq65alemc.jpg" alt="Omar Abdulkadir Artan " data-credit="Omar Abdulkadir Artan " title="Omar Abdulkadir Artan " width="auto" height="auto"></div><h3>Born: 1992, Mogadishu | FIFA listed since: 2018</h3>Of all seven selections, Omar Artan's story is perhaps the most extraordinary. Born in Mogadishu in 1992, Artan became a FIFA-listed referee in 2018. He made history in January 2024 as the first Somali to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations, overseeing the Group E match between Tunisia and Namibia.Artan became the first referee from Somalia to take charge of a continental final, overseeing Egypt's Pyramids FC triumph over South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo. He also represented Africa at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. His World Cup selection is not merely a personal achievement — it is a landmark moment for Somali football, a nation that has navigated decades of instability to produce an official at the highest level of the global game.The Notable AbsencesJean-Jacques Ndala — Congo DRThe most high-profile omission from the final list is Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. Born in 1987 and a long-established FIFA-listed official, Ndala was widely considered one of Africa's finest after handling both the opening match and the controversial final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. His exclusion is a genuine shock to many within African football circles and has prompted questions about the criteria applied in the final selection process.Issa Sy — SenegalSenegal's Issa Sy, born in 1984 and a FIFA-listed official, also misses out. His omission is less surprising given his recent involvement in controversy during a CAF Champions League match between Al Ahly and Espérance Sportive de Tunis — a high-profile incident that almost certainly weighed against him in FIFA's deliberations.Daniel Laryea — GhanaFor Ghanaian football, the non-selection of Daniel Laryea is a notable disappointment. Laryea had been active in continental club competition as a VAR official and had been among the candidates being monitored during the qualification preparation process. His absence means Ghana — which is itself competing at the tournament — will have no officiating representation.

Meet the 7 African referees named for 2026 FIFA World Cup

<ul><li>Total of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials from across all six confederations and 50 Member Associations selected for global showpiece</li><li>Selection process based on quality and consistency of performances at highest level</li><li>FIFA Team One set to meet demands of groundbreaking FIFA World Cup™, featuring 104 matches across three host countries</li></ul>FIFA has officially unveiled the list of match officials selected for the FIFA World Cup 2026, following an extensive evaluation process that spanned more than three years.A total of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials have been appointed, representing all six continental confederations and 50 member associations.This marks the most diverse and comprehensive group of officials ever assembled for a World Cup. The selection was based on FIFA’s long-standing “quality first” principle, with emphasis placed on consistent performances at both international and domestic levels.According to Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s chief refereeing officer and chairman of the Referees Committee, the chosen officials represent the very best in the game.“The selected match officials are the very best in the world. They were part of a wider pool of officials that was identified and monitored over the past three years. They have attended seminars and officiated at FIFA tournaments.In addition, their performances in domestic and international matches were regularly assessed. The selected officials have received, and will continue to receive, comprehensive support from our fitness coaches and medical staff, including physiotherapists and a mental specialist.Our goal is to ensure that they’re in optimal physical and mental condition when they arrive in Miami on 31 May.”Collina further highlighted the scale of the upcoming tournament, which will feature 48 teams and 104 matches across three host nations, making it the largest World Cup in history.“This year’s FIFA World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a 48-team line-up and 104 matches to be contested across the most extensive geographical footprint in the tournament’s history,” Collina continued. “It’ll be the largest FIFA Team One ever, with 41 more match officials than at Qatar 2022.Each of them must be ready to be appointed for a match and to contribute actively to ensuring that the refereeing at the World Cup is a success. The fact that six women match officials have been selected continues a trend that was started four years ago in Qatar as we aim to further develop women’s refereeing.”Throughout the tournament, match officials will undergo daily training sessions, including practical drills involving local players. FIFA will also provide detailed match analysis to ensure thorough preparation.“As has been the case at FIFA tournaments in the past, our match analysts will provide the match officials with all the information they need to prepare properly for their games. We’ll leave no stone unturned in ensuring that our match officials are fully prepared, and we’re confident that FIFA Team One will meet the challenges that lie ahead at this groundbreaking competition.”Technology will once again play a central role in officiating, with enhancements set to improve decision-making and fan engagement.“As at previous World Cups, technology will play an important role in supporting match officials in their decision-making. Goal-line technology, an advanced version of semi-automated offside technology and connected ball technology will be used, while for the first time in World Cup history, fans will be able to see things from the referee’s on-field perspective thanks to the use of new technologies,” Collina concluded.Massimo Busacca, FIFA’s Director of Refereeing, also emphasised the rigorous preparation process leading up to the tournament.“The road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 began immediately after the conclusion of Qatar 2022, with a structured programme involving seminars, workshops and continuous monitoring. Throughout this period, all candidates were closely evaluated by FIFA instructors, fitness coaches, doctors and physiotherapists, receiving comprehensive support to ensure that they achieve the highest possible standards at the tournament.”The selected officials will convene in Miami for a 10-day preparatory seminar starting on May 31. Following this, video match officials will relocate to Dallas, home of the International Broadcast Centre, while referees and assistant referees remain in Miami.FIFA also confirmed that new measures aimed at improving match tempo and reducing time-wasting—approved by the International Football Association Board—will be implemented. Additionally, advancements such as AI-powered stabilisation for referee body cameras will provide fans with enhanced real-time perspectives of on-field action.With preparations in place, FIFA is confident that the appointed officials will rise to the occasion at what promises to be a historic edition of the World Cup.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775751135856-dss8ys9d558.JPG" alt="Match Officials for 2026 FIFA World Cup" data-credit="Match Officials for 2026 FIFA World Cup" title="Match Officials for 2026 FIFA World Cup" width="auto" height="auto"></div>

FIFA names 170+ match officials for the FIFA World Cup 2026

Konami has now announced that eFootball has surpassed a major milestone of one billion downloads worldwide. The free-to-play title has enjoyed widespread success across PC, console, and mobile platforms, with player engagement remaining strong. Notably, the game has recorded approximately 50 million new downloads since mid-January, reflecting its continued growth and popularity.To celebrate this achievement, Konami has introduced a series of limited-time in-game events designed to reward players. One of the highlights is the “Master League Sprint", inspired by a classic PES mode, offering daily login bonuses such as eFootball Coins and Chance Deals, giving players the opportunity to unlock legendary footballers. The event is scheduled to run until April 16.In addition, Konami has commissioned a commemorative manga titled That Time I Got Reincarnated in PES, described as a fantasy narrative that follows iconic characters like Castolo and Minanda within the Master League universe.

eFootball hits 1 billion downloads milestone

Ghana and Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus is facing an anxious race against time to be fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after suffering a setback in his recovery from injury.The 24-year-old had been working his way back from a serious quad tendon injury he sustained during Tottenham's Premier League draw against Sunderland in January — a problem that had already kept him sidelined for several months. His return had appeared to be on the horizon last month, when Spurs' then-interim head coach Igor Tudor expressed cautious optimism about the winger's progress."So we have these three weeks after the game on Sunday. He will probably do some part of the things with the squad maybe 10 days [after the break]," the Croatian coach told Football <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget qbe-widget" href="http://football.london">London</a> at the time."I don't know, I'm not sure. We need to check, but he is progressing very well. Already a little bit with the ball."However, those hopes have since been dealt a significant blow. Kudus has not trained with the Spurs squad since Tudor gave that assessment and has now aggravated the same injury. While the precise nature of the new setback has not been disclosed, the situation is serious enough that Kudus is now expected to miss the remainder of the Premier League season.More worryingly for Ghana, the timing puts his participation in the Black Stars' World Cup campaign in June in serious jeopardy.

Kudus World Cup hopes in danger after injury setback

President John Dramani Mahama has extended his congratulations to NASA astronaut Christina Koch for her historic role as the only woman on the Artemis II mission, which successfully orbited the Moon.In a statement on April 9, President Mahama emphasised Koch’s personal connection to Ghana, recalling her time as an exchange student at the University of Ghana during the 1999/2000 academic year.“Her time at Legon was not just a passing visit; she truly immersed herself in our culture and heritage. By studying the history of Ghana, the history of Africa, rural sociology, music, and even Twi for beginners, she built a foundation of global citizenship right here in Accra,” President Mahama said.He described the moment Koch hoisted the Ghanaian flag in outer space as “a deeply touching moment for every Ghanaian. It is a testament to the fact that no matter how far one travels, even into the vastness of space, the friendships made and the lessons learned stay with you.”Highlighting her journey from Ghanaian classrooms to the frontiers of space, the president called her story a source of inspiration for young Ghanaians.“Christina’s journey from the classrooms of the University of Ghana to the frontiers of space exploration serves as a powerful inspiration to every young Ghanaian. It reminds us that our educational institutions continue to produce and shape global leaders who break barriers and reach for the stars,” he stated.<div class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm border border-gray-200 my-4"><div class="relative w-full" style="padding-bottom: 50%;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid0jcdJPH6YfQV89uir4YmvvJ6C42tvpWgnjymL8Pk42vWo8ZnvQXpnoczE3ZHiwUoql%26id%3D61577876216304&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" title="Embedded content" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full rounded-lg border border-gray-200 shadow-sm"></iframe></div><div class="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-500 text-center">Embedded content from: www.facebook.com</div></div>Artemis II, NASA’s second mission in the Artemis programme, represents the first crewed flight to orbit the Moon in more than five decades. The mission’s objectives include testing spacecraft systems, gathering crucial data for future lunar landings, and paving the way for a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon.President Mahama extended his best wishes to Christina Koch and the Artemis II crew for a safe return to Earth, noting that their success serves as a powerful inspiration for generations in Ghana, across Africa, and around the world to pursue ambitious goals. He expressed pride in Koch’s accomplishments and the recognition she brings to Ghana.

Mahama hails NASA astronaut Christina Koch on historic Artemis II moon mission

Life expectancy is one of the clearest windows into how well a country takes care of its people. Simply put, it is the average number of years a person born today can expect to live, assuming current health and mortality conditions stay the same throughout their lifetime.It is shaped by a combination of factors — the quality of a country's healthcare system, the food people eat, how active they are, how clean the air and water are, how safe the country is, and even how connected people feel to their communities. When these factors come together in a positive way, people live longer, healthier lives.According to the United Nations World Population Prospects (2024), the global average life expectancy in 2026 is approximately 73.4 years. But the countries on this list far exceed that figure — some by more than 13 years. So, which countries top the rankings, and what makes people there live so long?Here are the 10 countries with the longest life expectancy in 2026, ranked from highest to lowest, based on the latest UN data.<h2>Top 10 Countries by Life Expectancy (2026)</h2><h3>1. Monaco — 86.73 Years</h3>Monaco holds the top spot for life expectancy in the world in 2026, and it is not hard to see why. This tiny but extraordinarily wealthy principality on the French Riviera has built an environment where living a long, healthy life is almost the default.Monaco's healthcare system is world-class, with a strong focus on preventive care, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment. Residents have access to some of the best medical technology in Europe, often without long waiting times. The country also benefits from very low levels of air pollution and consistently clean drinking water — two environmental factors that have a measurable impact on long-term health.Beyond healthcare, lifestyle plays a massive role. Residents eat a Mediterranean diet rich in fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. The climate is mild and sunny year-round, encouraging people to stay physically active outdoors. Monaco also has a very low crime rate and a stable, low-stress environment — which research consistently links to better cardiovascular health and longer life.Women in Monaco live an average of 88.99 years, while men live an average of 85.17 years — both figures among the highest ever recorded for any population.Key factors: World-class preventive healthcare, Mediterranean diet, clean environment, low crime, high income and stability.<h3>2. San Marino — 86.03 Years</h3>Completely surrounded by Italy, the tiny independent republic of San Marino is one of the smallest countries on Earth — but when it comes to keeping its citizens healthy, it punches well above its weight.San Marino operates a universal healthcare system that covers all residents and places a strong emphasis on disease prevention rather than just treatment. The government actively invests in public health campaigns, vaccination programmes, and early screening for chronic diseases. This proactive approach means many conditions are caught and treated before they become life-threatening.The country also enjoys a high per capita income, access to quality food, clean water, and strong education rates. Culturally, San Marino values an active lifestyle, with its hilly landscape encouraging regular physical movement. Residents also benefit from the same Mediterranean dietary traditions as neighbouring Italy — a diet that research has consistently linked to lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.Key factors: Universal healthcare, strong prevention focus, high income, Mediterranean diet, active lifestyle.<h3>3. Hong Kong (SAR) — 85.90 Years</h3>Hong Kong consistently surprises people by ranking among the very top countries for life expectancy, despite being one of the world's most densely populated urban areas. The secret lies in a combination of economic strength, a highly effective healthcare system, and deeply embedded healthy habits.Hong Kong's economy is one of the most developed in the world, and that wealth translates directly into high-quality hospitals, well-trained medical professionals, and accessible healthcare for the broader population. Infant mortality rates are extremely low, and deaths from air pollution, cardiovascular disease, and waterborne illnesses are well below the global average.Diet is another major driver. The traditional Cantonese diet — high in vegetables, fish, and steamed or lightly cooked foods — is low in saturated fat and rich in nutrients. Hong Kong also has an extensive public transport network that naturally encourages people to walk more as part of their daily routine. The mild climate supports year-round outdoor activity.Women in Hong Kong have a life expectancy of approximately 88 years, making them among the longest-living women on the planet.Key factors: an advanced healthcare system, a traditional low-fat diet, low infant mortality, an active daily lifestyle, and strong economic development.<h3>4. Japan — 84.70 Years</h3>Japan has been a top-ranked country for life expectancy for decades, and its approach to longevity has been studied extensively by scientists, doctors, and public health experts worldwide. In 2026, it remains one of the most reliable examples of how diet, culture, and healthcare can work together to extend healthy life.Japan introduced universal health coverage in 1961 — earlier than almost any other country — meaning its population has had access to regular preventive care for over 60 years. Early cancer screenings, routine check-ups, and accessible medication have significantly reduced premature deaths from treatable conditions.But diet may be Japan's greatest longevity secret. The traditional Japanese diet is rich in fish, seaweed, fermented foods such as miso and natto, tofu, and fresh vegetables. It is naturally low in saturated fat, high in omega-3 fatty acids, and calorie-moderate. The cultural concept of hara hachi bū — eating until you are 80% full — is deeply embedded, particularly in Okinawa, Japan's longest-lived prefecture, which is classified as a global "Blue Zone".Japan also has very low obesity rates (around 4.3%), strong community bonds, and a culture that deeply respects and integrates elderly people into daily life — reducing the social isolation that is increasingly recognised as a serious health risk in older populations.Key factors: universal healthcare since 1961, traditional fish-and-vegetable diet, low obesity, cultural calorie moderation, and strong community ties.<h3>5. Switzerland — 84.00 Years</h3>Switzerland consistently ranks among the top countries in the world for quality of life, and its life expectancy figures reflect that. In 2026, the Swiss average stands at 84.00 years, supported by one of the most well-funded and well-organised healthcare systems on the planet.Switzerland spends a higher proportion of its GDP on healthcare than almost any other country in the European Union, and the results are clear. The system provides comprehensive coverage, short waiting times, and access to cutting-edge treatments. There is also a strong cultural commitment to preventive health — regular medical check-ups are the norm, and health literacy among the population is high.Beyond healthcare, Swiss residents tend to live active lifestyles. With easy access to mountains, lakes, and hiking trails, outdoor physical activity is a natural part of everyday life. The diet is varied and includes high-quality dairy products, fresh produce, and — famously — dark chocolate, which, in moderate amounts, has been associated with cardiovascular benefits. Switzerland also has very clean air and water, low pollution levels, and a stable, high-income social environment.Key factors: high healthcare investment, preventive care culture, active outdoor lifestyle, clean environment, high standard of living.<h3>6. South Korea — 83.00 Years</h3>South Korea's life expectancy story is one of the most remarkable transformations in global health history. In 1960, the average South Korean lived to just 52 years. In 2026, that figure stands at 83.00 years — an increase of over 30 years in just six decades.This dramatic improvement has been driven by rapid economic development, improvements in nutrition and food security, and major investments in public healthcare infrastructure. South Korea now operates a comprehensive national health insurance system that covers the vast majority of its population and prioritises both treatment and prevention.Diet also plays a critical role. The traditional Korean diet is rich in fermented vegetables such as kimchi, which provides beneficial probiotics; lean proteins including fish and tofu; and a wide variety of plant-based foods. South Korea also has relatively low rates of obesity compared to other high-income countries.Many experts now project that South Korea could overtake Japan to have the world's highest life expectancy by 2030, making it the fastest-rising country in the global rankings.Key factors: remarkable historical improvement, universal healthcare, fermented food diet, low obesity, rapid economic development.<h3>7. Singapore — 82.80 Years</h3>Singapore is a remarkable achievement in public health. A small city-state with a densely packed, multiethnic population, it has nevertheless built one of the world's most efficient and effective healthcare systems — and its life expectancy figures reflect that investment.Singapore records very low infant mortality rates, minimal deaths from air pollution, and exceptionally low cardiovascular and chronic respiratory disease mortality. Its healthcare system combines government oversight with elements of personal responsibility and market competition, creating a model that delivers strong outcomes at relatively low cost compared to countries like the United States.Public health policy in Singapore is particularly assertive. Anti-smoking laws are strict and widely enforced. Anti-obesity campaigns target diet and physical activity from school age onwards. Food labelling is clear and comprehensive, helping residents make healthier choices every day.The traditional diet in Singapore — influenced by Chinese, Malay, and Indian culinary traditions — is built around fresh ingredients, rice, vegetables, and seafood, keeping saturated fat consumption relatively low.Key factors: efficient national healthcare system, strict public health laws, low smoking rates, diverse and nutritious diet, and low pollution.<h3>8. Italy — 83.60 Years</h3>Italy is living proof of what a culture built around good food, family, and community can do for human health. In 2026, Italy's average life expectancy stands at 83.60 years, placing it firmly among the world's longest-living nations.The Mediterranean diet — Italy's greatest contribution to global health — is abundant in olive oil, fresh vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, fish, and moderate amounts of red wine. Decades of scientific research have confirmed that this dietary pattern significantly reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It is one of the most studied and validated diets in the world for promoting longevity.Italy also has a universal public healthcare system that provides broad coverage across the population, alongside a deeply embedded cultural attitude toward rest, pleasure, and social connection. Long mealtimes with family, afternoon rest, and strong community ties all reduce the chronic stress that shortens lives in many modern societies.Sardinia, one of Italy's southern islands, is classified as a global Blue Zone — one of only five regions in the world where people regularly live past 100 years. The island's high concentration of centenarians has attracted scientists from around the world studying the secrets of extreme longevity.Key factors: Mediterranean diet, universal healthcare, strong family and social bonds, slow-living culture, Blue Zone in Sardinia.<h3>9. Australia — 83.40 Years</h3>Australia is the only country in the Southern Hemisphere to make the top 10 list for life expectancy, and it earns its place through a combination of strong public health investment, an active lifestyle culture, and natural environmental advantages.Australia's universal healthcare system, known as Medicare, ensures that the vast majority of residents can access medical care without financial hardship. The government also runs large-scale public health campaigns targeting smoking, alcohol misuse, skin cancer prevention, and preventable chronic disease – campaigns that have made measurable differences in population health over time.The warm climate encourages Australians to spend a great deal of time outdoors, whether swimming, surfing, hiking, or simply walking. Physical activity levels are higher than the global average, and Australians have some of the lowest rates of obesity among high-income nations.Australia also benefits from very low rates of violent crime, excellent food safety standards, and clean air and water across most of the country. The nation's multicultural population brings a rich variety of dietary influences, often including the kinds of fresh, plant-rich eating patterns associated with longer lives.Key factors: Medicare universal healthcare, active outdoor culture, public health campaigns, clean environment, low crime rates.<h3>10. Sweden — 83.20 Years</h3>Sweden rounds out the top 10 with an average life expectancy of 83.20 years in 2026. Like its Nordic neighbours Norway, Denmark, and Finland, Sweden has built a society that strongly supports the health and well-being of all its citizens — not just the wealthy.Sweden operates a well-funded universal healthcare system with a strong emphasis on equity — meaning that access to good medical care is not determined by income or social status. Low income inequality, measured by a Gini coefficient of 0.28, means the gap between the richest and poorest in Swedish society is much smaller than in many other developed nations. Research consistently shows that more equal societies have better overall health outcomes.Sweden also places great cultural value on work-life balance. Workers enjoy generous parental leave, limits on excessive working hours, and a strong tradition of taking time to rest and connect socially — including the much-loved ritual of fika, a deliberate break for coffee and conversation. These habits reduce chronic stress, which is a major driver of cardiovascular disease and premature death.The Swedish diet is also notably healthy — rich in fish, whole grains, berries, root vegetables, and fermented dairy products, and relatively low in processed foods.Key factors: universal healthcare, low income inequality, strong work-life balance, low-stress culture, nutritious traditional diet.Data source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 | <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="http://StatisticsTimes.com">StatisticsTimes.com</a> (updated February 2026) | WHO 2024 estimates. Life expectancy figures are at birth, for both sexes combined.

10 countries with the longest life expectancy in 2026

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has officially declared the Toyota Voxy illegal for commercial passenger transport in Ghana, following safety concerns highlighted by its Technical Working Committee.The decision comes after an in-depth investigation into the growing use of Toyota Voxy minivans as public transport, particularly after many were converted from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. Such modifications, combined with the vehicle’s original design limitations, were deemed a major threat to passenger safety.Speaking in Accra on Wednesday, April 8, NRSA Technical Committee Chairman, Godwin Kafui Ayetor, explained that the Toyota Voxy was originally manufactured for private family use, not commercial operations. “The manufacturer informed us that the Toyota Voxy is designed for young middle-class families, not for commercial passenger transport. It is not engineered for high mileage or rough road conditions,” he said.The committee noted that extensive structural modifications, including altered suspension systems and replacement tyres, are common among Voxys used commercially. These changes compromise the vehicle’s integrity and increase the risk of mechanical failures, especially on long-distance or rough terrain. “Passenger tyres and modified suspensions are not built for high payloads,” Dr Ayetor explained.Additionally, the report highlighted systemic regulatory gaps that have allowed these vehicles to be unlawfully imported, modified, and deployed commercially without adequate oversight. “Thousands of such vehicles operate across the country without meeting safety standards, creating significant risks for passengers,” he warned.The Technical Working Committee concluded that using Toyota Voxy minivans for commercial transport in their current form presents an unacceptable road safety risk. Recommendations include a strict ban on importing right-hand drive vehicles, tighter regulation of vehicle conversions, halting registration for commercial use, and public awareness campaigns.The NRSA is expected to consider these recommendations as part of wider reforms aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents linked to vehicle misuse and non-compliance.

Why Toyota Voxy has been declared illegal for commercial use in Ghana

The High Court in Accra has delivered its ruling in the divorce case between businessman Richard Nii Armah Quaye (popularly known as RNAQ) and his former wife, Joana Quaye, awarding her a lump sum of GH¢300,000 as part of the final settlement.According to reports by The Law Platform, Ms Quaye, who is a co-founder, shareholder, and director of Quick Credit Microfinance Company Limited (now operating as Bills), initiated the proceedings and had sought a financial settlement of GH¢50 million from her former husband.The case was heard by Justice Kofi Dorgu, a Court of Appeal judge sitting with additional responsibility at the High Court. In determining the division of matrimonial assets, the court granted Ms Quaye GH¢300,000, significantly lower than the amount requested.In his ruling, Justice Dorgu explained that the award was deliberately modest, noting that it was intended, in part, to discourage divorces motivated by expectations of substantial financial gain.“The decision of the Court, reduced into its final orders, justified the grant of financial relief that may be regarded as a modest sum of GH¢300,000.00 in favour of the petitioner. The Petitioner had sought a lump sum payment of 50 million Ghana cedis from the Respondent,” the report stated.It further added that despite Ms Quaye’s role as co-founder and director of the respondent’s principal business, the court considered it necessary to limit the financial award in line with its broader reasoning.Beyond the monetary settlement, the court granted Ms Quaye one-third ownership of the couple’s matrimonial home in Dansoman, along with two vehicles. Mr Quaye was also directed to take full responsibility for the children’s education and healthcare.In outlining the property arrangement, Justice Dorgu stated that Ms Quaye would be entitled to three bedrooms within the property, with shared access to common areas such as the living room, kitchen, and other facilities, while the remaining two-thirds would be retained by Mr Quaye.He also noted that the allocation took into account her custody of the children, the respondent’s alternative accommodation, and provisions made to address her mobility needs.

Court gives Joana Quaye GH¢300K in divorce case against RNAQ

New year, same script. Barcelona’s game against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League once again saw the Catalans go a man down and struggle by becoming their own worst enemies.On this occasion, Pau Cubarsi made a professional last-man foul and saw himself sent off late in the first half at a point where it looked like Barcelona were taking the upper hand.The resulting free-kick conveniently gave Atletico Madrid the lead, and they then doubled that advantage in the second half to take a 2-0 lead ahead of next week’s second leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.Barça Universal brings you the player ratings from Barcelona 0-2 Atletico Madrid.<h2>Joan Garcia: 7.5</h2>The goalkeeper did not have much to do in the first half, barring the one big save that he made and the free kick Julian Alvarez put past him to perfection.Was far busier in the second half given Atletico Madrid’s attacking potency and numerical advantage.<h2>Joao Cancelo: 6</h2>Cancelo was a shadow of the version of himself that he showed at the weekend and did not create as much threat in the final third. His distribution was decent, and attacking movements were promising, albeit without any end product.<h2>Gerard Martin: 6.5</h2>The youngster was solid in the first half alongside Cubarsi and did well to hold the offside trap. Took up more responsibility after the red card, but it was clear that his partnership at the back was no longer as solid.<h2>Pau Cubarsi: 3</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775684762009-rk9q5h2mhl.jpg" alt="Cubarsi’s blunder proved costly. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)" data-credit="Cubarsi’s blunder proved costly. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)" title="Cubarsi’s blunder proved costly. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Cubarsi’s red card late in the first half completely changed the course of the game at a relatively early juncture and jeopardised Hansi Flick’s plans.The youngster was solid up to that point, but his relatively soft last-man foul was enough for a direct red, which left the team with a numerical disadvantage and without his services for the second leg.<h2>Jules Kounde: 5.5</h2>Kounde started at right-back and combined well with Lamine Yamal. Beyond that, however, his attacking contributions were minimal, nor did he have much defensive work in the opening half.<h2>Eric Garcia: 6</h2>Garcia started the game as Flick’s emergency solution to the midfield crisis. Cubarsi’s red card, however, saw him take up a more defensive role, jeopardising the initial idea.Garcia’s distribution was decent on the night, as were his transitions to attack. The numerical disadvantage, however, saw his influence in midfield gradually wane.<h2>Pedri: 6.5</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775684894264-wwqytudxpo.jpg" alt="Pedri was taken off at half-time. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)" data-credit="Pedri was taken off at half-time. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)" title="Pedri was taken off at half-time. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Pedri stabilised the game in midfield for Barcelona for the better part of the game, although his job was made far more difficult after the red card.&nbsp;With Garcia dropping back and Atletico Madrid pressing with an extra man, he began to struggle keeping the ball. Was surprisingly taken off at halftime.<h2>Dani Olmo: 6.5</h2>Olmo was handed the start over Fermin Lopez on the night and largely combined well with Lamine Yamal in tight spaces. Beyond that, however, his influence in front of the goal was very limited, and he did not create any massive chances.<h2>Lamine Yamal: 8</h2><div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775684807363-pcthd6o62fq.jpg" alt="The one bright spot. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)" data-credit="The one bright spot. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)" title="The one bright spot. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)" width="auto" height="auto"></div>Yamal was Barcelona’s best player by some distance once again, toying with Matteo Ruggeri and getting into Atletico Madrid’s box for fun.&nbsp;The youngster was at his best, creating chances through his dribbles and even coming close to finishing them on occasion. Unfortunately, he could not keep the same steam throughout after the red card changed plans.<h2>Marcus Rashford: 6.5</h2>Rashford’s impact on the left wing was very minimal on Wednesday night, far from the version he showed against the same team at the weekend.The player struggled to get past defenders and did not have it easy to run into spaces, largely negating his presence in the box and goalscoring chances.<h2>Robert Lewandowski: 5</h2>The Polish striker played 45 minutes on the night and had just the one shot to his name. He was taken off at half-time after the game situation changed and was replaced by Fermin Lopez.<h2>Fermin Lopez: 6</h2>Brought tenacity to Barcelona’s press but still was not enough to overcome Atletico Madrid’s superiority. He did, however, provide sparks of hope.<h2>Gavi: 6</h2>The youngster came on for 45 minutes in a high-stakes game for Barcelona and did well considering how he has been out of action for a long time. Was sharp with his passing and tenacious with his press.Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://barcauniversal.com/">https://barcauniversal.com/</a>

Barcelona 0-2 Atletico Madrid: Player ratings | Cubarsi 3, Yamal 8

Atlético Madrid seized control of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie with a commanding 2-0 first-leg victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou in a fiercely contested and emotionally charged encounter.Barcelona began on the front foot, with Marcus Rashford testing the goalkeeper twice inside the opening minutes, setting the tone for a high-tempo start. Atlético responded quickly through Julián Álvarez, as both sides traded early attacking intent in an open and energetic opening spell. The hosts thought they had taken the lead when Lamine Yamal set up Rashford, but the move was ruled out for offside.Despite Barcelona’s dominance in possession, Atlético remained tactically disciplined—combining quick attacking runs with a compact defensive shape that consistently frustrated the hosts. Clear-cut chances were limited, but the turning point arrived just before half-time when Pau Cubarsí was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Álvarez capitalised on the resulting free-kick, delivering a precise finish to give Atlético the lead.Even with a numerical disadvantage, Barcelona showed resilience after the break. Rashford came close to equalising, striking the woodwork with a powerful free-kick, while Dani Olmo narrowly missed connecting at the far post during one of several promising attacks. However, Atlético remained composed defensively and absorbed the pressure effectively.The decisive moment came on the counter-attack, as substitute Alexander Sørloth applied a composed finish to double Atlético’s advantage, putting them firmly in control of the tie. Barcelona’s efforts lacked cutting edge in the final third, ultimately ending their 10-match unbeaten run across all competitions.The result marks Atlético Madrid’s first win at Camp Nou since 2006 and gives them a significant advantage heading into the second leg, as they aim to complete a notable Champions League triumph over the Catalan giants.

Barcelona fall as Atletico Madrid seize control in UCL clash

Paris Saint-Germain delivered a commanding performance to secure a 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash at the Parc des Princes, taking a strong advantage into the return leg at Anfield.PSG were the superior side throughout, controlling the tempo and creating the better chances, while Liverpool struggled to impose themselves in attack and failed to register a single shot on target.The hosts took the lead in the first half through Désiré Doué, although the goal came with a slice of fortune. His effort took a significant deflection, looping over goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and leaving him helpless. Despite the setback, the Liverpool shot-stopper produced several key saves, including a crucial one-on-one stop to deny Doué a second before the break.PSG continued their dominance in the second half and doubled their advantage in the 65th minute through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger produced a moment of individual brilliance, gliding past defenders before calmly finishing into an unguarded net to cap off a superb attacking move.The scoreline could have been more emphatic. PSG generated significantly higher expected goals (2.2 to Liverpool’s 0.18), with Ousmane Dembélé also striking the post during the encounter. Liverpool, by contrast, offered little going forward and was largely contained by the French champions.Defensively, Liverpool faced further scrutiny, particularly involving Ibrahima Konaté. One penalty appeal against him was correctly overturned after a clean challenge on Warren Zaïre-Emery, while another late incident saw him fortunate to escape punishment following a push on Nuno Mendes.Despite the defeat, Liverpool remain narrowly in the tie, thanks largely to Mamardashvili’s interventions and PSG’s inability to fully capitalise on their dominance. However, they will need a significantly improved performance in the second leg at Anfield if they are to overturn the deficit.

PSG outclass Liverpool in dominant Champions League display

A formal handing-over ceremony took place at the National Police Training School in Accra on 7th April 2026, marking a significant leadership transition within the IGP Special Operations Team.The outgoing commander, DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil, officially transferred command to Superintendent Augustine Dawson Amoah, who will be supported by three senior officers in overseeing the unit's operations.During his farewell remarks, DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil emphasised the importance of cooperation, urging all personnel to extend their full support to the incoming leadership to maintain continuity and operational efficiency.Superintendent Augustine Dawson Amoah, in his acceptance address, reaffirmed his commitment to effective leadership and called on team members to uphold unity, discipline, and professionalism in carrying out their duties.The transition underscores the Ghana Police Service’s dedication to maintaining high standards in its specialised units while ensuring smooth operational management.

Supt. Augustine Dawson Amoah appointed head of IGP SOT, succeeds DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil

DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil is set to step down as head of the Ghana Police Service’s Special Operations Team, popularly known as “Black Maria", as part of a planned leadership transition within the unit. A successor is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.In a video circulating on social media, DSP Bawah addressed team members, confirming that the unit remains fully operational despite the forthcoming changes in leadership.The announcement follows an alleged assault involving renowned Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama in Tamale on March 21. Initial reports linked personnel from the Special Operations Team to the incident; however, DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil refuted those claims, affirming that his officers were not present at the scene. The matter has since been referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau, which investigates allegations of misconduct within the Ghana Police Service.Addressing his team, DSP Bawah signalled the upcoming leadership change and urged members to continue supporting the unit.“Today, we are going to move on with the IGP’s special operations because it is still in existence, but there’s going to be a change in the leadership. The leadership that is coming is still going to be the leadership that is going to work for the IGP,” he stated.“I believe with the total support that I had from you, whoever is going to take over from me, everyone will join hands and make sure we keep this country safe irrespective of whatever reservations we have.”The transition is expected to shape the future of the special operations team, reinforcing accountability and sustaining public confidence in the Ghana Police Service.

DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil to step down Black Maria leader

The Centre for Policy Scrutiny has urged the government to reconsider reinstating previously abolished taxes—such as the E-Levy, COVID-19 levy, and betting tax—as part of efforts to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation and alleviate mounting fiscal pressures.These levies were removed in line with a campaign pledge ahead of the 2024 general election, with the government describing them as ‘nuisance’ taxes that placed an excessive burden on citizens already facing multiple tax obligations.During a presentation hosted by the Centre on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, tax analyst Isaac Danso Agyiri indicated that, if restructured, the three taxes could collectively generate as much as GHS18 billion by 2027. He noted that such revenue would provide critical support at a time of rising public expenditure and constrained liquidity.According to Agyiri, the scrapped taxes should not be permanently discarded but rather redesigned to reflect prevailing economic conditions.“The first way to do that is, for example, increase the threshold, the daily minimum threshold… If you factor in inflation and cost of living, can we, for example, put a GHS500 daily threshold so that if your transaction is up to five hundred a day, you don’t pay E-Levy?” Agyiri asked.He further recommended the introduction of transaction caps to promote fairness within the system. “Can we also, for example, put a maximum threshold and say that the maximum E-Levy you pay on a transaction is up to, say, GHS100… These are all ways we can work it to address the equity situation,” he added.Mr Agyiri also emphasised that proceeds from any reinstated taxes could be ring-fenced to support pro-poor initiatives, ensuring that revenue generation aligns with broader social equity objectives.

Reinstate E-levy, betting tax to raise GHc18bn for Ghana - Tax Analyst tells government

World Athletics has outlined a landmark strategic roadmap for the future of distance running with the creation of a World Athletics Marathon Championships from 2030 onwards.&nbsp;The marathon will remain a discipline at the World Athletics Championships in 2027 and 2029, but from 2030 it will move to its own standalone championships. From 2031 onwards, the marathon – or any other road running distance – will no longer form part of the World Athletics Championships.&nbsp;The World Marathon Championships will become an annual event, with men and women competing in alternate years – the same frequency as the current World Championships marathon. It is a championship conceived in close partnership with those who have made the marathon the global phenomenon it is today, with full details of those partnerships to be announced in the coming months.&nbsp;The World Athletics Road Running Championships will continue to take place as a separate annual event.&nbsp;As part of this new direction, World Athletics has confirmed the opening of formal exploratory discussions for Athens to host the inaugural World Athletics Marathon Championships in 2030.&nbsp;World Athletics and the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), with the cooperation of the Region of Attica, have also agreed to a strategic partnership to elevate the Athens Marathon The Authentic to the highest tier of global road racing.&nbsp;The race has been awarded Elite Label status, recognising its unique place in sporting history and its long-term potential within the international calendar.&nbsp;This partnership marks the beginning of an ambitious multi-year investment programme designed to modernise the original Olympic course while preserving its 2500-year heritage.&nbsp;“We are delighted to be exploring the possibility of a standalone World Marathon Championships with Athens – the place where this iconic discipline was born,” said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.&nbsp;“Few events in sport carry the weight and resonance of the marathon; it is both a test of the very highest performance and a celebration of mass participation. This is an opportunity to create a dedicated global celebration of marathon running, held in a setting that honours its heritage while shaping a modern championship that reflects the scale and spirit of the global running community,” added Coe.“The marathon is one of the most universal events in sport, and Athens is its spiritual home,” said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon during a press conference in Athens on Tuesday (7). “Exploring the possibility of a future standalone World Marathon Championships here reflects our ambition to bring the sport’s greatest global showcase back to where it all began. This roadmap ensures the event meets the rigorous technical and operational standards required for the world’s most prestigious stage.”&nbsp;

World Athletics to introduce Standalone Marathon Championships in 2030

Paulo Bento has emerged as a strong contender for the vacant Ghana national football team coaching role, as the Ghana Football Association steps up efforts to appoint a new manager.The position became available following the dismissal of Otto Addo after a series of disappointing results in recent international fixtures. With approximately 70 days left before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the urgency to secure a competent replacement has intensified.Ghanasoccernet reports indicate that Bento is open to taking up the role, with sources suggesting the experienced Portuguese tactician is eager to return to international management. The Black Stars have been without a substantive head coach since Addo’s departure, further increasing pressure on the GFA to act swiftly.Bento brings significant World Cup pedigree, having led the South Korean national football team to the Round of 16 at the 2022 tournament. His tenure was widely praised for its tactical discipline and structured approach to the game.The 54-year-old is not new to Ghana’s radar, having been previously considered for the role in 2022. Despite reports of nearly 600 applications for the position, Bento remains one of the standout candidates under serious consideration.Another notable name linked to the job is Hervé Renard, although uncertainties surrounding his current situation have reportedly shifted focus more toward Bento within local football circles.Following his departure from South Korea, Bento held talks with the Poland national football team but did not reach an agreement, with Fernando Santos eventually being appointed. He later managed the United Arab Emirates national football team from 2023 until March 2025, when he was relieved of his duties after a decline in performance.Despite that setback, the Ghana job represents a compelling opportunity for Bento to quickly return to the global stage and lead a talented squad into another World Cup campaign.The final decision now rests with Bento whether to accept a high-pressure, short-term challenge with Ghana or hold out for a more stable long-term project. Meanwhile, the GFA is expected to continue its evaluation process before announcing the next head coach of the Black Stars.

Paulo Bento emerges as strong contender for Black Stars job

Bayern Munich will take a slender advantage back to Germany after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final showdown.Vincent Kompany’s side delivered a composed and clinical performance, particularly in the first half, where they asserted control and created the better chances. Their pressure paid off in the 41st minute when Leroy Sané, often a key creative force, was involved in the buildup before Serge Gnabry capitalised on a lapse in concentration from Trent Alexander-Arnold.Gnabry’s sharp awareness set up Brahim Díaz, who finished calmly to hand Bayern a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the break.Despite the advantage, Bayern could have been further ahead before halftime. Dayot Upamecano and Gnabry both squandered promising opportunities, while at the other end, Kylian Mbappé tested Manuel Neuer with two well-struck efforts that required sharp saves.The second half began in explosive fashion. Just 20 seconds after the restart, Harry Kane doubled Bayern’s lead with a superb curling effort following brilliant work from Michael Olise. At 2-0, the German giants appeared firmly in control and on course for a commanding first-leg result.However, Real Madrid, renowned for their resilience in Europe, responded with renewed urgency. Their breakthrough came with 16 minutes remaining when Alexander-Arnold atoned for his earlier lapse with a dangerous delivery into the box. Mbappé reacted quickest, bundling the ball past Neuer to reduce the deficit and breathe life back into the tie.Statistically, Bayern’s victory was well justified. They registered an impressive 2.99 expected goals (xG), comfortably outperforming Madrid’s 1.97, underlining their attacking dominance across the match.At halftime, the numbers were even more telling, with Bayern posting 1.9 xG compared to Madrid’s 0.58.While Kompany will feel his side deserved more from their dominance, the late goal ensures the tie remains finely balanced. With the second leg set for Germany in eight days, this quarter-final is still very much open and promises another high-stakes encounter between two European heavyweights.

Bayern beat Real Madrid in UCL quarter-final first leg

The world's most powerful military is six weeks into a new Middle East war. History suggests the answer is far from obvious.On the morning of February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched nearly 900 airstrikes across Iran in under twelve hours. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed. Nuclear facilities were targeted.The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20 percent of the world's oil passes — was closed in retaliation.Six weeks later, missiles are still flying, ceasefire talks have collapsed, and a president is threatening to bomb power plants. The world is watching, holding its breath, and asking the oldest question in warfare: can America actually win this one?To answer that question honestly, you cannot simply look at the firepower on the table. You have to look at the record. The United States has the most expensive military in human history, spending more on defence than the next ten countries combined.And yet when you examine the ledger of American wars fought since the Second World War — the conflicts that shaped the modern world — what you find is not a story of dominance. It is, in many respects, a story of uncomfortable ambiguity, costly stalemates, and outright defeat dressed up in the language of sacrifice.The numbers do not lie. But they do demand context.<h2>America’s War Record Since 1945: A Clear Breakdown</h2>Before assessing any potential conflict with Iran, it is important to examine the United States’ military track record since the end of World War II—widely considered the last war America decisively won. What follows is a straightforward account of its major military engagements and how they ended.The Korean War (1950–1953) concluded in a stalemate, with no clear victor despite years of intense fighting. This was followed by the Vietnam War (1965–1975), which ended in defeat after a prolonged and costly campaign.In the early 1980s, the U.S. intervention in Beirut (1982–1984) resulted in a withdrawal, highlighting the challenges of peacekeeping in volatile regions. However, the invasion of Grenada in 1983 and the Panama invasion in 1989 were both clear victories, achieved swiftly with limited resistance.The Gulf War (1990–1991), also known as Operation Desert Storm, stands out as a decisive victory, with U.S.-led forces successfully liberating Kuwait in a short and highly effective campaign.In contrast, the 1993 mission in Somalia—often associated with the “Black Hawk Down” incident—ended in another withdrawal, reinforcing the difficulties of urban and irregular warfare.The Kosovo bombing campaign in 1999 is generally viewed as a victory, as it achieved its primary objective through air power without a ground invasion.More recently, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) ended in defeat, following a two-decade effort that ultimately saw the Taliban return to power. Similarly, the Iraq War (2003–2011) produced an ambiguous outcome, with initial military success overshadowed by prolonged instability.The 2011 intervention in Libya resulted in chaos, as the removal of leadership led to ongoing instability rather than lasting peace. The ongoing war against ISIS, spanning Syria and Iraq since 2014, is considered a partial success, with territorial gains achieved but the broader threat not fully eliminated.Now, with tensions involving Iran continuing into 2026, any potential conflict remains ongoing and uncertain.Record: 4 clear wins | 5 defeats or withdrawals | 4 stalemates or ambiguous outcomesThe numbers, as stated, do not lie. Of the thirteen major military engagements the United States has undertaken since 1945, only four can be described as clear victories by any reasonable measure — and three of those were against countries that posed no serious military challenge. Grenada has no real army. Panama was a small Central American state.The Gulf War of 1991, the most cited American triumph, was a limited operation with a narrow mandate: remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait, then stop. It did not require occupation, reconstruction, or regime change.By the numbers: 4 clear military victories since 1945. $8 trillion spent on post-9/11 wars alone. 20 years in Afghanistan — the longest war in US history — ending with the Taliban back in power within days of American withdrawal.<h2>Why the Greatest Military on Earth Keeps Losing</h2>The paradox of American military power is this: the United States wins every battle and still loses the war. This is not a new observation. It was, famously, the very thing a North Vietnamese colonel told an American officer years after the Vietnam War ended. "You won every battle," the colonel said. The American replied: "That may be true." The colonel's response: "That's irrelevant."Military scholars and former Pentagon officials have spent decades trying to explain this gap between tactical excellence and strategic failure.The answers they have arrived at are consistent across the generations. The United States military is extraordinarily good at destroying things: aircraft, tanks, missile batteries, and command centres.It is much less effective at the harder task that comes after: building something that lasts.As political scientist Dominic Tierney, author of The Right Way to Lose a War, has written, "The U.S. military can destroy anything it can see. But when it can't see the enemy, when the war becomes political, cultural, and generational – that's when the problems begin."In Korea, American and UN forces pushed the North Koreans back but were stopped by the intervention of Chinese troops. After three years and 36,000 American deaths, a ceasefire was signed but no peace treaty.Technically, the Korean War has never ended. The peninsula remains divided. The objective of reunifying Korea was abandoned. America calls it a draw. Most honest analysts call it something more complicated.Vietnam is the wound that never fully healed. More than 58,000 Americans died. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese died — on all sides. The United States withdrew in 1973 under a peace agreement that most observers understood to be a face-saving retreat. Saigon fell to communist forces two years later. The political objective — preventing a communist South Vietnam — was completely failed.Afghanistan took twenty years and left the Taliban back in power. The government of the United States spent two decades and nearly two trillion dollars building it, and it collapsed within days of American forces departing.Iraq was toppled militarily in three weeks in 2003, then descended into a decade of insurgency, sectarian bloodshed, and the eventual rise of the Islamic State from the power vacuum the invasion created. Libya, where America and NATO helped remove Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 with air power and then walked away, became a failed state and a hub for human trafficking and armed militias.The pattern is stark and consistent. American military power can change a regime. It cannot, by itself, change a country.<h2>What Makes Iran Different — and Dangerous</h2>Understanding America's war record is essential context. But Iran is not Vietnam, Afghanistan, or Iraq. It is both more and less dangerous, in different ways, and that complexity is what makes the current conflict so difficult to assess.Iran in 2026 is, by many measures, a weakened state. Years of crippling economic sanctions have hollowed out its economy. The Iranian rial collapsed in value. Mass protests erupted in early 2026, the largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and were suppressed with lethal force.Iran's regional proxies – Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis – have been significantly degraded by Israeli military action since 2023. Iran's own air defences and nuclear infrastructure were significantly damaged in the Israel-US Twelve-Day War of June 2025. By the time the current war began on February 28, 2026, Iran was already wounded.The United States and Israel calculated that this weakness represented a window of strategic opportunity — that the moment had arrived to finish the job. The first wave of strikes assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside dozens of senior officials and targeted nearly 900 sites in twelve hours. It was, by every technical measure, a military operation of extraordinary precision and audacity.And yet, six weeks later, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Iran is still firing missiles. A US F-15E was shot down over Iranian territory, requiring a dramatic rescue operation involving Delta Force and SEAL Team Six. Iran has struck American military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Ceasefire proposals have been rejected. Trump has issued deadlines and extended them. The war grinds on.This is because Iran possesses something that Grenada, Panama, and even Saddam Hussein's Iraq did not: genuine strategic depth and a population that, regardless of how many citizens hate their own government, has shown throughout history a fierce resistance to foreign domination.The 1979 revolution itself was born partly from Iranian anger at American interference in their country — specifically the CIA-backed coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 and reinstated the shah. That history does not disappear because Washington would prefer it forgotten.Iran is also not a small country. It has a population of 90 million people. Its geography – mountainous, vast, with rugged terrain – is exactly the kind of environment that has historically neutralised American air supremacy and forced the kind of grinding ground engagement that US public opinion cannot sustain for long. America has no appetite, and no announced plan, for a ground invasion of Iran. And without boots on the ground, the history of American airpower campaigns shows that you can destroy enormously without securing anything.<h2>Defining What "Winning" Means Here</h2>The question of whether America can win depends entirely on what winning means — and this is where American strategic thinking has repeatedly failed itself.A consistent and fatal pattern runs through the post-1945 record: the United States achieved its limited, realistic military objectives, then "moved the goalposts" by expanding its war aims into territory it lacked the political will to actually achieve.In Iraq in 2003, the military objective of toppling Saddam Hussein was achieved in three weeks. Brilliant. Then the war aims expanded to "democratising Iraq" and "transforming the Middle East" — ambitions the available forces and the available public patience could never sustain. The same pattern played out in Afghanistan.What does the United States actually want from this war with Iran? This question has never been fully answered in public, and the ambiguity is itself a warning sign. Early stated objectives included destroying Iran's nuclear and missile programmes, achieving regime change, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Each of these goals presents its own problem.Iran's nuclear infrastructure, while damaged, is not destroyed. The IAEA reported weeks into the current conflict that Iran had stored highly enriched uranium in underground facilities undamaged by the strikes. Regime change has technically occurred at the top — Khamenei is dead — but Iran still has a functioning government, a parliament, and an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that continues to operate. The Strait of Hormuz, as of today, April 6, remains closed, with Iran demanding full compensation for war damages as a condition for reopening it.The numbers tell their own story: 38 days of internet blackout in Iran — the longest national outage ever recorded. 900 US-Israeli strikes in the first 12 hours. And still, 20 per cent of the world's oil supply sits bottled up in a strait that America has not been able to reopen.<h2>The Verdict</h2>Any fair analysis must resist two temptations: the temptation to simply dismiss American military power as incompetent — it is anything but — and the temptation to assume that power alone decides outcomes in modern warfare.The honest assessment is this. America will almost certainly achieve its military objectives in Iran, just as it achieved them in every previous war. It will degrade Iran's military capacity further. It may destroy additional nuclear facilities. It may maintain air superiority over Iranian skies indefinitely. These are genuine military achievements, and they are not trivial.But the history of the past eight decades — from Korea to Vietnam, Afghanistan to Iraq, Libya to Syria — argues powerfully that military achievement and strategic victory are not the same thing. They may not even be related. A country of 90 million people with deep national identity, a coherent ideology, and the physical geography of Iran is not going to be transformed by airstrikes, however precise. It will survive them. It has survived everything before.<h2>EDITORIAL JUDGEMENT</h2>The United States can win battles in Iran. It has already won several. It can destroy infrastructure, kill generals, shut down nuclear sites, and demonstrate overwhelming firepower. On these narrow military terms, it is winning now.But if winning means a stable, neutralised Iran that poses no nuclear or regional threat — the goal that would actually justify the cost of this war — then the record suggests America is unlikely to achieve it. Not because its military is weak. Because wars of this nature are not won by militaries. They are won, if they are won at all, by patience, politics, and the willingness to give the enemy something they can live with.America has shown, repeatedly, that it lacks either the patience or the political architecture for that kind of victory. The same overconfidence that led to the Taliban returning to Kabul, to ISIS rising from the ruins of Iraq, drove the calculation that Iran's weakness in 2026 was the moment to strike. It may have been.But weakness is not the same as submission. And submission, in the end, is the only thing that resembles victory in a war of this kind.Our assessment: America will not lose this war in the traditional military sense. But by the measure of history — and by the measure of what actually constitutes a lasting win — it faces the same structural problem it has faced in every major conflict since 1945. It knows how to fight. It has not yet learned how to end.

Can United States of America win the war against Iran?

Accra, Ghana — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://accrastreetjournal.com/">Accra Street Journal</a> has highlighted growing concerns over a widening digital gap among businesses in Ghana, as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face increasing difficulty competing in an economy rapidly shifting online.Across multiple sectors, businesses with limited digital presence are finding it harder to reach customers, as consumer behaviour continues to move toward online platforms for discovery, comparison, and purchasing decisions.Industry observers note that while larger organisations are investing in digital tools and online visibility, many smaller businesses remain constrained by limited resources, low digital literacy, and uncertainty about returns on investment.The imbalance is raising broader concerns about competitiveness within Ghana’s private sector, with analysts at SamBoad Publishing warning that digitally active firms are likely to consolidate market share at the expense of less visible competitors.According to Samuel Kwame Boadu, editor-in-chief and founder, the issue extends beyond access to technology and reflects a deeper structural challenge.“Businesses that are not visible online risk being excluded from a growing segment of the market,” he said.He referenced the enduring perspective of Kwame Nkrumah on forward-looking development, noting that adapting to economic shifts remains essential.“We face neither East nor West; we face forward,” he quoted, underscoring the importance of responding to changing global and local realities.Analysts indicate that although digital adoption initiatives exist, their reach remains uneven, particularly among SMEs operating outside major commercial centres.The resulting gap, stakeholders say, could have longer-term implications for employment, innovation, and inclusive economic growth if not addressed through more coordinated support and capacity-building efforts.As Ghana’s economy becomes increasingly digitised, Accra Street Journal maintains that bridging this divide will be critical to ensuring that smaller businesses are not left behind in the transition.

Accra Street Journal: Ghana’s digital divide deepens as SMEs struggle for visibility in online economy

A rapidly escalating conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran is leaving a growing humanitarian toll across the Middle East, with confirmed deaths now exceeding 3,700 and injuries surpassing 60,000.Data compiled between February 28 and April 7, 2026, shows that the impact of the hostilities is no longer confined to a few countries, but has spread across a wide geographic area, affecting both core conflict zones and neighbouring states.Iran remains the worst affected, recording over 2,000 deaths and more than 26,000 injuries. The scale of casualties there accounts for a significant portion of the overall figures, underscoring the country as the epicentre of the crisis.In Lebanon, nearly 1,500 people have been killed, marking one of the deadliest impacts outside Iran. Meanwhile, Israel has reported relatively lower fatalities at 26, but a high number of injuries exceeding 7,000, indicating intense but less lethal strikes.Beyond these heavily impacted areas, the conflict has rippled through several countries including Iraq, Syria and Jordan, all of which have recorded casualties. Gulf states such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman have also reported varying degrees of fatalities and injuries.Even areas farther from the core conflict, such as Cyprus and Palestine, have not been spared.The United States military has also recorded casualties, with 13 personnel killed and 200 injured, highlighting the direct involvement of foreign forces and raising concerns about further escalation.Analysts say the pattern of casualties reveals varying attack intensities, with some countries experiencing high death tolls while others record large numbers of injuries. This suggests differences in targeting, defence systems, and the nature of the strikes.The growing number of injured persons is expected to place significant pressure on healthcare systems across the region, while the spread of the conflict increases the risk of displacement and a broader humanitarian crisis.With multiple countries now affected and casualty figures continuing to rise, fears are mounting that the situation could deteriorate further if diplomatic efforts fail to contain the violence.

Middle East conflict spreads across region as casualties surge past 3,700

VIP JEON Transport has confirmed an upward adjustment to its transport fares, set to take effect on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.In a statement, the company explained that the fare revision follows an earlier notice published on March 14, 2025, which was later suspended on March 18, 2025.After months of careful consideration, management has now finalised the new pricing structure.The last fare adjustment by VIP JEON Transport was on April 26, 2024, with the current increase reflecting changing operational conditions within the transport sector.The revised fares will apply across all service categories, including Executive and Standard Tour options.While the company did not specify exact increments, passengers should expect higher rates depending on the class of travel.Industry analysts note that transport operators nationwide have faced growing pressure from rising fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, and inflation, factors that often necessitate fare adjustments.Passengers are advised to plan ahead and factor in the new fares as they come into effect. This latest development is part of a broader trend in the transport sector, with operators seeking to balance service delivery against increasing operational costs.<div class="my-4"><img class="max-w-full h-auto rounded-lg shadow-sm" src="https://srmshbfmongacwhafkly.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/1775562662909-upow7vbsmp9.webp" alt="VIP Buses new prices" data-credit="VIP Buses new prices" title="VIP Buses new prices" width="auto" height="auto"></div>

VIP Transport announces fare increase starting April 8

Samartex FC reignited their top-four ambitions with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Asante Kotoko as their Ghana Premier League clash resumed at the Baba Yara Stadium.The match had initially been halted due to heavy rainfall with the scoreline at 0-0, but upon resumption, Samartex returned sharper and more purposeful, taking control of the contest.The breakthrough arrived in the 54th minute when Christian Agyenim Boateng calmly finished off a well-crafted move to give the visitors a deserved lead.Kotoko’s hopes of a comeback suffered a major setback when Samed Kyei was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, leaving the hosts to battle with ten men.Samartex took full advantage of their numerical superiority and doubled their lead in the 80th minute through Emmanuel Essien, effectively putting the game beyond Kotoko’s reach.The Porcupine Warriors managed a late response, with Albert Amoah pulling one back, but it proved to be only a consolation as Samartex held firm to secure all three points.The result carries significant implications in the league standings. Kotoko remain fourth with 43 points after 28 matches, missing a crucial opportunity to close the gap on leaders Bibiani Gold Stars, while Medeama SC and Hearts of Oak occupy second and third place, respectively.For Samartex, the victory lifts them to sixth position, strengthening their push for a top-four finish as the Ghana Premier League season enters its decisive final stretch.

Samartex beat Kotoko at Baba Yara to boost top four push

The Ghana Premier League Week 28 clash between Asante Kotoko and FC Samartex 1996 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi was halted after the first 45 minutes due to heavy rainfall.The first half ended goalless, with both teams failing to convert their chances in a tightly contested opening period.According to Ghana Football Regulations, the second half of the match has been rescheduled.The game will resume on Tuesday, April 7, at 9:00 AM at the same venue, as the two sides continue their battle for points in the league.Fans are advised to follow official channels for updates as the teams prepare to complete the fixture.

GPL: Asante Kotoko vs FC Samartex 1996 rained off

Ghana legend Charles Akonnor has confirmed that he will not be considered for the role of head coach of the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The Ghana Football Association (GFA) recently parted ways with Otto Addo just over two months before the global tournament. Addo’s dismissal came shortly after a 2-1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart, marking Ghana’s fourth consecutive loss in pre-tournament friendlies, including a 5-1 loss to Austria.“The Ghana Football Association has parted ways with the head coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo, effective immediately,” the GFA stated on its official website.Following Addo’s exit, several names emerged as potential replacements, including the 52-year-old Akonnor, who had previously managed the Black Stars from 2020 to 2021. Akonnor, a former Black Stars stalwart with 51 caps and 13 goals, has now ruled himself out of contention.“I am with Gor Mahia. I’m very happy. I’m doing well,” Akonnor told the media following Gor Mahia’s FKF Premier League fixture against Kariobangi Sharks at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.“We are fighting for the title, and that is where my focus is, and so nothing comes before that. I was once the coach of the national team. If there’s a link, it’s not anything negative.“It’s not anything bad. I’m a Ghanaian. I love my country. I love the national team. I will support them in the World Cup. And that will be it. But for now, my focus is on Gor Mahia.”Meanwhile, the GFA is expected to finalise the appointment in the coming days as Ghana prepares for upcoming friendlies against Mexico and Wales before opening their World Cup campaign against Panama, England, and Croatia.

C.K Akonnor rules himself out to replace Otto Addo as Black Stars coach

As the FIFA World Cup draws closer, a powerful and deeply human story has emerged from the camp of the DR Congo national football team—one that goes far beyond tactics and team selection, touching on identity, unity, and national pride.Led by captain Chancel Mbemba, the players have made an emotional appeal to the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their request is simple yet extraordinary: they want a man known as “Lumumba” included in the country’s official World Cup delegation.<h2>DR Congo’s Unusual World Cup Request Explained</h2>This is not a call for an extra striker or tactical coach. Instead, it is a rare and symbolic appeal that reflects the emotional heartbeat of the team.Speaking on behalf of his teammates, Mbemba emphasised that Lumumba’s presence would significantly boost morale as they prepare to face the world’s best teams. The squad has even urged authorities to provide full logistical support to ensure he travels with them.In modern football, where decisions are typically driven by performance metrics and strategy, such a request stands out—highlighting just how much Lumumba means to the players.<h2>Who Is Lumumba? The Man Behind the Name</h2>Lumumba, whose real name is Michel Kuka Mboladinga, is not a footballer, coach, or official. Yet, he has become one of the most recognisable figures linked to Congolese football.His nickname is inspired by Patrice Lumumba, a national hero whose legacy represents resistance, independence, and pride.At matches, Lumumba is impossible to miss. His presence is defined by a striking and symbolic routine—he stands completely still throughout the game, raises his arm in a powerful gesture, and dresses in a style reminiscent of Congo’s independence era.While thousands of fans chant and celebrate, he remains motionless—like a living statue—capturing attention across stadiums and television screens.<h2>The Silent Superfan Who Became a National Symbol</h2>Lumumba rose to continental prominence during major tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations, where his unique match-day ritual went viral.But beyond the spectacle lies a deeper meaning. His actions are widely seen as:<ul><li>A tribute to Congo’s struggle for independence</li><li>A symbol of resilience and national pride</li><li>A powerful, unconventional way of supporting the team</li></ul>For the players, he represents something intangible but vital—the emotional energy that fuels performance when pressure is at its peak.<h2>Why Players Insist He Must Be at the World Cup</h2>At elite tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, success is not determined by talent alone. Mental strength, unity, and belief often make the difference.That is exactly where Lumumba comes in.According to Mbemba and his teammates, his presence would strengthen team spirit, serve as a constant reminder of their national identity, and provide emotional grounding throughout the competition.In essence, even without wearing the jersey, Lumumba is considered part of the team’s inner circle.<h2>A Decision That Goes Beyond Football</h2>The appeal now places the spotlight on the leadership of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Granting the request would signal recognition of the cultural and emotional dimensions of sport—not just the competitive aspects.For fans, this moment already feels historic. It reveals a team united not just by football, but by shared history, symbolism, and brotherhood.<h2>Final Word: More Than Just a Fan</h2>In an era where football is increasingly driven by data and results, DR Congo’s appeal is a refreshing reminder of the game’s deeper meaning.Lumumba may not score goals or make tackles, but his impact is undeniable.If he makes the trip to the FIFA World Cup, he will not just be another name in the delegation.He will be a symbol—standing tall, silent, and powerful—representing the spirit of an entire nation.

Who is Lumumba? The mysterious figure DR Congo players insist must join them at the World Cup

In today’s economic climate, many Ghanaians are looking for ways to earn extra income beyond their regular jobs or school commitments. The good news is that you don’t need huge capital to start a business. With as little as GH¢500 or less, you can launch a simple but profitable side hustle and gradually grow it into a sustainable source of income.Starting small is actually an advantage. It allows you to test your idea, learn the market, and build experience without taking on too much financial risk. Many successful entrepreneurs in Ghana began with very little and scaled up through consistency and smart reinvestment.One of the easiest ways to start is through the food and snack business. Ghanaians have a strong demand for affordable and convenient meals, making this a reliable option. You can prepare and sell items like bofrot, kelewele, sobolo, or even simple rice dishes right from your home. With proper hygiene and good taste, you can quickly attract regular customers within your area or through WhatsApp marketing.Another practical option is liquid soap production, which requires minimal startup capital. With basic ingredients and simple training, you can produce and sell to households, schools, and small businesses. This type of business thrives on repeat purchases, giving you a steady stream of income over time.The thrift business, popularly known as “bend down select", is also a strong option. You can use your GH¢500 to buy a few quality second-hand clothes or shoes, clean them up, and resell at a profit. Social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram make it easy to showcase your items and reach buyers without needing a physical shop.For those who prefer something less physical, selling phone accessories such as chargers, earphones, and phone cases can be very profitable. Mobile phones are widely used across Ghana, and accessories are always in demand. With a small stock, you can start selling within your community or school.If you have digital skills, you can explore freelancing or online work. Services like writing, graphic design, and social media management require little to no capital to begin. All you need is consistency, internet access, and the willingness to learn and improve your skills over time.Whichever hustle you choose, it is important to start small but stay focused. Avoid trying to do too many things at once. Instead, concentrate on one idea, understand your customers, and deliver quality consistently.Marketing also plays a key role in your success. In Ghana today, your smartphone can serve as your shop. Platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok allow you to promote your products for free. Posting regularly, engaging with customers, and sharing reviews can significantly boost your visibility and sales.As you begin to make profits, discipline is crucial. Instead of spending your earnings, reinvest them into the business. Buy more stock, improve your packaging, or expand your offerings. This is how small side hustles grow into full businesses.Ultimately, success comes down to consistency. Many people start businesses, but only a few stay committed long enough to see results. If you remain dedicated, provide value, and continuously improve, your GH¢500 investment can turn into something much bigger.Starting a side hustle in Ghana is not about how much money you have—it’s about taking action. Begin with what you have, stay consistent, and build your way up

How to start a side hustle in Ghana with GH¢500 or less

Do you know there’s an app called QuizMate designed for students where teachers can set quizzes, and there’s no way to cheat! Screens are locked; you can’t switch apps, take screenshots, or copy answers. Everything is secure, so whether you’re taking a test or practising past questions, QuizMate Learn keeps it fair and serious.<h2>What Is QuizMate?</h2>QuizMate (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="http://quizmatelearn.com">quizmatelearn.com</a>) is an AI quiz maker and secure assessment platform built for educators and students. Teachers can create assessments either manually or using artificial intelligence, then share a unique code with students who take the test in a fully controlled exam environment.For students, QuizMate doubles as an intelligent study companion — upload your course notes, slides, or textbook chapters, and the AI generates likely exam questions, practice quizzes, and concise study summaries.With over 10,000 quizzes created, 5,000+ active students, and a 98% teacher satisfaction rate, QuizMate is already trusted in classrooms from primary schools to universities across Ghana and beyond.<h2>QuizMate for Teachers and Lecturers</h2><h3>Create Quizzes Manually or With AI</h3>You can build assessments from scratch using the manual question builder or let the AI do the work. Enter a topic, paste some text, or upload a PDF — and QuizMate generates exam-ready questions with a full marking scheme in seconds. The PDF-to-quiz feature is a standout: upload any course notes or textbook chapter, and the AI extracts key content and structures it into a proper assessment.<h3>Share a Code — Students Take the Test</h3>Once your quiz is ready, QuizMate generates a unique access code. Share it with your class, and students join the exam directly from their phone or browser. No complex setup, no account linking required.<h3>Flexible Grading: AI or Manual</h3>QuizMate supports both AI-assisted marking and manual grading. AI marking speeds things up dramatically for large classes, while manual grading gives you control where nuance matters. Both options feed directly into the gradebook.<h3>Analytics, Gradebook, and Exports</h3>After each assessment you get detailed analytics — not just scores, but insight into weak topics, class performance trends, and completion rates. Results can be exported, and everything stays organised in one gradebook.<h2>QuizMate for Students</h2><h3>Upload Your Course Manual and Get Exam Questions</h3>This is one of QuizMate's most powerful student features. Upload your course manual, lecture slides, or any PDF, and the AI identifies the most testable content and generates likely examination questions. You can then practise those questions in a full exam environment — realistic preparation before the actual paper.<h3>AI-Generated Study Notes and Summaries</h3>Students can also upload course material to receive concise, AI-generated study notes and exam summaries. This turns hours of dense reading into structured, digestible content — useful for last-minute revision or getting a clear overview of a complex topic quickly.<h3>Practice Mode, Streaks, and Instant Feedback</h3>QuizMate's practice mode helps students build a consistent study habit through daily streaks. After every question you get instant corrections and feedback, so learning stays active. Topic mastery tracking shows you exactly where to focus next.<h2>How QuizMate Prevents Cheating</h2>Academic integrity is built into QuizMate at the core. The secure exam mode includes a comprehensive set of anti-cheating controls that make it one of the most robust online assessment tools available:<ul><li>Screen and device lock — students cannot leave the exam interface</li><li>No app switching — switching away from the app is detected immediately</li><li>No screenshots or screen recording — all capture attempts are blocked</li><li>No copy and paste — students cannot copy questions or paste external answers.</li><li>Randomised questions — question order is shuffled for every student</li><li>One attempt only — students cannot retake or replay the exam</li><li>Timer enforcement — the countdown cannot be paused or manipulated</li><li>Security logs — teachers receive a full record of any suspicious activity</li></ul>QuizMate also handles real-world disruptions fairly. If a student's internet drops during an exam, they get a 30-second grace period to reconnect. Fail to reconnect — or accumulate too many violations like repeatedly switching apps — and the exam auto-submits with no second chances. This removes the grey area that typically surrounds online exam integrity.<h2>QuizMate Pricing</h2>QuizMate uses a pay-per-quiz model with no monthly subscriptions. You only pay when you exceed the free tier.Starter — Free: Supports up to 20 students per quiz. Includes AI quiz generation, PDF-to-quiz, and full secure exam mode. Every new account receives 200 coins to get started immediately.Growth — $0.99 per quiz: For classes of 21 to 50 students. Adds analytics and result exports on top of everything in the free plan.Large Scale — $9.99 per quiz: For institutions with 2,500+ students. Custom pricing is available for schools and universities with specific requirements.The pay-per-quiz model keeps costs tied directly to usage — ideal for educators who run assessments periodically rather than every day.<h2>Where to Access QuizMate</h2>QuizMate works across all major platforms: browsers at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="http://app.quizmatelearn.com">app.quizmatelearn.com</a>, iOS via the Apple App Store, and Android via Google Play. The mobile apps support the full secure exam mode, so phone-based assessments are just as controlled as desktop sessions.<h2>Who Is QuizMate Best Suited For?</h2>QuizMate works particularly well for university and college lecturers who need to set and mark assessments for large cohorts, secondary school teachers who want frequent low-stakes quizzes with proper integrity controls, students preparing for professional or academic exams using their own notes, and institutions across Ghana and Africa looking for an accessible, affordable, and locally relevant assessment platform.QuizMate is a well-rounded platform that solves real problems on both sides of the classroom. The AI quiz generation from uploaded PDFs removes one of the biggest pain points in assessment creation. The anti-cheating features are thorough without being clunky, and the student-facing study tools add genuine value beyond just sitting tests.The free tier is generous enough to get started properly. The upgrade path is logical. And the pay-per-quiz pricing makes it accessible for teachers and institutions at any scale.If you're looking for an AI-powered quiz maker that takes exam security seriously and helps students study smarter at the same time, QuizMate is a strong choice.Visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="http://quizmatelearn.com">quizmatelearn.com</a> to create a free account and claim your 200 starter coins today.

QuizMate: AI-Powered Quiz maker that makes secure assessments easy for teachers and students

Hearts of Oak returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Young Apostles in their Ghana Premier League clash at the Accra Sports Stadium.Under pressure following a run of disappointing results, Hearts produced a composed and purposeful display from the outset. The hosts dominated possession, committed numbers forward, and consistently looked the more dangerous side in attack.Their superiority paid off in the 35th minute when Frank Abora Duku applied a calm finish to break the deadlock. The goal capped a spell of sustained pressure and ultimately proved decisive.Hearts maintained control for the remainder of the first half, creating the clearer opportunities while keeping their opponents largely contained. Young Apostles struggled to gain a foothold in the game, offering only limited attacking threat against a well-organised Hearts backline.Set pieces further highlighted the home side’s attacking intent, although they were unable to convert their dominance into a second goal to secure a more comfortable cushion.After the break, Hearts adopted a more measured approach, focusing on game management and defensive discipline. While Young Apostles showed greater urgency in search of an equaliser, they lacked the cutting edge required to break down the hosts’ resolute defence.At full time, the victory marked a significant return to form for Hearts of Oak, lifting them to third place on 46 points after 28 matches and keeping them firmly in contention with six games remaining.Attention now turns to their upcoming fixture against Vision FC as they aim to build momentum in the title race. Meanwhile, the defeat leaves Young Apostles in deeper trouble at the bottom of the table, slipping into the relegation zone ahead of their clash with Swedru All Blacks.

Hearts of Oak beat Young Apostles to boost GPL title push

Cameroon's President Paul Biya, the world's oldest leader, is set to get a vice-president for the first time in his four-decade rule following controversial constitutional changes backed by parliament.Should anything now happen to Biya, 93, the vice-president will automatically step in and complete the term before a new election is held.The position was scrapped in 1972. In recent years the leader of the Senate was expected to act as president but only until a fresh election was arranged.The opposition said the amendments were hastily drafted and aimed at consolidating power. Even one senator from Biya's party described the process as "suspicious".There has been frequent private speculation about the state of Biya's health, but openly discussing it is taboo, and he has always defied rumours of his death by appearing in public after long absences.A joint sitting of both houses of parliament on Saturday passed the bill changing the constitution, which now requires the president's signature, with 200 lawmakers voting in favour, 18 against and four abstaining.Supporters said the bill would enhance government efficiency as it would elevate the level of representation whenever an official is required to stand in for the president. It would also lift the burden of succession from the Senate to enable it to focus on its legislative functions.Prior to the amendment, the constitution designated the leader of the Senate to briefly take over in case the sitting president dies or is incapacitated. An election would then be held.The approved bill now stipulates that the vice-president – appointed by the president rather than elected – will become the head of state to serve out the rest of the seven-year term.The opposition said it was submitted without broad consultation.The Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, which has six representatives in parliament, boycotted the vote. It had pushed for a revision in favour of the vice-president being jointly elected with the president, rather than appointed.The party also sought a constitutional provision that reflects the linguistic split between English and French-speaking regions. The SDF wanted the nation's top two posts to be shared between Cameroon's two communities, which was the position before 1972."This constitutional reform could have been a moment of political courage, but it is nothing less than a missed historic opportunity," SDF chairman Joshua Osih said.Meanwhile, another leading opposition voice, Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, said the amendment amounted to a "constitutional and institutional coup" by the ruling party.In a statement, he argued that the incumbent was seeking a "republican monarchy" and announced his intention to launch an online campaign to denounce the move.From 1961 to 1972, Cameroon operated under a federal system which respected the autonomy of the francophone and anglophone parts of the country.During this period, the role of vice-president was in place. However, following a 1972 referendum which moved the country to a unitary state, the office was scrapped.Biya's long time in power, which began in November 1982, has sparked a debate about his succession. Despite the move to reinstate the vice-president position, the future of Cameroon beyond Biya remains uncertain.The president won an eighth term in power last October with 53.7% of the vote in an election that the opposition said was rigged.With the constitutional changes passed, national discussions are now dominated by speculation over the identity of the new vice-president.Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2e95xqn10o">BBC</a>

Cameroon approves role of vice president to 93-year-old  Paul Biya

Atlético Madrid produced a dominant display to secure a 4-0 victory over Barcelona at the Estadio Metropolitano in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. The hosts struck early after a defensive error gifted them the opener, setting the tone for a ruthless first-half performance. Clinical finishes from Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julián Álvarez compounded Barcelona’s struggles, as Diego Simeone’s side repeatedly exposed the visitors with sharp counter-attacks.Barcelona believed they had reduced the deficit shortly after the restart, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up. Atlético remained compact and disciplined while protecting their commanding lead, and the visitors’ evening worsened further when Eric Garcia was sent off for a last-man foul. Simeone’s men controlled proceedings comfortably to put themselves in a commanding position ahead of the second leg, leaving Barcelona with a huge task to overturn the 4-0 deficit.Focus now shifts back to league duties, with Atlético preparing for a trip to Rayo Vallecano, while Barcelona travel to face Girona.

Barcelona Stunned as ruthless Atlético Madrid dominate in Copa del Rey Semi-Final clash

Edem Kwame

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