ILLEGAL MINING 'GALAMSEY' IS DESTROYING OUR RIVERS

Will Kat.cr Return?

It looks like KickassTorrents (Kat.cr) is down, possibly for good. Users began reporting problems with KickassTorrents on Wednesday, although the site itself was still reporting that everything was running fine. But now nothing is working, including the site’s own status page. Recent news that KickassTorrents’ alleged owner was arrested and seven domains were seized by the U.S. government likely means that the site will be down for good soon.
Here’s what you need to know.

1. The KickassTorrents’ Status Webpage Is Now Unreachable

Users have been reporting problems with KickassTorrents. On the KickassTorrents Fan Club on Facebook, users have reported problems including:
Others responded with comments that page was sending them an error message that just read “is not available right now.”
Meanwhile, KickassTorrents’ status site first reported that “all systems are up and running.” However, users were suspicious that this information wasn’t up to date:

(kastatus.com)

And they were right, because now the site shows the following:

(KickassTorrents status)

It’s not looking good for KickassTorrents.

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2. The Site Is Down Because Domains Were Seized by the U.S. Government

The problems that users are experiencing are likely the result of a lawsuit that the U.S. filed against the alleged KickassTorrents owner, along with the seizure of seven KickassTorrents domains.
According to the complaint, the seized domains are:

• kickasstorrents.com
• kastatic.com
• thekat.tv
• kat.cr
• kickass.cr
• kickass.to
• kat.ph

According to Kickass Torrents’ status website, before it was taken down, the site still had proxy sites including kickassto.co, kickass.ag, kickass.cs, katproxy.is, thekat.se, katproxy.cc, lovekat.org, and an onion site. But now, none of those sites are working either.
KAT has moved its domains before. In early June, the site was pushing back against repeated attempts to block its domains, and it added a new domain on the Tor network.

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3. The Alleged Owner, Artem Vaulin, Faces Up to 20 Years in Jail

Artem Vaulin’s LinkedIn page, without a profile photo. (LinkedIn)

Artem Vaulin, the alleged owner, faces up to 20 years in jail for copyright infringement and money laundering conspiracy. The 30-year-old from Ukraine was arrested in Poland and the United States is seeking extradition. According to the lawsuit, Vaulin owned a company called Cryptoneat which may have been used as a front for KickassTorrents. However, an in-depth look at the company’s website, Instagram page, and Facebook page (most of which have since been taken down) looked like a legitimate company with possibly up to 20 employees.
According to CryptoNeat’s LinkedIn page:

We are a software development company crafting our own products since 2008. Our latest project is wine scanner iOS application Wineeapp.com.
We support personal responsibility and involvement with no overmanagement standing in the way of imagination and creative thinking.
Flexible schedules and smart workspace — we hold to the ergonomics cult: Herman Miller chairs, standing desks, Apple hardware and multi-monitor configurations.”

Cryptoneat also has an Instagram page here, which has since been taken down.

4. Copycat Sites of KickassTorrents Are Already Cropping Up

Meanwhile, copycat sites are already cropping up. The Verge reported that KAT.am, one KickassTorrents clone, had popped up online but was sketchy. (The site had an internal server error when we visited.) The creators told The Verge that it had the complete KAT database, including comments and user information. Another one at KickassTorrents.website was a limited mirror. (The Verge reported it was an Isohunt.to site, but TorrentFreak said this information was not accurate.) Meanwhile, TorrentFreak reported many more clones appearing, including Kickass.to (which now displays a seizure notice), and sites like Kickass.la who are telling reporters that they are an “official backup.”
Is this the end of KickassTorrents? Likely so, since the domains are now under the government’s control. Copycat sites may pop up, but we’re unlikely to see KickassTorrents again.

Montie FM case: '3 get 4 months jail term each', Owners fined

The Supreme Court has handed a four-month jail term each to a radio host and his two panellists who threatened to kill judges of Ghana’s apex court.
The three, Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson (both radio panellists), together with the host Salifu Maase, who were found guilty of contempt on July 18, are each to pay a GHC10,000 in fines in addition to the prison term.
They will serve a month each should they fail to pay the additional fine. Owners of Montie FM, the station on which the contemnors made the contemptuous statements, have also been fined GHC30,000. They have up to close of Thursday, July 28 to pay the GHC30,000 fine.

They are also to produce a document giving an undertaking that none of its media platforms will be be used to make or promote contemptuous statement or comments that has the potential to scandalise the court.
The three contemnors were whisked away in this Police van to begin their sentence Meanwhile, the court has granted bail to the owners – Harry Zakuor, Edward Addo, Ato Ahwoi and Kwesi Kyei Atuah- until they comply with the court’s judgement, while the three persons have been whisked away to begin their jail-terms.

Facts
Alistair and Gunn speaking on an Accra-based Montie FM threatened to kill the judges of the Supreme Court over their orders to Ghana’s Electoral Commission to clean the voter’s register.
Host of the show Maase, was also said to have spurred the two on to make scandalous statements against the court; comments that have widely been condemned by many Ghanaians and institutions.
The Supreme Court in June this year ordered the Electoral Commission to submit to it names of all persons who used National Health Insurance cards as proof of identity to register to vote in the 2012 general elections. The court subsequently ordered the EC to delete the over 56,000 names submitted.
This infuriated Alistair and Godwin Ako Gunn who considered the order unfavourable to their party- the National Democratic Congress- hence made unsavoury comments against the judges which the Supreme Court viewed as contemptuous. The court subsequently summoned them to explain why they should not be jailed.
The two together with the host of the show and one of the owners of the radio station, appeared before the Supreme Court July 12 but the court could not hear them because they were short served with the court processes. The case was thus adjourned to July 18 for them to appear again. The rest of the owners were ordered to appear in person on the said date.

Plea for mercy & conviction
On July 18, they showed up in court with their lawyers to plead for mercy after they had apologised to the court for their statements and actions.
Notwithstanding, the court went ahead to convict them but deferred sentencing to July 27. Alistair Nelson in his plea for mercy blamed his comments on a disease he called ‘kpokpogbligbli’ while Maase Salifu, popularly known as Mugabe, apologized for his comments, adding that his producer fell ill on the fateful day the incident happened hence there was no one to hold him in check.
The owners – Harry Zakour, Edward Addo, Kwasi Attuah and Kwaky Bram Larbi pleaded for mercy and said the act was regretful.

Credit:  Ellis D. Avi-Doe

Policeman who killed kids and committed suicide had family problems

It has emerged that the policeman with the Tema Regional Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) unit who allegedly shot dead his two young children and mother in law before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide on Monday had family problems.
It is unclear what his motivation was but sources close to the horrific incident said his wife, a nursing mother, narrowly escaped with her life.
The incident occurred at about 4pm on Monday in an uncompleted house located between the Devtraco courts estates and the affordable estates near Kpone in the Tema area of Greater Accra.

The caretaker of the house where the incident occurred, Mr Akwasi Quansah has told Graphic Online’s Tema reporter, Benjamin Xornam Glover that the deceased persons were his church members who moved into the uncompleted house last Thursday. He explained that the wife of the policeman and the deceased persons were his church members who had been evicted from their home and seeking shelter so on the advice of a church elder, he took them in with the intention of securing a place for them later only to be hit by the unfortunate incident.
He said it was the first time seeing the policeman in the house.

Explaining, he claimed to have received a distress call from his relatives to rush back home at about 4:30 pm on Monday and when he arrived, he saw a crowd gathered in front of the house.

According to Mr Quansah, when he was told there had been a gun shot in the house he and his wife quickly dashed to the Devtraco courts police station where they lodged a complaint.

Two detectives were dispatched to the scene to assess the situation and convey the bodies to the mortuary.
Constable Amuzu who was expected to be on night patrol duties, had booked the rifle from the SWAT armoury but failed to proceed on duty and rather went home to wipe out his family.
The uniformed policeman wearing his helmet shot and killed instantly his mother-in-law who was bathing his baby, shot the baby and the elder child, a boy of about two years before shooting himself.
Sources at the tragic scene claimed the policeman was abusive of his wife and that on a recent late evening surprise visit by the Inspector General of Police, John Kudalor to the Tema Regional Police headquarters, he had met a woman lodging a complaint of assault at the nearby Railways and Port Police Station where Amuzu was stationed.
They alleged when the IGP inquired and was told the suspect was an officer, he allegedly directed his detention overnight until he was given bail the next day.
The sources could not however, link that incident to the murder-suicide.

Credit: the lead

Priest killed in hostage-taking near Rouen

A priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men at his church near Rouen in northern France, police and French media have said.

The armed men entered the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray during Mass, taking the priest, two nuns and several churchgoers hostage, reports said.
French TV said shots had been heard after police arrived at the scene. Both hostage-takers are now dead.
The area has been cordoned off and police have told people to stay away.
At least one person is receiving medical treatment for injuries.
A woman who works in a local beauty parlour, Eulalie Garcia, said she had known the 92-year-old priest since her childhood.
"My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him," she said.
"He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn't like to draw attention to himself."

There was no immediate indication of the identity or motive of the hostage-takers, but France has been on high alert since the Bastille Day attack in Nice earlier this month, when a man ploughed a lorry into celebrating crowds, killing more than 80 people.
The Nice attack was carried out by Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who was not a known jihadist but so-called Islamic State said he had acted in response to its calls to target civilians in countries that have been attacking it.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says the French government has been under huge pressure to prevent further attacks.
President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve are on their way to Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray to be briefed by police.
The investigation into the incident will be led by anti-terrorism prosecutors, the interior ministry has said.
Credit: BBC

Justin Timberlake slapped by stranger

Not even a "Suit & Tie" could prevent this unexpected fan moment.

Over the weekend, Justin Timberlake traveled to Lake Tahoe for the 27th annual American Century Championship. While participating in the most prestigious event in celebrity golf, the "Can't Stop the Feeling" singer experienced a surprise encounter from an unknown stranger.

In video obtained by TMZ, fans were able to witness the Grammy winner getting slapped on the right side of his face as he tried to pass through a crowd of people.

As soon as he felt the touch, Justin slowed down and tried to figure out what just happened. "Bro, why would you do that?" he asked the unknown individual.

And yes, we're still looking for the answer tonight.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that the man responsible for touching Justin refused to leave the premises. After allegedly becoming belligerent, cops arrested him for disorderly conduct.

Ultimately, J.T. was still able to have plenty of fun during the weekend. The singer joined Alfonso Ribeiro and Stephen Curry for a brief dance break. Their moves of choice? How about the Carlton dance from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?

"Celebrating one of my only good shots today with a little Jones BBQ...!" Stephen joked on Instagram with a photo from the green. "Good times. Gonna do it all again tmw."

While their moves were totally on par, they didn't all come out on top of the leaderboard. Alfonso ultimately placed ahead of the pack in the 13th spot while Justin was in 21st place and Stephen tied for 27th place.

Charles Barkley, Bode Miller, Aaron Rodgers, Ray Romano and Abby Wambach were also some of the familiar faces who participated in the weekend event.

Credit: Eonline

Japan knife attack leaves 19 dead

Nineteen residents have been killed in a knife attack at a care centre for people with mental disabilities in Japan.

Such attacks are extremely rare in Japan - the incident in Sagamihara, west of Tokyo, is the worst mass killing in decades.

Police have arrested a former employee, who went to a nearby police station and allegedly admitted to the attack.

He is reported to have said he wanted people with disabilities to disappear.
The 26-year-old was named in local media as Satoshi Uematsu.

Local police have said the suspect sent a handwritten letter to politicians in February in which he threatened to kill hundreds of disabled people. He was detained for almost two weeks before being released.

Staff at the Tsukui Yamayuri-en facility, in a suburban area about 50km (31 miles) from Tokyo, called police at 02:30 local time (17:30 GMT) to report a man with a knife inside the building.

Local media reports say the suspect broke a window to get inside and then began stabbing people.

The victims were aged between 19 and 70, the Kyodo news agency, said citing the Sagamihara City Fire Department. Another 25 people were injured, 20 seriously. Both men and women were reported to be among the dead.

It appears that the attacker then left the facility himself, and drove to the Tsukui police station where he turned himself in.

Pictures have emerged of what is reported to be the steering wheel of his car, stained with blood. Broadcaster NHK said he had been carrying a bag of knives stained with blood.

The facility is set in extensive grounds It has separate living quarters for men and women and had up to 160 residents at the time of the attack, according to local officials. Eight staff members were on duty at the time.

Officials have ruled out any link to terrorism.

Mass killings are rare in Japan, which has extremely strict gun control laws.
In 2008, a man drove a truck into a packed shopping district at Akihabara in Tokyo, before climbing out and randomly stabbing people. Seven people died.

That attack occurred on the same date that a man with a history of mental illness stabbed eight children to death at an Osaka primary school in 2001.

Credit:  BBC

Guru praises Shatta Wale for successful concert

Celebrated hiplife/hip hop artiste, Guru, has congratulated Shatta Wale for organising a successful "Shatta Wale Live at Nima' concert on Saturday, 23rd July 2016

Guru, who is currently promoting his latest tracks "My take' and "Raw, ' made the pronouncement during an interaction with the media.
"Wow, I will like to use this opportunity to congratulate Shatta Wale for organising such a wonderful event.

"He proved to the world once again that when it comes to dancehall artistes, he is one of the best ever to be produced in Africa. He is truly the dancehall commando; more successes and blessings," Guru affirmed.

The ‘Shatta Wale Live at Nima Salah Remix’ is a dancehall concert and a first of it kind where the reigning African king of Dancehall, Shatta Wale, made a historic appearance with an electrifying performance.

He performed almost 130 of his hit songs and more with much energy to the admiration of the over 20 thousand fans that thronged to catch a glimpse of the historic event

Shatta Wale also used the opportunity to preach peace to his fans ahead of the 2016 upcoming election.

The show which was scheduled as part of the recent Sallah Festivities will take place annually.


Credit: razzonline

Stay in your lane, respect hustle of people - Tic Tac tells Shatta Wale

Shatta Wale during an interview with Delay listed a host of veteran acts he thinks were not smart with their career.
Reacting to the comment Tic Tac stated, ‘’For me, I have nothing against him so he shouldn’t just go on TV and use my name as he sees fit and try to rub things over my name. All I want to tell him is, he should respect my name.’’
Tic Tac has cautioned Shatta Wale not to drag his name into the gutters by telling him to respect his brand.
Sharing his opinion about the whole ‘not being smart’ statement by Shatta Wale; Tic Tac queried, ‘What has Shatta Wale got?’ according to him, Shatta is just running his mouth for publicity sake.
Referencing to his earlier open statement about the whole incident, Tic Tac stated Shatta wasn’t even smart by answering such a question if he had nothing meaningful to say.
"Like I said earlier if he had nothing better to say in regards to a particular question during an interview, he might as well just shut up because at the end of the day it might cause him trouble.’’
Tic Tac further quizzed Shatta Wale’s stance as someone championing a peace campaign: "who even made him an ambassador for peace; he goes around preaching peace and picks on others, is that what his peace stands for?’’
He also advised the dancehall artiste to stay in his lane and give respect to the hustle of people who have paved the way for him.

Credit: Georgebritton

Kaakie sets up foundation for pregnant women

Dancehall artiste, Grace Kaki Awo Ocansey, known in showbiz circles as Kaakie, has set up a foundation to assist pregnant women.
Known as ‘Maternal Health and Child Liberty Foundation’, Kaakie said it is targeted at making sure mothers are safe during and after pregnancy.
Kaakie made this revelation on Entertainment Capital on Accra100.5FM Saturday July 23.
“First of all [the foundation] is to empower women and to empower mothers, to ensure that the babies that are going to be delivered will be safe, the mothers will be safe, the duration of the pregnancy will be safe and the healthcare given is safe. So, we are not just targeting the mothers, but we are targeting the care that is given to the mothers, the care that is given to the baby inside the mother and the care given during delivery to ensure that the mother and the baby are safe during pregnancy and after pregnancy”.
The award-winning dancehall artiste, who also holds a BSc Degree in Midwifery, said her foundation will not interfere with her musical career.
She stated that although she is a registered nurse, she prefers to pursue music.
Kaakie is out with her latest single titled ‘Sankwas’ featuring rapper Guru.

Credit: Classfmonline