South Africa minister Manana accused of hitting a woman

South Africa's Deputy Education Minister Mduduzi Manana has been accused of hitting a woman during a row at a nightclub.

Mr Manana has not formally commented. However, in a recorded conversation, a person believed to be the minister can be heard admitting to slapping the alleged victim.
The government has said it is aware of the assault accusation.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world.
Police figures showed that 64,000 cases were reported last year.
A police spokesman confirmed to Agence France-Presse that they were investigating Sunday's alleged incident.
BBC Africa Live: Updates on this and other African news stories
The minister for women in the president's office, Susan Shabangu, has condemned the deputy minister's "alleged violent actions".
In a statement, she added that she received the news "with great shock and disappointment".
On the tape recording, which is purportedly a conversation between the victim's brother and the minister, the person believed to be the minister admits to slapping the victim when she called him gay.
He implies that other people who were with him were responsible for the worst of the violence.
The recording then emerged in the South African press.
Local media report that the row started over who should succeed President Jacob Zuma when he steps down as leader of the governing ANC in December.

Man set fire to home with wife and kids inside, Tacoma police say

A man has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson after Tacoma police said he started a fire at a home with his wife and two children inside.
Police said Kenneth Massey, 47, threw a container full of gas at a front window of a house in the 4000 block of South Warner Street on Saturday night at about 10:15 p.m., starting the fire.
He knew his wife and two teenage children were inside at the time, police said. No one was hurt.
His wife, from whom Massey is estranged, called 911 to report the fire. She and the children told police they believed Massey had set fire to the home, and described what he was wearing, a police spokeswoman said. Police later found Massey nearby and arrested him.
Massey is also charged with one count of possession of an incendiary device with malicious placement.
Credit: Candice Ruud

Scott wins $8.1M at World Series of Poker

A New Jersey man with a degree in accounting is this year's World Series of Poker champion.
Scott Blumstein won the series' marquee no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event early Sunday in Las Vegas surrounded by dozens of supporters including relatives and college friends. He is now more than $8.1 million richer after eliminating Pennsylvania's Daniel Ott on the 246th hand of the final table, more than 60 hands with just the two of them with bricks of bills and a gold bracelet separating them.
"I'm really happy about how I played tonight," said Blumstein, who's 25. "... This is just one poker tournament. It takes variance and luck and playing your best, and all those things came together, and I'm happy to be the winner."
Blumstein's final hand of an ace of hearts and a two of diamonds ended up being stronger than that of Ott, who went all in with an ace of diamonds and an eight of diamonds. The community cards were a jack of spades, a six of spades, a five of hearts, a seven of hearts and a two of hearts. It was the last card that prompted Blumstein's supporters to erupt.
"I'm really happy with the result, really happy with the deuce because I was playing good, but I'm pretty tired of poker at this point honestly, and to have to go back and battle pretty deep again, I wasn't looking forward to it," said Blumstein, who fell to his knees near his supporters after the two of hearts was revealed.
Blumstein, Ott and seven other players reached the final table after having bested more than 7,200 participants. Unlike the past several years, the final nine players didn't have to wait until November to take their spots at the final table. Each of them was guaranteed at least $1 million.
The famed tournament marked the end of this year's series, in which dozens of tournaments drew 120,995 entrants from around the world, shattering attendance records. The men who made the final table represented the United States, Argentina, France and Britain. Earlier, on Saturday night, Frenchman Benjamin Pollak was eliminated in third place.
Ott, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, earned $4.7 million. Neither he nor Blumstein, of Brigantine, New Jersey, had previously played at the main event. Both had dozens of supporters who cheered and gasped - depending on the hand - throughout the night. Some in Team Blumstein sported T-shirts that wondered "Is this real" and others that declared "I don't like folding."
Ott said overall he was satisfied with how he performed and the result.
"At the end the chips didn't go my way," Ott told PokerNews.com after the event. "The cards didn't go my way. But I got second place in the third largest Main Event ever. I can't complain about that."
Blumstein, a graduate of Temple University, is a regular on New Jersey online poker sites but had never cashed in the World Series of Poker. His total live winnings stood at more than $300,000 before Sunday. Besides his multimillion-dollar payout, he also took home a bracelet made from white and yellow gold, diamonds and rubies.
The millions of dollars Blumstein earned probably won't go toward buy-ins at high-roller poker tournaments, though. Blumstein said money is not what motivates him to play, but his payout will allow him to do "whatever" he wants to do whether that is play more poker, go into business or return to school.
The champion's home state is one of three states where online poker is legal. After the tournament ended, he credited his many hours on the online felt for helping him win the main event.
"The best way to get better at anything is through repetition and practice," he said. "When you play online in New Jersey, it's hard for any live pro to see even close to the amount of hands I've probably seen in the last two years."

Credit: Associated Press

Black Starlets team manager involved in fatal accident

 

The team manager of the Ghana U17 male team, Mr. Samuel Aboabire was involved in a serious car accident on Saturday night.

 

The Ghalca member is currently responding to treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

 

He is popularly known as 'Quataa' in the football circles.

 

Aboabire was a member of the contingent that represented Ghana at the 2017 CAF U17 Championship in Gabon.

Credit:  Kick GH

Man, two children killed in 7-vehicle accident

A man and two children were killed in a 7-vehicle accident Friday evening in north Houston, according to Houston Police.
The crash happened around 10 p.m. on Beltway 8 right before the John F Kennedy Blvd. exit.
Officers said the young adult man and the two children were pronounced deceased on the scene.
It is unclear how the accident happened but officers on the scene said traffic was building on the highway at the time due to schedule construction work and vehicles were slowing down right before the crash.
The driver at fault survived and has been cooperative with police. Officers said intoxication does not seem to be a factor.
The investigation is ongoing at this time as authorities learn more about what happened.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
Credit: KHOU-TV

3 jockeys sent to hospital after accident at Emerald Downs

An accident today at Emerald Downs sent three jockeys to the hospital.
During a race, one jockey fell of their horse which in turn caused a chain reaction and two other jockeys fell off their horses, a spokesperson at Emerald Downs said.
The jockeys are all reported to be in stable condition.
One of the horses involved in the accident suffered a fractured leg; the other two horses involved are reported to be fine.
Races will resume Sunday at 2 p.m.

Credit:KIRO 7 News

WWE Battleground 2017 set for action

The Punjabi Prison match

SmackDown presents WWE Battleground 2017 on Sunday with the return of a match not seen in WWE for 10 years.
Randy Orton is gunning for the WWE Championship in a bout that has only taken place twice in the company's history.
A star-studded card sees John Cena, AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura all in action in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Here is all you need to know ahead of the big event.
WWE Battleground 2017 is being broadcast live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday, July 23. It gets underway from 8pm local time and from 1am in the UK (Monday morning).
It's a type of contest none of us thought we'd ever see again, and certainly not for the WWE Championship!
Yes, unlikely as it may seem, the top title in all of wrestling will once again be decided in a Punjabi Prison match.
WWE Champion Jinder Mahal will face Randy Orton in the bout made (in)famous by his mentor, The Great Khali.
To win the match they must escape the prison, which consists of two large steel-reinforced bamboo cages.
Can Mahal triumph when locked alone with The Viper, unable to rely on the help of his cronies The Singh Brothers?
 

Roger Federer Wins Record-Breaking Eighth Wimbledon Title

WIMBLEDON, England — When Roger Federer and his growing family embarked on a new tennis season in 2017 after his six-month injury layoff, the big goal was winning Wimbledon.

Check.

It has been that sort of tour-de-force season for Federer, the 35-year-old Swiss maestro who might not yet have regained the No. 1 ranking but is firmly atop the sport on every surface except clay.

On Sunday, he won his eighth Wimbledon singles championship and 19th Grand Slam singles title by defeating Marin Cilic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4. The victory, his first at Wimbledon since 2012, made Federer the oldest man to win at the All England Club in the Open era, which began in 1968.

It also broke Federer’s tie with William Renshaw and Pete Sampras, who each won Wimbledon seven times.

He also became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win Wimbledon without dropping a set.

“The tournament I played, not dropping a set, it’s magical really,” Federer said in the postmatch ceremony with the trophy back in his hands.

Cilic, seeded No. 7, defeated Federer in straight sets in the semifinals of the United States Open on his way to the title. He had three match points against Federer in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year before Federer prevailed in five sets.

A hard-fought, close match in this final would have been no surprise. Instead, it turned into a rout as Cilic struggled for consistency and with his emotions.

Credit: CHRISTOPHER CLAREY

16 Amarnath pilgrims die, 28 injured in highway accident

At least 16 Amarnath pilgrims, including two women, died and 28 others were injured when a bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Ramban district on Srinagar-Jammu highway on Sunday, officials said.

The deceased belonged to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Assam, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, they added.

A State Road Transport Corporation bus (JK02Y-0594) was part of 18th batch of Amarnath pilgrims which left from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu this morning along with convoy of 141 vehicles towards Kashmir.

“As soon as the ill-fated bus having  45 people, including driver and conductor, on board reached near Nachlana, one of its tyres burst following which the driver lost control over it and the vehicle rolled down into 150-foot embankment of Bislari Nullah,” said an official.

Jammu range inspector general of police SDS Jamwal told Greater Kashmir that initial reports have confirmed that “tyre burst” led to the accident.

“A case has been registered and we will look into all aspects of this during investigation,” he said.

A police spokesperson said 28 yatris were moved to sub-district hospital Banihal where from seriously injured pilgrims were airlifted to Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu and Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar for specialised treatment.



15 deceased identified

Police identified fifteen deceased persons as Pawan Kumar son of Dina Nath Parshad resident of Danapur Patna- Bihar, Rohit Kumar son of Shyam Prashad of Patna- Bihar, Sagar Kumar son of Pardeep Kumar of Janghipath-Bihar, Dileep Kumar son of Dina Nath of Darapur Patna –Bihar, Meena Devi wife of Johar Sahu of Chanakpur –Bihar, Ravinder Singh son of Rajinder Singh of Sherpur Modi Nagar Ghaziabad- Uttar Pradesh, Ravinder Singh son of Raghubir Singh of Indira Puri Ghaziabad- Uttar Pradesh, Sikander son of Pritam of Shahpur, Modinagar Ghaziabad- Uttar Pradesh, Salinder Singh son of Bal Ram of Berubin-Rajasthan, Sashi Paul Sani son of Ganpat Sani of Nawalgarh Rajasthan, Rahul Kumar son of  Dalip Kumar of Gola Pur, Orissa, Rachit Sharma son of  H L Sharma of Hauz Khas, New Delhi and Chander Kumar son of Madan Lal of Purani Nabhi district, Patiala Punjab. Besides the driver Darshan Singh son of Saju Ram of Bishnah, Jammu also lost his life in accident. Police said a body of female pilgrim is still unidentified.

Out of the 28 injured persons 20 were shifted to Government Medical College Jammu while eight were shifted to SKIMS Soura, Srinagar, the spokesman added.

As soon as the news of the accident spread, locals and soldiers launched a massive rescue operation. The locals even pressed into service their private vehicles to ferry injured pilgrims to Banihal hospital, around 13 kms from the accident site.

The Indian Air Force pressed into service its two MI-17 helicopters to airlift the injured pilgrims from Ramban to Jammu and Srinagar hospitals.



8 ADMITTED AT SKIMS

Eight injured Amarnath pilgrims are undergoing treatment at SKIMS. “We are evaluating all of them. While six yatris have minor injuries and are stable, two seem to have serious injuries. They are in an unconscious state,” a doctor told Greater Kashmir late in the evening.

Medical superintendent SKIMS Dr Syed Amin Tabish said at this time, the priority is to carry out all investigations before starting the treatment.

The  pilgrims admitted at SKIMS are Chand Pati Devi wife of Silla Matfi of Denapore Sultanpure, Satish Rawal son of Satpal of Panipat Haryana, Depakar Dass son of late Bipinder Dass of Assam Guwahati, Narish Dudeja son of Om Prakash of Laerual Haryana, Sutvinder Tewari son of Radha Krishan of Gawlior MP, Vijay Kumar son of Sooraj Narayan of Sarfa Bihar, Chetan Mishra son of Rajender Mishra of Fariadabad Haryana and Devi Singh son of Durga Ram of Simla Himachal.

Credit:  greaterkashmir

Kenkey seller, two others escape death

A kenkey seller and her two other workers on Saturday morning escaped death at Krofrom in Kumasi when a truck which carried a forty feet container veered off its lane and crashed their wooden table.
The three, who sustained severe injuries, were sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi where they are receiving treatment.
The truck with registration number GR 9447 C, which was on its way from the Suame roundabout to the Oforikrom traffic light, rammed the kenkey seller's wooden structure, dragged it along for some metres before finally stopping and destroying two other metal containers (an electrical shop and a salon) in the process.
Several other wares and properties in the shops were also destroyed.
According to the driver, 54-year-old Appiah Minka, who was at the time Graphic Online visited the scene, seeking refuge at the Krofom Divisional police station for fear of being attacked said the vehicle developed a mechanical fault
He said the brakes failed to work

Credit: Emmanuel Baah

Egypt Hurghada stabbing: Two tourists killed at Red Sea resort

Two tourists, reported to be women, have been killed in stabbings at a hotel in the popular Red Sea resort of Hurghada, Egyptian medical officials say.

At least four other people were injured and a man has been arrested.
The suspect is being questioned by police to determine his motives, the interior ministry said.
The attacker appears to have swum from a nearby public beach to gain access to the resort, officials say.
Three foreign tourists were stabbed at the same resort, renowned for its scuba diving, in January 2016 by two suspected militants from the Islamic State militant group (IS).
Egypt 'let down' by continued UK flight ban to Sharm
Can Egypt's tourism recover?
Initial reports said those killed on Friday were Ukrainian, but the Reuters news agency subsequently said they were Germans.
Egypt's security forces are dealing with an Islamist uprising in the country's Sinai Peninsula. The tourist industry has been targeted by militants in North Africa over the past few years.

A Russian passenger plane was brought down by a bomb in the peninsula in October 2015, killing all 224 people on board.
In June 2015 at least 39 people, mostly foreigners, were killed and 36 injured in an attack on a beach in the Tunisian resort town of Sousse.
Credit: BBC

Bali prison escapee Shaun Davidson scoffs at police claims he could soon be captured

Indonesian police say they are closing in on Australian prison escapee Shaun Davidson, who tunnelled his way out of Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison last month.

But the Perth jailbird doesn’t seem to be too fazed, taunting the authorities on Facebook saying his location is “old news”.
Indonesian police said they now know where Davidson is hiding out. Bali police chief Petrus Golose said an orange alert had been issued through Interpol, which describes Davidson as a serious and imminent threat to public safety.
“We have checked travel outlets and anyone who may have helped their escape,” Mr Golose said.
“Already more than 20 people have been investigated.”
Davidson escaped the Bali prison with Malaysian fellow drug offender Tee Kok King, Bulgarian ATM skimmer Dimitar Nikolon Iliev and Indian drug trafficker Sayed Muhammad Said on June 19.
Iliev and Said were recaptured in late June after they were found living it up at the four-and-a-half star Novo Turismo Resort in Dili, East Timor.
Davidson and Tee have so far managed to elude authorities and remain on the run with Davidson checking into a variety of destinations on Facebook including Dubai, Amsterdam and Germany.
The fugitive took to Facebook to scoff at suggestions police were closing in on his location.
“Latest articles say the police know where I am,” he posted under the pseudonym Matthew Rageone Ridler on an account widely believed to be Davidson’s.
“Ummmm old news I checked in on facebook everyone knows where I am hahahahaha.”

Full List Of Nominees For 2017 Ghana Music Awards UK

The final list for the 33 categories for the 2nd Annual Ghana Music Awards UK have been released.

Over 100s of Ghanaian musicians, labels and management teams submitted their works over the past few months in order to determine this year’s final list of nominees.

“It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 1,265 entries we received this year. Congratulations to all the nominees,” said Alordia, CEO of Alordia Promotions.

Before winners are announced, the voting platforms and procedures will be made available to the public on Saturday 15th July 2017 in the media and social media platforms.

The awards are based on the reporting period of April 2016 through April 2017.
The 2nd annual Ghana Music Awards UK plaques will be presented to the winners on Saturday, 16th September, 2017 at the Gaumont Palace (Dominion Center), 9 The Broadway, High Road, Wood Green, London N22 6DS.

Ghana Music Awards UK shines a spotlight on the best Ghanaians musicians who excel in Ghana and the UK.

Without any further ado, here are the very deserving nominees for the 2nd Ghana Music Awards UK 2017 – congratulations to all!

1. AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR.
Runtown
Tekno
Wizkid
Mr. Eazi
Eddy Kenzo

2. GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR.
Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze – Nacee ft. Ernest Opoku Jr
Change Over – Mary Agyemang
Mewo Jesus – Mabel Okyere
My Soul says Yes – Sonnie Badu
Healing Stream – Jeshrun Okyere ft. Nathaniel Bassey
Agye Wo Nsem – Piesie Esther

3. GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Joe Mettle
Mabel Okyere
Piesie Esther
Nacee
Sonnie Badu
Jeshrun Okyere

4. NEW ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
King Promise
Medikal
Adina
Ebony
Dem Tinz

5. BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze – Nacee ft. Ernest Opoku Jr
Booze N Boobs – Guru ft. Roll
Pain Killer – Sarkodie ft. Runtown
Rapping Drums – Flowking Stone
Nyedzilo – Edem ft Reekado Banks
One Thing – Stonebwoy ft. Damaris

6. BEST GROUP OF THE YEAR
VVIP
R2Bees
Dobble

7. BEST RAPPER OF THE YEAR.
EL
Guru
Pope Skinny
Manifest
Yaa Pono
Flowking Stone
Sarkodie
Medikal

8. HIPLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR
Samba – Guru ft. Singlet
Club – Donzy ft. Sarkodie
Raw – Guru
Borkor Die – Criss Waddle
RNS (Rich Nigga Shit) – Sarkodie

9. HIGHLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR
Enko Den – Daddy Lumba
Frema – Nero X
Gwe – Bisa Kdei
Confessions – Kofi Kinaata
Beshiwo – Becca
Christy – Dobble
Brown Sugar – Kumi Guitar
Guy Guy – Nana Qwame

10. HIGHLIFE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Kumi Guitar
Bisa Kdei
Becca
Kofi Kinaata
Nero X

11.REGGAE/DANCEHALL SONG OF THE YEAR
People Dey – Stonebwoy
Prove Them Wrong – Shatta wale
Yonnah – Samini ft. Luther
Nwansina – Ras Kuuku ft. Luther
Poison – Ebony
Pain Them – Rudebwoy Ranking

12. REGGAE/DANCE HALL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Stonebwoy
Ras Kuuku
Samini
Ebony
Shatta wale
Rudebwoy Ranking

13. BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Forever – Eazzy ft. Mr. Eazi
Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze – Nacee ft. Ernest Opoku
Onaapo – Nacee ft. Dee Aja
Confirm RMX – Medikal ft. Sarkodie
Taking Over – Shatta Wale ft. Militants
My Baby – Magnom ft. Joey B
Poison – Ebony ft. Gatdoe
Pain Killer – Sarkodie ft. Runtown
Beshiwo – Becca ft. Bisa Kdei

14. ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Shatta Wale
Kofi Kinaata
Sarkodie
EL
Stonebwoy

15. SONG OF THE YEAR
Taking Over – Shatta Wale ft. Militants
Confessions – Kofi Kinaata
Christy – Dobble
Time Aso – Sidney
Onaapo – Nacee ft. Dee Aja

16. HIPLIFE/HIP-POP ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Criss Waddle
Guru
EL
Flowking Stone
Sarkodie
Medikal
M.anifest

17. HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
God MC – M.anifest
Trumpet – Sarkodie ft. Tee Flow, Medikal, Strongman, Koo Ntakra, Donzy & Pappy Kojo
Lalafalama – EL
Confirm RMX – Medikal ft. Sarkodie
Tension – Okyeame Kwame ft. Cabum, Medikal & Sister Deborah
Gold – Guru

18. AFRO POP SONG OF THE YEAR
Ayoo – Shatta Wale
Solo – Article Wan
Taking Over – Shatta Wale ft. Militants
Forever – Eazzy ft Mr. Eazi

19. MUSIC PRODUCER / ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Kindee
Willis Beatz
Highly Spiritual
Nacee
Danny Beatz

20. GHANAIAN TRADITIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Sherifa Gunu
Atongo Simba
Norlla Wiyaala
King Ayisoba
Wulomo
(UK BASED AWARD CATEGORIES)

21. UK BASED GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR
You Are The One – Minister Owura Jay
Boafo ne Awurade – Hannah A. Donkor
Land of God – Justice Odoi
It will come to Pass – Sarah Clark
Onyame Tumi Adi Nyinaa Ye – Comfort Amankwah
Se Nyame Nni Mua – Mama Cee
Alpha and Omega – Amankwah Tiah
Me nsa aka Me De3 – Theodora Gospel
Give Me You – P.K. Boadi
My Soul Says Yes – Sonnie Badu

22. UK BASED GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sounds of Africa – Sonnie Badu
Land Of God – Justice Odoi
Second Chance – Ernest O. Kyeremanteng
Eden na menye ma wo – Amankwah Tiah
Genesis – Minister King Bricky Aboagye
You Are The One – Minister Owura Jay
Onyame tumi adenyinaa ye – Comfort Amankwah
Boafo Ne Awurade – Hannah A. Donkor

23. UK BASED GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Hannah A. Donkor
Sonnie Badu
Minister Owura Jay
Amankwah Tiah
Comfort Amankwah
Justice Odoi
Minister King Bricky Aboagye

24. BEST UK BASED NEW GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Manye Stone
Gertrude Forson
Minister Ike
Maame Serwaa
Hannah A. Donkor
Elder Ofori
Charlie Barnes
Nana Achia
Sarah Clark
Mama Comfort
Prophet Eliyahu Boateng
Yaw Boateng
Bishop Merry Frimpomaah
Alice Bee

25. BEST UK BASED GHANAIAN INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE
Stormzy
LD of 67 Group
Lethal Bizzle
Kwabs
Reggie N Bollie
Novelist

26. UK BASED AFROBEATS ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Mista Silva
Eugy
Kwamz N Flava
Composers
Jaij Hollands
Atumpan

27. UK BASED AFROBEATS SONG OF THE YEAR
GB – Under Lover
Yxng Bane ft. Kojo Funds – Fine wine
Kojo Funds ft Abra Cadabra – Dun Talkin
Dun D – Badman
Atumpan – Let them say

28. UK BASED ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Kojo Funds
Abra Cadabra
Mista Silva
Eugy
Atumpan
Juls
Dun D

29. UK BASED NEW GHANAIAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Belly Squad
Niji
GB
NSG
Koffi Nyat
A.I.M
Jayo

30. UK BASED NEW DISCOVERY UNCOVERED ART OF THE YEAR
Lippy & K- hi Bangit
Tinkez
Under Rider
Geo Wellington
Ked 2 Besi
Akata Stone

31. UK BASED PRODUCER /ENGINEER
Composers
Kwamz
DJ Juls
Whoelsebutjuelz
Adeshyie Studios
Kingsbeatz
Hator Bros/Temaboyz
Black Kulcha Music
Team Salut
Jae 5

32. UK BASED GHANAIAN DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Billy
DJ Sawa
DJ Bibi
DJ Snypa
DJ Fiifi
DJ P. Montana
DJ Invisible

33. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Mr. Dennis Tawiah – Akwaaba UK (UK)
Afro Moses – Musician (Ghana)

Credit:  Mawuenam Avi-Doe

Russia's Lavrov threatens US over seized diplomatic mansions

Russia says it is "outrageous" that the US has not yet handed back two Russian intelligence compounds seized in the US under the Obama administration.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was "considering specific measures" in response, but did not elaborate.
Earlier, unnamed Russian officials said Moscow was ready to expel about 30 US diplomats and seize US state property.
In December the Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats and shut down two intelligence compounds.
Ex-President Barack Obama acted against Russia after US intelligence sources had accused Russian state agents of hacking into Democratic Party computers to undermine Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
Mr Lavrov told Russian media it was "simply shameful for such a great country as the United States, a champion of international law, to leave the situation in such a state of suspended animation".
"Justice and international law must be restored," he said, accusing the US Congress of being "charged up with Russophobia".
Which compounds were seized?

• The US seized a Russian diplomatic property on Maryland's Eastern Shore - a sprawling 45-acre (18.2-hectare) retreat. The facility, acquired during the Cold War, was used by Russian diplomats for recreation, such as tennis and swimming. But it also had sophisticated communications, and US officials said it doubled as a spying outpost
• The other diplomatic property is a New York mansion at Glen Cove, Long Island. It has 49 rooms and is similarly surrounded by woods. Like the Maryland mansion, its location is ideal for eavesdropping on US communications, US officials say

Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the issue of the Obama sanctions with US President Donald Trump when they met in Hamburg on 7 July, the daily Izvestia reported.The Trump team is under investigation over alleged Russian collusion during last year's presidential campaign. The Kremlin has denied interfering in the election.
Credit:  CNN

China shipping firm Cosco to buy HK rival OOIL for $6.3bn

Chinese shipping giant Cosco is set to buy its Hong Kong rival OOIL for $6.3bn (£4.9bn).

The deal would make Cosco the world's third biggest shipping company, with more than 400 vessels.
OOIL's majority owner has accepted the bid, though the sale will still need regulatory approval.
It would be the latest in a wave of mergers, which has left the top six shipping lines controlling almost two thirds of the market.

Overcapacity struggles

OOIL's subsidiary OOCL is currently the world's seventh largest shipping line, with 3.2% of global market share, according to shipping database Alphaliner.
Cosco is offering $10.07 per share, a 38% premium over OOIL's closing price on Friday.
The family of Hong Kong's first Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa founded OOIL, and still holds a 69% stake in the company.
They have accepted the offer, but it still needs the approval of Cosco shareholders, as well as US and Chinese regulators.
Overcapacity and slowing demand is leading to major changes in the shipping industry.
Korean shipping giant Hanjin filed for bankruptcy last year, while France's CMA CGM bought Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines.

Indian man kills wife over dinner delay

Police in India say they have arrested a 60-year-old man who fatally shot his wife for serving his dinner late.

Ashok Kumar came home drunk on Saturday night and got into an argument with his wife, Rupesh Singh, a senior police officer in Ghaziabad city near the capital Delhi, told the BBC.
Sunaina, 55, was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to her head, but by then she had died, reports said.
Mr Kumar has confessed to his crime and now regrets his actions, Mr Singh said.
"The man [Mr Kumar] used to drink every day. On Saturday, he came home drunk and started having an argument with his wife. She was upset with his drinking habit and wanted to talk about it, but he wanted dinner immediately," Mr Singh said.
"He got frustrated with the delay and shot her," he added.
Domestic violence has been the most reported violent crime against women in the country every year for more than a decade now.
In 2015, an incident of domestic violence was reported every four minutes under the legal definition of dowry deaths, harassment over dowry related crimes, cruelty by husband or his relatives and domestic violence.
The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi says such violence is not unique to India - it occurs around the world - but what sets it apart in India from many other countries is the culture of silence and approval that often surrounds it.
According to a family survey carried out by the government, more than 54% of men and 51% of women said it was ok for a man to beat his wife if she disrespected her in-laws, neglected her home or children, or even over something as trivial as putting less - or more - salt in the food.

Credit: BBC

Aussie troops investigated over alleged war crimes against children

A SECRET Defence inquiry is examining the conduct of several Australian troops in relation to the alleged killing of at least two children, an ABC investigation has revealed.

It has been alleged that one of the boys, Khan Mohammed, 14, was collecting figs when he was shot dead by Australian special forces on morning patrol in 2012.
The boy’s body was reportedly left where it fell and later recovered by local villagers who claimed the killing was never reported up the official chain of command.
In a statement, an Australian Federal Police spokesperson confirmed the matter had been referred to the Australian Defence Force for investigation.
“On 2 September 2016 the Chief of Army Australia Defence Force (ADF) referred a matter to the AFP relating to an allegation of an unlawful killing by the ADF in Afghanistan in 2012,” the statement said.
“The AFP is undertaking an evaluation of the matter referred, and as such it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
Images obtained by the ABC show the young boy’s dead body alongside some of his belongings.
Khan’s family members told the national broadcaster that his body was discovered among large rocks.
The ADF has also confirmed the inquiry will probe the deaths of a second boy and an adult male.
Bismillah Azadi and his son Sadiqullah were killed in September 2013, allegedly following a raid by Australian SAS troopers in the Uruzgan province.
The troops have been cleared of any wrongdoing with a previous investigation ruling Bismillah was “almost certainly” a Taliban sympathiser. Azadi’s family has refuted the claims.
A decorated special forces veteran, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the allegations “underline his concerns about a culture of recklessness”.
“I saw innocent people killed who didn’t need to die or deserve to die, in circumstances that were unwarranted and ultimately avoidable. This behaviour was in direct conflict with what I believed it meant to be a special forces soldier,” the veteran said.
He also revealed that Australian special forces troops openly discussed “planting” weapons, such as “pistols or knives” on the bodies of death Afghans to falsely show they had been armed when killed.
The inquiry started last year and is being overseen by NSW Supreme Court judge Paul Brereton.

Credit: Daily Telegraph

One child dead in East Gwillimbury accident

Up to seven others ‘severely injured’ in crash near Woodbine Ave. and Mount Albert Rd. on Wednesday afternoon.

One child has died and as many as seven people are “severely injured” after an accident in East Gwillimbury during the afternoon rush hour Wednesday, police say.

York Region police rushed to the Woodbine Ave. and Mount Albert Rd. area at around 4 p.m., after two vehicles carrying several passengers collided, said police spokesperson Const. Laura Nicolle.

Approximately five to seven people were “severely injured,” Nicolle said.

The injured included children, one of whom was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Video footage in the aftermath of the crash shows a devastating scene with a vehicle rolled over.

Police continue to investigate and are warning the public to avoid the area due to heavy traffic. 

Credit: Fakiha Baig

Senyo Hosi sues Ken Agyapong for GH¢8 million

 The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Hosi has filed a GH¢5,000,000 defamatory suit against the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.
The suit arises from "bribery and corruption" claims made by Mr Agyapong against Mr Hosi last month over the alleged sale of contaminated fuel by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company.
In the suit filed on Tuesday, July 4, at the Accra High Court, Mr Hosi claimed that the allegations made by Mr Agyapong had affected his image and reputation in the sight of right-thinking members of society.
The defendants in the case are Mr Agyapong, Ken City Media Limited and the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Afia Akoto.
According to the suit, 2nd defendant, owners of Oman FM and Net 2 TV, helped in circulating the said defamatory comments, while the 3rd defendant joined in by taking to Facebook to repeat and republish the said comments.
Mr Hosi is also praying the court to order the 2nd and 3rd defendants to pay compensatory damages of GH¢3,000,000 and GH¢1,000,000 respectively for injury to his character and integrity.
He is further praying the court to order the defendants to unconditionally retract the statement and offer an unqualified apology to him.

Credit:  Graphic Online

Kenya: US$12 million bridge collapses 2 weeks after inspection

It was an embarrassing collapse for Kenya's ruling party.
On June 26, just two weeks after an "inspection" by President Uhuru Kenyatta, a $12 million Chinese-built Sigiri bridge in Western Kenya collapsed before it was completed.
Built by the Chinese Overseas Construction and Engineering Company in Busia County, the bridge connects a region that has historically lacked government investment and development.

Around a dozen people died on the river after a boat capsized while attempting to cross in 2014.

President Kenyatta's Jubileee Coalition has made infrastructure development a key pillar of its reelection strategy ahead of the coming presidential election.

On June 14, he made a campaign stop at the Sigiri bridge construction site and spoke to crowds gathered along the river.
He promised the bridge would bring development that the region had been denied for decades.
"There is a big difference between those who will sell to you propaganda and people who will sell to you real agenda for change," President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement posted on the Kenya's national elections are scheduled for August 8, and President Kenyatta's main competition is veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga
The Kenyan government has relied heavily on Chinese-built and Chinese-financed projects to achieve the president's infrastructure campaign promises.

Infrastructure promises
Last month, the president launched the Madaraka Express, the country's largest investment since independence.
The $3.8 billion railway, financed by China's Eximbank, travels from the port city of Mombasa to Nairobi, and is planned to cross Kenya and connect it to several other east African Countries.
The railway's high price tag has raised eyebrows: it cost more than double per kilometer than the Chinese-built railway connecting Addis Ababa to Djibouti. Kenya Railways has attributed the extra cost to a more complicated geography.

Odinga blamed the recent accident on the government rushing the Sigiri project for political purposes. He referred to "tenderpreneurs", government officials that commission projects for financial gain.
"In the past, we have had substandard works done on public projects, usually roads and bridges, which as compromised the lifespan on such projects and denied us value for money," Odinga said.

Credit: CNN

11 dead as chairlift cable snaps in Murree

At least 11 people were killed and two others critically wounded when a chairlift cable broke, sending riders plunging into a ravine in a mountain hamlet of the popular hill station of Murree on Thursday noon.
“The residents of Chara Pani village use a locally-made chairlift to cross the river and it broke, coming off the cable, which killed 11 people – nine men, one woman and a child,” a Rescue 1122 official Muhammad Farooq said. “Two others were wounded,” he added.
The deadly crash was reported to rescuers around 12 in the noon. The lift was reportedly carrying 13 people when its cable snapped.
The victims have been identified as Wasif, 18, Arif, 35, Shabeer, 55, Saima Shabir, 45, Ikhlaq, 36, Mujahid, 17, Abdul Hameed, 70, Sohaib, 10, Ahmed, 18, Rohan, 14, and Shazil, 15. The injured have been named as 23-year-old Haseeb and 22-year-old Adnan.
Four of the victims belonged to Malpur village, while the rest were from Chara Pani village. The two injured were driven by Rescue 1122 staff to the Holy Family Hospital.

The improvised chairlift is strung between two mountains in Hazara division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province which local villagers use to cross the river underneath.
The villagers blamed the operator for overloading the chairlift, which according to them, caused the deadly crash. The operator fled the scene after the accident and the police are looking for him.
In the evening, the villagers placed the coffins of the victims on the old Murree Road, blocking it in protest. They demanded that the authorities take action against the chairlift operator.
Chairlift accidents are common in the mountainous areas of the country, where lifts are often used to cross rivers. Four people drowned when a chairlift broke in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan last month.
Credit: MUDDASIR RAJA

Arsenal star Welbeck in native Ghana, visits school his mom helped build

Arsenal and England forward, Danny Welbeck is in Ghana on vacation following the end of the football season when his side lifted the English FA Cup despite failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in two decades.
The 26-year-old former Manchester United player visited his family in the town of Nkawie located in the Ashanti region of the country.
A local journalist shared photos of Welbeck who was wearing a black T-shirt over blue jeans with two guys believed to be his relations at the family house.

'Proud of my mother & St Andrew's Church Droylsden, Manchester for donations towards building St Paul's Sunshine Pre-School in Nkawie Ghana.'

The player on his Twitter handle confirmed that his mother with the support of a church in Manchester had helped build a school in the village. He shared a picture of his mom standing behind some school children at the said school.
‘‘Proud of my mother & St Andrew’s Church Droylsden, Manchester for donations towards building St Paul’s Sunshine Pre-School in Nkawie Ghana,’‘ he wrote.
Welbeck was born to Ghanaian parents in 1990 but he opted to play for the English national side and went on to represent the Three Lions at the 2012 European championships and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He started his club career with Manchester United and only switched to London to join Arsenal in 2014. He is due to join the Arsenal pre-season campaign.

Credit: Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban

UNICEF opens Africa’s first humanitarian drone testing corridor in Malawi

The UN children’s agency Unicef has formally opened an air corridor to test the effectiveness of drones in humanitarian emergencies.
The project opened on Thursday in Malawi is the first of its kind in Africa and will assist mostly in humanitarian and development use.
“You can really see what can drones in terms of transport bring medical supplies to health centres, bring educational supplies to school, what can they do in terms of connectivity in areas where we do not have coverage of telecommunications network and it puts Malawi on the map,” said UNICEF country representative, Johannes Wedenig.

The innovation will help us in a number of ways. Apart from delivering, you know, medical samples to testing laboratories, it can also do a lot of mapping, land surveying and several other important activities
The corridor will have a radius of 40 km and is also open to the private sector, universities and could also provide imagery to map out natural environments and other infrastructure.
“The innovation will help us in a number of ways. Apart from delivering, you know, medical samples to testing laboratories, it can also do a lot of mapping, land surveying and several other important activities,” said Malawian minister of transport, Jappie Mhango.
The test corridor is centred at the Kasungu Aerodrome focusing on three tasks: generating aerial images of crisis situations, using drones to extend Wi-Fi or mobile phone signals across difficult terrain in emergencies and delivering low-weight emergency supplies.
The launch of the testing corridor follows a pilot project in Malawi in March 2016 on the feasibility of using drones for the transportation of dried blood samples for early infant diagnosis of HIV.
This study showed that drones are a viable addition to existing transport systems, including those used to help with the diagnosis of HIV.

Credit: Reuters

Picture: Ronaldo confirms he is father of twins

Hours after he captained Portugal to semi-final defeat in the Confederations Cup in Russia, Cristiano Ronaldo has announced the birth of twins.

For days Portuguese media have reported that the footballer's twins had been born to a surrogate mother in the US.
But it was only after the national team were knocked out on penalties by Chile that he confirmed the birth.
Ronaldo went on Facebook to say: "I'm very happy, finally, to be with my children for the first time."
He already has a son, Cristiano Ronaldo junior, who was born in June 2010.
The Real Madrid forward began his message declaring that he been at the service of the national team "body and soul" despite the birth of the twins, adding: "Unfortunately we couldn't achieve our main sporting aim."
The semi-final in Kazan ended in a 0-0 draw and Chile went through as Ronaldo's teammates missed three penalties.
Little is known about the twins, although unconfirmed reports in Portugal said they were born on 8 June, well before the start of the Confederations Cup. The SIC TV channel said the boy and girl had been named Eva and Mateo.
Further reports said the Fifa footballer of the year's mother, Dolores Aveiro, travelled to the US soon after they were born.
In a statement, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said it had been informed by Ronaldo before the Confederations Cup that he had become a father again, and yet had decided to travel to Russia with the team. The FPF described his decision as a "gesture that we must highlight and praise".
Instead of staying with the team for the third-place play-off on Sunday, Ronaldo was now going to leave the camp, it added. "We must release the athlete so he can finally get to know his children."
Ronaldo, who has a long-term girlfriend, model Georgina Rodríguez, left the team in Kazan on Thursday morning. There has been speculation in Portuguese media that she too is expecting a baby, after the footballer posted a picture on social media showing the couple sitting down with their hands on her stomach.
At the time the model appeared to reject the rumours, posting gym photos that suggested she was not pregnant, although it was unclear when the pictures were taken.
Credit: BBC 

US woman, Monalisa shots boyfriend in YouTube stunt

A Minnesota woman has been charged over the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, in what authorities say was a social media stunt gone wrong.

Monalisa Perez, 19, was booked into county jail after shooting at Pedro Ruiz as he held a book to his chest, believing it would stop the bullet.
The couple's three-year-old child and nearly 30 onlookers watched as she fired the fatal bullet into his chest.
Ruiz's aunt said they did it to increase their social media following.
Claudia Ruiz told WDAY-TV that her nephew had told her he wanted to do the stunt "because we want more viewers, we want to get famous".
"He had told me about that idea and I said, 'Don't do it. Don't do it. Why are you going to use a gun? Why?'" Claudia Ruiz told the news channel.
"They were in love, they loved each other," she said. "It was just a prank gone wrong."
Ms Perez, who is pregnant, is facing charges of second degree manslaughter. She faces her first court appearance on Wednesday.
County Attorney James Brue described the book as a hardcover encyclopaedia, and said the weapon used was a .50-calibre Desert Eagle handgun.
Police have seized two cameras, which are said to have recorded Monday's incident.
The single gunshot was fired from about one foot (30cm) away as neighbours gathered to watch outside their Minnesota home.
She told deputies that the stunt had been Ruiz's idea, and that he had to convince her to do it.
Earlier that day she tweeted about her reservations.

"Everyone was crying. I was standing behind that tree over there. And that was it. I just couldn't take it anymore so I had to go back home," neighbour Wayne Cameron told WDAY-TV.
The couple had started a YouTube channel in March, aiming to show the "the real life of a young couple who happen to be teen parents".
Their most recently uploaded video, on the day that Ruiz died, was titled: "Doing scary stunts at the fair".
Last week Ms Perez told her viewers that it was a "blessing" to have her husband home for the forthcoming birth of their son, who is due in September.

Claudio Bravo sends Chile to Confederations Cup final

Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was the hero as Chile reached the Confederations Cup final by beating Portugal on penalties.

Bravo denied efforts from Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani as Chile converted all their spot-kicks.
It was perhaps justice for Chile, who had a strong claim for a penalty denied deep in extra time and also hit the post twice in quick succession.
They will play either Germany or Mexico in Sunday's final in St Petersburg.
Arturo Vidal, whose shot hit the post in closing stages of extra-time before Martin Rodriguez's follow up also hit the woodwork, was successful from the spot for Chile along with Charles Aranguiz and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez.
The dramatic finale lit up an otherwise dull encounter, with both sides looking tired after playing their fourth game in just 10 days at the tournament in Russia.
Bravo's performance will have come as welcome relief for the goalkeeper at the end of a difficult season domestically.
The 34-year-old was signed by Pep Guardiola from Barcelona last summer to replace England international Joe Hart, but faced criticism for his shot-stopping skills since arriving in a £15.4m deal.
Bravo will have to fight to remain City's first-choice keeper after Guardiola signed Ederson Moraes for £35m from Benfica earlier this month but his focus for now is on leading Chile to the Confederations Cup title.
"We are satisfied with the result and how we played, but we have still not won anything," he said.

DR Congo league club sanctioned, relegated for fan violence

Democratic Republic of Congo premier league club FC Renaissance has been relegated to the second division as part of sanctions after violence by its supporters.

The decision was taken by the Congolese Football League (Linafoot) after it met on Monday following the violence on Saturday, AFP reports.
FC Renaissance was found guilty of the Saturday incident during a championship match between the team and Vita Club at the Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa.
FC Renaissance lost to Vita Club, sparking an attack by their supporters who “threw projectiles while their management invaded the pitch.”
They were also fined $20,000 and tasked to pay for all damages at the stadium.
Prior to the sanction, FC Renaissance – which has a history of fan violence – placed fourth in the top 8 of the final leg of the championship.

Credit: Ismail Akwei

South African court rules against religious bias in state schools

A South African court on Wednesday ruled that public education institutions cannot promote any one religion to the exclusion of others, saying to do so was a violation of the Schools Act, local media reported.
The Organisation for Religious Education and Democracy (OGOD) had argued that it was in the interest of South Africa’s democracy that public schools not be allowed to favour a specific religion.
OGOD asked the court to declare unconstitutional the religion policy of six public schools, accusing them of favouring Christianity over other religions.
The six schools, the ministers of basic education and justice, and the National Society for School Governing Bodies were respondents, local media reported.
Judge Willem van der Linde said in his ruling that religious observances may be conducted at state or state-aided institutions, as long as they are held on an equitable basis and attendance was voluntary.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga had supported the application, saying schools were not permitted to focus on just one religion.
Reuters

Pregnant Serena Williams poses naked on the cover of Vanity Fair

Pregnant Serena Williams has posed naked on the cover of August's Vanity Fair magazine.
The tennis star found out she was expecting her first child with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian just before the Australian Open in January.
She told the magazine that she hadn't suspected anything until she was sick at the side of the court while practising.
But her friend suspected she might be pregnant and suggested taking a test.

Image caption The August edition of Vanity Fair, featuring Serena Williams, is on sale from 7 July

Serena ended up taking a test while doing a photo shoot for a lingerie company at an Australian hotel and said her "heart literally dropped" when she saw the result.
"Oh my God, this can't be - I've got to play a tournament," she said. "How am I going to play the Australian Open? I had planned on winning Wimbledon this year."
Her friend Jessica was then sent back to the hotel chemist to buy five more test kits to convince Serena that she was pregnant. All of them were positive.
The article also reveals how Alexis and Serena started dating in 2015.
He proposed last December at the same table at the Cavalieri Hotel in Italy where they'd first talked to each other.

“Zambia will work closely with you” – Lungu to Akufo-Addo

The President of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has reiterated his and the commitment of the Zambian people to developing strong bilateral ties and exploring areas of co-operation with Ghana, under the leadership of its President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to the mutual benefit of the two countries.
According to President Lungu, the margin of victory chalked by President Akufo-Addo in the 2016 election “was a true reflection of the confidence the people of Ghana have in your vision, and for that reason, we look forward to working closely with you during your tenure of office.”
The Zambian President noted further that “there are a lot of things you (Ghana) are doing in mining, agriculture, infrastructure development, amongst others, which can benefit Zambia, by being emulated. It is about common, good practices, Mr. President, and what you do better, we should not hesitate to emulate.”

President Edgar Lungu made this known on Tuesday, July 27, 2017, when he held bilateral talks with the Ghanaian President and his delegation, at the commencement of the 3-day official State Visit by President Akufo-Addo to Zambia.

With the two countries having signed an agreement for the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission on Co-operation (PJCC) to serve as the legal framework to address their trade and investment concerns, President Lungu bemoaned the non-implementation of this commission.

He, however, indicated that the PJCC will be given a new lease of life under his and the tenure of office of President Akufo-Addo, so as to ensure that “our Ministers will begin co-operating, and, henceforth, make the PJCC a living document.”
On the Ezulwini consensus, a position on international relations and reform of the United Nations agreed by the African Union in 2005, President Lungu was confident that the pioneering role played by President Akufo-Addo, then Foreign Minister of Ghana, in the fashioning of the document will be of invaluable to the cause of the AU.
“You were a pioneer, you were there. So as we go to the UN General Assembly in September, I am sure that Africa can count on you as an anchor,” he added.
President Lungu stressed that, “We want a prosperous Africa, which is integrated, united, peaceful and secured, and influential, not only in Africa but in the UN family.
“Regional integration is one aspect which will lead us to the Africa we want. Zambia is proud to be a member of SADC, and we are equally proud of the role that you (President Akufo-Addo) are playing in ECOWAS, in terms of peace keeping in the region, and trying to find common ground in improving co-operation and development of the African people we are privileged to look after.”

Credit:  Ghraphic online
 

Rihanna tweets world leaders and Justin Trudeau is the latest to respond

She's a global pop icon, they are G20 leaders. So what happened when Rihanna tweeted some of the world's most powerful men to talk about their commitment to education in the developing world?

Well, some of them responded and their exchanges are there for us all to see on social media.
It started earlier this week when the singer and fashion icon, who has 74 million followers on Twitter, publicly messaged the leaders of France, Argentina and Canada, plus the spokesperson for Germany's Angela Merkel.

In January, Rihanna travelled to Malawi meeting children at under resourced schools in an initiative with Global Citizen and the Global Partnership for Education, for whom she is an ambassador. The two organisations aim to help fund the teaching of millions of children and young people in developing countries.
Given her superstar status and her previous work with her own charity, the Clara Lionel Foundation, Rihanna urged G20 leaders to discuss the subject when they meet in Hamburg in July.
Credit: BBC

The Queen gets a £82.2 million pay rise

The Queen is to receive an 8% increase in income from public funds, after the Crown Estate's profits rose by £24m.

The Sovereign Grant, which pays for the salaries of her household, official travel and upkeep of palaces, is to increase by more than £6m in 2018/19.
It comes as accounts revealed the Queen's official net expenditure last year increased by £2m, to almost £42m.
Sir Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the Queen represented "excellent value for money".

• 2015 - How rich is the Queen?

He said: "When you look at these accounts, the bottom line is the Sovereign Grant last year equated to 65p per person, per annum, in the United Kingdom.
"That's the price of a first class stamp.
"Consider that against what the Queen does and represents for this country, I believe it represents excellent value for money."

The Queen and the Royal Family's official travel cost the taxpayer £4.5m during 2016/17, up £500,000.
Clarence House has also released its annual accounts, which showed the Prince of Wales' annual income from his hereditary estate, the Duchy of Cornwall, increased by 1.2% - to £20.7m.

Royal accounts - some key figures

• £82.2m - Amount the Queen is expected to get from the Sovereign Grant in 2018/19
• £4.5m - Cost of the Queen and the Royal Family's official travel in 2016/17
• £288,697 - Amount spent on the Royal Train travel for 14 trips
• £1.2m - Cost of replacing doors on the orangery at Windsor Castle
• £154,000 - Estimated cost of Prince Charles and Camilla using "Cam Force One" - the official government plane - to visit Italy, Romania and Austria earlier this year

The Sovereign Grant, which is paid two years in arrears, is money given to the Queen by the Treasury.
It is based on the profits of the Crown Estate portfolio, which includes much of London's West End.
The Crown Estate posted a £24.7m rise in profits, to £328.8m, in 2016/17.

Credit:  BBC