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

Otumfuo Osei Tutu makes historic visit to Techiman

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has made a historic visit to Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu was on his way to Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region to attend the burial ceremony of the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has made a historic visit to Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu was on his way to Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region to attend the burial ceremony of the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV.

Credit:  

Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Biiya Mukusah Ali

Artists for Grenfell: Charity single with Stormzy and Liam Payne is released

A single to raise money for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire has hit the number one spot on iTunes two hours after it was released.

More than 50 stars including Stormzy, Craig David and Liam Payne, recorded Bridge Over Troubled Water to support victims' families and survivors.
The cover of the Simon and Garfunkel classic was organised by Simon Cowell.
Residents and survivors of the fire-ravaged tower block also appear as part of a choir led by Gareth Malone.
"Seeing how emotional the local residents became while singing was really moving," he told The Sun.
"Some of them actually lived in Grenfell Tower, Their homes have been destroyed. It's very raw for a lot of them."
The song was made available to download at 08:00 BST on Wednesday - a week after the fire - and donations can be made directly on artistsforgrenfell.com

SONG LYRICS
Intro: Stormzy rap

When you're weary - Robbie Williams
Feeling small - James Blunt
When tears are in - Rita Ora
Your eyes - Craig David
I will dry them all - Dan (Bastille)
I'm on your side - Liam Payne
When times get rough - Emeli Sande
And friends just can't be found - Kelly Jones (Stereophonics)
Like a bridge over troubled water - Paloma Faith
I will lay me down - Louis Tomlinson
Like a bridge over troubled water - Labrinth
I will lay me down - Jorja Smith

Rap by WSTRN

When you're down and out - Leona Lewis
When you're on the street - Jessie J
When evening falls so hard - James Arthur
I will comfort you - Roger Daltrey (The Who)
I'll take your part - Ella Eyre
When darkness comes - Anne-Marie & Ella Henderson
And pain is all around - Louisa Johnson
Like a bridge over troubled water - Robbie Williams, all voices
I will lay me down - James Arthur
Like a bridge over troubled water - Choirs
I will lay me down - Rita Ora

Emeli Sande, who has just been made an MBE, said: "I hope it shows the power of community and the strength of people.
"That is the beauty of London, the integration makes it so incredible."
Pianist Tokio Myers, who recently won Britain's Got Talent, has also recorded part of the single, as have Bastille, James Blunt and Dua Lipa.
Meanwhile, West End stars are taking part in a benefit concert next week. Dame Judi Dench, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child's Noma Dumezweni will be among those taking part in the event at Trafalgar Studios in London.
Proceeds from the show will go to the Grenfell Tower Fire Fund

Credit: BBC

Man forced to pay 'bride price for dead wife

 A man in Mozambique's southern province of Inhambane had to pay the traditional bride price, locally known as "lobolo”, for a dead woman at the weekend, Mozambique's state radio reports.
After the woman died due to complications during childbirth, her relatives forced her young partner to pay the "lobolo", warning that she would not be buried otherwise.
The relatives accused the young man of failing to fulfil his obligations, including being introduced to the woman’s relatives, before the tragedy occurred.
To ensure that the funeral took place, the young man says he had to buy clothes and shoes for his dead wife, agree to pay more than $800 (£630), and hold a symbolic wedding ceremony on 15 December.
A brother to the young man, Irmao do Jovem, explained their dilemma:
“We tried to raise the money they demanded, but we could only put together about $178. So we had to sign a pledge promising to pay the remaining amount on wedding day, December 15th."
While the man’s family has conceded to the demands, they condemned the behaviour of the dead woman’s relatives.
However, this is a common practice among some ethnic groups in Mozambique, especially if a man decides to live with a woman, without going through all the marriage formalities.
Credit: BBC