In The News

 

Fuel prices set to drop for Christmas–Oil Marketers In Ghana

Board Chairman of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, Gabriel Kumi, says Ghanaians should expect cheaper fuel this Christmas as global product prices continue to fall. He says the indicators already point to clear reductions across petrol, diesel and LPG, and consumers will feel the relief from mid-December.

Speaking on PM Express Business Edition, he said, “Fortunately, Ghanaians are going to have a very good Christmas in terms of petroleum prices, because already the indication is that the price of finished petroleum products is going down.”

He explained that diesel “has seen about 10% decrease,” and petrol “has already seen about 6% decrease. Mr Kumi added that LPG “has also seen some 1 – 1.5% decrease.”

The COMAC Chair said the only major condition is the stability of the cedi.

He said, “If the cedi is held in check, then we can be sure that on the 16th of December, prices of petroleum products will generally go down. Mr Kumi said this drop will “take us through Christmas,” because the second pricing window, which covers the festive period, is likely to deliver further reductions.

He stressed that Ghana is “likely to see some decrease in the price of petroleum products.

Memories of 70s and ’80s Kids Had The Best Christmas Ever

The 2025 holiday season is in full swing, and in a world that feels a little chaotic these days, it’s no surprise that people are turning to the power of nostalgia for a little comfort—especially when it’s wrapped in real twinkle lights, a bit of tinsel, and maybe some chestnuts roasting on an open fire (or at least a bowl of mixed nuts on the coffee table). You might say that, even in the modern era, the ’70s and ’80s still have a powerful grip on everything that made Christmas feel truly magical. From bubble lights to tinsel you’d still be finding while hunting for Easter eggs months later (or in the cat’s litter box the next day), to ceramic pre-lit Christmas trees that now fetch wild prices on eBay, these decades defined the festive season in ways we still feel today. For me, [Christmas in the ’80s] was somehow both bigger and more chill than it is now. How strong is this era’s grip on Gen Xers and Millennials? Strong enough that entire social media accounts are devoted to AI-generated suburban living rooms — quiet, empty spaces with twinkling lights, a crackling fire, and a Christmas special glowing on the TV in the corner. Yes, the visuals are a little wonky (it is AI, after all), but the “sigh”-filled comments prove they hit that nostalgic nerve every time. There are also accounts featuring real people standing in doorways, staring wistfully outside, paired with captions like, “When you realize Christmas will never be as magical as it was in the ’80s.” Sad… but kind of true.
‎ Christmas mornings in the ’80s had a special kind of magic. The tree lights glowed, the sound of torn wrapping filled the room and kids in pajamas held their new treasures with wide smiles. These moments were filled with joy and wonder. Each of these 20 photos is a time capsule, bringing back the excitement, innocence, and pure wonder that made Christmas mornings in the ’80s haunting. Each to photograph takes us back to that feeling: the warmth of family gathering together and the timeless magic of Christmas. 

Why Guinea-Bissau has seen 10+ military coups

 Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has become one of Africa’s most politically unstable nations. Over the past five decades, the country has witnessed more than ten coups and attempted coups, making military intervention almost routine. Only one democratically elected leader has completed a full term in office, a reflection of the deep structural weaknesses at the heart of the state.

What began as a promising liberation movement has slowly deteriorated into what the United Nations once called Africa’s first “narco-state”—a fragile country plagued by drug trafficking, corruption, poverty, and a powerful, interventionist military. These forces together have kept Guinea-Bissau trapped in a cycle of crisis. Guinea-Bissau’s instability is rooted in its liberation struggle. The PAIGC, which fought Portuguese colonial rule, merged political authority with military command. When independence came, the former guerrilla fighters formed the backbone of the national army.

This legacy created a security sector that viewed itself not just as a defender of the country but as a guardian of the political order, giving it a sense of entitlement to intervene whenever it deemed civilian leaders incompetent or threatening to its interests.On November 14, 1980, Prime Minister João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira overthrew President Luís Cabral in a bloodless coup. Vieira installed a military-dominated government, setting the precedent that political power could be seized with force rather than won through democratic processes.In 1998, Brigadier-General Ansumane Mané launched a coup attempt after being accused of smuggling arms to rebels in Senegal’s Casamance region. The failed attempt spiralled into a civil war between Mané’s forces and troops loyal to Vieira.

Backed by Senegal and Guinea, government forces fought for nearly a year before collapsing in 1999. Vieira fled, marking a violent turning point driven largely by rivalry within the military hierarchy.On September 14, 2003, Army Chief of Staff General Veríssimo Correia Seabra toppled President Kumba Yala. The coup unfolded amid severe economic decline, unpaid public servants, and widespread frustration. The military justified its intervention as necessary to restore order, though it only reinforced the template of unconstitutional turnovers.The 2009 killings of President Vieira and Army Chief Tagme Na Waie—within hours of each other—highlighted the growing influence of drug traffickers. Though not officially a coup, the assassinations reflected deep infiltration of criminal networks into both the military and government, turning political rivalries into lethal competition for control of lucrative trafficking corridors.In April 2012, soldiers seized power just before a presidential run-off election. The military accused the government of inviting Angolan troops to reform the armed forces—seen as a threat to military autonomy. Analysts dubbed it the “cocaine coup” because of its links to drug-trafficking interests, underscoring how narcotics money had captured the state.

2024

2022: A gun battle around the government palace targeted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who survived and blamed drug-trafficking networks.

2023: Clashes erupted when National Guard soldiers freed two detained officials, revealing deep divisions within security forces.

2024: Authorities thwarted another plot involving senior officers, demonstrating how coup planning had become almost predictable.On November 26, 2025, troops arrested President Embaló and announced a takeover on state TV. The military suspended state institutions, closed borders, and claimed it acted to prevent an alleged plot involving politicians and a “well-known drug baron”. The move mirrored previous interventions—another attempt justified in the name of “restoring order” amid a disputed election.Guinea-Bissau’s geography—remote islands, weak borders, and limited naval capacity—has made it a prime transit hub for cocaine from Latin America to Europe. Drug profits dwarf the national economy, making corruption irresistible.

With the state unable to pay soldiers decent salaries, traffickers easily recruit security officials. By the late 2000s, the military had become deeply entangled in the drug trade, and political power became ysynonymous with controlling trafficking routes.

AFRICANS ARE TOO YOUNG TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF

AFRICA IS TOO YOUNG TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF THEY NEED US.TO STEAL FROM THEM.

AFRICA DON'T NEED YOU TO LOOT THEM THEMSELVES STAY AWAY FROM AFRICAN PROPERTIES YOU HAVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AROUND YOU TRY AND LOOT THEM AND SEE WHAT HAPPEN, FRANCE CAN NO LONGER ENRICH ITSELF FROM AFRICAN PROPERTIES ITS TIME FOR YOU THIEVES TO WORK HARD AND PAY RIGHT WHAT YOU BUY NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF INNOCENT AFRICAN COUNTRIES. STEALING FROM AFRICAN DAYS ARE OVER AFRICANS ARE WISE NOW SO BRING IT ON WE WILL SURPRISE YOU.

Mahama Set up a foreign remittance unit at the Central Bank.

 Bank of Ghana Headquarters

Thu, 2 Jan 2025 Source: starrfm.com.gh

A banking consultant, Dr. Richmond Atuahene, says the incoming President, John Dramani Mahama, must set up a remittances unit at the Central Bank to track Ghana’s foreign remittances.

Speaking on GHOne TV, Dr. Atuahene disclosed that the figures on Ghana’s remittances are significant, but very little passes through the banking sector.

According to him, if the incoming administration focuses on the remittance sector, the nation will avoid borrowing from the World Bank or begging the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for US$3 billion.

“The first thing I want to advise the incoming President is that he must strengthen the remittance system or even create a new unit at the Central Bank. For instance, Bangladesh tracks 95% of remittances through its banking system, while in Ghana, we only track about 50%. The other 50% does not go into the banking system,” Dr. Atuahene explained.

“In 2023, the World Bank reported US$4.7 billion in remittances, but we only tracked US$2.8 billion, leaving US$1.9 billion unaccounted for. Previously, when the total remittance was US$4.2 billion, we tracked only US$2.1 billion. Those funds are lost. However, if we implement a strong tracking system, we will be able to capture more of the remittances,” he stated.

Dr. Atuahene continued, “Once we are able to track remittances properly, it will help manage the economy, stabilize the cedi, and reduce inflation.”

The banking consultant also advised President-elect John Mahama to assemble a team of technocrats who will help devise strategies to finance the nation’s substantial debts owed to contractors.

“He must appoint people who understand microeconomic issues to help him. This will be a significant advantage for him. The next challenge will be financing the debts, including the US$31 million owed to contractors and energy sector debts,” he added.

“His Excellency must form a team like the one in place in 2010. They need a credible arrears repayment plan so that, within three or four years, the debts can be cleared, without creating new ones. If this is done, the challenge becomes surmountable. With the right brains and technical people, and if they are allowed to help, they can achieve a lot in four years.”

“Even remittances alone will be bigger than the IMF loan. If we track the remittances properly, we will not need to beg for US$3 billion,” Dr. Atuahene concluded.

Time For The USA To Close Its Military Base In Ghana.

The presence of a United States military base in Ghana has been a contentious issue since its inception. As the incoming Mahama administration prepares to take office, it is crucial to re-evaluate this agreement and consider zzzits implications for Ghana's sovereignty and security. This article provides a historical background on how the USA gained access to a military base in Ghana, the conditions of its usage, and reasons why it is time to cancel the agreement.The incoming administration should prioritize renegotiating the SOFA agreement to ensure it aligns with Ghana's national interests. If renegotiation is not feasible, terminating the agreement should be considered.

2. Strengthen Sovereignty:

Reassert Ghana's sovereignty by ensuring that any future agreements with foreign powers are transparent, equitable, and subject to public scrutiny.

3. Enhance Regional Security Cooperation:

Focus on strengthening regional security cooperation with neighboring countries through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address common security challenges without relying on foreign military bases.

4. Invest in Domestic Security Infrastructure:

Allocate resources to enhance Ghana's own security infrastructure and capabilities, reducing the need for foreign military presence.

The presence of a US military base in Ghana, established under the 2018 SOFA agreement, raises significant concerns about sovereignty, transparency, and security. As the Mahama administration takes office, it is imperative to re-evaluate this agreement and take decisive action to protect Ghana's national interests. By renegotiating or terminating the agreement, strengthening regional cooperation, and investing in domestic security, Ghana can assert its sovereignty and ensure a secure and prosperous future

Mahama assembles team to drive anti-corruption agenda before taking office

 President-elect John Dramani Mahama has taken a decisive first step in his anti-corruption crusade by establishing a preparatory team to spearhead his flagship agenda, "Operation Recover All Loot" (ORAL), ahead of his assumption of office.In a statement dated December 18, 2024, and signed by spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the team has been tasked with gathering credible information on suspected corruption cases and laying the groundwork for reclaiming stolen state resources.

This move underscores Mahama’s commitment to accountability, a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign.

Prominent figures like former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo and renowned lawyer Martin Kpebu have been included in the team,signalling a robust approach to tackling graft. Mahama, who campaigned on eradicating corruption and curbing public sector waste, has vowed to enforce strict consequences for mismanagement of state funds and prioritize transparency in governance.

By activating ORAL during the transition, Mahama sends a clear message: his administration is ready to act decisively against corruption and restore trust in Ghana’s institutions.

Mahama eyes economic reforms

President-elect John Mahama has warned that Ghana is not immune to the instability affecting many of its neighbors. He is keen to reform the cocoa industry and address skyrocketing inflation.Ghana's President-elect John Dramani Mahama said he is keen to push through major reforms after poor economic conditions contributed to instability and even coups in neighbouring countries.

"We're at risk," Mahama said in an interview with DW, referencing the instability and military takeovers that have plagued other west African nations Mahama said the coups that occurred in three Sahelian countries in recent years could spread further if things don't change.

"There's an African proverb that says that when your neighbor has a house that's on fire, you help him to quench it. Otherwise, when it burns down his house, it will spread to your house. And so we need to give Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger all the support they need to deal with this crisis," Mahama said."Otherwise, it definitely would spread. Already there are incursions in northern Togo. I'm sure you've heard about them. And so it's just a matter of time. And so we need to be very proactive."

MAHAMA IS COMING BACK AS A WOUNDED LION

Former president John mahama is coming back like a wounded lion. He gave the power to NPP party believing that they can govern better but 8 years on Ghanaians are crying and crying on former president to come back and rescue them from the wicked NPP Party that he handed Ghanaians to. NPP government are afraid of John mahama coming back, He gave them the power so he knows the in and out of Ghanaian government and it's easy for him to know all the evil stealing they had done to Ghana. Listening to Ghanaians they want to know what NPP government did with their money and properties and for John mahama to prosecute NPP government for any theft. NPP government are afraid should John mahama win the election and find out of their looting and sentence them to jail base on this NPP government is doing everything to win the election but the harsh conditions in Ghana show that they don't want NPP government any more. So Ghanaians are bringing back the wounded lion for justice.

Bawumia will investigate expired rice saga if he becomes president

Bawumia Said he will investigate expired rice saga if he becomes president-this is to tell Ghanaians that this man can't be trusted, You are the vice-president of Ghana now why wait till you become president ? This means he's not serious to handle the issues of Ghanaian people. Do something now to show Ghanaians that you are a man of your words.

Wall Street may now have to take Trump literally as the battle for Treasury secretary

Wall Street may now have to take Trump literally as the battle for Treasury secretary focuses on a centerpiece campaign pledge The euphoric stock market rally that followed Donald Trump’s election victory largely brushed aside his vow to hike tariffs across the board with even higher rates on China.That’s as many on Wall Street assumed his tough talk was more of negotiating strategy to obtain better trade deals. In that vein, a Barclays note on Thursday said, “We think the president-elect should be taken seriously, but not literally.”But the increasingly public battle over who will be Treasury secretary in the second Trump administration offers a clue on whether that premise will hold true.the Financial Times on Sunday said that Trump’s advisers are seeking assurances from the top candidates that they are committed to his aggressive tariffs.The report added that pressure has been particularly heavy on hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, who told the FT in a prior interview that Trump’s tariff plans were “maximalist” positions that would probably be watered down in negotiations.“My general view is that at the end of the day, he’s a free trader,” he said about Trump last month. “It’s escalate to de-escalate.”But on Friday, Bessent authored an op-ed on Fox News that praised tariffs as a revenue-raising tool and a way to protect strategic industries while also saying that optimistic forecasts from free trade advocates haven’t panned out.A spokeswoman for the Trump transition team didn’t directly address the FT report, only saying that he is making decisions on who will serve in the administration and that those decisions will be announced when they are made.Meanwhile, Elon Musk endorsed Howard Lutnick, the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and co-chair of Trump’s transition team, for the Treasury role on Saturday. The Tesla CEO, who has become increasingly influential in Trump’s circle, posted on X that “Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, whereas @howardlutnick will actually enact change.”Soon after, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is Trump’s pick to lead the Health and Human Services department, also endorsed Lutnick, saying on X that he will be a strong Bitcoin advocate.Bloomberg on Sunday said that Bessent spoke with Musk after his post on X endorsing Lutnick On the prediction market Kalshi, Lutnick’s odds of becoming Trump’s Treasury secretary shot up to 53% on Sunday from 45% on Saturday night and 20% on Friday night. Bessent’s chances plunged to 40% from nearly 79% on Friday.

Bawumia is the right person to salvage Ghana – Kufuor

People don't understand me, but Bawumia is the right person to salvage Ghana – Kufuor. What is former president saying ? is he part of the down fall of Ghana ? Where was he when Bawumia was damaging Ghana ? Hypocrite

Cedi rate shoots up, selling at GH¢17.20 to US$1

 

Cedi rate shoots up, selling at GH¢17.20 to US$1

 Bawumia Shame on you, When the fundamentals are weak the exchange rate shall expose you it has exposed you hypocrite you can't even mention the word economy anymore what a shame.

Statement from President Joe Biden on the 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

 

Fifty-one years ago today, the Supreme Court recognized a woman’s constitutional right to make deeply personal decisions with her doctor—free from the interference of politicians. Then, a year and a half ago, the Court made the extreme decision to overturn Roe and take away a constitutional right. As a result, tens of millions of women now live in states with extreme and dangerous abortion bans. Because of Republican elected officials, women’s health and lives are at risk. In states across the country, women are being turned away from emergency rooms, forced to go to court to seek permission for the medical attention they need, and made to travel hundreds of miles for health care.

Even as Americans—from Ohio to Kentucky to Michigan to Kansas to California—have resoundingly rejected attempts to limit reproductive freedom, Republican elected officials continue to push for a national ban and devastating new restrictions across the country. 

On this day and every day, Vice President Harris and I are fighting to protect women’s reproductive freedom against Republicans officials’ dangerous, extreme, and out-of-touch agenda. We stand with the vast majority of Americans who support a woman’s right to choose, and continue to call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe in federal law once and for all.

An August surge, two new variants and a Barbenheimer spike: is London facing a Covid autumn?

 

Cases have surged by 17 per cent in the last week, with experts blaming waning immunity, increased indoor mixing and new mutations. For Leon Emirali, 32, the signs were subtle at first but unmistakeable. More coughs. A smattering of masks on the Tube again. The same sore eyes and fuzzy head he had last time he had Covid, then a loss of his sense of taste.

So when the marketing agency founder discovered an old lateral flow test sitting at the back of the medicine cabinet, he was pretty certain of the result to come. Sure enough: it was the dreaded two lines. “It’s silly to forget about Covid, but you do,” he says from his office in Westminster, now recovered after a week off work after what he says was a worse illness than the first time he had the virus, in April 2022. “I found a mask in an old jacket the other day and it was a reminder of what we went through. It was such a horrific time for so many people but at the same time you want to banish any memory of it. It’s clearly still among us, the virus. But I couldn’t tell you how many Covid cases there were today whereas a couple of years I could’ve done. We live in a different time now.”

Indeed we do. Like most of us, Emirali might not be able to quote the current Covid case numbers but the truth is they are rising again, fast. Estimated UK cases surged by almost a third last month, from a predicted 606, 656 on July 4 to 785,980 on July 27, according to the Zoe Health Study, which estimates figures for UK Covid infections. Government records show a 17.4 per cent increase in cases in England in the last seven days. 

Several factors are reportedly to blame for this new August wave: waning immunity; increased indoor mixing due to the poor summer weather and cultural phenomenas like Barbenheimer (yes, really); and two new variants.

The first, named EG.5.1 and nicknamed Eris, is a descendant of the Omicron variant and reportedly accounts for as many as one in seven UK Covid cases after it was reported for the first time in July. The second variant, named BA.2.86 nicknamed Pirola, is said to be highly mutated and related to the “stealth Omicron” BA.2 variant detected in the UK in late 2021 but much less widespread – or at least so far. It was first identified in Israel last month and has since been detected in countries from Denmark to the US, with the first official UK case recorded on August 18 in an individual who had not recently been abroad, suggesting “a degree of community transmission within the UK”, according to the UK Health and Security Agency.

Officials say there is currently “insufficient data” on how severe this latest Pirola strain might be but that they are monitoring it closely, with the World Health Organization recently designating it as a “variant under monitoring” and experts calling it the most striking Covid strain the world has seen since Omicron.

“There’s more than 30 amino acid changes to the spike protein, which is similar to what we saw with the emergence of Omicron,” infectious disease physician Paul Griffin said this week. “At least at that very early stage, looking at how it’s composed, that does give us some cause for concern, and certainly is one that we have to watch really carefully.” London is believed to be a particular Covid hotspot at the moment, with 12 per cent of recent infections in England recorded in the capital – only one per cent less than the proportion recorded in the whole of the south-west of England. “I genuinely know more people with Covid in August 2023 than in August 2020,” says Catherine Renton, 41, a writer from Walthamstow who can currently count at least 12 friends, family and colleagues with Covid, all of whom say the symptoms are worse than the first time if they’ve had it before.

Many say the symptoms are worse than other Covid infections they’ve had in recent years. “I’ve had [Covid] before and it definitely felt more severe this time. It took about two weeks to feel normal again and even now my heart rate is still a bit higher on runs than it was before,” says Rachel Hart*, 28, a comms consultant from Battersea.

Hattie Vessey, 27, a surveyor from Earlsfield, says: “It feels like a savage form of flu, my whole body just aches.” She fears she is going to have to cancel her bank holiday trip to Paris for the third year running as a result of Covid. “The oddest part has been refamiliarising myself with how this all works,” says Vessey. “When I shouted out to my housemates that I’d tested positive we were laughing like ‘Oh, what a throwback’. Then my housemate was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got a funeral with loads of older family members this week’, so now I’m like, ‘Do I need to put on a mask? Do I need to isolate in my bedroom? Should I let all the people I’ve seen this week know that I’ve got it? How do I get my laptop from the office?’ It’s all of these questions that haven’t been on my mind for two years.”

For others, the return of Covid has been a reminder of how serious the virus can be. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. It ended up in A&E,” says John Junior, 34, a script consultant for a mental health company in King’s Cross, who is still suffering with fatigue and a loss of taste six weeks after he was hospitalised with the virus last month. According to insiders at a particular hospital in outer London, staff are already getting fit-tested for PPE and staff boosters are on their way, with some hospitals putting Covid patients last on their ward rounds to minimise transmission.

So how worried should we be? Is Barbenheimer really to blame for this year’s pre-autumn spike – or would the new variants have caused it anyway? And, given this week’s report concluding that the lockdowns were effective at keeping Covid numbers down, should we expect more restrictions this winter?Possibly, yes, says Dr Charles Levinson, a London-based GP and medical director at urgent private healthcare service Doctorcall. But we’re unlikely to see restrictions anywhere near the severity of the 2020 and 2021 lockdowns, he believes.

For Levinson and his fellow experts across the health industry, the next few weeks will be the real teller of what’s to come in this latest Covid chapter – as indeed they will every year. “September will be a key month to observe, with the reopening of schools leading to increased interactions among students and staff, and a rise in indoor gatherings as the weather cools,” says Dr Chris Papadopoulos, principal lecturer in public health at the University of Bedfordshire.

Papadopoulos believes new variants and an autumn spike are to be expected most years, unfortunately, but particularly this year, given the diminishing immunity of the general population, particularly under-50s who may not have received a booster or encountered an infection in more than a year. This, coupled with a relaxing of public attitudes to mixing and mask-wearing, two new variants, increased cinema attendance for films like Barbie and Oppenheimer, plus a rainier-than-usual summer leading to more indoor gatherings, has created an “ideal set of circumstances for the virus to thrive”. So should we all be getting a booster vaccine this winter, then? Only if you’re elderly or vulnerable, says Levinson, who would urge anyone in these groups to sign up for a booster and avoid big gatherings during Covid spikes as they would with the flu each winter. The main difference between Covid and the flu, however, is the lack of ability for the rest of the population to access the Covid jab privately. His company, Doctorcall, vaccinates staff from 700 companies against the flu each year to prevent absenteeism, and more than a million individuals opt for one privately each winter for reasons such as going to visit a grandparent or having fragile health but who do not fall into the vulnerable category.

“It’s very disappointing that that hasn’t been done yet with Covid,” says Levinson. “It doesn’t look like [a private Covid vaccine will be introduced] in time for this winter but it does look like it’s coming in for the next one. I think that’ll make a big difference [to keeping Covid numbers down each winter] when that comes in.”

In the meantime, this winter, officials are urging the public not to be complacent but not to worry or scaremonger, either. “Covid will continue to change and adapt. So we shouldn’t be shocked or worried just because new variants appear and cause increasing numbers of infections,” says Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University. Instead, Levinson says he’d encourage the public to treat Covid like they would any normal winter illness and follow general NHS advice: to wash their hands, to avoid crowded or poorly ventilated areas where possible, to consider wearing a mask on public transport or in healthcare settings, and to avoid contact with others for five days if you test positive – if not to protect yourself but the NHS, which is already on its knees. Public health campaigns may well end up being a part of this, says Levinson, but “what we musn’t let happen is to make people so frightened that they don’t leave the house or have routine check-ups or go into the office”.

So what about a lockdown, then, if numbers really spike this winter? Despite this week’s Royal Society report showing the combination of lockdowns and mask-wearing did “unequivocally” reduce Covid infections, the general consensus among health professionals is that another lockdown is unlikely – particularly because of changes in people’s attitude to Covid and the loss of public trust in restrictions since the partygate scandal.

“It feels like people appear even more careless with their coughs and going out when feeling ill than they did pre-Covid,” says Polly Arrowsmith, 56, a marketing director from Islington who has bronchiectasis, a disease of the small airways, and therefore has to be careful to wear a mask in public places. “It’s as if Covid never happened and people are being more rebellious or lackadaisical.” Emirali, who worked an aide to then-Treasury minister Steve Barclay at the onset of the pandemic, believes the government would struggle to impose a lockdown because of this. There was a sense of the unknown when Covid first emerged in 2020 but we’ve seen the full impact of lockdown on the economy, education and mental health since then. In his view, Rishi Sunak would be more opposed to a lockdown than then-PM Boris Johnson was, mostly for economic reasons.

With the erosion of public trust on top of this Emirali believes a lockdown is – if not impossible – certainly very unlikely. “If the NHS is at collapsing point then I’m sure there would be a consideration [of lockdown],” he says. “But I think the public would be resistant because of partygate and the idea that the rules were being broken. If you haven’t got compliance for a lockdown, it’s pretty useless. And, frankly, I don’t think the government can afford it.”

Levinson agrees. He thinks the government has already had its its “fingers burnt” over the lockdown restrictions and would be far more likely to bring in “softer” restrictions instead: guidance about wearing masks and washing hands and an awareness campaign on how to keep yourself and others healthy.

“It’s likely we’ll have to live [with Covid] forever now,” he says, matter-of-factly. And while the word forever might sound scary, that’s already the case with the flu and common cold. “Covid-19 is a similar type of virus to the common cold and the common cold mutates endlessly, which is why we tend to get so many every winter. I think that’s what we’ve got to expect. Covid will become a winter illness that we have to live with.” This winter, unfortunately, will probably be no different.

At last 3 robbed at gunpoint in Humboldt Park spree earlier this week.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- One of three armed robberies in the city's Humboldt Park neighborhood early Tuesday morning was captured on video.

A 38-year-old man was walking in the 800-block of North California Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when police said three masked gunmen jumped out of a dark SUV that had pulled up and robbed him. The incident was captured by a nearby doorbell camera.

"Come on, bro, I need my bag, bro," the victim can be heard telling the robbers. "You got all my stuff, bro."

One of the armed robbers grabs his takeout order before stepping back and demanding the passcode to his cell phone. He gives it to them. The victim was not hurt. Police said the trio of thieves committed at least two more armed robberies that morning in a short span of time. Police said a couple was targeted in the 1700 block of North Drake a short time later, and then just before 3:30 a.m. a person reported being robbed at gunpoint by three men in a black jeep a few blocks away in the 1900 block of North Damen.

According to data from the city of Chicago, there have been 541 robberies in the last 12 months in the Humboldt Park community where these incidents occurred. That's an 83% increase over the average number of robberies for the three years prior, 2020 through 2022. Other nearby North and Northwest Side neighborhoods have also seen an increase in armed robberies. The same city data shows that over the last 12 months in the 14th Police District, which includes the east side of Humbold Park, Logan Square, West Town, Wicker Park and Bucktown, there have been 508 robberies, which is a 55% increase over the average number of robbers for the three years prior, 2020 through 2022.

And while Chicago olice have issued some community alerts warning of the danger, the armed robbery sprees continue.

No one is in custody for Tuesday's attack and no arrests have been made.

Oil and Gas production in our Los Angeles Communities

 

Living in Los Angeles for over 20 years, I have viewed the climate injustice and environmental racism in our neighborhoods from oil and gas drilling specifically in Black and Brown communities.I have witnessed over the years the admissions of a steady stream of carcinogens, and other toxic chemicals, that have affected our neighborhood, in a very quiet and clandestine fashion. Exposure from these hazardous operations, gas and oil include constant emissions, odors, noise, light, pollution, and a persistent exposure to fracking and other detrimental activities.
The risk from volatile organic compounds or VOCs, along with noxious mixture of other air contaminants, and methane which is one of the most potent pollutants to the environment. The emission of hundreds of chemicals that often disrupt hormones, and cause reproductive and developmental harm. Contamination of our ground water and potentially drinking water is very real.
Chronic exposure to drilling sites is as harmful to the lungs as breathing freeway exhaust and second hand smoke on a constant basis. Hazardous gases also releases a mixture of dangerous, petroleum-based gases, known as BTEX, that stands for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.
Benzene is a known carcinogen linked to an increase in leukemia and other blood cancers. Knowing all this helps, explain the prevalence of ethnic and racial health disparities to black Californians, having the shortest lifespan an experienced the highest death rate from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer among all racial and ethnic groups in the state of California.
What are some of the solutions? We are still waiting on the protections from the landmark health and safety act California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law in September 2022. What we saw soon after was signed, the oil and gas companies wasting no time filing referendums to overturn the measure.
The California setback law prohibits operators from reworking and repairing existing wells in addition to starting new wells within the safety zone. The good news is that our local governments and activist groups aren’t willing to wait around for the enforcement of the state law.
The city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County have acted on their own to formulate stricter policies to prevent oil and gas productions moving forward. The greater news is that the Biden – Harris administration signed an executive order on April 21, that created an office of environmental justice that recognizes that racism is a fundamental driver of environmental injustice.
This is a great opportunity for all of us to get involved, through our organizations, schools, and churches. We must hold our politicians accountable to enact clear-cut, climate and environmental justice policies.
Our children and their children’s children will have an environment that they can live and thrive in.

Why I wished my mother dead- Actress Chacha Eke

 

Nollywood actress, Chacha Eke has disclosed that she developed deep hatred for her mother and even wished for her death while growing up.
She said her hatred for her mother was caused by a mental disorder “that switches your favourite to your least favourite.”
The thespian said her hatred for her mother was further compounded by fake revelations from so-called men of God who told her that her mum was after her life. Eke revealed this while celebrating her mother’s birthday via her Instagram page on Wednesday.
Sharing a video of herself and her mother, she captioned it, “This is a video of me and my biological Mom. I loved her intensely when I was younger. She was, and still is my best friend.
“However, as I got older, I began to dislike and develop deep hatred for her. I had nightmares and hallucinations that supported my euphoria. Sadly, many men of God told me after several manic episodes that she was after my life.
“And so, I went about wishing her death and spewing despicable things about her.”
The actress said she was grateful to have realised her hatred for her mother was as a result of her mental health while her mother was still alive.
She said despite her struggle with mental illness, her mother still raised a “queen.”
She advised others suffering from similar disorders to seek medical help.

Soldiers, touts clash in Lagos

Pandemonium broke out yesterday at Second  Rainbow, on the Oshodi\Apapa expressway, Lagos, after some men suspected to be soldiers attacked some touts who inflicted injury on one of their colleagues.

This is just as a tanker loaded with petroleum products rammed into a commercial motorcyclist at Alaba bus stop on the same expressway,  in the driver’s bid to avoid being extorted by touts.

There were different accounts as to how the trouble started between the soldier and the touts. A version of the account said the soldier was escorting a truck which was stopped by some touts on an extortion spree .

The soldier reportedly refused and was dragged out of the truck and gang beaten.

Another version of the account said  the  soldier in murfti was in a commercial bus heading towards Cele , when some touts popularly called agbero  clustered round the vehicle, demanding for money.

He was said to have  ordered the touts to leave the vehicle . When they refused, he  reportedly  alighted from the bus to shove one of the touts away, only to be gang beaten by over ten touts.

One hour later , the injured soldier returned with his colleagues who descended on any tout  in sight.  They were still unleashing mayhem on the touts at 8pm.

Meanwhile , tragedy struck the same day on the same expressway  when a tanker laden with  33,000 litre of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise called petrol, overturned, crushing a commercial motorcyclist to death.

Eyewitness said  the incident happened  about 6.45 pm , as driver of the truck tried to evade being extorted by touts

The impact led to the tanker overturning and spilled its content in the process.

The deceased whose identity could not be determined as of press time was later recovered and taken to the mortuary.

Permanent Secretary, of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr.Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, said upon receipt of the report, the agency promptly dispatched a rescue team to the scene for the recovery operation.

According to The agency responded to an incident at the above location in which a fuel-laden tanker overturned due to a collision between the tanker and a motorcycle.

“Unfortunately, the motorcycle rider was crushed to death underneath the tanker and its contents are spilling onto the road rendering the scene extremely hazardous to other motorists and passersby. Meanwhile, the agency worked in collaboration with men of the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps, LNSC and the  Nigeria Police to secure the scene and carry out secondary incident containment measures while heavy duty equipment by LASEMA had been dispatched to remove the tanker from the road.