France:Nice attack kills 84

A truck ploughed into a crowd in the French resort of Nice, killing at least 84 in what President Francois Hollande today called a “terrorist” attack on revellers watching a Bastille Day fireworks display.
The truck driver, who was formally identified today, was shot dead after barrelling the truck two kilometres through the festive crowd on the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, sending hundreds fleeing in terror and leaving the area strewn with bodies.The truck drove on to the sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of Bastille Day revelers who'd gathered to watch fireworks in the French resort city of Nice late Thursday.

Source: indianexpress

Lionel Messi: Argentina forward retires from international football

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.

"It's not meant for me. For me the national team is over. I've done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old said after defeat by Chile at the Copa America.With Barcelona, Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

But his only major international honour is 2008 Olympic gold.Argentina were beaten 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final by Germanybefore two Copa America final defeats by Chile on penalties. Messi was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.

"It's been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over," he added.

"I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone. I think there's a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.'

"It's very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back."Messi had scored five times at the tournament, including a superb free-kick in the semi-final against hosts the USA to become his country's record scorer with 55 goals.

Argentina and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero said he hoped Messi would "reflect" on his decision and reconsider, adding: "I think he spoke while he was heated, because a beautiful opportunity escaped us. I can't imagine a national team without Messi."

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero described the mood in the Argentina dressing room as "the worst I've ever been in", and was quoted by South American media as saying: "There are several players who are evaluating not continuing with the national team."

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.

"It's not meant for me. For me the national team is over. I've done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old said after defeat by Chile at the Copa America.With Barcelona, Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

But his only major international honour is 2008 Olympic gold.

Argentina were beaten 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final by Germanybefore two Copa America final defeats by Chile on penalties. Messi was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.

"It's been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over," he added.

"I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone. I think there's a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.'

"It's very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back."

Messi had scored five times at the tournament, including a superb free-kick in the semi-final against hosts the USA to become his country's record scorer with 55 goals.

Argentina and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero said he hoped Messi would "reflect" on his decision and reconsider, adding: "I think he spoke while he was heated, because a beautiful opportunity escaped us. I can't imagine a national team without Messi."

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero described the mood in the Argentina dressing room as "the worst I've ever been in", and was quoted by South American media as saying: "There are several players who are evaluating not continuing with the national team."

After Sunday's match finished 0-0 in 120 minutes, Chile won 4-2 on penalties.

Messi's miss was Argentina's first attempt in the shootout and it ballooned over the bar after Romero had denied Chile's Arturo Vidal.

Lucas Biglia also missed from 12 yards, with Chilean substitute Francisco Silva scoring the decisive spot-kick in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Messi made his debut for Argentina in 2005, going on to make 113 appearances.

For Barca he has scored 453 times in 531 games, including a La Liga record 312 goals. He has won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player five times.

In 2014 he was named as the best player at the World Cup, with then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter saying he was "a little bit surprised" and Argentina legend Diego Maradona calling the decision "unfair".

Argentina are already six games into their qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup. They are third in the table, two points behind leaders Uruguay.

The top four teams progress automatically to the finals in Russia, while the team finishing fifth qualifies for a two-legged play-off against the best team from Oceania.

source:bbc.com

David Cameron announces resignation after U.K. votes for 'Brexit'

LONDON —  British Prime Minister David Cameron announced he will stand down after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, a decision that sent global markets into a tailspin Friday.

The margin of victory was 52% to 48%.

“We should aim to have a new prime minister in place by the start of the Conservative Party conference in October,” Cameron said in a speech to the nation Friday. He said he informed Queen Elizabeth II of his decision.

It is the first departure from the alliance since the EU was formed 43 years ago. It could prompt other member nations to follow the U.K.'s lead and reverse a decades-long drive for European unity.

The outcome will have far-reaching political implications for the future of the 28-nation bloc as well as the political future of Prime Minister David Cameron.

Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence Party said that "dawn was breaking on an independent U.K." He is not an member of the official "leave" campaign, but supports an exit from the EU.

The White House gave a statement early Friday after the U.K.'s decision: "The President has been briefed on the incoming returns in the U.K. referendum, and he will continue to be updated by his team as the situation warrants. We expect the President will have an opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Cameron over the course of the next day, and we will release further comment as soon as appropriate."

The British pound fell 11% to a 31-year low as the "leave" camp appeared on course to win the historic referendum. Dow futures plummeted more than 600 points. Markets were also volatile in Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 average dropped more than 1,000 points, or 7%, through late-afternoon trading.

The Bank of England — the U.K.'s central bank — said it was monitoring developments closely and "has undertaken extensive contingency planning."

Iain Murray, vice president for strategy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based public policy organization, said Britain’s "surprising vote" to leave the EU is "only the start of uncertainty and opportunity."

"Negotiations over the terms of exit will take at least two years, and no one knows what form they will take or what deal can be struck,” he said.

Piers Hillier, the chief investment officer at Royal London Asset Management, an investment company, said he expected the U.K. to fall into a recession following the referendum result, the Guardian reported.

“Unfortunately I see unstable market conditions lasting for between three and five years whilst new trade agreements are drawn up,” he said.

The British currency initially soared to a 2016 peak of $1.50 amid signs that "remain" was winning the day, but then moved lower with losses accelerating. It fell from $1.50 to below $1.35 as results suggested a strong possibility the U.K. would vote to quit the bloc.

source: usatoday

June 3 disaster: Mass burial for 50 unidentified bodies

 

Kasapafmonline.com is reliably informed that a mass burial is being considered for fifty (50) bodies from Ghana’s worst disaster, June 3 Flood and Fire disaster which are yet to be identified and collected for burial by their respective families, one full year after the horrific incident.

This website has it on authority that these bodies are currently being kept at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and 37 Military Hospital morgues.

Ghana was thrown into a state of mourning after a tragic flood and fire disaster which claimed the lives of over 152 people following an explosion on that eventful Wednesday.

The Goil Filling Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra became the site of a cruel catastrophe after a gas explosion left charred remains of persons who had sought refuge from the floods in the area.

As the incident happened in the night, the dead bodies could only be found and carted away on the morning of the following day to the Police, 37 Military and Korle Bu Teaching Hospitals mortuary.

The gory incident resulted in hundreds of family members trooping to the named mortuaries to find out if their missing relatives had died in the event.

Some were fortunate enough to identify their dead relatives despite how charred some of the bodies were, following which the affected families later went for the bodies and to hold funeral services for them and eventually bury them.

It is however unclear why family members of these 50 dead people have not yet gone to the morgues to identify and collect their dead relatives.

Source:ghanaweb

11 Death Toll On Yeji Disaster So Far

Eleven bodies have been retrieved

Eleven bodies in total have so far been retrieved from the Volta River following Sunday’s boat disaster which initially killed six children.

The bodies of the six children (all under three years old) were retrieved from the river on Sunday by a rescue team.Subsequently five bodies were retrieved on Monday May 30.

Apart from being overloaded with passengers, the boat that sunk also had cows on board, Pru District Chief Executive Emmanuel Kwame Poku revealed in an interview with Prince Minkah on Class91.3fm’s Executive Breakfast Show on Monday May 30.

The boat capsized after hitting a tree stump, a correspondent with Alive FM in the Brong Ahafo Region, Daniel Takyi, reported.

According to the DCE, the cows kept getting the boat off balance in their attempt to get up during the trip, per accounts related to him after the accident. “…I know they were overloaded and somebody even told me there were some cows in the boat, so anytime the cows want to stand up in the [boat], you know what will happen. So, it’s true overloading and the tree stumps are the causes of the numerous accidents we have been getting,” he said.

Mr Poku said the naval officers patrolling both ends of the river have been mandated to check overloading, and, so, wondered why the problem persisted.

 

In an earlier interview with Prince Minkah on the same programme, DSP Abraham Bansah, Yeji District Police Commander, also confirmed that overloading played a major role in the accident.

He has, therefore, suggested that there be naval officers positioned to patrol both ends of the Volta River to ensure that vessel owners do not overload.

The passengers were being ferried from Nantwekope to Yeji in the region when the accident occurred.

A survivor told journalists that he had to struggle to save his wife and mother in the course of the rescue efforts.

The rescue team is still searching for other passengers who could not be accounted for. There have been numerous boat accidents on the Volta River in the past years. Three people died about a week ago on the same river in a similar accident.

As part of measures to curb such accidents, the DCE revealed that a law has been passed banning boat movements on the river after 6pm. He said currently the pontoon used in ferrying loadand passengers across the river, “is out of use, so, we depend on the boats”. He also said despite the availability of life jackets, passengers shun using them due to the heat it attracts.

Source:ghanaweb

Over 90 percent of ECG meters not calibrated

The raging controversy around ECG's faulty billing of some consumers, arising out of a combination of factors, including a supposedly software defect and un-standardised metering, can be blamed on institutional failure on the part of the Ghana Standards Authority and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC); Public Agenda's investigations have revealed.
The Paper's probe into the billing controversy has revealed that over 90 percent of the electricity meters imported into the country by all manner of persons (including people who have no idea about metering equipment), for public distribution are not calibrated to meet international and local standards, as required by law, and in accordance with the requirements of the Ghana Standards Authority.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) is the national standards body established by the Standards Decree of 1967 (NLCD 199) which has been superseded by the Standards Decree of 1973 (NRCD 173). The Authority is also the custodian of the Weights and Measures Decree (NRCD 326, 1975). These legislations together mandate the Authority to undertake the following functions:

• National Standards development and dissemination

• Testing Services

• Inspection Activities

• Product certification scheme

• Calibration, Verification and Inspection of Weights, Measures and Weighing and Measuring Instruments

• Pattern approval of new weighing and measuring instruments

• Destination Inspection of imported High-Risk goods

• Promoting Quality Management Systems in Industry

• Advice the Ministry of Trade and Industry, on standards and related issues

Public Agenda's checks have however established that, in addition to the reported abuse of the meter procurement activities at ECG, the company has also failed to submit meters in its custody for calibration by the Standards Authority. Only a few of the meters have recently been sent to the Standards Authority for calibration.
Calibration is the activity of checking, by comparison with a standard, the accuracy of a measuring instrument of any type. It may also include adjustment of the instrument to bring it into alignment with the standard. It is like buying a watch and setting it to the local time to ensure that its reading aligns with the national reckoning of time.
“If we all refuse to set the time on the clocks we buy, then certainly we shall all have different time readings on our clocks, and one will be unable to tell which clock is giving the correct time” explained an industry expert, who spoke to the Public Agenda on condition of anonymity.
Calibration is very important in all manner of transactions that are based on measured volumes of tradeable, including oil, gas, water, and electricity. This is because even the most precise measuring instrument can be used to cheat if one cannot be sure that it is reading accurately.
This fact explains the practice in the downstream petroleum sector, where the Standards Authority calibrates the fuel vending machines of oil marketing companies every year. The industry regulator, the National Petroleum Authority, then follow-up with routine but unannounced inspections to ensure compliance.
Experts say, in the case of mechanical and electromagnetic meters, wear and tear, arising from continuous use can lead to wrong readings, and so they have to be re-calibrated after a reasonable period of use. The period is established on the basis of the stability of the instrument itself and a review of the calibration records that already exist to determine whether an adjustment is needed.
The internationally renowned, UK-based Optical Test and Calibration (OTC) organisation recommends a starting periodicity of 12 months for most instruments with an increase in calibration frequency (to 6 or 9 months) if adjustment is required, and a reduction in periodicity to 2 years after a sequence of annual calibrations has shown that adjustment has not been needed.
The situation in Ghana departs from the established best practice. Most meters are not calibrated, and even when they are, they are never re-calibrated throughout their lifetime.
The ECG claims it has its own laboratory to calibrate its meters, but that claim could not be verified by Public Agenda as at the time of filing this story. But even if that were the case, it raises the questions of integrity and public confidence which can best be addressed through third party verification – the very reason the Ghana Standards Authority was established by law.
It is indeed a grave failure on the part of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to have allowed the ECG to install meters that have not been independently calibrated. By failing to ensure the independent calibration of the installed meters, the PURC has clearly failed to protect consumers from the risk of being shortchanged through inaccurate meter reading.
Indeed, the inaccurate reading could also mean the ECG being shortchanged if the reading records lower than actual units of electricity consumption. Efforts to get the PURC to respond to these findings proved futile.

Source:ghanaweb

Will The Ultimate Superyacht Be An Aircraft Carrier?

Billionaires and royalty are quite used to landing helicopters on the decks of their superyachts. So you could say that many of the world’s largest private yachts are already “aircraft carriers.” But the latest design concept from a UK-based firm that specializes in conceiving radically luxurious private planes, yachts, and residences for some of world’s most exclusive clients may take the symbiotic relationship between private aviation and superyachts to a whole new level.

The new design unveiled by Winch Design this week is a 328-foot long yacht that’s designed specifically to be able to accommodate an AgustaWestland 609 TiltRotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff capability of a helicopter with the superior speed and load carrying ability of a airplane.



As you can see in the renderings, the AW 609 TiltRotor will not only be able to take off and land on deck. It will also be protected in a fully enclosed hangar when it’s not shuttling owners and their guests to parties, or uber exclusive vacation spots, or the airport to meet their private jets, at top speeds over 300 miles per hour.

But just because this new concept makes its possible for owners and their guests to take off and land from the deck, and fly at twice the speed the fastest conventional helicopter, the yacht is designed to be way, way more than a mobile launch pad. In fact, it’s reported to be capable of achieving estimated speeds approaching 30 knots on the water, and providing ultra luxurious accommodations on multiple decks.


Source:forbes.com

Terrorists are closer to Ghana – Doe Adjaho

 

Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho has observed that terrorists are not far from Ghana.

The speaker’s comments come on the back of the Saturday attack on Burkina Faso which led to the death of 28 and left several others injured in its wake.

There are fears the attacks may be extended to Ghana as it shares border with the French-speaking country. Reports say residents who live on Ghana’s border to Burkina Faso have started fleeing the area out of fear.

Speaking in Ho in the Volta region, the former Keta South MP said terrorism is closer to Ghana but could be averted by prayers.

“The terrorists are not very far from us; 27 people died at a Hotel in Burkina Faso. It has happened in Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Where is the next point? We need to pray for this country. We have to draw closer to our God. This is the time. I have tried and tested my God and He has always worked for me,” he stated.

Meanwhile, there is public outcry in the country following the decision by the Mahama-led administration to provide shelter for two former inmates of Guantanamo Bay who were arrested on suspicion of their association with terrorist groups .


source: ghanaweb

2017 Porsche 911 Turbo Breaks Three Second Barrier

Faster than ever, the latest Porsche 911 Turbo models made their world debut at the Detroit auto show.

With 580 hp, the 911 Turbo S model scorches from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, the first time this model has beaten the three second mark.

As well as the Turbo S, there is also a 540 hp 91 turbo model available in the US market from this April.

The secret to the latest 911 models’s increased power output is newly designed turbochargers, said Porsche chairmain Oliver Blume.

2015 was a good year for Porsche, noted Blume, with sales up 19 %, to 225,121 units. In the US market, which accounts for one in every three 911s, the company sold 51,756 vehicles.

19 MPs including Hanna Tetteh and Fiifi Kwetey sued

 

Foreign Affairs Minister and MP for the Awutu Senya West constituency, Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Agriculture, Fiifi Kwetey and 19 other MPs have been sued for consistently absenting themselves from Parliament.

Odekro, an advocacy platform seeking to promote transparency and accountability which sued the MPs had earlier petitioned the Speaker of Parliament complaining about the conduct of some 125 legislators.

In a letter dated December 2 2015, Odekro listed the names of 125 out of the 275 MPs, who it said are in breach of Article 97(1) (c) of the Constitution which states that an MP shall vacate his or her seat if:

“He is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet.”

The group argues that they resorted to the court because “the Speaker of Parliament failed to acknowledge receipt of our letter and he also failed to honour our request to declare the seats of the defaulting MPs vacant. 

Consequently, we have instructed our lawyers to file a suit at the High Court asking the court to declare the seats of the 21 worst-offending MPs vacant.”

Below is the full list of the MPs sued by Odekro

1. Evans Paul Aidoo (Sefwi-Wiawso) – 188 Sittings

2. Hannah Serwaah Tetteh ( Awutu-Senya West) – 176 Sittings

3. Eric Opoku ( Asunafo South) – 165 Sittings

4. Akwasi Opong-Fosu ( Amenfi East) – 155 Sittings

5. (Dr) Dominic Akuritinga Ayine ( Bolgatanga East) – 150 Sittings

6. (Mrs) Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr,( Agona East ) – 135 Sittings

7. Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo (Kpone-Katamanso) – 132 Sittings

8. Mark Woyongo ( Navrongo Central ) – 126 Sittings

9. Clement Kofi Humado ( Anlo) – 124 Sittings

10. Maj. (Rtd) Mustapha Ahmed ( Ayawaso North) – 118 Sittings

11. Fiifi Fiavi Franklin Kwetey (Ketu South) – 110 Sittings

12. Alhaji Bashir Fuseini Alhassan (Sagnarigu) – 102 Sittings

13. James Agalga ( Builsa North) – 97 Sittings

14. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Wa Central)- 94 Sittings

15. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah (Mfantseman West) – 92 Sittings

16. Ken Ohene Agyapong ( Assin Central) – 89 Sittings

17. Collins Dauda ( Asutifi South) – 89 Sittings

18. Ahmed Arthur (Okaikwei South) – 84 Sittings

19. Grace Addo ( Manso Nkwanta) – 83 Sittings

20. Joseph Boakye Adu Danquah (Abuakwa North) – 76 Sittings

21. Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye – 75 Sittings

The group further added that “by this action, Odekro intends to establish a legal precedent with which to sue the remaining defaulting MPs to vacate their seats.” Source:ghanaweb

Ex-Gitmo transfer: OccupyGhana plans court action

 

Pressure group OccupyGhana says it will head to court if government fails to provide answers to some 23 questions it has posed about the decision to shelter two former Guantanamo Bay detainees in Ghana.

The group says government must indicate the full legal status it has granted to the two ex-detainees and also disclose the agreement between Ghana and the USA.

OccupyGhana also wants to know if Parliament or any of its Committees at any point in time was briefed on government’s decision to accept the detainees.

“If Parliament or any of its Committees was involved, kindly furnish the name(s) and the date(s),” the pressure demands.

OccupyGhana’s letter to the Foreign Minister forms part of fierce criticism against the John Mahama-led administration’s decision to accept Mohammed Omar Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby from the United States.
Spokesperson Nana Sarpong Agyeman-Badu believes the pressure group’s action is backed by law.

“We are doing this based on a constitutional article, Article 21 (f) which gives us the right to information. We do not have to wait for a Freedom of Information Bill to be passed which we know is being deliberately delayed, but our Constitution gives us a right to information,” he said.

OccupyGroup is hoping the court will compel government to provide answers to the 23 questions it has asked.

Source:ghanaweb.com

Only graduates must be allowed in parliament – O.B Amoah

 

Member of Parliament for Aburi/Nsawam O.B Amoah is pushing for Ghana’s parliament to peg its minimum entry requirement for fresh legislators at a First Degree.

According to him, the seemingly wholesale entry approach being practiced now affects the quality of the debate in the House.

Speaking to Nii Arday Clegg on the Morning Starr Tuesday, the former deputy sports minister said parliamentary work is delicate and requires a higher intellect to execute effectively.

“I think there should be a minimum qualification to enter parliament. The situation where everybody just enters is not too helpful. Parliamentary work is a serious business.

“Let’s start with a minimum First Degree irrespective of your background.

“It shouldn’t be that because one is popular in his area then he gets the opportunity to come to the House... that is why you see people getting into the house and then they start schooling,” he stated.

But his colleague Fritz Baffour who was also a guest on the show disagreed with the position.

In the view of the Ablekuma South MP, it is the responsibility of political parties to scrutinize the quality of the individuals they present to the electorates.

"I don’t believe that and I think it should be within the ambit of the political parties. A lot of people do not go through the mill. The political parties should be the ones to evaluate who should stand on their behalf. People like John Major didn’t have a first degree but they worked within the party structures.

"The selection process has been thrown to the woods and anybody can come in, and so long as he can pay he goes through," Baffour stated.

source: ghanaweb

Shareef O'Neal, Shaq's 6-7 son, working on his own legacy

Even to the teenage girls in the back hallways of Rancho Mirage High School Saturday afternoon, he’s a household name.

Well, his last name, anyway. Shareef O’Neal, son of future NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, still has work left to do to make even the casual basketball fan know him as more than just The Big Aristotle’s slightly shorter son. But he’s got the body, the pedigree and the time to do just that.

“I want to be able to do it all: shoot, bring the ball up, be in the post,” said the sophomore forward for the Windward Wildcats. “I know my dad has the same goal for me, too. He doesn’t want me to just be a guy in the post.”

Saturday in the first round of the MaxPreps Holiday Classic Open Division tournament, the Jonesboro Cardinals—the back-to-back defending Georgia AAAA state champs—kept O’Neal’s lanky frame at bay before cruising to a 67-49 victory.

Too often, Jonseboro sophomores Jamari Smith (6-foot-4) and Jamari Mosely (6-foot-6) managed to grab rebounds away from the outstretched finger tips of O’Neal. Sometimes O’Neal was completely out of position.

He only got on the board with two free throws in the final minute of the half—the first time he used his size to get to the line all afternoon. The pair of swishes sent the Wildcats into the locker room down 37-27.

“I don’t think we came out with the same intensity we usually do,” O’Neal said. “I could have brought more of my regular self into the game. I know we needed a lot more of that.”

The Cardinals’ sought-after swingman MJ Walker, the 6-foot-4 junior shooting guard, took over the third quarter, scoring the bulk of his game-high 25 points. Walker’s speed and shifty ball-handling skills allowed him to wiz by and around O’Neal in the paint, and his four 3-pointers allowed Jonesboro to pull away with a 56-35 lead after the third quarter.

At times, O’Neal showed an amazing resemblance to his father, whose storied NBA career includes four NBA titles, one league MVP, three NBA Finals MVP distinctions and two league scoring titles. His dunk with 5:08 left in the third quarter, sent echoes throughout the gym.

In fact, “Shareef” and “Shaquille” sound fairly similar as they’re sent booming through the speakers.

But the younger O’Neal prides himself in being everything his dad wasn’t, too.

“I do have a shot, unlike he does,” said Shareef after the game with a chuckle.

After three narrowly missed attempts earlier in the game, Shareef sunk a 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in the game with a stroke as smooth as anyone’s. He finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block.

Shaq made just one 3-pointer during his 19 NBA seasons.

His son’s 4-of-5 free throw shooting was proof enough teams later this week and beyond won’t be employing a “hack-a-Shareef” technique any time soon.

Windward High School forward Shareef O’Neal in action against Jonesboro on Saturday at Rancho Mirage High School during the MaxPreps Holiday Classic. (Photo: Richard Lui/The Desert Sun)

The younger O’Neal said he’s tried to fashion his game after perennial NBA All-Star Kevin Durant and up-and-comer Anthony Davis after growing four inches over the past year. His confidence dribbling through the lane, shooting from beyond the arc and throwing down the occasional dunk prove it.

At the heart, O’Neal is still just a high school basketball player, not unlike the thousands flocking the Coachella Valley this week. Unlike the rest, he has a legacy that preceded him, one that kept some eyes glued to the entrance of the gym he was playing in, hoping his father might make an appearance.

That kind of pressure isn’t easy.

 “It’s kinda overwhelming, but I just have to play my game,” Shareef said. “I can’t get distracted by the crowd or whatever they say.”

When his dad is able to come watch O’Neal in between his busy schedule on air with TNT, Shareef said he looks forward to the hugs from The Diesel himself, no matter what kind of game he has.

But Saturday, two high school-age girls greeted him, instead, asking for a picture. Shareef obliged, then walked of down the hallway.

“That was so cool. We may never see him again,” they whispered to each other.

But if The Little Aristotle matures and evolves like his father, look for him of a TV screen and in gyms much larger very soon.

source: usatoday

Police transfers 7 suspects with AK 47s to Accra

 

The Ghana Police Service has transferred to Accra the seven people who were arrested in the Northern region with rifles including two AK 47s.

The seven were arrested at Dzanton Daboase near Salaga after residents raised an alarm over their activities.

The Northern regional police spokesperson ASP Ebenezer Tetteh said the suspects have been sent to Accra for further interrogation and prosecution.

They are expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday.

According to ASP Tetteh, the police is on the heels of one other suspect who is on the run.

“We are still pursuing him,” the public relations officer told Joy FM. “While we have taken the rest to Accra, we’re intensifying our search for him.”

According to Starr News reporter Alhaji Tanko, a laptop found in the room of one of the accused persons has videos of Taliban and other terrorism related sessions.

Tanko who had the opportunity to watch some of the videos said there was a blackboard in the room and with the inscriptions on the board, it is believed that is where the group use as their training sessions.

The Taliban is an Islamic fundamentalist political movement in Afghanistan.

ASP Tetteh said the suspects are currently in police custody and yet to be charged.


Source:ghanaweb

Jordan ranks strike against Newcastle one of his best

Jordan Ayew has described his stunning finish for Aston Villa in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday as one of his best goals ever.

The 24-year-old has clearly been Villa’s breakaway performer in recent weeks as they struggle to beat the drop in the Premier League.

Ayew rescued a point for Remi Garde’s side with a spectacular strike at St. James’ Park to draw praise from the manager and the entire sporting world.

The Ghana international admits the well-controlled strike on Saturday ranks amongst his best goals thus far in his career.

“I think that was one of my best goals,” the former Olympique Marseille man said after the game.

Ayew, who has now raised his tally to four, keeps getting let down by Villa’s poor defending.

They have not won a Premier League match since the opening day as they keep shipping in goals.

Ayew, however, during this period, has recovered from a difficult start since arriving from Lorient in the summer to be the biggest performer in the side.


source:ghanaweb.com

TV3 Suspends Nana Aba

TV3 news anchor and presenter Nana Aba has been asked to stop appearing on all on-air programmes at the station until further notice.

The suspension was officially announced in a press statement on Saturday. The station said the decision was necessitated by the recent allegation of “online information theft” levelled against Nana Aba.

Signed by Chief Executive Officer of TV3, Mr Augustus Dickson, the statement said “after preliminary investigations internally, and in accordance with TV3’s own commitment to the highest level of professionalism, Management has decided to take Nana Aba Anamoah off air until further notice.

“As a broadcast network that prides itself in upholding high ethical standards and delivering credible and trustworthy content to its viewers, TV3 would like to assure viewers and other key stakeholders that it shall continue to take all necessary steps to maintain such standards.”

“We expect guardians of our brand, particularly employees who we entrust to deliver content on air to our viewers, to ascribe to the company’s values wherever they are,” it added.

This comes at a time Ms Anamoah has lost a dad and is still in a period of mourning.

She has since not made any official comment on the development and her phones were either switched off or out of coverage area when NEWS-ONE attempted to reach her at press time Sunday.

Persons close to her claimed she was traumatised by the development and that she did not expect the issue to have dragged this far.

Nana Aba has been trending heavily on the various social media platforms and even in main stream media after she put a photo on her Twitter wall depicting herself at the Old Trafford stadium where Manchester United recently played Sunderland in a Premier League game.

Not long after Nana Aba’s photo started generating comments, someone claimed ownership of the photo and even provided the original shot to prove that what the journalist had published onTwitter was a piece of  forged work in which she had super-imposed her photo on someone’s image.

In what appears to be a response and a defence of the photo she published, Nana Aba made public her ticket to the match to prove that indeed she was at Old Trafford.

However, social media comments and discussions on the development compelled Nana Aba to render an apology for publishing the photo, describing her action as a joke gone bad.

Public opinion is split on the announcement of her suspension on Saturday: while one group has accused Management of TV3 of killing an ant with a sledge hammer, another has opined that Nana Aba’s claim that the incident was a joke is an afterthought.

Source:ghanaweb