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☆ Bob Menendez: Here’s what prosecutors say bought off a US senator
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Here’s what prosecutors say the senator and his wife got:Gold barsProsecutors say Hana and Daibes gave Menendez and his wife gold bars, which were seized by the FBI from the Menendez residence. After returning from a trip to Egypt and getting a ride home from the airport from Daibes’ driver, prosecutors say Menendez searched online for the price of a gold bar. Nadine Menendez needed a new car, apparently after hitting and killing a jaywalker in Bogota, New Jersey, in December 2018. There is a long list of actions prosecutors say Menendez undertook in exchange for all of these alleged bribes. The envelopes of cash prosecutors say bore Daibes’ fingerprints may be more difficult to explain.

Persons: CNN — Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Mercedes, Menendez, CNN’s Manu Raju, “, ”, Nadine, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Jose Uribe, Daibes, Nadine Menendez’s, Nadine Menendez, Uribe, Hana, –, …, Qataris, retry Menendez, Salomon Melgen, Melgen, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN — Democratic, Bob Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Capitol, FBI, Court Southern District of, Prosecutors, Court Southern District of New York Prosecutors, Court Southern District of New York, Menendez, Uribe, Mercedes, Benz, Senate Foreign Relations, US Department of Agriculture, New York, of Justice Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, New Jersey, Daibes, Court Southern District of New York, Bogota , New Jersey, New

☆ Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case? Mr. Menendez goes to trial on May 13 with two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. Fred Daibes New Jersey Real Estate Developer Mr. Daibes is accused of giving Mr. Menendez furniture, gold and cash. Nadine Menendez Mr. Menendez’s Wife Ms. Menendez served as a go-between for Mr. Menendez, Egyptian intelligence officials and men who were seeking political favors from the senator, according to the indictment. Defense LawyersAdam Fee Lawyer for Robert Menendez He previously spent five years as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District — the same office prosecuting Mr. Menendez.

Persons: Menendez, Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mr, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Menendez's, Daibes, Nadine Menendez Mr, Menendez’s, Ms, Jose Uribe, Uribe, Uribe's, Sidney H, Stein, Bill Clinton, Jennifer Shah, Hassan Nemazee, Damian Williams, Williams, President Biden, Sam Bankman, Fried, Juan Orlando Hernández, Christina Clark, Clark, Charles McGonigal, Catherine Ghosh, Eli Mark, Paul Monteleoni, Robert Hadden, Lara Pomerantz, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Norman Seabrook, Daniel Richenthal, Sheldon Silver, Michael Avenatti, Adam Fee, Fee, Avi Weitzman, Lawrence Lustberg Organizations: Democrat, Robert Menendez New Jersey, Senate Foreign Relations, Jersey Real, EG, Prosecutors, United, Jose Uribe Former New, Benz, U.S, Southern, of, Democratic, Attorney, Southern District of, ex, Public, New, New York City Housing Authority, Justice Department, Southern District’s, New York State Assembly, Nike . Defense, Southern District Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, United States, Jose Uribe Former New Jersey, of New York, Southern District, Southern District of New York, Russian, New York City, Brooklyn, Columbia, New York, U.S, California

☆ India election 2024: The indelible ink behind the world’s biggest election
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Dhruv Tikekar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Election Commission uses indelible ink, or “voter ink”, to prevent fraud or duplicate votes. Sujit Jaiswal/AFP/Getty ImagesMore than 960 million people are eligible to vote in India’s election, the world’s biggest. “Indelible ink serves no other purpose,” said Irfan. The company now supplies indelible ink to more than 35 countries, including to Ghana beginning in the late 1970s. However, Ghana’s election commission recently announced it would phase out the use of indelible ink, opting for biometric verification methods instead.

Persons: CNN CNN —, ”, K Mohammed Irfan, Manish Swarup, Deepika Padukone, Sujit Jaiswal, Irfan, “, Ornit Shani, Shani, ” Shani, Prakash Singh, MVPL, Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, Mukulika Banerjee, Rakesh Nair, Banerjee, haven’t, ‘ I’ve Organizations: CNN CNN, CNN, Getty, Universal, Bloomberg, London School of Economics, Reuters “ Locations: Neemrana, India, Mumbai, AFP, Mysuru, Karnataka, Chennai, Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, Mysore, Ghana, West Bengal

☆ Ugandan Court Upholds Draconian Anti-Gay Law
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Abdi Latif Dahir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Uganda’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday largely upheld a sweeping anti-gay law that President Yoweri Museveni signed last year, undermining the efforts of activists and rights groups to abolish legislation that drew worldwide condemnation and strained the East African nation’s relationship with the West. The legislation, which was signed into law by Mr. Museveni in May, calls for life imprisonment for anyone who engages in gay sex. But the law was popular in Uganda, a landlocked nation of over 48 million people, where religious and political leaders frequently inveigh against homosexuality. The fallout for Uganda will be watched closely in other African countries where anti-gay sentiment is on the rise and anti-gay legislation is under consideration, including Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania and South Sudan. In February, Ghana’s Parliament passed an anti-gay law, but the country’s president said that he would not sign it until the Supreme Court ruled on its constitutionality.

Persons: Yoweri Museveni, Museveni Organizations: East, West, World Bank Locations: Uganda’s, Uganda, United States, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, South Sudan, Ghana’s

☆ Stonebwoy draws inspiration from Bob Marley at Tuff Gong Studios to unite the Black diaspora
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Lauren Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The session was the Ghanaian’s first visit to Bob Marley’s iconic Tuff Gong Studio. I feel like I’m surrounded by the spirits of those who built here.”“Once upon a time, Bob Marley was probably sitting in the same spot that I am sitting in,” he added. Bob Marley performs onstage during a concert in Stockholm, Sweden, in the late 1970s. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global CitizenUniting the Black diaspora through musicFrom Afrobeats to reggae, Stonebwoy has worked with musicians including Rick Ross, Beanie Man, Shaggy, Keri Hilson, Russ, Davido, and Angelique Kidjo, shining brightest when mentoring emerging artists. Until then, he has his eyes set on making sure the sounds of the Black diaspora continue to dominate worldwide.

Persons: CNN —, Stonebwoy, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Wyclef Jean, Bob Marley, Yohan Marley, Bob Marley’s, ”, riffing, Livingstone Etse Satekla, Ghana's Stonebwoy, ” Stonebwoy, “, Stonebwoy’s, Jemal Countess, Rick Ross, Beanie, Keri Hilson, Russ, Davido, Angelique Kidjo, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Odumodublvck Organizations: CNN, Island Music Conference, Gong, Tuff Gong, Tuff Gong Studios, Global Citizen Festival, Getty, Global Citizen, BHIM, Burniton Music Locations: Ghanaian, Jamaica, Kingston, ”, Ghana, Africa, Caribbean, West African, Stockholm, Sweden, Hulton, Accra

☆ Steven Spielberg: ‘The echoes of history are unmistakable in our current climate’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Steven Spielberg had words of caution and hope on Monday while accepting an honor from the University of Southern California. Celina Biniaz, 92, one of the last living Holocaust survivors from Oskar Schindler’s List, was also honored at the event. In my grandparents’ home Cincinnati, Ohio where I lived until I was three, my grandmother, Jenny, taught English to Hungarian Holocaust survivors. In listening to them, the echoes of history are unmistakable in our current climate. These 56,000 testimonies that we have recorded are a foundation upon which bridges can be built, and we here at the USC Shoah Foundation are building those bridges.

Persons: CNN — Steven Spielberg, Spielberg, ” Spielberg, Celina Biniaz, Oskar Schindler’s, Biniaz, Schindler, —, ‘, “, Leah, Carol, Folt, I’ve, ’, Jenny, –, It’s, Hana Rychik, ” Organizations: CNN, University of Southern, USC Shoah Foundation, Los Angeles Times, Shoah Foundation, Shoah, Democratic, USC, Foundation Locations: University of Southern California, German, Auschwitz, Israel, Cincinnati , Ohio, Hungarian, California, Krakow, Europe, Gaza

☆ Ghana: In deciding on anti-gay law, president is caught between a rock and a hard place
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( David Mckenzie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Sam George, the driving force behind Ghana’s harsh anti-LGBTQ legislation, portrays himself as a guardian of gay Ghanaians. Making inequality legalWhatever its origins, the bill’s passage is terrible news for LGBTQ Ghanaians. “The sentiment and emotion we are expressing right now is sadness,” said Alex Kofi Donkor, the founder of LGBT+ Rights in Ghana, an advocacy group. On one side, you have politicians like George and a broadly conservative citizenry that will publicly goad the president to act. For Ghana’s president, navigating this intricate political landscape looks set to be a daunting – and unenviable – task.

Persons: Sam George, “, ”, It’s, ” George, George, Alex Kofi Donkor, Nana Akufo, it’s, Ghana’s Organizations: CNN, Rights, Ghana’s Ministry, Finance, Bank Financing, Monetary Fund, Bank, US State Department, Ministry of Finance Locations: Accra, Ghana, United States, Uganda, Ghanaian, “ Ghana, State

☆ The American Dream is under siege
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Parents of young children are making difficult choices to afford child care — or they’re opting to evade it by dropping out of the workforce altogether. Even as the inflation rate has cooled across the US economy, child care remains a sore spot for many families. The weekly price of day care for a toddler surged 9% in 2023, according to Care.com, a marketplace for child care. Of course, Allison is hardly alone in feeling like the American Dream has been more difficult — and expensive — to attain than imagined. “The American dream is being taken away from the younger generation by the housing affordability challenges,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.

Persons: Hana Husković, Price, Hana, Michelle, they'll, ” Hana, “, It’s, they’ll, ’ Allison Powell, Liam Kelly, ” Allison, Allison Powell, Corinne ., ”, Allison, I’ll, homebuyers, Lotfi Karoui, Goldman Sachs, Lawrence Yun, Yun, Priscilla Almodovar, Fannie Mae, ” Almodovar, that’s, Almodovar, they’d, Homebuilding, Mark Zandi, Biden, ” Lael Brainard, Brainard, ” Brainard, ‘, Rachael Gambino, Garrett Mazzeo, Rachael, Deborah Brunswick, John General, ” Rachael, won’t, they’ve, – Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wall, CNN, Federal, Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, Bloomberg, Getty, Rust Belt, National Association of Realtors, North, NAR, That’s, Baby Boomers, Homeowners, Federal Reserve, Moody’s Analytics, White, National Economic Council, American, Target, Starbucks, Facebook Locations: New York, United States, Atlanta, Peachtree Corners , Georgia, Decatur, Decatur , Georgia, Carolina, Yugoslavia, Italy, Mexico, Oakland , California, Livermore, San Francisco, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, Francisco, Miami, Honolulu, Rust, Des Moines , Iowa, Dayton , Ohio, Cleveland , Ohio, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Los Angeles , California, North America, America, States, Lansdale , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Ghana’s Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill that imposes jail terms on people who identify as L.G.B.T.Q. or organize gay advocacy groups, measures that Amnesty International called among the harshest on the African continent. issues could get five years, and those who engage in gay sex would receive five years instead of the three years under previous legislation. The bill is the latest in a wave of anti-gay legislation passed in Africa: Tanzania, Niger and Namibia have tightened such laws in recent years, while Uganda has adopted an anti-gay law that includes the death penalty. Many have experienced a surge in homophobic attitudes, behaviors and rhetoric in recent years, the rights group said in a report last year.

Persons: Nana Akufo Organizations: Amnesty Locations: Africa, Tanzania, Niger, Namibia, Uganda

☆ Ghana’s parliament passes anti-homosexuality bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( David Mckenzie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Johannesburg CNN —Ghana’s parliament on Wednesday unanimously passed a controversial anti-homosexuality bill that has drawn international condemnation. The bill, which was introduced in the parliament in 2021, not only criminalizes LGBTQ relationships, but also those who support LGBTQ rights. The bill in Ghana still needs to be signed off by the country’s president before it becomes law. “Approaches rooted in inclusion of all people have been crucial to Ghana’s progress in the HIV response,” Byanyima said in a statement. “Evidence shows that punitive laws like this bill are a barrier to ending AIDS, and ultimately undermine everyone’s health.”

Persons: “, ”, Sam George, Volker Türk, Winnie Byanyima, ” Byanyima, Byanyima Organizations: Johannesburg CNN —, Twitter, CNN, United Nations Locations: Johannesburg, Africa, Ghana

☆ South Korea jails former hero pastor for sexually abusing North Korean teenage defectors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A South Korean pastor once hailed as a hero for helping North Korean defectors escape to safety has been jailed for sexually abusing minors. Refugees fleeing North Korea often make the perilous journey across the border into China, before attempting to reach South Korea. China, a close ally of Pyongyang, doesn’t consider North Korean defectors refugees, instead seeing them as illegal economic migrants. Under a border agreement with North Korea, it forcibly deports them. Once returned to North Korea, defectors face possible torture, sexual violence, hard labor, imprisonment in political or re-education camps, or even execution by the state, according to activists.

Persons: Chun Ki, Chun, ”, “, Durihana Organizations: South Korea CNN, North, Seoul Central, Court, ” CNN, Children, doesn’t, Underground Railroad, Korea Future Initiative, CNN Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korean, North Korea, China, Pyongyang, China’s, London, Durihana

☆ Opinion | Restoring the Past Won’t Liberate Palestine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Lydia Polgreen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Amid the graphic images, fierce polemics and endless media criticism that have dominated my social media feeds since the war in Gaza began late last year, I noticed a seemingly bizarre subplot emerge: skin cancer in Israel. “You are not Indigenous if your body cannot tolerate the area’s climate,” one such post read, highlighting outdated news coverage claiming that Israelis had unusually high rates of skin cancer. In the context of the ongoing slaughter in Gaza — more than 28,000 people dead, mostly women and children — such posturing may seem trivial. But even, or maybe especially, at this moment, when things are so grim, the way we talk about liberation matters. In this analysis, there are two kinds of people: those who are native to a land and those who settle it, displacing the original inhabitants.

Persons: “, slinging, Frantz Fanon, Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Jawaharlal Nehru, Fanon — Organizations: Palestine Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Palestine

☆ ‘Born to Play’: How the NFL put Ghana at the heart of one of the Super Bowl’s biggest commercials
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

There, the inspiration for the commercial – two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora – awaited to greet the youngster, played by Eldad Osime. NFL“That’s the most important Super Bowl commercial that they have in terms of the NFL,” Umenyiora told CNN. It’s really exciting.”Home truthsIn a poll of over 160,000 conducted by USA Today, “Born to Play” ranked fifth of the 59 commercials shown during Super Bowl LVIII. “But I think that attitude is changing now.”Umenyiora (left) celebrates his second Super Bowl victory with teammate Devin Thomas after the Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. “This campaign shows young people globally that it doesn’t matter where you were born, but you were born to play.”

Persons: Usher, hurtling, Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, Cameron Jordan, Jeremiah Owusu, Koramoah, Eldad Osime, Africa –, –, NFL “, ” Umenyiora, ”, Andrew Dosunmu, Jay, Jay Okocha, Rashidi, Hakeem “, ” Olajuwon, Umenyiora, “, they’re, Devin Thomas, Rob Carr Organizations: CNN, NFL, Camp, New York Giants, end’s, USA, “, Super Eagles, Giants, New England Patriots, Super, ”, National Football League Locations: Las Vegas, Accra, British, Africa, Lagos, Ghana, London, Anambra, Ogbunike, Nigeria, America, Canada, North America

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Seven royal artifacts looted 150 years ago by British colonial forces from Ghana’s ancient Asante kingdom and kept by a United States museum have been returned and presented to the kingdom on Thursday, the latest of a series of stolen treasured items being repatriated to several African countries. After decades of resistance from European and Western governments and museums, the efforts of African countries to repatriate stolen artifacts are paying off with the increasing return of treasured pieces. That was when four of the items were looted while the other three were part of an indemnity payment made by the Asante kingdom to the British, the museum said. All seven items are being returned unconditionally and permanently though the kingdom allowed their replicas to be made, the museum added. “And ever since, as a kid, I had the vision that one day we shall have all these artifacts back to our Asante nation.”

Persons: Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asante, ”, Kwasi Ampene, Silvia Forni, Samuel Opoku Acheampong, Acheampong Organizations: United, Fowler Museum, University of California, Asante Locations: ACCRA, Ghana, United States, British, Los Angeles, Asanteman, Ghana’s, Kumasi, Asante

☆ 14 Dream Vacation Looks That Will Inspire Your Next Packing List
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Photography Campbell Addy For Wsj. Magazine | Styling Jessica Willis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

14 Dream Vacation Looks That Will Inspire Your Next Packing ListGhanaian-British photographer Campbell Addy captures chic and easy pieces to match the beauty of Ghana’s capital, Accra, and its striking surroundings

Persons: Campbell Addy Organizations: Ghanaian Locations: British, Accra

☆ Pirelli calendar 2024: Idris Elba and Angela Bassett headline ‘Timeless’ show of Black excellence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Tom Page | Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Supermodel Naomi Campbell holds time in her hand in a backstage image from the 2024 Pirelli calendar photoshoot. The 50th edition of the prestigious calendar is photographed by Ghanaian Prince Gyasi, the first Black photographer to receive the commission. Alessandro Scotti Gyasi directs actor Angela Bassett for the 2024 Pirelli calendar. Alessandro Scotti Gyasi (back to camera) frames his subjects, including artist Amoako Boafo (center). Alessandro Scotti Film director Jeymes Samuel receives an eye test and some direction from Gyasi during the Pirelli calendar photoshoot.

Persons: Prince Gyasi, Idris Elba, Angela Bassett, Pirelli, Naomi Campbell, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Ghana’s Asante, Marcel Desailly, Amanda Gorman, Margot Lee Shetterly, Gyasi, “ I’m, It’s, ’ ”, “, Dali, ”, Ghanaian Prince Gyasi, Alessandro Scotti Idris Elba, Gysai, Alessandro Scotti Gyasi, Bassett, Oscar, Alessandro Scotti, Amoako Boafo, Desailly, Nana Osei Tutu II, Asante, Jeymes Samuel, Alessandro Scotti Angela Bassett, Alessandro Scotti Pirelli, wasn’t, ” Gyasi Organizations: CNN, Pirelli, Puma, Balmain, GQ, Alessandro Scotti Idris Elba braves, Alessandro Scotti Former France Locations: Elba, France, Ghanaian, Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Botswana, Seychelles, Gyasi

☆ Harry Maguire: Manchester United defender accepts Ghana MP’s apology for mockery
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —Manchester United footballer Harry Maguire on Wednesday accepted the apology of a Ghanaian MP who mocked him during a parliamentary debate on the budget last year. Opposition lawmaker Isaac Adongo compared Vice-President Mahamadu Bawumia’s economic management of the embattled West African nation to Maguire’s performance on the pitch. “I now apologize to Harry Maguire,” Adongo said. “See you at Old Trafford soon,” he wrote, referring to the home of Manchester United. Bawumia heads the government’s economic management team as has been selected as the ruling party candidate for 2024 elections.

Persons: Harry Maguire, Isaac Adongo, Mahamadu, Adongo, Bawumia, Maguire, “, ” Adongo, …, ” Maguire, ” Organizations: Reuters, Manchester United, Wednesday, Ghanaian, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Fund Locations: West, Ghana, Old Trafford

☆ Morocco win but other heavyweights humbled in World Cup qualifiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

CAPE TOWN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Ghana and South Africa both suffered embarrassing defeats in World Cup qualification on Tuesday while top contenders Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal and Zambia also found it tough on the road as they all dropped points. On a busy day of 15 matches across the continent, there were also wins for Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda. But it was the Comoros, with a population of around a million, and Rwanda, ranked 140 in world football, who tore up the form book in beating Ghana and South Africa respectively. It was Rwanda’s first victory in their last 11 home matches and took them top of Group C, where they lead not only South Africa but also Nigeria and Zimbabwe. The next round of African qualifiers will be played in June, with the continent now turning its focus to January’s Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast.

Persons: Moroni, Myziane Maolida, Innocent Nshuti, Gilbert Mugisha, Patson Daka, Hakim Ziyech, Bertrand Traore, Dango Ouattara, Tunisia’s, Youssef Msakni, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Cameroon, Burkina, Ocean, African, Nations, Rogers Mato, Cape Verde Islands, Niger, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sao Tome, Thomson Locations: CAPE, Ghana, South Africa, Guinea, Senegal, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, Uganda, Comoros, Rwanda, Cameroon, Africa, Butare, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Togo, Botswana, Somalia, Libya, Mauritius, Angola, Cape, Eswatini, Qatar, Tanzania, Dar, Lilongwe, Sao Tome e Principe, Ivory Coast, Cape Town

☆ Ghana plunged into darkness as country faces economic woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Large swaths of Ghana are facing power blackouts due to gas shortages at a major power facility, the nation’s power operator said, compounding the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. The West African nation has battled power outages, known locally as “dumsor” for many years. “Dumsor is fully back, no announced timetables, no communication, nothing, just frequent random power outages,” one Ghanian said of the latest power cut on X, formerly known as Twitter. Recent studies expect the country’s energy crisis to worsen over the coming years, starting from this year. “Ghana’s energy supply requires urgent, purposeful and significant investment to undo the current precarious situation the country finds itself,” said research and policy think tank, Centre for Socioeconomic Studies (CSS).

Persons: “, Ghanian, GRIDCo, ” Organizations: CNN, Ghana Grid Company, ”, World Bank Locations: Ghana, Tema, Accra

NEW YORK (AP) — Four defendants in the criminal bribery case against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty Wednesday in New York City to a revised indictment alleging that the senator, his wife and a third defendant conspired to use him as an agent of the Egyptian government. The defendants entering the pleas included his wife, Nadine Menendez, and a businessman, Wael Hana. The earlier indictment charged Menendez and his wife with participating in a bribery conspiracy by accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator's help and influence over foreign affairs. The new charge against the trio alleges that they conspired to take a series of steps on behalf of Egypt, including for Egyptian military and intelligence officials, from January 2018 to June 2022. In a statement last week, Menendez said he will “show my innocence” at trial.

Persons: U.S . Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Hana, Menendez, Sidney H, Stein, Daniel Richenthal, Lawrence Lustberg, ” Lustberg, Richenthal, Lustberg, Prosecutors Organizations: —, U.S ., Senate Foreign, U.S Locations: New York City, Manhattan, Jersey, Egypt

Among other things, prosecutors accused Menendez of ghostwriting a letter for Egyptian officials that sought to influence U.S. policy on military aid. The judge declined similar requests from Nadine Menendez and her co-defendants, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes. More than half of Senate Democrats have said that Menendez should resign, including New Jersey Gov. Menendez has said he intends to stay in the Senate, saying he is certain he will ultimately be exonerated. Besides setting a trial date, Judge Sidney Stein gave prosecutors a December deadline to turn over certain evidence to the defense.

Persons: —, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, ghostwriting, Nadine, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Phil Murphy, New Jersey Sen, Cory Booker, Donald Trump, Sidney Stein Organizations: U.S, Jersey's, Senate, Senate Foreign Relations, Authorities, Prosecutors, New Jersey Gov, New Locations: Jersey, New Jersey, New York City, Washington, Egypt

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — If you listen to the African leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly this year, the message is emphatic and unanimous: The continent is done being a victim of a post-World War II order. It is a global power in itself and must be partnered with — not sidelined. There’s also a new boldness that comes with the African Union’s G20 seat. With the largest bloc of countries at the United Nations, it is understandable that African leaders increasingly demand a bigger voice in multilateral institutions, said Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group. As African leaders spoke glowingly about the continent as a force on the global stage, some at home said the leaders must begin by delivering the dividends of democracy to their people.

Persons: —, There’s, William Ruto, Nana Akufo, Addo, Africa’s, Cyril Ramaphosa of, ”, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Murithi Mutiga, Rashid Abdi, Horn of, ” Abdi, Felix, Antoine Tshisekedi, Filipe Nyusi, Nyusi, Ibrahim Mayaki, Mayaki, Grace Agbu, Mamadi Doumbouya Organizations: General Assembly, Kenyan, United Nations, Crisis, African Development Bank, Gulf, Slave Trade, SEAT, Economic Cooperation, Development, Democratic, Africa Center, ” Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Horn of Africa, Nairobi, Europe, United States, Paris, Democratic Republic of, Congo, New York, Nigeria’s, Abuja, “, ”

☆ Gold Bullion and Halal Meat: Inside the Menendez Investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Nicole Hong | More About Nicole Hong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It was January 2018, and Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey had just won a huge legal victory. The future Ms. Menendez was eager to connect her influential new boyfriend with Mr. Hana’s high-level connections in the Egyptian government. Prosecutors accused Mr. Menendez, 69, of abusing his power to influence arms sales to Egypt and to attempt to interfere with criminal investigations into Mr. Hana’s web of business associates. search last year of the couple’s New Jersey home revealed some of the fruits of their scheme, prosecutors said. Inside the home were more than $100,000 worth of gold bars, some of which had unique serial numbers that traced back to Mr. Hana.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Weeks, Nadine Arslanian, Arslanian, Menendez, Wael Hana, Hana’s, Mr, Hana Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, U.S . Justice Department, Prosecutors, Benz Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Egyptian American, New Jersey, Egypt, Jersey

CNN —New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was charged on Friday with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, are accused of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for the senator’s influence, according to the newly unsealed federal indictment. This is the second set of corruption charges levied against Menendez by the Justice Department in a decade. Beginning in April, his wife sold gold bars worth as much as $400,000, according to the senator’s most recent financial disclosure form. Sen. Bob Menendez, his wife Nadine and Jose Uribe pictured in the indictment released Friday.

Persons: New Jersey Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, Cash, ”, ” Menendez, Nadine, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Sen, MENENDEZ, Menendez ’, Jose, Uribe, Prosecutors, Salomon Melgen, Melgen, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, New, New Jersey Democratic, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Senate Democratic, Foreign Relations, Court Southern District of, Department of Agriculture, of Agriculture, Agriculture Department, EG, Hyatt, Court Southern District of New, The Justice Department, “ Locations: New Jersey, Court Southern District of New York, Jersey, Egypt, Washington, Paris

Senator Robert Menedez (D-NJ) walks to the Senate floor for a procedural vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. September 20, 2023. The investigation marks the third time Menendez has been investigated by federal prosecutors, but he has never been convicted. Prosecutors said Hana, who is originally from Egypt, arranged dinners and meetings between Menendez and Egyptian officials in 2018 at which the officials pressed Menendez on the status of U.S. military aid. Menendez at a meeting in 2018 told Hana non-public information about the status of the aid, prosecutors said. Hana then texted an Egyptian official, "The ban on small arms and ammunition to Egypt has been lifted," according to the indictment.

Persons: Robert Menedez, Jonathan Ernst, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Joe Biden, Prosecutors, Damian Williams, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Uribe, Daibes, Hana, Egypt’s, Jon Corzine, Clifford Case, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Simon Lewis, Andrew Goudsward, Tom Hals, Mark Porter Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, New Jersey businessmen, U.S . Senate, Foreign Relations, Prosecutors, NBC, Benz, Hana, State Department, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, New, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, New Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Egypt, Ukraine, China, United States, Washington, New York

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