Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that Georgia is exploring the possibility of setting up a diplomatic mission in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
This was revealed following his discussions with the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Georgia on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in India.
In a Facebook post, he stated, “Georgia on the other hand, is considering establishing diplomatic presence in Accra.”
Ablakwa noted that his engagements with both countries focused on strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in education, agriculture, and tourism.
He further disclosed that Ukraine is eager to restore its medical scholarship program for Ghanaian students and expand its bilateral educational partnership agreement with Ghana once the ongoing war comes to an end.
Additionally, their discussions touched on potential agribusiness collaborations as Ukraine works toward rebuilding its economy.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister reaffirmed his country’s commitment to ending the war with Russia, emphasizing that Ukraine is not an obstacle to achieving lasting peace.
“I am deeply grateful to His Excellency Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine and Her Excellency Maka Botchorishvili of Georgia for their warmth and great respect for Ghana,” Ablakwa wrote.
A court in Georgia has given former president Mikheil Saakashvili more prison time.
On Monday, he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for illegally entering the country in 2021 after living in exile, according to his lawyer.
Saakashvili is already serving time for embezzlement and abuse of power while in office, bringing his total prison sentence to over 12 years.
He has always denied any wrongdoing, calling his latest sentence “illegal” and “unfair.” Human rights groups believe his imprisonment is politically motivated.
Saakashvili has been a strong critic of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which supports closer ties with Russia. During his presidency, he pushed for stronger relations with Western countries.
In a video posted on X on Monday from the hospital where he is being held, Saakashvili said: “No matter what, I will fight to the end.”
Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili was sentenced last week to nine more years in prison for embezzlement. This sentence runs alongside the jail time he was already serving.
In 2018, he was tried in absentia and sentenced in two separate cases.
Saakashvili was arrested in 2021 after secretly returning to Georgia by smuggling himself on a ferry from Ukraine just before the country’s local elections. He urged people to protest against the government, but authorities quickly detained him.
Now 57 years old, he served as Georgia’s leader for two terms from 2004 to 2013. After leaving, he mostly lived in Ukraine.
In 2015, he was granted Ukrainian citizenship and gave up his Georgian nationality to become governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region. However, his Ukrainian citizenship was revoked in 2017 before being restored in 2019 by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“This [sentence] is basically sending a message… to President Zelensky, for them to scare him to show what happens when you don’t surrender your country… I did not surrender Georgia,” Saakashvili said in his video address while wearing a black shirt with the words “I’m Ukrainian” emblazoned on it.
Zelensky, who appointed Saakashvili to oversee reforms in Ukraine, has demanded his transfer to Kyiv. He has previously accused Russia of “killing” Saakashvili “at the hands of the Georgian authorities”. The European Union has repeatedly called for Saakashvili’s immediate release from prison, expressing concern over his deteriorating health.
The Council of Europe rights watchdog has branded him a “political prisoner,” while Amnesty International has called his treatment an “apparent political revenge”.
Spanish forward ofGhanaian descent, Nico Williams, delivered another stellar performance for Spain in their Euro 2024 round of 16 victory over Georgia.
The Athletic Bilbao winger was instrumental in Spain’s 4-1 triumph, scoring a brilliant goal and assisting in their equaliser.
Williams showcased his skills by effortlessly maneuvering past his defender during a fast break, ultimately netting Spain’s third goal with a powerful shot into the top corner.
His exceptional display earned him a 9.0 rating on FotMob, highlighting his standout contributions in the tournament thus far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcfvhpPUf5A
With this victory, Spain advanced to the quarter-finals, where they are set to face the host nation, Germany.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former prime minister of Georgia and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream political party, has pledged a significant donation of £8.4 million (30 million Georgian Lari) to the Georgian national football team following their stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal at Euro 2024.
Managed by former French defender Willy Sagnol, the Georgian team’s victory in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday secured their place in the last-16 stage of the tournament, where they are set to face Spain.
Describing the win against Portugal as a “historic and dream victory,” Ivanishvili expressed his pride in the team’s achievement.
The 68-year-old philanthropist and businessman, who amassed his wealth in Russia during the 1990s through investments in banking, computers, and metals, emphasized his commitment to supporting Georgian football.
In addition to the initial donation, Ivanishvili announced that he would contribute a further £8.4 million to the squad and coaching staff should they continue their success by defeating Spain in their upcoming match.
Despite stepping down from his role as prime minister after just one year in office, Ivanishvili retains influence as the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party. The donations will be facilitated through his charitable foundation, marking a substantial investment in the national football team’s future.
Earlier this year, Ivanishvili’s party faced criticism from some members of the Georgian Euro 2024 squad following the introduction of a controversial law regarding “foreign agents.” The legislation, passed in parliament amidst protests alleging threats to civil liberties, sparked significant unrest in Georgia, overshadowing the country’s debut appearance in the European Championship.
Georgia’s upcoming match against Spain in Cologne on Sunday marks a crucial moment for the team, as they strive to continue their impressive journey in Euro 2024.
Georgia has etched its name in European football history by securing a spot in the knockout stage of Euro 2024, following a remarkable upset victory over Portugal.
This triumph marks a significant milestone for the nation, which had only recently celebrated its maiden qualification for a major tournament.
The Georgian team, ranked 68 places below Portugal according to FIFA rankings, defied all odds with a commanding 2-0 victory over the European giants in their final group-stage encounter.
Star player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose performance was instrumental in the historic win, described it as “the best day in the lives of Georgians.”
Georgia STUN Portugal for the biggest win in their history! 🤯
Portugal, led by the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo, found themselves frustrated and unable to break through Georgia’s resolute defense. Manager Roberto Martinez acknowledged the Georgian team’s “incredible belief” and credited them deservedly for their performance on the field.
The post-match scenes in Tbilisi mirrored the jubilation and pride felt nationwide, as players and supporters alike celebrated this unprecedented achievement. “We just made history,” expressed Kvaratskhelia, emphasizing the momentous nature of Georgia’s victory.
Having qualified for Euro 2024 through the Nations League, Georgia has continued to exceed expectations, setting up a thrilling last-16 clash against Spain. Football enthusiasts and analysts have hailed Georgia’s journey as a testament to their resilience and tactical prowess, highlighting their ability to compete against formidable opponents.
Georgia players dance through the mixed zone after their famous win over Portugal, and qualification into the #Euro2024 knockouts.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 26, 2024
“This victory surpasses our earlier qualification celebration,” remarked Georgian football journalist Dato Lobjanidze. “Tbilisi is alive with celebrations; the streets are filled with joy and excitement.”
Manager Willy Sagnol, reflecting on his team’s underdog status in the competition, emphasized the fearless approach adopted by Georgia. “When you have nothing to lose as the ‘small team,’ you play with determination and heart,” Sagnol stated, proud of his team’s achievements.
Commentators and former players, including Pat Nevin, praised Georgia’s performance, describing it as a beautiful display of football. “What a beautiful moment,” Nevin remarked, highlighting Georgia’s technical prowess and competitive spirit.
As Georgia prepares for their upcoming challenge against Spain in the knockout stage, the nation remains united in pride and optimism, relishing the opportunity to continue their historic Euro 2024 campaign on the grand stage of European football.
The law says that if media and nonprofit groups get more than 20% of their money from another country, they have to register as working for that country’s interests.
The government says the bill is needed to stop bad foreign influence in the country’s politics and to stop foreign actors from trying to make it unstable.
The opponents have called the bill “the Russian law” because it is similar to laws in Russia that are used to control independent news media, non-profit organizations, and activists who speak out against the government.
Big protests against the law happened in the South Caucasus country with 3.7 million people.
The bill is almost the same as one that the ruling Georgian Dream party had to take back last year because of protests on the street. Protests have been happening in Georgia for weeks. People are fighting with the police, and the police are using tear gas and water guns to break up the crowds.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili is not getting along with the governing party. She said she will stop the law, but the Georgian Dream party has enough power to ignore her and make the law anyway.
On Tuesday, the lawmakers talked about a new law. Outside the parliament, a big group of people protested against the law. There were a lot of police there to keep things safe. During the weekend, many people went to the streets of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Some of them stayed in front of the parliament until Monday morning.
A fight broke out during a discussion in the parliament. Georgian Dream politician Dimitry Samkharadze moved quickly toward Levan Khabeishvili, the leader of the main opposition party United National Movement, after Khabeishvili said he was organizing groups to attack opposition followers.
In the past few days, many people who disagree with the government have been attacked and hurt. The opposition said the incidents were related to the protests.
Another lawmaker from the ruling party in Georgia, Archil Talakvadze, said in his speech on Tuesday that the opposition is using the protests for their own political gain and hoping for things to get more extreme. He also accused them of being against the country.
“Nothing and no one can stop our country from growing,” Talakvadze said.
Ana Tsitlidze, from the United National Movement, said the protests showed that Georgia is strong and united in its fight for a European future. She also said that by saying no to the Russian law, we are also saying no to the Russian government.
After talking about it, 84 out of 116 people at the meeting on Tuesday liked the law, and 30 didn’t. It will now be sent to Zourabichvili, who is the president, and she has 14 days to decide whether to say yes or no to it.
The parliament said they cancelled an event because the building was damaged during protests on Wednesday. The police used water, gas, and spray against the protesters.
On Wednesday, the lawmakers agreed to a second look at the law that would make it necessary for media and non-profit groups to register as working for a foreign government if they get more than 20 percent of their money from outside the country.
The last reading was supposed to happen in mid-May. It is not known if canceling Thursday’s meeting will slow down the bill’s progress. The ruling party in Georgia, called Georgian Dream, took back a similar idea last year because many people protested against it.
83 out of 150 lawmakers in Georgia voted yes on the bill for the second time, while 23 voted no.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili does not agree with the governing party and has spoken out against the bill. She said she will reject the bill if Parliament approves it. However, the ruling party can reject the veto and request the speaker of the parliament to approve the bill and make it a law.
The EU’s foreign policy group recently criticized Georgian Dream for bringing back the law. They said it’s a big problem for media freedom in the country, which is important for the EU to accept Georgia.
The president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and his rival, Donald Trump, have travelled to Georgia for an anticipated rematch in election. The 2024 election will start where the 2020 election ended. Or, to be more exact, in a location where it didn’t really end.
Four years ago, Georgia was a close election. Now, Donald Trump is in trouble for trying to find and overturn votes to change the result in favor of Joe Biden. After winning on Super Tuesday, the two rivals will have competing events in a state that is important for winning in November. This sets up a likely rematch between them.
“We are a really important state in the election now,” said U.S Rep Nikema Williams, who is a leader in Atlanta and a member of the Democratic Party.
Georgia used to be a place where Republicans were very strong, but now it’s so close between the two main political parties that they can’t even agree on how to talk about the differences. The governor, who is a Republican, said the state has a 52-48 split. Brian Kemp is in charge of the government in his state. “We’re not on the blue team or the red team,” Williams said, “we’re on the periwinkle team,” She believes this because Biden won in 2020 and Georgia sent two Democratic senators to Washington.
Both Biden and Trump have a chance to win, but they both have many challenges to overcome.
“Biden’s popularity is very low for many reasons, and we can definitely discuss why that is. ” “So, this means that Trump has a good chance of winning the race,” Kemp said at a recent event sponsored by Punchbowl News. “I think he might not win the race. ” I think it’s going to be much more difficult than people think.
A dangerous situation for both sides.
Biden won by just a little bit in 2020. Warnock won the Senate runoff in 2022 by three points. Kemp won the election in 2018 by a small amount, but in 2022 he won by a big amount in a state where the competition is tough.
In every election, Democrats had a lot of support in the main part of Atlanta, where Biden will be on Saturday. They also did well in Columbus and Savannah, and some small, mostly Black areas. But Republicans were the most popular in countryside areas, small towns, and the smallest cities. For example, Rome, where the former president will visit on Saturday in the congressional district represented by strong conservative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Biden is meeting with three political groups to get their support. They represent Black, Latino, and Asian Americans and Pacific Island voters. The groups said they would spend $30 million to help get people to vote for Biden.
The expanding suburbs and rural areas outside of Atlanta are changing quickly and offer a good chance for political changes, especially from moderate Republicans who are unhappy with Trump.
Eric Tanenblatt, a lawyer from Atlanta who has been a longtime supporter of the Republican party, said that the final result will depend on small differences.
The Democrats are starting early to make their campaign plans and they will be reaching out directly to many people in Georgia. It will be different from the limited campaign in 2020 because of the pandemic and more similar to Warnock’s bid for re-election.
Jonae Wartel, Biden’s state director and a veteran of Warnock’s operation, said that when the margin for winning is very small, like it was in 2020, the campaign strategy needs to focus on organizing.
However, Biden’s support may decrease for various reasons such as inflation, the Israel-Hamas war, concerns about a surge in migrants at the U. S Mexico border, and worries about his ability to do the job at 81 years old.
The head of the national gallery, Suram Sakanya, said that the collection made it through the civil war in Abkhazia in the 1990s and it was a huge loss for Abkhaz culture.
“We have been collecting these things since 1963, but they caught on fire and were destroyed in just a few seconds. ” The director said it’s a sad event for us in Abkhazia.
Local artists had been asking for a better place to keep their special art collection for a while. Before the fire, a video showed paintings stacked together in two small rooms without enough protection.
The area had a war with Georgia and separated from it in 1999, but not many other countries recognize it as independent.
After the war between Georgia and Russia in 2008, Moscow said that it sees the country as its own separate state. Georgia says that Russia is controlling Abkhazia.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said the fire was “a sad event for everyone”.
“I am upset about the result of ignoring our cultural identity by the leaders and Russian occupiers,” she wrote on X, which was previously known as Twitter.
Russia said it will send experts to Sukhumi to help fix the 150 paintings that were saved from the fire.
The Georgian Church stated that the painting was taken to be fixed because there wasn’t enough proof that the two people in the painting had actually met.
The painting upset a lot of people and an activist recently threw blue paint on it to protest.
The church leaders and the ruling party have criticized the action.
The Patriarchate of Georgia said last week that icons must show true stories and that the picture of Stalin needs to be changed.
“The people who gave us the picture need to fix it, or we will have to do it for them,” it said.
A lot of people in Georgia are upset with the Church for accepting the icon because Stalin, who was from Georgia and wanted to be a priest when he was young, did a big purge of the clergy when he was in charge.
A picture of St. Matrona of Moscow was put in a church in Tbilisi. Matrona was a Russian woman who lived in the 20th century and was known for her visions and healing abilities. She was declared a saint in the 1990s.
In one picture, the Russian Orthodox saint is giving blessings to Stalin.
Several months ago, the Alliance of Patriots, a nationalist party suspected of ties to the Kremlin, donated it to the church.
The icon became famous this month after the politician Giorgi Kandelaki talked about it. It has been causing arguments and disagreements since it started.
Activist Nata Peradze posted a video of herself throwing eggs filled with paint at a picture, and explained that she was protesting against making a cruel leader seem heroic.
“I had to do something. I’m not going to talk about Stalin’s Terror because everyone knows about it, but my family on both sides suffered and relatives disappeared,” she told the BBC.
A very traditional pro-Russian group called Alt-Info, was involved in violent attacks against journalists in 2021 because of their homophobic beliefs. They have also organized protests outside Ms. Peradze’s house and in front of parliament.
She says people are threatening to kill her, so she’s hiding now. The police are protecting her house.
The scandal about the famous person has started a big argument in the country about the Soviet leader’s history.
The Georgian Dream party said it was bad that the icon was ruined, but they haven’t said anything about the national discussion about Stalin’s role.
The Sovlab research group is studying Georgia’s history of being controlled by the Soviet Union. They think that Russia’s leader, Putin, is making the Soviet dictator look good again. They also believe that Russia is using this as a way to control how people in Georgia think.
Sovlab has found 12 new statues of Stalin in Georgia in the last 10 years.
The singer in the choir who is very talented and special.
Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia in 1878. A very important person in the Russian revolution helped the Bolsheviks take control, and then he was the leader of the USSR from 1924 until he died in 1953.
Stalin killed many people and used strict rules and fear to get rid of anyone who disagreed with him and to create a communist government.
A lot of people in a tiny country in South Caucasian do not like the things that the Soviet Union left behind. But, some still feel proud of Stalin because he came from there and started with not much.
On 16 January, British author Simon Sebag Montefiore visited Tbilisi for a movie based on his book, Young Stalin. He was surprised to see the dictator’s picture in the cathedral.
Stalin went to a religious school and believed in God until he was almost an adult. “He was the best singer in the choir,” he said.
“However, he became very against the Church, started living a non-religious life, stopped believing in God, and supported Bolshevism and Marxism instead. ”
“He thought that killing a lot of people could make society better. ”
The police say that people nearby stopped a woman from setting Martin Luther King Jr’s home on fire in Atlanta, Georgia.
Authorities said that quick action “saved a valuable piece of American history”.
The person who is being accused is in jail and is being charged with setting fire to a building by allegedly pouring gasoline on it.
Dr King lived in a two-story house for the first 12 years of his life, and now it’s a very important historical place.
The National Park Service bought the inside of the building in 2018. It’s been closed to the public for repairs and updates since last month.
Police went to the historic district on Auburn Avenue when they heard about vandalism happening at around 5:45pm local time on Thursday. This information was shared by the Atlanta police in a news release.
A video was shared with the local WSB-TV news channel that shows a woman wearing all black pouring liquid on the porch and front windows of the house.
When the police got there, the suspect had already been stopped by two filmmakers from Utah and two off-duty police officers from New York who were also visiting the home, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
One of the movie makers, Zach Kempf, said to the New York Times that at first he thought the woman was watering bushes in front of the house, but then she quickly went up the stairs and pulled on the front screen door.
She didn’t say anything when they asked what she was doing. She poured out the stuff from a big container and threw it into the bushes. Then, she picked up a lighter from the grass. “Mr Kempf, who is 43 years old, said the woman seemed anxious but not hostile. She walked away after he stood in front of her. ”
He called 911 and shouted for help to two New York officers. They chased and caught the suspect, holding her until the local police came.
The woman’s father and three sisters said she has been struggling with mental problems for a long time, Mr. Kempf told the Times.
The person who was accused of a crime was getting a check-up on their mental health before going to the local jail, the police said on Thursday night.
She might get in more trouble with the government for what she did.
The fire department said the home wasn’t damaged and a special team is cleaning up the area.
Fire chief Jerry DeBerry said if the witnesses hadn’t been there to stop her, the house could have been on fire very soon.
“It was mostly about having the right timing and the right people to see what happened. ”
The King Center said that someone tried to start a fire but couldn’t because of brave people helping and the police acting quickly.
“We are praying for the person who is accused of committing this crime,” it added.
Russia has decided to build a military base near Abkhazia, a region in Georgia that wants to be independent from Georgia. The leader of Abkhazia told the Russian media about this plan.
Aslan Bzhania told a newspaper called Izvestia that his region, which is supported by Moscow, will soon have a permanent location for Russia on the Black Sea coast.
This happens as Ukraine is attacking Russia’s Black Sea fleet more often. Two weeks ago, Kyiv attacked the fleet’s main base in Crimea.
The Russian government has chosen not to say anything about the reported agreement.
Georgia’s government said that it would be a serious act that goes against Georgia’s authority and land if this were to happen.
Abkhazia is a place in Georgia that is next to Russia. It already has a Russian military area there.
The area was involved in a war with Georgia from 1992-1993 and claimed independence in 1999, although not many countries acknowledge it as an independent nation.
After the war between Georgia and Russia in 2008, Moscow accepted it as a separate country. Georgia accuses Russia of occupying Abkhazia.
Mr Bzhania said the new naval base in the Ochamchire district would increase Russia and Abkhazia’s ability to defend themselves and protect their important interests. “He told Izvestia that security is the most important thing. ”
He saw Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin earlier this week and showed he backs Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine.
The UK defence ministry has suggested that Russia’s Black Sea fleet is moving towards the eastern region due to increased attacks from Ukraine in occupied Crimea.
Satellite pictures show that 17 Russian ships have moved from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk.
The alleged new Abkhazia base is located 500km (300 miles) to the southeast of Novorossiysk, near the Black Sea coast.
Russian presidential spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, ignored questions about ship deployments and told reporters to ask the defense ministry instead.
The Black Sea fleet in Moscow is considered the most important unit in their navy. The ships shot missiles at Ukraine, which resulted in serious damage.
Kyiv sees the fleet as an important target, so they attacked its headquarters in Crimea in late September. They claimed to have killed 34 Russian officers.
A judge has ruled that the trial of Donald Trump in Georgia, where he is being accused of election fraud, will be shown live online and on TV.
Judge Scott McAfee said that all the hearings can be watched live on Fulton County Court’s YouTube channel.
A specific date for the trial hasn’t been decided yet, but it might happen next year while Mr. Trump is seeking to be re-elected.
Mr Trump and 18 other individuals are accused of planning together to change the results of the 2020 presidential election in their state.
The previous Republican president is currently dealing with multiple criminal trials. In one of these trials, he has entered a plea of not guilty to a total of 13 charges in Georgia.
The events that happen in Fulton County’s courts are usually shown live on a video streaming service.
But, only one of Mr. Trump’s four trials will be shown on TV, and it might be one of the most popular trials in recent times.
Last week, Mr. Trump went to Atlanta for a short time to go to Fulton County Jail and have his photo taken. He decided not to go to court on Wednesday for his arraignment, which is a quick hearing where the plea is officially given in court.
The main point of the prosecution’s argument is that he called the secretary of state of the state to ask for the vote count to be redone.
“I simply want to locate 11,780 votes,” he can be heard saying on a recording of the call.
Trump said the phone call was “perfect” and his lawyers who were listening did not have any worries.
The person who used to own a lot of buildings in New York, is currently the leading candidate to be chosen as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in 2024. Despite facing legal issues, his popularity with his followers has not been affected.
He believes that the legal cases in Georgia and the other three criminal cases against him are motivated by politics.
Some of the people who were accused with him in Georgia, like his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani, have stated that they will choose not to go to court next week.
Clark Cunningham, who teaches law at Georgia State University, said that the decision is usually not a topic of debate and disagreement.
“According to him, Mr. Trump is fully aware of the accusations against him,” he explained. The main goal of the arraignment is to tell the accused person what charges they are facing and ask them how they plead. He doesn’t have to be present because he already knows what they are.
He and the people he did bad things with are accused of racketeering, which is also called the Rico act.
In the US, both at the national level, Rico laws are used to assist prosecutors in linking lower level offenders who committed a crime with those who instructed them or planned the criminal activity.
Donald Trump‘s campaign claims it has received $7. 1 million since his arrest photo was taken in Atlanta, Georgia.
Most of the money is made by selling items like mugs, T-shirts, and drink coolers with the angry face of the ex-president on them.
Mr Trump was let go from custody after paying a certain amount of money, because he was accused of planning to change the outcome of the state’s 2020 election.
He has been accused of three crimes while he runs for President in the 2024 US election.
These include two things related to his lies about the election being stolen and the attack on the Capitol by his supporters in Washington.
Mr Trump says he didn’t do anything wrong and believes that the cases against him are motivated by politics. He thinks this because he is currently in the lead for the Republican nomination to compete against President Joe Biden from the Democratic Party.
His supporters are now paying more attention to him, and he has received nearly $20 million in three weeks after being charged in the Georgia and Capitol riots cases.
On Friday, right after he was taken into custody in Georgia, he collected $4. 18 million This is said to be the most money he has raised within a 24-hour period since the campaign started.
In addition to selling products on its website, the campaign has been sending messages to supporters to ask for assistance.
On Thursday, Mr. Trump posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) for the first time since January 2021. He shared a mugshot with the caption “Election interference. ” Don’t give up. And the website address.
This happened after the ex-president had his picture taken at Fulton County jail. He gave himself up to the police and paid $200,000 to be let go until the trial.
Donald Trump wants to go to court in Georgia to deal with accusations of interfering in the election. He will do this on Thursday.
A judge in Atlanta has decided that the former president can be released from custody if he pays $200,000.
The agreement states that Mr. Trump can stay out of jail until his trial as long as he doesn’t try to scare or bully the people who will be giving evidence.
He and the other 18 people accused in this case were told to come to the Fulton County Jail by Friday at noon so they could be processed.
The sheriff in the county said that everyone, including Mr. Trump, will be treated the same way as other people accused of a crime. This means that Mr. Trump might have to give his fingerprints and have his picture taken.
Before he stated on social media that he would give himself up on Thursday, a document was made public that explained the conditions of his agreement to be released on bond.
“The person accused must not do anything to scare or threaten anyone who is also accused or being called as a witness in this case, or try to make it harder for justice to be served,” stated the message.
“The above also includes, but is not limited to, messages on social media or sharing someone else’s messages on social media,” the order states.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and lawyers representing Mr. Trump both signed it.
Later on Monday, Mr. Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social, “Can you believe it. I will be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be arrested by a District Attorney named Fani Willis, who leans towards the Radical Left. ”
“He said that she campaigned, and continues to campaign, and raise money on, this witch hunt. ” “This is closely connected to dishonest Joe Biden’s Department of Justice. “
Willis has requested the judge to set a date for when the defendant will be informed about the charges and asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. This date is intended to be scheduled for 5 September.
She has also suggested that the trial should start in March. Both the time when the suspect is formally charged with a crime and the stage where their case is heard before a judge or jury, might be shown on television.
When Trump decides to give up, the area nearby will be closed off and barriers have already been put up outside the court.
Last week, Mr. Trump and his co-defendants were accused of trying to interfere in Georgia’s election results after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.
The ex-president talked to Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on the phone and tried to influence him to find enough votes to change the election results.
The first former or current US president who has been charged with a crime, he is also dealing with three other criminal cases.
Mr Trump says he did nothing wrong and believes the accusations are unfair because they are driven by politics.
At the moment, he is in the lead of the Republican race to choose their next candidate for the White House. This candidate will then go up against the Democratic nominee, most likely Mr. Biden, in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Mr Trump has already announced that he will not participate in the first Republican televised debate on Wednesday evening.
“I am well-known to the public and they are aware of my successful time as President,” stated Mr. Trump on Truth Social this Sunday. “I have decided not to participate in the debates. ”
People who are close to Mr. Trump say that he didn’t do an interview with Oprah. Instead, he did an interview with Tucker Carlson, who used to work at Fox News.
State-by-state primaries, which are elections for Republican voters to decide who will represent their party, are scheduled to start on January 15, 2024.
The Killers have issued an apology after lead singer Brandon Flowers asked a Russian fan to play drums on stage during a performance in Georgia.
He prompted jeers and walk-outs from some sections of the crowd when he urged them to consider the Russian fan as their “brother.”
With its neighbour, Georgia, which declared its independence from Russia in 1991, has long had problems.
Invading Georgia in 2008, Russia still controls a portion of the former Soviet republic.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, a number of Russians moved to Georgia, which hastened tensions.
After the show, the Killers released a statement on social media in which they stated: “Good people of Georgia, it was never our aim to hurt anyone!
We’ve had a long tradition of allowing individuals to play drums, and from the stage, it looked like the audience initially approved of tonight’s audience participation participant joining us onstage.
“We acknowledge that a phrase that was intended to imply that the Killers’ audience and fans are all ‘brothers and sisters’ may have been misinterpreted.
We apologies for upsetting anyone; that was not our intention. We support you and intend to be back shortly.
Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of trying to rig the Georgia election in order to reverse his loss there in 2020.
This is his fourth criminal prosecution in as many months.
Along with 18 other allies, Mr. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, was charged.
All 13 of the allegations against him, which include interfering in elections and racketeering, are denied. They are politically motivated, according to him.
In February 2021, Georgia’s Fani Willis initially opened an inquiry into claims that Mr. Trump and his allies had interfered with elections.
Prosecutors filed a 98-page indictment against the 19 defendants, which was made public late on Monday.
Defendants had until Friday, August 25, noon to voluntarily surrender, according to Ms. Willis’ announcement. She stated that all 19 defendants would be tried concurrently.
Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, former White House top of staff Mark Meadows, and former White House attorney John Eastman are on the list of alleged co-conspirators.
Others include Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis, two Trump attorneys who emphasised unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud, as well as Jeffrey Clark, a former justice department employee.
The defendants “knowingly and willfully participated in a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favour of Trump,” according to the indictment.
The former president is charged with several felonies, including
Violating Georgia’s racketeering act
Solicitation of violation of oath by public officer
Conspiracy to impersonate a public officer
Conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree
False statements and writings and filing false documents
The defendants are referred to in the indictment as a “criminal organisation,” and they are charged with witness tampering, computer trespass, theft, and perjury, among other offences.
Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO Act), the most serious charge, carries a possible 20-year jail sentence.
The statute, which was created to aid in the dismantling of organised criminal syndicates like the mafia, aids prosecutors in establishing a causal link between subordinates who breached the law and those who gave them commands.
The Trump campaign said in a statement that the district attorney was a “rabid partisan” who had brought “these bogus indictments” in an effort to sway the 2024 presidential election and “damage the dominant Trump campaign”.
The statement read, “This latest coordinated attack by a biassed prosecutor in a predominately Democratic jurisdiction not only betrays the trust of the American people, but also exposes the true motivation driving their manufactured accusations.”
He is the only former US president ever to be charged with a crime.
In February 2021, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis began an inquiry.
Before the grand jury voted to return an indictment, a list of criminal charges against Mr. Trump posted on a Fulton County website earlier on Monday, causing uncertainty.
According to the document, Donald Trump was accused of racketeering, conspiring to commit fraud, and making false statements.
The document was described as “fictitious” by a Ms. Willis representative, who did not, however, explain how it wound up on the court’s website.
The apparent clerical error was used by Mr. Trump and his friends as evidence that the system was biassed.
Federal prosecutors in Washington, DC, charged Mr. Trump earlier this month with plotting to rig the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat President Joe Biden.
The operations of the Trump campaign in Georgia received a good deal of attention in that charge sheet. In that instance, Mr. Trump entered a not guilty plea.
Georgia is the centre of Ms. Willis’ inquiry, a crucial state in the race for the US presidency that Mr. Trump just missed winning.
On a discussion with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in January 2021, Mr. Trump was overheard pleading with him to “find” the 11,780 votes he would have needed to defeat Mr. Biden in that state.
An alleged plan to tamper with voting equipment in one Georgia county and steal data is described in the indictment.
It also refers to an alleged plan to submit erroneous lists of electors, the people who decide who becomes president and vice president through the Electoral College.
State charges, like those in Georgia, have important distinctions from federal ones. Notably, Mr. Trump would not be able to exonerate himself of state accusations if he were to win the presidency again in 2024.
Co-director of Tbilisi Pride, Mariam Kvaratskhelia, confirmed all the event’s participants had been safely moved to a different area.
But she went on to criticise the authorities’ policing of the Pride event, which she said had been held in private for a second consecutive year to reduce the risk of such violent protests.
The Pride event had been held in private, but a large group was still able to disrupt celebrations (Picture: Reuters)Police – some simply wearing a black top and a cap – scuffle with protesters (Picture: Reuters)A European Union flag was thrown into a bonfire at one stage (Picture: Reuters)The police response to the aggression has been criticised (Picture: Davit Kachkachishvili/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Ms Kvaratskhelia said far-right groups had publicly incited violence against LGBTQ+ activists in the days leading up to the Pride events.
She added: ‘I definitely think this (disruption) was a preplanned, coordinated action between the government and the radical groups… We think this operation was planned in order to sabotage the EU candidacy of Georgia.’
Protesters reportedly stayed and drank champagne following the evacuation, according to the Pride event organisers.
Earlier today, a government minister said it was a difficult event to police as it was held in an open area, near a lake.
Huge crowds of protesters had descended on the Pride event (Picture: Reuters)Signs, flags and posters were destroyed in the chaos (Picture: Reuters)
Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Darakhvelidze told reporters: ‘The protesters managed to find… ways to enter the area of the event, but we were able to evacuate the Pride participants and organisers,” Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Darakhvelidze told reporters.
‘Nobody was harmed during the incident and police are now taking measures to stabilise the situation.’
Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili, a frequent critic of the government, echoed the criticism of the police, saying officers had failed in their duty to uphold people’s right to assemble safely.
The country is in the midst of political discourse concerning its future and shifts in society.
Georgia aspires to join the European Union, but its ruling Georgian Dream Party has faced increased criticism from rights groups and the EU over its perceived drift towards authoritarianism.
After violent street protests in March, it withdrew a Russian-style bill that would have required non-government organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as ‘agents of foreign influence’.
Georgia has passed laws against discrimination and hate crimes, but LGBT+ rights groups say there is a lack of adequate protection by law enforcement officials and homophobia remains widespread in the socially conservative South Caucasus nation.
Two years ago, several journalists were beaten during attacks on LGBT+ activists in Tbilisi.
One of the journalists, cameraman Alexander Lashkarava, was later found dead at his home, sparking angry protests in the Georgian capital.
Tamaz Sozashvili, a co-founder of Tbilisi Pride,previously told Metro.co.uk that the riots remain the ‘scariest day of my life’.
He said: ‘It took me a few months to recover from the stress. I didn’t want to go out and show up in public spaces to socialize because of disappointment, hopelessness, and anger.
‘A violent gang chased the organizers of Tbilisi Pride, including myself, to kill us and ransacked the offices of Tbilisi Pride and our partner Shame Movement, but the government failed either to prevent or to bring perpetrators to justice.’
A highlife musician Kofi Kinaata, is getting ready for his upcoming US tour, which will take him to places like California, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, Arizona, Michigan, and Virginia.
The tour is to get him closer to his fans in the United States of America.
Apart from USA, Kofi Kinaata will tour some European countries all in the name of getting close to his fans who have supported him over the years.
In a chat with Graphic Showbiz, the Confession hitmaker said “I don’t usually do tours but it has become necessary that I do it this time around. I have a huge fan base in USA and other countries who are waiting to see me and I am also ready for them. My team and I have decided to visit the USA and tour some states to be with his fans over there”, he said.
Giving more details on what he will be doing during his tour, Kofi Kinaata said he will perform all his popular songs.
“I am rehearsing with a band to get my act right. Everything is on course come next month and I can’t wait for the tour. This will the first time I am visiting some of the states in USA and I can’t wait to get there” he said.
Kofi Kinaata, a musician and song writer has done major collaborations with artistes such as Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Samini, Stonebwoy, Kwesi Arthur, Jayso, Castro, Becca among others.
However, the collaboration that blew him to mainstream music and into the limelight is Odo Pa by Castro which also featured former Ghana Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan.
Kofi Kinaata real name Martin King Arthur has a good number of hits. Some of them are Things Fall Apart, Sweetie Pie, Adam and Eve, Thy Grace, Susuka, Last Show, Oh Azaay and recently Effiakuma Love.
In a deeply distressing incident, the Georgia community, in the United States of America(USA) was left in shock as parents Tyler and Krista Schindley were arrested on charges of child abuse and negligence.
The couple’s 10-year-old son, malnourished and desperate for sustenance, was discovered wandering the neighborhood in search of a grocery store where he could beg for food.
Krista and Tyler Schindley were arrested after neighbors found their emaciated 10-year-old son wandering the streets.
The harrowing ordeal unfolded when concerned neighbors found the emaciated child on the streets, pleading with the authorities not to return him home.
Weighing a mere 36 pounds, similar to that of an average 4-year-old, the boy had endured intentional starvation, a fact that sent shockwaves through the community.
The parents are accused of intentionally starving their son and depriving him of sunlight and other basic needs.
During a press conference, Griffin District Attorney Marie Broder expressed her distress, stating, “This child was, simply put, being starved to death, and it is tragic. I truly believe that if he had not escaped that home, we would be facing an even graver situation.”
According to court documents, the parents were accused of subjecting the child to unimaginable cruelty.
They allegedly locked him inside his bedroom for extended periods, depriving him of access to essential necessities such as food, clothing, light, and adult interaction.
Furthermore, they withheld hot water, views of the outside world, toilet paper, and even basic human interaction.
In a horrifying revelation, it was discovered that the child had suffered physical abuse, enduring beatings that resulted in additional injuries.
Rescued from his dire circumstances, the malnourished child was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals are providing treatment for his severe malnutrition and low heart rate.
Tragically, the child also bore dental injuries and disfigurement, further evidence of his prolonged starvation that the parents allegedly neglected to address.
The child was allegedly kept locked inside the house, but he was able to escape.
“This case is undeniably disturbing,” stated Broder, a seasoned prosecutor in child abuse cases. “It’s heart-wrenching.”
Authorities confirmed the presence of other children in the household, who have since been placed under the care of the state’s Department of Family and Children’s Services to ensure their safety and well-being.
The Schindleys now face a range of charges, including criminal attempt to commit a felony, false imprisonment, battery, and multiple counts of cruelty to children.
As the community grapples with the profound sadness and outrage brought forth by this tragic incident, it serves as a somber reminder of the importance of protecting and cherishing the well-being of our most vulnerable members – the children.
The morning before former President Donald Trump was officially charged, protesters gathered in a small park near Manhattan’s Civic Center.
The protesters assembled a gathering at Collect Pond Park, a tiny public space nearby Manhattan Criminal Court, where Donald Trump is expected to be tried on criminal charges for hush money payments at 2.15 p.m. today. The protest was organized by the New York City Young Republicans Club.
Only hours before the ex-hearing, president’s the conservative group also asked Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to speak in favor of the indicted former president.
Around 8am, the park was largely empty, save for a handful of early protesters.
Gregory Williams, from the Bronx, sat on a lawn chair he set up on the sidewalk, waiting for the days events to begin. He told Metro.co.uk that he was there early to celebrate.
Williams brought along a large cardboard cut-out poster of Hillary Clinton, as well as a homemade sign that read ‘Lock Him Up.’
‘I think it’s ironic that for eight years, they always said “lock her up.” Now, I get to say “lock him up.”‘
Perez, a Trump supporter from Bushwick, Brooklyn, told Metro.co.uk that he hoped the former president would be found innocent on all charges and called the arraignment ‘political BS.’
‘It never happened before, in United States history, that a former president got indicted,’ he said.
Perez also said he was hopeful that the court proceedings would help Trump win the Republican primary and eventually the presidential election in 2024.
Nearby, another man wearing a red MAGA hat ripped off his shirt to reveal he was wearing a full set of stars-and-stripes overalls. ‘This is an unjust prosecution!’ he yelled as news cameras flocked to his location. ‘We should throw [District Attorney] Alvin Bragg in Guantanamo Bay!’
The event also attracted large numbers of counter-protesters, many of whom were wearing black-and-white shirts with messages like ‘Witches know this isn’t a witch hunt’ and Trump is the definition of depravity.’
A Trump supporter rips up a counter-protester’s banner (Picture: Leonardo Munoz / AFP via Getty Images)
Two women, who identified themselves just as Olivia and Beth, came from Indianapolis to witness the historic event. ‘It is really important to show that nobody is above the law,’ the women said.
One man on the counter-protester side, who said his name was David, spoke in English and Spanish about Trump’s mishandling of the Hurricane Maria disaster.
‘Nobody should have to go through what the people of Puerto Rico went through, and continue to go through to this day,’ he said. He also brought a roll of paper towels, a reference to the viral moment in 2017 when Trump tossed goods to survivors in a crowd.
NYPD officers split the park into two halves for each side, but protesters from both sides still managed to confront one another.
Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tries to address the crowd in Collect Pond Park (Picture: REUTERS)
Around 9am, two women unfurled a large banner reading ‘TRUMP LIES ALL THE TIME’ on the pro-Trump side. Moments later, a blonde woman wearing a red MAGA hat leaped onto the banner and began tearing it up.
‘I don’t care b***h I’m from New York!’ she yelled in the counter-protesters’ faces.
Around 9.30am, right-wing New York congressman George Santos made a brief surprise appearance at the protest.
The recently-elected Republican has been the target of criticism since it was revealed he embellished or lied about large portions of his resume, including his career and identity.
A Trump supporter wears stars-and-stripes overalls at the protest (Picture: REUTERS)
Rep Santos was quickly harried by the press, and left moments later.
Eventually, Rep Greene arrived around 10.30am for her scheduled talk. She was given a megaphone by protest organizers, but her words were completely inaudible as counter-protesters in the crowd drowned chanted and banged on pots and pans.
‘We’re the party that wants to protect the lives of the unborn, we’re the party of male and female, two genders only,’ she told the few supporters who could hear her.
Meanwhile, counter-protesters chanted ‘go back home’ to the congresswoman from Milledgeville, Georgia. Others yelled ‘talk about gun reform!’
Far-right Georgia congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene, has compared former US President, Donald Trump’s indictment to the arrest of Jesus Chris by the Roman government.
She made the comparison while speaking to a crowd at a rally outside the Manhattan courthouse earlier today.
Talking to Right Side Broadcasting Network’s Brian Glenn, whom she is currently dating, Greene argued that Trump was “joining some of the most incredible people in history [by] being arrested today”.
“Nelson Mandela was arrested, served time in prison,” she said.
“Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government.”
Reiterating that the former president was being “persecuted”, she added: “I just can’t believe it’s happening, but I’ll always support him. He’s done nothing wrong.”
The media-savvy provocateur is fresh off a widely panned appearance on CBS News’ 60 Minutes programme, in which she defended calling her political opponents “paedophiles”.
Erling Haaland,who withdrew from the Norwegian team for their first two Euro 2024 qualifying matches due to a groin injury, will return to Manchester City for medical tests.
Following a five-goal outburst in a 7-0 Champions League thrashing of RB Leipzig, the star striker netted a hat-trick as City defeated Burnley 6-0 at the weekend in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
Haaland joined his teammates from Norway as they got ready to play Spain and Georgia, but he won’t be taking part in either of those games.
Team doctor Ola Sand told the Norwegian Football Federation’s website: “We hoped that this would carry over to Saturday but after doing tests and examinations yesterday it became clear that he will not make it to the games against Spain and Georgia.
“It is better that he receives medical follow-up at the club.”
Kampene mot Spania og Georgia går dessverre uten Erling Braut Haaland. Han har reist hjem grunnet skade. Les mer her: https://t.co/BPVnWNWUgt
Norway boss Stale Solbakken added: “Erling took it hard when he realised that he could not fight for the team.
No conclusive evidence to leave Walker out of England squad – Southgate
“Fortunately, there is still plenty of self-confidence, talent and cohesion in this group to win points in the next matches.”
City will hope the injury is not serious ahead of a busy period following the international break, starting with a crunch Premier League clash at home to Liverpool on April 1 as Pep Guardiola’s side aim to bridge the eight-point gap to leaders Arsenal.
The Ghana Council of Georgia, in collaboration with CEO Magazines, hosted a sold-out Ghana @66 Independence Day celebration at the Atlanta City Hall on Saturday, 11th of March in Atlanta, GA.
The evening kicked off with a parade of Chiefs, Ghana Council Leadership, and the Presidents of the various ethnic associations of the Council, escorted by a traditional dancer with traditional music playing.
In attendance were Nananom, royalty representing various ethnic societies in Ghana, along with dignitaries and various invited guests, representing the diasporan community in Atlanta.
The major sponsors included The Conduah Family, WillVan Tax and Insurance Services, Ike’s Cafe & Grill, and Fibi Law Firm, SSBiz Solutions, and Dr. Sandra Chaney of Suwanee Georgia.
The theme of the Ghana @66 event was: The Ghana House Project.
Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta then welcomed the crowd with a video address followed by a dinner of sumptuous Ghanian fare.
Ms. Yvonne McCowin, President of Ghana Council of Georgia in her welcome address thanked the Executives and the members of the Organizing Committee for their commitment and dedication which resulted in this best-ever Ghana Independence Day event celebrated in Atlanta. She also encouraged everybody to support the Ghana House Project.
The keynote speaker was Reverend Dr. Samuel Mainoo, President of the Ghanaian Ministers Association of Georgia. In his speech, elaborated on the relevance of the Ghana@66 event. He also challenged all to support the Ghana House Project.
The fundraiser for the Ghana House Project was led by two very dynamic ladies: Ms. Esi Bruce and Lady Pearl Aidoo, who successfully worked the crowd to raise a substantial amount of money for Phase 1 of the Project.
Special guest in attendance was 11-year-old American-based Ghanaian prodigy, Nicholas Buamah (Author, Creator, Producer) along with his parents, Danielle and Dominic Buamah made a financial contribution to kick start the Ghana House Project fundraising.
The Ghana House project, the brainchild of the Ghana Council of Georgia and Chaired by Mr. Rueben Darku, when completed will be a magnificent Culture Center, comprising an African artifacts museum, a major hall for events, a language learning center for the youths, and a recreational meeting place for the immigrant population.
It will be located in the Atlanta metro area. Ing. Mathew Kodjoe Abakah Jr, Chairman of the Independence Day planning committee emphasized the distinguishing factors that define how individuals from different cultural backgrounds socialize, explaining, the Ghana House Project fits into the agenda of Ghana Council and its commitment to bringing together people from diverse cultural persuasions.
“There are shared values, goals and many cultures through which we can leverage our mutual benefits,” Abakah opined, reiterating that the greater good will manifest in shared community-centered values through the Ghana House.
The flow of the event was skillfully maneuvered by MC Armani (Kwame Boafo) and the music was provided by Atlanta’s own DJ Mixmaster Berto.
The highlight of the evening was the live performances by famous Ghanaian artists: Bisa Kdei, Praye, and Kwaw Kesse, which mesmerized the crowd and had everybody on their feet.
The Ghana Council is a not-for-profit organization that is comprised of representatives of all Georgia-based Ghanaian organizations. More information on the organization is at www.ghanacouncilofgeorgia.org
After spraying the deodorant in her bedroom, 14-year-old Derby resident Giorgia Green suffered a cardiac arrest.
Since then, her parents have learned of other cases of young people who unintentionally choked to death on deodorant.
The British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA) responded by stating that deodorants have “very clear warnings.”
By law, aerosol deodorants must be printed with the warning “keep out of reach of children”.
However, Giorgia’s parents said the writing is small.
They believe many parents buy deodorant for their children without noticing the warning.
“People don’t know how dangerous the contents of those tins can be,” said her father Paul.
“I would like it so that no-one else in the country – or the world – would end up having to go through what we’ve personally gone through.
“We don’t want our daughter’s death to be in vain.”
Giorgia had autism and her father said she liked to spray deodorant on blankets as she found the smell comforting.
“The smell of it gave her a certain sense of relaxation,” said Mr Green.
“If she was feeling in any way a little bit anxious, she would spray this spray and it would give her a sense of comfort because it’s a deodorant my wife used.”
Giorgia’s older brother found her unresponsive in her bedroom on 11 May 2022.
“Her door was open, so it wasn’t as if it was an enclosed environment,” said her father.
“At some point her heart stopped as a result of breathing it in.”
An inquest was held into Giorgia’s death and the coroner recorded the conclusion as misadventure.
Her medical cause of death was “unascertained but consistent with inhalation of aerosol”.
Image caption,RoSPA said it is a “common misconception” that people only die when abusing aerosols
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), “deodorant” was mentioned on 11 death certificates between 2001 and 2020.
However, the actual number of deaths is likely to be higher than this, due to the fact that specific substances are not always mentioned on death certificates.
Giorgia’s death certificate referred to “inhalation of aerosol” rather than “deodorant”.
Butane – the main ingredient of Giorgia’s deodorant – was recorded as having been involved in 324 deaths between 2001 and 2020. Propane and isobutane – also in Giorgia’s deodorant – were mentioned in 123 and 38 deaths respectively.
The ONS said the substances have been linked to a number of deaths, noting: “The inhalation of butane or propane gas can lead to heart failure.”
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said a number of people have died after over-spraying deodorants.
Ashley Martin, public health adviser at RoSPA, said: “It’s easy to assume they are completely safe and totally free from risk. The truth is they’re not.
“Inhaling large quantities of aerosols, not just deodorants, can lead to a whole host of life-endangering scenarios – from blackouts and breathing difficulties, to heart rhythm changes and sadly, death.
“There’s a common misconception that fatalities from aerosols only happen in a substance abuse scenario, but this is absolutely not true.
“We have seen a number of fatalities over recent years where children and young adults have over-sprayed aerosols – from teenagers conscious of body odour, to children seeking reassurance from familiar smells.”
What warnings are printed on aerosol deodorants?
Image caption,Giorgia’s parents believe warnings need to be clearer
By law, aerosol deodorants must be printed with the warning “keep out of reach of children”.
Most aerosol deodorants also have a warning that says “solvent abuse can kill instantly”. This is not a legal requirement, but is recommended by BAMA due to the risk of people inhaling aerosols to intentionally get high.
Giorgia’s parents believe the warning should be changed to “solvent use can kill instantly”, because Giorgia was not abusing deodorant.
Aerosol deodorants must also contain instructions on their correct usage, which are written following risk assessments carried out by the manufacturer. For example, the instructions might say “use in short bursts in well-ventilated places”.
If an aerosol deodorant is flammable there must also be a warning about this.
Image caption,The British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of Giorgia’s death
BAMA said in a statement: “The British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA) takes very seriously any incident involving aerosol products, and we were deeply saddened to learn of the death of someone so young.
“As an industry association we work with manufacturers to ensure that aerosols are made to the highest safety standards and are labelled with very clear warnings and usage instructions and recommend that anyone using an aerosol does so in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
“We also recommend applying a number of additional warnings and usage instructions, beyond those required by regulation, and continue to review these to encourage the safe use of aerosols.”
Terrence Howard claims that he is truly prepared to hang up his hat this time.
The Oscar-nominated actor announced his decision during a red carpet event for The Best Man: The Final Chapters, an upcoming Hulu series in which he reprises his role as Quentin Spivey. Howard told Entertainment Tonight that the show will serve as his swan song, as he plans to formally retire.
“This is the end for me. I don’t know if it’s the end for the rest of them,” he said. “I retired two years ago, for the most part. I was done. … I asked Sidney Poitier 10 years ago, does he want to do any more work, and he said, ‘Why would I spend my last 10 years doing an impersonation of myself?’ And that’s what I’ve gotten to.”
Howard made similar comments back in 2019, claiming he would step away from acting after the conclusion of Fox’s hit series Empire. However, the 53-year-old has appeared in multiple projects, including the 2021 drama Triumph, 2022’s The Walk, and the aforementioned The Best Man series, which premieres Dec. 22 on Peacock.
“I’ve gotten to the point where now I’ve given the very best that I have as an actor,” Howard continued, before praising the younger generation of talent. “Now I’m enjoying watching other new talent come around, and I don’t want to do an impersonation of myself. … Yes, there’s some better actors out there that can do things that I was never able to do. So I want to applaud them, I want to be excited about what they do.”
Howard began his acting career in the early 1990s, landing small-screen roles in All My Children and The Jacksons: An American Dream miniseries.
The Chicago native would go on to appear in critically acclaimed films like Dead Presidents, Crash, Iron Man, and Hustle & Flow.
The latter of which earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 78th annual Academy Awards.
A Georgia man has been arrestedafter he commented “how about me” on a sheriff’s post detailing the county’s most wanted list.
Per WSBTV, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office shared a poster with the ten “most wanted” criminals in the county last week, which prompted 40-year-old man Christopher Spaulding to ask, “How about me?” In a comment responding to his question, the social media account for the office replied, “You are correct you have two warrants, we are on the way.”
Later that same day, the office shared a photo of Spaulding showing that he had been arrested. “We appreciate you for your assistance in your capture!” the post announcing his arrest read. “Special thanks to our Fugitive Unit for being active and efficiently apprehending Mr. Spaulding who has 2 warrants for Felony Violation of Probation.” Authorities explained that he was on the list because it’s comprised of criminals facing more severe charges, such as armed robbery or kidnapping.
“Our Top 10 is compiled based off of the severity of the charges only,” reads the post. “By not being on this list does not mean our Fugitive Unit is not looking for you if you have an active warrant.” Spaulding is currently being held on two charges of felony probation violation.
Jail records show that Spaulding was booked in Rockdale County Jail on Dec. 2.
The bizarre arrest comes not long after alleged criminal Charles Dion McDowell’s mugshot went viral due to his noticeably wide neck.
Unlike Spaulding, however, he didn’t effectively remind authorities that he’s a wanted man.
Kenyan President William Rutohas directed the environment and forestry ministry to investigate the ongoing uprooting of baobab trees along the country’s coast.
It comes after reports that environmental experts are concerned about the export of massive trees from Kilifi country to Georgia.
The local newspaper Daily Nation reported last week that Kenyan authorities had granted a foreign company permission to cut the trees for botanical purposes for two years.
Last month, the Guardian newspaper said campaigners were accusing people of“biopiracy”. Buyers were persuading locals to part with the trees on their land.
But on Monday, Mr Ruto said there “must be adequate authorisation and an equitable benefit-sharing formula for Kenyans”.
He also asked the ministry to ensure that the uprooting “sits within the Convention on Biodiversity”.
I have instructed the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to look into the ongoing uprooting of Baobab trees in Kilifi County to ensure that it sits within the Convention on Biodiversity and the Nagoya Protocol.
A Georgia sheriff’s office has come under fire over the brutal beating of a Black detainee.
The incident reportedly took place on Sept. 3 in Camden County, Georgia, where 41-year-old Jarrett Hobbs was arrested for non-violent offenses, including speeding, driving with a suspended/revoked license, and possession of a controlled substance.
Weeks after the arrest, videos from the Camden County Jail surfaced on social media; they showed five sheriff’s office employees beating Hobbs in a holding cell before dragging him into the hallway, where they appear to strike him with their knees.
According to the New York Times, an officer testified that Hobbs was kicking his cell door before the beating took place, and allegedly refused to comply with orders to stop.
Following the attack, officers placed the North Carolinaresident in solitary confinement and charged him with aggravated battery, simple assault, and obstruction of law enforcement officers.
Harry Daniels, one of the attorneys representing Hobbs, said the officers’ actions were “inexcusable,” and is now calling for criminal charges.
“Mr. Hobbs entered the Camden County Jail suffering a psychological episode and asking to be placed in protective confinement. But instead of protecting him, these deputies jumped him and beat and kicked him mercilessly like a gang of dangerous thugs,” Daniels wrote in a statement, adding that the officers also ripped a loc out of Hobbs’ scalp. “This wasn’t some arrest that got out of hand or a judgment call made out of fear for your life. This was targeted gang violence pure and simple. It just so happens that the gang members were wearing badges and we’re calling on the District Attorney to bring charges immediately.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations confirmed it is looking into the incident, while the Camden County Sheriff’s office conducts an internal investigation.
The sheriff’s office has not identified the five officers in the video, but said they have each been placed on administrative duty.
“This was done so they would be readily available for interviews by the investigators conducting the investigation,” Captain James L. Bruce told FOX 5.
For anyone, the sculpture would pass as an iconic throne that will sit beautifully in any palace or an imposing edifice to meet its standard. But, the Throne of the Present Owner is more than that. It rather embodies the losses, pain and resilience of the people of Mozambique to look into the future and say never again to war.
The throne represents the childhood memories of Mozambique artist Goncalo Mabunda, of the destruction caused by the guns and bullets in the country’s civil war which lasted over 15 years.
Mabunda is noted for constructing thrones, but, what makes the Throne of the Present Owner different is that it was built from pistols, rocket launchers and AK47s, according to Jack and Bell gallery. They are arms handed over to him after the Christian Council had collected arms used in the Mozambique civil war.
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The Mozambique civil war commenced barely two years after the country had gained independence from Portugal. It is believed that Mozambique was a pun caught in the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States who were supplying feuding factions with ammunition, according to Black Past. The war claimed one million lives in a country whose population was 14 million at the time.
Mabunda’s art is meant to send a strong political message to the governments that the fledgling peace must be protected and made as beautiful as the throne. It also represents the change art could inspire as well as the tenacity and creativity of the African art space.
The throne also stands for the power in weaponry, tribal representations of the Mozambique people, and the rarity of African art.
These themes have a strong influence on the worldview of Mabunda whose childhood was replete with blood and pain caused by a war fought without a basis. He is always in touch with the memories of where Mozambique is from and where they are heading to.
As much as the sentiments that drove the country into civil strife hold sway in its politics today, he seeks to remind them with the throne as a stark reminder to use dialogue instead of arms to resolve their differences.
Art curators have argued that Mabunda’s work is steeped in traditional art, when it is looked at from the modern perspective, it shares a connection with the works of Braque and Picasso.
When the Throne of the Present Owner is looked at symbolically, the guns and bullets which are the main construct of the throne are supposed to evoke fear, but they are rather in a sphere that preaches change and hope.
Mabunda was born in Maputo, Mozambique in 1975. Over the years, his works have shot him into international prominence, according to Rdn Arts.
His work has made it to many international exhibitions, chief among them being the first Mozambican artist at the Venice Biennale. Former U.S. president Bill Clinton is a great fan of Mabunda’s works and is known to have purchased some of his art.
The international media considers his work as representing African identity and culture. He is also known for using his work to promote development and uplift local communities.
Authorities in Georgia said an inmate allegedly impersonated a California billionaire and made away with $11 million while he was being held in a maximum-security lock-up. According to FOX News, the heist is said to be one of the biggest to be executed from inside a prison in the United States.
The inmate, identified as 31-year-old Arthur Lee Cofield Jr., allegedly stole the money from billionaire film producer Sidney Kimmel. Cofield allegedly carried out the act while he was being held at the Georgia Department of Corrections’ Special Management Unit. The suspect, who is serving a 14-year prison sentence for armed robbery, allegedly used smuggled cell phones to open a bankaccount in the name of the 94-year-old billionaire.
The inmate allegedly bought 6,106 American Eagle one-ounce gold coins with some of the stolen $11 million. That was after he had the funds transferred from Kimmel’s Charles Schwab account into an Idaho-based company.
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And following that transfer, federal prosecutors said they believe the inmate allegedly had a private jet fly the coins to Atlanta. He is said to have used $4.4 million of the stolen money to purchase a home in Buckhead.
The bank ultimately repaid Kimmel in full after the heist was unfolded. But the incident cast a spotlight on the corrections department’s shortcomings in clamping down on unlawful activities in its prisons, FOX News reported.
Cofield was reportedly moved to the Special Management Unit after he allegedly instructed his fellow gang members to fatally shoot a rival. The 31-year-old suspect was locked up when he ordered that hit.
Besides Cofield, two other individuals – a father and daughter – have also been indicted in connection with the $11 million heist. The three suspects, who have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering, have pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors at a past bond hearing said that Cofield may also have likely stolen $2.5 from the wife of a Florida billionaire after he gained access to her account, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. That victim was identified as Nicole Wertheim. She is married to Herbert Wertheim.
A Georgia pastor is mourning the loss of his wife after he woke up to find her fatally hit by a stray bullet. In a Facebook Live video on Sunday, Mac Ellison, a pastor at Temple of Faith Ministries, said the fatal October 5 incident happened in the middle of the night, The Telegraph reported.
Ellison’s wife, identified as Lashunda Heath-Ellison, was fatally struck at the back of the head after the bullet pierced through their Decatur residence. Ellison said his wife was sleeping at the time of the incident.
“My wife Lashunda Heath-Ellison gained her wings. I believe to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” Ellison wrote. “Please give us a moment to process this. My Perfect Angel is gone but forever in our hearts.”
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An investigation into the fatal incident has been launched by the Dekalb County Police Department. Authorities also said the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Police said the projectile pierced through the back of the couple’s residence, adding that it hit Heath-Ellison while she was sleeping.
Ellison also said he woke up from his sleep after he noticed his wife was breathing heavily. Ellison said he initially thought his wife was snoring, but noticed there was a problem after he switched on the lights, The Telegraph reported. He then alerted his children.
The family then called 911 and turned Heath-Ellison over. “When we rolled mama over so she could breathe, we saw that the back of her pillow was full of blood, but looking at her, we didn’t see any blood,” Ellison recalled. “There was nothing we could do for mama.”
An X-ray, that was done on Heath-Ellison at the hospital, showed bullet shrapnel was lodged close to her brain, the pastor said. Ellison said he and his children found a bullet hole at their home following their trip to the hospital.
The grieving pastor also said his wife recently turned 50.
“I asked my wife, I said ‘What do you want for your birthday?’ And she said, ‘I just want to be with you,’” Ellison said in the Facebook Live video. “I’m trying to say all this without tears.”
With maximum windsof 155 mph and as it approaches Florida’s west coast, Hurricane Ian is a devastating Category 4 storm, just shy of the most deadly Category 5 status. Early on Wednesday, the state already began to experience high winds and rain.
Residents made last-minute preparations to board up their homes and businesses. And miles of cars packed the roads as residents sought to escape ahead of the monster storm.
“We have about 2.5 million Floridians that are currently under some type of an evacuation order,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Saint Petersburg’s mayor issued a warning for those staying behind. “After a certain time when tropical force winds are here, we will not be sending out first responders,” said Mayor Ken Welch.
The storm is forecast to make landfall Wednesday afternoon in the Fort Myers area. Life-threatening conditions are expected, including several feet of storm surge and more than 20 inches of rain in some areas.
“In some areas, there will be catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surge,” said DeSantis.
The state is bracing for millions of power outages. Thirty thousand workers are on standby to restore electricity after the storm passes.
Seven thousand National Guard members have been activated under the state of emergency.
“We could be everything from security, to transportation,” said Major General Eifert, head of Florida’s National Guard. “Aviation is a big part if we end up in search and rescue scenarios. So, we’re kind of the Swiss army knife of operations. We can be used for whatever the Dept. of Emergency Management needs us to do.”
CBN’s Operation Blessing team has been pre-staging disaster relief supplies in Ocala, Florida so they can jump into action with aid once the storm passes.
An OB #disaster response team has been deployed to Florida with emergency supplies & equipment as #HurricaneIan approaches. This storm could hit the Gulf Coast of Florida with as high as a Category 4 storm surge.
“This is going to be a nasty nasty day, two days,” Gov. DeSantis said early Wednesday. “Do what you need to do to stay safe. If you are where that storm is approaching, you’re already in hazardous conditions. It’s going to get a lot worse very quickly. So please hunker down.”
An odd precursor to Ian’s landfall is signaling just how powerful the storm is – strong enough to suck the water out of Tampa Bay. Meteorologist Greg Dee with WTFS-TV in Tampa shared a video of the phenomenon on Facebook.
Meanwhile, parts of Georgia and South Carolina are preparing for the storm too. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency, with 500 National Guard troops on standby if needed.
A motorist who filmed the shooting of an unarmed black man in the US state of Georgia has been charged with murder.
William Bryan Jr was also accused of a criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment on Thursday, said the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI).
Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was jogging when he was shot dead during a confrontation with a father and son in Brunswick on 23 February.
Gregory McMichael, 64, and son Travis, 34, were charged with murder on 7 May.
In the moments before the fatal confrontation, the McMichaels, who are white, armed themselves with a pistol and shotgun and pursued Mr Arbery in a pickup truck in the Satilla Shores neighborhood.
Gregory McMichael told police he believed that Mr Arbery resembled the suspect in a series of local break-ins.
Mr Bryan’s 36-second video leaked online on 5 May, generating nationwide outcry that was swiftly followed by murder charges. It was filmed by Mr Bryan from his vehicle while he was driving behind Mr Arbery.
The clip appears to show Mr Arbery running down a tree-lined street as the McMichaels wait ahead for him in their vehicle.
A tussle follows and the younger Mr McMichael appears to fire a gun at point blank range at Mr Arbery, who falls to the street.
The Arbery family welcomed Thursday’s arrest, with their lawyer Lee Merritt saying Mr Bryan’s alleged involvement in the killing “was obvious to us, many around the country and after their thorough investigation, it was clear to the GBI as well”.
Mr Bryan is expected to be booked into the Glynn County jail, where the McMichaels are also being kept as they await trial.
How was William Bryan allegedly involved?
A prosecutor said Mr Bryan had been “in hot pursuit” of Mr Arbery.
He is also mentioned in the Glynn County police report of the shooting, in which officers noted that Mr Bryan had unsuccessfully tried to block Mr Arbery’s path.
However, Mr Bryan told a local TV station that he “had nothing to do with it” and was in “complete shock”.
During the interview, he did not answer questions on why he was there or why he started recording, but his lawyer Kevin Gough said: “My client was responding to what he saw, which was someone in the community he didn’t know being followed by a vehicle he recognised.”
Mr Bryan has since taken a voluntary lie detector test which law enforcement had not requested, his lawyer had said in a statement on Monday.
“Contrary to speculation, the polygraph examination confirms that on 23 Feb 2020, the day of the shooting, William ‘Roddie’ Bryan did not have any conversation with either Gregory or Travis McMichael prior to the shooting.
“Nor did William ‘Roddie’ Bryan have any conversation with anyone else that day prior to the shooting about criminal activity in the neighbourhood,” said Mr Gough, using Mr Bryan’s nickname.
In a CNN interview, Mr Bryan said he had been praying for the Arbery family and hoped his tape would help bring closure.
“If there wasn’t a tape, then we wouldn’t know what happened,” he said. “I hope that it, in the end, brings justice to the family and peace to the family.”
There are no hate crime laws in Georgia law, but the US Justice Department has said it is examining the case to see if any federal hate crime charges are warranted.
Meanwhile, the FBI said on Thursday it had opened an investigation into another case of a black American shot dead amid conflicting narratives.
Breonna Taylor was fatally shot eight times on 13 March by police conducting a drug raid in Louisville, Kentucky. Police say they knocked on the door and were met by gunfire from within.
But Ms Taylor’s family say the officers did not knock, wore plainclothes and that Ms Taylor’s partner opened fire because he thought they were burglars. The family also say the narcotics raid was targeting the wrong address.
Police on Thursday arrested two white men for the shooting death of an unarmed black jogger in Georgia whose killing was captured in a video that went viral, sparking massive public outcry.
Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was killed on February 23 as he ran on a sunny day in his residential neighbourhood in the town of Brunswick.
But the case gained national notoriety this week with the release of a 28-second cell phone video that captured the shooting.
“Gregory & Travis McMichael have been arrested for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tweeted.
The two men were charged with murder and aggravated assault, according to a statement posted to the bureau’s website. They have been booked into the Glynn County jail.
In the footage, Arbery is seen running down a residential street and approaching a white pickup truck that is stopped in the right lane with a man standing in the back.
As Arbery tries to get around the vehicle, he is confronted by a second man holding a shotgun. An altercation ensues as Arbery and this man struggle, and the black man is shot once, then once more a few seconds later.
The two white men were identified by police as Travis McMichael, 34, and his father Gregory McMichael, 64, who both live in Brunswick.
According to the police report, Gregory McMichael told officers he thought Arbery was a suspect in a series of area burglaries and on the day of the shooting, while standing in his front yard, he had seen the young black man “hauling ass” down the street.
McMichael said he went inside, got his .357 Magnum while his son grabbed a shotgun, and they went out looking for Arbery. When they finally caught up with him and Travis McMichael got out of the truck with the shotgun, Arbery began to “violently attack” him, the father said, according to the police report.
The father said he saw his son shoot Arbery twice and Arbery fall to the ground.
After the video footage went viral, a Georgia district attorney said Tuesday that a grand jury would be formed to see if there are grounds to charge the father and son.
Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, retweeted the Bureau of Investigation’s arrest announcement and added that the “investigation remains ongoing,” as well as asked that residents call in with tips.
He also praised the bureau, tweeting: “I applaud @GBI_GA Director Vic Reynolds and his agents for their swift action. Justice will be served.”
Around the country, political figures, celebrities and people on social media expressed fury and called for the two men to be prosecuted.
“The video is clear: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood. My heart goes out to his family, who deserve justice and deserve it now,” Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden tweeted Wednesday night.
Arbery “was murdered by two white men, ON CAMERA, and dudes have not been arrested. come on, people,” actress Zoe Kravitz said in an Instagram post, before the arrest. It was shared by such figures as Billie Eilish and Kylie Jenner.
Some drew parallels between this case and the shooting death of another unarmed young black man, Trayvon Martin, by a neighborhood guard in Florida in 2012.
“We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes!,” basketball great LeBron James said on Instagram.
The Democrats’ likely presidential candidate Joe Biden has demanded justice over the killing of an unarmed black man in the US state of Georgia.
Mr Biden said his heart went out to the family of Ahmaud Arbery.
Mr Arbery, 25, was jogging in February when confronted by an ex-policeman and his son. Video purported to show the shooting emerged online on Tuesday.
A district attorney in Georgia has now ruled that a grand jury should decide whether charges should be brought.
An earlier decision by a prosecutor in the Brunswick jurisdiction argued there was no probable cause to arrest Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis, 34, the New York Times has reported.
How did Arbery die? Mr Arbery was out running in the Satilla Shores neighbourhood of Brunswick in Georgia’s Glynn County early in the afternoon on 23 February.
In a police report, Gregory McMichael says he saw Mr Arbery and believed he resembled the suspect in a series of break-ins.
He and his son armed themselves and pursued him in a pick-up truck.
In the police report, Gregory McMichael says he and his son had said “stop, stop, we want to talk to you” and that Mr Arbery had attacked his son. Shots were fired, with Mr Arbery falling to the street.
Mr Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper, said police told her her son had been involved in a burglary before the incident, but the family say they do not believe the keen jogger had committed a crime and he was unarmed.
What does the video show? It was initially posted on a local radio station website but was then taken down.
But CNN included the video in its report of the story.
However, it said it did not know who recorded the footage and could not independently confirm its authenticity.
The 36-second video is shot from a vehicle following the pick-up truck said to be involved in the incident.
It shows a man jogging and then approaching the stationary pick-up from behind. He tries to bypass the truck and then is seen struggling with a man carrying a shotgun. There is muffled shouting and shotgun shots are heard.
A second man is standing in the bed of the pick-up. The second man is then shown with a pistol standing alongside the other armed man with the jogger no longer in view.
Although not shown in its video, CNN says that after a third gunshot the jogger recoils and blood appears on his T-shirt below his ribcage.
What have Mr Biden and other officials said?
Joe Biden sent out a tweet saying: “The video is clear: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood. My heart goes out to his family, who deserve justice and deserve it now. It is time for a swift, full, and transparent investigation into his murder.”
A statement from Lee Merritt, a lawyer for Mr Arbery’s family, said: “This is murder. The series of events captured in this video confirm what all the evidence indicated prior to its release.”
Tom Durden, the district attorney for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, decided on Tuesday that a grand jury should be involved.
“After careful review of the evidence,” he wrote in a statement, “I am of the opinion that the case should be presented to the grand jury of Glynn County for consideration of criminal charges.”
Governor Brian Kemp tweeted that “Georgians deserve answers”.
The McMichaels have not been charged and have not so far responded to the video. CNN said Gregory McMichael had earlier told it he would not be commenting.
The New York Times said it had obtained a letter in which a prosecutor had earlier argued there was not sufficient probable cause for the arrest because the pursuers were legally carrying firearms, were within their rights to follow “a burglary suspect” and were able as private persons to “arrest an offender if the offense is committed in his presence or within his immediate knowledge”.
Ghanaian defender Samuel Inkoom has been explaining the reason behind the decision to sign for Georgian side FC Samtredia.
The 30-year-old signed a six-month contract with the side in February 2020.
The former Ghana international has revealed the reason for opting for less-fancied Georgia.
“Two years ago, when I completed a 1-year disqualification due to financial disagreement with the agent, I received an offer from Shevardeni, Aka Goshadze contacted me. It is true that Georgia was one of the countries I wanted to visit, but I did not want to play in the second division,”
“Later, I received an offer from Gegi Kikabidze, who offered me to come to Samtredia. Then I found information about this club and learned a lot, for example, that this club recently became the champion of Georgia, then failed, and now it has returned to the top league.
“During the negotiations, I learned about the team’s goals. The fact that this club has high goals. I liked the conditions offered to me from Georgia, I considered it the best option and most importantly, I did not forget the promise given to my Georgian teammates.
“I like the plan of this club, the attitude of the management, the coaching staff and Kakha Kacharava directly towards the goals. I would like to thank Gegi Kikabidze, Mikheil Khutsishvili and Levan Zukhbaia for inviting me to play in this club.
“In the first two rounds, I was convinced that easy matches would not happen in Georgia, but I came to “Samtredia” to win the championship.”
Georgia has become the second US state to delay its presidential primary election over fears of the novel coronavirus.
The southern state had been scheduled to hold its vote on March 24, but has pushed it back nearly two months, as authorities across the country grapple with whether or not to postpone their states’ primary elections.
The move comes just a day after four other states — Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona — said they would go ahead with their votes, which are scheduled for next week.
Louisiana, meanwhile, became the first state to announce a postponement on Friday, when it declared an official disaster and an 11-week postponement of its vote, originally scheduled for April 4.
The delays come amid fears that the coronavirus pandemic could wreak havoc on the Democrats choosing a candidate to challenge President Donald Trump in the November election.
“Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, their families, and the community at large,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement announcing the postponement.
The delay was announced with the Democratic race less than halfway through, with only 25 of 57 contests completed so far.
“Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Georgians and to ensure that as many Georgians as possible have an opportunity to vote,” said state Senator Nikema Williams, who is chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “Continued in-person voting could compromise both goals.”
Voters who have already cast their ballots via early voting will be able to recast their vote in the May 19 primary, she said.
Earlier in the day Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a public health emergency, with 66 cases of coronavirus and one death in his state so far.
– 105 delegates for grabs –
Biden has already swept the primaries in the majority of the American South, including in Alabama Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, which each share a border with Georgia, where 105 delegates are at play.
Biden leads the overall race as well with 878 delegates over Sanders’ 725. To win the nomination, a candidate needs a majority of 1,991.
Stacey Abrams, a Georgia Democrat who nearly defeated Kemp for the governorship in mid-term elections in 2018, what would have been a major coup in the deeply red state, has been floated as a potential vice presidential pick.
She told an ABC television program last month that she would “be honored to run as vice president with the nominee.”
In the face of the global pandemic and rise in cases across the United States, Biden and Sanders have substantially curtailed campaigning, cancelling rallies and telling staffers to work from home.
The two face off in a debate on Sunday, but Democratic officials have shifted the venue from Arizona to Washington over coronavirus fears.
The COVID-19 virus has killed at least 51 Americans and upended daily life across the country, leaving almost no element of political life unscathed.
In Washington Saturday, Trump’s physician said he had tested negative for coronavirus following concerns over his exposure to members of a Brazilian delegation who later turned up positive and US lawmakers now in self-quarantine over potential infection.
