Several Black Stars playershave touched down in Ghana ahead of their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Sudan.
Among the early arrivals on Sunday, October 6, 2024, were key players such as Mohammed Kudus, Fatawu Issahaku, Mohammed Salisu, Elisha Owusu, Antoine Semenyo, Jojo Wollacott, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Jordan Ayew.
These players make up the first batch, with the rest of the squad expected to arrive today, October 7, in time for their initial training session at the Accra Sports Stadium later in the day.
Head coach Otto Addo, who has named a 25-man squad for the upcoming matches, hopes to have the full team in camp after the first session.
Ghana’s Black Stars have had a rocky start in their AFCON qualification campaign, with one loss and one draw from their first two games.
They are aiming for a win against Sudan to revive their hopes and strengthen their chances of qualifying.
The two teams will face off in a doubleheader, with the first match scheduled for October 10 in Accra, followed by the return leg in Libya on October 15, 2024.
The Ayew family has refuted rumours that Jordan and Andre Dede Ayew have left the Black Stars suddenly.
The family’s spokeswoman, Fiifi Tackie, declared the allegation to be untrue in a statement on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
He clarified that while his brother Jordan is practicing with the team ahead of the 2024 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, Andre Ayew is now on vacation following his exclusion from the Black Stars squad.
‘Please be advised that recent reports of the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, resigning from the national team are entirely false.
Andre has had a remarkable season, scoring 6 goals in all competitions, and is currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday.’
‘Jordan is currently in the camp of the national team, and he is proud and honoured to be part of the team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic.
They remain dedicated to their careers and committed to the national team.
We urge fans and supporters to disregard the misinformation and continue to support the Ayew brothers and the Black Stars,’ stated Fiifi Tackie on behalf of Andre and Jordan.
According to earlier media reports, the brothers had made the decision to leave the national team.
According to the article, the family felt it was unjust that Andre Ayew was left off of the most recent Black Stars roster, which led to the purported decision.
Andre’s removal from the Black Stars squad was a move that the family accepted with good intentions, according to Solar Ayew, the boys’ uncle.
‘We’ve taken Andre Ayew’s omission from the Black Stars squad normally. He was earning invites when he was unattached, so his omission will surprise not only me but everyone because he is at the top of his game now. This is normal for the Ayew family,’ he told Asempa FM.”
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers,Ghana is slated to play Mali on Thursday, June 6, 2024, and then host the Central African Republic on Monday, June 10, 2024.
But on Tuesday morning, Mr. Biden said, “I do blame Iran because they are giving weapons to the people who did it. ”
The attack happened at night on a US military base called Tower 22 in northeastern Jordan.
Around 350 US soldiers are located at the base. Their main goal is to help the coalition in fighting against the Islamic State. This information comes from US Central Command.
The enemy’s drone attacked when an American drone was coming back to base after a mission.
Officials say the base’s automatic air defense system was turned off to avoid shooting down the US drone.
However, because of that, the troops who were still in their beds were not given a warning.
Lately, some groups from Iran have been attacking US bases in the Middle East.
The US government has identified the three troops killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Sunday.
The victims are Sgt William Jerome Rivers, 46, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23. They lost their lives when a drone struck their housing unit.
The US has attributed the attack to Iranian-backed groups, with the Pentagon suggesting the involvement of Kataib Hezbollah. While the US does not seek war with Iran, it has condemned the actions of these groups.
According to CBS News, an Iranian-made drone, possibly of the “Shahed” type, was used in the attack. The Shahed drone is known as a one-way attack drone that Iran has reportedly supplied to Russia.
Despite accusations from the US and the UK, Iran has denied supporting militant groups responsible for the drone strike.
The three soldiers were part of an army reserve unit based in Fort Moore, Georgia. Lt Gen Jody Daniels, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General US Army Reserve Command, expressed condolences and paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.
“On behalf of the Army Reserve, I share in the sorrow felt by their friends, family, and loved ones. Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we are committed to supporting those left behind in the wake of this tragedy”, said Gen Daniels.
The drone attack occurred in Rukban, north-eastern Jordan, near the Syrian border, specifically at a base identified by US officials as Tower 22. Over 40 military personnel were injured when an unmanned aerial system targeted the container housing unit they were in on a Sunday morning.
According to US officials, features of the air defense system at Tower 22 were turned off during the attack because an enemy drone coincided with the return of a US drone. Troops at the air base were reportedly in their sleeping quarters when the drone struck, catching them off guard.
Despite the denial of involvement by Iran, the US has expressed determination to take “all necessary actions” in response to the attack on American forces. The Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, along with President Biden, has underscored the seriousness of the situation.
Local activists and media are saying that at least 10 people, including children, were killed in air strikes in south-western Syria that were likely done by Jordan.
Many houses were said to be ruined in Arman, a town in Suweida province, around 20km (12 miles) away from the border.
Jordan authorities did not respond right away.
The military has likely bombed certain areas in Syria to attack people who are thought to be smuggling drugs.
Jordan and its friends in the West say that well-organized and heavily armed militias supported by Iran are causing a rise in smuggling into Jordan. This is happening in areas of Syria that are controlled by the government. They are especially smuggling a drug called Captagon, which is in high demand in the Gulf Arab states.
The Suwayda 24 news website, run by activists, said that there were air strikes in residential areas of Arman and nearby Malah early on Thursday.
It was reported that witnesses said two men named Omar Talab and Turki al-Halabi had their houses damaged and destroyed in Arman.
Mr Talab, his mom, and his aunt died. Also, seven of Mr. Halabi’s family members including his wife and two little girls were killed, according to witnesses. Halabi and his mother were stuck under their collapsed house and people thought they were dead.
Suwayda 24 shared a video of people looking for victims in one place. The local fire department found Mr. Halabi’s body and is also searching for another person.
A group in the UK called the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that nine people died in the Arman strikes. This included five women and two children. Another woman was stuck under the rubble and couldn’t get out.
The Observatory criticized the “massacre” in Arman and mentioned that Jordanian warplanes had trespassed into Syrian territory for the third time this year.
The attacks also hit a damaged warehouse and a house in Malah, but no one was hurt.
On January 8th, news sources reported that three people died in two different attacks. One attack hit a house and a farm in the town of Shaab, while the other hit a barn in Arman.
The next day after the strike, an editor named Ryan Marouf told Reuters news agency that it looks like Jordan is increasing its fight against drug dealers.
He said that Jordanian forces are focusing on finding and stopping drugs from being smuggled across the border. They are targeting farms where drugs may be stored and the homes and hideouts of drug dealers.
On January 6, the Jordanian army said they had killed five people in a fight with armed smugglers trying to come into Jordan from Syria.
Rwanda and Jordan have signed many agreements to make their relationship stronger.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Jordan’s King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein signed agreements during King Abdullah’s three-day visit to Kigali. The visit started on Sunday.
The agreements include working together on health, medicine, trade, and farming.
The two countries made a tax agreement to stop people from being taxed twice and to prevent them from avoiding paying taxes, said Jordan’s palace in a statement.
The two countries will also strengthen their connections in politics, defense, and fighting against terrorism.
The leaders talked about the war in Gaza too.
“The king said thank you to Rwanda for helping out in Gaza by sending a plane with aid”, reported Jordan’s palace.
The two countries have become closer to each other in recent years. They made some deals last February and agreed to let each other’s citizens visit without needing a visa last August.
Jim Jordan wants to try again to become the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. He plans to ask for a third vote, since Republicans decided not to follow their backup plan.
The congressman from Ohio previously said he would support a temporary plan that lets Patrick McHenry be in charge of the House.
But the Republicans strongly criticized the decision, with some individuals reportedly raising their voices and using profanity during a heated meeting on Thursday.
The main group in Congress called the lower chamber has been without a leader for the last 16 days.
If there is no Speaker, the House cannot pass bills or approve a request for aid to Israel and Ukraine from the White House.
After the meeting on Thursday, Mr. Jordan told reporters that he still wants to be the Speaker and he intends to go to the voting area, gather the votes, and win the competition.
His representative, Russell Dye, said that the House would have another vote to choose the Speaker when it starts working at 10:00 in the morning (local time) on Friday.
However, during the last two days, Mr. Jordan has been unable to receive more than 200 votes in a row. He needs 217 votes to win.
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has received criticism for using scary tactics and even receiving threats to harm lawmakers from some of the people who support him.
Earlier today, Mr. Jordan told his colleagues that he will not hold any more votes. Instead, he will support Mr. McHenry to handle the House’s business for a month or longer.
Mr McHenry, a politician from North Carolina who often wears a bow tie, was chosen as the temporary Speaker after a surprising vote to remove Kevin McCarthy earlier this month.
He believes that he only has a little power to lead floor votes and choose a permanent Speaker, following the rules set after the 9/11 attacks.
However, lawyers say that if most of the people in the chamber agree to give him more power, then the House can continue to work as it usually does.
Members from both political parties, including two former Republican Speakers, have suggested the possibility of increasing Mr McHenry’s authority until January. This would enable him to oversee important matters related to creating new laws.
This could potentially allow Mr. McHenry to help pass laws to prevent a government shutdown next month, and provide aid to Israel and Ukraine.
Republicans who agree with the idea have said that the House needs to continue with its work instead of prolonging its internal disagreements.
Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida stated that it is important to bring the conservative agenda back on the right path. He has not yet supported Mr.
Nebraska’s Don Bacon, who is against Jordan’s ideas, said: “I fully support McHenry. ” I really like McHenry city.
But many more Republicans became angry about the plan, with emotions running high during a long private meeting.
Matt Gaetz, a congressman from Florida, strongly criticized the proposal to empower Mr. McHenry, calling it a violation of the Constitution.
We have to remain here until we choose a Speaker. If anyone cannot get enough votes, we have to move on to the next person.
Mr Gaetz said that Mr. McCarthy yelled at him and another coworker came at him aggressively in a meeting earlier on Thursday that felt very intense, like a Thanksgiving dinner.
“Mr McCarthy said that the entire conference yelled at him. ” A Republican from California said to reporters when they asked about the argument.
Jim Banks, a politician from Indiana who supports conservative ideas, believed that about half of the members of his party would oppose the proposal. He thought that this proposal went against what the people who voted for the Republican party wanted.
Some people, like New York Republican Elise Stefanik, think that if Mr McHenry is elected despite internal opposition, it would lead to a government with the support of Democrats.
“We need to bring Republicans together” to support Mr Jordan, the congresswoman wrote on X.
On Thursday, the Democrats didn’t mention if they would support Mr. McHenry as Speaker.
However, some said they were okay with the idea. Lou Correa from California told the BBC, “We’ve been without a Speaker for a few days. ”
“I heard the rumor is that they will give McHenry power until January – I’m okay with that,” he said.
But several Republicans came out of their party conference saying that the choice is no longer possible.
Mr Jordan wants another Speaker vote. Democrats will likely vote all together for their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, just like they did before.
No one else has been chosen as a replacement for Mr. Jordan or Mr. Jeffries, so the House’s leadership crisis is not going away anytime soon.
Jim Jordan, the committee’s chair, and Merrick Garland have a heated discussion.
Jordan shouted during the interrogation, interrupted Garland many times, and charged that the Justice Department was dragging its feet in the investigation of Hunter Biden.
Jordan further said that Hunter Biden had ties to the Ukrainian oil company Burisma. More information about that subject is available here.
In contrast, Garland said that he had “tried to make clear that I don’t know the specifics of the investigation” and that “much of what you are describing occurred during the Trump administration”.
In Jordan, many people who had to leave their home country come from Syria. King Abdullah says that Jordan does not have enough water, and this problem is getting worse because of climate change.
His country does not have enough water and cannot accept more refugees.
He says that Jordan represents the entire Middle East region and believes that we need to find solutions to the conflicts that are happening there.
Nearly 140 people attended the wedding of the 28-year-old Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II and Rajwa Alseif at Zahran Palace in the Jordanian capital of Amman, including the Prince and Princess of Wales from the United Kingdom and US first lady Jill Biden.
Alseif, a 29-year-old Saudi architect and Syracuse University alumna, will be addressed as Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Jordan until the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, at which point she will be known as Queen Rajwa.
The bride is related to Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), through her mother, who hails from the prominent Al-Sudairi family.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman is one of the so-called “Sudairi Seven,” the seven full brothers born to King Abdulaziz and Hussa bint Ahmed Al-Sudair, according to Saudi media reports.
The event began by 9:00 AM (ET), when Jordan’s king and queen began receiving guests at the Zahran Palace. Jordan’s armed forces played music as attendees arrived to greet and congratulate the royal family.
The event then moved to a gazebo in the palace garden, where the couple and their fathers signed the marriage contract in an Islamic ceremony known as “Katb Al-Kitab” and exchanged rings.
Outside the palace, jubilant crowds cheered and waved flags as they awaited the motorcade carrying the newlyweds along a six-mile route across the capital. Streets had been adorned for days with photos of the couple and the Jordanian flag.
Both Jordan and Saudi Arabia are among Washington’s strongest Middle East allies. Jordan is custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and maintains a relationship with both Palestinians and Israelis. A global oil powerhouse, Riyadh’s ties with the US have been strained of late, namely over the kingdom’s oil policies and its relationship with Russia.
Ties between Saudi Arabia and Jordan have recently thawed after years of tension. During a trip to Jordan last year, MBS was quoted by Saudi media as saying that he was keen to “push relations [with Jordan] to a new phase.”
Netflix recently reduced its subscription prices in more than 30 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.
The streaming firm made this announcement on Thursday as it attempts to attract more subscribers amid various stiff competition and tight consumer budget.
Netflix had in recent times reduced prices in India and some parts of South-East Asia following a decline in growth. However, Thursday’s decision only affects countries that account for a small fraction of its customer base.
Subscription charges have been lowered in Yemen, Jordan, Libya, Iran, Kenya, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Venezuela, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, amongst others.
The cuts apply to certain price plans, with subscription charges falling by half in some cases.
The company did not name the UK or the US as countries where it had cut its prices.
According to a statement from Netflix, it said “We’re always exploring ways to improve our members’ experience. We can confirm that we are updating the pricing of our plans in certain countries”
The firm’s shares closed 3.4% lower in New York on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal first reported the story.
Furthermore, the company has clamped down on subscribers sharing their login details and passwords. In some countries, Netflix introduced limits on password sharing, requiring customers to pay extra charges if they want friends and family to share their subscriptions.
Netflix previously expanded password sharing in countries including Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain; the feature was previously piloted in Latin America. The users will no longer be able to share passwords, they can however transfer profiles.
However, people using an account can now easily transfer a profile to a new account, which they have paid for; keeping their personalized recommendations, viewing history, My List, saved games, and more.
(Image credit: TRE / JBKlutse Foundation)
Also, members of a household can still easily watch Netflix on their personal devices or log into a new TV, like at a hotel or holiday rental. Aside from this, the users’ Standard or Premium plan in many countries (including Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain) can add an extra member sub-account for up to two people they don’t live with; each with a profile, personalized recommendations, login, and password — for an extra CAD$7.99 a month per person in Canada, NZD$7.99 in New Zealand, Euro 3.99 in Portugal, and Euro 5.99 in Spain.
This news will come as a relief for Netflix users considering the high inflation rates around the world at the present time. Users can now enjoy watching Netflix at a lower price.
