Afghanistan: Suicide bomb near Kabul airport

Police in Afghanistan's capital say a suicide bomber has attacked a checkpoint near the entrance to Kabul's international airport.

A health ministry spokesman said seven civilians were injured in the blast, which happened shortly after midday local time (07:30 GMT).

Security officials at the scene said the attack appeared to target a convoy of armoured cars.

The incident is the latest in a series of recent deadly a

How Ghanaian startups are making an impact on the global stage

“Startups are the seed corn of the future economy,” our partner Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and chairman of Case Foundation, often says. Today, Silicon Valley is envy of the entrepreneurial world, but 50 years ago, Silicon Valley was apple orchards. Detroit, then the wealthiest city in the US in terms of median income because it was the centre of the half-century’s greatest innovation (the car) has now slipped to becoming the poorest major city in the US, because it stopped innovating. As we’ve traveled from Kenya to Ghana, we’ve seen how planting seeds in an entrepreneurial ecosystem can really mature. The first thing to know about the Ghanaian startup ecosystem is that the Ghanaian economy is itself a startup. The country only adopted capitalism in 1992, so only one generation has lived in a free-market society. But the new next generation is fully embracing startups and the country is on the move. We visited SMSGH, a ten-year-old startup employing dozens of people and powering mobile transactions across East Africa; DTRT, a manufacturing factory employing hundreds of people in great working conditions; nine exciting companies pitch in the ImpactHub Accra; followed by a very fun happy hour that felt more like a beach party than a networking session. Nairobi vs Accra If you simply compared first impressions from Nairobi and Accra, you might have thought the startup ecosystem was really rough around the edges here in Ghana. But to me, the Kenya to Ghana transition was encouraging. Ghana today, seems not too far away from Kenya five years ago. Back then, Erik Hersman and his team were solidifying the iHub. About 20 investment groups that are now active in Kenya were not active then, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem was fragmented. Based on the evidence of promise we saw in Ghana today, Accra can get there. 1. Local investment is impressive We spent several days with local investors: the Oasis Fund, the African Angels Network, and Eric Osiakwan, who has a Steve Case-like reputation in Ghana as the startup champion in the country. One of the more difficult conversations I had to have over the years in Kenya — where the ecosystem is thriving — is with local Kenyan investors. In Kenya, successful businesspeople do not invest in startups very often. It is difficult sometimes for me to justify why we invest internationally in Kenya when successful local entrepreneurs won’t do it. Now, that is changing. And Julian Kyula of MODE, who partnered with us on the Pitch for Impact competition in Kenya is a great example — but in Ghana, successful business people have been investing in startups for quite a while. As a few examples: the Oasis Fund has 40% of its limited partner base in-country; the Ghanaian angels’ network has over 25 locals who have done a deal in the last two years, and Eric Osiakwan walked us around SMSGH — one of his portfolio companies — as a bigger cheerleader than the CEO. One Ghanaian said that local self-reliance, as a relatively closed economy, was an important trait for a very long time. And in Africa, when it comes to locals investing in the next generation, Ghana may well be leading the way. 2. Culture and policy both pose challenges and opportunities. At the same time, Ghana still has a long way to go. Unlike Kenya, where entrepreneurship is encouraged, stepping out and starting your own company isn’t in Ghana. Whether it’s cultural or whether it’s a vestige of a socialist system that didn’t reward the free market, one entrepreneur said: “In Ghana, everyone is afraid of getting too big.” Policy and economic conditions are difficult too. Kwami, whose company, Moringa Connect, is a great agribusiness that mentioned how difficult startup investment was to raise for one major reason—bank interest rates are 28%, and it’s difficult even for an exceptional startup to outperform that. Yet despite these challenges, Ghana has several local conditions that make it globally competitive. The factory we visited, DTRT, can employ hundreds of people in quality working conditions and sell to major US retailers because Ghana’s port is a free trade zone (a vestige of Ghana’s exports of coffee and other cash crops), and also has an agreement with the US to not impose tariffs on imports of the 48 poorest countries in Africa. Ghana has the ability to create 1 million manufacturing jobs, estimated our leader at DTRT—thanks to policy that supports small manufacturing businesses. Finally, while Ghanaian culture could be a challenge, its creativity and vibrancy also have major advantages. We had a breakfast with creatives from across Ghana, which is becoming a burgeoning fashion and entertainment industry. The talk was about An African City (Ghana’s Sex in the City equivalent), where the producer joined artists, fashion designers, and more to show off Ghana’s edge in cultural leadership. 3. Great assets can make Ghana globally relevant Despite the challenges, at a spirited dinner, businesspeople and investors were bullish on Ghana’s prospects. In discussing the entrepreneurial potential of Africa, they settled on the KINGS (Kenya, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa) as the top five highest-potential entrepreneurial ecosystems, and Ghana ended up third. How come? Ghana had strong assets that were exportable across Africa and the world: the most educated population in Sub-Saharan Africa, an English language background, relatively good infrastructure, a good and functioning port, and more. In the Pitch for Accra competition, we saw these assets on display. Farmerline, which delivers information to farmers over mobile — helping them to increase their income through better understanding of crop prices and more—is off to a great start in Ghana and importing to East Africa. Flippy Campus, a mobile solution that helps schools manage information (replacing paper noticeboards), is building on Ghana’s asset of having the best educational system in Sub-Saharan Africa. And amazingly, Bitsoko, a blockchain-powered financial services solution, that has an early customer in a food market in Detroit — helping power the entrepreneurial revolution that is rebuilding a once-great American city. African solutions are not just solving problems in Africa, but helping around the world. 4. Africa keeps going The winner of Pitch for Accra was Yago Baatuolku, a wonderful leader whose company, Wanjo, produces juice sourced from 250 women farmers in Ghana. Ghana is one of the leading juice consumers worldwide, and if Ghanaians only drank juice produced in Ghana, they would send US$250-million a year to farmers. Currently, it’s only US$10-million. Yago has a wonderful business but never felt like she was ready to pitch. When Sheila Herrling of the Case Foundation encouraged her to be “fearless” and pitch, though, she brought down the house, treated the happy hour to Wanjo juice, and took home a US$25, 000 investment. “I’m so glad I decided to show up,” she said. In a culture that doesn’t always encourage entrepreneurs, showing up is critical. We asked the CEO of SMSGH what advice he would give — 10 years in — to a Ghanaian entrepreneur starting out. He said “Just keep going.” He said that there would be a lot of social, cultural, and maybe even political pressure to slow down, not get too big, not get too visible, and a lot of unexpected bumps along the way. The only reason he was able to build a company was that he kept on going. If Ghana just keeps going, and Africa just keeps going, we’ll see a transformed ecosystem and Ghana can move light years in the next five years. Who knows what we can see in the next 50 years. Source: Ventureburn

Mahama's comment angers doctors as mass resignation threats gather momentum

      

The unyielding stance by President John Mahama not to pay a dime beyond what has been budgeted for as wages, allowances and salaries for public sector workers has angered striking doctors and allied health service workers.

Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Justice Yankson has refused to comment on the president's latest remark except to say "I will respect my person and will not get into a banter with the president."

He would rather go into petty trading than be forced to return to the consulting room without acceptable conditions of service.

Addressing members of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, GRWA at the launch of their 80th anniversary in Accra, president John Mahama said "Any agreements that are reached in respect of allowances or conditions of services would have to be appropriately captured in the budget.

"And I want to say for emphasis I will not authorize any expenditure on wages and compensation not provided for in the budget."

He does not want to break the spine of the Single Spine Salary Structure.

But the doctors are unfazed by the president's position on the matter. If anything, they are angry and have decided to carry through with their strike and possibly mass resignation.

Dr Justice Yankson told Joy News Matilda Wemegah they will withdraw emergency services on August 7, 2015 as they intensify a one-week strike action which has seen them withdraw OPD services.

They are preparing to resign en masse if their demands for conditions of service are not provided. In a move that will leave patients on bended knees, resident medical officers and house officers at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have, after emergency meetings, today, given their full backing to the striking doctors.

They are also threatening to join the striking doctors.

The House officers normally handle minor cases in the absence of the doctors.

Meanwhile, labour expert Mohammed Affum has chided the president for the comment he made.

"If the posture of the president continues a lot of lives will be lost," he said on Joy FM's Top Story with Evans Mensah. 

Courtesy, 

Myjoyonline

Man BRUTALLY RAPES 14 years old house help

The husband of a police officer has been arrested for allegedly defiling his 14-year-old house help at Madina in Accra.
Alex Akrofi has been living alone with the girl for a year after his wife – who brought the class four pupil to the house to assist them in taking care of their two children – travelled out of the country.
The girl alleges that the man impregnated her and terminated the pregnancy.
The victim says the police officer forced himself on her on many occasions in her room, a situation that has left her with stomach complications.
“He slept with me in my room; he came in and started forcing me. When this happens I feel pain in my head and stomach”, she said.
Checks at the victim’s school indicate that she has on several occasions reported the case to her teachers including the fact that she had been impregnated.
When teachers at the school reported the issue to the Girl Child Education Department, the victim was told not washdown but rush to the nearest police station and report because that is the only time there can be enough evidence against the man.
The victim was also told to wear tight clothes when going to bed to prevent the man from gaining easy access to her, but this obviously did not deter the man from abusing her.
The victim told Joy News’ Joseph Opoku Gapko that she was compelled by Akrofi to swallow and insert pills into her vagina in order to terminate the pregnancy.
“My father gave me some medicine and asked me to drink one and insert the other two into my vagina”, she said.
The victim has been sent to a shelter for safety and police have begun investigations into the issue

Courtesy, 

Myjoyonline news.

Jennifer Garner surprises boy with cancer in heartwarming hospital visit

 Photo courtesy : Henery's Facebook page

Jennifer Garner recently took some time off from her current movie project to boost the spirits of some patients at an Atlanta children's hospital.
Among those she met was 9-year-old Henry Shepherd, a big fan of the actress from her role in "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." 


 

 

"We both recognized her right away," said his mom, Carrie Shepherd, a fan of Garner's since her days starring in the television series, "Alias." "She is just as down to earth as she is on camera. She is really sweet and really kind."
Garner posed for pictures with Henry and his twin sister, Liza, while stopping by last Sunday to visit patients and nurses at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of the Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta, where she has been filming her latest project, "Miracles from Heaven." She made her round of visits with Kylie Rogers, the young actress who plays her daughter in the movie. 

Baby Operated on While Still in Womb

Picture from myjoyonline.com

  

Children have always been a beautiful gift from God.

This baby's life was sparred with the aid of a pioneering operation carried out when she was still in her mother's womb.

Michelle Cannon had been advised to have an abortion after receiving the devastating news that her unborn daughter had a rare and usually deadly condition. Fluid was building up in the baby's chest and crushing her lungs, but at 22 weeks she was too premature to be delivered.

Massive Flood and Explosion in Ghana Wipes out 150, 3 days mourning declared

Photo by Joy FM 99.7

Due to the two day rains and following floods in the capital of Accra, Ghana, the worst has happened.

Even though there have been recorded deaths year after year because of poor drainage systems in the city, nothing seemed to have changed and the deaths had to happen again this year.

On tuesday night, there was an explosion at a filling station which killed 96 people on the spot. A few were injured but now, the total number of deaths has risen to 150.

The Ghanaian president has declared 3-days of mourning for victims of the disasters. The Government has also released GHS 60 million to support flood victims and rescue efforts. 

We pray the souls of the departed will rest in peace.


Other photos from the flood.

Kim Kardashian is pregnant! Reality TV star reveals she's finally expecting baby number two with Kanye West

OMG... Kim Kardashian is Pregnant.

Kim, 34, dropped the bombshell at the end of Sunday's mid-season finale of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians show on E!

In a teaser clip for the rest of the season, Kim is seen being told she's expecting again during a doctor's appointment.

The excited and happy reality star tells her stunned sister Khloe: 'I just got the blood test back, and I am pregnant!' 

The brunette beauty has had a difficult time falling pregnant for a second time and has documented her fertility struggles on the reality series. 

She and Kanye, 37, have been doing everything possible to have another child.

But on Sunday's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, she was seen talking about how 'exhausted' she is by all the procedures, which included repeated ovulation tests and a biopsy,  and said she was close to giving up.

We are indeed happy for the couple.

Photo credits:

Daily Mail

Idolator

First Baby of 2015 in US

On 1st of January 2015, the first 2015 baby was born in the United States and even though it was a boy, he was Ghanaian.

Young Okatakyie Yaw Afiriyie Asare who was born to Bertha Asare weighed 7 pounds, 9.5 ounces and was born in the Mother Baby Centre, Minneapolis.

Lindsay Lohan Contracts Painful Virus While Vacationing In French Polynesia

Earlier, Lindsay Lohan contracted Chikungunya, an incurable virus transmitted by infected mosquitos, while vacationing in French Polynesia. The 28-year-old revealed she had caught the virus on her Twitter account on Saturday, warning her 8.6 million followers to use bug spray.

World Health Organization (WHO) describes Chikungunya as a viral disease that causes fever and severe joint pain. Because the virus has no cure, treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms, which could also include muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, headache and rash. According to WHO, severe complications are rare and most infected people will recover fully, though some may have lasting joint pain for several months or years.

Despite the setback, Lohan is maintaining a positive attitude. She posted an Instagram photo alongside pals on Monday with an optimistic caption:

The "Mean Girls" star touched down in Los Angeles on Dec. 30, but she has gorgeous photos to remember the good times from her two-week getaway. Check out some of her fabulous photos from the trip below:

Get well soon, Lindsay!