The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration received a briefing yesterday from the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) on the fund’s state of readiness to implement the two-pot system to its almost 1.3 million public servant members when the new system comes into effect on 1 September 2024. The committee welcomed the preparations that aim to ensure GEPF members have a user-friendly experience when using the online application system to access their pension fund information. This “app” will give members a dashboard view of their retirement pots and an opportunity to withdraw funds from the savings pot, as per…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
Ghanaian singer Black Sherif has taken to social media to express his sadness and concern over the health condition of renowned music video director, TG Omori.TG Omori, whose real name is ThankGod Omori Smith, is currently hospitalized due to kidney failure and recently underwent a transplant procedure, which unfortunately failed.Black Sherif, born Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong, praised TG Omori’s immense contribution to the Ghanaian music scene. Black Sherif particularly highlighted his work on his hit song 45. Also, he singer described the music video as the “best ever made in Ghana”, crediting TG Omori’s exceptional direction.Additionally, in his emotional…
Chicago Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis made the team’s final 53-man roster as he begins his 19th season.The 40-year-old re-signed with the Bears in June and according to Kyle Brandt of “Good Morning Football,” has the longest career in NFL history for a tight end. During Thursday’s episode, Brandt also noted that Lewis is second only to 40-year-old New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the title of oldest player in the league ( Rodgers is five months older than Lewis). Brandt then pointed out perhaps the most stunning note of all, which was re-shared on X by longtime NFL…
On Wednesday, Israel launched a major military assault on the occupied West Bank. The Israeli army deployed hundreds of soldiers, armoured vehicles, bulldozers, drones and fighter jets to try to destroy the armed resistance in the regions of Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas. At least 18 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, and scores have been injured. Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called on the Israeli army to force Palestinians to evacuate from the northern West Bank. The military has announced a “voluntary evacuation”. This Israeli talk of forced expulsion masked under the humanitarian term “evacuation” is raising fears that…
Christie Raleigh Crossley had a dream of swimming at the highest levels, but a car accident and then a tumor delayed that dream. The 37-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey, on Thursday turned the dream into history when she broke the world record in her first race at her first Paralympic Games in Paris. Raleigh Crossley won the first heat in women’s 50m Freestyle – S9 with a time of 27.28 seconds. The accomplishment didn’t come without years of starting over and skepticism about her disability. The mother of three basically grew up in water in New Jersey. Her father…
By Shanna K. Salmon KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Jamaica marked a momentous occasion on Wednesday, August 28, when the nation officially acceded to the Marrakesh Treaty. The Treaty, which was adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2013, is a pivotal international agreement designed to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print-disabled. Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Wednesday, minister of industry, investment and commerce, senator Aubyn Hill, welcomed the accession, noting that “the Treaty represents a significant advancement…
Independent experts* today expressed concern about multiple allegations of arbitrary arrests and detentions on charges of, inter alia, unlawful assembly, espionage, hate speech and seditious practices against opposition political party leaders and members, parliamentarians, human rights defenders and activists, as well as restrictions on gatherings, meetings, peaceful protests and rallies in Zambia. Since January 2022, at least 26 such cases have been brought to the attention of the experts. Information received indicates that in some cases, arrests, intimidation and harassment stem merely from expressing diverging, and critical views whilst in others, they are intended to curtail participation in political and…
Al-Hilal forward player, Cristiano Ronaldo has been given an award by UEFA’s president, Aleksander Ceferin for his contribution towards the game when he was playing his football in Europe.Cristiano Ronaldo bagged an honorary award for being the player with the most UEFA Champions League goals in the history of the competition. The Portuguese international received the award on Thursday, August 27, 2024, during the live draw of the 2024/25 Champions League season.Ronaldo’s UEFA Champions League goal record is a testament to his exceptional skill, dedication, and dominance in the competition. He has etched his name in the record books as…
Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Tesco are among the supermarkets which could be hit by a government change to how eggs are labelled.The government announced on Wednesday that the changes could be on the way with Morrisons, Asda and Lidl customers also set to see a difference. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said that the changes could take effect from later this year. This will specifically impact how eggs are labelled during an outbreak of avian influenza. Here is what it all means. PAEggs can be produced from hens that have been reared organically, by free range methods, or have been…
Shortly after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft officially parted ways with head coach Bill Belichick this past January, Kraft said that marrying Belichick with a newly hired executive tasked with making personnel decisions simply wouldn’t have worked out well for the organization after Belichick essentially ran the franchise’s football operations from 2000 through this past season. For an article published on Thursday, one unnamed personnel executive told The Athletic’s Jeff Howe that owners may call candidates other than Belichick when he looks to land what likely will be the final coaching job of his legendary career in January 2025. “If the model is the New England model, you’re…