WASHINGTON, USA – On December 30, 2024, Special Master Mary Patrice Brown authorized payments from the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (the Fund) totaling $1.035 billion to nearly 19,000 victims of state‑sponsored terrorism. In the first week of January, the Fund issued over $766 million to approximately 14,700 claimants and will continue issuing payments on a rolling basis. “This year, the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund has authorized a distribution of over $1 billion in compensation to support victims of state-sponsored terrorism – bringing the total authorized to date to over $7 billion,” said principal deputy assistant…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
By Eric Osiakwan Ghana film has been having a resurgence lately. After the earlier success of the Nkrumah era when our movies took to the global stage, not much has happened. However, in recent times there has been a plethora of titles that have made impact, for examples; “Children of the Mountain” that won the best new director at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2016, “The Burial of Kojo” that took an award at the Luxor African Film festival and most recently “The Fisherman” was the first Ghanaian film to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. These are but…
Nigerian music sensation, Davido, has showcased his culinary skills in a new video shared by his brother, Bille Adeleke. The clip appears to be part of a family vacation in the Bahamas, where the music star has been spotted trying his hand at cooking.In the video, Davido is seen wearing an apron and preparing to fry fish under the guidance of a chef. He carefully follows the instructor’s directions, cutting and frying the fish to perfection.Davido also takes a moment to taste his culinary creation, using the spoon he was cooking with to sample the dish showcasing his skills. In…
Aleksandr had only two weeks of training in Russia before being sent to the front lines in Ukraine in the summer of 2023. About a month later, he became an amputee.Learning to live without his right leg is taking much longer than two weeks.“There was a lot of pain at the beginning,” said Aleksandr, 38, referred to only by his first name in accordance with military protocol. But, he added, “eventually, your brain just rewires itself and you get used to it.”Aleksandr spoke in an interview at a sanitarium in the Moscow suburbs while a doctor refitted his prosthetic leg.…
Some outsiders were surprised when New York Giants co-owner John Mara confirmed on Monday he was retaining both head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen despite woeful performances from a team that finished the 2024 regular season at 3-14. Giants players such as guard Jon Runyan Jr. seemed happy with Mara’s call as they prepared to begin their offseasons. “I wasn’t necessarily surprised or taken aback,” Runyan explained, as shared by Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “I didn’t feel like they were going to be let go. I feel comfortable with them. They have a vision that they installed here and are gonna keep going forward with it and I…
Violent gangs control most of the Caribbean country’s capital, Port-au-Prince.More than 5,600 people were killed and thousands more injured or kidnapped in 2024 due to soaring levels of gang violence in Haiti, the United Nations said. In a statement released on Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the “absolute horrors” faced by the population of the Caribbean country noting rights abuses and corruption are also rife. Armed gangs maintain control of most of the capital Port-au-Prince following an outbreak of violence last year. At the same time, the police are also accused of perpetrating violence against…
article FILE – A hospital entrance for emergencies where patients can walk in or arrive by ambulance to be admitted to the ER in New York City. (Photo by: Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) WASHINGTON – Unpaid medical bills will no longer appear on consumer credit reports, which can result in people being blocked from getting mortgages, car loans or small business loans, according to a final rule announced by President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule, announced by the White House on Tuesday, will remove $49 billion in medical debt from the credit reports…
TORONTO, Canada – The Ontario government has launched “Operation Deterrence,” the province’s preparedness and planning framework for enhanced security at international borders and tackling criminal activity that is harming people on both sides of the border. “Ontario has been calling on the federal government to step up and address safety and security concerns at the border. We need to see words turned into visible action,” said premier Doug Ford. “In the meantime, Ontario is stepping up with Operation Deterrence to crack down on illegal border crossings and illegal guns and drugs. A more coordinated, Team Canada approach that includes more…
Driven by the powerful rhythms of Nyabinghi drums and percussion, Jahdon’s Rastafari channels the deep spiritual energy that defines reggae music. The track’s thought-provoking lyrics delve into a central theme of Rastafari livity—challenging the status quo. In a world where information is often spoon-fed through digital channels, Jahdon encourages critical thinking with the impactful line, “facts is there, do the research, don’t let them fool you.” Through Rastafari, Jahdon invites listeners to reconnect with their roots, seek deeper wisdom, and embrace their culture. The accompanying music video, directed by Iama Mamby Entertainment Limited and Look Ya Noww Entertainment, reinforces this message with imagery that…
The Africa Energy Indaba 2025, taking place from 4–6 March 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, is excited to announce the return of its highly anticipated EV Forum for the third consecutive year. This platform will spotlight the immense opportunities within Africa’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market. As global focus shifts toward cleaner energy solutions, Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its journey toward sustainable mobility. With urbanisation rates soaring, a youthful population, and a growing demand for transportation solutions, the continent presents unparalleled potential for EV adoption. The EV Forum will explore these dynamics and provide a space for innovators,…