As Ghana prepares for its crucial presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised serious concerns over alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process and the heavy deployment of military personnel across the country. NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, took to social media to accuse the Electoral Commission (EC) of conspiring with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the elections. Mahama criticized the EC for what he called a deliberate leak of validation stamps, which, according to him, would allow political parties to print their own fake ballot papers. In his post, Mahama stated, “With less than 24 hours to go, it has become obvious that the Electoral Commission is determined to aid the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the elections. But they will fail because the people of Ghana are determined to vote for change and protect their ballots.” He further claimed that the EC had exposed serial numbers of the validating stamps in an internal memo, which could enable parties to counterfeit the stamps and engage in ballot stuffing. Mahama called on various stakeholders, including the National Peace Council, religious and traditional leaders, civil society, and international observers, to hold the EC accountable and ensure a fair election. In addition, NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, echoed Mahama’s concerns, demanding that President Akufo-Addo recall the military personnel deployed to various constituencies, which he described as “militarization” of the election. The NDC warned that it would not tolerate such actions and called for the immediate withdrawal of military forces from election-related duties. Meanwhile, Malik Basintale, the NDC’s Deputy General Secretary, issued a strong statement, warning that the party would take retaliatory action if it perceived any unfairness or violence during the elections. His post read, “We are ready! Tomorrow, if we hear K3, we will do.” As the nation heads to the polls tomorrow, the allegations from the NDC add to the tense atmosphere surrounding the election, with both sides on high alert. The Electoral Commission, however, has not yet responded to these accusations. Security measures have been ramped up across the country, with the Ghana Armed Forces deploying personnel in support of the police to maintain law and order during the election process.Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in ‘Baby Driver,’ dies after falling from moving vehicle
Scientists develop coating for enhanced thermal imaging through hot windows
A man is in custody after a deadly shooting in Woodbridge early Friday morning. San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Heather Brent said deputies responded to a shooting in the 900 block of Academy Street just after midnight and found a woman with a fatal gunshot wound. The suspect was found immediately on scene and arrested on suspicion of murder, she said. Brent said investigators are not disclosing the suspect's name at this time out of respect to the families involved. Hilda Loza, a hairdresser at Salon Envy, 200 N. School St., said the victim was her employer Nicole Winans. Loza said she had known Winans for five years, and that she had been going through a divorce. Loza said that Winans' clients had been stopping by the salon all day to drop off flowers in sympathy. "It's been hard on everyone," Loza said. "She was a beautiful person inside and out. She was the best boss. She was very loving and caring person. Her family was everything to her. She had beautiful kids who were her world." According to San Joaquin County Jail inmate record posted on social media Friday morning, Shane Winans was booked on murder and willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death charges at 8:46 a.m. Friday. Shane Winans, the owner of Anchors Away Tattoo and Body Piercing Parlor, located at 8 N. School St., is being held without bail. He is to appear in San Joaquin County Superior Court on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. "It never crossed (Nicole's) mind that he would hurt her like that," Loza said. A vigil for Winans is planned for 7 p.m. at the salon, Loza said. Friday's homicide was the fifth in the Lodi area this year. On May 13, San Joaquin County Sheriff's office deputies responded to the report of a shooting in the 6000 block of East Pine Street shortly after 10 p.m. Upon arrival, deputies located a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were attempted, but the victim, identified as 27-year-old Jorge Cortes Bejar of Lodi, was pronounced dead at the scene, reports state. Gabriel Hernandez, 41, of Lodi, was arrested on suspicion of murder during a traffic stop in Manteca the following day, reports state. On Sept. 24, 18-year-old Gregory Kranich of Jackson and a 17-year-old Lodi boy were arrested in Jackson on suspicion of murdering a 28-year-old man in Lodi the day prior. According to reports, officers responded to the report of gunshots fired on the 100 block of East Pine Street at 4:45 a.m. on Sept. 23. Upon arrival, they found a 28-year-old man, later identified as Abraham Reyna Navarrete, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced dead at the scene, Police said the incident appeared to be gang related. On June 8 at about 6:33 p.m., Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to the 1500 block of East Mettler Road, south of Lodi, to conduct a welfare check after concerned family members reported they had not been able to reach the residents for over a week. Upon arrival, deputies found three adult residents — later identified as 60-year-old Joe Pena, 69-year-old Kim Huynh and 45-year-old Alfred Nguyen, all of Lodi — dead from gunshot wounds. Deputies arrested 25-year-old Steven Guerrero Jr. on Sept. 14. The Sheriff's Office said the incident was not reported in June in an effort to not jeopardize the investigation. On Oct. 26, Lodi officers responded to reports of a fight involving several people in the 300 block of West Century Boulevard at about 4:27 p.m. While en route, officers were informed that a man who had sustained a stab wound had been taken to a local hospital by relatives. The man, alter identified as 29-year-old Albert Bustamante of Lodi, eventually succumbed to his injuries, police said. When officers arrived on scene, they arrested 30-year-old Juan Suarez and 35-year-old David Flores, both of Lodi, on suspicion of murder. Flores was also charged as an accessory, police said.
Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in ‘Baby Driver,’ dies after falling from moving vehicle
AP News Summary at 4:52 p.m. ESTSouth Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, bottom center, shouts slogans during a joint press conference with members of civil society and the five opposition parties to condemn the ruling People Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The signs read “Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol.” (Park Dong-ju/Yonhap via Associated Press) Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s governing party chief expressed support Friday for suspending the constitutional powers of President Yoon Suk Yeol for imposing martial law this week, in a bombshell reversal that makes Yoon’s impeachment more likely. Opposition parties are pushing for a parliamentary vote on Yoon’s impeachment on Saturday, calling his short-lived martial law declaration an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” But they need support from some members of the president’s People Power Party to get the two-thirds majority required to pass the impeachment motion. The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s nighttime martial law decree has frozen South Korean politics and caused worry among neighbors, including fellow democracy Japan, and Seoul’s top ally, the United States, as one of the strongest democracies in Asia faces a political crisis that could unseat its leader. During a party meeting, PPP leader Han Dong-hun stressed the need to suspend Yoon’s presidential duties and power swiftly, saying he poses a “significant risk of extreme actions, like reattempting to impose martial law, which could potentially put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger.” Han said he had received intelligence that Yoon had ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities” when martial law was in force. “It’s my judgment that an immediate suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official duties is necessary to protect the Republic of Korea and its people,” Han said. Impeaching Yoon would require support from 200 of the National Assembly’s 300 members. The opposition parties that jointly brought the impeachment motion have 192 seats combined. PPP has 108 lawmakers. READ: South Korea president clings to power after martial law U-turn If Yoon is impeached, he would be suspended until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential power. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s No. 2 official, would take over presidential responsibilities. The Defense Ministry said it suspended the defense counterintelligence commander, Yeo In-hyung, who Han alleged had received orders from Yoon to detain the politicians. The ministry also suspended Lee Jin-woo, commander of the capital defense command, and Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the special warfare command, over their involvement in enforcing martial law. In this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (South Korea Unification Ministry via Associated Press). In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, said Yoon called after imposing martial law and ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and National Assembly speaker Woo Won Shik, said Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. Kim said Hong told lawmakers he ignored Yoon’s orders. The spy agency’s director, Cho Taeyong, questioned Hong’s account. Cho told reporters that such an order would have come to him, rather than Hong, and that he never received any orders from Yoon to detain politicians. Han earlier said he would work to defeat the impeachment motion even though he criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration as “unconstitutional.” Han said there was a need to “prevent damage to citizens and supporters caused by unprepared chaos.” Thousands of protesters have marched in the streets of Seoul since Wednesday, calling for Yoon to resign and be investigated. Thousands of autoworkers and other members of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union, one of the country’s biggest umbrella labor groups, have started hourly strikes since Thursday to protest Yoon. The union said its members will start on indefinite strikes beginning on Dec. 11 if Yoon was still in office then. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho promised the ministry’s “active cooperation” with an investigation by prosecutors into the military’s role in Yoon’s martial law enforcement. He said military prosecutors will also be involved in the investigation. He denied media speculation that Yoon and his military confidantes might consider imposing martial law a second time. “Even if there’s a demand to enforce martial law, the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff will absolutely not accept it,” Kim said. Kim became the acting defense minister after Yoon’s office on Thursday accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who has also been banned from traveling while he is investigated over the imposition of martial law. Protesters march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Associated Press Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Opposition parties and Han allege that it was Kim Yong Hyun who recommended that Yoon declare martial law. During a parliamentary hearing on Thursday, Kim Seon Ho said Kim Yong Hyun also ordered troops to be deployed to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Han leads a minority faction within the ruling party, and 18 lawmakers in his faction voted with opposition lawmakers to overturn Yoon’s martial law decree. Martial law ultimately lasted about six hours, after its quick overrule by the National Assembly forced Yoon’s Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said in a televised speech Friday that it was crucial to suspend Yoon as “quickly as possible.” Lee said Yoon’s martial law enforcement amounted to “rebellion and also a self-coup.” He said Yoon’s move caused serious damage to the country’s image and paralyzed foreign policy, pointing to criticism from the Biden administration and foreign leaders canceling their visits to South Korea. READ: Why did South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol resort to martial law? Yoon has made no immediate response to Han’s comments. He hasn’t made public appearances since he made a televised announcement that his martial law decree was lifted. Prosecutor General Shim Woo Jung told reporters the prosecution plans to investigate rebellion charges against Yoon following complaints filed by the opposition. While the president mostly has immunity from prosecution while in office, the protection does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. It wasn’t immediately clear how the prosecution plans to proceed with an investigation on Yoon. The Democratic Party is also considering filing a complaint against PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, whom the opposition party accuse of attempting to facilitate Yoon’s martial law enforcement. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Choo, a Yoon loyalist, had asked party lawmakers to convene at the party’s headquarters rather than the National Assembly after martial law began. That meant fewer lawmakers were present for parliament’s vote on lifting martial law.
Anna Kane, the former wife of NHL player Evander Kane, has revealed her identity as one of the accusers in a sexual assault lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs. Court documents unveiled her name after a judge required her to amend her lawsuit if she wished to proceed, TMZ has reported. Who Is Anna Kane? There isn't much public information about Anna Kane. She rose to prominence for her marriage to Edmonton Oilers star Evander Kane in 2018. She accused Evander Kane of transgressions against her and posted several screenshots of her exchanges with the Oilers star on social media, including Evander Kane being a gambling addict. The NHL launched an investigation into Evander Kane after that. She filed for divorce in July 2021 and the couple had a child together. Anna Kane's Accusations Against Diddy According to TMZ, Kane's complaint claims that in 2003, when she was seventeen years old, Diddy sexually assaulted her. She states that after a meeting in Detroit, Harve Pierre, the head of Bad Boy Entertainment, invited her to New York, which is when the incident happened. According to Kane, Pierre called her "hot," brought up Diddy, and offered to put her on a private plane so she could meet the music tycoon. Kane said that after being brought to a recording studio in New York, where she was given booze and narcotics, she was assaulted. According to her, Diddy reportedly assaulted her against her will in a restroom after taking her there. As proof of her claim, Kane also published pictures of the studio meeting. She said she was the girl in the pictures, even though her face is blurred, according to TMZ. In a statement released to TMZ through her attorney, Doug Wigdor, Kane said she would continue to pursue justice. "Defendants' demand that I use my name was an attempt to intimidate me," she stated. "I am not intimidated. I am prepared to proceed and hold accountable those who have harmed me." Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US Buzz, World and around the world.MarketAxess to Participate in the Goldman Sachs Financial Services ConferenceWatch emotional moment that Barry McGuigan breaks down in tears over father’s death and family trauma on Unpacked
Vigil planned this evening for Lodi salon owner shot dead in Woodbridge
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t want to take chances with his family’s safety, so the Miami Dolphins’ star quarterback hired personal security when one of his cars was broken into about a year ago. "(It was) a little too close for my comfort with my family being in the house,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “So we got personal security to take care of all of that. When we’re on the road, we’ve got someone with my wife, got someone also at the house, surveying the house.” Tagovailoa, speaking days after the home of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow was broken into while the Bengals were playing a Monday night game at Dallas, also noted his security is armed, “so I hope that if you decide to go to my house, you think twice.” Burrow’s home was the latest targeted in a string of burglaries of pro athletes’ homes in the U.S., which included the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Mahomes’ and Kelce’s homes were broken into in October, prompting the NFL to issue a security alert to teams and the players’ union warning that the houses of numerous pro athletes were “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups,” according to a memo previously obtained by The Associated Press. RELATED COVERAGE Steelers have stopped just about everybody this year. Up next: ‘Mr. Barkley’ Pro Picks: Eagles will beat Steelers in a close one and Bills will upset the Lions Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on having to play 3 times in an 11-day span: ‘It’s not a good feeling’ Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Tagovailoa’s personal security has been in place since long before this string of break-ins. No one was injured in the Monday night break-in at Burrow’s home, but it was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.’s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information, and the NBA later issued its own memo revealing that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. Tagovailoa, who just signed an extension with the Dolphins last offseason, said he doesn’t necessarily feel like a target, “but I wouldn’t want to play the chances with my family and kids sleeping, my wife sleeping, me sleeping at the house.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTrump expected to pick Bessent to be US treasury secretary, sources say