Azerbaijan's transport minister has said the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on 25 December was subjected to "external interference" and damaged inside and out, as it tried to land in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya.

"All [the survivors] without exception stated they heard three blast sounds when the aircraft was above Grozny," said Rashad Nabiyev.

Season two of Squid Game has received reviews as mixed as a Christmas selection box, with TV critics calling it everything from "sensational" to "a letdown".

The Guardian said that after a pretty slow start, the returning series eventually turned into "TV that will make you uncomfortably bloodthirsty indeed".

While the Telegraph described it as a "layered and nuanced story of revenge and redemption".

Nigeria has denied accusations from Niger's military leader, Brig Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, of colluding with France to destabilise the junta-led nation.

In a Christmas Day interview, Gen Tchiani accused France of allying with militant groups in the Lake Chad region to undermine Niger's security, allegedly with Nigeria's knowledge.

The Supreme Court has quashed an order by the Accra High Court for the Electoral Commission (EC) to collate the parliamentary results of four constituencies in the December 2024 elections.

The affected constituencies are Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, Techiman South and Ablekuma North. 

The Accra High Court last week ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to bring finality to the election in six constituencies by collating the results and declaring the winners in tandem with the electoral laws of Ghana.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has confirmed receiving GH¢35 million from the Ministry of Education for the processing of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results for School Candidates.

This is to enable WAEC to complete the scanning of the objective cards and the results of candidates.

Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor was on Friday inducted into office as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

He, has therefore pledged to pursue five thematic aspirations to transform the university into a world-class professional institution in Africa and beyond. 

The President-elect, John Dramani Mahama on Thursday paid a courtesy call on the Yagbonwura, Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I at his palace in Damongo.

The Supreme Court has refused a preliminary legal objection against the certiorari application by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which is seeking to quash a ruling by the High Court for the re-collation of the parliamentary results in six constituencies.

Lawyer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary candidates for the six constituencies, Gary Nimako Marfo on Friday morning [Dec 27] raised a preliminary legal objection on the basis that the NDC failed to attach the ruling of the High Court when it filed the certiorari application before the court.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has gazetted the parliamentary election results for 274 constituencies and has submitted them to the Clerk of Parliament. 

Dr. Sena Kpeglo-Freiku, the Executive Secretary of the association of Vice Chancellors Ghana, has said a further delay in the release of the2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results could significantly disrupt the academic calendar of universities. 

In a radio interview with Accra based Joy FM on Thursday [Dec 26] Dr Kpeglo-Freiku said the situation could severely impact universities, students, and their families if the outstanding financial issues with the West African Examinations Council is not resolved for the results to be released promptly.

Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng, the 72-year-old former founder and Chief Executive Officer of the defunct UT Bank, has captivated social media with his lively display of youthful energy at a Christmas party.  

The Supreme Court is set to hear a case today, December 27, 2024, brought by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), challenging a High Court ruling that ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to collate and re-collate parliamentary results in six constituencies.

Hundreds of worshippers converged on the Babana shrine on Wednesday for a joyous thanksgiving service. 

Renowned Nigerian actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo says single ladies who have reached the age of 33 are facing a state of emergency, emphasizing the societal pressure to settle down.

In a dramatic end to a crucial Championship match, Watford's young striker Kwadwo Baah was shown a straight red card for taunting Portsmouth fans with a dance from the popular video game Fortnite.

The Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has described a visit from Priscilla, a four-year-old cured leprosy patient who now walks with a prosthetic leg, as his "best Christmas gift."

The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Theophilus Tetteh Chaie has circulated a letter directing all NDC constituency chair persons to submit nominees for national-level appointments in the John Dramani Mahama-led government beginning January 7, 2025.

However, following the leakage of the said letter to the media and on social media, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore in a press statement dated December 25, 2024, has disassociated himself from the said directive.

Reverend Kwadwo Bempah, the Head Pastor of the Holy Hill Chapel, Assemblies of God Church, has addressed widespread reports surrounding his comments on the president-elect’s ORAL (Operation Recover All Loot) team during his Sunday sermon on December 22, 2024. 

A new generation of foods is being developed in the laboratory of a Swiss start-up. The founders of Food Brewer want to revolutionise cocoa and coffee production. They see a future in which food, sustainability and tradition coexist. But what are the ethical, cultural and environmental implications of novel foods?

What does lab-grown chocolate taste like? It is good – surprisingly good. At first, it resists between the teeth, just by the right amount, before breaking into many pieces. It then releases its classic pleasant aromas on the tongue, in a balanced harmony of sweetness and bitterness.  

Finally, once partially melted, the chocolate leaves a symphony of flavours in the mouth that evoke faraway places.  

Ghanaian media personality, Afua Asantewaa O. Aduonum has concluded her five days second attempt to set a Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual, clocking 121 hours and 39 minutes.

China approved a value-added tax law on Wednesday (Dec 25) to take effect on Jan 1, 2026, the official Xinhua said, bringing into one document previous regulations that have included exempting items from the tax.

VAT, the largest tax category in China, accounted for around 38 per cent of national tax revenue in 2023, official data show.

The report did not detail provisions of the law. The latest draft included exemptions for some agricultural products, imported instruments and equipment for scientific research and teaching, some imported goods for the disabled and services provided by welfare institutions such as nursery, kindergarten and nursing institution for the elderly.

The CEO of the Kantanka Group, Kwadwo Safo Jnr, has offered candid advice to young people, urging them to avoid romantic relationships in the early stages of their lives. 

A 24-year-old small-scale miner who set his stepfather's house on fire has been jailed two years by the Tarkwa Circuit Court. 

Richard Arthur, also known as Afianga, is to spend the two years in prison for setting his stepfather’s single-room mud house on fire. The house, valued at GH¢20,000, along with other items worth GH¢50,000, was completely destroyed in the incident.

Arthur, charged with causing unlawful damage, pleaded guilty to the offence and begged the court for leniency.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has urged the public to disregard misinformation and stressed the importance of verifying details related to security operations before sharing them online.  

In a statement reacting to an allegation about the misuse of military facilities for transporting ammunition, the GAF described the allegation as baseless.  

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, has asked that all Ghanaians should embrace the results of the 2024 elections with humility, and reflect on it as something that is the will of God.

He said this in a Christmas message and expressed gratitude for the peaceful conduct of the elections despite the challenges during the year.