News from October 28, 2025

Technology

Kofi Adams inaugurates LOC for 2026 CAVB Zone III Volleyball Club Championship

The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has inaugurated the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the upcoming CAVB Zone III Volleyball Club Championship set to be hosted by Ghana from March 1–8, 2026. The event, expected to feature over 48 clubs from across West Africa, will be held under the theme “Uniting West Africa Through Volleyball Excellence”. Participating countries include Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Niger, Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Liberia. The LOC will be chaired by Dr Austin W. Luguterah, with Emmanuel A. Quainoo serving as Secretary. Other members include Yaw Sakyi, Head of Marketing, Logistics, and Operations, and George Tetteh, President of the Ghana Volleyball Federation (GVF). Dani Alves becomes a pastor after his release from prison Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Accra on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Kofi Adams praised efforts to revive volleyball’s prominence in Ghana, describing the championship as an opportunity to restore national interest in the sport. “Volleyball used to attract a lot of attention. It went down, but it’s picking up again, and I’m happy for that. The opportunity to host this CAV B Zone Three Club Championship is another opportunity for us to bring home the importance we attach to other sports and give it the appropriate publicity,” he said. Dr Luguterah, in his remarks, assured the public of the committee’s commitment to delivering a world-class tournament. “The LOC’s task is to plan, organise and deliver the championship which comes off next year and our task is to make sure that we’re able to marshal and coordinate all efforts, be it human capacity, capital, and all other things that matter to see that we actually deliver a world-class tournament,” he said. Also present at the ceremony was Bernard Mornah, president of Kalibi Volleyball Club, who expressed confidence in Ghana’s readiness to host a successful tournament. “If other countries and their clubs have done it, we are capable of doing the same. we are happy so far for the support that the state is providing through the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” he said. The CAVB Zone III Volleyball Club Championship is expected to be one of the biggest volleyball events in West Africa next year, bringing together elite clubs, officials, and fans in a week-long celebration of the sport. All you need to know about Ghana’s new vehicle number plates | BizTech

Ghana News 1 days ago

Technology

Apple ordered to pay French operators 39 mn euros over iPhone sales

A French court has ordered Apple to pay around 39 million euros ($45 million) to mobile network operators over accusations it imposed unfair contract conditions to allow them to sell iPhones. The Paris commercial court also fined Apple eight million euros in its ruling, issued earlier this month. Apple told AFP it would appeal the ruling, which concerns its contracts with France's main mobile network operators more than a decade ago, when the competition and consumer protection authority, the DGCCRF, looked at the conditions the US tech giant imposed to sell iPhones. The court took issue with clauses that required operators to sell a certain number of iPhones and fixed their retail prices. Apple also oversaw the use of its products and trademarks in advertising by the operators, and used the patents of the operators free of charge and without any reciprocity, according to the ruling. The court voided the clauses in question. As the appeal does not suspend the application of the ruling, Apple will be required to transfer the sums awarded to three of France's four mobile network operators: Bouygues Telecom, Free and SFR. Source: AFP

Samuel Obour 1 days ago

‘Storm of the century’: record-breaking Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica

Government says it has done all it can to prepare for strongest hurricane in country since records began

Natricia Duncan in Kingston, Anthony Lugg in Portland, and Oliver Holmes 1 days ago

Technology

‘Rude’ Channel 4 series that was shelved for 3 years is finally coming out

After a lengthy wait, Channel 4’s steamy fanfiction puppet show is coming to screens (Picture: Channel 4 ) Over three years after it was first announced, Channel 4’s intimate, steamy and erotic fanifiction series is airing on TV. Originally called The Really Rude Puppet Show, the rebranded No Strings Attached will now land on E4 (as opposed to Channel 4 itself) and the network has even shared a first glimpse at what to expect. Hosted by Bake Off star Mel Giedroyc, the heavily-delayed series – set across six episodes – sees a string of celebrity guests read aloud erotic fantasy stories about themselves, while grinning and bearing the sheer horror if it all. Every sordid tale has been written by a fan and cobbled together by script editors with the celebrities experiencing it for the first time as they proclaim it on national television. The six famous faces are TV personality Sam Thompson, Gogglebox star’s Scarlett Moffatt, broadcaster Melvin Odoom, Atomic Kitten’s Kerry Katona, Loose Women regular Coleen Nolan and musician and actor Martin Kemp. To heighten the sensual drama to the absolute max, and stir untold chaos, certain scenes have been recreated using puppets to curtail any actual human nudity on screen. Six celebrities will read erotic stories about themselves, brough to life in a strange way (Picture: Channel 4) As put by Mel: ‘This is going to be a celebration of erotic fan fiction. With puppets. Imagine a world where Jackie Collins meets Thunderbirds. I’m so looking forward to a trip to Love Island… via Tracy Island.’ As each guest unveils of the unhinged sexual exploits put before them, they’ll also be sharing revealing ‘unheard and revelatory anecdotes’ from their actual lives, no doubt rivalling the shenanigans of their fictional counterpart. Touted as an ode to the world of fanfiction – works penned by hobbyist writers about fictional characters and celebrities alike – ‘some of the most successful writers having gone on to achieve book and film deals, including, most famously, E.L. James’s multi-million-pound raunchy romance franchise Fifty Shades Of Grey.’ Bake Off star Mel Giedroyc will helm the series (Picture: Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Women of the Year) It’s unclear why, after a three-year wait, the show has decided now is the perfect time to land but it’s finally here, nonetheless. Channel 4 has been rolling out experimental TV in recent weeks with a new episode of Dispatches becoming the first programme on in Britain to use an AI (artifical intelligence) presenter. Fans were left shocked when the investigation, Will AI Take My Job, revealed at the end of the episode the host was, in fact, not a real human. At the time, Louisa Compton, head of news and current affairs, specialist factual and sport at Channel 4, said: ‘The use of an AI presenter is not something we will be making a habit of at Channel 4 – instead our focus in news and current affairs is on premium, fact checked, duly impartial and trusted journalism – something AI is not capable of doing.’ No Strings Attached begins Tuesday 11th November at 10pm on E4. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Asyia Iftikhar 1 days ago

Technology

Three USAF personnel associated with Wright Patterson AFB found dead. Did not heed the dangers of being in Ohio [Strange]

Skip to content Try Ads-Free Fark It's Not News, It's Fark How To FarkLog In | Sign Up » Forgot password? Turn on javascript (or enable it for Fark) for a better user experience. If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page. Discussion Entertainment Three USAF personnel associated with Wright Patterson AFB found dead. Did not heed the dangers of being in Ohio (wpafb.af.mil) More: Strange 872 clicks;posted toMain »on 28 Oct 2025 at3:20 PM(1 hour ago) | Favorite | Watch | share: Copy Link 28 Comments Enable JavaScript for Fark in order to vote for entries. Log in (at the top of the page) to enable voting. View Voting Results:SmartestandFunniest (15) Funniest it's like there was some sort of triangular situation OdradekRex (2) Funniest Looks like their lifecycle research has been concluded. (0) Funniest FTFA: "The deaths, which impacted several locations around Dayton, have deeply affected both the military community and local residents." Geez! How fast were the bodies traveling? (6) Funniest Vaguest statement ever. (11) Funniest Definitely nothing illicit going on here, no siree Bob. Stop looking behind that curtain! Shadow Blasko (0) Funniest I know a LOT of people who work at WPAFB. Not getting a kick...etc (10) Funniest Had to Google it myself trying to find answers. Murder-suicide thing: Police: Huber Heights man kills wife, co-worker before driving wife's body to West Milton A man found dead with his wife's body in the trunk of their car outside the West Milton Municipal Building killed her and another woman before killing himself, West Milton police said. Police said that the man, identified as Jacob E. Prichard, 34, killed his wife, 33-year-old Jaymee M. Prichard, as well as a co-worker, 25-year-old Jaime S. Gustitus of Sugarcreek Twp. early Saturday morning. Jaime Gustitus was a first lieutenant who worked in the 711th Human Performance Wing, Jacob Prichard was part of the Air Force Research Laboratory and Jaymee Prichard worked in the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, according to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. West Milton police said in a release at around 2 a.m. Saturday, Jacob Prichard went to Gustitus' apartment in the 1600 block of Honey Tree Place in Sugarcreek Twp., where he broke in and killed her. It is unknown when he killed his wife, police said, but his next known location was outside the municipal building at 4:22 a.m., where he got out, opened the trunk where his wife's body was, then killed himself. West Milton Chief of Police Doyle Wright said over the weekend that Prichard appeared to have shot himself, and a handgun was found on the ground near him. The bodies of the Prichards were discovered at 5:08 a.m. Saturday by a West Milton police officer who noticed the vehicle in the empty parking lot, Wright said. https://www.daytondailynews.com/crime/police-huber-heights-man-murdered-wife-coworker-before-driving-wifes-body-to-west-milton/I4XKL53DCBDTJBXMAH5IN5MKIE/ Tell Me How My Blog Tastes (4) Funniest "The confirmed deceased are 1st Lt Jaime Gustitus, 25, who worked in 711th Human Performance Wing, part of the Air Force Research Laboratory; Mrs. Jaymee Prichard, 33, who worked within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center; and Mr. Jacob Prichard, 34, also part of the Air Force Research Laboratory." My guess is murder-suicide. One of my best friends died by suicide in Baghdad (middle of 2003). If he had been stateside, it's possible there would have been two murders as well as his death. At the time we said he got sniped by his wife. You wish you could tell people that it will get better and time will heal all wounds. Even if you never forget, you can feel better and move on with life. Just talk to someone before you act. (1) Funniest TFA is light on detail but I found something. Interesting domain name choice there, but hey... https://scallywagandvagabond.com/2025/10/jacob-e-prichard-huber-heights-oh-man-shoots-and-kills-wife-co-worker-dead-then-self/ Possible love triangle gone awry? yellowjester (1) Funniest cues New Order album TomTudbury (0) Funniest A UFO-and its extraterrestrial crew-crashed-landed in the New Mexico desert near Roswell on July 2, 1947. The site was cleaned up by the Air Eyewitnesses reported that 3-foot-tall, grey-skinned aliens died in the crash. They and their space vessel were shipped off to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's notorious "Hangar 18." (5) Funniest I'm thinking the 25 year old was going to tell about the affair to the mans wife so he killed everyone (0) Funniest Shadow Blasko: I know a LOT of people who work at WPAFB. Not getting a kick...etc My best friend used to work at the museum and knows a lot of the volunteers that work there. I'm sure I'll hear all about it. Don Cherry's tailor (0) Funniest Once, about 50 years ago, I was going to a company training in Columbus Oh. On one weekend I went to Wright Patterson, and on another I went to the NFL Hall of Fame. Both were really cool. (As I am getting increasingly way old, I find more old memories bubbling up to the surface) (I hope it isn't just a precursor to senility) (0) Funniest Figured it was a murder-suicide. Love triangle? At least no kids involved. (0) Funniest "Impacted multiple locations throughout the area"? Did hey get tossed from a plane with no chute? (0) Funniest (0) Funniest 33 minutes ago sleze: FTFA: "The deaths, which impacted several locations around Dayton, have deeply affected both the military community and local residents." Geez! How fast were the bodies traveling? Maybe they just (2) Funniest 32 minutes ago zez: I'm thinking the 25 year old was going to tell about the affair to the mans wife so he killed everyone I had almost the same thought but guy killed the wife and then went to tell the gf that they were now free to love, but he needed help to dump the body and the gf freaked and was going to call the police so he then killed her too. Maybe I watch too many murder mysteries (0) Funniest 31 minutes ago Jaime Gustitus was a first lieutenant who worked in the 711th Human Performance Wing, Jacob Prichard was part of the Air Force Research Laboratory and Jaymee Prichard worked in the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, according to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. See, this is why noboy takes Air Force vets very seriously. Two of these people have a bullshiat-sounding job title, and the other one does research. Not a single one of them has ever slept out cold in the dirt. I can't even figure out what "Life Cycle Management" means - is she like, a VA officer or something who deals with retirees? The guy obvsiouly works in some form of HR which was given a stupid title for some reason. Jake Havechek (0) Funniest 32 minutes ago That's where they keep the crashed UFOs. (0) Funniest 31 minutes ago orygubner: Police: Jaime Gustitus was a first lieutenant who worked in the 711th Human Performance Wing, Jacob Prichard was part of the Air Force Research Laboratory and Jaymee Prichard worked in the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, according to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. See, this is why noboy takes Air Force vets very seriously. Two of these people have a bullshiat-sounding job title, and the other one does research. Not a single one of them has ever slept out cold in the dirt. I can't even figure out what "Life Cycle Management" means - is she like, a VA officer or something who deals with retirees? The guy obvsiouly works in some form of HR which was given a stupid title for some reason. She oversees the exercise equipment Badmoodman (0) Funniest 33 minutes ago They were practicing their heightened Kegseth WARRIOR ETHOS on each other, but of course a 'safe word' is not allowed. Smelly Pirate Hooker (0) Funniest 32 minutes ago I have a theory ... Evil Mackerel (0) Funniest 31 minutes ago Something was bound to happen sooner or later. johnny queso (0) Funniest less than a minute ago spaaaaaaaaaaaace fooooooooorce some_beer_drinker (0) Funniest less than a minute ago NightSteel (0) Funniest less than a minute ago See, this is why noboy takes Air Force vets very seriously. Two of these people have a bullshiat-sounding job title, and the other one does research. Not a single one of them has ever slept out cold in the dirt. I can't even figure out what "Life Cycle Management" means - is she like, a VA officer or something who deals with retirees? The guy obvsiouly works in some form of HR which was given a stupid title for some reason. The AF deserves its rep as the most corporate of the services, but other services have positions like this too, especially since so many new acquisitions cede lots of work to contractors that would previously have been done by service members. When maintaining your shiny new tank or ship parts gets done by civilians, there's gotta be someone who manages the relationship with the civilians. Displayed 28 of 28 comments Enable JavaScript for Fark in order to vote for entries. Log in (at the top of the page) to enable voting. View Voting Results:SmartestandFunniest Redisplay/refresh comments If you're having problems voting, quoting, or posting comments, try disabling any browser add-ons that might disable Javascript (NoScript, AdBlock, etc).See our FAQ. Forgot password? Create an account to make comments Remember me If you can see this, something's wrong with your browser's CSS support. 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Unknown 1 days ago

Technology

Pacific plans taskforce

Aust to form part of ‘taskforce’ set to stir regional controversy SYDNEY: South Pacific defence ministers want to transform a military disaster response group into a taskforce that could also conduct Pacific “stabilisation” missions, in a move that could stir controversy in the region. The shift, which was flagged at last week’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) in Chile, would mark an ambitious expansion of the Pacific Response Group’s remit (PRG) just a year after it was created to help respond to humanitarian catastrophes. In a joint statement, the ministers said they had asked their defence chiefs to “explore options to broaden the mandate” of the group to “include stabilisation operations, including any necessary legal frameworks”, which they called a “natural evolution” of the body. The ministers also discussed a proposed Status of Forces Agreement between SPDMM members, covering immigration, customs and logistical support for deployments — enabling troops to operate more freely across each other’s territories. The joint communique also says the member countries will “explore options” to establish a “PRG-focused” military exercise with the first slated to be hosted by Chile in 2027–28, as well as embedding a defence adviser from one of the nations into the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The PRG brings together the militaries of Australia, Chile, France and New Zealand, as well as the three Pacific island nations with standing militaries — Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga. The United Kingdom, Japan and the United States also sent observers to the meeting in the beachside city of Vina del Mar. None of the ministers mentioned China during their press conference after the meeting, but the federal government is signalling that it is part of a broader push to build security capabilities in the region, while blocking Beijing from any role in regional crises that draw a military response. A defence official from one of the SPDMM countries said the initiative would help bolster “Pacific-led” security frameworks and make it harder for “authoritarian” countries to make inroads in the Pacific. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters in Chile that there was “growing geo-strategic contest” in the region and that democracies needed to take the lead on Pacific security. – Abc

Post-Courier 1 days ago

Hundreds of women allege sexual abuse at UK army medicals over five decades

Wiltshire police leading investigation into allegations about enlistment examinations between the 1970s and 2016

Steven Morris 1 days ago

Technology

Katie Price and Kerry Katona’s tour is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page The atmosphere at An Evening with Kerry Katona and Katie Price at the Clapham Grand felt like a cross between a bachelorette party and a trauma survivor’s support group that had somehow been double-booked into the same room — and decided to just roll with it. The venue, draped in plastic cobwebs and haunted-house décor for Halloween, looked appropriately possessed by ghosts of the British tabloid 2000s. The crowd’s temperament was somewhere between Vegas party bus rowdiness and churchlike reverence: shrieking laughter punctuated by long, uneasy silences whenever a punchline curdled into confession. It was, in every sense, a séance – one where the spirits happened to still be alive and seated before us. As an American who only recently began to grasp the uniquely British pathology of tabloid celebrity, I watched in awe as these two women – both survivors and architects of that era – sat on stage and revealed more about themselves than I know about most of my closest friends. When Katie recounted, with deadpan precision, how Kerry had once popped her first breast implant, I glanced around for hidden cameras. Katie Price and Kerry Katona are on the road (Picture: An Evening with Katie Price & Kerry Katona) It wasn’t funny. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. (Picture: An Evening with Katie Price & Kerry Katona) But none of it was a joke, or perhaps it was all a joke. It wasn’t funny. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. There’s a kind of meta-theatrical brilliance to watching Katie Price and Kerry Katona, two women the press once devoured, now selling tickets to their own autopsy. ‘If there’s any journalists here, f*** off,’ Kerry said early on, with the casual menace of someone who’s been dissected one headline too many. I squirmed in my seat. But of course, everyone in the room was there precisely because of those headlines, because, for better or worse, they helped build the cultural scaffolding of millennial Britain. When Katie, reclining with the studied nonchalance of a woman who has done this before, began to describe her suicide attempt in harrowing detail – the microphone wire, the bruised face, the moment she woke up and decided she didn’t want to die after all – the audience was dead silent. She explained: ‘I wanted to die. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I know this question was about love and marriage, but this is what it did to the point I just was thinking, how can I kill myself? What can I do? I feel like s***. Why do men cheat on me? Why is the media against me? Why are they saying stuff against me? It’s not true. I was suffocating’ Then she vaped behind a pillow and got a laugh. The tonal whiplash was constant and dizzying. ‘I’ve been fined at other shows,’ she quipped. ‘But I needed it.’ Katie hasn’t held back in telling her truth on stage in recent months (Picture: Nordin Catic/Getty Images for The Cambridge Union) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Kerry, meanwhile, played high priestess of resilience, as funny as any standup comedian on tour today, regaling the audience. But then she’d say something like: ‘Walking away from drugs wasn’t the f***ing problem. It was walking away from people who I thought loved me,’ and you’d look into the crowd to see a woman in a feather boa crying in the arms of her friend. Later, Kerry made the audience raise their hands: ‘Put your hand up if you haven’t made a mistake.’ No one did. ‘Exactly,’ she said. She looked at Katie with the comfortable affection and wizened understanding of a pair bonded by specific trauma, saying: ‘We’re lucky we’re still here.’ It would be easy to laugh at these women, especially when Katie took the stage after intermission to sing a rendition of We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off in her sequined two-piece outfit. But no one in the room was doing that. They sang along with the same wild abandon with which Katie belted into the mic, her lack of polish giving them permission to sing without fear of judgment. The laughter was intimate, conspiratorial, and a form of communion. There was a sense that everyone present understood, on some instinctive level, that this wasn’t just camp or nostalgia but a kind of group therapy disguised as cabaret. The night’s strangest, most moving paradox was that An Evening with Kerry and Katie was, in its way, a feminist reclamation ritual. These are two women who were not only humiliated by the press but became symbols of humiliation itself – their breakdowns, their addictions, their surgeries, their men – and now they’re monetising that same pain, controlling its retelling, turning trauma into a live act with a merch table. It was, in a way, a feminist reclamation ritual (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Need support? For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website. Their HOPELINE247 is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You can call 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org. Kerry and Katie have both lived lives that sound like morality plays written by a conservative tabloid: addiction, bankruptcy, bad men, bad choices. But what they’ve really done – intentionally or not – is hold up a grotesque mirror to the culture that made them. Their candour is both defiant and deeply British: the comedy of total collapse delivered with self-deprecating cheer. When I first moved to the UK, I wrote an article trying to understand the phenomenon of Katie Price. I asked my colleagues why she was famous, and they gave me a chorus of half-explanations: Page 3! Eurovision! Peter Andre! Perfumes! Politics! It was like being told the plot of EastEnders by six drunk people at once. Eventually, I gave up and decided she was a national joke — Britain’s id in a push-up bra. But the longer I’ve covered her, the more I’ve realised that Katie Price isn’t a punchline. She’s a performance artist trapped inside her own tabloid mythology. She has lived a life of almost operatic cruelty – raped as a child, beaten by men, publicly mocked for her body and surgeries – and yet she’s managed to stay in control of the narrative by leaning into its absurdity. She feeds the media exactly what it craves – scandal, spectacle, sex – but in recent years, she’s always the one lighting the match. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page In that sense, this tour feels like the final form of the Katie Price project: a radical act of self-objectification so complete it becomes transcendence. The dynamic between Katie and Kerry is less Lennon and McCartney, more Absolutely Fabulous meets The Priory. Kerry, with her big-sister energy and Northern frankness, calls herself ‘Doctor Katona.’ Katie counters: ‘I’m not Doctor Emily — I’m Doctor Kate.’ They tease each other about driving bans, failed marriages, and morning affirmations. They talk about sleeping in the same bed watching true crime documentaries, and then segue seamlessly into stories of domestic abuse, gaslighting, and rehab. The room sways between laughter and empathy like a drunk in heels. When Katie declares, ‘Every relationship I’ve had has been a narcissist, controlling, manipulative, gaslighting bastard,’ the crowd erupts in cheers that are somehow both full of righteous anger and celebration that she can reclaim her own story. The evening was full of juicy tidbits (Picture: Mattpapz / BACKGRID) When she alludes to her long list of famous exes, the audience hums with recognition because they’ve lived these relationships alongside her, watching her catastrophes turn into communal lore. For years, they’ve used Katie and Kerry as lens’ through which to see their lives, women who lived their worst moments in public so everyone else could privately make sense of their own. It’s worth noting the evening was also full of juicy tidbits and celebrity gossip, with both women casually revealing anecdotes about kissing Robbie Williams or which celebrity was the rudest to them. But for the women in the audience, many of whom grew up watching these two be publicly destroyed, it was more like communal healing than . Everyone knows the damage wasn’t just personal but cultural, because how many of us read, at a formative age, headlines about Katy or Kerry or their contemporaries ‘gaining weight’ and started skipping meals? How many of us saw Katie condemned as a mindless sex symbol and internalised it? Kerry summed it up best: ‘You all know we’ve been in the gutter, and we’re still here.’ The applause was enormous. Metro entertainment reporter Danni Scott on An Evening With Katie Price and Kerry Katona It’s impossible to work in British media and not walk into a Kerry Katona and Katie Price evening without having some preconceptions about them. In a strange way they both lived up to and totally subverted my expectations. Yes, they’re brash and have little filter but it ultimately felt endearing more than offensive. Their brutally honest discussions about troubled childhoods and Katie’s horrific tale of being assaulted through the years dissolved the caricature we’re all so used to expecting. It seems bizarre but Katie almost comes across as shy in the dazzling confidence of Kerry, who just has an irresistible warmth to her that the show would likely flop without. She humanises Katie and clearly has a lot of love for her. Rather than pantomime villains, I saw two women who have made mistakes (numerous mistakes at that) but have given up caring about what people think of them. Take it or leave it, they are what they are and I really respect that, especially in a society still largely looking to tear loud women down. My perspective on them hasn’t been completely altered but it’s certainly softened. As for the singing, my money would be spent on an Atomic Kitten reunion gig rather than a Pricey solo tour. For all its chaos, there was a strange triumph to the evening. These two women have been mocked, reviled, exploited, and discarded by a culture obsessed with punishing women for wanting to be seen, and now they’re cashing in on the afterlife of that punishment. They’re saints of the scandal age, martyrs of the gossip economy, prophets of trauma-as-content, and aging women who refuse to be discarded due to any culturally mandated expiration date. And yet, when Katie said softly, ‘Now I love myself. I’m strong. I won’t let anyone control me again,’ there was no irony left in the room. Only the eerie hush of people realising they’d witnessed something messy and magnificent: two women who’d been turned into caricatures of femininity standing onstage as living, breathing proof of what the culture did, and how, miraculously, they survived it. Get tickets to An Evening with Katie Price and Kerry Katona here. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Brooke Ivey Johnson 1 days ago

Technology

Durbin Calls Trump's 'Secret Police' ICE Operation in Chicago a 'Farce'

Tuesday on CNN’s “News Central,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the Trump administration’s immigration operation in Chicago is a “farce,” being carried out by “secret police.” Co-host Kate Bolduan said, “On the immigration rates in Chicago. Senator, the Border Patrol official who’s become really a face of the administration’s crackdown is expected to appear before a judge today amid a lawsuit over tactics federal agents are using there. The judge wants him to explain video of what appears to be him throwing tear gas into a crowd. Where is this headed right now in Chicago?” Durbin said, “Well, I’m afraid it’s a terrible situation. Remember, this is supposedly inspired by the rapist, terrorists and murderers who were sneaking across the border, and now they’re going to be stopped by this federal effort. And yet, I want to tell you, the 70% of the people who are being arrested and detained have no criminal record whatsoever. and in addition, this ICE operation, this secret police operation, the masked policeman that the federal government has sent in are going to places looking for terrorists like outside churches on Sunday or the Halloween parades on Saturday. This is a farce. It is an outrage that they’re continuing this military presence and the presence of this federal agency.” Follow Pam Key on X @pamkeyNEN

Pam Key 1 days ago

Politics

Should the Home Office be broken up into two units?

The department is once again the subject of debate about whether it is beyond repair after immigration and prison problems

Rowena Mason, Whitehall correspondent 1 days ago

Man arrested after dog walker dies and two injured in west London stabbings

Dog walker was reportedly walking past Uxbridge house where man and child were stabbed

Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent 1 days ago

Technology

Saints Ignite New Era With Bold Quarterback Switch As Shough Gets Shot To Spark Season Turnaround

Shough’s road to the NFL hasn’t been easy. His college career spanned Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville, where he showed resilience and adaptability. A natural gunslinger with a strong arm and solid athleticism, Shough’s college tape was a mix of big plays and challenges under pressure. When protected, he was sharp, throwing for over 2,300 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions. But when the pocket broke down, his performance dipped, a concern given the Saints’ struggling offensive line this season. Still, the team is betting on his raw talent and potential to develop poise at the next level. It’s a gamble, but one they need to take. Saints Will Now Find Out How Long the Shough Era Will Last This decision is about more than one game or one player. For a team likely heading toward a high draft pick, the Saints need to evaluate whether Shough can be their long-term solution at quarterback. Giving him meaningful snaps now will help answer that question. It’s a massive opportunity for the rookie to prove he belongs and a chance for the Saints to ignite some hope in a tough season. For Saints fans, the hope is that this change marks a brighter beginning and finally answers the lingering question of when for those wondering what took so long.

Don Watz,Total Apex Sports 1 days ago

Technology

Maksim Chmerkovskiy's Hottest Takes on Dancing With the Stars

It was the New York Fashion Week fight heard 'round the world when Nicki and Cardi got into a heated altercation at the Harper's Bazaar Icon party. The following month, Cardi opened up about the catalyst for the fight with Nicki. "For a while now she's been taking a lot of shots at me," Cardi said in W magazine's Art Issue. "I spoke to her twice before, and we came to an understanding. But she kept it going." The real spark of the fight came when Cardi saw that Nicki had allegedly liked and then unliked a tweet about Cardi's parenting skills, which Nicki has denied. "I was going to make millions off my Bruno Mars tour, and I sacrificed that to stay with my daughter," Cardi continued. "I love my daughter. I'm a good-ass f--king mom. So for somebody that don't have a child to like that comment? So many people want to say that party wasn't the time or the place, but I'm not going to catch another artist in the grocery store or down the block."

Unknown 1 days ago

Man who won damages over Richard III film calls for more regulation of fact-based drama

Richard Taylor calls for clearer rules around dramatic misrepresentation after suing over his portrayal in Steve Coogan’s The Last King

Matthew Pearce 1 days ago

Technology

Federal judge blocks the Trump administration from pulling funding for sex ed on gender diversity

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon has blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from pulling sexual education funding over curricula mentioning diverse gender identities. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken issued the preliminary injunction Monday as part of a lawsuit filed against the Health and Human Services Department by 16 states and the District of Columbia, which argued that pulling such money violated the separation of powers and federal law. The complaint, filed last month, says the department is attempting to force the states to “rewrite sexual health curricula to erase entire categories of students.” It describes the action as “the latest attempt from the current administration to target and harm transgender and gender-diverse youth.” The administration said in court filings that Health and Human Services has the authority to impose conditions for receiving funding grants. Aiken wrote that the department “provides no evidence that it made factual findings or considered the statutory objectives and express requirements, the relevant data, the applicable anti-sex-discrimination statutes and its own regulations.” The judge added that the department also “fails to show that the new grant conditions are reasonable.” The department did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, but said in a previous statement after the complaint was filed that it was “committed to its mission of removing radical gender and DEI ideology from federal programs,” referring to initiatives focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose state co-led the lawsuit with Oregon and Washington, welcomed the ruling and said he was “pleased to have protected funding for important health education programs.” Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, his administration has sought to recognize people as only male or female. Health Department went after 2 programs The health department wants to prohibit the inclusion of what it describes as “gender ideology” in lessons funded by the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) and the Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education program. The federal grants are used to teach about abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The plaintiff states said the grant conditions the department is seeking to impose violate federal law, the separation of powers and Congress’ spending power. They also argued that losing the money would harm state programs by making them less effective in providing sex ed, including to youth at high risk of becoming pregnant or contracting sexually transmitted diseases. The termination of money under the two federal grant programs could result in a loss of at least $35 million to the plaintiff states, according to the complaint. In court filings, the administration said agencies have the authority to impose grant terms and argued that claims against the federal government over contracts, including grants, should be heard by a different court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. In April, the health department asked the plaintiff states to share curricula and materials used for lessons funded by the PREP grant, according to the complaint. In a letter, the department said it was conducting a “medical accuracy review.” Related: Blocking the Trump White House with Attorney General Keith Ellison at MinnPost Festival 2025 In August, the department issued new conditions prohibiting grant recipients from “including gender ideology in any program or service that is funded with this award.” That month, it warned states that they had 60 days to change lessons or lose their PREP grants; California was warned previously, and its $12 million grant was stripped Aug. 21. At the heart of some of the legal debate in the case is the definition of “medically accurate.” Under federal law, curricula under the two programs must be “medically accurate and complete.” “The agency’s restriction on ‘gender ideology’ ensures that federal funds support curricula rooted in biological and medical science rather than in contested sociopolitical theories regarding gender identity,” the administration said in court filings. The plaintiff states argued their programs are medically accurate and submitted written declarations from health experts such as Kate Millington, a pediatric endocrinologist and associate professor of pediatrics at Brown University. “Stating that gender is binary and that other non-binary gender identities do not exist is not consistent with the medical and scientific understanding of gender identity,” Millington said. In court filings, Minnesota officials shared examples of materials that Health and Human Services flagged for removal, such as curricula mentioning different pronouns and how some people identify with a gender that is different than their biological sex. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown previously said the department threatened to cancel PREP grants if his state didn’t remove wording from a high school curriculum that says: “People of all sexual orientations and gender identities need to know how to prevent pregnancy and STIs, either for themselves or to help a friend.” The other plaintiffs are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. All plaintiff states have Democratic governors.

By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press 1 days ago

Technology

Families to squabble over Christmas chocolates this year as shrinkflation strikes again

Is it just me or are Quality Streets getting smaller? (Picture: Metro) Listen to article Listen to article Your browser does not support the audio element. You may hear Grandma complaining about how there were more Quality Street chocolates in the tub back in her day this Christmas – and she would be right. Shoppers are being struck by the double blow of shrinking products and soaring prices this year – yes, shrinkflation strikes again. A new investigation by consumer group Which? reveals that many everyday items, even basic essentials, are getting smaller, with cheaper substitute ingredients being used to cut corners and maximise profits. Shoppers who are getting ready for Christmas by buying their favourite festive chocolate will find noticeable differences this year. Quality Street chocolate tubs have been reduced from 600g to 550g, while the price for the smaller tub at Morrisons increased from £6 to £7 this year. One family even went out of their way to release an 18 year breakdown on their yearly purchase of the confectionary tub to show the gradual decline in numbers and flavours of chocolate. Professor of Retail Marketing at Birmingham Business School, Sarah Montano told Metro: ‘Many consumers have already traded down on branded items, stopped buying products or changing where they shop meaning that there is little more that they can do. ‘As everyone gets ready for Christmas people are finding that their much-loved tubs of chocolate have further shrank with some tubs down to 500g. ‘It is a very difficult time for customers as these increases have been ongoing. ‘Actions that customers can take are to shop around, use loyalty card prices and look at food waste – at an average of £250 per person over the year, reducing food waste is a quick saving for everyone and the planet.’ Shrinkflation (size of product reduced but cost the same) and skimpflation, where the quality of the product is reduced by using cheaper products have become more noticeable. Clare Moffat, tax and pensions expert at Royal London told Metro: ‘Food price inflation has swung from over 19% a year in March 2023 to 4.4% in May this year, but even at its lowest rates, the increase in food prices are still being felt. ‘Our latest Financial Resilience Report shows that households were spending, on average, £148 a month more on food in February 2025 compared to a year earlier. ‘Many are struggling, with one in five people telling us they have less than £100 in cash savings, and nearly the same number again saying they have nothing left or are overdrawn at the end of the month.’ Top tips for consumers Don’t panic – A rise in food inflation does not necessarily mean everything is going to become much more expensive all of a sudden, but it will mean that keeping an eye on food costs will be harder Rework your monthly budget – Prioritise essentials like rent/mortgage, bills, food and transport and cut/pause non-essentials like streaming service subscriptions Switch and save on essentials – Use comparison sites to get the best deals on energy providers, phone providers and other bills. Make sure you’re using supermarket apps to get discounts and deals, or use apps like Too Good To Go for cost effective food Ask for help early – Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your energy provider, bank, or landlord if you fall behind on payments, or if you see yourself falling behind. They might be able to offer support or repayment plans Check your benefit eligibility – You might be eligible for certain help through benefits, depending on your circumstances and your age. You can check on the Gov.co.uk website or you could use a free, confidential and independent benefits calculator from a charity like Turn2us Benefits Calculator to see what help you could receive Consider side hustles – Look for ways to boost your income whether it’s selling old clothes on platforms like Vinted, making money from a hobby, using the app Rover to get paid for dog sitting. You could also look into the Rent a Room Scheme Source: Clare Moffat It’s not just Christmas products that are the latest victims of shrinkflation, even basic essentials such as toothpaste and breakfast options are. Aquafresh Complete Care Original Toothpaste has increased from £1.30 for 100ml to £2 for 75ml at Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Ocado – a 105%. Bottles of Gaviscon Heartburn and Indigestion Liquid have shrunk by 100ml, while the price at Sainsbury’s remained at £14. Sainsbury’s Scottish Oats have halved in size from 1kg to 500g but instead of reducing the cost to reflect the change, the price has increased from £1.25 to £2.10. If you wanted a cup of Nescafe Original Instant Coffee to go with your breakfast oats, you will notice it has shrunk from 200g to 190g in Tesco, Morrisons and Asda – a rise of 5% per 100g) The cost of confectionary’s raw ingredients soaring has impacted the products on the shelves as several multipacks of chocolate bars have dropped drastically in size. Which? found that KitKat Two-Finger Milk Chocolate Bar multipacks dropped from 21 bars to 18, while Ocado prices’ rose from £3.60 to £5.50. The watchdog also found that the brand has reduced the amount of cocoa butter in their White KitKats with less than 20%. This means they can no longer be marketed as a white chocolate product. A spokesman for Nestle said: ‘Like every manufacturer, we’ve seen significant increases in the cost of cocoa over the past years making it much more expensive to manufacture our products. ‘As always, we continue to be more efficient and absorb increasing costs where possible. ‘To continue to offer shoppers great value, it is sometimes necessary to adjust recipes of some of our products. ‘Retail pricing is at the discretion of individual retailers.’ This is similar to McVitie’s white digestives that do not contain any cocoa butter at all. McVitie’s Penguin and Club bars also cannot be lawfully sold as a chocolate biscuit due to it containing more palm and shea oil than cocoa. The beloved frog-shaped Cadbury bar, Freddo, has fell victim to shrinkflation as its multipacks reduced from five to four at Morrisons, Ocado and Tesco. Freddos cost 10p when they were relaunched in 1994 (Picture: PA) A spokeswoman for Mondelez International, which makes Cadbury products, said: ‘We understand the economic pressures that consumers continue to face and any changes to our product sizes is a last resort for our business. ‘However, as a food producer, we are continuing to experience significantly higher input costs across our supply chain, with ingredients such as cocoa and dairy, which are widely used in our products, costing far more than they have done previously.’ A spokesman for the Food and Drink Federation said cocoa prices rose sharply last year, reaching a 45-year high. ‘Alongside other rising costs, such as national insurance increases and a new packaging tax, manufacturers are paying nearly 40% more for ingredients and energy than they were in January 2020. ‘As a result, in some cases food manufacturers will have had to make changes to products to continue offering shoppers the food and drink they love at reasonable price points.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.

Molly Lee 1 days ago

Technology

Arsenal vs Brighton: Mikel Arteta Gives Vital Updates on Availability of Key Players

On October 29 at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal will face Brighton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, as the Gunners look to continue their impressive form since losing to Liverpool back in August. Ahead of this domestic cup tie, Mikel Arteta has spoken at a pre match press conference, revealing the availability of key players, including William Saliba and Declan Rice. Arsenal vs Brighton: Arteta provides team news ahead of Carabao Cup Clash Arteta offers injury updates on William Saliba and Declan Rice Most pressing at the press conference was the availability of key players for the Carabao Cup clash at home to Brighton: Addressing the availability of William Saliba, Arteta confirmed: “He’s out. We are assessing him, but he won’t be involved in this match.” Arteta also revealed another defensive boost, referring to Riccardo Calafiori: “Available as well, yes.” Arteta also confirmed Declan Rice “will be available.” Gabriel Martinelli has proved hes a valuable squad player this season, but it appears the Brazilian will also be missing: “Yeah, it looks like he’s going to be out. We have to do some more tests and see the extent of the injury, but this game is going to be too early for him.” Arteta addressed the availability of Bukayo Saka: “He’s going to be ok.” Facing Danny Welbeck and Brighton Discussing his former teammate, Danny Welbeck, and the Brighton team: “Very happy for him, we were teammates and the whole history of him, the good and the difficult moments he has had in his career, I think it’s remarkable what he’s doing. The same with the team and Fabian [Hurzeler] and the coaches, the continuous work that they’ve done at that club is incredible. I think Fabian has added something slightly different as well and a very well-prepared team, very difficult to beat them, you’ve seen the results against the big teams as well. So we expect a really tough match,” said the Arsenal boss. Teasing some potential changes to his starting eleven, Arteta said: “We’re going to try to manage the minutes and the loads as best we can because, as you say, we have a lot of games coming up with a very short recovery time, which is a bit unusual, but we’re going to remain very competitive.” IMAGO / Moritz Müller

Last Word On Sports,Ricky Carroll 1 days ago

Technology

Daddy Lumba’s Abusuapanin leaves Kumasi High Court under heavy security after injunction hearing

Daddy Lumba's family head was present at the Kumasi High Court for Akosua Serwaa's injunction application hearing on October 28, 2025In a video, Mr Victor Kofi Owusu Banahene was seen leaving the court premises with his private security detailFootage of Daddy Lumba's family head's departure from the Kumasi High Court has triggered reactions from Ghanaians The head of Daddy Lumba's family, Mr Victor Kofi Owusu Banahene, has courted attention following his appearance at the Kumasi High Court for Akosua Serwaa's injunction application hearing on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Akosua Serwaa filed a suit against the second wife, Odo Broni, the family head and Transitions Funeral Home to seek an interlocutory injunction over her husband’s funeral. She accused Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu of sidelining her to the point that she only learned of the announced funeral date through social media. Court dismisses Akosua Serwaa's injunction application The Kumasi High Court dismissed an injunction application by Akosua Serwaa to halt the funeral rites of her late husband, Daddy Lumba. During the proceedings on October 28, Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur emphasised that the late singer's body belonged to his maternal family in accordance with the Ashanti customs. The court ruled in favour of the late highlife legend's family head, who can now proceed with the funeral arrangements. The Kumasi High Court has also ordered both parties to file all necessary legal processes by Friday, October 31, for a Case Management Conference scheduled for November 14, concerning Akosua Serwaa's bid to be declared the only surviving wife of the late Daddy Lumba. The video of Daddy Lumba's Abusapanin's lawyer speaking after the court hearing is below: Abusuapanin leaves court with heavy security Following the court proceedings, the head of Daddy Lumba's family was spotted leaving the premises following an engagement with the media. In a video, Mr Kofi Owusu was accompanied by some scary-looking, heavily built men, who served as his private security. The family head's security detail provided him with protection from media personnel who had gathered around and almost blocked his path. He was quickly ushered into a luxury vehicle, which had been parked at the Kumasi High Court in anticipation of his arrival. Footage of Mr Kofi Owusu's departure from the court premises triggered mixed reactions from Ghanaians on social media. The video of Daddy Lumba's family head leaving the Kumasi High Court with his heavy security is below: Daddy Lumba's Abusuapanin's heavy security stirs reactions YEN.com.gh has gathered some comments from social media users below: Abynarh Golden875 commented: "Abusuapanin with the bodyguard 😂." KwakuAsabere said: "Today de3, Abusuapanin didn’t wear a suit ooo. The most famous Abusuapanin in town. Daddy Lumba has done it all." Odofopa wrote: "Team Abusuapanin 💃 🤪 ✌️😅 we move 💃 💪." Daddy Lumba's Abusuapanin speaks after court appearance Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Daddy Lumba's family head spoke to the media after the court ruled on Akosua Serwaa's injunction application. In a video, Mr Kofi Owusu detailed the outcome of the court proceedings and the plans for his relative's funeral arrangements. Daddy Lumba's family head also issued a stern warning to the media over some insults he had received due to the legal case. Source: YEN.com.gh

Kofi Owusu,Samuel Obour 1 days ago

Technology

Strictly Come Dancing's Amber Davies makes 'awful' admission after shock dance-off

Strictly Come Dancing star Amber Davies has made an "awful" admission after this weekend's shock dance-off. The West End star and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin found themselves in the dance-off on Sunday (October 26) after coming second on the leaderboard. They performed their Ariana Grande-inspired Cha Cha Cha to Break Free once again, before ex-footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley took to the dancefloor with their Prince-inspired American Smooth to Purple Rain. The judges unanimously chose to save Amber, meaning that Jimmy and Lauren became the fourth pairing to be eliminated from the competition, despite coming fourth on the leaderboard. Amber reflected on the shock dance-off while appearing on Strictly spin-off, It Takes Two, on Tuesday (October 28). The star admitted that she felt "awful" that she played a part in Jimmy's departure. "A difficult weekend for you both. Amber, you were visibly upset at the end of the results show. How are you feeling now you've had some time to think it through?" host Fleur East asked. Amber replied: "It's the humanity side of it, you know? Because Jimmy loves Strictly and I just felt awful that it was us that had to be a part of them being knocked out. "I wasn't sad because we were in the dance-off. I was sad because I love him so much and I love Lauren Oakley, and I think them as a team were amazing. So, it's the worst feeling in the world." Addressing the public's response after the results show, Amber added: "Funnily enough, I have felt the most loved from this weekend. I feel like from the start, a lot of, 'Oh, she's a dancer,' has come up on social media. I was terrified to open the social media apps. "But everybody has been so kind, so lovely, and I feel so loved." The former Love Island star went on to share the challenges she's faced when "unlearning" the skills she's acquired in her career while being taught Latin and Ballroom. "I am stubborn from the waist down, really stubborn. Nikita is literally trying to undo everything that I kind of know," she explained. Nikita added: "You have a certain base that Amber has already built. Obviously, there are advantages to everything but in this case, we also have our own disadvantages in which I need to say you are working really, really hard on to undo it." For this weekend's Halloween special, Amber will become Little Red Riding Hood as she performs a Viennese Waltz to I See Red by Everybody Loves An Outlaw. Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Sara Baalla 1 days ago

Technology

Land grab at Nadzab

The need to look at broader development plans for the area ON September 22, 2025, readers of the two daily newspapers learned that Lands Minister John Rosso had used the power of compulsory acquisition granted to him by Section 12 of the Land Act 1996 to take control of a large area of land (about 862 hectares) in the vicinity of the new Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport in Morobe Province. This is known to the Lands Department as Markham Portion 78. The minister’s action did not come as a complete surprise, but it does need some explanation. The story begins in August 2009, when the Lands Department issued a special agricultural and business lease (SABL) over Portion 78 to the Orognaron land group based in Gabsongkeg village in the Wampar local-level government (LLG) area. The land group promptly subleased the land to a company called Markham Realty Development Ltd (MRDL). But things got complicated in 2016. Amendments to the Land Registration Act 1981 that came into effect in 2012 gave land groups the right to own land directly. Taking advantage of this change, the Orognaron land group obtained a certificate of title to Portion 78 in 2016, effectively replacing the SABL arrangement. MRDL fought back, taking the matter to court. They argued the title substitution threatened the validity of the sublease issued in 2009. In 2023, however, the National Court ruled in favour of the Orognaron land group. The court’s decision rested on two key points. First, a commission of inquiry had previously recommended converting SABLs to land group titles once such ownership became legal. Second, the court observed that the sublease agreement had been unfair to many customary landowners who had not agreed to it, and that MRDL had not delivered on its promise to develop the “Wampar township”. To understand why this land matters so much, we need to look at the broader development plans for the area. There has been talk of developing a new township around the airport since 2005, but the talk only got serious when the Japanese Government agreed to provide financial support for the Nadzab Airport Redevelopment Project in 2015. The airport itself occupies two blocks of land (Portions 401 and 402) that were alienated from customary ownership in 1973. The redevelopment project was completed in 2023. In the meantime, the Japanese government had also provided support for the production of the Lae-Nadzab Urban Development Plan, which was to be implemented over a ten-year period from 2016 to 2025. This plan envisaged the creation of the “Nadzab Airport Science City” — a new urban centre close to the airport. When John Rosso was appointed Lands Minister in 2019, he naturally took an interest in these plans. As the MP for the Lae Open electorate, he chairs the Lae City Authority (LCA) which was established by an Act of parliament in 2015. Importantly, the LCA’s jurisdiction extends beyond Rosso’s electorate into the Wampar LLG area in the Huon Gulf electorate — most notably, the part that includes Nadzab Airport. In 2020, Rosso was quoted as saying that the government was aiming to acquire 9000 hectares of customary land in the vicinity of the airport. Of this, 4000 hectares would be converted into state leases while the rest would be “given back” to the customary landowners. In 2023, he was quoted as saying that the process of acquisition was “about 90 per cent complete” and designated the Nadzab Township Development Project as a “pilot project” under the National Land Partnership Policy Framework, with an annual budget of K200 million. We do not know whether all 9000 hectares belong to members of the Gabsongkeg community, but we do know they claim customary ownership of Portions 401 and 402 (the airport land), as well as Portion 78. In 2020, it was reported that a team led by the chairman of the Morobe Provincial Land Board had met with the leaders of nine local clans, including Orognaron, to discuss the redevelopment of the airport. The clan leaders called for “equal participation” in the project. A task force was established to help register all nine clans as incorporated land groups. According to the National Gazette, most were indeed registered by 2020, but only two — Orognaron and Ziaganchon — have actually registered formal titles over their land. The Gabsongkeg community’s frustration became visible in 2023, when members of the Orognaron group reportedly led a protest outside the gates of the new airport. They complained that they had not received their K5000 annual lease payment for the airport land since 2013. Mr Rosso promised to investigate, though there is no clear evidence that he had started compulsory acquisition proceedings at that point. The community’s concerns intensified when they learned of the minister’s plans to establish an entirely new entity: the Nadzab Land Development Authority (NLDA). On July 30, 2025, Rosso presented parliament with four bills: one establishing the NLDA and three others amending the Land Act 1996, the Land Registration Act 1981 and the Physical Planning Act 1989. All four passed with an overwhelming (61-1) majority and may be certified before the end of the year. Based on national TV coverage of Rosso’s presentation of the NLDA bill, the NLDA will henceforth become the agency responsible for implementing the Nadzab Township Development Project. It appears the agency will “mobilise” the remaining customary land and transfer it to private sector partners who will actually build the town. When Gabsongkeg community leaders heard about the legislation, they promptly objected. They claim Rosso’s attempt to acquire Portion 78 contradicts a National Court order — reportedly obtained by MRDL, which must have reconciled with the Orognaron land group and passed on the information. MRDL now says it is looking for partners to invest in the construction of the Markham Valley Estate on Portion 78 by 2033. The court order is not publicly available but, if it exists, how does Minister Rosso believe he can override it? The answer could lie in recent amendments to the Land Act 1996. Section 72 now allows the minister to grant leases over state land to entities of his choosing, bypassing the provincial land boards that previously held this power. In the case of Portion 78, it would appear that a lease to MRDL is not the minister’s preferred option. The compulsory acquisition appears to be one piece of a much larger land mobilisation process under the National Land Partnership Policy Framework. This process involves establishing several new statutory bodies, including the Special Economic Zones Authority, the LCA and the NLDA. While the government may view this as an essential condition for the implementation of its national development agenda, legislating increased ministerial discretion is questionable policy, especially for contentious land issues. n This article appeared first on Devpolicy Blog (devpolicy.org), from the Development Policy Centre at The Australian National University. Dr Colin Filer is an honorary professor at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.

Post-Courier Contributor 1 days ago