Tuesday, 14 June 2016
FBI looking at whether Orlando gunman led a secret gay life
As victims described the bloody horror of the massacre during a riveting hospital news conference, investigators continued to gather information on the 29-year-old American-born Muslim — and took a close look at his wife, too — for clues to the attack that left 49 victims dead.
An official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, but they are reluctant to charge her on that basis alone.
A number of possible explanations and motives for the bloodbath have emerged, with Mateen professing allegiance to the Islamic State group in a 911 call during the attack, his ex-wife saying he was mentally ill, and his father suggesting he was driven by hatred of gays.
On Tuesday, a U.S. official said the FBI is looking into a flurry of news reports quoting patrons of the Pulse as saying that Mateen frequented the nightspot and reached out to men on gay dating apps. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Some psychologists raised the possibility that Mateen was sexually conflicted and lashed out against gays, or that he was casing the nightclub for an attack and trying to find victims online.
Jim Van Horn, 71, told The Associated Press that he saw Mateen repeatedly at the bar and talked to him once.
"He was a homosexual and he was trying to pick up men," Van Horn said. "He would walk up to them and then he would maybe put his arm around 'em or something and maybe try to get them to dance a little bit or something."
The attack early Sunday ended with Mateen being shot to death by a SWAT team. Of the 53 people wounded, six were listed in critical condition Tuesday and five others were in guarded condition.
At a news conference at Orlando Regional Medical Center, shooting survivor Patience Carter described praying to die as she lay on a nightclub bathroom floor covered in water and blood. She said Mateen talked about wanting the U.S. to "stop bombing my country," a possible reference to his father's native Afghanistan.
"I really don't think I'm going to get out of there," Carter, 20, recalled. "I made peace with God. 'Just please take me. I don't want any more.' I was just begging God to take the soul out my body."
In Washington, President Barack Obama said investigators had no information to suggest a foreign terrorist group directed the attack. He said it was increasingly clear the killer "took in extremist information and propaganda over the internet. He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalized."
The president also blasted Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric as dangerous and contrary to American values, challenged Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban, and lashed out at his Republican foes who have criticized him for not using the term "radical Islam."
"If someone seriously thinks we don't know who we're fighting, if there's anyone out there who thinks we're confused about who our enemies are," Obama said, "that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists we've taken off the battlefield."
Gay dating app Jack'd said it has been unable to confirm so far that Mateen had a profile on the service. Grindr officials said they "will continue to cooperate with the authorities and do not comment on ongoing investigations." And Adam4Adam said the company is looking at conversations and profiles in the Orlando area for any activity by Mateen but hasn't found anything yet.
Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, denied his son was gay and said that if he had been in the nightclub before, he may have been "scouting the place." The elder Mateen, who lives Port St. Lucie, Florida, said that apart from the time his son got angry a few months ago over seeing two men kissing, he never saw any anti-gay behavior from him.
Psychological studies have shown that some men with repressed same-sex desires may express anti-gay views, especially if they grew up in families that opposed homosexuality.
"People who are struggling to come to terms with their sexual identity do at times react to that by doing the exact opposite, which could be to become more masculine or more vocal about their ideals of a traditional family," said Michael Newcomb, a Northwestern University psychologist.
Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said earlier in the week that he was mentally ill, controlling and abusive. Amid the latest reports about his clubgoing, she told CNN: "Well, when we had gotten married, he confessed to me about his past that was recent at that time and that he very much enjoyed going to clubs and the nightlife and there was a lot of pictures of him."
"I feel like it's a side of him or a part of him that he lived but probably didn't want everybody to know about," she said.
The FBI has recovered Mateen's phone and will use location data to verify whether he previously visited the club, said a third official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Investigators working to determine whether anyone had advance knowledge of the attack have spoken extensively with Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, and are working to establish whether she and Mateen were recently at or inside the club, the official said. The official said investigators have not ruled out charging others, including the wife.
Orlando gunman's wife, Noor Salman, 'may face charges'
Prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate Noor Salman, wife of gunman Omar Mateen, sources quoted by Fox News and Reuters say.
She is reported to have told police she tried to talk her husband out of attacking the Pulse nightclub.
The attack in Florida was the worst mass shooting in recent US history.
Fifty-three people were wounded and six remain in a critical condition.
Prosecutors quoted by Fox News said they were seeking to charge Noor Salman as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder, as well as with failure to warn authorities about the impending attack.
It was possible that Mateen had called his wife from inside the club while the killings were taking place, Fox quoted a source as saying.
Although Ms Salman has been questioned since the attack early on Sunday, she has not been arrested.
US Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee which received a briefing on the investigation, told CNN that "it appears she had some knowledge of what was going on".
"She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be co-operating and can provide us with some important information," he added.
On Tuesday, US media reported that Noor Salman had gone with Omar Mateen to buy ammunition and had also driven him to the Pulse nightclub on a previous occasion because he had wanted to survey it.
However, she said she had tried to talk her husband out of carrying out the attack, sources quoted by NBC News said.
Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, said on Tuesday that Ms Salman - his son's second wife - had returned to the couple's flat on Monday to pick up some clothes. He said she and the couple's young son were still in Florida but declined to say where.
Mateen, 29, who was killed when police stormed the club, pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State (IS) during the attack, authorities say.
He had visited the club as a guest several times over the past three years and interacted with other club goers on gay dating apps, witnesses said.
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said Mateen appeared to have been "an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalised".
Investigators have said there is no evidence that Mateen had been in contact with any outside groups such as IS. Mateen was a US citizen, born in New York to Afghan immigrant parents.
President Obama will travel to the scene of the attack in Orlando on Thursday.
SSNIT spends GHC240m on posting cards
Dr. Prosper Ayisah, Takoradi Area Manager, revealed that in 2015 alone, the Trust paid the Ghana Post GH¢240 million or Express Mailing System to enable the Ghana Post distribute cards and other relevant documents to clients under the scheme.
He said because most addresses were either wrong or non-existent, officials of the EMS department had to do multiple roaming and searching to locate clients, which contributed to the huge cost incurred.
Dr. Ayisah said the monies could have been invested in the money markets, either through short or long term debentures to raise extra monies for the scheme, which could increase pension amount.
The Takoradi Area Manager therefore called on clients of the Trust to give proper details particularly residential details.
Mr Laud Senanu, General Manager Operations of SSNIT, encouraged employers to regularly submit the data of their employees to ensure a secured pension.
He said establishments who may have difficulty in paying for employees could visit any of the offices of the Trust and negotiate payment modules.
The Operations Manager said establishments or employers must register all employees saying, “The Social Security Law stipulates that within 30 days after commencement of business, employers must register with SSNIT.”
Mr. Senanu said the registration involves taking the bio data of the worker and issuing a social security card with a valid social security number adding, every social security scheme depends on the bio and the financial data of its members in its operations.
Periodically, he said compliance officers visit employers at their premises to carry out inspection to enforce compliance of the law and called on the media to help in the education.
Dramani, Yeboah speak on Ethiopia thrashing
Ghana under-20 coach Mas-Ud Dramani has shed light on his team's 4-0
thumping of Ethiopia in the 2017 African Youth Championship qualifiers
on Monday.
Goals from Yaw Yeboah, Dauda Mohammed and Evans Mensah wrapped up a 5-2 aggregate at the new Cape Coast Sports Stadium, the first leg having ended 2-1 in favour of the Ethiopians in Addis Ababa.
“I knew what I had taught them going into the game, so we were just going onto the pitch to play our game," Dramani said.
“We had two early goals which were so important, and then the other goals came in the second half.
"I want to congratulate the players and I know we have to work harder because there is more work to be done.”
Manchester City youngster Yeboah, who opened the scoring on six minutes, added: “We worked hard and listened to our coaches.
"We have been training very hard because we knew this game was very important. They came to get a draw but we did everything possible to win.
"I will say hard work made us score the four goals."
Ghana have now set a date with Senegal in the third and final round.
Seven teams are expected to join host Zambia for the final championship which runs between February 26 and March 12, 2017.
Goals from Yaw Yeboah, Dauda Mohammed and Evans Mensah wrapped up a 5-2 aggregate at the new Cape Coast Sports Stadium, the first leg having ended 2-1 in favour of the Ethiopians in Addis Ababa.
“I knew what I had taught them going into the game, so we were just going onto the pitch to play our game," Dramani said.
“We had two early goals which were so important, and then the other goals came in the second half.
"I want to congratulate the players and I know we have to work harder because there is more work to be done.”
Manchester City youngster Yeboah, who opened the scoring on six minutes, added: “We worked hard and listened to our coaches.
"We have been training very hard because we knew this game was very important. They came to get a draw but we did everything possible to win.
"I will say hard work made us score the four goals."
Ghana have now set a date with Senegal in the third and final round.
Seven teams are expected to join host Zambia for the final championship which runs between February 26 and March 12, 2017.
I'm a mother of 9-year-old girl - Bibi Bright
The actress who is causing a stir with the latest promo photos she released on her birth June 3, has revealed she turned 30 on her birthday and she had a daughter at the age of 21.
“I just turned 30, I am a mother of a 9-year-old girl, I am a Fante and I am an Actress and movie Producer”, Bibi revealed on Peace FM’s “Entertainment Review”, when was asked to give a brief profile about herself.
She also revealed that she is a single mother and she doesn’t have any man in her life.
Bibi Bright first featured in a TV series called ‘Missed Call’ after which she has not looked back ever since. Bibi has gone on to feature in movies such as Please Mary Me, Leave My Wife, Spiritual Killer, Why Me, Forbidden Act, Gamble For Love, Accra Girl, Love and Steal, House Party and Lost In His Glory.
The founder of Carridad Films once revealed in an interview that her childhood dream was to become an air hostess after school.
This dream was killed by her parents who were scared of losing their beloved child through what they perceived as a ‘plane crash’.
Nevertheless, the East High College North Carolina graduate is soaring to new heights in the Ghanaian movie industry in which she believes takes more than just talent to be recognized.
Ghana can’t be run on the fuel of propaganda – Akufo-Addo
This question posed by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was met with a resounding “No” by fisherfolk and residents of Chokor, on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, when the NPP 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, toured the Ablekuma South constituency.
Visiting the Chorkor “Tuesday” market, “Tea Garden”, Chemunaa, and Korle Gonor, the NPP flagbearer opined that Ghana can no longer be run on the fuel of propaganda, lies and deceit, explaining that the myriad problems confronting the Ghanaian people is as a result of a clueless government that has no plan on how to return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity.
In view of this, Nana Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians that his government, God-willing from 2017, is “coming to change Ghana and bring jobs and wealth to every part of Ghana.”
Addressing residents at Chemunaa, Nana Akufo-Addo associated himself with the concerns of fisherfolk, who bemoaned the rapid depletion of marine stocks due to the Mahama government’s refusal to clamp down on illegal fishing methods such as pair trawling, much to the detriment of the fortunes of local fishermen.
He indicated that pair trawling is persisting because of the lack of political will. An Akufo-Addo government, he added, is going to have the courage to do what is right for the survival of the country.
“Our seashore and environment are part of the heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestors, and we have a duty to leave that heritage for those who are coming after us. That is what we are going to do, and I want you to have that assurance,” he added.
His priority as President, he added, will be to bring jobs to all Ghanaians, including the large numbers of unemployed youth resident in Chorkor.
“With proper policies and the right people in charge, who will not steal the money of the poor people of Ghana, we will succeed. I can assure you that I am not coming to steal the monies of Ghanaians. I am coming to work hard to bring relief to all, so there’s wealth and prosperity in every part of Ghana,” he stressed.
Citing the booming economy in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, as opposed to the decline being witnessed in Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that “leadership is the difference between Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. We (in the NPP) are prepared to provide that leadership to move our country forward.”
Ignore ethnocentric propaganda
At “Tea Garden”, the NPP flagbearer called on the people of Chorkor to ignore propaganda making the rounds that he is ethnocentric and dislikes Gas.
“I know they say a lot of negative things about me. They insult and denigrate me. They say I do not like Gas. I was born right here in Swalaba, so how anybody can say I hate Gas beats my imagination. If this is so, then it means
I do not like myself. My wife is Ga, and yet they say I do not like Gas. How is this possible?” he asked.
Continuing, he added that “they say I am an old man, who cannot even walk. You have seen me for yourself. It is only people who have no message for the people of Ghana who will resort to insults, lies and propaganda. Mahama’s government has shown they have no plans for Ghana’s development, and that is why they always rain insults on me.”
Reiterating his commitment to reducing electricity tariffs, the NPP flagbearer also indicated that, in addition to reducing water tariffs, “senior high school education will be free for all school-going children.”
Support the NPP
At the Chorkor market, which was the NPP flagbearer’s first port of call, he interacted with market women and traders, listening to their concerns and assuring them of a reversal of the country’s dwindling fortunes under his government, God-willing, from 2017.
The market, which was constructed by the government of President Kufuor in 2004, has not seen any facelift, since 2009, when the NPP government left office.
To this end, Nana Akufo-Addo appealed to the market women to “help and support me this year. The NPP has the men and women who can do much better for Ghana, than what is currently on offer. I have come to visit you today to appeal for your support.”
He continued,“Ghana is not in a good place. Everything is in a mess, the least said about electricity tariffs the better. However, I want to assure you that when you give me your mandate, I will make sure that electricity tariffs are reduced. We are coming to do a job for Ghana, so we can provide jobs for everybody and thereby create wealth for the masses.”
Look up to me this year, he told the market women, and “repose your confidence in me and I assure you that I will not disappoint you.”
Restoration of nursing training allowances
At the School of Hygiene, located at the Korle bu Teaching hospital, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the foundation of any successful nation rests on the provision of a solid educational and healthcare infrastructure.
“We are going to build a decent healthcare system here in Ghana. What this means is that, for those of you who are studying to be health professionals, we have a duty to look after you. That is why in Kufuor’s time when he did not have oil, he was able to pay nursing and teacher training allowances. Mahama, with oil, has, because of mismanagement, cancelled these allowances. God-willing, I win these elections, teacher training, and nursing training allowances are coming back,” he said.
He continued, “We are going to create the situation where everybody can find work to do. Ghana needs all of you to be working, and not to be sitting at home for 3 or 4 years , but to be working and putting your talents to use for the benefit of society. That is what is going to happen.”
Nana Akufo-Addo urged the people of Chorkor also to vote for the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, stating that he has proven over time to have the concerns of the people of Chorkor at heart, and will deliver, unlike others.
GBC to organize presidential debate
That will however be done after the EC has certified such individuals as Presidential Candidates. The state-owned entity has also hinted that it will give equal air time and space for political parties nationwide to outline their policies to the electorate.
This will be done in line with the Corporation’s editorial policies. The GBC has therefore challenged the public to mark its words against what it intends doing.
The acting Director General, Mrs Francisca Ashietey- Odunton, disclosed this in Accra at a meeting with representatives of all political parties to outline the Corporation’s guidelines for coverage of political parties and presidential candidates.
Political controversy to deepen over GSS jobs data
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in its maiden report claimed the economy created more than 200 thousand jobs in 2014. The agriculture sector emerged as the sector that created the least number of jobs in the year under review.
The maiden GSS job creation report comes at a time when employment and job creation have become a major issue dominating the 2016 election campaign.
Functionaries of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been churning out varying figures about job creation in the country.
In one report, the government claimed it has created more than 600, 000 jobs in the country. Another report has it that close to about 1m jobs have been created by the NDC since it came into power in 2009.
These figures have fiercely been opposed by the opposition New Patriotic Party which claimed jobs created by the NDC are few.
However, on June 14, GSS issued its first ever comprehensive job creation report that is expected to inflame the controversy surrounding statistics about job creation.
The report said the Ghanaian economy created 207, 492 jobs in 2014. The manufacturing sub-sector created the largest number of jobs. It also found that nearly nine out of every ten new jobs created took place in the services sector.
The agriculture sector which used to employ most Ghanaians is now officially the poorest performing sector when it comes to jobs created in 2014. It created only 1756 jobs.
The report noted the Ashanti Region, which happens to be the stronghold of the
NPP recorded the highest number of net new jobs in the Agric sector.
Juxtaposing the GSS statistics and the government claim of 600, 000 jobs created, the argument will thus be that in one and half years since the survey was conducted, the government added at least 400, 000 jobs.
This conclusion is predicted to set the controversy aflame in the coming days.
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