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London approves plan for joint-tallest tower in Western Europe

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Proposed Europe’s tallest tower

The City of London financial district has approved plans for a 73-floor skyscraper that will match in height Western Europe’s tallest tower a mile to the south, in a sign that city planners are still betting on the office market despite the current downturn.

The proposed 309.6-meter (1,015.75-foot) tower, which will be exactly the same height as London’s Shard, was given the go-ahead after a previously approved plan was revised “to better respond to post-pandemic office needs,” the City of London local authority said on Friday.

Officially called 1 Undershaft, the tower was initially granted approval at a slightly smaller height in 2016 but never started.

The proposed building, which investor Aroland has been trying to get off the ground for years, will require the demolition of an existing smaller tower and has attracted criticism from conservation groups.

Historic England said in a consultation response to City planners in February that the alterations had not altered its impact and said it would “seriously degrade” the public realm around it.

The tower, if built, would provide 154,156 square meters (around 1.66 million square feet) of office space, areas for children’s education on the 72nd and 73rd floors and a publicly accessible garden.

Credit: cnn.com

Suspected Chinese spy linked to Prince Andrew banned from UK

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Prince Andrew

A tribunal in the United Kingdom has upheld a government decision to ban a Chinese businessman with alleged links to Prince Andrew from entering the country.

Judges on Thursday said the alleged spy – named as “H6” – posed a national security risk, and they threw out his appeal against an earlier decision to exclude him from the UK.

The man had reportedly become a “close confidant” of scandal-hit Andrew and was invited to royal residences, such as Buckingham Palace. The man also allegedly met with two former UK leaders on various occasions.

According to a statement on Friday, Andrew’s office said the Duke of York has “ceased all contact” with the alleged spy. The pair had met through official channels and did not discuss matters of a “sensitive nature”, the statement read.

However, some lawmakers have voiced fears that the man could already have influenced the duke or other top officials and are pushing for decisive government action against China.

The Chinese embassy in the UK has denied the claims, blaming “individuals in the UK who are always eager to fabricate baseless ‘spy’ stories targeting China”.

Credit: bbc.com

Drone detection system deployed to New York after mystery sightings

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Drone detection system

US officials are sending a drone detection system to New York, Governor Kathy Hochul says, after questions over mysterious objects in the skies over the east coast and beyond grew in recent days.

Hochul requested the federal assistance after drone sightings forced runways at Stewart International Airport in the state to shut for an hour last week.

“In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are sending a drone detection system to New York,” Hochul wrote on X on Sunday.

She said state governments needed more power to deal on their own with the small, uncrewed aircraft that have also been reported in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

And further west, in Ohio, drone sightings also led to the closure of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for about an hour on Friday night, according to local media.

“Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones,” Hochul said in her post, after last week promising to “do whatever it takes to ensure New Yorkers remain safe”.

Senator Chuck Schumer said on Sunday he hoped to pass a bill that would give local enforcement more power to investigate unidentified flying objects, saying: “I’m pushing for answers amid these drone sightings”.

He also asked that a drone detection system similar to the one headed for New York also be sent to New Jersey, where most of the aerial encounters have so far been recorded.

New Jersey Senator Andy Kim said he went out with local residents over the weekend to observe the night sky, and that he believed – based on conversations with civilian pilots and flight tracking data – that most of the aircraft he saw “were almost certainly planes”.

Credit: bbc.com

‘I didn’t intend to leave Syria,’ Bashar al-Assad says

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Syria former President Bashar al-Assad

Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad appears to say he never intended to flee to Russia – in what is purported to be his first statement since the fall of Damascus eight days ago.

Assad’s reported statement was put on the Telegram channel belonging to the Syrian presidency on Monday, although it is not clear who currently controls it – or whether he wrote it.

In it he says that, as the Syrian capital fell to rebels, he went to the Russian military base in Latakia province “to oversee combat operations” only to see that Syrian troops had abandoned positions.

Hmeimim base had also come under “intensified attack by drone strikes” and the Russians had decided to airlift him to Moscow, he says.

He adds that “at no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party”.

“When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, any position becomes void of purpose,” the statement adds.

Assad and his family fled to Russia as city after city fell to rebels led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) within a period of 11 days.

The rebels groups are continuing to form a transitional government in Syria

HTS, Syria’s most powerful rebel group, was set up under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2011 and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda the following year.

Al-Nusra broke ties with al-Qaeda in 2016 and later took the name HTS when it merged with other factions. However, the UN, US, UK and a number of other countries continue to designate it as a terrorist group.

Its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously used the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has pledged tolerance for different religious groups and communities. But his group’s jihadist past has left some doubting whether it will live up to such promises.

Credit: bbc.com

2024 Election Is Rejection Of NPP & Not Victory For NDC

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MP Armah Kofi Buah receiving prayers from the clergy

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle constituency in the Western region, Emanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has indicated that the outcome of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary electionis not a victory for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but rather a total rejection of the administration of the Akufo Addo and Bawumia government.

To that end, the Ellembelle Legislator advised the NDC to guard against the lapses and ills of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, for which reason Ghanaians rejected them by voting massively for the incoming NDC government.

He mentioned examples of some of the ills and lapses as arrogance, disrespect and empty threats that the NPP party was not going to hand over power to the NDC.

The Ellembelle Legislator said the above-mentioned were things that irritated Ghanaians, for which reason the NPP was massively rejected at the polls.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a Thanksgiving Service he held at Aiyinase, following his victory in the parliamentary election, Armah Kofi Buah, however conceded that he was aware Ghanaians expected a lot from the incoming Mahama government, especially concerning the economy.

Knowing the current state of our economy and financial situation, the Ellembelle Legislator was optimistic the NDC would work to turn the economy around.

He, however, indicated that Ghanaians were reasonable to know that the incoming government could not turn things around overnight, given the broken state of the economy.

However, what Ghanaians want to see is, “we are committed to working to turn the economy around. They do not expect an overnight turnaround of the economy”.

Touching on his victory, the former Petroleum Minister told journalists that the 2024 parliamentary election was his highest votes ever polled, having served the people of Ellembelle for the last four terms.

He said the increment in his votes, since the last four terms, could not be taken for granted. “The victory is humbling and will be guided by that, going into 2025.”

Armah Kofi Buah polled 35,987 votes to beat his main rival Kwasi Bonzo, who managed a paltry 18,454 votes.

Meanwhile, at the Thanksgiving Service, some members of the Clergy in the Ellembelle District laid hands on the MP, seeking wisdom and favour of the Lord for the Legislator.

The Clergy, who attested to the humility of the Ellembelle Legislator, also prayed for the latter to be endowed with the spirit of humility, as he undertakes his job as a Legislator.

Rev. Seth Biney, quoting from the scripture, indicated that if it was true that Esther and Nehemiah obtained favour from the Lord, then the Ellembelle Legislator would also obtain favour from the powers that be, as his party prepares to take over the reins of government, come January 7, 2025.

Rev. Seth Biney explained that the Clergy were witnesses to the unprecedented level of development the MP has brought to Nzema, when he was a sector Minister.

That aside, the MP has also shown that he is in politics to serve and not to be served, given his humble nature.

Apostle Francis Andoh, President of Sacred Action Church, who preached at the Thanksgiving Service indicated that, the 7 December election, which saw the opposition NDC win convincingly, was an indication that God has favoured the NDC over the ruling NPP.

Apostle Andoh indicated further that, both parties had good manifestos which they sold to Ghanaians with the view to win votes, but it took God to favour the NDC to win the elections.

He said, God in his own wisdom decided to favour the NDC in the election because God has a reason for doing so.

“Ghana has won the election. We are not celebrating victory but the favour of the Lord”, he told the hundreds who gathered for the Thanksgiving Service.

As a result, Apostle Andoh advised the NDC to tread cautiously as they prepare to form a government because Ghana has given them a mandate for a purpose. “You never won but God only favoured you”.

Present at the Thanksgiving Service were; chiefs, queen mothers, the regional Chairman of the NDC, Nana Toku and Regional Secretary Joseph Nelson amongst many others.

I will not scrap free SHS, it has come to stay -Mahama assures

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His Excellency John Dramani Mahama - President-Elect

The President-Elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has reassured Ghanaians that his government would not “scrap” the Free SHS policy, but rather a dedicated funding would be sourced to maintain it.

The President-Elect made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with VOA Africa’s Paul Ndiho, last Saturday, December 14, 2024.

The ex-President indicated that he is looking forward to strengthening the nation’s economy and education sectors.

He also added that he would create jobs and address corruption and illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”, during his second term in office.

The NPP propaganda-machinery, prior to the December 7 elections, had created the impression that the NDC would cancel the Free SHS policy implemented by the Nana Akufo-Addo-led NPP government since 2017, if they assume the Presidency.

But John Dramani Mahama debunked the claims, noting that “Free SHS has come to stay and it is not going anywhere because nobody is scrapping it”.

He added that the “policy” will be maintained by getting “dedicated funding”, so that it is better resourced than it is currently.

“But the thing about me coming to scrap Free SHS was just a political gimmick by the NPP… Free SHS has come to stay, and I am going to make it better and improve the quality of the food for the children”…. John Dramani Mahama explained.

According to the President-Elect, “there are a lot of waste in the system”, and that his government will help make the system efficient, so that “students, teachers and parents” will get the “best benefit out of the policy”.

He also pointed to the “negligence of basic level education” due to the focus on only secondary school level education, and disclosed that 1.3 million pupils do not have desks to sit on while some lie on the floor during lessons.

To address the aforementioned issues, the President-elect disclosed that a “National Education Forum” will be held to bring stakeholders together to assess the whole “education value-chain”, as well as take important decisions on how to reform the nation’s education system, to ensure that beneficiaries  get “better and quality education”.

From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi

Ways to Avoid Back Pain

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Back Pain

 

  1. Watch your weight. Extra pounds, especially in your midsection, can make back pain worse by shifting your center of gravity and putting strain on your lower back. Staying within 10 pounds of your ideal weight may help control back pain.
  2. If you smoke, stop.Smoking restricts the flow of nutrient-containing blood to spinal discs, so smokers are especially vulnerable to back pain.
  3. Sleep well.If you’re prone to back pain, talk with your doctor about the best sleeping position. Sleeping on your side with your kneespulled up slightly toward your chest is sometimes suggested. Prefer to sleep on your back? Put one pillow under your knees and another under your lower back. Sleeping on your stomach can be especially hard on your back. If you can’t sleep any other way, place a pillow under your hips.

People prefer different things in their mattresses. If it’s too soft, many people will have backaches. The same is true for a very hard mattress. Many experts recommend a medium-firm mattress for those with chronic backache. It may take some trial and error to find what works for you. A piece of plywood between the box spring and mattress will stiffen a soft bed. A thick mattress pad will help soften a mattress that is too hard.

  1. Pay attention to your posture.First, check your posture by standing with your heels against a wall. Your calves, buttocks, shoulders, and the back of your head should touch the wall. You should be able to slip your hand behind the small of your back. Now, step forward and stand normally. If your posture changes, correct it right away.
  2. Start with your seat. The best chair for preventing back pain is one with a straight back or low-back support. Keep your knees a bit higher than your hips while seated. Your chair back should be set at an angle of about 110 degrees and should cradle the small of your back comfortably. If necessary, use a wedge-shaped cushion or lumbar pad. Prop your feet on a stool if you need to. If you must stand for a prolonged period, keep your head up and your stomach pulled in. If possible, rest one foot on a stool or box about 6 inches high — and switch feet every 5 to 15 minutes.
  3. Check your desk.To avoid straining your neck and eyes, center your computer monitor in front of you, about an arm’s length away. The top of the monitor should be about 2 to 3 inches above your eyelevel. If you wear bifocals, it may be more comfortable to lower your monitor slightly.

Type at the right height. A lot of people put their keyboard directly on their desk, so it’s just below chest level. But typing at that height for a long time limits circulation and stresses the joints and nerves in your arms, shoulders, and wrists. That can cause numbness and pain in those areas, as well as your back. It can even lead to long-term problems like carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you can, use a keyboard tray that’s beneath your desktop. Your keyboard should be slightly below your elbows.

  1. Lighten up on laptop use.Your laptop may be easy to carry around, but if you use it a lot, put it on a desk and type on a separate keyboard and use a mouse.

Using a laptop on your lap for long periods causes you to bend your head forward. That puts pressure on the bones called vertebrae at the top of your neck, which can trigger headaches and pain in your back and neck.

If you need to use a laptop on your lap, make sure the monitor is about 6 inches below your gaze. That position helps lessen how much you have to bend your neck to see. You can prop the laptop on a book or tray if your lap is too low.

Another tip: Limit your laptop use to half an hour at a time.

  1. Try not to type on your phone. It’s OK to send an occasional text or email on your phone. But remember, when you type on your phone, you’re bending your head and curving your spine. If you do that for more than a few minutes, it will put stress on the delicate vertebrae in your neck.

The solution is simple. Save longer messages for when you can sit down at a computer with a straight spine.

  1. Take a lot of breaks. Every 10 minutes, take at least 20 seconds to stop typing and stand and stretch. And every 20 minutes, even if you took a break in between, stand and spend at least 2 minutes away from your computer.

This gets your blood pumping and loosens up tight muscles and stiff joints. It also gives your eyes a chance to readjust, which can prevent computer-related vision problems.

  1. Be careful how you lift. Don’t bend over from the waist to lift heavy objects. Bend your knees and squat, pulling in your stomach muscles and holding the object close to your body as you stand up. Let your legs do the lifting, not your back. Don’t twist your body while lifting. If you can, push rather than pull heavy objects. Pushing is easier on the back.
  2. Avoid high heels. They can shift your center of gravity and strain your lower back. Stick to a one-inch heel. If you have to go higher, bring along a pair of low-heeled shoes and slip into them if you become uncomfortable.
  3. Pick the right handbag or briefcase. Buy a bag or briefcase with a wide, adjustable strap that’s long enough to reach over your head. A messenger bag is made to wear this way. Having the strap on the opposite shoulderof the bag distributes the weight more evenly and helps keep your shoulders even and your back pain-free. When carrying a heavy bag or case without straps, switch hands frequently to avoid putting all the stress on one side of the body. To lighten the load, periodically purge bags, cases, backpacks, and other carriers of things you don’t need.

Credit: webmd.com

Feature: The New Patriotic Party (2017 – December 2024):  A Post Mortem 

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Feature

President Mahama is an astute politician and Ghanaians have overwhelmingly voted him to power. His campaign message has been accepted by the greater majority of Ghanaians.

We all welcome him as our President for the four years ahead of us.

For the New Patriotic Party to reclaim its glory in Ghanaian politics, the entire membership of the party should gather to ponder on why 169 parliamentary seats in 2017 has reduced to less than 100 in the 7th December 2024 polls.

Every well-meaning Ghanaian thought the party would learn a lesson from the Party’s decline from 169 Parliamentary seats in 2017 to 137+1 in 2020 and in 2024 less than 100 Parliamentary seat.

I wish to entreat all the Party faithfuls to meet and consider the cause of our woeful defeat this year, 2024, and what the party can do to raise the image of the Party.

SUGGESTIONS

Abolish the Delegate system which the party uses to elect their constituency Executives, Regional Executive, National Executive, Parliamentary candidates; and its Flagbearers.

Encourage all the constituencies to strengthen the card-bearing membership system. All party members should be given ID-Cards; and encourage to pay dues every month. By this, the Constituency executive can assess the true membership of the party within the Constituencies.

When time is due for election, all the card-bearing members will exercise their votes to elect candidates to all positions in the party including the Flagbearer.

Candidates going in for election will have to go round all the constituencies to sell their messages. If the card-bearing members accept the candidates message, they will vote for them without the candidates paying a pesewa.

Many of these people who refused to vote showed apathy. They said, the delegates took money from the candidates before voting for them, so they are also expecting the candidates or the delegates to give them money before voting.

NPP CAMPAIGN TEAMS

During the chairmanship of Mr. F. F. Antoh and Mr. Amankwa, their Constituencies and the Regional Campaign Teams were comprised all past members of Council of Elders; past constituency and regional executive members; to lead constituency campaign team of that particular constituency. If a past National Executive member hailed from that constituency, he was made to join the campaign team of that particular constituency.

In that same way, all past regional executive members were made to join the regional campaign team. Campaign monies were well-controlled and every member of the team became satisfied and aimed at winning for the party.

POLITICAL APPOINTEES

After major reforms have been made for future elections, the Party should amend the way the party deals with the political appointees, especially the MMDCEs and the regional ministers. Do not hero-worship them, because they are supposed to lobby for developmental projects to the regions and districts.

Mamponteng market in the Kwabre-East municipality of the Ashanti region was started by President Kufuor’s administration. When the NDC came into power from 2009 to 2016, they abandoned the project. President Nana Akufo-Addo took over the administration of the country from 2017 to 2024, the market project is still as it was left in 2009. How do you expect citizens in Mamponteng to vote massively for the party?

Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration promised the people of Kumasi five interchanges; Suame, Anloga, Bekwai roundabout, Santasi and Airport roundabout. The people of Kumasi welcomed this promise with happiness and expected their implementation. The regional minister and Kumasi Mayor were the ones who were supposed to lobby for these projects to turn into reality. The regional minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, and the Mayor of Kumasi, Hon. Samuel Pyne, should have lobbied for the completion of the following projects.

  1. Krofrom market that was started by President Kufuor. The Mills-Mahama administration abandoned it. President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration left the project where President Kufuor left it.
  2. Nana Agyemang Prempeh I international Airport. The New Patriotic Party has done well to bring the Airport to its present situation; but has not been completed because the extension of the runway is incomplete. This is why the airport is not operating internationally.
  3. Boankra Inland Port; the internal development of the Boankra inland port is far advance, but until an inland port has been connected to a sea port by a railway line, it cannot be regarded as an inland port. Lobbying for this railway extension was the ultimate duty of the regional minister and the Ejisu MCE who oversees Boankra. Boankra inland port has now become a white elephant. Hon. Peter Amewu, an appointee to the people of Volta region, was able to lobby for the extension of the railway line, from Tema to Mpakadan, across the Volta Lake. Such is expected of every government appointee.

I am writing this piece only to remind the party that, after its reformation, they should keep their eyes on their political appointees and their Members of Parliament. Political appointees lobby for projects for their various electoral areas. The party members should not hero-worship their political appointees.

SERIAL CALLERS AND THE GRASSROOTS ELECTORATE

NPP did not treat their serial callers and the grassroots well. It looked as serial callers were not engaged in the campaign for the 2024 election. They were not able to work for the party on radio and TV stations. Those I interviewed complained that they are not properly taken care of; so many of them defected to join other parties because the NPP simply ignored them.

I am appealing to the National Executive of the New Patriotic Party, to invite them to help in the reformation exercise.

Some may wonder why I have decided to publish these suggestions, instead of directing these suggestions to the party hierarchy. I have on several occasions called many of these appointees but they have refused to take my calls. They have neglected not only the grassroots but the elders of the party who managed the party when the party was in her heydays.

Again, I want to draw the attention of the NPP hierarchy to the fact that General Elections are generally spiritually driven. You may agree with me or not. Three months before the just ended December 2024 elections, somebody from Ejisu area informed me that a certain spiritualist had predicted win for the NPP and predicted 169 parliamentary seats for the NPP.

After Asiedu Nketiah and his NDC members flooded Ashanti Region and left; the same spiritualist called on some NPP members in Ejisu and told them that the victory of the NPP had been overturned; and that they should call the parliamentary candidate at Ejisu for certain spiritual rituals to be performed. They called the NPP parliamentary candidate and the chairman several times but non picked the phone to listen.

Please, after you have reformed the party, MPs must be made aware that they are servant to their electorate and party. Do not hero-worship them to make them swollen headed and disrespect the grassroots who command the greater votes during General Election.

The arrogance of the political appointees is too much; Members of Parliament, some regional chairmen and ministers, MMDCEs were all arrogant and had not respected the grassroots. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES AND CHANGE YOUR HABITS.

ADVICE FOR PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS 

Members of the New Patriotic Party with presidential ambition should cease campaigning now. Measures aimed at fostering peace and unity among the grassroots is the most important issue at the moment. Convincing all members of the NPP to get Party ID-cards, and to contribute a token towards the development of the party should be the party’s number one strategy in the reformation exercise.

Dr. Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh should be left undisturbed with counter political reflections.

By Frank Bona-Aboagye,

Former Ashanti Regional Financial Secretary NPP (2014-2018)

Lewandowski is slammed as ‘unrecognisable’, after shock defeat to Leganes

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Lewandowski missed several chances in front of goal

Spanish media slammed Robert Lewandowski as an ‘unrecognisable’ figure after Barcelona slipped up in the title race during Sunday’s shock defeat against Leganes.

Hansi Flick fumed on the touchlines as his squad stumbled for the second consecutive league clash that sees Atletico Madrid move level on points and rivals Real Madrid now only one point adrift.

Leganes arrived at the Nou Camp chasing points that would put valuable distance between themselves and the relegation zone, but admittedly didn’t expect to walk away with a victory.

Sergio Gonzales handed the visitors a shock lead just four minutes into the encounter, but many expected Barcelona to hit back with so long left in the match. They didn’t, and Leganes departed having inflicted a damaging blow on the Catalan club’s title hopes.

Barcelona tested Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic just four times throughout the match and was largely let off by Lewandowski proving lame in front of goal before being substituted.

The Polish superstar is LaLiga‘s top scorer this season with 16 goals in the Spanish top-flight, but has scored just once in his last four appearances and was again ineffective against Leganes.

Lewandowski had chances to fire Barcelona back on level terms and then in front on Sunday but was uncharacteristically wasteful, eventually being hooked by Flick in the 66th minute.

Spanish publication Marca slammed the 36-year-old’s performance against the LaLiga minnows, stating afterwards: ‘It’s unrecognisable. It’s hard to believe what’s happening to the Pole.

‘Again he went to the bench early with 25 minutes to go. Nothing to object to. The Pole missed against Leganes, very clear chances unbecoming of the top scorer of the competition,’ they added.

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

Benzema is considering retiring at the end of the season 

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Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema is reportedly considering retiring at the end of the season – and could make a shock return to Real Madrid.

Benzema, 36, now plies his trade for Al-Ittihad but become one of the best strikers in the world during a hugely decorated 14-year spell at Real from 2009 to 2023.

After enduring a diccult campaign in the Middle East last season due to a plethora of off-field problems, the Frenchman has returned to form this term.

He has scored 10 goals in 10 Saudi Pro League appearances under compatriot Laurent Blanc, with the striker just two goals behind top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic and level with Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Benzema has begun to consider his options for the future and could end his playing career, according to Relevo.

The striker, who is paid a whopping £86million a year, has a contract with Al-ittihad until 2026 and the club expect him to honour it.

However, the Saudi side would not be unhappy if he was to hand up his boots as it would free them from a huge financial commitment.

The outlet also reports that Benzema has a future career in mind already, with Real keen to recruit him as a club ambassador as they appreciate his links to the Middle East.

It is said that Los Blancos have an eye on that part of the world and they see Benzema as a market attraction.

The Frenchman scored 354 goals in 648 appearances in the Spanish capital, winning 25 trophies along the way, including five Champions League titles.

He also won the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 2022 on the back of a season where he scored 44 goals in 46 games.

If he returns to Real Madrid he would become the latest former players to become an ambassador, with Roberto Carlos currently the club’s represe. tative in Asia and Oceania

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

The Ghanaian Chronicle