Iran brought traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a near-total halt in response to US-Israel attacks
At least three vessels, including two United States-sanctioned tankers, have entered the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on the first full day of the US blockade on ships calling at Iranian ports, according to shipping data.
As the three vessels transiting the strait on Tuesday were not heading to Iranian ports, they were not affected by the blockade.
Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, a medium-range tanker, is heading to Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates, LSEG data showed. The vessel typically moves Iranian naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock, to other non-Iranian ports in the Middle East for export to Asia, Kpler data showed.
Prior to this, two US-sanctioned tankers passed through the narrow waterway, through which a fifth of global energy exports pass. Handy tanker Murlikishan is heading to Iraq to load fuel oil on Thursday, Kpler data showed. The vessel, formerly known as MKA, has transported Russian and Iranian oil.
Another sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry, would be the first to make it through the strait and to exit the Gulf since the blockade began on Monday, data from LSEG and Kpler showed.
The tanker and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd, were sanctioned by the US for dealing with Iran.
Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker, carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its last port of call, Hamriyah, the data showed. The Chinese-owned tanker has a Chinese crew on board, the data showed.
US President Donald Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports on Sunday after weekend peace talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad failed to reach a deal.
Catholics in Cameroon are preparing for the pope's visit
Anglophone separatists in Cameroon have announced a period of “safe travel passage” and halted fighting ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the conflict‑hit region this week.
Leaders of several armed and secessionist groups said the three‑day measure was in recognition of the “profound spiritual importance” of the papal visit, which starts on Wednesday, and the need to safeguard civilian life.
In a statement from Unity Alliance – which brings the groups together – they said they would facilitate the movement of those celebrating the visit. The government is yet to comment.
A near-decade of violence in the English-speaking regions has left at least 6,000 dead and many more forced from their homes.
Pope Leo is currently in Algeria for a second day as part of his 11-day tour of the continent, in which he will also visit Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
Peace is one of the major theme’s of his visit.
The pontiff arrived in Algeria on Monday, marking the first visit by any pope to the predominantly Sunni Muslim country.
It is also the birthplace of St Augustine, and Leo XIV is the first pontiff from the order to follow his teachings.
He is now in Annaba – where the saint was a bishop – and in the afternoon, is expected to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Saint Augustine.
During a meeting at a nearby nursing home run by Catholic nuns, the Pope reiterated his message of peace.
Spain’s government has approved plans to give legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, allowing them to be integrated formally into the workforce.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described his government’s decision as both “an act of justice” and a necessity for Spain.
In a letter to Spaniards posted on social media, Sánchez, a socialist, said the mass legalisation sought “to acknowledge the reality of nearly half a million people who already form part of our everyday lives”.
Spain’s conservative opposition People’s Party (PP) has pledged to attempt to block the legalisation, which it said rewards illegal migrants and would encourage more to come.
The government’s plan will offer a one-year, renewable residence permit to undocumented migrants. In order to be eligible, applicants must prove that they have already spent five months living in Spain and have a clean criminal record. They have between 16 April and the end of June to apply.
Sánchez said migrants helped “build the rich, open and diverse Spain that we are and to which we aspire”.
The prime minister said these migrants are needed to sustain the economy and public services in a country whose population is ageing. He also said it was the right course of action for a nation which in the past had seen many of its own nationals emigrate in search of better opportunities.
The Funcas think-tank estimates that there are around 840,000 undocumented migrants in Spain, the vast majority of whom are Latin American.
The opposition has said that the government’s estimates are wrong and that about one million migrants could apply for the scheme, with PP describing the plan as an “outrage”.
The 30th Champions League meeting between European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid takes centre stage at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
Goals either side of half time from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane helped Bayern earn a slender first-leg victory over Real Madrid and ended their nine-game winless run against the Spanish giants.
The Bavarians will take comfort from having won 29 of their 30 two-legged ties in UEFA competition after winning the first leg on the road, including 12 out of 13 when winning the first leg by a one-goal margin. The only blot on their copybook came in 2010-11 when Inter Milan came from 1-0 down to win 3-2 in the second leg and progress from the last 16 on away goals.
Kompany’s men followed up their victory in Madrid with an emphatic 5-0 away success over St Pauli in the Bundesliga last Saturday.
Bayern’s immediate priority is the Champions League, though, and progressing to their first semi-final since winning the competition for a sixth time in 2019-20. That could prove challenging against Real Madrid, given they have lost seven of their last eight UEFA two-legged ties against Spanish teams and four of their last five such quarter-finals.
However, the Allianz Arena has become a fortress for Bayern, who have won all five European home games this season, averaging 3.2 goals in those games, and have lost just one of their last 28 UCL home fixtures (W22 D5).
Real Madrid face the grim prospect of a second consecutive season without a major trophy as their campaign has begun to unravel at a crucial moment, with last week’s first-leg loss to Bayern sandwiched between two disappointing La Liga results against Mallorca and Girona.
The 15-time European champions have only prevailed in one of their previous seven two-legged ties in UEFA competition after losing the first leg on home soil. However, Real Madrid have won all of their last seven European Cup/Champions League quarter-final ties against German opposition.
After both falling at the quarter-final hurdle in last season’s Champions League, the pressure is on Bayern and Real Madrid – particularly the latter – to produce a statement performance on Wednesday that will go a long way in helping them secure a place in the final four.
Time and time again, Real have defied the odds to prevail on the European stage, and while Los Blancos hold the historical edge with 13 wins to Bayern’s 12, they may come up short on this occasion. Indeed, the formidable home record of the German juggernauts, combined with an attacking unit in peak form, suggests that Real’s knack for UCL miracles will be pushed to its absolute limit.
On the cusp of reaching back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time ever, Arsenal take on Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, in the second leg of their quarter-final encounter.
Mikel Arteta‘s men left it late to snatch a 1-0 win at the Estadio Jose Alvalade last week, but the domestic cracks have continued to widen for the jaded hosts.
Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal
Visiting a venue where they had found the back of the net five times in the 2024-25 league phase, Arsenal likely would have settled for a grand total of zero goals in the first leg against Sporting, who found no way past the impenetrable wall that was David Raya.
However, super subs Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz combined for a last-gasp winner on Portuguese turf, meaning that it is firmly advantage Arsenal as the Gunners endeavour to set up a semi-final tie with Atletico Madrid or Barcelona – most likely the former.
By avoiding defeat to their Primeira Liga foes in midweek, Arsenal would have made the UCL semis in successive seasons for the first time in their illustrious history, and the Gunners have won 17 of their last 18 continental two-legged ties when claiming a first-leg victory on the road.
The hosts also boast an eight-game unbeaten home run against Portuguese teams in Europe – winning six and drawing two of those contests, excluding penalty shootouts – but the Emirates walls came crumbling down at the weekend.
Indeed, Bournemouth’s merited 2-1 Premier League victory allowed Manchester City to cut the gap at the top down to six points with a game in hand, and in the eyes of many, the outcome of this weekend’s Etihad extravaganza could determine the fate of the title.
Suffering as many defeats in their last four games as they had in their first 49 matches of the season (three), the famed Arsenal ‘bottle’ is showing signs of rearing its ugly head again, but progression to the UCL semis – however ugly it may be – could have untold psychological benefits before Sunday’s season-defining showdown.
Still, Sporting should smell blood against a waning Arsenal side on Wednesday – especially given how they put Raya through his paces in Portugal.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Sexist abuse of Union Berlin boss ’embarrassing’
Union Berlin’s director of football has condemned “insane” sexist abuse directed towards new head coach Marie-Louise Eta.
Eta became the first woman appointed to manage a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five leagues after being named interim head coach of the Bundesliga side.
Marie-Louise Eta, Union Berlin head coach
Since her appointment on Sunday, the 34-year-old has been the target of sexist comments on social media.
“It’s just embarrassing. I’ve noticed it, but I also refuse to read or even just expose myself to that kind of nonsense because for me this is about quality – leadership quality,” said Horst Heldt.
“We’re talking about a highly competent leader here, and you can be sure that everyone here at Union, whether in the stands or within the club itself, stands 100% behind this decision and will do everything in their power to ensure that this doesn’t lead to any further discussion in the future.”
Eta, a former Germany youth international and Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, will take charge of Union Berlin’s women’s side this summer.
She became the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach, with Union Berlin, in November 2023.
She deputised for manager Nenad Bjelica, who was serving a three-match suspension, during a 1-0 win over Darmstadt in January 2024 to become the first woman to lead a Bundesliga team from the touchline.
The war in the Middle East is casting a long shadow over the global economy, and the International Monetary Fund is not mincing words about it.In its latest financial stability assessment, the Fund warns that while global markets have so far absorbed the shock of the conflict without breaking down, the apparent calm masks vulnerabilities that could rapidly unravel if the war escalates or drags on.
For businesses, investors, and governments — including those in emerging economies like Ghana — the implications are significant and immediate.Global financial markets entered 2026 on confident footing. Asset prices were rising, volatility was low, and credit was flowing freely.
That benign environment has since been disrupted by the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East, which has pushed energy prices higher, stoked inflation, and forced a broad reassessment of risk across global markets. Equity prices have fallen, bond yields have climbed, and borrowing costs have risen. Yet the adjustment, the IMF notes, has so far been orderly — without the acute liquidity crises or institutional failures that have characterised past episodes of global financial stress.
The Fund is careful, however, not to let that orderliness breed complacency. The relative calm, it argues, reflects the absence of a decisive adverse turn rather than the absence of danger. Markets, it warns pointedly, have not fully priced in the more damaging scenarios that remain plausible.
Energy, Inflation and the Central Bank Dilemma
The most direct channel through which the conflict has struck the global economy is energy prices. Higher oil and gas costs have pushed inflation expectations upward across both advanced and developing economies, raising bond yields and tightening financial conditions. For import-dependent economies — the majority of African nations among them — the consequences feed quickly into transport costs, production costs, and ultimately, consumer prices.
This inflationary pressure has cornered the world’s central banks. Rising prices demand that interest rates remain high. Yet a prolonged war damages growth and employment — conditions that would ordinarily call for easing. The IMF urges central banks to hold firm on price stability, communicate clearly, and act decisively when required. Any loss of credibility, it cautions, would make inflation far costlier to bring back under control.
Debt, Emerging Markets and Hidden Vulnerabilities
The conflict has also sharpened concerns about public debt. Many advanced economies entered this period carrying heavy debt loads and thin fiscal buffers, leaving governments with limited capacity to absorb a serious deterioration in conditions. A structural shift in who holds sovereign debt — increasingly price-sensitive private investors rather than steady central bank holders — means borrowing costs could spike sharply in response to inflation surprises.
Emerging markets face sharper exposure still. Capital flows that chase higher yields are quick to reverse when global sentiment sours, weakening currencies, raising import costs, and tightening domestic credit. Countries with large external financing needs are the most vulnerable. For Ghana and peers navigating their own fiscal consolidation, a sustained global deterioration would arrive at a particularly testing moment.
Beyond these visible pressures, the IMF flags a set of risks not yet reflected in market prices. The non-bank financial sector — hedge funds, private equity, and direct lenders — has grown rapidly and now plays a central role in global credit markets. Yet it carries significant hidden risks: high leverage, opaque valuations, and a mismatch between short-term funding and longer-term assets. Rising defaults are already registering. Should a sudden shock trigger forced asset sales and margin calls, these amplification mechanisms could turn a manageable correction into something far more severe.
The Bottom Line
The IMF stops short of predicting a crisis. What it does say, firmly, is that the conditions for one are more present than markets currently reflect. Higher energy costs, strained government finances, vulnerable emerging markets, and a leveraged non-bank sector carrying hidden risks all represent live pressure points in an environment where the next escalation could arrive without warning.
Its message to policymakers — and to every business and investor watching — is direct: do not mistake today’s orderly markets for a permanent condition. Financial stability, the Fund concludes, cannot be taken for granted. It must be actively and deliberately protected.
Source: International Monetary Fund Global Financial Stability Assessment, 2026
An Accra Circuit Court presided over by His Honour Dennis Eyram Benson has remanded six men into police custody for their alleged involvement in a high-value robbery at Adabraka in Accra.
The accused persons — Saum Mohammed alias Fariwata (A1), Alhassan Iliyasu alias Arab Man (A2), Hamza Agerego alias Nene Bawku (A3), Abdul-Samed Bonsiabu Larry alias Tough (A4), Fatawu Ibrahim alias Motorway (A5), and Abubakar Sadik alias Fifty Cent (A6) — have each pleaded not guilty to three counts of robbery.
The charges include conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery of GH¢400,000 belonging to businessman Nana Kwame Afrani, and robbery of 12.5 kilograms of gold valued at GH¢14,387,096.00.
According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer and Chief Inspector Felix Koomson, the accused persons allegedly carried out the robbery on July 27, 2024, at the Cabest Jewellery shop at Adabraka.
Presenting the brief facts, the prosecution said the accused, armed with AK-47 rifles, arrived at the shop on three motorbikes and fired gunshots, forcing workers to flee.
The assailants reportedly made away with cash and gold before escaping.
The court heard that the police later arrested the suspects through intelligence-led operations between November 2025 and January 2026 in Ashaiman and its environs.
A search conducted during the arrests reportedly uncovered ammunition, pump-action guns, police bulletproof vests, and other items.
The prosecution further indicated that eyewitnesses identified the accused persons during an identification parade, and CCTV footage would be tendered as evidence during the trial.
During proceedings, defence counsel for A1 to A4, led by Bernard Koranteng Obiri and Mary Maamah holding brief for Paul Assibi Abarigah, applied for bail, arguing that the accused had been in custody for several months and were law-abiding businessmen with fixed places of abode.
Counsel also noted that one of the accused is a chief and a respected member of his community.
Counsel for A5 and A6, Reuben Norkplim Kukubor holding brief for Christopher Lartey, also prayed the court to grant bail, stating that their clients had permanent residences, were family men, and would not interfere with investigations.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, citing the seriousness of the offences and the likelihood that the accused persons might fail to appear for trial if granted bail.
Ruling on the application, the court acknowledged the principle that accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty but held that the nature and severity of the offences, as well as concerns about the residential details of one of the accused, made them unsuitable for bail at this stage.
The court consequently remanded all six accused persons into police custody.
The case has been adjourned to April 27, 2026, for further proceedings.
The Accra Regional Police Command has declared one Wisdom Tetteh wanted in connection with the disappearance of Theophilus Ashitey Amarh, and is appealing to the public for information leading to his arrest.
According to the Police, ongoing investigations indicate that the missing man was last seen at his residence. A subsequent search of the premises uncovered suspected bloodstains, raising strong suspicion of foul play.
Preliminary intelligence further suggests that the suspect may have fled the country to neighbouring Togo.
The Command has therefore urged members of the public with any knowledge of the suspect’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact emergency lines.
Police say efforts are underway to track down the suspect and bring him to justice.
The Government has missed its borrowing target in the latest Treasury Bill auction, recording a shortfall in the total amount accepted from the market.
The auction results published by the Bank of Ghana for the tender held on April 10, 2026, said the Government sought to raise GH¢7.57 billion through the issuance of 91-day, 182-day and 364-day bills.
However, total bids accepted by the Central Bank amounted to GH¢ 5.11 billion, resulting in a deficit of GH¢ 2.46 billion against the initial target.
The 91-day bill accounted for the bulk of the accepted bids, totalling GH¢ 4.43 billion, while the 182-day and 364-day bills attracted GH¢ 520 million and GH¢ 16 million respectively.
In light of the results, the Government had set a target of GH¢ 4.89 billion for the upcoming Tender 2003.
The government’s push to reset and modernise Ghana’s agricultural sector is gathering pace, as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has signed a major Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sentuo Group Limited to boost agro-processing and fertiliser production nationwide.
The agreement, spearheaded by Agriculture Minister, Eric Opoku and aligned with the larger vision of President John Dramani Mahama, is expected to reposition Ghana from a largely raw commodity exporter into a competitive agro-industrial economy.
Central to the partnership is the establishment of modern agro-processing facilities across the country, aimed at adding value to key crops including cashew, maize, rice, soybean, and oil palm. The initiative will also integrate storage, packaging, quality control, and export systems to enhance Ghana’s competitiveness on the global market.
Officials say the move is part of a deliberate strategy to reduce post-harvest losses while expanding export earnings through processed agricultural products.
Speaking at the signing, Mr. Eric Opoku described the agreement as a turning point for the sector.
“This partnership signals a shift from exporting raw commodities to building a resilient agro-industrial economy that delivers jobs, value, and long-term prosperity,” he said.
A key component of the deal is the development of a National Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant alongside an integrated input supply system.
The project aims to reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported fertilisers and stabilise prices for farmers.
According to the Minister, the initiative will shield local farmers from global supply shocks and input cost volatility.
“For years, our farmers have been vulnerable to fluctuations in imported inputs. This intervention will ensure reliable access to affordable fertiliser across the country,” he noted.
The MoFA–Sentuo partnership is expected to complement ongoing government interventions under programmes such as the Feed Ghana initiative and the 24-Hour Economy policy.
The 2026 national budget underscores the scale of these efforts, with plans for the distribution of over 272,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser nationwide, alongside targeted support for intensified crop production and cocoa sector inputs.
Analysts say the establishment of local fertiliser production capacity could significantly reduce foreign exchange pressures while improving supply chain stability.
Under the agreement, Sentuo Group will finance, design, construct, and operate the proposed facilities through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, in line with Ghana’s regulatory framework.
The company is expected to deploy modern technologies and international expertise, while prioritising job creation, skills development, and local content.
The Agric minister highlighted the employment potential of the initiative, noting that it is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the agricultural value chain.
MoFA will oversee policy coordination, regulatory support, and stakeholder alignment to ensure smooth implementation of the projects.
Industry observers have described the agreement as a significant milestone, reflecting growing investor confidence and a clearer policy direction under the current administration.
Reaffirming government’s commitment, the Minister stated that the initiative forms part of a broader effort to build a sustainable and industrialised agricultural economy.
“With strategic partnerships like this, we are laying the foundation for a productive, export-driven agricultural sector capable of supporting Ghana’s long-term economic transformation,” he said.
With feasibility studies and regulatory processes expected to begin in the coming months, the MoFA–Sentuo partnership is being positioned as a flagship initiative in Ghana’s agricultural transformation drive.
If successfully implemented, the project is expected to boost value addition, improve farmer access to inputs, create jobs and strengthen food security – key pillars in the country’s quest for economic resilience and growth.
Two suspected armed robbers were shot dead by the police in Tema on Monday after they allegedly shot a mobile money vendor.
Speaking to The Chronicle on condition of anonymity, a senior police source intimated that, the incident occurred around 10: 30am and approximately 100 meters away from the St Paul Methodist Church, Community One, where Vice President, Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang was attending a program.
According to the police source, gunfire erupted in the immediate vicinity while the program was ongoing. The sound prompted security personnel on duty at the event to move towards the source of the shots.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Jean Kpelli, in charge of Tema Police Operations led a police team that spotted a Royal black motorbike with registration number M-24-GE778 speeding away from the area.
The officers pursued the riders to Community Ten, where the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police.
The source continued that, in the ensuing exchanges, the two men were hit and pronounced dead.
At the scene, police recovered one black 9mm Luger Pistol and a search conducted on the suspects revealed a blue hand bag, containing the following items – three live rounds of ammunition, one spent shell, three Android mobile phones.
Also found were, one Ghana Card bearing the name Mavis Mensah, assorted SIM cards, one talisman, one Royal motorbike ignition key and cash amount of GHC11,390.00 (Eleven thousand, three hundred and ninety Ghana Cedis).
The Tema Regional Crime Scene Management Team went to reconstruct the scene, took custody of the pistol to be forwarded to the Central Firearm Registry to ascertain the ownership, likewise the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) for that of the motorbike.
The Police source concluded by saying that the female mobile money vendor who was shot in the foot was rushed to the Tema General Hospital for treatment.
