Russia has completely halted gas supplies to Europe via a major pipeline, saying repairs are needed. The Russian state-owned energy giant, Gazprom, said the restrictions on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would last for the next three days.
Russia has already significantly reduced gas exports via the pipeline. It denies accusations it has used energy supplies as a weapon of war against Western countries.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline stretches 1,200km (745 miles) under the Baltic Sea from the Russian coast near St Petersburg to north-eastern Germany. It opened in 2011, and can send a maximum of 170m cubic metres of gas per day from Russia to Germany.
The pipeline was shut down for 10 days in July – again for repairs, according to Russia – and has recently been operating at just 20% capacity because of what Russia describes as faulty equipment.
The president of Germany’s network regulator has said the country will be able to cope – if Russia resumes delivery in the coming days.
“I assume that we will be able to cope with it,” Klaus Mueller told Reuters. “I trust that Russia will return to 20% on Saturday, but no one can really say.”
European leaders fear Russia could extend the outage in an attempt to drive up gas prices, which have already risen sharply in the past year.
Cocoyam or Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a starchy edible tuber and bears broad greenish leaves. It is grown in several places around the world. We usually consume the roots tubers or its leaves, locally called kontomire.
Both the root and leaves have many health benefits for the body because they are rich in nutrients.
Now let us go through what we found out as some of the amazing benefits of kontomire.
Boost immune system
One (1) cup of cocoyam leaves contains about 145mg of Vitamin C, about 86% of our body’s daily requirement. This will help boost your immune system effectively.
Prevention of cancer
Cocoyam leaves are rich in vitamin C which acts as an antioxidant. This fights against free radicals that cause cancer and help to prevent many diseases.
Healthy eyes
Cocoyam leaves are rich in vitamin A in addition to the vitamin C. The amount of vitamin A can be as high as 123% of our daily requirement. It is very good for eyes to stay healthy, maintain the visual acuity, and prevent the eyes diseases such as myopia, cataract and blindness.
Aid digestion and prevent digestive problems
The high dietary fibre in cocoyam leaves helps in food digestion and absorption. Cocoyam leaves can prevent digestive problems such as indigestion, constipation, and diarrhoea.
Cholesterol level reduction
Cocoyam leaves have no cholesterol and only 1% of total fat, and so, is the best diet for reducing cholesterol. The dietary fibre and methionine contained in cocoyam leaves can reduce the cholesterol effectively.
They bind and break down fat and cholesterol especially triglyceride.
Help in weight loss
Cocoyam leaves are low in fat and high in protein. It is therefore, the best diet to reduce your fat and get your muscle mass.
Reduce inflammation
Cocoyam leaves contain Omega 3 which plays a role in inflammation process and can inhibit the release of inflammatory substances. It can help to treat diseases like arthritis, gastritis, or lupus disease.
Protect the nervous system
Are you feeling the symptoms of tingling, numbness, or pain in your limb? You can eat taro leaves to reduce those symptoms.
The vitamin B complex including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6 in cocoyam leaves protect the nervous system. They also boost the immune system.
Control the blood pressure
The Omega 3, an essential fatty acid, help produce hormones to control the contraction and relaxation of arteries wall. If this mechanism is going well, the blood pressure can be kept at a normal level.
Healthy bone
Cocoyam leaves also contain calcium which is good for the formation and maintenance of healthy bone. It works with phosphorous to strengthen the bone and teeth.
Fetal brain and nervous system development
Besides its rich nutrients content, the leaves also contain folate which is essential for the development of your fetal brain and nervous system.
It is, therefore, good to consume cocoyam leaves when you are pregnant. However, be sure to cook them well before you eat.
Anaemia prevention
Cocoyam leaves diet is recommended in the prevention of anaemia. This is because they contain iron mineral which helps in red blood cell formation. The vitamin C content additionally helps to absorb the iron well.
Fetal bone and teeth development
Additionally, the manganese in cocoyam leaves helps in the fetal cartilage, bone, and teeth formation during pregnancy
Prevention of preeclampsia in pregnancy
The consumption cocoyam leaves help to prevent preeclampsia (a pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys) during pregnancy.
The magnesium mineral helps in muscle relaxation and can be used to prevent preeclampsia.
Reduce wrinkle on the skin
Cocoyam leaves also contain the amino acid called threonine. The threonine helps in the formation of elastin and collagen which are good for the healthy skin. They prevent the skin from wrinkle and rejuvenate skin.
Quick treatment for diarrhoea
The zinc in cocoyam leaves protects intestinal mucosa. When you get diarrhoea, the intestine wall loses its mucosa. Zinc helps to release the mucosa quickly to immediately stop the diarrhoea.
Very good energy source
Cocoyam leaves present one of the best energy sources for the body through its essential amino acid called isoleucine.
This protein regulates the blood sugar and increases the muscle strength and energy levels. This is the best diet for people who love to work out.
Promote the bone and skin healing
An essential amino acid called leucine is contained by cocoyam leaves. It promotes the bone and skin healing by releasing the natural painkiller called enkephalins. It does not only facilitate the bone healing but also relieve the pain as well.
Enhance the memory and mood
Cocoyam leaves release dopamine (a monoamine neurotransmitter found in the brain and essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system) which acts in the brain and nervous system.
Synthesized by phenylalanine, it enhances your brain memory and controls your mood.
Help to treat nicotine addiction
Cocoyam leaves contain tyrosine, a crucial amino acid in the human body. It becomes an adaptogen substance which helps to minimize the effect of nicotine, cocaine, and coffee addiction.
Increase sperm production
Cocoyam leaves contain arginine, an amino acid which helps to increase sperm production. This makes it good for men.
A detoxification agent
Histidine, one of the essential amino acids is also contained in cocoyam leaves. It serves as a detoxification agent that helps to remove the heavy metals from the body and protect the body from damage from radiation.
Caution!!!
You shouldn’t consume cocoyam leaves in a raw condition because it has a dangerous toxin. Please soak them first in the clean water for about 10-15 minutes. After that, cook them well to remove its toxic substance. It is usually itchy in the throat if not well cooked.
Summing up
We believe there are more benefits you might also know of. Leave it as a comment and we will be glad to add it to the list on the update.
Have also considered a combination of cocoyam leaves and turkey berries in your diet? Try it.
The immense benefits of cocoyam leaves popularly called kontomire, cannot be overemphasised considering the outlined benefits. If you can considering a backyard garden, you definitely cannot ignore cocoyam.
The National Supporters Union of Accra Great Olympics football club over the weekend outdoored its constitution at Korle Gonor a suburb of Accra.
The short ceremony saw leaders of various supporters group sing ‘gyama’ songs and dance.
The program marked the official adoption of the Accra Great Olympics Supporters’ Union constitution, which will be safeguarding its activities.
It also serves as a significant milestone in the history of the club.
Though Accra Great Olympics is one of the oldest football clubs in Ghana with a strong supporter base, several efforts to develop a constitution to regularise its activities since its inception has gone through many challenges thus causing a long a standing delay.
In his address, the General Secretary of the Accra Great Olympics Supporters, Dennis Amarkai Amarteifio, said the Union is poised to build a viable, credible and resourceful supporters union that will be able to stand the test of time.
“Our Union must cease to be an opposition group; it is in existence to complement the efforts of MANCO to make Accra Great Olympics better,” he said.
He added that even though members can criticise constructively, unsubstantiated allegations and counter allegations must stop.
The German Bundesliga outfit have terminated their contract with the former Ghana U23 winger after an uninspiring performance at the club.
Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05 have officially parted ways with ex-Ghana youth international Issah Abass by mutual consent.
His contract with the MEWA Arena outfit was expected to expire in the summer of 2023.
The 23-year-old joined FSV Mainz 05 on a five-year deal worth €2 million from Slovenian side NK Olimpija during the 2018 summer transfer window.
He struggled for regular playing time where he loaned out to FC Twente, FC Utrecht and spent last season loan at Croatian top-tier club HNK Rijeka.
The club’s official statement reads “FSV Mainz 05 and Issah Abass have terminated the license player contract with a term until June 30, 2023 by mutual agreement.”
“The Ghanaian striker, who came to Bruchweg in the summer of 2018 and has played a total of four competitive games for the 05ER, has been on loan to FC Utrecht, FC Twente Enschede and HNK Rijeka in recent years.”
Abass was tipped to become one of the best wingers in German Bundesliga after sealing FSV Mainz 05 but he failed to live up to expectations where he played only four games for the club.
He is expected to complete a move to a new club on the transfer deadline day.
Accra Great Olympics FC Board Member Oluboye Commodore has communicated that the only betPawa Ghana Premier League club midfielder Maxwell Abbey Quaye will play for, is the Wonder Club.
He stated this in an interview with CITI Sports after seeing his side win the GHALCA G6 title thanks to a 2-0 win over Bechem United at the Accra Stadium.
When quizzed about the status of the 24 year old, Oluboye Commodore stated, “He has assured that if he has to play in Ghana, he will play with Great Olympics. He is in the system for Great Olympics now….He has told me that he will not play in Ghana if he is not playing with Olympics.”
Abbey Quaye reportedly signed to join Olympics city rival Accra Hearts of Oak in the late hours of the Ghana Premier League transfer window but the deal fell through.
Goals in each half from Razak Yusif and Adrian Ajetey led Olympics to triumph in the G6 preseason tournament ahead of the 2022-2023 betPawa Ghana Premier League season opener against Bechem.
Veteran midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu won his first title with the Wonder Club after joining in the offseason following an extensive run in the Italian Serie A with Udinese.
The Phobians will engage the Ivorian top-tier club in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Ghana Premier League giants Accra Hearts of Oak will be battling out with Ivorian side Bouake FC in a friendly on Sunday, 4th September, 2022.
The all-important international friendly with Bouake FC is scheduled to be played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Bouake FC finished 12th position on the Ivorian top-flight league log after the 2021/22 season
Coach Samuel Boadu’s side pitched camp in Kumasi earlier this week to continue their preparations for the 2022/23 season.
Hearts will begin their season’s campaign with a trip to Dormaa to battle out with Aduana Stars in the match-day one of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season.
Hearts is Ghana’s sole representative in the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup and they will face either AS Douanes (of Burkina Faso) or ASR Bamako (of Mali) in the second preliminary round.
The date for the middle round ties will be held from 7-9th October and 14-16th October, 2022 in the usual home and away form.
The winner of this round will get into the final playoff, where they can subsequently cruise into the group stages.
The French defender joined the Blues for a £69.5million fee on Wednesday, signing a seven-year contract with Thomas Tuchel‘s side.
And after Foxes boss Rodgers questioned Fofana’s ‘commitment’, ‘focus’ and ‘behaviour’, the 21-year-old hit out at the Northern Irishman in a sensational and explosive statement.
His statement reads: ‘It’s time to say goodbye. During these two seasons here, I have probably experienced the most intense moments of my young football career. I have grown as a player but also as a man.
‘Thank you to you, Foxes fan(s), for your kindness and your constant support, even in the moments you were led to believe I didn’t respect the club. I will never forget how we vibrated, exulted or cried, together… I will never forget you.
‘I chose not to communicate during this transfer window despite all the criticism and all the often false and misleading comments, even when they were coming from the club. I understood and I learned.
‘I didn’t want to damage the image of the institution and I chose to take it rather than answer. I thank the coach who has always appreciated me, even if he chose to expose me a lot lately.’
Rodgers, who banished Fofana to train with the club’s youth side as punishment for missing training, had said his handling of the saga is different from the ‘immaculate’ behaviour of Harry Maguire before his £80m move to Man United three years ago.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has hit out at the ‘violent cowards’ who carried out the terrifying robbery at his family home, as he spoke for the first time since the incident.
Aubameyang was reportedly assaulted by a group of four men and threatened with firearms and iron bars in front of his wife Alysha Behague and their two terrified children in the early hours of Monday morning.
In a post on social media, the former Arsenal star confirmed his jaw was ‘injured’ after being struck on the chin with an iron bar, and said his family ‘no longer feeling safe in our own home’.
‘Hey guys, thanks a lot for all the messages,’ he wrote. ‘On Sunday night, some violent cowards broke into our home and threatened my family and my children, just to steal some stuff. ‘They injured my jaw but I will recover in no time, and thank God no one else was physically harmed.
‘The feeling that we are no longer safe in our own home is hard to understand and describe, but as a family, we will overcome this and stand stronger than ever.
‘Thanks for all the support, it really means a lot to us.’
Barcelona have moved Aubameyang and his family into a five-star hotel in the city and offered them psychological counselling following the ordeal.
The thieves escaped with jewels after Aubameyang was forced to open a safe within the property in Castelldefels, a coastal town south of Barcelona.
Aubameyang, 33, was struck on the chin with an iron bar, while Behague suffered a blow to the head, but they decided initally against hospital treatment in order not to further frighten their kids.
The children – Curtys, 11, and Pierre, six – saw their parents held on the ground for an hour while the thieves ransacked the house in the early hours of Monday morning.
Catalan news outlet ARA reported police are looking for the assailants and believe they belong to an organised gang of Kosovar Albanians.
Everton target Mohammed Kudus has followed the example of Antony and refused to train as he tries to force a move away from Ajax.
The Ghanaian attacking midfielder, 22, didn’t report for Wednesday’s training session as the clock ticks down towards the transfer deadline.
Everton have interest in Kudus and want to push ahead with the signing but Ajax are refusing to co-operate.
The player has therefore decided to take matters in to his own hands by essentially going on strike, as Brazilian winger Antony did before his £85 million move to Manchester United earlier this week.
Antony was scolded by Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder, who strongly criticised his conduct, but he ultimately got his wish to be reunited with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Appearing on Ziggo Sports programme Rondo, Ajax boss Schreuder said it was ‘weird’ that Antony went on strike and revealed the forward was ‘eventually spoken to about it’.
Asked if Antony could be fined, Schreuder added: ‘Absolutely. I don’t think it’s good that it’s possible within our club.
Having witnesses Antony’s mutiny first-hand, Kudus clearly feels he too can force through a move to the Premier League by using similar tactics.
The summer transfer window in England closes at 11pm on Thursday night, some 24 hours after the Dutch window after the authorities there made an error.
Dr Kwabena Donkor and colleagues with Chief of Staff
The Presidency yesterday witnessed history following the visit to Jubilee House by some National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs).
Since the Akufo-Addo reign took office, yesterday was the first time that a number of MPs from the opposing side, especially the NDC, have been to the President’s Office, Akufo-Addo said.
The MPs for Nkronza North, Joseph Kwasi Mensah, Pru East, Kwabena Donkor, Sene West, Kwame Twumasi Ampofo, and others were part of a delegation from the Bono Regional House of Chiefs which paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo.
Led by the President of the House of Chiefs, Nana Yaw Pimampim Kagbrese V, they said that they had come as a region to thank “you (Akufo-Addo) for the creation of the Bono East region and the development agenda for Ghana and the region in particular.”
Opening his remarks, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the presence of the delegation, with particular mention of the NDC MPs, while laughing.
As is customary of Akufo-Addo, he made light of the situation, while expressing his delight that the NDC MPs felt compelled to join the delegation in the interests of the Bono East Region.
RESPONSE TO DELEGATION
In his remarks, President Akufo-Addo believed the creation of the new region was yielding results. He said he was grateful that the chiefs had noticed and commended him.
Responding to their concerns about poor road infrastructure, President Akufo-Addo observed that it was part of the huge situation in the entire country, which his government was gradually dealing with.
With regards to the Bono East Region, the President informed the chiefs that some 37 road projects were active, and that the Roads Minister had told him that 19 of the projects had been suspended due to financial challenges. However, he assured the delegation that steps were being taken to deal with the delay.
“The contractors will be back very soon, cross [your] fingers. I am hoping that by the time I am on my regional tour, we will see some evidence of the contractors’ being back to work,” he said.
POLICE SITUATION
Responding to the issue of the withdrawal of the Police Service personnel, President Akufo-Addo debunked the claim of the chiefs.
On the contrary, he informed them that he had been briefed by the Inspector General of Police that only charge office duties had been withdrawn following the attack. He, however, assured them that the matter would be dealt with accordingly.
Meanwhile, the President urged the chiefs to advise their people not to attack the police, “But at the same time, Nananom, speak with the people. Attacking police stations will not help anyone,” Akufo-Addo told the chiefs.
CHIEFS ADDRESS
Addressing President Akufo-Addo, the President of the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese, said they had come to praise him for initiatives like the Free Senior High School (SHS), One District, One Factory (1D1F), Planting for Food and Jobs, Agenda 111, and ongoing projects in the region, and pledged their support for same.
Further, he recalled that at the inauguration of the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs, they requested an office, which the President agreed to. As a result, he added, land had been allocated and was ready for further action.
He also pointed out that only a few contractors were on site at the various road projects in the region, and, therefore, appealed to the President “for an intervention for the road projects to be completed.”
On agriculture, he advocated for support from the President on rice production in the region to create job opportunities and other developments.
Though he commended the government for security in the area, he pointed out that the Police Service personnel had been withdrawn from the Nkronza area for the past four months following some issues.
According to Nana Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese V, the withdrawal of police in the region was causing more fear in the people, as they were unable to go about their daily lives in peace. He pleaded with the President to call the police back to the area.
REGIONAL VISIT
Yesterday was the first time the Bono East Region visited Jubilee House since its creation in 2018, which explained the huge delegation that trooped to the Presidency.
The delegation, led by the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs, presented kente as a gift to the President, which comprised the members of Parliament, the Regional Minister and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.
