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Dozens of boxes of Nazi materials found in basement at top Argentinian court

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Officials inspect documents associated with the Nazi regime found by staffers in the Court's archives

Dozens of boxes of Nazi material confiscated by Argentinean authorities during World War II were recently rediscovered in the Supreme Court’s basement, the court said on Sunday.

The 83 boxes were sent by the Germany embassy in Tokyo to Argentina in June 1941 aboard the Japanese steamship “Nan-a-Maru,” according to the history that the court was able to piece together, it said in a statement.

At the time, the large shipment drew the attention of authorities, who feared its contents could affect Argentina’s neutrality in the war.

Despite claims at the time from German diplomatic representatives that the boxes held personal items, Argentine customs authorities searched five boxes at random.

They found postcards, photographs and propaganda material from the Nazi regime, as well as thousands of notebooks belonging to the Nazi party. A federal judge confiscated the materials, and referred the matter to the Supreme Court.

It was not immediately clear why the items were sent to Argentina or what, if any, action the Supreme Court took at the time.

Eighty-four years later, court staffers came across the boxes as they prepared for a Supreme Court museum.

“Upon opening one of the boxes, we identified material intended to consolidate and propagate Adolf Hitler’s ideology in Argentina during the Second World War,” the court said.

The court has now transferred the boxes to a room equipped with extra security measures, and invited the Holocaust Museum in Buenos Aires to participate in their preservation and inventory.

Credit: bbc.com

Kurdish group PKK says it is laying down arms and disbanding

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Kurdish group the PKK protesting

Outlawed Kurdish group the PKK, which has waged a 40-year insurgency against Turkey, has announced it is laying down its arms and disbanding.

The move followed a call in February by the group’s jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, for it to disband.

The PKK insurgency initially aimed to create an independent homeland for Kurds, who account for about 20% of Turkey’s population. But it has since moved away from its separatist goals, focusing instead on more autonomy and greater Kurdish rights.

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began.

The PKK – which is banned as a terrorist group in Turkey, the EU, UK and US – said it has “completed its historical mission” and would “end the method of armed struggle.”

From now on, the Kurdish issue “can be resolved through democratic politics”, the group said in a statement published on the PKK-affiliated news agency ANF.

In February, Ocalan, 76, called on his movement to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. The PKK leader has been in solitary confinement in prison on an island in the Sea of Marmara, south-west of Istanbul, since 1999.

Ocalan wrote a letter from prison in February saying “there is no alternative to democracy in the pursuit and realisation of a political system. Democratic consensus is the fundamental way.”

It is unclear what Ocalan and his supporters will get in return for disbanding but there is speculation that he may be paroled.

Kurdish politicians will be hoping for a new political dialogue, and a pathway towards greater Kurdish rights.

Both sides had reasons to do a deal now.

Credit: bbc.com

Trump heads to Saudi Arabia eyeing more investment in US

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Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

With US President Donald Trump due to visit Gulf states this week, a key focus will be securing significant new investment for the US economy.

“President Trump wants the announcement [of more Gulf money for the US],” says economist Karen Young, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank.

“He wants to have a big poster in a meeting that describes where these investments might go. And some estimation of what they will do to the American economy in terms of job creation or his big push, of course, on domestic manufacturing.”

Trump is due to arrive in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday 13 May, to meet the country’s de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump is then expected to attend a summit of Gulf leaders in the city on 14 May, before travelling to Qatar that same day, and then ending his three-day trip in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 15 May.

The economic importance of the region to Trump is highlighted by the fact that the visit to Saudi Arabia was due to be the first overseas trip of his second term in the White House. That was before the death of Pope Francis necessitated Trump attending his funeral in Rome towards the end of April.

Saudi Arabia was also the first country that Trump visited during his first term of office, going against the modern practise of US presidents to start with the UK, Canada or Mexico.

Securing new investments in the US from Gulf states, and particularly from their state-backed sovereign wealth funds, will help Trump to signal back home that his “America First” agenda is delivering results.

Credit: bbc.com

Signs of Severe Depression

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Depression is a common mental health condition that ranges widely in severity. If you have a milder case, you may struggle with symptoms that include sadness, irritability, anger, and fatigue that last weeks or longer. Such depression interferes with your daily life and relationships.

But some cases of depression are more severe, with intense symptoms that may include significant appetite and weight loss, sleep problems, and frequent thoughts of death or suicide. Such depression can be paralyzing. It’s important to get treatment quickly if you notice any of these warning signs.

Severe Depression Symptoms

Symptoms of severe depression include:

Trouble sleeping (insomnia). People with depression have more trouble sleeping than those without it. When you’re depressed, your worries keep you up at night. A lack of sleep could make you feel even more sad.

Sleeping too much. Sleep can be a way to escape your feelings and you might find yourself staying in bed longer than normal. Depression can also make you feel tired for no physical reason. And, people with depression are also more likely to have sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, which can cause sleepiness during the day.

Irritability. Feeling grumpy or angry is one of the main symptoms of depression in children and teens. Irritability during episodes of sadness is probably depression. On its own, irritability is more likely to be from something else, like anxiety or disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD).

Depression and irritability could have the same causes, which include genes or family history. Irritability can also lead to depression if it causes trouble in school, work, or relationships.

Loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable. Anhedonia is the medical term for not getting pleasure or enjoyment out of life. It’s a common symptom of depression. Scientists don’t know what causes anhedonia. It may stem from too little dopamine, the brain chemical that creates feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

Hopelessness. Being depressed can make you feel hopeless. Losing hope leads to more episodes of depression and increases the risk for suicide. People who feel hopeless may be less likely to get treatment for depression, or they may stop going to therapy because they feel so negative.

Persistent thoughts of something bad happening. Worry is a normal emotion, but in depression, it can be excessive. When you constantly dwell on the thought that something bad is going to happen, it will make you very anxious and more depressed.

Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts. Most people who are depressed never think about suicide. But feeling hopeless, worthless, and sad can make some people want to die. If you have thoughts of suicide, reach out for help right away. Call 911, or call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Inability to take care of yourself. When you’re depressed, you may not feel like doing activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, working, or taking care of your family.

Psychotic symptoms. Rarely, people with severe depression have psychotic episodes. Symptoms include hallucinations — seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, and delusions — having thoughts or beliefs that aren’t true.

Severe depression symptoms in teens

Depression can look different in teens than it does in adults. Watch for symptoms such as:

  • Irritability and/or aggression
  • Eating or sleeping too much
  • Physical complaints such as headaches and stomachaches
  • Threatening to run away from home
  • Sensitivity to criticism or failure
  • Drug or alcohol use

 

Severe depression physical symptoms

These depression symptoms may not be obvious because they often happen with medical conditions:

  • Constipation
  • Backache, stomachache, and other unexplained aches and pains
  • Low sex drive
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Moving or speaking more slowly than usual

Risk Factors for Suicide

Not all people with risk factors will be suicidal. In addition to depression or other mental illness, risk factors for suicide include:

  • Current or past history of substance abuse or suicide attempts
  • Family history of suicide
  • Chronic pain or serious illness
  • Long-term stress such as legal problems, job loss, bullying, harassment, or discrimination
  • History of abuse, violence, or other trauma in childhood or relationships
  • Access to guns or other methods to attempt suicide

Getting Help for Severe Depression Symptoms

If you’ve had symptoms of depression almost every day for 2 weeks or more, talk to your primary care doctor, or a mental health provider such as a psychiatrist or therapist. If your symptoms are severe, you should reach out sooner. Once you get a diagnosis, you can start treatment to relieve your symptoms.

Source: webmd.com

Feature: Habemus Papam:  The Works of the Holy Spirit

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Feature

At 16:10 Hrs GMT, on May 8, 2025, the white smoke started gushing out of the Sistine Chapel chimney in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, to announce that a pope has been elected. After an hour later, at 17:25 Hrs. GMT,

The Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals and the Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, announced in Latin: “Annuntiovobisgaudium magnum: Habemus Papam! Eminentissimum ac reverendissimumDominumRobertumFranciscum. Sanctae Romane Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost. qui sibinomenimposuit Leo XIV.”” In English, he said, “I announce to you a great joy; we have a Pope! The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord Robert Francis. Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost. who has taken the name Leo XIV.”

Then, Pope Leo XIV, step out to greet the people in the Square and the whole world, with a blessing.

The Holy Spirit had once again picked His own pope for us. And this has always been the case, despite who people clamour for. The Italian saying, “He who enters the conclave as pope leaves as a cardinal,”confirms that frontrunners or those widely expected to win often do not.

Let us take a trip down from 1958. In the October 1958 Conclave, Cardinal Lercaro of Bologna and Cardinal Agagiannian of Armenia were frontrunners. Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, Archbishop of Venice, who felt he placed no chance, was wishing to get back to his beloved Vernice quickly enough, when he was picked by the Holy Spirit and he became Pope John XXIII. No one expected him to become pope, that even the papal tailor, Signor Gammarelli, had not included any set of papal cassocks to fit his heavyset size.

The Holy Spirit picked him and he was someone who came to transform the Catholic Church. Pope John XXIII, started the Second Vatican Council, which was completed after his death in 1963, by Pope Paul VI.

Vatican Council II, among many others, professes that every body, no matter the faith, race, sex or ideology can go to Heaven.

Meaning just as a Christian can be saved and make Heaven, so can a Muslim, Buddhist, Hinduist, traditional religion worshipper and atheist. This is a Catholic belief.

In the 1963 Conclave, the papabile candidates included Cardinals Giovanni Montini, Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna, Guiseppe Siri of Genoa and Gregorio Peitro Agagianian of Sicily.

It is stated in John-Peter’s “Heirs of the Fisherman: Behind the Scenes of Papal Death and Succession,” that Cardinal Montini had wanted to withdraw because of some moves by some cardinals to deny Italians, the papacy. He was urged on to continue and the Holy Spirit moved into the electors and he was elected to become Pope Paul VI.

In 1968, the Church was faced with the issue of allowing Catholics to use contraceptives. The College of Bishops agreed to this by consensus. It was left with Pope Paul VI’s endorsement. The Holy Spirit moved in him and he said “No,” to the proposal and gave reasons.

In his July 25, 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI prophesied to the world, that evil and immorality will triumph if contraceptives are allowed. He stated that there will be, 1). Infidelity and Moral Decline. 2). Lost of Respect for Women. 3). Abuse for Power. And, 4). Unlimited Dominion.

The fears of Pope Paul IV were ridiculed by the world at that time, but barely twenty years his prophecies came through, and we are living in horror. There was a surge in unplanned pregnancies even where various forms of contraception were used. Sexually transmitted diseases also took a hike and more deadly ones, hitherto, unknown came on board, notably, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis with no form of cure in sight, yet. And to demean the human nature created by God, LGBTQ+ is now in our midst.

Pope Paul VI died in 1978 and in August there was a Conclave. Frontrunners were Cardinals, Sergio Pignedoli, Guiseppe Siri, Corrado Ursi, Giovanni Benelli, Sebastiano Baggio and non-cardinal Anastasio Ballestrero. The August Conclave was won by Cardinal Albino Luciani of Vernice, who became Pope John Paul I.

He died after thirty-three days as Pope and Conclave was assembled in October 1978. The frontrunners were Cardinal Guiseppe Siri of Genoa and Cardinal Giovanni Benelli of Florence. It was a hot race between the two, with Cardinal Benelli, at one time, only nine votes short of the required two-thirds majority, when the electors saw in Cardinal Karol Wojtyla from Socialist Poland, a compromised candidate and he started picking votes. At the eighth ballot, he won to become Pope John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II came at the height of the Cold War. His legacy is multifaceted, encompassing his role in the fall of communism, his global outreach and his contributions to interfaith dialogue and the development of the Catholic Church. He is remembered as a leader who championed peace, human dignity, and freedom, leaving an indelible mark on the Catholic Church and global politics.

When he died in 2005, another Conclave was assembled. As what can be said to be an exception to the rule, among the leading frontrunners, were Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Holy Spirit picked Cardinal Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI.

And he came at the time the Church needed someone like him.His legacy is characterized by his intellectual depth, theological writings, and unique leadership style. He is remembered for his profound understanding of faith and reason, his contributions to the Church’s understanding of scripture and tradition, and his courage in addressing the issue of clerical sexual abuses. His papacy also saw him embrace new media and reach out to younger generations, solidifying his place as a 21st-century pope. He helped the Church to remain firm and to continue growing.He resigned in 2013 and Conclave was assembled to elect a new pope.

The frontrunners were Cardinals ChristophSchönborn of Austria, Odilo Scherer of Brazil, Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Peter Appiah Tuckson of Ghana, Marc Ouellet of Canada, Peter Erdo of Hungary and Angelo Scola of Italy. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, was least considered to get elected, because of his age.

The Holy Spirit saw a pope in the Argentine and he got elected to become Pope Francis. He became admired throughout the world for his advocacy of human rights and his distinctive legacy of reform.There is one thing which he did, that is about the protection and the preservation of the environment.

On May 24, 2015, he came out with his encyclical, the Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home, with four core themes, to remind us that the earth is God’s gift to us and we are mandated to take good care of it, for every living creature on it, shares this gift with us.The themes are, 1). Humankind is a peer among living beings in the material world, 2). Shared responsibility is the ethos required to sustain our common home 3). We can’t rely merely on markets and engineering to resolve the present crises and,4). Synthesis – not reductive analysis – is the path to true understanding.

Unfortunately, he also had serious backlashes from certain quarters as, Pope Paul VI, also had. We only have to pray that we do not get into serious environmental challenges in a decade to come, as happened when two decades after ignoring Pope Paul’s prophecies, things started going wrong in the area of human sexuality.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, 2025 and Conclave was assembled. And media worldwide again came out with the frontrunners which were, Cardinals, Anders Arborelius of Sweden, Jean-Marc Aveline of France, FridolinAmbongoBesungu of DR. Congo, Timothy Dolan of the USA, WimEijk of Holland, PéterErdő of Hungary, Fernando Filoni of Italy, William Goh of Singapore, Mario Grech of Malta, Claudio Gugerotti of Italy, PietroParolin of Italy, PierbattistaPizzaballa of Israel, Malcolm Ranjith of Sri Lanka, Robert Sarah of Guinea, Marcello Semeraro of Italy, Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, José Tolentino de Mendonça of Portugal, Peter Turkson of Ghana, Lazarus You Heung-sik of South Korea, and Matteo Zuppi of Italy.

As if the Holy Spirit was not noticing what was happening among, us, He picked from the 133 cardinal electors, 69-year-old, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the USA, a cardinal who was elected less than two years ago, on September 30, 2023, to become, Pope Leo XIV. What has the Holy Spirit seen in him that He picked him to lead His Church? Is he going to have solutions to the problems going on in America under President Trump, which are threatening the third world countries? Is he going to support Trump in his fight against LGBTQ+? Is the Church and the world going to be transformed under his papacy? We pray and thank the Holy Spirit for picking him to be our pope.

The Catholic Church has once again expressed faith in Jesus Christ by electing a successor in the line of St. Peter.

Hon Daniel Dugan

 

Kotoko’s Albert Amoah opens up on bond with Kwame Opoku

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Albert Amoah, Kotoko

Albert Amoah emerged as the hero for Asante Kotoko on Sunday, netting a late winner against Berekum Chelsea to seal a spot in the MTN FA Cup final for the Porcupine Warriors.

The in-form striker rose above the defenders to power home a precise cross from Baba Yahaya, notching his eighth goal of the season in the process.

Speaking after the game, Amoah opened up about his growing on-field chemistry with fellow forward Kwame Opoku.

“We’ve learned to play to our strengths,” Amoah said. “I always know where Kwame is positioned when we’re on the attack. It wasn’t like that at first—we didn’t connect well. But now, there’s a strong understanding between us.”

He added, “The coaches and even our fans have spoken to us about our partnership, and that’s really helped us improve how we play together.”

Kotoko will now turn their attention to the MTN FA Cup final, where they’ll face Division One side Golden Kicks, aiming to secure their 10th title in the competition’s history.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Tony Baffoe pays tribute to legend Wilberforce Mfum

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Wilberforce Mfum

Former Black Stars defender and captain, Anthony Baffoe, has paid a glowing tribute to legendary striker Wilberforce Mfum following the news of his passing. 

The 1963 Africa Cup of Nations winner sadly passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at the age of 88 following a short illness.

Mfum’s death has left Ghana’s football in a state of mourning, with Baffoe penning a heartfelt tribute to the ex-Asante Kotoko player.

“A towering figure in Ghanaian football, Wilberforce Mfum, has sadly passed away. His impact on the beautiful game and his legacy as a true champion will forever remain in our hearts. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Rest in eternal peace, Legend,” Baffoe posted on social media.

Mfum netted 20 goals in 26 appearances for Ghana and featured at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. At club level, he starred for Asante Kotoko before venturing abroad, where he played in the U.S. for clubs such as Baltimore Bays, Ukrainian SC, Ukrainian Nationals, and New York Cosmos.

In 1970, he was joint top scorer in the American Soccer League and later became one of the early African players in the North American Soccer League. His legacy as a powerful forward and pioneer in international football endures in Ghana’s sporting history.

Credit: ghanasoccernet.com

FA Cup: Kotoko coach vows to beat Golden Kick

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Kotoko coach Karim Zito

Asante Kotoko head coach Abdul Karim Zito is fully focused on securing the Ghana FA Cup title, making it clear that his team will give their all to defeat Golden Kick in the final.

With the showdown scheduled for June 15 at the University of Ghana Stadium, Zito’s aim is clear: to win the trophy.

Kotoko reached the final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Berekum Chelsea in the semifinals, and they are now just one step away from clinching their first FA Cup title since 2017.

Zito’s confidence is evident as he prepares his team for the crucial match against Golden Kick, who have made a surprising run to the final with a 3-1 win over Attram De Visser in their semifinal.

Zito’s message is simple: Kotoko’s focus is entirely on securing the win and taking home the trophy.

“You can’t underrate any club until you get what you want, so I don’t care whether they are in Division One or not, I don’t care.”

“I am going there for the cup, so whoever comes there [to the final], I am going to deal with it, I am going to fight it, I am going to make sure that I beat the team and then take the cup,” Zito stated.

Before the FA Cup final, Kotoko will shift their attention to their Ghana Premier League match against Dreams FC on May 18.

Credit: ghanasoccernet.com

CAF Under-20: Ghana lose to Egypt, miss out on qualifying to World Cup

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Ghana lose to Egypt

Ghana’s Black Satellites have missed out on qualifying to the 2025 FIFA Under 20 World Cup after failing to make it to the semifinals of the 2025 CAF AFCON Under 20 Championship.

Ghana lost 5-4 to Egypt on penalties after drawing 2-2 at the end of regulation time; the score remained same at the end of the extra time to force the game to penalties.

Dacosta Antwi missed his penalty kick attempt and that miss proved costly as the host nation converted all five kicks to qualify to the semifinals and prevent Ghana from completing a brilliant comeback from a 2-0 deficit early in the game.

Mohammed Sherif capitalised on two defensive breakdowns from the Black Satellites to grab a brace with his first goal coming in the 19th minute and his second coming in the 27th minute.

For his first, Sherif took advantage of a miscommunication between goalkeeper Gidios Aseako and Ghana captain Ofori McCarthy to toe poke the ball into the net.

Sheriff’s second goal was almost a carbon copy of his first as Aseako and McCarthy again, messed up what should have been a straight forward clearance on a long ball.

Aseako and McCarthy hesitated to clear their lines, allowing Sheriff to pick up the ball, round up Aseako and coolly slotting the ball into the net.

Ghana midfielder Abdul Aziz Issah pulled a goal back in the first half in the 47th minute when his speculative shot squirmed past Egyptian goalkeeper AbdelMoneim Tamer.

Desmond Ofei’s team had a strong start to the second half and looked dangerous from corner kicks with Aaron Essel heading just over the cross bar.

Opoku Amankwah looked dangerous on his brilliant runs as Ghana searched for the equalising goal. Aziz Issah’s powerful drive drew fine save from AbdelMoneim Tamer in the 76th minute.

Ghana held a 77.1% of possession against Egypt’s 22.9% as at the 79th minute reflecting Ghana’s dominance in the second half.

Hakim Sulemana’s free kick in the 88th minute flashed just wide of Egypt’s goal before converting from the penalty spot with virtually the last kick of the match to force the game to extra time.

Aaron Essel was harshly dismissed from the game in the 106th minute in extra time after a slight touch sent Amr “Bibo” Khaled tumbling to the turf.

Credit: citisportsonline.com

Real Madrid want Alonso in place for Club World Cup

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Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid want Xabi Alonso in place as their new manager in time for the start of next month’s Club World Cup.

Sources say the plan is for Alonso, 43, to travel to Madrid on 1 June to prepare the team for their first game of the inaugural Fifa tournament on 18 June against Saudi side Al-Hilal in Miami.

Former Real, Liverpool and Spain midfielder Alonso announced on Friday he was leaving German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season.

It was not Alonso’s intention to join up with Real this early but conversations took place last week and the club felt it did not make sense to use an interim before the Basque manager took over.

Current Real manager Carlo Ancelotti will leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season to take over as the national team coach of Brazil.

The 65-year-old Italian is set to be given a send-off in Los Blancos’ final home game of the campaign against Real Sociedad on 25 May.

Real’s La Liga defence was dealt a decisive blow on Saturday as they lost 4-3 to league leaders Barcelona to leave them seven points adrift with three games remaining.

Conversations with Real started months ago when they let Alonso know he would be the replacement if Ancelotti did not continue next season.

By March a verbal agreement was in place and in the last two weeks negotiations started to focus on the details.

Right now, nothing has been finalised about the timing of his arrival, but Real have let him know that he should take over in the USA as they consider the Club World Cup a very important competition.

Credit: bbc.com

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