Veteran Ghanaian actor Kofi Adjorlolo has disclosed that ill health prevented him from featuring in A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu), an upcoming international film produced by actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as LilWin.

In an interview on Max TV, Adjorlolo explained that although he had been approached to join the cast of the production, he was unable to accept the offer because he was unwell after returning from Nigeria, where he had been working on another film project.

According to the veteran actor, he informed LilWin and his production team about his health condition, stressing that his absence from the project was not due to any disagreement between them. Addressing speculation about a possible rift between the two actors, Adjorlolo maintained that their relationship remained cordial, insisting that there was no misunderstanding between them.

He further noted that he had featured in several of LilWin’s previous productions and had never turned down an opportunity to work with the actor before.

“Yes, I was contacted, but I was not well. When I returned from Nigeria, I was unwell, and I made them aware of it. I have done a lot of LilWin’s productions. I have never refused to be part of LilWin’s productions before, and the people of Kumasi know that. Everything is OK between us. I don’t have any problem with them,” he stated.

Kofi Adjorlolo Calls for More Investment in Ghana’s Film Industry

Beyond clarifying the circumstances surrounding his absence from LilWin’s latest project, Adjorlolo also shared his thoughts on what he would prioritise if given the opportunity to improve Ghana’s film industry.

The veteran actor identified investment as one of the major areas requiring attention, emphasising the need for greater financial support to enable filmmakers to produce quality films and contribute to the growth of the sector.

According to him, attracting more investors would help strengthen film production and create opportunities for the industry to reach greater heights. “I would make sure there are lots of investments going into our productions. We need more investors in the industry,” he said.

Adjorlolo’s comments highlight the importance of financial backing in sustaining film production and supporting the development of Ghana’s creative industry.

His clarification also puts to rest speculation surrounding his absence from A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu), as he maintains that his decision was based solely on his health condition and not a strained relationship with LilWin.

South African police said on Tuesday they were investigating the deaths of seven women whose ​bodies were found near Johannesburg over the past ‌two months, with some stripped of their clothes and showing signs of sexual violence.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed “no stone will ​be left unturned” in the investigation into their ​deaths, which have caused widespread alarm.The victims are ⁠mostly aged in their 20s or 30s, and one ​was identified as a woman who disappeared after leaving ​home for an afternoon run.

Violence against women is one of the country’s most entrenched social problems, despite years of government ​pledges to tackle it.

Police are investigating whether the killings ​in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, were carried out by ‌a ⁠single perpetrator, multiple suspects or copycat criminals.

Some bodies were found naked, others partially clothed. One body was decomposing when discovered.

The killings have sparked widespread condemnation from ​civil society and ​sporting bodies. ⁠Police have not yet established a motive for the killings.

South Africa has one ​of the highest murder rates in the ​world, ⁠averaging about 60 a day, according to official crime statistics. Violent crime is a persistent source of public anger ⁠and ​anxiety as the country prepares ​to hold municipal elections in November.

Half of Russia’s six top ​diesel-producing refineries were forced to significantly cut back or completely halt output in September due to ‌damage sustained in drone attacks, according to Reuters calculations based on data from fuel market participants.

Russia’s fuel crunch was underscored by U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, when he called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, saying the attacks ​were causing a shortage of the fuel that is “hurting the world”.Ukraine, which faces regular Russian attacks on ​its own energy infrastructure, says refineries are legitimate military targets.

The U.S. national average price for ⁠diesel, which is used by trucks, trains, ships and farm equipment, rose above $6 a gallon for the first ​time on Thursday, according to price tracker GasBuddy, an unwanted dynamic for Trump ahead of November’s midterm elections.

MOSCOW FORCED TO ​RESTRICT EXPORTS

Diesel is widely used in the agricultural sector, which was already under pressure in the U.S. before the Iran war, facing a fourth straight year of shrinking margins in the face of resurgent drought, high input costs and fallout from Trump’s trade policies.

The conflict in ​Iran has undermined global fuel supply, while Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s refineries in recent months have led ​to a decline in fuel production in the country and forced Moscow to restrict exports of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

According to the ‌market-sourced ⁠data, six plants — the Omsk refinery, Kirishi, Taneco, Volgograd refinery, NORSI and Perm — account for about half of Russia’s diesel production.

Kirishi has been fully shut down, while the Volgograd refinery and NORSI are operating at about one-quarter of their nameplate capacity, according to sources.

Diesel production at those plants is several times lower than normal levels. Taneco was ​attacked by drones on Sunday, ​but sources said it ⁠was not yet possible to assess the consequences of the attack.

ONE RUSSIAN REFINERY HIT EVERY THREE DAYS, IEA SAYS

According to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, in the first eight ​months of 2026, a Russian refinery was successfully hit on average every three ​days.

Russian diesel exports ⁠before the restrictions were introduced amounted to less than 1 million metric tons in June, according to traders’ estimates, while combined exports of diesel and gasoil totalled about 1.8 million tons.

A year earlier, when refineries were operating normally, diesel exports ⁠stood at ​about 2.5 million tons per month, or 3.3 million to 3.4 ​million tons including lower-quality gasoil.

Turkey and Brazil had been the largest buyers of Russian diesel for many months, taking at least half of available ​cargoes before the restrictions came into force in July, according to LSEG data.

Hundreds of protestors gathered in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, to voice their opposition to a government-proposed constitutional amendment that could allow President Felix Tshisekedi — elected in 2019, then re-elected in 2023 — to stand for a third term following a referendum.

Organised by the C64 coalition, the opposition is calling on President Felix Tshisekedi to “give up” proposed constitutional changes that could open the way for him to secure a third term.

Elections are two years away but tensions are already high between the government and its opponents since the ruling-party-majority parliament approved a proposal to extend the presidential mandate.

Authorities suppressed a July rally in Kinshasa against the constitutional amendment and several opposition supporters were injured in clashes in which the UN said at least one person was killed.

In mid-July, Kinshasa also announced the organisation of a national dialogue long demanded by the opposition, without specifying its terms.

The proposed constitutional change comes as much of the country is riven by conflict, particularly to the east, where the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group seized swathes of territory last year.

Nearly 94,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen since fighting between Houthi rebels and government forces intensified this month, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The worst-hit areas are Taiz and Lahj governorates, where more than 48,000 people have been displaced.

The UN migration agency is calling for urgent support to provide shelter, clean water and sanitation for families forced from their homes.

More than 2,000 people have also crossed the sea into neighbouring Djibouti, arriving in small boats along the country’s northern coast.

IOM teams have been helping new arrivals ashore, distributing food and providing emergency shelter. Women and children have sought relief from the scorching heat under temporary canopies along the shoreline.

The renewed fighting is raising fears that Yemen could slide back into a full-scale civil war. The conflict killed around 150,000 people before a ceasefire in 2022.

The Iran-backed Houthis have also made strategic gains threatening a key Red Sea shipping route, adding to regional security concerns.

Developer LMI Holdings has committed to completing the first 700 housing units under the revived Saglemi Housing Project by March 2027, with the first phase of 1,500 units expected to be completed by December 2027.

The commitment was highlighted during President John Dramani Mahama’s inspection of the Saglemi project in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

The Saglemi project, originally conceived as a 5,000-unit affordable housing estate under the late President John Evans Atta Mills, stalled after a change in government, with subsequent legal and investigative processes bringing construction to a halt.

The prolonged inactivity also left the site vulnerable to vandalism, with electrical cables, fittings, wash basins, bathtubs, bulbs and underground telecommunications cables reportedly removed.

President Mahama said government eventually decided to partner with the private sector to complete the development, leading to the selection of LMI Holdings to undertake the redevelopment.

“From what you have seen today, this estate is going to become a modern and conducive residential community for thousands of Ghanaian families,” President Mahama said.

He urged prospective homeowners to register promptly once the sales portal is opened, warning that demand for the houses is likely to be high.

“I want to encourage Ghanaians to register as soon as the sales portal is opened because these houses will be in high demand,” he said.

President Mahama explained that industries located along the corridor, particularly around Tema and the Dawa Industrial Park, could also seek to acquire the houses for their workers.

He said the estate would therefore serve both industrial workers and Ghanaian families seeking to own homes in a well-planned community.

Beyond the housing development, President Mahama said Saglemi would benefit from major supporting infrastructure, including improved road and railway connections.

“Government is dualising the road from here to Aflao. The first phase is already under construction, while the second phase from Central University is being awarded. Residents will therefore enjoy a fast and efficient road connection,” he said.

He added that a planned railway connection would transport both passengers and cargo, including containers and industrial goods from the Tema Port to the industrial park.

According to President Mahama, these developments are positioning Saglemi as part of a major industrial and residential growth corridor and fit into government’s wider vision for a Green Digital City.

The President said he expected the developer to fulfil its commitment on the housing delivery timeline.

“It is my hope that shortly after Christmas, around Easter next year, we shall gather here to commission the first 700 housing units and hand them over to homeowners. Then, in December next year, we shall return once again to commission the remaining units, completing the first phase of 1,500 houses,” he said.

The first phase represents 1,500 units of the original 5,000-unit Saglemi project, with President Mahama indicating that work would subsequently commence on the remaining 3,500 units.

He also linked the project to government’s broader efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing and reduce the burden of high rent advances on Ghanaian families.

“Saglemi is not the last housing project. Government is preparing a major national housing programme that will be announced by the Finance Minister in the next budget,” he said.

President Mahama noted that GH¢500 million had already been allocated to the District Housing Scheme, with construction expected to begin in selected districts as government rolls out its housing agenda over the next four years.

At least 132 people are dead and a state of emergency has been declared after Colombia was hit by one of its largest earthquakes in years. The death toll is likely to rise, with more feared trapped under collapsed buildings.

The magnitude 7.4 quake struck at 07:34 (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103km (64 miles) in Chocó province, the country’s geological service said. It was felt across an enormous area, stretching for hundreds of miles across western Colombia.

Many of the deaths have been concentrated in the city of Pereira, in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, with surrounding cities and the Valle del Cauca region also hit hard. The epicentre of the quake was near the village of San José del Palmar, in Chocó province, but local mayor León Fabio Marín Moncada said that there had miraculously been no deaths or injuries – despite the roads in and out being damaged.

At least 570 people were injured in the quakes, Colombia’s Association of Capital Cities wrote in a statement update on Monday.
About 55km (34 miles) from the epicentre of the earthquake, the city of Pereira saw some of the worst damage.

Videos verified by the BBC show at least one building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, the city’s main square, with scattered debris and dust across the open space where many people had gathered.

Local authorities have reported at least 67 people dead in the city’s metropolitan area, with 65 collapsed buildings. People are believed to be trapped in 15 of them. A curfew is in place in some parts of the city until 05:00 local time on Tuesday.

Thirty-two buildings collapsed in Cali, located about 160km south of Pereira and about 200km from the epicentre.

Dan Cutler, 29, is from London but has been in Colombia for about two months as part of a big trip with his partner, and is currently in Cali. Being woken by the earthquake, he told the BBC: “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

“We sprinted outside in our pyjamas. There’s no major structural damage to the hotel, but there are surface cracks in the walls, and paint and plaster have peeled off,” he says. There were also reports of deaths in Manizales, Quibdó, Medellín, across the Chocó and Valle del Cauca regions.

At least two people have died in Manizales. Speaking to BBC World Service, Angélica Ávila said she had been staying in a hotel in Manizales.

She said as the earthquake hit, cracks appeared in the walls.

“Everyone was screaming… I saw dust coming out of the neighbouring buildings, and bricks were falling off the walls,” she said.

Journalist and meteorologist Luis Felipe Molina, from Manizales, was at home when the earthquake struck – about 150km from the epicentre.

He explained that due to previous earthquakes, the city has “very strict seismic-resistant building regulations” – so his building was able to resist the impact.

“I have 450 books and only a few were left standing on the shelves. You could hear glass breaking and people screaming,” he told BBC Mundo.

“It was a terrible and terrifying experience.”

The country’s aviation authority has reported damage at several regional airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.

In the capital, Bogotá, trees and traffic lights shook violently, with reports of cracks in buildings but so far none of any serious damage to the city’s infrastructure.

Tremors were felt as far away as neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.

The quake comes less than two months after twin quakes devastated the north of Venezuela, killing more than 6,300 people.

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has made significant progress in strengthening its Competitions calendar, providing greater certainty for Member Associations, commercial partners and supporters across the continent.

The increasingly stable calendar reflects CAF’s continued commitment to strengthening its existing Competitions while developing important new properties that will create additional opportunities at senior and youth level.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda 2027 is scheduled from 19 June to 17 July 2027, with the qualification competition to get under way from September 2026.

South Africa to Host TotalEnergies Super Cup 2027

The TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup will be staged in Tshwane, South Africa between TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup holders USM Alger on Sunday, 8 November 2026 at 15h00 local time (13h00 GMT).

CAF Competitions 2026-27: Ghana, Egypt, Senegal, Morocco to host Competitions

There has also been important progress in CAF’s Youth Competitions, which remain central to the organisation’s football development strategy.

The TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2027 is scheduled to be staged in Ghana in February and March next year, while Morocco will host the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2027 in April and May.

Egypt is to host the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2027, which will serve as the qualification tournament for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

CAF is additionally studying the feasibility of establishing a new CAF U-17 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with a view to launching the Competition next year should the necessary sporting and organisational requirements be met.

The proposed tournament would further strengthen CAF’s investment in women’s football and create another important competitive pathway for young female players across the continent.

Morocco will host the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations 2026 from 12-21 October, while the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations 2026 will follow in Senegal in November.

Work has also advanced on the proposed African Nations League, with the competition format discussed within the CAF Executive Committee. The project forms part of CAF’s broader strategy to create more meaningful and commercially attractive international football for Member Associations.

CAF Interclub 2026/27

At club level, the draws for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 preliminary rounds have been completed, giving participating clubs a clear roadmap for the new continental season.

The first preliminary round of both competitions will get under way from 4-6 September 2026, with the return legs scheduled for 11-13 September.

The progress across these competitions is an important step in CAF’s objective of creating a more stable and predictable African football calendar.

Greater certainty around dates and host countries allows Member Associations to plan more effectively, provides players with clearer competitive pathways and gives broadcasters, sponsors and supporters greater visibility around CAF’s major events.

Malawi completed one of the greatest stories in the history of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Ghana 2-1 on Sunday to secure a historic place in the semi-finals and qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 for the first time.

A dramatic second-half winner from Rose Kadzere capped another unforgettable night for the tournament debutants, whose remarkable run continued after earlier victories over defending champions Nigeria and Egypt in the group stage.

Having topped Group C on their maiden appearance, the Scorchers have now become one of only a handful of debutants to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s AFCON, while simultaneously booking one of Africa’s four automatic places at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

For Ghana, the defeat was a bitter blow to their hopes of returning to the global finals for the first time since 2007. However, the Black Queens remain in contention for a World Cup place and will now face Côte d’Ivoire in the African play-off, with the winner advancing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

Ghana’s World Cup hopes remain alive

While the Black Queens were left devastated by the defeat, their World Cup ambitions have not yet ended.

Under the tournament’s qualification format, the four losing quarter-finalists progress to an African play-off. The two winners of those play-off matches will then qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play-offs, where they will have another opportunity to secure places at Brazil 2027.

Ghana will now face Côte d’Ivoire in one of those decisive African play-off fixtures, knowing victory would keep alive their hopes of returning to the Women’s World Cup for the first time in two decades. For Malawi, however, Sunday belonged entirely to the Scorchers.

From tournament debutants to World Cup qualifiers in the space of two remarkable weeks, they have produced one of the most memorable stories in Women’s AFCON history and will now continue their dream run in the semi-finals with a place among the continent’s elite already secured.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has reportedly made it clear that his preferred destination is Real Madrid, despite renewed interest from Barcelona, according to Spanish outlet Diario AS.

The Spanish international, who played a pivotal role in Spain’s recent international success, is understood to be keen on a move to the Santiago Bernabéu, with Real Madrid already taking significant steps toward completing the transfer.

Reports indicate that Barcelona have made initial contact with Rodri’s representatives to explore the possibility of a deal. However, the Catalan club are yet to submit a formal offer, with ongoing financial constraints making a move increasingly difficult.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are believed to be leading the race for the experienced midfielder’s signature. The reigning European champions have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with the 30-year-old, putting them firmly in pole position.

Manchester City are said to value Rodri at €75 million, reflecting his importance to the Premier League champions and his status as one of the world’s top defensive midfielders. Real Madrid, however, are hoping to negotiate the transfer fee down to approximately €60 million as talks continue.

If an agreement is reached, Rodri’s arrival would significantly strengthen Real Madrid’s midfield, adding experience, composure, and elite ball-winning ability to an already formidable squad.

Negotiations between the two clubs are expected to continue in the coming days as Madrid look to finalise one of the summer’s biggest transfer deals.