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.

The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of undermining the principles of decentralisation through the implementation of its flagship 24-Hour Markets programme across various districts in Ghana.

According to the Minority, the government’s approach to the programme risks imposing a uniform development model on districts without sufficiently taking into account their specific needs, priorities and existing development plans.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, September 14, Member of Parliament for Bantama, Francis Asenso-Boakye, criticised what he described as inadequate consultation with district authorities before decisions are taken on the location, design and implementation of the 24-Hour Markets.

He argued that while the initiative may be intended to improve trading infrastructure and stimulate economic activity, its implementation must reflect the country’s decentralised governance structure.

“The 24-Hour Markets programme cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution. To impose essentially the same project across districts without adequate regard for their development plans undermines the very principles of decentralisation.

“Even more disturbing is the demolition or proposed demolition of existing public and community infrastructure to make way for some of these 24-Hour Markets. The examples emerging across the country raise serious questions about planning, consultation and value for money.”

The 24-Hour Markets project is a flagship programme by the government aimed at providing decent trading centres for various districts across Ghana.

The initiative is expected to create spaces where traders, farmers, producers and consumers can conduct business in more organised environments while supporting economic activity within local communities.

However, the Minority argues that the objectives of the programme should not override the role of local authorities in determining development priorities.

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has taken the lead in the latest Global InfoAnalytics poll on who should lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the 2028 presidential election, recording a 10-percentage-point jump from July, 2026.

The poll puts Ato Forson at 32%, up from 22% in July, while NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has dropped from 27% to 23%, representing a four-point decline.

The latest figures, shared on Facebook by the Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, on Monday, September 14, 2026, mark a significant shift in the race, with Ato Forson now leading Asiedu Nketia by nine points.

The poll also shows that a substantial number of delegates remain undecided, with 28% refusing to commit to any of the named contenders. This is, however, a two-point reduction from the 30% recorded in July.

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, follows with 5%, down one percentage point from 6% in July.

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, each recorded 4%, with Prof. Opoku-Agyemang declining from 7% and Julius Debrah falling from 5%.

Professor Joshua Alabi recorded 2%, improving by one percentage point, while Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, remained unchanged at 1%.

The latest poll therefore shows Dr. Ato Forson as the only leading contender to record a double-digit increase between the two surveys.

According to Mussa Dankwah, the September poll sampled 3,615 NDC delegates between September 11 and 13, 2026, at a 99% confidence level and a margin of error of  ±2.17 percentage points.

The figures suggest a notable shift in delegates’ preferences compared with the July poll, particularly the sharp rise in support for Ato Forson and the corresponding decline in Asiedu Nketia’s standing.

However, with more than a quarter of delegates still undecided, the poll indicates that the race remains open and could be significantly influenced by how the contenders consolidate support among delegates in the coming months. 

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has warned contractors and stakeholders involved in the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project that quality, value for money and timely delivery will not be compromised.

He urged that the 198.7-kilometre expressway be delivered to international standards and managed as a long-term national asset capable of supporting economic growth.

Speaking at a handover ceremony of a 175.6-kilometre right-of-way cleared by the Ghana Armed Forces on Monday, September 14, Agbodza said the expressway is a major part of government’s strategy to address growing pressure on the Accra-Kumasi corridor.

“For decades, Accra-Kumasi corridor has carried the disproportionate share of the national traffic. Growth in population, freight and commercial activity has placed increasing pressure on the existing N6,” he said.

He noted that the solution goes beyond continuous repairs and incremental widening of the existing road, stressing the need for a modern network that separates through traffic from local traffic and provides businesses with a more predictable logistics environment.

According to the Minister, the procurement process is being advanced through international competitive pre-qualification to attract technically capable and financially strong firms with proven experience in projects of the scale and complexity of the expressway.

“The process must be competitive, transparent and rigorous. Ghana must obtain quality, value for money and timely delivery. These principles are non-negotiable,” he stated.

This follows progress in the preparatory work for the project, with the Ghana Armed Forces clearing 175.6 kilometres of the right-of-way in 19 weeks, one week ahead of the scheduled 20-week timeline.

The minister said the project is also expected to create opportunities for Ghanaian engineers, contractors, consultants, suppliers, artisans and young professionals through local participation, skills transfer and technology transfer.

He further stressed that the expressway must connect effectively with the wider road network, including the emerging Kumasi Outer Ring Road, to maximise its impact on transportation and economic activity.

The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has assured that the full amount required to construct the Accra-Kumasi Expressway will be available by December 2026.

He said the government is committed to securing the necessary funding to ensure the project proceeds without financial constraints once construction begins.

Speaking at the 175.6-kilometre right-of-way handover ceremony on Monday, September 14, Dr Ato Forson said the government had made arrangements to mobilise the resources required for the project through domestic means.

He stressed that the government would not rely on external borrowing to finance the expressway, describing the approach as part of efforts to undertake major infrastructure projects without adding to the country’s debt burden.

“This handover clears the way for an expressway that will cut travel time and transport cost, improve road safety and set a new standard for our infrastructure delivery.

“As your Minister for Finance, I want to use this opportunity to assure the nation that the entire amount needed for the construction of this expressway will be ready by December 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not borrow a Pesewa for this construction.”

The assurance comes as the government moves into the next phase of preparations for construction of the 198.7-kilometre Accra-Kumasi Expressway, a major road project aimed at improving connectivity between the southern and central parts of the country.

The project is expected to improve the movement of people and goods between Accra and Kumasi, while reducing travel times, transport costs and pressure on the existing road network.

It is also expected to improve road safety through the development of modern road infrastructure designed to meet growing traffic demands along the corridor.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three suspects for allegedly representing and facilitating the activities of Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers, popularly known as “Bolle Jos”, in Ghana.

NACOC said in a statement signed by PNCO Francis Opoku Amoah, acting Director of Public Affairs and International Relations, that the arrests followed the reported seizure by French customs of a cocaine shipment allegedly linked to a wider drug-trafficking network.

The Commission said the three suspects are in its custody, assisting investigators to establish their alleged roles in the trafficking operation.

NACOC said the arrests form part of its efforts to disrupt international drug-trafficking networks and prevent Ghana from being used as a base for such activities.

“The arrests reaffirm NACOC’s resolve that Ghana will not be a safe haven, transit point or operational base for international drug-trafficking organisations,” the statement said.

The Commission added that it would continue working with domestic and international law-enforcement partners to disrupt the people, finances and infrastructure sustaining the illicit drug trade.

It also assured that the rights and legal protections of all persons under investigation would be safeguarded as the investigations continue.

The arrests come days after the Minority in Parliament called for a full-scale independent parliamentary inquiry into what it describes as Ghana’s growing emergence as a transit hub for narcotics under the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress government.

Incumbent National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has withdrawn from the contest for the position of National Organiser of the party.

In a statement issued on September 9, Salam said the decision had been difficult, citing “circumstances beyond my control” for his inability to continue with his candidature.

He expressed gratitude to party members, delegates, colleagues and well-wishers across the country for the encouragement, goodwill and support he received throughout his campaign.

“This decision has been a difficult one, particularly considering the encouragement, goodwill and overwhelming support I have received from Party members, delegates, colleagues and well-wishers across the country,” he said.

“However, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am unable to continue with my candidature,” he added.

Mr Salam stressed that his withdrawal would not affect his commitment to the NPP, saying he remained dedicated to the party’s unity, rebuilding and electoral success.

He also reaffirmed his support for former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, expressing his desire to see him become the next elected President.

“My dedication to the Party remains firm, and I will continue to serve and contribute towards its unity, rebuilding and electoral success, and also to make Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the next president of Ghana,” he said.

Mr Salam appealed to his supporters to accept his decision in good faith and remain united in the interest of the party.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who believed in my vision and supported this journey. To my supporters in particular, I appeal to you to accept this decision in good faith and remain united and committed to the larger interest of the Party,” he noted.

He said political positions were temporary, stressing that commitment to the NPP and its future should take precedence over individual ambitions.

“Political positions may come and go, but our commitment to the NPP and the future of our Party must remain greater than any individual ambition,” he stated.

He further wished all candidates participating in the party’s internal electoral process well, expressing hope that their actions would strengthen the NPP and position it for future electoral victory.

Mr Salam ended his statement with a reference to Psalm 23, describing it as his favourite passage in the Bible: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…”