₦airaland Forum

California's Democratic governor has unveiled a high-stakes plan to redraw voting lines in America's most populous state, in order to counter similar efforts by Republicans in Texas.

Gavin Newsom called for a special election to be held in November, in which voters would be asked to approve lawmakers redrawing congressional districts before national midterms in 2026.

He billed the move as an emergency measure in response to a Donald Trump-backed plan in Texas, which could see the Republicans pick up five more seats in the finely-balanced House.

It is the latest development in a gerrymandering fight that runs the risk of setting off a political arms race for control of the US Congress.

The governor - whose term in office ends next year and is rumoured to have presidential ambitions - said it would neutralise an attempt by Trump and other Republicans to "rig the system".

"We're working through a very transparent, temporary and public process," Newsom said.

"We're putting the maps on the ballot and we're giving the power to the people."

He continued: "We have got to recognise the cards that we have been dealt and we have got to meet fire with fire."

Newsom's proposal would see California retain its current congressional maps if Texas and other states pulled out of any changes.

The tit-for-tat move seeks to cancel out projected gains by Republicans in Texas if the state approves a redistricting effort sought by Trump and the state's governor Greg Abbott.

Republicans in Texas have so far been blocked from approving new maps, as Democratic lawmakers have physically left the state, denying its legislative body the two-thirds attendance it needs to proceed with a vote.

Abbott has threatened to arrest the Democrats, who are staying in Illinois, and said he would call continuous special sessions of the state's legislature until the proposal passes.

Botragelad:
The Pope is just a pope,nothing more. Whether he visits Gaza or not changes nothing. Israel will keep flattening the place and hunting down Hamas terrorists, no matter what some religious leader says. If the Pope wants to side with Hamas or spout pro-Palestine nonsense, that’s his problem,it won’t stop Israel from doing what needs to be done.

Hamas should release the hostages, surrender, and let Israel finish the job. You don’t slaughter my people and then lecture me on how we respond. Gaza’s destruction is well-deserved, keep it coming until every last terrorist is wiped out. ⚰️⚰️

Today is my Son Rocco’s birthday.
I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother - is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza.
I am not pointing fingers, placing blame or taking sides. Everyone is suffering.
I am merely trying to do what I can to keep these children from dying of starvation.

Ghanaian authorities have recovered the bodies of top government officials, including ministers, who died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi-Akrofuom area of the Ashanti Region. Eight people were killed in the crash, which occurred on Wednesday morning.

A Ghana Air Force helicopter transported the remains to the Air Force Base in Accra, where senior government officials received them, according to the Ghana News Agency. The government says an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.

Ghana's ministers of defence and environment have died in a military helicopter crash in the central Ashanti region, along with six other people, a government spokesperson says.

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah told a press conference that Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed had been killed in the crash, which he described as a "national tragedy".

Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces said the aircraft, which was carrying three crew and five passengers had gone "off the radar".

It had taken off from the capital, Accra, at 09:12 local time (and GMT) and was heading to the gold-mining town of Obuasi for a national event.


The authorities have not confirmed the cause of the crash.

The chief of staff has directed the country's flags to fly at half-mast.

He extended condolences to "the servicemen who died in service to the country," on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the government

In a shocking and tragic turn of events, two well-known friends, Mr. Uko Jonathan Ogah and Gabriel Ogoda, lost their lives in a brutàl attäck by militias along the Awajir to Makurdi road.

According to reports, Mr. Jonathan Ogah had recently returned to Igede land and got married traditionally just last week, on Saturday, August 2, 2025. His wife traveled to Makurdi by car, while he and his friend, Gabriel Ogoda, rode a bike via the Awajir to Makurdi road. Tragically, their journey was cut short when they were attäcked by militias at the Ullam axis of Gwer East Local Government Area.

Mr. Uko Jonathan Ogah is a son of a king who had recently returned to Igede land and got married traditionally last week.

Gabriel Ogoda is a close friend of Mr. Ogah from Ukpa Ebonda in Oju Local Government Area

The two friends were gruesomely murder£d during the attäck. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motives behind this heinous act. Authorities have confirmed that this incident is not a communal clash but a deliberate attäck by militias.

The circumstances surrounding the attack are still unfolding, and further investigations are ongoing to shed more light on the incident.

South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader, Julius Malema, has criticized African heads of state for their submission to Western powers, particularly the US.

Malema criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent visit to Washington DC, claiming it was primarily focused on EFF discussions rather than matters of national or continental interest.

He also dismissed Trump's global tariffs as "irrational" and urged African countries to cut ties with outside influence, warning that continued dependence on Western powers would undermine Africa's dignity, sovereignty, and long-term development.

The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, has warned against blanket outrage on Nigerians in Ghana by the country’s citizens.

According to her, the stereotype and general branding of Nigerians as criminally minded is unjust and should be widely condemned.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mrs Dabiri said, “Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves, while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions”

She added, “Ghana and Nigeria are like Siamese twins. They are brothers and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration should continue to live in peace like brothers.”


Mr Dabiri made this appeal in response to footage circulating on social media which showed Ghanaians staging a protest, demanding the deportation of Nigerians for their alleged involvement in prostitution and ritual killings in the country.

In the video shared on Tuesday, a large crowd of protesters was seen holding placards with messages such as: “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop,” “Our health is at risk due to mass prostitution,” “Who protects the rights and freedoms of Ghanaians?” “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals,” and “Our children are going missing because of the Igbos,” among others.

At least 59,821 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since October 2023, the health ministry said on Sunday.

A ministry statement said that 88 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, while 374 people were injured, taking the number of injuries to 144,851 in the Israeli onslaught.

“Many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added.

The ministry also noted that 11 Palestinians were killed and over 36 others injured while trying to get humanitarian aid in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid to 1,132, with over 7,521 others wounded, since May 27.

ICC's arrest warrant for Netanyahu

The Israeli army resumed its attacks on the Gaza on March 18 and has since killed 8,657 people and injured 32,810 others, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on Gaza.