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Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui found dead on Mt Everest

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A veteran Kenyan mountaineer, Cheruiyot Kirui, who had climbed the Mount Everest over 15 times was on Thursday afternoon found dead a day after he was declared missing.

The 40-year-old Kirui, who was a banker, was on Wednesday declared missing along with a Nepali climber, Nawang Sherpa, whose fate is still unknown.

According to Everest Chronicles, Kirui’s body was found near the summit of the Mount Everest.

The Everest Chronicles said the research and rescue team deployed by Seven Summit Treks found the body of Kirui in the stretch between the summit and the Hilary Step, while his climbing guide, Sherpa 44, remains missing, after the duo had been out of contact since late Tuesday.

“With profound sadness, we share the news of Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui’s passing on Mt Everest. His body was found a few meters below the summit point of Mt Everest,” the tabloid said in a statement.

“He was accompanied by a Nepali climber Nawang Sherpa, whose fate is still unknown.

“His indomitable will and passion for mountaineering will forever be an inspiration. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time of sorrow.”

Reports say Kirui was on a daring mission to reach the summit of Mt Everest, without supplementary oxygen.

“Cheruiyot was a banker. He had climbed to the peak of Mt Kenya, 15 times.

Earlier, officials had said that the research and rescue team had found two bodies but it turned out to be a miscommunication.

Khimlal Gautam, Chief of the Expedition Monitoring and Facilitation Field Office of the Department of Tourism at the base camp, said:

“We have received a report that the research and rescue team have found the body of the Kenyan climber, while his guide remains missing. The search for him is going on.

“Sherpa rescuers recovered Kirui’s body at about 19 metres (62 feet) below the 8,849-metre peak, Nepal’s Department of Tourism also said in a statement.

The death of Kirui, brings the total fatalities on Mount Everest to about 335 deaths records out of 7000 climbers over the years.

Culture

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

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Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

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Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

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Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

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