DJ Spices, a rising young performer in the Ghanaian DJ scene, has been named the Best Young DJ for the second year in a row at the prestigious Guinness Ghana DJ Awards 2023. The awards, held annually, celebrate the achievements of DJs and individuals who have made significant contributions to the Ghanaian music industry.

DJ Spices’s win is a testament to the communities belief in her talent, hard work, and dedication to her craft. Her passion for music and her ability to connect with her audience have made her a respected young DJ in Ghana.

“This award is a huge honor, and I am so thankful for the support of my family, friends, and fans. I am dedicated to continuing to mix great music and to working other DJs,” said DJ Spices. “I am so grateful to be recognized.”

The Ghana DJ Awards 2023 paid tribute to women in the DJ field throughout the night. Legendary DJ Lucy Banini was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her pioneering role as a woman in the Ghanaian entertainment industry. Banini has been a groundbreaking figure in the DJ scene, paving the way for future generations of female DJs.

“Ms. Lucy Banini is a true icon,” said DJ Spices. “She is an inspiration to me and to many other DJs, both in Ghana and around the world… Not just because she’s a woman, but because she’s awesome, and I am so honored to have received this award in her presence.”

The Ghana DJ Awards 2023 were a night of celebration for the Ghanaian music industry. DJ Spices’s win and the recognition of Lucy Banini’s contributions highlight the talent and achievements of women in the DJ field.

Emirates has become the world’s first airline to operate an A380 demonstration flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Today’s flight, proudly commanded by Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Philippe Lombet, took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB) with one of four engines powered on 100% SAF, helping demonstrate its potential as a drop-in replacement that matches jet fuel’s technical and chemical requirements, while being a more sustainable alternative. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85%* over the fuel’s life cycle when compared to conventional jet fuel. 

Demonstration flights like the one conducted today pave the way for future standardisation, qualification and adoption for 100% SAF flying, as governments adopt broader strategies to support the production and scale up of SAF. The A380 demonstration flight underlines the performance and compatibility of SAF, making it a safe and reliable fuel source, and contributes to the growing body of research carried out by the industry to evaluate the beneficial effects of 100% SAF on aircraft performance. SAF is currently capped at a 50% blend limit in engines for commercial flights.

The Emirates A380 demonstration flight comes as the aviation industry, international organisations, regulatory bodies and high-level officials driving policy-related decisions converge in Dubai for the Third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3). Dedicated collaborators from Airbus, Engine Alliance, Pratt & Whitney, Neste, Virent and ENOC have been working on the testing, technical assessments and data analysis for today’s flight. 

The 100% drop-in SAF used on today’s flight includes renewable aromatics and closely mimics the characteristics of conventional jet fuel. This is the first time that drop-in SAF has been used on an A380 aircraft, with the expectation of full compatibility across the aircraft’s existing systems. The flight carried four tonnes of SAF, comprised of HEFA-SPK provided by Neste (hydro processed esters and fatty acids synthetic paraffinic kerosene) and HDO-SAK from Virent (hydro deoxygenated synthetic aromatic kerosene). ENOC helped to secure the neat SAF comprised of HEFA-SPK, and blended it  with Sustainable Aviation Kerosene (SAK) at its facility in Dubai International Airport ahead of the demonstration, and also carried out into-plane services.

The 100% SAF was used in one Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, while conventional jet fuel was used in the other three engines. The PW980 auxiliary power unit (APU) from Pratt & Whitney Canada also ran on 100% SAF.

Last week, robust engine testing for one A380 Engine Alliance GP7200 engine using 100% SAF was carried out, with the objective of validating the engine’s capability to run on the specially blended 100% drop-in SAF without affecting its performance or requiring any modifications.  Ground engine testing took place at the state-of-the-art Emirates Engineering Centre in Dubai.

Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer, Emirates Airline said: “Emirates is the first passenger airline in the world to operate an A380 with 100% drop-in SAF powering one of four Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. This is another proud moment for Emirates and our partners, as we put words into action with the research into and the trialling of higher concentrations of SAF to eventually lead to industry adoption of 100% SAF flying. This marks another significant step in validating the use of SAF in one of the engines of the A380, a wide-body aircraft with four engines. The growing global demand for lower-emission jet fuel alternatives is there, and the work of producers and suppliers to commercialise SAF and make it available will be critical in the coming years to help Emirates and the wider industry advance our path to lower carbon emissions.”

Julie Kitcher, Airbus Executive Vice President of Communications and Corporate Affairs commented: “Seeing Emirates flying an A380, the world’s largest airliner, powered by an engine running on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuels is a symbolic moment. These fuels are the most effective way to address CO2 emissions in the aviation industry today and that they are supported increasingly by the world’s leading airlines. SAF is vital to meeting the sector’s target of net-zero emissions in 2050, but needs the backing of the whole industry. At Airbus, we are working to make all our aircraft 100% SAF-capable by 2030. We’re also working with partners to grow the global SAF market in the coming years. Airbus’s purpose as a company is to pioneer sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. Through our partnership with Emirates, we’re matching ambition with action.”

“Engine Alliance and Emirates have a strong relationship that dates back 15 years to the A380 entry into service. We are proud to power Emirates’ latest SAF demonstration flight – and share a commitment to more sustainable aviation looking forward,” said Amy Johnston, president of Engine Alliance, a 50-50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney.

“Innovation and collaboration are the keys to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 as this 100% SAF demonstration flight shows. GE Aerospace congratulates Emirates on this major achievement, and we are proud to be powering industry efforts toward a more sustainable future,” said Aziz Koleilat, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Turkey at GE Aerospace. “All GE Aerospace and Engine Alliance engines can operate on approved SAF blends today and through extensive research and testing, GE Aerospace is helping lead the approval and adoption of 100% SAF in the aviation industry.”

“Increasing the use of SAF is critical to achieving the goal of net-zero carbon emissions for aviation, and we are dedicated to ensuring all of Pratt & Whitney’s engines and APUs are compatible with current and future SAF specifications, up to 100%,” said Pratt & Whitney Chief Sustainability Officer Graham Webb. “This in-flight demonstration on an Emirates A380 continues to build momentum towards establishing future standards for 100% SAF, which will help maximize the potential lifecycle emissions reduction for all commercial aircraft flying in the decades ahead.”

“Sustainable Aviation Fuel plays a crucial role in reducing the emissions of air travel, but to fully leverage its decarbonisation potential we need to enable 100% SAF use. Test flights like this Emirates A380-flight using Neste’s SAF are an important step towards 100% SAF certification and we applaud Emirates for its efforts to help pave the way forward. Neste is working closely together with partners to accelerate the availability and use of SAF and we look forward to growing the supply of SAF also to Dubai,” said Jonathan Wood, Vice President Commercial Management and Business Development from the Renewable Aviation business at Neste.

“Virent congratulates Emirates Airline on another successful demonstration flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel featuring Virent’s cleaner-burning BioForm® SAK”, said Virent President and General Counsel Dave Kettner. “With Virent’s plant-based fuels technology, this test flight showed that 100% renewable fuel can meet current specifications and work flawlessly in today’s commercial airline engines. It’s critical that a consortium of companies, like this group, come together to bring sustainable aviation fuel into more widespread use.  Virent will continue to collaborate with future-focused companies, and through this collaboration we can continue to reduce emissions and power a more fuel-efficient airline industry.”

His Excellency Saif Humaid al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC, said: “At ENOC, we recognize the importance of working collaboratively with strategic partners and industry experts to realise a more sustainable future for all. We are pleased to have contributed to fueling Emirates’ first 100% sustainable aviation fuel demonstration flight on an Airbus A380, which brings us a step closer to decarbonising the UAE’s aviation sector and transforming it into a regional hub for low carbon aviation fuels. We remain committed to supporting the UAE’s efforts in the aviation sector to ensure continued sustainable growth.”

Earlier this year, Emirates successfully completed the first 100% SAF-powered demonstration flight in the region on a GE90-powered Boeing 777-300ER.

Last month, the first Emirates flights operating with SAF provided by Shell Aviation took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB).  Shell supplied 315,000 gallons of blended SAF for use at the airline’s hub in Dubai. 

The airline recently expanded its partnership with Neste for the supply of over 3 million gallons of blended SAF in 2024 and 2025 for flights departing from Amsterdam Schiphol and Singapore Changi airports.

Emirates currently uplifts SAF in Norway and France and the airline continues to seek opportunities to use SAF at various airports as supply becomes available.

Emirates participates in a range of industry and UAE government working groups, along with ongoing stakeholder engagements to help scale the production and supply of SAF. Last year, together with the UAE GCAA, the airline contributed to the development of the UAE’s power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels roadmap, driven by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the World Economic Forum, and has been an active participant in the UAE’s National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap launched in January 2023 by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and GCAA. 

Media Contact:

pr@emirates.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has formally launched its Light the World initiative with a Christmas concert dubbed ‘Miracle of Christmas’, with a message of love and hope conveyed through beautiful songs.   (more…)

According to the report of Mansour Jahani, an independent and international cinema journalist, 22nd Hafez Awards, Picture World Cinema and Television Ceremony were given to the best of cinema and television of Iran. The Abbas Kiarostami Memorial Medal was awarded to “Imagination”, directed by Ali Behrad.

The 22nd Cinema and Television Ceremony of Picture World Magazine (Hafez Awards) was held after a year break, under the direction of Omid Moalem and production of Azar Azar Memarian. The awards were given to the best of cinema and television of Iran. This year, the Abbas Kiarostami Memorial Medal was awarded to “Imagination”, directed by Ali Behrad.In the cinema section, “Conjugal Visit” won the Hafez statuette for the best Motion Picture, Aida Pahanandeh was the best director for “Titi” and the jury prize was given to “Zalava” directed by Arsalan Amiri.

In an effort to present the best motion picture and TV productions, Picture World Magazine, with editor-in-chief Omid Moallem, hosted the 22st edition of the non-governmental Hafez Awards, presided by Azar Memarian. Attended by a number of acclaimed artists and celebrities from TV and motion pictures, the ceremony was held in Espinas Palace Hotel, Tehran. This artistic event’s winners in the two categories of motion pictures and television are the following:

Cinema:

Best Motion Picture: Conjugal Visit

Best Director: Aida Panahandeh – Titi

Best Screenplay: Omid Shams, Bahman Ark, Ali Sarahang – Conjugal Visit

Best Actress: Sadaf Espahbodi – Grassland, Elnaz Shakerdoost – Titi

Best Actor: Pejman Jamshidi – Grassland, Bahram Afshari – Fossil

Best Original Score: Hossein Alizadeh – Atabai

Best Cinematography: Vahid Ebrahimi – The Situation of Mehdi

Best editing: Emad Khodabakhsh – Without Everything

Abbas Kiarostami Memorial Medal: Ali behrad – Imagination

Best Technical and Artistic Achievement: AmirHosein Ghodsi

Best Original Song: Mohsen Chavoshi – Set Me Free, Alireza Ghorbani – Innocent

Best Short Film: The Thirteenth Year – Samad Alizadeh

Best Documentary: I Captain – Siavash Saffarianpour

Special individual Achievement: Hadi Hejazifar

TV:

Best Television Figure: Adel Ferdosipour

Best Television Series: The Lion Skin

Best Director: Nima javidi – The Actor, Jamshid Mahmoudi – The Lion Skin

Best Screenplay: Jamshid Mahmoudi, Reza Baharvand – The Lion Skin

Best Comedy Actor: Mehran Ghafourian – Blue Nissan

Best Comedy Actress: Roya Afshar – Anten

Best Drama Actor: Alireza kamali – The Lion Skin

Best Drama Actress: Hoda Zeinolabedin

The Selected Series in Television Products and VOD in 1400:

Once Upon a Time in Iran – Tina Pakravan

(The series was not in the competitive section)

Jury Prize: Arsalan Amiri – Zalava.

Artistic Achievement:

Behzad Farahani was honored for a lifetime of artistic achievement.

Hafez Awards is an annual ceremony honoring Iran’s cinematic achievements. The first edition of Hafez Awards was held in 1997 by Picture World Magazine, with editor-in-chief Ali Moallem, making it the first and only non-governmental event among cinematic festivals and awards ceremonies based in Iran.

I always get a bit confused between Abugiss and Gey Hey. One, they share the same colours, according to history science students at Gey Hey back then used to come to Abugiss for their 6th form.

Both schools have pretty girls 😉 and to cup it all up both schools are sited on hills. (Kakumdo and Aburi Bepow).

This write up is not for gey hey girls per se but for the bepow so han divas.

They had their speech day early on this month and as expected the old girls’ showed up and showed out.

Gey Hey girls’ lately have made Speech Day fashion a thing and the Abugiss girls’ have also caught the flu.

We love fashion here and of course we went scavenging and Ghana’s number one photographer Mr. Yaw Pare took some spectacular shots and here are few of the styles that caught our eye.

From what I’ve seen so far, Abugiss did put in the work.

Well done ladies, next year impress me more.

Photo credit: Yaw Pare 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

Written By: nana kwesi acquaye

The honours just keep coming in for OmniBSIC Bank, Ghana’s fastest-growing financial institution, and its Managing Director, Mr. Daniel Asiedu. The Bank was declared ‘Bank of the Year’ while its MD was adjudged ‘Personality of the Year-Private Sector’ at the prestigious Ghana Business Awards organized by Globe Productions. 

This recognition follows right on the heels of the deserved recognition of the Bank and Mr. Asiedu as the Global Well-Respected CEO in the Banking Sector by the Business Executives Awards 2023 held recently in Singapore. 

The Bank’s recent appreciation by awarding institutions does not come as a surprise when one sees the transformation of OmniBSIC Bank led by the experienced Managing Director. Since taking over the helm of affairs, the Bank has seen sustainable growth and profitability and is steadily on its way to achieving the target of becoming a top-tier financial service provider impacting individuals and businesses in all sectors of the economy.

Daniel Asiedu with the award from the Global Well Respected CEOs Awards

But for the Board, Management and Staff of the Bank, this is just the beginning and more should be expected from the Bank. According to the Managing Director, Mr. Asiedu ” There is still a lot ahead, but we can see concrete progress, and that is inspiring for all of us. Our liquidity position and asset base show that we are well placed to support businesses, and that is all that we strive for.”

He used the opportunity to extend his heartfelt appreciation to the valued customers, stakeholders, and especially Board of Directors, Management and Staff who have been instrumental in the Bank’s success story. 

Bank’s consistent performance

Under Mr. Asiedu’s leadership, OmniBSIC Bank successfully turned its losses into profitability for the first time in 2021, marking a significant achievement for the institution that was born through the merger between the erstwhile OmniBank and Sahel Sahara Bank in 2019. OmniBSIC Bank has not only achieved substantial profit growth but has also strengthened its balance sheet, enhancing its capacity to support large-scale transactions in the recovering Ghanaian economy.

In the third quarter of this year, the Bank’s profit before tax rose more than four-fold to GH¢153.65million, from GH¢36.93million in the same period in 2022. The balance sheet was also robust, driven largely by strong growth in investments and deposits while liquidity and capital adequacy ratios remained well above prudential requirements.

Its unaudited financial statements for the third quarter of 2023 indicated that all income lines enjoyed strong growth, resulting in interest income more than doubling to GH¢582.5million in the quarter under review from GH¢ 221.02million in the corresponding period of 2022.

OmniBSIC posted significant growth in its earning assets to consolidate its position as a robust lender and partner to businesses. Earning assets grew by 88 percent to close the quarter at GH¢3.8billion. Investments almost tripled to GH¢3.19billion in the quarter under review, from GH¢1.23billion in the same quarter of last year.

Mr. Asiedu, the seasoned banker, financial specialist and Chartered Accountant has been leveraging his almost three decades of experience as a professional to bring invaluable expertise in auditing, business consulting, general banking, financial management and investment to OmniBSIC Bank since assuming his role in 2021.

More honours 

In the third quarter of 2023, Mr. Asiedu and the Bank’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr. Philip Oti-Mensah were recipients of ‘Personality of the Year – Private Sector’ award and ‘COO of the Year – Private Sector’ at the second edition of the Ghana CEO Vision & Awards ceremony.

This adds to a long list of remarkable recognitions in 2023, with the Bank receiving the prestigious title of Best Corporate Health Walk of the Year at the Africa Event Awards. Furthermore, OmniBSIC’s outstanding performance was recognized at the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) 2023 Awards night, where it earned a stellar five-star rating in four distinct categories. 

These accolades include five-star ratings for Customer Satisfaction in both Consumer Banking and Business Banking, as well as five-star ratings for Service Quality in Business Banking, affirming OmniBSIC’s unwavering commitment to excellence across various domains.

Products, services, and the future ahead

In an interview with Mr. Asiedu, He mentioned that the Bank had introduced various initiatives to enhance their customer service which include the establishment of a 24/7 Contact Center and the implementation of ongoing training programs for their staff to ensure they could respond effectively to customer needs. “Also, in the area of technology, we have migrated to a new core banking application (Flexcube) to improve our efficiency and productivity,” the OmniBSIC boss added. 

To stay competitive to meet the evolving needs of customers, the Bank has leveraged technology and digital solutions effectively. “We, therefore, upgraded our core banking software two years ago and have received the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for Information Security Management System (ISO/IEC 27001:2013) as well as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCDISS) Certification,” Mr. Asiedu said. 

He also emphasised the Bank’s commitment to further growth including retail banking expansion and a continued focus on digitalization.

OmniBSIC Bank’s improved corporate governance, investments in infrastructure, and strategic partnerships have positioned it for sustainable success and greater contributions to Ghana’s financial sector, he added.