Day: April 20, 2023

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Denmark takes first place in second annual World Citizenship Report, global ‘powerhouses’ lose their lustre among the mass affluent

London, United Kingdom, April 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Denmark, Switzerland and Finland took the top three spots in the 2023 World Citizenship Report, which launched today. The World Citizenship Report ranks 188 countries across five key motivators defining citizenship for the global citizen.

Published by CS Global Partners, the world’s leading government and investment migration advisory firm, the World Citizenship Report showcases the World Citizenship Index (WCI), an innovative tool that takes a holistic approach to rank the world’s citizenships across multiple dimensions including the motivators of Safety and Security, Quality of Life, Economic Opportunity, Global Mobility and Financial Freedom.

The World Citizenship Index is the product of a research-driven approach that goes beyond ordinary concepts of passport strength by placing greater emphasis on the diverse attitudes regarding key facets of citizenship. Unlike other rating tools, the World Citizenship Index ranking is designed to reflect a citizenship’s value through the lens of high-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) and the newest generation of global citizens: the mass affluent population.

“This year, we looked beyond HNWIs and extended our survey to the new mass affluent, a globally mobile generation who is providing fresh impetus for a renewed drive towards global citizenship. As the world around continues to change at an exponential rate, bringing with it new crises and opportunities – individuals across the globe are increasingly calling their own citizenships into question in terms of the safety, freedoms, and the prosperity they provide,” said Micha Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners.

“This Report stands apart from other reports in the industry because it examines which countries offer the most benefits for global citizens, particularly in a post-COVID world where those that have the means are consistently searching for greater opportunities.”

This year, Denmark kicked Switzerland out of the top spot and scored the highest points. Switzerland ranked in second place and Finland retained the third spot for a second year in a row.

Notably, global superpowers such as the United States and China did not rank in the top ten, symbolising a significant shift in what these economic giants can tangibly offer the global elite. HNWIs and mass affluent citizens are searching for a better quality of life, security and financial freedoms, all aspects which have been on shaky ground since the pandemic.

The surveyed cohort chose ‘Quality of Life’ as the most important feature of citizenship, which ranked first across the World Citizenship Index’s five pillars, eclipsing both Physical Safety and Financial Freedom.

The Report found that a competitive economy, public services, and environmental sustainability are the three areas mass affluent individuals feel most let down by their governments.​

We are unfortunately living through a period where the standard of living is falling at the fastest rate in over a generation. At the end of 2022, the UK Office for Budget Responsibility reported that UK households are set to suffer a 7.1 per cent fall in living standards over the next two years, the largest decline in six decades. Furthermore, according to the latest United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report published in the same period, living conditions in 90 per cent of the world’s countries deteriorated in 2021 – something that hasn’t been seen since the height of the previous global recession caused by the financial crisis in 2007. Moreover, the UNDP report marked the first consecutive year of decline in the 32-year history of the Human Development Index (HDI) – these trends are reflected in the current World Citizenship Index scores. For example, the United States dropped to 29th position for the Quality-of-Life motivator from 20th position previously, which shows how living standards are coming under pressure even in the world’s economic powerhouses.

“The World Citizenship Report aims to capture what truly concerns and affects a global citizen,” added Emmet. “When there are options to gain a second or third citizenship, the first question in a HNWIs mind is ‘where is the next place to be associated with?’”

“High-net-worth individuals and the mass affluent must consider a myriad of factors when deciding something as monumental as where to obtain second citizenship and build a second home. While passport strength is, of course, an important component, it is also one that is subject to the greatest change as evidenced by pandemic related travel restrictions,” she added.

As many parts of the globe recover from COVID-19 and find means to bolster their economies, a new chain of threats has emerged. The conflict in the Ukraine has not only made many nations in the northern hemisphere realise just how fragile the concept of safety and freedom is but has severely impacted energy and food security across the world.

With so much change happening so rapidly around us, it can be challenging to keep up with how all these disparate factors coming to bear on the prevailing attitudes toward global citizenship. And this is where the value of the World Citizenship Report comes into the picture. The Report continues to build on its reputation as an ambitious product reflecting the evolving nature of these attitudes toward citizenship, and one that is in tune with the defining issues of our time with respect to global citizens, including health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and shifting investment priorities.

The World Citizenship Index’s unique methodology relies on the experience gained through CS Global Partners unparalleled work in the citizenship solutions industry, as well as comprehensive research to evaluate 188 jurisdictions across the five motivators of citizenship out of a maximum attainable score of 100 points.

The Report’s multidimensional approach ensured that the attitudes under investigation were captured as accurately and meaningfully as possible. Consequently, rather than relying exclusively on value judgments to construct and weight the World Citizenship Index, CS Global Partners also leveraged its unparalleled network of industry experts and access to global citizens to isolate the major motivations for attaining a second citizenship. These factors were then further explored and validated by surveying the global mass affluent population on the value of second citizenship.

Thembi Saleshando
CS Global Partners
+44 (0) 207 318 4343
Thembi.Saleshando@csglobalpartners.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8812232

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Geneticistas Reprodutivos Reunidos em Paris Apresentam Primeiro Teste de Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma Embriões

  • Dr. Santiago Munné, pioneiro no diagnóstico genético pré-implantação, apresentou o novo teste na Conferência PGDIS
  • Além de detectar genes herdados dos pais, o novo teste de laboratório também revela novas mutações que podem levar a doenças “de novo”, como o autismo.

PARIS, April 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — O Dr. Santiago Munné, pioneiro no diagnóstico genético pré-implantação, apresentou o primeiro teste de sequenciamento completo do genoma em embriões para representantes na Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society (20ª Conferência da Sociedade Internacional de Diagnóstico Genético Pré-implantação – PGDIS), realizada esta semana em Paris.

Em seu discurso no plenário com a presença de mais de 300 especialistas, o Dr. Munné, pioneiro em genética reprodutiva internacionalmente reconhecido, apresentou dados de validação do GenomeScreen™, teste desenvolvido pela equipe de pesquisa liderada por ele na empresa de biotecnologia GenEmbryomics.

“Sabemos desde que começamos a trabalhar com o diagnóstico de embriões em 1993 que a seleção de embriões seria fundamental para a gravidez, especialmente em pacientes mais velhas. Nos últimos 30 anos, nosso trabalho tem se concentrado em aprimorar a seleção genética de embriões, embora a abordagem diagnóstica definitiva – que fornece mais informações e melhores resultados – seja, sem dúvida, esta: sequenciamento completo do genoma do embrião usando apenas algumas células obtidas de uma biópsia. Este teste abre portas que não sabíamos que existiam”, disse Munné sobre o trabalho realizado na GenEmbryomics.

Conhecer o genoma é conhecer um embrião antes da transferência
O GenomeScreen™ é um novo e revolucionário teste de sequenciamento completo do genoma para embriões de fertilização in vitro descrito como “o teste genético mais completo de fertilização in vitro” pelas autoridades do fórum PGDIS.

O teste fornece informações altamente precisas sobre a sequência do genoma do embrião e dos pais genéticos, oferecendo às famílias os principais insights pré-implantação sobre a saúde do embrião e o prognóstico reprodutivo para a tomada decisões bem-informadas. Além disso, essas informações são inestimáveis para pessoas geradas de fertilização in vitro, pois fornecem informações sobre nutrigenômica ou orientação sobre quais medicamentos são mais geneticamente adequados para o paciente.

“Quando começamos nossa pesquisa sobre o sequenciamento de embriões, nosso objetivo era criar uma ferramenta potente e abrangente para que os médicos de fertilidade pudessem acessar dados completos para uma avaliação precisa”, disse o Dr. Nick Murphy, fundador da GenEmbryomics. “Com essa ferramenta usada com 99% de confiabilidade, sabemos que, além de fornecer informações, esse diagnóstico também aumenta substancialmente o sucesso da medicina reprodutiva”, acrescentou Murphy.

O sequenciamento de embriões aumenta o índice de sucesso da fertilização in vitro

O professor Munné, líder em genética reprodutiva de mais de 20 anos, é um importante contribuinte para seleção de embriões e o tratamento de fertilização in vitro. Com este teste, ele e sua equipe de pesquisadores solidificam o papel dos testes genéticos na medicina reprodutiva, aumentando o sucesso do tratamento.

“Os resultados apresentados na conferência são os dados de validação de um teste que irá alterar a forma como a seleção de embriões é realizada”, disse Munné. “A análise genética pré-implantação com sequenciamento completo de genoma é um passo gigantesco: entre outras coisas, informará qual embrião será implantado com sucesso, porque saberemos de antemão qual deles é verdadeiramente saudável – sem doenças herdadas dos pais ou doenças de novo, como o autismo”, conclui ele.

Sobre a GenEmbryomics
Fundada pelo Dr. Nick Murphy em 2019, a GenEmbryomics é uma empresa de biotecnologia de ponta especializada na análise genômica de embriões para determinar os candidatos mais viáveis para a implantação de fertilização in vitro. Seu trabalho proporcionará índices de maior sucesso nos ciclos de fertilização in vitro, graças aos seus algoritmos proprietários que oferecem uma seleção de embriões mais precisa e eficiente, com base em todo o genoma de cada embrião.

Para mais informação
Dulce Iborra Candela
+34 647942875
dulce@laembajadora.es

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8811736

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Les généticiens de la reproduction réunis à Paris présentent le tout premier test de séquençage du génome entier dans des embryons

  • Le Dr Santiago Munné, un pionnier du diagnostic génétique préimplantatoire, a présenté le nouveau test lors de la Conférence PGDIS
  • Non seulement ce nouveau test de laboratoire détectera les gènes hérités des parents, mais il révèlera également les nouvelles mutations pouvant mener à des maladies « de novo » comme l’autisme

PARIS, 20 avr. 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Le Dr Santiago Munné, pionnier du diagnostic génétique préimplantatoire, a présenté le premier test de séquençage du génome entier sur des embryons devant les participants à la 20e Conférence de la Société internationale de diagnostic génétique préimplantatoire (PGDIS pour Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society), organisée cette semaine à Paris.

Lors de son allocution plénière à laquelle ont assisté plus de 300 experts, le Dr Munné, un précurseur de la génétique de la reproduction de renommée internationale, a présenté des données de validation pour GenomeScreen™, le test développé par l’équipe de recherche qu’il dirige dans la société de biotechnologie GenEmbryomics.

« Nous savions, depuis que nous avons commencé à travailler sur le diagnostic embryonnaire en 1993, que la sélection embryonnaire serait déterminante pour la grossesse, surtout chez les patientes plus âgées. Au cours des 30 dernières années, notre travail s’est concentré sur l’amélioration de la sélection embryonnaire génétique, même si l’approche diagnostique définitive (celle qui fournit le plus d’informations et les meilleurs résultats) sera sans aucun doute celle-ci : le séquençage du génome entier de l’embryon à l’aide de quelques cellules seulement obtenues à partir d’une biopsie. Ce test va ouvrir des portes dont nous ignorions jusqu’à l’existence », a déclaré le Dr Munné sur le travail accompli chez GenEmbryomics.

Comprendre le génome, cela signifie tout savoir sur un embryon avant le transfert
GenomeScreen™ est un nouveau test révolutionnaire sur le séquençage du génome entier pour les embryons issus de FIV, qui a été décrit par les autorités comme « le test génétique le plus complet dans la FIV » lors du forum PGDIS.

Le test apporte des renseignements extrêmement précis sur la séquence du génome de l’embryon et sur les parents génétiques, fournissant aux familles des informations préimplantatoires déterminantes sur la santé de l’embryon et le pronostic de reproduction pouvant éclairer leurs décisions. Par ailleurs, ces informations seront inestimables pour les personnes nées d’une FIV, car elles fourniront des données sur la nutrigénomique ou des conseils sur les médicaments les plus génétiquement adaptés au/à la patient(e).

« Au tout début de nos recherches sur le séquençage d’embryons, notre objectif était de créer un outil complet et puissant, qui pourrait doter les médecins de la fertilité de données exhaustives pour des dépistages de précision », s’est souvenu le Dr Nick Murphy, fondateur de GenEmbryomics. « Maintenant que nous avons cet outil et que nous l’utilisons avec une fiabilité de 99 %, nous avons conscience que ce diagnostic nous fournit des informations, mais améliore également considérablement le succès de la médecine de reproduction », a ajouté le Dr Murphy.

Le séquençage des embryons va augmenter les taux de réussite des FIV

Le professeur Munné, dont la carrière en tant que chef de file en génétique reproductive s’étend sur plus de 20 ans, a apporté d’énormes contributions à la sélection embryonnaire et au traitement de FIV. Avec ce test, lui et son équipe de chercheurs solidifient le rôle des tests génétiques dans la médecine de reproduction, augmentant le succès des traitements.

Selon le professeur Munné : « Les conclusions présentées lors de la conférence constituent les données de validation d’un test qui va changer la sélection embryonnaire telle que nous la connaissons ». « L’analyse génétique préimplantatoire avec séquençage du génome entier représente un pas de géant : entre autres choses, elle nous dira quels embryons s’implanteront avec succès, car nous saurons à l’avance lesquels sont vraiment en bonne santé, c’est-à-dire sans maladie héritée des parents ou sans maladie de novo, comme l’autisme », a-t-il conclu.

À propos de GenEmbryomics
Fondée par le Dr Nick Murphy en 2019, GenEmbryomics est une société de biotechnologie de pointe spécialisée dans l’analyse génomique des embryons afin de déterminer les candidats les plus viables pour une implantation par FIV. Son travail conduira à des taux de réussite plus élevés dans les cycles de FIV, grâce à ses algorithmes propriétaires qui permettent une sélection embryonnaire plus précise et plus efficace, basée sur le génome entier de chaque embryon.

Pour tout complément d'information
Dulce Iborra Candela
+34 647942875
dulce@laembajadora.es

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8811736

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Operating churches without EPA permit is an offence – Volta EPA Director

Mr Hope Smith Lomotey, acting Volta Regional Director of Environmental Protection Agency has warned Churches of their gullibility of the law for non-compliance with its regulations.

He said operating without an EPA permit, which is enforced by EPA’s ACT 1994 (ACT 490), constituted an offence punishable by fines and outright stoppage of operation.

He therefore entreated Churches to obtain permits before undertaking any such projects to stem the consequences of negligence saying, “permits grant you the right to operate within acceptable regulations.”

He saaid those whose premises existed before the promulgation of the EPA law should report to regularise their inclusion to avoid enforcement notices.

Mr Lomotey made these statements in an interaction with Church stakeholders including members of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (GPCC), the Christian Council, the National Clergy Association, Ghana (NACAG), National Association of Charismatic Churches among others to dialogue on pertinent issues on noise pollution and authorisation matters.

He said the EPA, which was the lead organisation in the management of the environment in the country, had observed that many Church buildings were wrongly sited and had become reservoirs for noise pollution, especially at night.

He said noise of high decibels over a period of eight hours for six months was a public health issue warning that those who work around the noise must seek medical attention.

He said noise nuisance was any loud, unnecessary, or unusual sound or any sound whatsoever which either annoyed, disturbed, injured, endangered, or distracted from the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of any person.

Mr Lomotey, said apart from noise induced hearing losses, loud noise exposure could cause?high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, miscarriage, impaired cognitive functions, stress and may affect the circadian rhythm (sleep cycles).

According to some World Health Organization (WHO) findings, noise was the second largest environmental cause of health problems, just after the impact of air pollution (particulate matter).

The Director of EPA said the permissible ambient noise as set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for residential areas is pegged not above 55 decibels during the day (6am-10pm) and 48 decibels at night?(10pm-6am).

He therefore advised pastors and would-be pastors that Church building projects should be well-planned to embody all the requirements including noise protection.

Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah, Vice Chairman of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (GPCC) said ignorance of the law was no excuse and elated that the EPA had reached out to the Church to solicit input and fashion out a feasible working relation for their common good. forward.

He said the Church must submit to authority as scriptures had said and honour to whom honour is owed and pay taxes to whom taxes were owed and remember to comply with EPA regulations.

Apostle Quampah, doubling as the Area Head, the Church of Pentecost urges the Church to maintain its political neutrality and avoid sowing seeds of discord among congregants.

He said a fruitful partnership with the EPA, the government’s accredited agent with the mandate to protect the environment could not be seen as antagonistic but together “we can reach agreements towards building a just society.”

He said the emerging phenomenon of installing public address systems on the rooftops of Churches must cease to reduce the noise pollution menace.

The stakeholders appealed to the EPA to put human face to the 18 months renewable deadline period and reduce its charges for defaulting members, so as not to exterminate most Churches from operating.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Nigeria never defaulted in China debt repayments-DMO

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has debunked a media report that Nigeria defaulted in loans repayments to China.

A statement by the DMO in Abuja on Wednesday, advised the public to ignore the report as it is false.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a recent news report had quoted the DMO as saying that Nigeria failed to fully service its debt to China, which had accumulated to N110.31 billion in the last two years.

“The attention of the DMO has been drawn to a publication by some media houses claiming that Nigeria has defaulted in debt repayment to China for which it claimed penalty stand at N4.31billion.

“A closer look at the media publication shows that the body of the publication is completely detached from the headline.

“It gives the impression that the publishers of the report may have set out to mislead the public.

“The public is assured that Nigeria is fully committed to honouring its debt obligations and has not defaulted on any of its debt service obligations,” the DMO said.

It emphasised that the media report should be disregarded.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Customs Lilypond Command processes exports worth N86.4bn

The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) processed 118,184. 96 metric tonnes of export goods with Free-On-Board (FOB) value of N86,426,279,070.59 ($204,656,119.04), from January to March.

Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, in charge of the command, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to Babandede, the goods processed include agricultural produce such as cocoa beans, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, hibiscus flower, soya beans and ginger.

He listed minerals processed to include lithium ore, manganese ore and zircon sand.

He added that manufactured goods exported included instant noodles, cosmetics, cigarettes and beverages.

“The Lilypond Export Command of NCS was established in August 2022 but commenced operation in November 2022 though not with full capacity; it is operating to the best of its ability.

“We all know that a policy of this administration is to diversify from oil to non-oil sector. There is need for us to have export vitality.

“Therefore, in its wisdom, the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari decided to encourage non-oil export.

“NCS and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were asked to come up with a modality on how to promote and facilitate the business of export, and the NCS decided to establish the Lilypond Export Command in order to address challenges of exporters,” he said.

He added that NCS and NPA approved establishment of Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) with the mandate to undertake stuffing, examination and document processing for non-oil export cargos accessing Lagos ports by road, rail and barges.

“This establishment is geared toward fast-tracking export businesses for quick turnover, ensuring proper documentation and repatriation of export proceeds back to the country to decongest the ports and all the roads leading to the ports,” he said.

He said that Lilypond Export Command, although new, had recorded some achievements including reducing delay in export processing.

He listed other achievements to include making exportation effective and efficient.

He noted that all the agencies in charge were domiciled in a place as a one-stop shop.

“It has reduced cost of export business and contract cancellation.

“Pilfering of cargo has been eliminated and released containers can access the ports within 48 hours for loading on to a waiting vessel.

“The command, in collaboration with shipping lines, has reduced the turnaround time of a vessel which decreases the cost of shipping.

“Lilypond Export Command has completely erased the issue of rejection and return of our agro produce which is usually caused by delay and lack of requisite phytosanitary certificates,” he added.

He praised NPA for conceiving of EPTs and for providing support for the command.

“I also want to commend the patriotic role of our sister-agencies which have always partnered with us in our quest to effectively perform our statutory functions in compliance with extant laws.

“Since the establishment of this command, I have been meeting with various stakeholders comprising terminal operators, exporters, licensed agents, freight forwarders and shipping lines.

“May I use this medium to reassure our stakeholders that Lilypond Export Command will continue to facilitate their legitimate trades,” he said.

He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali and other members of NCS management team as well as officers and men of the command for support.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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About 2,703 people contracted TB in Greater Accra last year

Mr. Isaac Opoku Asamoah, Senior Technical Officer, Regional Tuberculosis Control, Greater Accra, has disclosed that 2,703 people in the Region contracted tuberculosis last year.

He said 1,751 men had the disease, while 895 women contracted it, as did 203 children between the ages of 0 and 14 years.

Mr. Opoku who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema said the age group that was most affected was 45–54 years, with 537 recorded cases.

He said TB was caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spread when a person with active TB disease in their lungs coughs or sneezes and someone else inhales the expelled droplets, which contain TB bacteria.

He said symptoms of tuberculosis included coughing, chest pain, night sweats, fever, loss of appetite, loss of weight, and blood in sputum, among others.

He mentioned that ways of prevention were covering one’s mouth when coughing, ensuring proper ventilation, early reporting and diagnosis, healthy eating, and vaccination, among others.

“It is estimated that each day, over 4,000 people across the world lose their lives to TB, and close to 30,000 fall ill with the disease,” Mr. Asamoah said.

Mr Opoku said TB remains a major public health threat in Ghana and the world at large, adding that according to the World Health Organization ( WHO), it is one of the top ten causes of death.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Almost naked woman kisses masquerade in video, causes stir in Anglophone entertainment industry

Fans of Blu Nations singer, Tzy Panchak, are split over his new song ‘Self-made’. These criticisms come as a result of the featuring of a masquerade being kissed by a girl whom they said was poorly dressed.

The song also features artists like Vivid, Cleo Grea, J Kree, Vancy and Phido has been in the spotlight also given that the masquerade is seen in the video clip of the song displaying a bottle of alcoholic wine.

According to some fans, it is taboo and disrespectful to the African tradition and culture of the people of the North West Region in particular.

“It is a disgrace and traditionally it’s not right. For a masquerade to even drink water and talkless of alcohol, is something else. A masquerade kissing or being kissed by a lady half naked, that’s totally bad and not portraying perhaps what he meant” Fur Gilfort, expressed frustration in a comment.

“If that’s something from Nso then it is not the Nso I am from. A masquerade is something sacred, it is something ladies are not even allowed to come close to talk less of kissing, it’s a taboo, an abomination. If she does that and stays alive then it’s a miracle” Another fan, Mbiydzenyuy Unique, added.

Going by CY Mukolah, Tzy Panchak has through his new song shown total disrespect, “it’s quite a good song but a wrong video direction not just the acts of displaying the almighty “Kama Kam” in an afro song video if it’s cultural music, maybe but this is wrong. In which African country do you see people kissing their masquerades, who does that? It’s totally wrong, let’s learn to respect our culture” he noted.

“This is not funny at all, we all are Africans and as true Africans especially from Cameroon, Northwest Region for that matter we know how these things work, Women don’t even go closer to such not to talk hugging and kissing who does that ?” He continued.

On the other hand, some other fans see nothing wrong with the song and are attributing the criticisms to envy and jealousy.

“You all should leave Tzy Pancack alone, all the juju that drink and get drunk on daily bases, is he the one that gives them these drinks? The guy is a big boy and nothing will bring him down. Those talking rubbish are not real fans and followers but just noise makers” a fan said.

Recently, US rapper Rick Ross on his Instagram live session promised a collaboration with Tzy Pancack and has put in $10,000 for the ‘Self-made’ challenge.

CNA reached out to the Blu Nations management on this issue, they said “We have decided as a team not to say or make any formal or informal statement pertaining to the issue at hand. Thanks in anticipation for your comprehension”.

Source: Cameroon News Agency