Samuel Christopher Osei Anto, 72, was arrested at Tikrom in the Ashanti Region, with police retrieving a pistol and seven rounds of ammunition during the operation.

The Ghana Police Service has arrested Samuel Christopher Osei Anto, the key suspect in the killing of two relatives at NTHC Estate, Sakumono, in the Greater Accra Region.

The 72-year-old suspect was picked up at his hideout at Tikrom, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following an intelligence-led operation by the police.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 2, the Ashanti Regional Police Command confirmed the arrest and said officers retrieved a Smith & Wesson pistol and seven rounds of live ammunition from him.

The firearm and ammunition have been retained as exhibits, while the suspect remains in police custody assisting investigations.

Arrest follows double killing at Sakumono

The arrest follows the fatal shooting of Irene Atuguba, 47, and her uncle, George Atuguba, 57, at their residence in NTHC Estate, Sakumono, on Friday, October 30.

Preliminary police investigations indicate that the incident may have been triggered by a financial dispute involving the suspect and George Atuguba over an alleged GH¢500,000 debt.

Police said Osei Anto had reportedly visited the residence with a 47-year-old woman, Beatrice Mumuni, to demand repayment of the money. A misunderstanding allegedly ensued, during which the two victims were shot.

Mumuni was earlier arrested in connection with the incident, while Osei Anto was declared wanted. Police had also announced a GH¢100,000 reward for credible information leading to his arrest.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command said the arrest followed an earlier police communication issued by the Accra Regional Police Command on October 30 concerning the deaths.

The suspect is expected to assist investigators as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the killings.

Meanwhile, the family of George Atubiga has disputed the police account of the alleged GH¢500,000 debt, saying the deceased and the suspect were business partners in a money-lending venture. The family’s position introduces a competing account of the financial relationship, which remains part of the issues surrounding the case.

The police have not announced any court proceedings against the suspect as investigations continue.

A Syrian national has been arrested at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, after arriving from Accra, Ghana, with approximately 40 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage.

The arrest was confirmed by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in a press release dated November 1, 2026.

According to the Commission, the suspect was apprehended on Saturday, October 31, 2026, following a coordinated anti-drug trafficking operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese law enforcement authorities.

NACOC disclosed that the arrest was the result of a controlled delivery exercise undertaken through close operational cooperation between the two countries.

The operation was designed to identify and apprehend individuals at both ends of the drug supply chain while gathering crucial intelligence to dismantle the wider transnational criminal network believed to be behind the shipment.

The Commission further revealed that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to identify and arrest the suspect’s alleged accomplices in Ghana.

NACOC said the joint operation demonstrates the commitment of Ghana and Lebanon to combating international drug trafficking through cross-border intelligence-sharing and coordinated law enforcement activities.

The Commission noted that the successful arrest forms part of broader efforts to disrupt international narcotics trafficking networks and prevent the movement of illicit drugs across national borders.

The statement was signed by P/NCO Francis Opoku Amoah, Acting Director of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is facing its deadliest Ebola outbreak in recorded history, with more than 5,000 people confirmed dead as health authorities struggle to contain the rapidly spreading disease.

According to figures reported on October 31, 2026, the outbreak has recorded approximately 10,351 confirmed infections and 5,026 deaths, representing a fatality rate of about 48.6 per cent.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has become the second-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded globally, behind the devastating 2014–2016 West African outbreak.

Healthcare workers in protective equipment respond to the Ebola outbreak.

Eastern provinces remain at the centre of the crisis

The outbreak has particularly affected eastern DR Congo, with Ituri and North Kivu among the hardest-hit provinces.

Health authorities report that the disease has spread across 67 health zones in eight of the country’s 26 provinces, creating significant challenges for disease surveillance, emergency medical response and contact tracing.

The spread has also raised concerns beyond DR Congo’s borders, with cases reported in other African countries, including Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.

Medical personnel work to provide care amid the growing health emergency.

Health workers face serious challenges

Efforts to contain the epidemic have been complicated by insecurity, limited resources and difficulties gaining access to affected communities.

Public health officials have also expressed concern about the number of infections occurring outside officially monitored contact networks. This makes it harder for response teams to identify transmission routes and reach people who may have been exposed.

Another major concern is delayed access to medical care, with reports indicating that some patients died before reaching treatment facilities.

Community outreach remains important in preventing further infections.

International concern grows

The outbreak has attracted growing international attention as the virus crosses national borders. Kenya confirmed eight cases and two deaths, while Nigeria reported one confirmed case. Uganda had also experienced cases earlier in the epidemic.

The World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have emphasised the importance of strengthening surveillance, improving access to healthcare and supporting frontline medical personnel.

Although 2,788 people have reportedly recovered, health authorities continue to face significant difficulties in slowing transmission.

Ituri province is among the areas most affected by the epidemic.

A difficult road ahead

The rising death toll highlights the urgency of a stronger and more coordinated response. Security challenges, public distrust and disruptions to healthcare services remain major obstacles.

For DR Congo, the immediate priority is to identify new infections quickly, improve access to treatment and prevent further transmission across communities and neighbouring countries.

The epidemic has expanded across multiple provinces.

The outbreak is a major public health concern for Africa, with international health organisations continuing to monitor developments and support containment efforts.

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance says it has replaced approximately 90% of the digital assets stolen in a reported $6.3 billion cyberattack, pledging to cover the remaining losses without passing the financial burden on to its customers.

Remaining losses present a challenge

The exchange said the remaining 10% consists of less-liquid digital tokens that may take longer to obtain in the quantities required. Less-liquid assets can be harder to purchase in large amounts without affecting market prices.

Binance has indicated that its recovery effort draws on several sources, including its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU), its futures insurance fund and its corporate treasury. The company says it will bear the financial impact rather than its users.

FBI links attack to North Korean hacking unit

The incident has also drawn attention from US law enforcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) attributed the attack to TraderTraitor, a North Korean state-sponsored cyber unit.

According to reporting on the investigation, authorities observed stolen cryptocurrency being converted into other digital assets and warned that further attempts to move or conceal the funds could follow. The attribution comes amid broader international concerns about cyber operations used to generate revenue for North Korea.

Customer confidence and withdrawals remain key concerns

The breach has placed renewed focus on the security of cryptocurrency exchanges, the protection of customer holdings and the ability of major platforms to withstand sophisticated cyberattacks.

Binance said it had taken a new snapshot of assets held on its platform as part of its proof-of-reserves process. The exchange also indicated that withdrawals were expected to resume on November 1, although users should check its official announcements for the latest operational status.

Although replacing 90% of the stolen assets marks significant progress, the incident leaves important questions about cybersecurity safeguards, the tracing of stolen funds and the long-term resilience of digital-asset markets.

For customers and the wider cryptocurrency industry, the next test will be whether Binance can complete the remaining recovery effort while restoring confidence in its platform.

A federal judge in the United States has dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and other defendants over the newspaper’s reporting on an alleged birthday letter linked to Jeffrey Epstein. The ruling marks a significant setback for Trump in his legal dispute with the media organisation.

Judge says Trump failed to meet legal standard
US District Judge Darrin Gayles, sitting in Miami, dismissed the lawsuit for a second time on Saturday, October 31, ruling that Trump’s amended complaint failed to adequately establish that the defendants acted with “actual malice.”

Under US defamation law, public figures generally must show that a publisher knowingly made a false statement or acted with reckless disregard for whether it was true. The judge concluded that Trump’s allegations did not meet this demanding legal threshold.

The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Trump cannot simply amend and refile the same lawsuit in the same court. The judge had previously dismissed the initial complaint in April 2026 but allowed the president to submit an amended version.
Dispute centres on alleged Epstein birthday letter

The legal battle began after the Wall Street Journal published a report in July 2025 about a birthday album prepared for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. The newspaper reported that the album contained a letter bearing Trump’s name and featuring a suggestive drawing.

Trump denied writing the letter, described the reporting as false and defamatory, and pursued legal action against the newspaper’s publisher, Dow Jones, its parent company News Corp, media executive Rupert Murdoch and other individuals associated with the report.

The lawsuit sought billions of dollars in damages. The newspaper and its publisher defended their reporting and challenged the legal basis of Trump’s claims.
Newspaper welcomes ruling as Trump maintains his position
The judge’s decision represents a victory for the newspaper and its co-defendants in a high-profile dispute over press freedom, public accountability and the legal protections afforded to journalism.

Dow Jones welcomed the decision, while a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team said the president would continue pursuing his claims against those he believes misled the American public.

The case has attracted considerable attention because it involves a sitting US president, one of the country’s most influential media companies and reporting related to Epstein, whose associations with prominent figures have remained a subject of public scrutiny.

The ruling does not, by itself, establish whether the disputed letter was authentic. It addresses whether Trump’s complaint sufficiently alleged the legally required elements of defamation.