Bank of England chief tops 2026 Powerlist as UK's most influential black person
Afua Kyei, the Bank of England's chief financial officer, has been named the UK's most influential black person, BBC reported.
The 43-year-old is one of the UK's most senior finance leaders, in charge of the financial governance of the Bank's £1 trillion balance sheet and funding reforms.
The BoE executive director topped the 2026 Powerlist, which recognises the most powerful people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage in the UK.
Other influential names include former footballer Ian Wright, who's new to the list, make-up artist Dame Pat McGrath and actor Idris Elba, according to BBC.
Ghana's former First Lady Nana Konadu Rawlings dies aged 76
Ghana's former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has died at the age of 76, BBC reported.
She was the widow of Ghana's longest-serving leader, Jerry John Rawlings, who died five years ago.
He led two coups before twice being elected president in multiparty polls.
Social media is awash with tributes to the former first lady, politician and women's rights advocate, who Ghanaian presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said had died after a short illness on Thursday morning, according to BBC.
Fatal bus blaze in India leaves 12 dead
At least 12 people have died and several were injured after a bus they were travelling in caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle on a highway in Andhra Pradesh in southern India, reports say, BBC reported.
The motorcycle was trapped under the bus, rupturing its fuel tank and triggering an explosion. The Bangalore-bound bus carrying about 40 passengers was engulfed in flames within minutes early on Friday.
Reports cited eyewitnesses saying they heard passengers screaming for help as locals rushed to pull out survivors. Some managed to escape through an emergency exit window, according to BBC.
Starmer to push allies on long-range missiles for Ukraine at London summit
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will push allies to provide Ukraine with more long-range missiles to strike Russian targets at a meeting in London on Friday, BBC reported.
He will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky along with the so-called "coalition of the willing", comprising of more than 20 of Ukraine's allies who have agreed to provide Kyiv security guarantees once a ceasefire is brokered.
Zelensky has been pleading for weeks for more long-range weapons from the West, a move Russia has warned would escalate the conflict.
Ukraine's leader is travelling from Brussels, where he met EU leaders on Thursday seeking financial support, according to BBC.
