Politics
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Ukheshe Confirms Global Expansion of its FinTech Operations
Ukheshe set to expand its fintech operations across the Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific. The move comes on the back of partnerships in various African countries including Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Botswana, Angola, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Ghana. In addition to collaborating with numerous blue-chip banks, telcos and fintechs, Ukheshe has built strong alliances with Mastercard while acquiring two companies and raising just under R100m within a two-year period. “We will continue to look for potential acquisitions in these new markets to further support Ukheshe’s growth and strategy as we pursue our goal of reaching unicorn status within the next three years,” says Clayton Hayward, CEO of Ukheshe. “Ukheshe is ex...
Airbnb and SnapScan Join Forces to Encourage Local Spending in South Africa
Image sourced from The Tyee Airbnb has partnered with SnapScan to launch ‘Support Jozi, Shop Local’, an initiative that aims to aid the recovery of SMEs by driving traffic to smaller businesses, and delivering a much-needed economic boost to local communities. Using the SnapScan app, locals and visitors alike can now buy goods and services in 20+ Jozi businesses, chosen and recommended by local Hosts on Airbnb. People using SnapScan in these locations will also earn cashback vouchers called ‘Jozibucks’, which can then be ‘spent’ in the shops throughout March, driving additional revenue for the local businesses. The vouchers are funded by Airbnb. The “Support Jozi, Shop Local” initiative aims to encourage an inclusive recovery of the sector, by providing a platform to showcase small local b...
Multichoice Adds New Local Channels in Ethiopia
Image sourced from The Vanguard Nigeria MultiChoice has added Abol TV – a 24-hour premium 100% Ethiopian general entertainment channel – to its list of locally-focused channels. Abol TV joins DStv’s stable of Ethiopian programming including the Ethiopian Premier League, Amharic language channels such as Zee Alem, Nick Jnr Amharic, and local free-to-air channels. In developing the programming for Abol TV the channel director paid careful attention to Ethiopian culture, audience preferences and of course language. The content team worked with local Ethiopian producers and offered creative and financial support, partnering with them to produce world-class content that celebrates with the cultural nuances of the country and its people. MCG says that it supports the development of a continent-w...
Microsoft Blames Cyber Attack on China-based Hacker Group
Microsoft believes the recent attacks on its business email software was by the Chinese government-backed hacking group, HAFNIUM. “Microsoft Threat Intelligence Centre (MSTIC) attributes this campaign with high confidence to HAFNIUM, a group assessed to be state-sponsored and operating out of China, based on observed victimology, tactics and procedures,” reads a statement from the company. “In the attacks observed, the threat actor used these vulnerabilities to access on-premises Exchange servers which enabled access to email accounts, and allowed the installation of additional malware to facilitate long-term access to victim environments.” The versions affected are: Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 “These vulnerabilitie...
Governor Ikpeazu: Oil companies have no presence in Abia
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, has expressed concern that despite the long years of oil exploration in the state, there was nothing tangible people of oil-producing communities in the state have to show for it. Ikpeazu, while receiving the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill led by Senator Albert Bassey at Government House, Umuahia, said that Abia oil-producing communities have remained peaceful more than other oil-producing communities in the country, stressing that the peaceful disposition of the communities should serve as a model for the compensation of oil-producing communities. The governor lamented that the oil exploration and production companies who do business in Abia do not pay taxes to the state, but rather reside in neighbouri...
Thai prosecutor indicts 18 over anti-government protests
A Thai prosecutor on Monday indicted 18 activists for their roles in anti-government rallies last year by a protest movement that has brought unprecedented challenges to the royal palace and military-dominated establishment. The youth-led movement sprang up last year calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, and reform of the powerful Thai monarchy, breaking a longstanding taboo under the country’s lese majeste law. Those indicted included three prominent leaders charged with sedition and lese majeste during rallies in September, where tens of thousands escalated calls for monarchy reforms. The other 15 protesters face trial for sedition and breaching a ban on public assembly. “There is sufficient evidence that the accused have committed wrongd...
NGA chief: Nigeria’s gas reserve can sustain West African market
Nigeria has abundant gas resources which, if harnessed, will meet the energy demand of over 350 million people and the industrial needs in the West African sub-region. According to the newly inaugurated president of the Nigeria Gas Association (NGA), Ed Ubong, “Nigeria, which ranks as the 9th largest gas reserve in the world and clearly the largest in West Africa, needs to develop this resource base and connect the existing local supply and demand with physical and virtual pipeline infrastructure, while also exploring closer integration of roads, seaports and rail infrastructure.” Speaking, at the just concluded NGA’s 12th International Conference and Industry Awards in Lagos last week, Ubong who is also the managing director, Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, however, advocated an improved inves...
Graeme Souness blasts Liverpool over defeat to Fulham
Liverpool legend, Graeme Souness, slammed his old team’s performance for defeat to Fulham. The Reds put in another flat performance despite the extensive changes, with a late first-half strike from Mario Lemina giving Scott Parker’s side a huge three points in their quest for survival. “It’s been disappointing,” said Souness. “You’ve got a group of players who will be looking to tell the manager by their performances ‘we should really be in the starting 11.’ That has not happened today from any of them. “They have been a shadow [of their former selves]. There is one word I associate with Liverpool for the last three years:, intensity. They were a team you didn’t want to play against. Now it is a team that are an easy touch, and that is unacceptable. “It is unfathomable. I struggle to say i...
Protest as PDP sweeps Delta council polls
File Photo Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) on Sunday in Asaba returned all the 25 chairmanship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winners in Saturday’s local government elections. The PDP chairmanship candidates won the election in their respective local government areas, with landslide, according to the various returning officers. Declaring the announcement of results open, chairman of DSIEC, Mike Ogbodu said the election was conducted in observance of COVID-19 protocols, adding that the exercise was generally peaceful. Although, the All Progressive Congress (APC) which is the main opposition party, pulled out midway into the polls, the returning officers insisted that the elections were contested. Publicity secretary of the APC in the state, Sylvest...
Anambra poll: PDP fixes date for governorship primary election
File Photo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that its governorship candidate for the November 6, Anambra State governorship poll will emerge on June 26. The governorship primary to produce the PDP candidate will be preceded by ward congresses to elect 3-man Ad-hoc delegates on June 10 and 11. The PDP stated this, on Sunday night, in a statement by its National Organising Secretary, Austin Akonbundu. According to the statement, collection of nomination and expression of interest forms expected to begin on March 10 and end on March 31. Aspirants for the PDP governorship ticket are to pay N1 million for Expression of Interest Form and N20million for Nomination Form. However, female aspirants are to pay only N1million for the Expression of Interest Form, while they will get the nomin...
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Manchester City still far ahead of others
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has downplayed suggestions his side have reignited the Premier League title race after ending Manchester City’s 21-match winning run with a stunning 2-0 derby victory. Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw struck early in each half at the Etihad Stadium as United inflicted a first defeat on their rivals since November. The result cut City’s lead over United at the top of the Premier League to 11 points and, while it may be a stretch to suggest the title race has been reignited, it has slowed what was looking like a procession. Solskjaer stopped short of claiming the victory will act as a springboard to catch City in the title race this season, telling Sky Sports: “We just take one game at a time; City are too far ahead for us to think we can catch them. Last year we caught 15 ...
Police: Why we detained OPC members after arresting ‘kidnapper’
The police in Oyo State have confirmed detaining three members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) for arresting suspected kidnapper, Iskilu Wakili, on Sunday. The police in a statement by its public relations officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, said the three members of OPC detained are being interrogated for their involvement in arson and murder. “The Oyo State Police Command would like to inform the general public that at about 0900 hrs of date (7th March 2021), information was received that a group of persons, (later found out to be members of the Odua Peoples Congress OPC), had invaded Kajola community in Ibarapa axis of the State. “The invasion was reportedly aimed at arresting one Wakili, a Fulani by tribe, who is alleged to be the sponsor and mastermind of various criminal attacks against ...
