Politics
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Telkom Reports 19% Increase in Mobile Subscribers
Telkom South Africa has revealed its interim results for the six months ending 30 September 2020. The telco was driven by a 19% increase in mobile subscribers – reaching 13.7 million – to claim the position of South Africa’s third mobile operator. Telkom delivered solid EBITDA growth despite a slight revenue decrease of 0.4% to R21.4 billion in the face of difficult trading conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Telkom’s decision to invest in infrastructure ahead of demand enabled us to meet the surge in demand and weather the acceleration of the decline in fixed voice revenue during the national lockdown,” says Sipho Maseko, Telkom Group CEO. Telkom Mobile expanded margin by 13.2 ptts to 29.9%, optimised direct cost to revenue ratio from 53% in the prior period to 38% and more t...
Official: 17 persons died of ‘strange illness’ in Benue
Seventeen persons were reported to have died of a strange illness ravaging the Okpeilo-Otukpa area in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State. The State Government in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Health and Human Service, Dr Emmanuel Ikwulono, said, “At the time of the receipt of the report yesterday, 9th November, 2020, about 17 persons were already said to have died of the illness. “We currently have one case which was brought to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi by a relative of the patient. Others are receiving treatment in different hospitals.” The commissioner, in the statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Andrew Amee, said symptoms of the illness usually include fever, abdominal pain, and general body weakness, whil...
US election crimes director resigns after Donald Trump’s attorney general authorises probes
The top federal investigator of election crimes in the US has resigned just hours after Donald Trump’s attorney general William Barr authorised probes into claims of voter fraud. Richard Pilger, director of the election crimes branch of the Department of Justice, stepped down from the post he has held since 2010 on Monday. The branch director, Richard Pilger, handed in his resignation within hours of Barr’s authorization. In an email to colleagues about Barr’s order, Pilger said, “Having familiarized myself with the new policy and its ramifications… I must regretfully resign from my role,” The New York Times reported. US Attorney General William Barr gave federal prosecutors blanket authorization Monday to open investigations into voting irregularities, as President Donald Trump repeated u...
200,000 police attached to politicians – Ex-IGP
A former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, says over 200,000 police officers were attached to political elites, a practice he termed “policing the elites against policing security spaces.” He spoke at the second edition of the National Dialogue series of the Political Leadership and Training Institute (POLA) of former governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel held in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital. “We have about 400,000 police personnel in Nigeria and 200,000 of those officers are with the political elites. What we are doing in this country is that, we are policing the elites, we are not policing security spaces and this is an issue we have to look into”, Arase added. Arase attributed the challenges facing the police to lack of political will to implement reports of many re...
Dean Henderson could leave Manchester United on loan in January
Dean Henderson could leave Manchester United on loan in January, as the club reportedly delay their decision over what to do with Sergio Romero. That’s according to EPSN who report that Romero wants to leave Old Trafford. Henderson is said to be content with his role at United for now but could leave to get regular game time again, like he did at Sheffield United for two years but with Wolves credited with an interest. I would be surprised if Sheffield United didn’t show interest if the Reds are happy to loan Henderson out to another Premier League club. He knows the club and they’ve struggled in comparison to when he was between the sticks. David de Gea has started the season without too many errors, and there’s no reason to change his role as No. 1 from what I can see. United are blessed...
Showmax Introduces Subscription-Free Streaming Service
Showmax has launched a subscription-free streaming service in South Africa – ‘Showmax Free’. This service is expected to feature “hand-picked content slate that gives customers an opportunity to sample some of Showmax’s entertainment”. Showmax Free will feature local movies, series and sports shows. Users will be able to stream movies and binge-watch the first few episodes of available series for free – however, they will see adverts during playback and be prompted to upgrade to Showmax paid plans. Customers will be able to upgrade to the ad-free Showmax entertainment catalogue to access complete seasons of the latest local and international series, blockbuster movies and kids’ content. For live sport, users will need to subscribe to Showmax Pro. “Ad-supported streaming services are a grow...
Xbox Series S and X Delays to be Expected in South Africa
Attention all gamers! Microsoft Xbox Series S and X consoles – which were expected to be available in South Africa today – will be delayed at certain retailers. “Due to some unforeseen logistical challenges, some stores in South Africa may receive their stock of the Series X | S on day of launch or possibly a day late,” reads an official statement from Prima Interactive, the company responsible for Xbox distribution. “Prima Interactive would like to advise that all stock has been shipped to stores. With global embargos taken into consideration there is a very small window for delivery to stores, and sometimes despite the best plans delays occur.” “We can confirm that ALL PRE-ORDERS will be met and your Xbox has been shipped to the store you ordered it from. If you haven’t received notifica...
Jawwy TV Mobile App Now Available in Egypt
Intigral, Telecom Egypt (WE) and TPAY Mobile have partnered to launch the Jawwy TV app in Egypt. The mobile app is expected to offer a new digital entertainment platform for viewers. A 30-day free trial of Jawwy TV will be available exclusively to WE subscribers from the date of subscription. The Jawwy TV app encompasses both linear TV and subscription video on demand (SVOD) offerings, presenting viewers with countless content titles across multiple genres – it also includes over 50 free-to-air and encrypted channels. The app is also packed with features that enhance user experiences, such as subtitles and audio options in both Arabic and English, parental control tools, rewind features for linear TV content, live TV start over options, a recommendation engine, and the ability to use the a...
Senator Lawan: Fresh mass protests inescapable if…
Senate President Ahmad Lawan has warned that Nigeria may not escape another mass demonstration in the mode of #EndSARS protest if the Federal Government fails to effectively address youth unemployment. Lawan gave the warning in Abuja yesterday at the 2021 budget defence of the Ministry of Agriculture. He urged the government to take practical steps in its 2021 budget to meaningfully engage the youths. “Our budget, especially for 2021, should be mindful of what we do to provide employment opportunities for these youths. “They demonstrated. They protested because they could do so. There are so many other people who may not be youthful but are also in the same need and they didn’t protest. “Let’s meet them where they are. We don’t have to wait until they also try to grumble or protest. We sho...
Barcelona rethink Ousmane Dembele sale after Ansu Fati injury
Barcelona are ready to withdraw Ousmane Dembele from the transfer market. Barcelona are now prepared to give their out-of-favour forward a starring role in the absence of Ansu Fati. The Frenchman has been overlooked in recent months, with Barcelona willing to let him leave, but with 17-year-old star-in-the-making Fati now facing four months on the sidelines with a meniscus injury, the club are set to turn to Dembele. There are concerns at Barcelona that, despite his attacking threat and speed, he lacks the defensive abilities to be able to succeed in their team. But Sport reports that Barcelona are now preparing to integrate Dembele back into the core of the team, bringing him in from the cold to be a regular starter under Ronald Koeman in the coming months. Get more stories like this on T...
AFCONQ: Super Eagles will make Nigerians happy vs Sierra Leone – skipper
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa insists the team will go all out for an outright win against Sierra Leone in Friday’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture. The encounter at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City will be played behind closed doors, as the organisers the Nigeria Football Federation implements Confederation of African Football’s guidelines against Covid-19 pandemic. Musa states that the players will give their all in the encounter to make their fans proud. “Playing in Benin is great. It’s the home town of my mum. I would have love to see my family members come around and watch this game, but there is nothing we can do about it,” Musa declared in an interview with the Super Eagles media team. “It is all about the situation of things at the moment, the pandemic here ...
Northeast elders asks President Buhari to sack service chiefs
The Coalition of North East Elders for Peace and Development, Monday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his service chiefs, accusing the military of deploying massive strength during the #EndSARS protests in parts of the country, thereby leaving the zone at the mercy of Boko Haram, an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists. According to the elders, scores of civilians were killed as a result of the strategic and operational blunders, which they argued, was avoidable, had greater tact been adopted. In a statement signed by the chairman, Engr. Zana Goni, the North East elders said pro-active intelligence would have revealed this lapse to the military high command, had the service chiefs not been lethargic in their responsibilities. Consequently, the elders, for the um...
