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FG bans exclusivity rights in sports broadcasting

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

The Federal Government has prohibited exclusivity rights in broadcasting sporting events in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja Thursday.

The statement was made available to newsmen by Mr Segun Adeyemi Special Assistant to the President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the statement, in general, directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately implement measures aimed at sanitising and re-positioning the broadcast industry.

The Minister specifically directed NBC to implement a new regulation mandating broadcasters and exclusive licensees to share such exclusive rights with other broadcasters.

”This regulation prevents the misuse of monopoly or market power or anti-competitive and unfair practices by a foreign or local broadcaster to suppress other local broadcasters in the television and radio markets.

“This is so, having removed exclusivity from all content in Nigeria and mandated the sharing of all content upon the payment of commercially viable fees,” he said.

Mohammed said the new regulation is contained in the report of the committee which he set up to work out the modalities for implementing the recommendations approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to re-position the broadcast industry. The minister inaugurated the NBC Reform Implementation Committee on Oct. 10, 2019, and the committee chaired by Prof. Armstrong Idachaba submitted its report on Nov. 19 same year.

The minister stressed that the break-in the monopoly will boost reach and also maximise utilization by all broadcasters of premium content, in order to grow their platforms and investment in other content.

It would be recalled that Mohammed, last year, said that the Federal Government was determined to end all forms of monopoly in broadcasting because “it is detrimental to the actualisation of the immense potential in the industry”.

The minister, at a meeting with Online Publishers, in Lagos had said that a situation where a few people corner a chunk of the industry to the detriment of others, especially the teeming and talented youths, was totally unacceptable and untenable.

“Monopolies stunt growth, kill talents and discourage creativity.

“In the case of Nigeria, it’s the monopoly of content that breeds anti-competition practices.

“You cannot use your financial or whatever power to a corner and hold on tight to a chunk of the market, preventing others from having access.

“Such monopolies are crumbling everywhere in the world and Nigeria cannot be left out.

NAN reports that with the new directive, television viewers, especially lovers of sports may witness an end to MultiChoice’s monopoly on the live airing of high-profile sporting events.

High-profile sporting events, especially for well-loved sports, particularly soccer, are currently only available to subscribers of DSTV.

Specifically, DSTV has the monopoly on the live airing of English Premier League and UEFA Champions League in Nigeria.

The era of liberalisation is, therefore, expected to witness the sporting events being accessible to other pay-TVs and free to air platforms in the country.

It will be recalled that Independent Communications Authority Of South Africa (ICASA) had taken similar step by unveiling Draft Sports Broadcasting Services Amendment Regulations 2018.

The bill is aimed at making big sporting events accessible for free to all citizens of South Africa.

Navy arrests suspected pirates, rescues abducted foreign nationals

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

The Nigerian Navy, Central Naval Command, has arrested some suspected sea robbers in Delta State.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, stated that one of the suspects was arrested with a weapon.

“The suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of four naval ratings and the abduction of two Russians and an Indian, off the Ramos River’s entrance, bordering Delta and Bayelsa states, on January 2, 2020,” he stated.

Garba confirmed the rescue of the expatriates at a press briefing held at the Warri Naval Base on Thursday.

He said four naval ratings and some of the assailants died in the attack that saw the stealing of a Sterling Global Oil vessel, MV AMBIKA.

Supported by the Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, and other naval personnel, Garba added that other attackers, who escaped with bullet wounds, were currently being hunted with the support of local youths in the area.

He stated, “They are on the run. We are going to pursue them like rats. Wherever they go, we are going to get them.

“Presently, we have a few of them and I can assure you that we will leave no stone unturned until we arrest all of them and bring them to justice.

“The operation was swiftly carried out by a combined team of the command as well as the land and air components of the Operation Delta Safe around 10.30 pm on Tuesday. “

The FOC revealed that the kidnapped Russians, Roman Dimitriev, 34, and Mikhail Finenko, 31, as well as the 29-year-old Indian, Varunraj Anandan, were moved to Ondo State, where they were rescued.

He added, “The incident occurred around 3.2 nautical miles into the sea between the two states.

“Following intelligence report on the activities of the group and its plans to relocate the victims to Ondo State, military units across the Niger Delta region were placed on red alert, while the criminals were constantly being monitored.

“Around 10.30 pm on January 7, intelligence report revealed that the abducted victims had been moved to a location around Awoye in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“Accordingly, personnel of the Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, were alerted to this development and they laid a  siege for the criminals.

“In a clinical operation, the NN team rescued the abducted expatriates comprising two Russians and one Indian.

“Also, one of the assailants was apprehended with his weapon and the boat that was used to convey the victims, while other members of the group fled into a nearby creek with bullet injuries.

“They are presently being hunted down with the support of the community youths. The rescued victims have been given medical attention by a team of doctors from the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Warri, and are healthy.

 “I am warning criminal elements operating in the Niger Delta to steer clear of the region, as the navy is poised to rid the region of all forms of illegality.

“The rescued trio, who appeared physically fit and unhurt, has expressed gratitude to the navy for rescuing them.”

Speaking on behalf of the freed expatriates, Anandan said, “We spent six days in the den of the kidnappers without food and water.

“Last Thursday in the night, we heard gunshots. Our chief officer raised the alarm and we observed all the protocols.

“The pirates had got our second officer. When the chief officer heard their voice, he had to open the door and asked what they wanted to do.

“The guys were already aboard the vessel. They lifted two of our guys off the vessel.

“It is because of the navy’s immediate response that we are here today because we were lost in the ocean for six days without food and water to keep ourselves alive. Once they came to the river, the naval team successfully fought those guys and sent them back to where they came from.”

DR Congo jail: Inmates starve to death in Makala Prison

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

At least 17 prisoners have died over the past week in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s biggest prison, a charity says.

Aid workers say the deaths were caused by a lack of food and medicine, as well as poor hygiene.

Makala Prison in the capital, Kinshasa, has received no food supplies in the last two months, state officials say.

“It’s terrible! People are dying almost every day,” a prison official who did not want to be named told the BBC.

Food shortages mean the more than 8,000 prisoners who live there rely on their families to bring in meals.

The facility is also severely overcrowded, with more than five times the number of inmates it was built for.

Conditions are so poor that non-governmental groups estimate at least 100 prisoners are gravely ill and close to death.

Only 6% of the prisoners are actually serving sentences – the rest are stuck in DR Congo’s legal system where cases can drag on for years.

DR Congo’s deputy minister of justice told local media that Makala had now received some funding to help improve conditions.

Burial Ground of dead Inmates

“It’s true, there was a delay in paying suppliers and this explains the break in supplies,” Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende told AFP, adding,” the situation was put to rights” on Monday.

He promised that more money would follow, but the BBC’s Gaïus Kowene in Kinshasa says human rights organisations remain sceptical.

The 17 deaths in Makala Prison were reported by the Bill Clinton Foundation for Peace, which has no affiliation to the similarly named Clinton Foundation set up by the former US president.

Last year, it was reported that 40 inmates had died in similar circumstances over an 18-month period in another prison in DR Congo.

Iran Air Crash: Iran accuses US of “big lie” over cause of Ukrainian plane crash

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

Iran urged the United States on Friday to wait for the results of the investigation into the crash of a Ukrainian airliner and dismissed as “a big lie” allegations coming from US officials that missiles downed the plane, Iranian state media reported, quoting a government spokesman.

“No one will assume responsibility for such a big lie once it is known that the claim had been fraudulent,” government spokesperson Ali Rabiei said in a statement, according to state-run Press TV.

“It is unfortunate that the psychological operation of the US government, and those supporting it knowingly and unknowingly, are adding insult to the injury of the bereaved families and victimizing them for certain goals by propagating such fallacies,” he added.

Rabiei said according to international rules, the aviation organization of the country where the incident occurred (Iran), the aviation organization of the country that issued qualification for the flight (Ukraine), the owner of the plane (Ukraine), the factory builder of the plane (Boeing) and the factory builder of the engine of the plane (France) can take part in the investigation of the incident.

A delegation from Ukraine is already in Iran, Rabiei said. “We also welcome the participation of all countries which have lost their nationals in the mishap,” he added.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Thursday night, the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization Ali Abedzadeh also rejected as “illogical rumours” reports that the Ukrainian plane that crashed south of the capital Tehran on Wednesday was hit by missiles.

CNN reported earlier Thursday that the US increasingly believes Iran mistakenly shot down the airliner, according to multiple US officials. The working theory is based on continuing analysis of data from satellites, radar and electronic data collected routinely by US military and intelligence.

“Uma Ukpai Is My Spiritual Father”, Pastor Adeboye Declares

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye has declared that the President of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association Incorporated, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai is his spiritual father.

Adeboye stated this while recently giving a sermon in his church.

To the amazement of his congregants, Adeboye while preaching said:

“I want to show everybody today that I have a Spiritual Father, his name is Daddy Dr. Uma Ukpai.”

Dr. Uma Ukpai is a Christian leader, an evangelist, and a preacher. He is the founder and president of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, a non-denominational gospel ministry based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai speaks across the world extensively on issues of salvation, faith, healing, breaking of curses and covenants, and spiritual leadership.

SA finance minister calls for cannabis to be legalized

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has called for the legalisation of cannabis trade in order to collect more tax revenue.

He made the announcement on Twitter that he will put the idea to the cabinet:

He also tweeted a series of pictures showing it already growing:

In 2019 South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that the private possession, use and cultivation of cannabis is decriminalised.

Selling cannabis at any scale remains illegal.

Court Judgement: Gov. Ikpeazu is child of destiny – Abia CoS, Agbazuere

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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1

The Chief of Staff to the Abia State Government, Chief ACB Agbazuere, has described Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as a child of destiny following his victory on Wednesday on election petition at the Supreme Court.

ABN TV recalls that the Supreme Court had in a unanimous judgement read by Justice Paul Galinje, a member of the seven-member panel, affirmed the election of Okezie Ikpeazu as the governor of Abia State.

Dr Alex Otti had taken the election matter to the Apex Court after the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court upheld the election of the governor.

Galinje said the appellant’s reliance solely on the smart card readers in proving the alleged over-voting was fatal to his case and that the law was clear that the petitioner must tender the voter’s register, and should relate the document to the specific area where the documents were affected.

Agbazuere told NAN in Abuja that the judgement of the Supreme Court was a clear indication that Abia is a “God own state”.

“This is the third time Alex Otti is taking Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to court and this is the third time he is winning him; this is the last point.

“The enemies had wished that things change but the Lord has spoken and when God choose a man, no man can thwart it because Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is a child of destiny.

“I urge others in the opposition to have a rethink and repent; our God is a jealous God and if He advises you and you refuse to take His advice, whatever you see you take.

“I urge Abians to remain steadfast in their support and solidarity for the governor who is destined to lead us at a time like this,” Agbazuere said.

Governor Ikpeazu was re-elected as the governor of Abia state after winning the March 9 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party after a successful first term.

(NAN)

UK Foreign Secretary calls for “full and transparent” investigation into Ukrainian plane crash

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has called for a “full and transparent” investigation into the fatal crash of a Ukraine International Airlines flight in Tehran on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports which claim the plane was shot down by Iranian surface to air missiles. 

“We urgently need a full and transparent investigation to establish what caused the crash,” Raab said in a statement Friday, citing a “body of information” which suggests that the plane was “shot down by an Iranian Surface to Air Missile.”

“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, including the four British nationals who lost their lives,” the foreign secretary added.

In response to the “heightened tensions” in the region, the UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals against all travel to Iran and has also recommended against taking flights from and within Iran.

Billionaire to give away $9 million to Twitter followers to see if money makes them happier

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

A Japanese billionaire will give away more than $9 million to 1,000 people on Twitter to see if it improves their happiness. All they had to do to get it was retweet him.

Online shopping mogul Yusaku Maezawa will divvy up 1 billion yen (around $9 million) among the Twitter users. Winners will end up with a million yen each (roughly $9,100).
In an announcement on YouTube, the tech tycoon called the contest a “serious social trial” to see what impact a million yen could have on a person’s life.
In the video explaining the contest, Maezawa urged contestants to use the money “as they like” and to answer regular questionnaires about how they’re using it.
Almost anybody was eligible to receive the small piece of Maezawa’s fortune. All they had to do was join Twitter and retweet the announcement tweet before midnight on January 7.
More than 4 million people heeded his call and retweeted. A lottery will determine the winners, and Maezawa will personally notify them in a direct message within two to three days.
Maezawa also said he would contact the lucky winners afterwards to ask about the impact, and called for social scientists to help analyze the results of the experiment.
Why a Japanese billionaire wants to send artists to the moon
The billionaire pulled the same stunt in January 2019. He promised 100 million yen, roughly $914,000, to be shared among 100 Twitter users. They ended up with a bit more than $9,000 each.
He broke a record in the process: His January 2019 tweet was the most retweeted ever at the time, with 4.68 million retweets.
Maezawa is worth an estimated $2 billion, according to Forbes, and has made a name for himself as an eclectic billionaire — a rock musician, hopeful moon tourist and high-rolling art collector. He dropped $111 million on a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting in 2017 — the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by an American artist.

Iran Plane Crash: The victims of Ukraine flight by nationality

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

A Ukrainian aeroplane carrying 176 passengers crashed minutes after taking off early Wednesday from Iran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, killing all passengers and crew members on board.

The cause of the crash is currently unknown, although Iran cited “technical problems.” As the investigation continues, Ukraine’s embassy in Tehran issued a statement ruling out terrorism and then removed it.

The fatal crash unfolded during a particularly tense time in the region: In a growing conflict with the United States, triggered by the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Iran fired more than a dozen missiles targeting Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops four hours before the Ukraine International Airlines jet went down.

The victims include 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, in addition to nine Ukrainian crew members, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three Britons, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. More than 140 passengers were Iranian nationals, according to Iranian officials, suggesting that many possessed dual citizenship.

Already intelligence sources from the United States reported that the plane was downed by a Russian made surface to air missiles, while Iranian authorities declared that it was due to technical problems.

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