The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) has dismissed the case challenging the subscription price hike by MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv. The interim order was issued by a three-member tribunal led by Thomas Okosu following an oral application by Festus Onifade, the claimant, to withdraw his case against MultiChoice. The case began when the tribunal, on April 29, halted MultiChoice’s plans to increase tariffs and the cost of products and services, scheduled to start on May 1. MultiChoice Nigeria responded by announcing its intention to appeal the CCPT’s ruling and was subsequently fined N150 million for…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The UK government has offered junior doctors a 22.3% pay rise, aiming to end a series of unprecedented strikes that have disrupted the National Health Service (NHS). The recently elected Labour government, in conjunction with the British Medical Association (BMA), announced the agreement on Monday. The BMA has agreed to present the offer to its members, recommending a vote in favor of the proposal. If accepted, this deal would conclude the long-running dispute over junior doctors’ pay, which has led to the longest strike in the NHS’s seven-decade history, including a six-day walkout. Junior doctors in England, those below the…
US President Joe Biden unveiled plans Monday to reform the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, in a bold but long shot bid to make a mark with his last six months in power. In proposals backed by Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic election nominee, Biden called for 18-year term limits for the top court’s justices and an enforceable ethics code. The 81-year-old also wants a constitutional amendment to reverse the court’s recent ruling backing Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity. Biden told reporters that the Supreme Court “needs reform,” as he left the White House…
South Africa’s ruling ANC on Monday expelled its former leader ex-president Jacob Zuma for leading a rival party into elections following disciplinary proceedings. The African National Congress, which lost its absolute parliamentary majority for the first time in May largely due to Zuma’s defection, said the veteran politician’s conduct was “irreconcilable” with its constitution. “Former President Jacob Zuma has actively impugned the integrity of the ANC and campaigned to dislodge the ANC from power while claiming that he had not yet severed his membership,” ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula told a press conference. He was thus “expelled” from the party,…
A counter-rally opposing the planned nationwide protest on August 1st commenced today in Lagos and Bayelsa states. Youths from various locations converged on Lagos Island, carrying placards with messages such as “Say No to Protest,” voicing their support for the Tinubu-led administration. Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, women gathered en masse, holding placards reading, “Say no to protest in Bayelsa.” This counter-protest comes amid widespread social media campaigns urging Nigerians in all 36 states to demand an end to bad governance through protests. The opposing youths called on their peers to avoid engaging in violent protests. Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun…
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted thundery and rainy weather conditions from Monday to Wednesday across the country. NiMet`s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja forecast morning thunderstorms on Monday over parts of Kebbi, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi and Taraba States. The agency envisaged thunderstorms over parts of Zamfara, Taraba, Bauchi, and Kebbi states later in the day. It anticipated moderate rains over parts of Nassarwa, Benue, the Federal Capital Territory and Niger during the morning periods. “In the afternoon and evening hours, moderate thunderstorms with light rains are expected over parts of Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, Nassarawa, Kogi…
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday threatened to relaunch production of intermediate-range nuclear weapons if the United States confirmed its intention to deploy missiles to Germany or elsewhere in Europe. “If the United States carries out such plans, we will consider ourselves liberated from the unilateral moratorium previously adopted on the deployment of medium- and short-range strike capabilities,” Putin said during a naval parade in Saint Petersburg. Putin added that now in Russia “the development of a number of such systems is in the final stages”. “We will take mirror measures in deploying them, taking into account the actions of…
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday vowed to “hit the enemy hard” after rocket fire from Lebanon killed 12 young people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and again raised fears that the war in Gaza would spread. Iran warned Israel any new military “adventures” in Lebanon could lead to “unforeseen consequences”. Western powers, including France and Germany, condemned the attack and appealed for calm. The European Union called for an independent probe into what happened. Israel’s army called it “the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians” since the October 7 attack that began the war in Gaza and triggered regular…
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken engaged in a discussion with Kenyan President William Ruto on July 25, 2024, emphasizing the importance of democratic freedoms and accountability in Kenya. This conversation highlighted the crucial role of youth and civil society organizations in fostering a robust democracy. Secretary Blinken praised President Ruto for his commitment to accountability concerning security forces allegedly involved in protest violence and disappearances. He also commended Ruto’s directive for police to avoid any form of violence against protesters, reinforcing the importance of freedoms of assembly and expression as enshrined in the Kenyan constitution. Additionally, Secretary Blinken…
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced an additional $4.9 million in humanitarian assistance to aid drought-affected populations in Namibia. This support aims to address the severe food insecurity crisis exacerbated by El Niño-induced drought conditions impacting nearly half of the country’s population. Namibia is facing a critical period of food scarcity between July and September, with approximately 1.4 million people expected to require urgent food assistance. The drought has severely affected crop and livestock production, leading to economic decline, unemployment, and significant price shocks. The USAID funding will support UNICEF’s efforts to enhance nutrition services, focusing…
The House of Representatives has issued a warning to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, threatening to call for his removal if he continues to obstruct the smooth operation of the Dangote Refinery. This was disclosed by Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday. Agbese emphasized the House’s support for the removal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, for similar reasons. The All Progressives Congress legislator accused both the NNPCL and…
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, alongside Mayor Andre Dickens, led a crucial roundtable discussion on private sector contributions to food security. Held on July 25, 2024, and hosted by Microsoft, this event brought together key figures from various sectors, including Accenture, the American Heart Association, CARE, Digital Green, GoodrCo., Wellstar, and representatives from the City of Atlanta. The roundtable focused on leveraging emerging technologies to combat food insecurity and fostered collaboration across public, private, and non-profit sectors. Participants shared best practices and discussed how successful initiatives in Atlanta could be scaled nationally and globally to…