Day: October 4, 2024

Following are the results of Thursday’s matches in Brazil’s Serie A championship (home teams listed first):

Fluminense bt Cruzeiro 1-0

Criciuma bt Atletico Goianiense 2-0

Playing on Friday

Gremio vs Fortaleza

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has emphasised the important role of the faith sector to communicate on gender-based violence and femicide issues beyond theology and scripture.

Letsike was speaking at the launch of the joint Interfaith Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Mitigation Strategy 2024-2030, held at Bah’I National Centre in North Riding, Johannesburg, on Thursday.

The Interfaith GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy aims to transform harmful social, cultural, and religious norms that perpetuate violence and seeks to establish faith-based communities as safe spaces for sanctuary, care, and healing.

The strategy outlines a clear vision for an inclusive and peaceful South Africa that is free from gender-based violence and femicide, with faith leaders playing a pivotal role in driving the transformation agenda.

In her address, Letsike underscored that addressing the scourge of gender-based Violence and Fe
micide (GBVF) in South Africa requires an all-of-society approach, as ‘no single stakeholder has the capacity to rid society of this challenge’.

She commended the faith-based sector for embracing the thinking and organising efforts to fight the scourge.

‘Religious formations have an inherent and multifaceted role to cater for the material circumstances of their believers directly beyond the spiritual. By addressing both the material and spiritual needs of individuals, religious institutions contribute significantly to the well-being of communities and the promotion of social justice.

‘You have a dual role as the interfaith sector, [which] speaks about your role in spiritual healing and spiritual pathway, but also the material support that ensures that religion remains a vital force in the lives of our communities that is located within,’ Letsike said.

This, she said, includes obligations, and/or principles of the religious fraternity to host charitable activities and social services toward the well-being
of the surrounding community; and create social support networks, providing financial help, employment opportunities, and other material assistance to community members in need beyond its membership.

‘Spearhead economic empowerment initiatives, such as microfinance programmes, vocational training, cooperatives and business development, helping individuals and communities achieve financial independence; offer spiritual comfort and psychological support that can help individuals cope with material hardships including GBVF for women; [and] advance social and economic justice, challenging systems of oppression that contribute to poverty and inequality,’ the Deputy Minister said.

Letsike also noted the religious fraternity has an inherent responsibility to cater to all members of society, including women, youth, people with disabilities, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+) community.

‘Religion is one of the first lines of defense women in the
ir diversity have against all forms of discrimination along the lines of gender, sexual orientation, and identity, as this sector plays a crucial role in crafting society’s norms and values.

‘The religious fraternity should [also] be an active agent and centre to facilitate change toward addressing the social ills that we face as a country. This includes the rampant poverty, inequality and unemployment that plagues our nation, and more specific to women, the high levels of GBVF, homophobia, sexism, patriarchy, and other gendered social ills,’ she said.

Reinforce positive masculinity

The Deputy Minister reiterated that religious formations have a responsibility to teach men and boys how to relate with women in a healthy way, saying ‘this starts in the family, particularly how we raise our girls and boys.’

‘It is the responsibility of society, inclusive of the religious fraternity, to reinforce positive masculinity. Men should know it is ok to cry, men can be vulnerable and being in touch with one’s emotion
s is manly. This fight against gender-based violence requires that all leaders in society play their part, from religious leaders, traditional leaders and to all formations in society,’ Letsike said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Vietnam’s coffee exports brought home nearly 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months of this year, exceeding the turnover of the whole 2023, VnExpress reported Friday, citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The nine-month figure went up 40 percent compared to the same period last year thanks to high prices of exported coffee.

Vietnam’s exported coffee was sold averagely at the all-time high of 5,469 dollars per ton in September.

From January to September, the price was reported at 3,897 dollars per ton, an increase of 56 percent year on year.

Among Vietnam’s main export items, coffee has emerged as the agricultural product with the biggest increase in export prices, said the report.

According to the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, the Southeast Asian country is predicted to face numerous challenges in the 2024-2025 crop due to unfavorable weather conditions. Coffee output is expected to decrease by 5-15 percent.

The ministry still forecasts that coffee export turnover
this year will exceed 5 billion dollars, even 6 billion dollars thanks to high prices.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

South Africa is a trusted partner in delivering key global business services such as financial risk, regulatory support and digital services to United Kingdom investors, says Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Andrew Whitfield.

The Deputy Minister delivered the keynote address during the South Africa-UK roundtable on Global Business Services (GBS) in London. The session was hosted by Business Process Enabling South Africa in London.

‘With a highly skilled, English-speaking workforce, South Africa has positioned itself as a go-to hub for outsourcing services ranging from legal support to digital transformation.

‘South Africa’s competitive advantage in offering cutting-edge solutions at a fraction of the cost, saving companies up to 50% compared to other outsourcing destinations puts our country in good stead,’ Whitfield explained.

According to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the roundtable formed part of a high-level mission to the United Kingdom (UK) which is being led
by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. The visit is focused on promoting South Africa as a premier investment destination.

READ | UK investors encouraged to establish their business operations in SA

Whitfield highlighted that the South African global business services (GBS) sector has evolved from traditional call centre services into providing high-value, complex services that meet the needs of global investors.

He added that the UK remained South Africa’s largest source market for GBS, accounting for over 56 000 jobs and generating £650 million in revenue through partnerships with leading UK firms such as British Gas, Scottish Power, and Virgin Atlantic.

Whitfield emphasised that since the introduction of the GBS incentive, more than 50 global companies have established operations in South Africa, generating R40 billion in export revenue.

The primary objective of the incentive which became effective from 1 January 2019, is to create employment in South Africa through servicing offshore activities. The sec
ondary objectives of the programme are to:

– Create employment opportunities for the youth (age 18-34 years); and

– Contribute to the country’s export revenue from offshoring services.

Growth

He added that the workforce has grown significantly, from 26 700 jobs in 2015 to over 104 000 today.

In addition, the GBS Masterplan is playing an important role in this growth shifting the focus from low-cost call centres to more sophisticated, high-value services, such as data analytics, financial services, and digital risk management.

‘Our GBS sector offers far more than cost savings; it delivers quality outcomes with proven resilience. South Africa has shown an exceptional ability to adapt, including the successful implementation of flexible work-from-home models.

‘Additionally, we have not experienced any electricity outages for over 190 days, which is a critical factor for global businesses seeking reliable operations,’ said the Deputy Minister.

Looking ahead, Whitfield said the GBS Masterplan envisions cre
ating up to 500 000 cumulative jobs by 2030, through continued expansion and new investments.

The Global Business Services Masterplan was signed by the department and stakeholders on 18 November 2021.

The Masterplan process brings together government, industry, social partners and labour to set a common vision and action agenda for developing and growing the sector.

‘We will work tirelessly with all stakeholders to realise this high-growth scenario, particularly as global businesses increasingly look to South Africa as a destination for innovative digital services and niche sector solutions.’

Furthermore, he urged UK businesses to explore the lucrative opportunities in South Africa’s GBS sector.

‘Our value proposition is clear, quality services, major cost savings, and a stable environment. We invite British investors to take advantage of the opportunities our dynamic sector offers and contribute to its continued growth.

‘Ultimately, this is a key sector to realising the Government of National Unity’s a
pex priority to rapid economic growth and job creation,’ he said.

The Deputy Minister was pleased with the positive engagements and sentiment from GBS companies present, who have a healthy pipeline to expand their operations in South Africa in the next 12 months.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The FIFA Council met in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday and approved many big decisions on the football world, including the voting procedure of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups.

According to the FIFA statement, if each bidding process involves only a single candidate, the selection of the hosts of the competitions will take place at the same Extraordinary FIFA Congress, to be held virtually on December 11, 2024.

FIFA released the Women’s Football Strategy: 2024-2027, “which reflects the overarching framework of FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023-2027, while also establishing tactics and game plans that are specific to women’s football,” FIFA said.

The FIFA Council unanimously approved the Regulations for the 2025 Club World Cup to allow the FIFA Member Associations to open an exceptional registration window from June 1-10, 2025.

The 75th FIFA Congress will be hosted in Asuncion, Paraguay, on May 15, 2025.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

The Uba Sani Support Group has lauded Sadiq Mamman Lagos, Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for his commitment to good governance in Kaduna State.

The group, in a statement signed by Dr Victor Bobai, in Kaduna on Friday, described the commissioner, popularly called, Mamman Lagos, as ‘a pillar of support for Uba Sani’s vision in Kaduna State’.

‘As we approach the 2027 elections, we wish to highlight the unwavering commitment of Sadiq Mamman Lagos to the leadership of Gov. Sani and the vision he has for Kaduna state.

‘Recently, Mamman Lagos boldly declared that there is no vacancy in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in 2027.

‘This statement reinforces his loyalty and steadfastness toward Uba Sani’s administration.

‘In a political climate that can often prioritise personal ambition over collective goals, Mamman Lagos stands out as a figure dedicated fully to the transformative policies instituted by Sani.

‘His focus is not on personal gains but on ensuring the continuity of t
he governor’s impactful vision for the state.

‘Any attempt to oppose this leadership will fail in view of the remarkable achievements of the Uba Sani administration,’ it said.

The group further said: ‘At a recent flag-off event, Mamman Lagos proudly mobilised more than a million supporters, demonstrating significant grassroots backing for Uba Sani’s policies.

‘This substantial show of unity among citizens echoes the commitment to progressive governance that is crucial for Kaduna State’s future.

‘Noteworthy is the impressive array of infrastructure and rural development projects currently underway which serve as the bedrock of Uba Sani’s administration.

These strides make a formidable foundation impervious to any political challenges.’

The statement also said that Mamman Lagos, as the commissioner for local government had passionately championed the cause of welfare, security and development for citizens of Kaduna.

Bobai reaffirmed the group’s commitment to Gov Sani’s policies targeted at a better life
for the people.

‘As we navigate the political landscape leading to the 2027 elections, we echo the sentiments expressed by Mamman Lagos that with Sani’s guidance, the future for Kaduna State is indeed promising.

‘We stand united, ready to advance the voice of the people while fortifying the achievements and aspirations of the current administration.

‘We reaffirm our commitment to Gov Sani’s vision, confident in the belief that together, we can foster a brighter, more prosperous Kaduna State for all,’ Bobai said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria