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Emma Okonji Konga, a leading composite e-commerce group, is poised to transform the Nigerian media and commerce landscape with the upcoming launch of its AI-powered FM radio station in Lagos. The groundbreaking initiative, set to debut in January 2025, will mark Africa’s first Hit Music and Commerce Station, blending Technology, Entertainment, Commerce and more to drive impactful connections across the continent and the world. A reliable source reveals that the station – KongaFM, will be a pioneering platform to empower brands, distributors, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to connect with untapped markets, revolutionizing commerce in real time. While offering businesses a new avenue for product visibility and market penetration, the station promises to deliver non-stop hit music, ensuring listeners enjoy a unique mix of entertainment and commercial opportunities. It will be a completely new experience for Nigerians. The initiative will also complement Konga’s existing TV arm and other media services, positioning the brand as a dominant force in marketing communications. The platforms are expected to create synergies that set new benchmarks for how entertainment and commerce converge in Africa while streaming globally. When asked for further details, CEO of Konga Group, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, dwclined comment, stating that “full details and official announcements will be made in January 2025.” The anticipation around the launch continues to grow as industry experts and media enthusiasts eagerly await what is already being hailed as the next major evolution in Africa’s media and commerce space.Prediction: This Company Will Be the Biggest Beneficiary of Super Micro Computer's Problems
MILLIONS of Black Friday shoppers searching for bargains risk being conned by fake customer reviews. One in seven online testimonials are in fact false, according to government data. Advertisement 4 If you fall for a bogus review then you could end up wasting your money on poor or even dangerous products. Charlotte Sheridan, founder of The Small Biz Expert, which helps its clients get genuine reviews, says: “Unfortunately, there are a lot of fake reviews online, so it’s always best to delve a bit deeper, especially if you’re parting with a lot of money.” This Black Friday week, Mel Hunter reveals how to spot them. HOW DO FAKES HAPPEN? INCREASINGLY, AI-generated posts are cropping up online. Advertisement Read More on Money SALE AWAY Homebase puts 74 sites up for sale after tumbling into administration - full list WHAT A PORKER! I tried supermarkets' pigs in blankets for Xmas & found an unexpected winner It affects companies big and small. In 2023 alone, Amazon — which claims it has “zero tolerance” for fake reviews — blocked 250million of the posts. A new law, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, is due to come into force in April next year, banning fake reviews and making companies responsible for checking them. But in practice they can be hard to spot — and difficult to police. Advertisement Most read in Money FESTIVE BEER Full list of Wetherspoons opening in Scotland on Xmas Day, is one near you? WINTER WONDERLAND First look inside award-winning Santa's Grotto just 20mins from Glasgow FARM LIFE Farm with Scotland's only lake up for sale LUXURY LIVING Scots tycoon smashes house sale record at neighbourhood loved by celebs There are some tell-tale signs, though. Before you part with your money this Black Friday, sort out the real reviews from the false ones so you spend more wisely. Primark Discounts Uncovered: Insider Tips from Georgia Pontin LOOK FOR DETAIL WHEN it comes to sorting genuine experiences from those that have been made up, you need to read between the lines. Fake reviews are often vague and lacking in human detail. Advertisement They might say a product is “great”, without explaining why. A review that repeats phrases from a product’s website can also be a red flag. Amy Cutmore, editor of Expert Reviews, says: “A real review is usually specific and descriptive. “For an air fryer, it might say ‘I cooked bacon in it and it came out nice and crispy’. Advertisement “If a review reveals no details on the product or the use of it, be suspicious.” SPELLING MISTAKES POOR spelling should make you suspicious. It could be a sign that reviews have come from someone being paid to churn them out in bulk, and often not in their native language. Look at other review sites, too, to get a broader range of views. Advertisement Charlotte says: “I would always recommend, where possible, looking at more than one platform for reviews. Whether it’s a combination of social media reviews and Google, or Trustpilot and Amazon, use more than one source.” SIZE MATTERS LOOK out for reviews that are very short, or too long. If someone has written a dubious review, they will probably keep it to just a few sentences. A bogus review, produced by AI, on the other hand, could ramble on far too long. Advertisement A recommendation by a real person is more likely to fall somewhere in between. FIVE-STAR FAKES SHOPPING experts recommend skipping both five-star and one-star reviews, which is where most fakes tend to land. It may mean you miss some genuine recommendations, but you will also get a more rounded picture from three or four-star ones, where real customers weigh up the positives and negatives. Amy says: “If the review makes the product sound far too good to be true, it’s more likely to be fake feedback.” Advertisement Be especially alert for five-star reviews on unbranded products. Shoppers are more than twice as likely to pick poor-quality products that have been boosted by fraudulent reviews, according to Which? RAINING REVIEWS ANOTHER sign of a dodgy write-up could be a deluge of reviews for the same product landing within just a short space of time, with long gaps between other reviews. It could happen around Black Friday or Christmas when a retailer is trying to shift stock, or around a new launch. Advertisement Amy says: “This could be a sign that the seller has faked positive feedback in some way.” She recommends a tool that can help spot bogus reviews. Fakespot from Mozilla is a plug-in tool that will help single out false reviews. It can be added to a web browser for free, and it works with Amazon, eBay and Shopify, as well as other e-retail sites. Advertisement POWER IN THE PROFILE DELVE a bit deeper into a reviewer’s profile. On sites including Google Reviews, Trustpilot and Amazon, you can see what other businesses or products someone has reviewed. Charlotte says: “Here there can be some obvious red flags — for example, if someone is not in the country where the business they are buying from is based. “Also, be sure to take a look at how often they review products and services. Advertisement “Reviewing lots of different products within a short timeframe may also indicate a false review.” Amy says that if all the reviewer’s posts give five stars, or one, it might show they have been given an incentive to write the posts. 4 Millions of Black Friday shoppers searching for bargains risk being conned by fake customer reviews Credit: Getty £25? what an ice surprise! THOUSANDS of struggling households in more than a dozen postcodes are set to receive cash to help heat their homes as the cold snap takes hold. Advertisement Those eligible get £25 during each seven-day period of below-zero weather in their area until March 31. 4 Thousands of struggling households are set to receive cash to help heat their homes as the cold snap takes hold Credit: Getty The Department for Work and Pensions provides the extra cash to low-income households. To be eligible, you must receive certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support, or support for mortgage interest. Advertisement Those who qualify will have the funds deposited automatically into their bank accounts within 14 days of their postcode being triggered. These postcodes, which have already experienced a period of very low temperatures, are now eligible for a single cold weather payment: CA9-12, CA16-17, DG14, TD9, LA8-10, LA21-23, NE19, NE47-NE49. If you think you could have received the payment, check your bank statement for an item with your National Insurance number followed by the code “DWP CWP”. Further cold weather could lead to additional payments in other areas, and there is no maximum limit to the amount you can receive. Advertisement For example, almost 500 postcodes got up to £75 last winter. See coldweatherpayments. dwp.gov.uk to check if you will be due a cold weather payment. James Flanders Users are E.ON for payout A MAJOR energy supplier will give £144 in compensation to 250,000 customers. Advertisement E.ON Next – part of the E.ON Energy Group – has been asked to pay up after it failed to give final bills and refunds to prepayment meter customers . 4 E.ON Next will give £144 in compensation to 250,000 customers Credit: Alamy Almost a quarter of a million accounts were affected between February 2021 and September 2023, an investigation by energy regulator Ofgem found. This was due to an error within its billing system, which E.ON Next self-reported to Ofgem. Advertisement Prepayment customers who changed suppliers or terminated their contract did not receive final bills within six weeks, which is required under Ofgem’s rules. This failure meant existing customers were not aware of cash left over in their accounts, the watchdog said. It was found that some 100,000 of the accounts were in credit, with an average of £51 left over. Impacted customers have been contacted to inform them about the payment, E.ON said. Advertisement The company also agreed to voluntarily write off debt held by almost 150,000 prepayment meter customers who closed their accounts between February 2021 and September 2023. Read more on the Scottish Sun FESTIVE FIZZ Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Scotland: Dates, locations & all you need to know AND RELAX Scots seaside hotel with outdoor hot tub and firepit named UK's top spa resort Beth Martin, director for consumer protection and competition at Ofgem, said: “It’s encouraging that [E.ON Next] self-reported the issue and have worked with us to resolve it.” Laura McGuire
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I spent 10 years and $800,000 renovating an Arkansas missile silo. It's my greatest accomplishment, but I don't recommend others try it.Eagles QB Tanner McKee gets 1st career TD football back with a little help from fans in the stands{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-11-24T00:37:16+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-11-24T00:37:16+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-11-24T00:42:14+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22066/news/rwanda/photos-kagame-graces-tito-rutaremaras-80th-birthday", "headline": "PHOTOS: Kagame graces Tito Rutaremaras 80th birthday", "description": "President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame on. Saturday, November 23, attended Tito Rutaremara's 80th birthday celebration, joining the...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22066/news/rwanda/photos-kagame-graces-tito-rutaremaras-80th-birthday" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/24/64683.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/24/64683.jpg" }, "articleBody": "President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame on. Saturday, November 23, attended Tito Rutaremara's 80th birthday celebration, joining the veteran politician's family and friends. Rutaremara, who is fondly called Mzee Tito, is a former Senator and Ombudsman. The veteran politician is among the founders of the Rwandese Alliance for National Unity (RANU), the political movement founded in 1979, which later became the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) in 1987. The RPF/Army launched the war to liberate Rwanda in 1990 seeking the return of Rwandan refugees and in 1994, they stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Tito Rutaremara on why war was the only option to liberate Rwanda Rutaremara is currently the Chairperson of Rwanda Elders' Advisory Forum, which advises the government on national issues, political orientation and challenges related to good governance. Born in 1944 in Gatsibo, in former Kibungo territory, in today's Eastern Province, Rutaremara fled Rwanda with his family after the 1959 pogroms that targeted the Tutsi. Young Rutaremara, who had attended primary school in Gatsibo and left Rwanda when he was in the second year of secondary school at College St Andre, continued his studies in Uganda. He later went to Europe for university studies. ALSO READ: Stories of Rwanda's keypolitical actors beginning to be told In an interview with The New Times in July this year, Rutaremara reflected on the war that put an end to decades of ethnic discrimination and genocidal violence. We started [the war] on October 1, 1990. Because we didn't have any other means, we had to come and liberate by force, Rutaremara told The New Times' Linda Kagire. He was one of RPF negotiators during the Arusha peace talks with the Juvenal Habyarimana regime, seeking to bring the early 1990s war to an end. https://x.com/UrugwiroVillage/status/1860428530540052515?t=TU7wXBgH7364rQPqyiAsiQ&s=19 Rutaremara, who has seen Rwanda during and after colonialism and taken part in its liberation effort since the 1970s until 1994, said that the actual liberation started after the Genocide against the Tutsi, when Rwandans had to build a unified country. ALSO READ: Tito Rutaremara on how unity is Rwanda's foundation The man who has also taken part in the post-Genocide reconstruction believes that the journey to liberate Rwandans from poverty continues today. It is still a journey. Of course, in some areas we have achieved high results and in others, not yet, but we are yet to get where we want to be, Rutaremara said. He believes that Rwandan youth must take over the liberation baton to continue to develop the country. He also believes that Rwanda's leadership with Paul Kagame as President has a good vision for the country. We have got a very good visionary leader who sees further than anyone can see, who knows how to organise and mobilise people, Rutaremara said, reflecting on President Kagame's development vision.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Moise M. Bahati" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
Franklin Resources Inc. Takes $1.56 Million Position in Morgan Stanley Direct Lending (NYSE:MSDL)Head Hunters assets case: Inside the 10-year police investigation to bring down Wayne Doyle and the gangSaquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants. Single-season rushing record in reach. @saquon @Eagles pic.twitter.com/iSHyXeMLv1 — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record. he BAKED today 👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/eFX9fd1w5P — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games. The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the Giants. FINAL: Drew Lock accounts for 5 TDs in the @Giants victory! #INDvsNYG pic.twitter.com/N8HJYth09F — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win. Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13, while the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10.
The Argos Black Friday sale is being touted as its biggest yet with hundreds of deals on everything from tech to toys . But, to save you some scrolling, I’m bringing you a round-up of the most impressive ones right here, favouring products and brands that come IndyBest tried and tested. Some of the highlights include a 65 per cent discount on our top-rated electric toothbrush , Oral-B’s pro 3 3500 white, (was £100, now £35, Argos.co.uk ), while Revlon’s TikTok viral one-step hair dryer and volumiser is now half price (was £50, now £25, Argos.co.uk ). I’ve seen savings of £150 on vacuum cleaners from Samsung, Eufy and Dyson, and there’s also up to 50 per cent off toys, so you can get ahead on your Christmas shopping while saving some cash. When searching for the best deals, it’s a good idea to look for Argos’s “price promise” badge – if a product is marked with one of these green stickers, it won’t get any cheaper before 25 December. Below, I’ve picked out some savings you can shop now. Follow live: Black Friday deals and expert shopping tips This model was rated best in class in our review of the best electric toothbrushes . With this generous Black Friday offer, the Oral-B pro 3 3500 is less than half price. It provides a daily clean, sensitive, and whitening mode, and a timer with 30-second pacing buzzes. In our review, it stood out for “its refreshing simplicity”, while the “oscillating head still delivers a reliably thorough clean”. The result? Our reviewer was happy with the pro 3 3500’s cleaning power, noting how their teeth “felt fresh and thoroughly scrubbed, delivering that satisfying ‘just been to the dentist’ sensation”. Looking to score a saving on the PS5? Resident tech expert Alex has been busy rounding up the best offers . And I’ve spotted that Argos has slashed the price of the console just in time for Christmas. When tech writer Steve reviewed it, he said: “The PS5 packs a serious punch, with performance and graphics rivalling a mid- to high-end gaming PC.” I predict a sell-out here, so run, don’t walk. Senior writer Daisy spotted this impressive deal on her favourite hair dryer. In short, the beauty team vowed that the supersonic “drastically decreases the amount of time spent drying your hair and leaves it far shinier and healthier than the majority of hair dryers”. This is a rare saving on such a high-tech beauty tool. If you’re looking to save some cash on a new TV during the sale, Argos has slashed the price of this 4K TV from LG by £100. This is another deal that comes with the retailer’s price promise guarantee. The TV features voice control and the ‘magic’ remote, which enables you to navigate the display using motion, where you’ll be able to access Freeview Play, Disney+ and other apps. Tech writer Steve featured several models from Eufy in his review of the best robot vacuum cleaners , so, while he hasn’t tested this particular model before, the brand is one we trust. The G50 is cordless, equipped to run for up to 120 minutes once charged, and can fit beneath furniture to ensure a thorough clean. The soft mop pad and water tank mean this model will work as a mop, too. It’s reduced by £81 at the moment, so now’s a great time to invest. If you’re looking for more robot vacuum cleaner discounts, you’re in luck. Argos has also applied a massive £150 price cut to Samsung’s jet bot cordless robot vacuum cleaner (was £500, now £350, Argos.co.uk ), which is a model Steve tried himself. In his review, he dubbed it the best for remote operation. Upon testing Dyson’s V15s detect submarine, home appliance expert Siobhan found that it worked just as well as any Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner, but the mopping function is what they were most excited about. It was “simple to fill the tank with water and clean, and you can even add a drop of detergent”, she praised. The vacuum cleaner also features “a fluffy optic cleaner head that reveals hidden dust with its laser, a hair screw tool to blitz ground-in hair and a sensor to measure microscopic particles and increase suction power as needed”. Equipped to fry, boil and even go in the oven, this do-it-all non-stick frying pan has been a staple in my kitchen for over a year. In my review , I said that it “performed brilliantly, whether or not we were cooking with oil – pancakes, vegan sausages and more were a non-stick zone”. The best part? It’s half price, owing to this deal in the Argos Black Friday sale. A heated clothes airer, like this one from Argos Home, is a great way to speed up laundry drying times. This model can hold up to 10kg of laundry, which is said to be equivalent to one load of washing, and, when it’s not in use, it can be folded away flat. Inexpensive as far as these appliances go, Argos has reduced its price to £40. With many coffee machines costing hundreds of pounds, this automatic pod model is a steal, thanks to Argos’s Black Friday sale. This discount also comes with the retailer’s price promise, so, it won’t get any cheaper before the end of the Black Friday sales. Billed as producing a thick, velvety crema, the machine comes with cappuccino, americano, and flat white pods, to get you started. BaByliss took the top spot in our review of the best hair dryers and, while it was with a different model (the BaByliss 3Q , if you’re curious), it’s safe to say that this brand knows how to produce a high-performing hair tool. Now, this 5336CU elegance hair dryer, which features two speed and three temperature settings, including a cool shot for hold, is half price – at just £26, this is a steal. Inspired by retro 1950s design and available with a discount in pastel green or cream, this four-slice toaster from De’Longhi is half-price for Black Friday. To make it easier to retrieve your toast, the extra lift position is a helpful feature, and there are options to defrost and reheat, as well as variable browning control, ensuring you can enjoy the perfect level of crunch. Massage guns such as this option from HoMedics are designed to aid recovery and relaxation, whether that be to help you wind down and release tension after a long day or after a heavy workout. Although we haven’t tested this exact massage gun, HoMedics is a tried and tested brand . Billed as lightweight, the novo mini has six intensity settings and four attachment heads, which you can apply to different muscle areas. Leading the way with its innovative technology and wide array of vacuum cleaners, Shark has launched its Black Friday sale, but, you can also secure deals from third-party retailers, such as this very impressive discount at Argos. Currently less than half price, this model features Sharks’ anti hair wrap technology (this removes hair from its brushroll while you’re hoovering), runs for up to 40 minutes once charged, and comes complete with a crevice tool and an upholstery tool. If you’re after a corded model, Argos has also slashed the price of Shark’s anti hair wrap corded bagless upright vacuum cleaner (was £230, now £129, Argos.co.uk ). Upon putting this air fryer from Ninja to the test, our reviewer found that food cooked “faster and ended up a lot tastier and crispier compared to cooking in the other air fryer models”, which was owing to its impressive 2,470W of power. It features six settings, including roast, bake, crisp and more, and there are two drawers which can be synced to finish cooking what’s in them simultaneously. And you can snap it up with a Black Friday discount at the moment. Calling all bakers: you can now get this Kenwood stand mixer for less than half price. There are three attachments, and you can whip up your ingredients at six different speeds in the 5l bowl. A star feature, the fold function is billed as being ideal when making souffle and meringues. When our reviewer put this Tiktok viral hot brush to the test , they said: “Its appeal lies in its affordability and the volume it delivers. In our experience, it performs best when you work on hair in sections. Twisting your wrist as you glide through strands gives your locks a speedy volume boost.” Our tester added: “It doesn’t get tangled or leave hair frizzy, although, it is pretty weighty, so bare that in mind.” Right now, you can snap one up for half price, thanks to Argos’s Black Friday sale. Taking the top spot in our guide to the best Garmin watches , the vivoactive 5 features a sleek, streamlined design. Our tester loved that it weighs “next to nothing (23g, to be precise)”, which meant they barely noticed it on their wrist. It is able to track fitness metrics such as steps, heart rate, distance, calories burned, sleep quality, and more than 30 preloaded sports. Our tester was also impressed by this device’s sleep coaching capability and its price, which has just been slashed by £30 at Argos. Looking for a large air fryer to make cooking different foods a quick and simple affair? This Tefal model could be the answer. With a large drawer for the star of the show and a smaller drawer for side dishes, you can whip up all sorts of meals in one go with this appliance. With an 11l capacity, it should be roomy enough for up to six portions, and it now comes with a tasty £80 discount. Dubbed the best ‘do-everything model’ in our guide to top fans , this nifty appliance left our reviewer impressed. “It’s a sleek dream machine all round,” they praised. The “super-effective heater and excellent air purifier” ramped up whenever it detected pollutants in our tester’s home. They especially loved the fact they could see how clean the air was on the LED screen on the front of the fan. Now, you can save a whopping £150 on the Dyson device. Lego and Star Wars fans, if you’re looking for a new build to get stuck into, this 7,541-piece is reduced for Black Friday, by a whopping £210. The Millennium Falcon set features a cockpit with enough room for four minifigures, and also comes with crew members from the original and sequel Star Wars trilogies. If you’re more interested in cars than galaxies far far away, Argos has slashed the price a LegoTechnic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E performance set (was £190, now £135, Argos.co.uk ) by £55 for Black Friday. Snap up a discount on this electric shaver. A similar Philips 5000 series model was dubbed the best value for money rotary shaver in our review . “This smart device reads and adapts to the beard density as it goes to work, ensuring you always get the most efficient shave”, our tester said. Thanks to this Black Friday deal, you can save £30 on this wet and dry grooming gizmo. Fans of Disney’s Stitch can’t fail to be enchanted by this colourful Lego character. Suitable for children (and big kids) aged nine and up, this 730-piece set builds into a 20cm-tall model with moving parts. Waggle the ears up and down, turn the head and place the ice-cream cone in Stitch’s hand. With a saving of more than £15 on the set at Argos, now is the time to get a head start on your Christmas shopping. Black Friday falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the US and officially finishes on Cyber Monday (the following Monday). This means, in 2024, Black Friday begins on Friday 29 November and ends on 2 December. However, Argos jumped the gun and started launching its Black Friday deals on 1 November. Read More: Black Friday 2024 live updates The IndyBest team has been working across sales events such as Black Friday for years. We know that bringing you the best deals isn’t just about finding the best discounts, it’s also about spotting the best savings on top-rated, high-performing products that we’ve tested, and from brands that we trust. Get the latest updates on Black Friday 2024, with our shopping guideBangladeshis spend around $4 billion abroad every year for healthcare, according to Malik Talha Ismail Bari, senior vice president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). This is due to a lack of specialised treatment, trust on doctors and advanced technology within the country alongside costs being comparatively lower abroad, he said. Bari, also a director of United Hospital, was delivering a keynote paper through a presentation at a seminar, styled "Reversing the Outbound Healthcare Tourism", at the DCCI today. There are 5,461 private hospitals and clinics in Bangladesh, of which 1,810 are within Dhaka division, he said. People in rural areas are deprived of quality and adequate healthcare services while pressure is created for an influx of patients at healthcare facilities in Dhaka. Limited infrastructure, a lack of skilled workforce, quality and safety concerns, low doctor-patient ratio and long waiting periods are some of the bottlenecks to access advanced healthcare in Bangladesh, he added. Bari informed that Bangladesh allocated Tk 30,125 crore, or 3.78 percent of its national budget, for public healthcare in fiscal year 2024-25. Pre-capita health expenditure, or annual government spending for healthcare per person, is $110 in Bangladesh whereas $401 in South Asia, he said. Patients sometimes go abroad for healthcare services due to a lack of facilities, trust and comfort and reversing this trend requires formulation of a proper plan and identifying the bottlenecks, said National Professor AK Azad Khan. "Since medical science is an ever-changing process, we need to have a proper curriculum to adopt the best technological advancements," said Khan, also president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh. He also stressed on the standardisation of laboratories, adequate budgetary allocation, facilitating more research and strengthening the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BM&DC), which is the regulatory authority for medical and dental education in Bangladesh. Trust is a crucial factor when considering this sector's development, said Rezaul Karim Kazal, professor of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Quality hospitals should be established in rural areas for wider coverage alongside customised services for all types of patients, he added. Only doctors should be appointed through Bangladesh Civil Service for the public health administration to be run efficiently, said Syed Abdul Hamid, professor at the Institute of Health Economics of the University of Dhaka. Moreover, a "health service commission" should be formed similar to the Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission, which assess the suitability of persons for entry-level appointments as assistant judges or judicial magistrates, he added. Liaquat Hossain, registrar of the BM&DC, suggested that the national policy for registering foreign doctors to practice in Bangladesh could be simplified. Of the 1,34,000 doctors in Bangladesh, only 33,000 are in public service, said Abul Bashar Md Jamal, a former professor of surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. However, over 10,000 foreign students are studying in different public and private medical colleges here, he added. Members of middle-income households are increasingly seeking healthcare services abroad, mainly for a lack of confidence and satisfaction, said DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed. Only a few types of advanced treatments, such as robotic surgery, are available locally, he said. The trend can be reversed by outperforming regional competition, ensuring customer satisfaction and enhancing quality of medical services, reliability and branding initiatives, he added. "We need to be more open to foreign doctors, nurses, medical technologists and other specialists," opined Ahmed.
Franklin Resources Inc. Has $1.46 Million Position in Hafnia Limited (NYSE:HAFN)None
Bellingham and Mbappe strike as Real Madrid beat GironaKochi, Dec 28 (IANS): In recognition to the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute’s (CMFRI) pivotal role in advancing fisheries science, two of its scientists have been honoured by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) for their exceptional contributions. Established in 1990, NAAS is dedicated to promoting excellence in agricultural sciences, encompassing other areas such as crop and animal husbandry, fisheries, agroforestry, and the agriculture-industry interface. Dr Eldho Varghese, senior Scientist at CMFRI, has been elected as a NAAS Fellow, while Dr T.G. Sumithra has been selected as a NAAS Associate. These prestigious recognitions underline their contributions to agricultural research in their respective domains. NAAS Fellowships are awarded to distinguished scientists from India and abroad for outstanding contributions to agriculture and allied sciences. The Associateship program, introduced to recognise young scientists under 40 years of age working in agriculture-related disciplines in India, highlights emerging talent in the field. Dr Eldho Varghese was honoured for his innovative contributions to statistics, particularly in designing experiments for agricultural and fisheries research. His work includes statistical and ecosystem modelling, fish stock assessment, applying deep learning models in marine fisheries research, and developing computational tools for advanced data analysis. Dr T.G. Sumithra was recognized for her groundbreaking research in fish health and marine microbiology. Her studies focus on the marine fish microbiome, fish diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. Her work has led to the creation of guidelines for responsible antibiotic use in aquaculture and eco-friendly technologies for bioethanol production and sustainable fish waste management. NAAS, a national body devoted to agricultural sciences, serves as a premier platform for agricultural scientists to deliberate on pressing issues in research, education, and extension. It provides policy recommendations to planners and decision-makers while fostering cutting-edge research across diverse fields of agricultural sciences.