Rural South Africa to get free wi-fi
26 May 2015Rural Eastern Cape is about to get high speed internet service though a dedicated wi-fi connection.Project Isizwe is well known for rolling out the City of Tshwane’s massive wi-fi programme which is part of the city’s vision for universal internet access. But taking wi-fi to the Ingwe Technical Vocational Education and Training College on their Mount Frere and Lusikisiki campuses in a pilot project was not without its critics.“Everyone says ‘It’s easy in Tshwane, but you can’t do it in a rural area’, but here we are,” said Alan Knott-Craig junior, the brains behind Project Isizwe.The pilot would focus on the Department of Higher Education and Training being able to deliver internet access on campus and surrounding areas, he explained.“The idea is for the Department of Higher Education to deploy free wi-fi on campus and for surrounding communities (where students live) throughout the country.”The wi-fi deployment is scheduled for 17 June and Knott-Craig said that the rural area provided an ideal test-bed for how the poor would be able to participate on the internet.“Eastern Cape is ideal because it is as rural as you get and [is] densely populated. Until we solve connectivity problems there, South Africa will always have a problem.”It’s a sentiment similar to that expressed by Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg in his drive to push Internet.org, despite criticism the platform has received.“Giving people free access is the right thing to do. Facebook will keep connecting more people and more countries, and won’t stop until every person in the world can connect to the internet,” Zuckerberg said when he announced the availability of the platform in Malawi.In South Africa, Tshwane’s city-wide wi-fi programme continues to grow beyond expectations.The service is now available in 96 wards with 575 live sites. Project Isizwe has 161 577 users of the service, up from just 1 567 in 2013.In Western Cape, Stellenbosch – where the free wi-fi project was initiated – is still considering how to best offer citizens internet access.“We continue to try to engage the municipality but they are going through an internal process. as to how to take Stellenbosch Free Wi-Fi forward,” said Knott- Craig.Source: News24Wire
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to open the two-day Jobs Summit which will be convened under the auspices of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) on Thursday and Friday 4 and 5 October 2018 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng.Held under the theme: “United we can create jobs” the Jobs Summit will bring together government, business, labour and community organisations to advance job creation. It will provide a platform for open discussion on the challenges faced by each social partner in the creation of jobs.The Jobs Summit was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2018 State of the Nation Address, where he noted that the Jobs Summit would be convened ‘to align the efforts of all sectors and stakeholders behind the imperative of job creation and to develop practical measures and initiatives to create employment for millions of South Africans.’Ms Mpumi Mabuza, Brand South Africa General Manager for Stakeholder Relations said: “This conference is testament of how the issue of unemployment in South Africa has been prioritised nationally in all spheres of society (government, civil, public and private sector). We at Brand South Africa stand ready to work collaboratively with all industry players in both the public and private sectors to “jointly, boldly, and strategically” champion and cultivate South Africa’s development agenda by improving the socio-economic state and human condition for our country.”The Jobs Summit comes on the back of rising unemployment. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) second quarter data showed that unemployment had increased to 27,2 percent.The conference will also have commissions to discuss various themes in which Director-Generals in the Economic Sectors, Employment and Infrastructure Department (ESEID) cluster will participate together with representatives from business, labour and community organisations. The themes will focus on: Enabling interventions/interventions supportive of employment creation, Sectoral interventions creating employment, and interventions focused on enhancing efficiencies.The gathering will culminate with the signing of an agreement on the way forward and an anti-corruption pledge.
RELATED ARTICLES Some experts worried that the protectionist moves would touch off more widespread trade disputes. Chad Brown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics told The Washington Post, “There’s a real chance that this opens the floodgates.”The Times reported that more than 95% of solar panels sold in the U.S. are imported, half of them from Malaysia and South Korea. China has became a powerhouse in solar cell and module manufacturing, with its share of global cell production rising from 7% in 2005 to 61% in 2012, The Post reported, while as many as 30 U.S. manufacturers of PV modules have gone out of business.Low prices on imported solar cells and panels hurt U.S. manufacturers, but they also have driven down the cost of solar installations by 70% since 2010. And in the wake of the decision, the Solar Energy Industries Association warned that 23,000 Americans who install PV systems would lose their jobs this year, while billions in solar investments would be delayed or canceled. In a statement, SEIA President Abigail Ross said the tariffs would not be enough to keep either Suniva or SolarWorld afloat and would damage a sector of the economy that has been booming.SEIA included a statement from Tony Clifford, the chief development officer at Standard Solar, a SEIA member. “It boggles my mind that this president — any president, really — would voluntarily choose to damage one of the fastest-growing segments of our economy,” he said. “This decision is misguided and denies the reality that bankrupt foreign companies will be the beneficiaries of an American taxpayer bailout.”GTM Research predicted that the tariffs would mean an 11% drop in U.S. solar installations over the next five years, a reduction of 7.6 gigawatts of installed capacity through 2022. President Trump has announced the imposition of new tariffs on imported photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels, acceding to the request of two foreign-owned companies with facilities in the U.S., Suniva and SolarWorld. The tariffs were vigorously opposed by a trade group representing the U.S. solar industry.The new duties start at 30% but will decline over four years to 15%. In each of those four years, the first 2.5 gigawatts of imported solar cells won’t be subject to the tariff, The New York Times reported, a move designed to help PV module manufacturers in the U.S. retain access to cheap cells.Trump acted after getting recommendations from the U.S. International Trade Commission, which conducted hearings on the request from Suniva and SolarWorld. Also on Monday, Trump ordered new tariffs on imported washing machines.The tariffs are part of a trade broadside from the Trump administration that also includes his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and negotiations to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement to make the agreement more favorable to the U.S.
Hearings Open on Solar Panel Trade CaseCould a Trade Dispute With China End the U.S. Solar Boom?New Tariffs on Chinese Solar PanelsTariff Threat Strangling Solar MarketAn Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems
Download over 120 free video elements, assets, and sound effects for your next project. Good for personal or commercial use. Get your PB Freebies now!Top image via Shutterstock.The third annual PremiumBeat Free Week has come and gone, but you can still download over 120 free video elements that we gave away with these 5 new PB Freebie packs.Download and use these free SFX and video elements in your next project, good for personal and commercial use. Download all five packs now! 21 Free 4K Fog OverlaysNow is your chance to download 21 free 4K fog overlays to use in your videos and with your motion graphics. These overlays were all shot in a controlled studio environment and captured organically with real fog and haze. The only way to get a more realistic look is to shoot on a foggy day.GET THE 21 FREE 4K FOG OVERLAYS HEREDetonate: 40 FREE Explosion SFX and VFX ElementsLooking for some big fireballs, mushroom clouds, or explosion sound effects? Grab this pack of 15 free explosion elements and 25 free SFX from PremiumBeat.GET THE 40 FREE EXPLOSION VFX AND SFX HEREWanderlust: 17 Free LUTs for LOG FootageNeed to add color and contrast to your LOG footage? This pack of 17 free LUTs offers cinematic and vintage looks in an instant. The CUBE files are compatible with most non-linear editors, so you can use them in Premiere Pro, FCPX, DaVinci Resolve, and more! The only thing we could’ve done better is to have called them WanderLUTs.GET THE 17 FREE LOG LUTS HERE15 Free Camera Shake Presets for After EffectsAdd realistic camera shake to your footage or motion graphics with this pack of 15 free After Effects presets. In fact, you get both HD and 4K presets, so you’re really getting 30 camera shake presets! Be sure to head over to this post to watch the tutorial on using these presets in your next video.GET THE 15 FREE CAMERA SHAKE PRESETS HERESci-Fi UI: 29 Free Computer and HUD SFXAdd depth to your futuristic films with 29 free Sci-Fi UI sound effects. Perfects for adding sounds to user interfaces and heads-up-displays. Take your project to the next level by throwing in some digital displays and HUD elements from our friends at RocketStock. Check out their Interface pack with over 400 video elements.GET THE 29 FREE SCI-FI UI SFX PACK HEREBonus: Another 10 Free Packs with Over 125 Free Video Assets and SFXWant more free stuff? Be sure to check out all the past PB Freebies from the prior Free Week giveaways. Get free motion graphics, transitions, color grading presets, SFX, and much more!EXPLORE ANOTHER 125+ FREE VIDEO PACKS FROM PREMIUMBEATWe hope you enjoy using these PB Freebies as much as we enjoyed making them for you! Stay tuned for more freebies and fresh content at the PremiumBeat blog.
After a successful stint with an upper caste State chief, the BJP has reverted to an OBC with a strong organisational background for the top post in Uttar Pradesh.Swatantra Dev Singh, appointed the State party president on July 16, replaces Mahendra Nath Pandey, who was elevated to the Union Cabinet as Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.Mr. Singh is an MLC and currently holds the post of MoS (Independent) in U.P. with the Transport, Protocol and Energy department portfolios.He belongs to the Kurmi caste, the second largest OBC community in the State. His promotion provides fillip to the BJP’s grip over the numerically significant OBCs. Mr. Pandey, a Brahmin, took over the post in 2017 after the BJP swept the Assembly election, winning 325 seats along with its allies. He had replaced Keshav Prasad Maurya, an OBC, who was rewarded with the post of Deputy Chief Minister in the Adityanath-led BJP government for the successful campaign.RSS pracharakLike Mr. Pandey and Mr. Maurya, Mr. Singh also comes from the RSS stable and has years of organisation work to his credit.Born in 1964 in the eastern district of Mirzapur, Mr. Singh’s political work, however, has been focused in the Bundelkhand-Kanpur region. He has a B.SC degree from the Bundelkhand University in Jhansi.In 1986, Mr. Singh started working as an RSS pracharak in Kanpur before being appointed the organisation secretary of the students wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, in 1989. In 1991, he started to climb up the BJP ladder by first being appointed the party’s in-charge of its youth wing in Kanpur, before being given the task of the Bundelkhand region youth wing. In 1996, Mr. Singh was picked as the State BJP’s youth wing general secretary and then its State president in 2001.Two-time MLCMr. Singh is a two-time MLC and since 2004 has also held the posts of State general secretary and U.P. vice-president.He, however, is not known as a mass leader and neither has been embroiled in any major controversy.In 2012, he contested the Assembly election from Kalpi seat in Bundelkhand but finished a dismal fourth, managing just over 14,000 votes. He is known more for his organisation skills, and as one BJP source put it, “disciplined life and leadership.”In 2014, Mr. Singh was in charge of Narendra Modi’s rallies in U.P. and for west U.P. in the 2017 Assembly polls.In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he was deputed to neighbouring Madhya Pradesh and helped the BJP sweep the State.Mr. Pandey on Twitter hailed Mr. Singh as a “diligent and energetic soldier of the organisation.”The first task of the new U.P. BJP chief will be to oversee the coming Assembly by-polls for 11 seats that were vacated after the incumbents were elected to the Lok Sabha this summer.
MS Gill, who has been shifted from Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry to Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry, on Thursday, did not attend the Union Cabinet meeting amidst indications that he is sulking over being given a lesser important portfolio. No reason was given for his absence from the first meeting of the Cabinet after Wednesday’s reshuffle, sources said. Gill could not be reached for his comment on the absence after it came to light. However, earlier, he made clear his sulk through some cryptic remarks on being shifted. “I have forgotten that time (as a sports minister)…God has screwed my head in such a way that I can’t look back and look forward,” Gill said when asked how he looked back at his previous tenure.Asked whether he was happy at the new portfolio being given to him, the former Chief Election Commissioner remarked, “I don’t look at any moves to study how and why or what has been done. I am not interested in all that.” Gill, who was shifted out of the Sports Ministry against the backdrop of attack on him over the mess in Commonwealth Games preparations, said, “It’s a new day for me and I am looking forward to that.” He has been replaced by Ajay Maken, former Minister of State for Home Affairs, who was elevated as MoS with Independent charge.
India skipper Rohit Sharma lauded his team after a seventh Asia Cup triumph in Dubai on Friday. Chasing 223, India were in a spot of bother before a limping Kedar Jadhav got India across the line in a last-ball thriller.Rohit led from the front throughout the tournament and laid the foundation for India’s chase with an aggressive 48 before a familiar struggle in the middle-order. However, the likes of Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni got useful runs before Jadhav was forced to retire with a hamstring injury.Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar got India close before Jadhav returned to see India through to their seventh title. India were unbeaten throughout the tournament – they defeated Hong Kong, Pakistan (twice), Bangladesh (twice) and tied with Afghanistan.Rohit said the title was a reward for some consistent cricket and sheer hard work throughout the tournament. Most of the players in the side had spent a lot of time in England recently and it took them some time getting used to the oppressive heat in Dubai. In fact, India had to play back-to-back games against Hong Kong and Pakistan but they adjusted beautifully.Asia Cup 2018 Final: India vs Bangladesh Report | Match Highlights | ScorecardIn fact, Rohit, who finished as the second highest run-scorer in the tournament, played down the lavish praise that came his way for his superb captaincy by saying his team made him look good. ” If you have a team like that, the captain will always look good. It wouldn’t be easy if we didn’t have the support of the remaining 10 players, so I am really proud of the boys.”advertisementAlso read – 23-year-old Liton Das smashes historic hundred vs IndiaRohit also congratulated Bangladesh for their gutsy cricket. A week back, India had decimated Bangladesh in the Super Four. But Bangladesh bounced back to defeat Afghanistan and Pakistan before running India close yet again in a final.”We played some good cricket throughout the tournament and this is the reward of all the hard work throughout the tournament,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation ceremony.”I have been part of games like this before and credit to the guys in the middle to handle the pressure and to cross the finishing line was a fantastic effort.You have to give some credit to Bangladesh. They put us under pressure in the first 10 overs,” he said.Read: Hope Bangladesh won a lot of hearts, says Mashrafe MortazaIndia were also under the pump after electing to field in another high-profile final. Liton Das had been dropped on 52 and he made the most of the opportunity by bringing up his maiden hundred. However, the spinners led a remarkable fightback to restrict Bangladesh to 222.Rohit said he was confident the spinners would do the trick for him.”We thought if the ball got older, the spinners would do the work for us. It was important to keep it tight and we have done that well throughout the tournament.”Also read – MS Dhoni 1st Asian wicketkeeper to affect 800 dismissals in international cricketIndia rode on plenty of support in the stands in Dubai. From the young fan who was left fuming after MS Dhoni got out for a duck to the young boy who cried after Dhoni tied his 200th match as ODI captain, there were some memorable fan moments for India in the Asia Cup.Rohit, on his part, did not forget to thank the crowd.
Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsApp Related Items:education week, fortis tci, ministry of education TCI Police looking for candy & electricity thieves Recommended for you Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsAppProvidenciales, 25 Feb 2015 – Next week begins Education Week in the country and already schools are planning a series of activities to highlight Turks and Caicos culture and history and the value of the two in education. In addition to Ecumenical services being held across the islands to kick start the week of targeted events; the Ministry of Education reminds of the Fortis TCI National Science Fair set for March 3-5 at the Gus Lightbourne Gym. The theme for Education Week 2015 is “Unite for Quality Education: Better Education for a Better World.” Ministry of Education & Digicel team up for Learning Hub FortisTCI reveals Education Week winners
Jet Airways asks junior pilots to take 30-50% pay cuts or leaveWikimedia CommonsAfter the Indian IT sector made news for layoffs and pay cuts, the pattern now seems to have shifted to the airline sector. Indian carrier Jet Airways has asked its junior pilots, who joined the brand in 2016, to take a 30 percent pay cut or leave.In a bid to trim costs, Jet Airways is said to have made a few changes to the pilots’ contracts and it will now be mandatory for them to take 10 days of leave in a month apart from their weekly offs, which in turn will result in a 30 percent reduction in their salaries. The pilots have been given until the end of the month to take a decision.”As a valuable asset to the company, we would like to ensure your continued employment while simultaneously balancing our cost structure. As an interim measure, we shall be offering you a Lifestyle Work Pattern which entails 10 days block off per month with the appropriate remuneration. This will be effective August 1,” the private full-service carrier told its employees in a note, according to Reuters.”In case you do not wish to accept the above terms and desire to seek alternate opportunities, within the industry or outside, you may revert by July 31, 2017. In such a case, we shall assist you by facilitating the necessary formalities as may be required.”Jet Airways’ decision is said to have affected about 320 junior pilots. The cost cutting move comes in light of a generally slow business as well as the headwinds that the brand is facing in the international market due to the economic slowdown in the Gulf region.Speaking about the development, a Jet Airways spokesperson explained: “Jet Airways continues to remain committed to all its employees which includes crew members and trainees, who are essentially a part of the Jet family.”However, certain developments in the market, including that of the Gulf region, as well as our continued efforts to enhance internal efficiencies, has resulted in the review of our network, fleet and crew utilisation. Consequently, as a proactive measure, the Company has made interim alignments to its crew work patterns, which will be reviewed in future, in line with network growth.” Jet Airways asks junior pilots to take 30-50% pay cuts or leaveReuters FileMeanwhile, pilots who do not take up the new offer and decide to leave will also not be asked to serve the usual six months notice period and will be allowed to leave early.Jet Airways currently has a fleet of 113 aircraft and flies to 65 destinations worldwide. The full-service airline plans to add eight more this fiscal.
Passport Service Week-2018 is set to begin tomorrow, Saturday aiming to supplement the efforts of the government for ensuring hassle-free services for the people, reports BSS.Home minister Md Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal will inaugurate the Passport Service Week-2018 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital at 11:00am.On the occasion, president Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the Passport Service Week-2018.They wished success of all programmes of the week.