Tag Archives: BBC

BBC to broadcast in Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, others.

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The BBC World Service is set to broadcast in 11 new languages.

Among them are Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin.

Others are Afaan Oromo and Amharic, spoken in Ethiopia; Tigrinya, the main language of Eritrea; Gujarati, Marathi and Telugu and Punjabi.

The World Service started out in 1932 as a radio channel for English-speakers in the British empire but has transformed over time into a respected provider of news to global audiences.

It already broadcasts in 29 languages, including Hausa, reaching an estimated 246 million people around the world every week.

The expansion is said to be as a result of a funding injection of 289 million until 2020 announced by the government last year.

According to the BBC Director General, Tony Hall, the move is historical and reinforces the importance of the organisation globally.

Hall said, “This is a historic day for the BBC, as we announce the biggest expansion of the World Service since the 1940s. The BBC World Service is a jewel in the crown – for the BBC and for Britain.”

Also, Director of the World Service, Fran Unsworth, the new funding from government would have no impact on the service’s independence.

She said, “Where the money comes from is irrelevant. The World Service is going to do what it’s always done – go over the heads of government providing a service directly to citizens of the world.”

BBC World Service expands with 11 new Asian and African languages.

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BBC World Service will begin broadcasting in 11 additional Asian and African languages and will boost content aimed at its Russian audience in its biggest expansion since the 1940s, the BBC said on Wednesday.

The World Service started out in 1932 as a radio channel for English speakers in the British empire, but has morphed over the decades into a highly respected global provider of news and quality programmes in English and dozens of other languages.

The expansion is a result of a major funding injection announced by the government last year as part of a drive to boost Britain’s “soft power”.

“This is a historic day for the BBC, as we announce the biggest expansion of the World Service since the 1940s,” said BBC Director General Tony Hall. “The BBC World Service is a jewel in the crown – for the BBC and for Britain.”

The additional African languages will be Afaan Oromo, spoken in Ethiopia and other countries, Amharic, also a major Ethiopian language, Tigrinya, the main language of Eritrea, and Nigerian languages Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin, which are also spoken in other West African countries.

The World Service will also add Indian languages Gujarati, Marathi and Telugu, as well as Punjabi which is widely spoken in Pakistan and parts of India, and Korean, spoken in both North and South Korea.

The BBC will also extend its news bulletins in Russian, with regionalised versions for surrounding countries, add regional programming in Arabic and short-wave and medium-wave radio programmes aimed at audiences in the Korean peninsula.

“Through war, revolution and global change, people around the world have relied on the World Service for independent, trusted, impartial news,” said Fran Unsworth, director of the World Service.

Hall has set a target for the BBC to reach 500 million people worldwide by its centenary in 2022.

SR: Pressure Mounts On BBC Not To Air Aisha Buhari’s Explosive Interview.

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The BBC Hausa Service is under intense pressure from President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his kitchen cabinet to pre-empt broadcast of the interview granted by his wife, Aisha Buhari.

 

The interview is due for broadcast on Saturday, but the President is said to have reached out to his wife, who is currently in London, to stop granting further interviews to the media.

 

In excerpts that have been widely reported in the media, Mrs. Buhari is quoted as saying that the President had ditched those who really worked for his victory in the 2015 election and is instead focusing on those that didn’t participate.

 

The First Lady was expressing frustration with members of President Buhari’s kitchen cabinet, particularly his nephew, Mamman Daura; and his powerful chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. They are widely-held as having shunted aside those who worked tirelessly for President Buhari to come to power.

 

She also said the President did not know a majority of his ministers before appointing them to office.
SaharaReporters has also learnt that neither Daura and Kyari voted for Buhari in the last election. A source knowledgeable about the inner situation at the Presidency said neither man possesses a voter’s card or is registered as a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

 

Mrs. Buhari and other members of the APC are frustrated with the President because he has refused to make the changes expected of his government, and continues to empower his nephew to run roughshod on issues of governance. Mr. Daura is reportedly so powerful that Buhari’s ministers have to get his approval to get funds released for their projects.

 

Our sources gave the example of Daura’s influence when the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, got funds released to him for the Rio Olympics 2016 after he met and received the blessing of Mr. Daura.

 

Also recently, President Buhari promised several persons who complained to him about the corrupt elements in his government of plans to make changes, but he never did. Of particular importance are Mr. Kyari and the Secretary to the Government, Babachir Lawal, who are accused of corrupt practices. Also involved is Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, on account of his handling of fiscal issues.

 

President Buhari has disappointed many in his handling of these and other officers, and his wife of 25 years seems to be leading a revolt by voicing the concern of a majority of the president’s loyalists who feel he has mismanaged the country and the goodwill that followed him into office a year and a half ago. “What I am afraid for them is the rebellion of 15 million people,” says Mrs. Buhari at the end of the excerpt available to the public.

Nigeria seizes $800,000 in ‘anti-corruption raids’ on judges – BBC News

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Nigeria’s security agency says it has seized $800,000 (£645,200) in cash in raids targeting senior judges suspected of corruption.

The DSS agency says the raids were carried out in recent days and several judges were arrested.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) accused the authorities of carrying out a “Gestapo-style” operation, demanding the release of those arrested.

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to tackle widespread corruption.

In a statement, the DSS said: “The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these judges.

“We have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the judges as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis (of) amounts of money paid.”

The statement said the judges were from the supreme, appeal and high courts.

The names of the suspects have not been released.

Reacting to the raids, the NBA called on President Buhari to “immediately caution all the state security agencies and to respect the rule of law”.

NBA head Abubakar Mahmoud told reporters: “We are not under military rule and we cannot accept this unholy event and Gestapo-style operation.”

Since taking office last year, Mr Buhari has vowed to tackle the rampant official corruption, which has stunted economic growth across the country, the BBC’s Martin Patience in Nigeria says.

As part of that campaign a number of former senior officials have been charged. But their cases have largely stalled in the courts.

Widespread corruption within the legal system makes it extremely difficult to convict powerful individuals, our correspondent adds

Helloooo…….Watch Adele Impersonate Adele, As She Tricks Other Impersonators

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And now Adele, starring as … Adele.

The singer, who released her album “25” on Friday, took part in a prank with the BBC’s Graham Norton in which she masqueraded as an Adele impersonator named Jenny. She then joined a group of other Adele impersonators trying out for a fake talent show.

Though she looked something like herself, she was made up with a fake chin and fake nose, kept her working-class accent trimmed and her voice low. After all, Jenny is a nanny, and “nannies talk very slow and very calm to try and make the world make sense,” she told Norton.

She then went backstage with her fellow Adeles, watching each of them perform the Bob Dylan song “Make You Feel My Love,” a hit for her in 2008. At one point she feigned nervousness, telling the others she was going to be sick.

“Bless her,” whispered one of the other impersonators in concern.

But once “Jenny” took the stage, there was no doubting who she really was. Recognition dawned on the others with gasps and smiles.

“As soon as she opened her mouth … you can’t mimic like that,” said one of “Jenny’s” rivals.

The sequence was shot for a BBC special, “Adele at the BBC,” which aired in the UK Friday night.

Adele’s new album, “25,” is expected to be one of the biggest — if not the biggest — records of the year.

See Video Below…………..

Ali Modu Sheriff Opens Up on Boko Haram

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Reports say that former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, reveals all he knows about boko haram in an interview with BBC Hausa in Abuja. Read his statements below:

“This is not true. The Boko Haram issue did not start during my tenure. If you don’t know, let me educate you today. Boko Haram started in 1992 at Kalama in Yobe State, and at that time, I was not a governor. So, if anybody tells you it started during my tenure, he may be part of my traducers. But the truth is that it didn’t start during my tenure.”

The senator stressed that Chad could possibly help Nigeria with solving the insurgency problem, however he kept mute on how it could be achieved.

“Nothing preoccupies my mind in Nigeria presently like the return of peace in Borno. When Borno State was peaceful, there was no place I cherished to stay in the world like Maiduguri. I, my friends, my confidants, my parents and all the schools I attended are in Maiduguri.

“Therefore, I am more concerned than anybody in this country, because what Borno State did for me has not been done to any other indigene. You know, in Borno State, a governor has never been re-elected apart from me; in Borno State, no senator has ever been elected thrice apart from me. So, Borno people have done everything for me, and there is no one in this world that I know other than Chad, which I think could help Borno.”

Reacting to the “Boko Haram sponsor” saga, Sheriff expressed confidence that it had been an orchestrated plot by Borno tops to defame his character.

“They defamed my character, and when they started it, I once told journalists that it was plotted in Maiduguri. We know the plotters, their motives, and that by the grace of God, the truth will prevail; and now, the arrested impostors have said it all to the world.”

Credit: www.naij.com

 

Ugandan Maid Pleads Guilty To Child Abuse

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The Uganda maid who was filmed battering that little girl a few weeks ago was in court today Dec. 8th where she pleaded guilty to child abuse.

Jolly Tumuhirwe, 22, who was in court with her mum, asked her parents, the girl’s parents and all of Uganda to forgive her.

According to the BBC, the girl’s father Eric Kamanzi broke down in court when Jolly asked for forgiveness. Jolly faces up to 15 years in prison for the crime or a fine of about $400 (£260) or both.

Her case was adjourned to Wednesday December 10th when the judge is expected to sentence her. She was led away in cuffs by prison officers after the session this morning.

Source – Global news