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No changes in the top ten; CAF and AFC nations are main movers and shakers; Angola and Qatar make biggest strides.
Although it is a case of as you were amongst the ten teams that lead the way in the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking, there is plenty of movement further down the standings following the matches contested in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and the AFC Asian Cup.
Indeed, across the two continents, no fewer than six teams have scaled ten places or more.
Amongst the African sides, Côte d'Ivoire (39th, up 10) reap the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil, secured following an eventful tournament campaign. Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.
In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown. Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out by the Maroons in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.
Qatar's rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings. Senegal (17th, up 3), who suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d'Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, break new ground, while Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.
Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).
Click HERE (https://apo-opa.co/3wadjGP) to view the complete ranking
The next edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking will be published on 4 April.
Leader Argentina (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 None
Moves out of top 10 None
Matches played in total 125 (including 2 in 2023)
Most matches played Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria (8 matches)
Biggest move by points Qatar (up 92.04 points)
Biggest move by places Angola (up 24 ranks)
Biggest drop by points Vietnam (down 41.00 points)
Biggest drop by places Guinea-Bissau, India (down 15 ranks)
Newly ranked teams None
Teams that are no longer ranked None
Inactive teams that are no longer ranked Eritrea
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
The Runified City 50km event which will start and finish at Pollock Beach, Summerstrand on Sunday, 25 February, will be open to all this year and an added incentive for entrants this year is that there will be an official 42,2km timing mat which runners will be allowed to use to submit as a qualifier …
Eskom load limiting project moves to Eastern Cape town
State power utility Eskom says it will be going live with the piloting of load limiting at Bedford in the Eastern Cape.
This comes after the successful implementation of the project in another Eastern Cape town, Adelaide.
Eskom Cape Coastal Cluster General Manager Mbulelo Yedwa said: “Electricity load limiting through smart meters is being implemented to better balance the supply and demand of electricity on the grid during Stages 1 to 4 of load shedding allowing customers to continue to use essential appliances with the capacity of up to 10 Amperes.”
The power utility explained that instead of being load shed during Stages 1 to 4, customers with smart meters in Bedford will have their load limited.
“An hour before the start of load shedding, these customers in selected pilot areas will be prompted to reduce their consumption from 60 Amperes to 10 Amperes by sending a message to the Customer Interface Unit (CIU) of the smart meter.
“Customers will also be notified by text message. If the customer load is still above 10 Amperes, the smart meter will automatically make two more attempts 30 seconds apart. After three failed attempts, the next reset will be in 30 minutes,” Eskom said.
The initiative, according to Eskom, is aimed at reducing the impact that load shedding has on customers with the following benefits:
“It is the responsibility of the customer to reduce consumption by switching off non-essential appliances and only keep connected essential appliances up to a maximum of 10 Amperes for the duration of the load limiting period,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Thu, 02/15/2024 - 10:10
“I believe that music has the power to spark meaningful conversations, foster empathy, and inspire positive change,” said Liz Ogumbo. “With ‘Say No,’ we hope to amplify the voices of survivors, raise awareness about the root causes of gender-based violence, and mobilize people to join us in creating a world free from violence and inequality.” …
Northern Cape man sentenced for child pornography
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola has welcomed the eight year sentence handed down to a 45-year-old for possession of child pornographic material.
This as the De Aar Regional Court sentenced John Henry Meiring on Wednesday.
Lieutenant-General Otola commended Lieutenant Colonel Marli Strydom for her relentless efforts that led to the arrest of the accused on 22 February 2022 and for the conviction and sentencing.
The South African Police Service, Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI), a specialised unit within Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) in the Northern Cape, discovered that the accused was in possession of pornographic images of children.
The accused's cell phone and hard drives were seized for investigation purposes. During the analysis of the exhibits, 773 pornographic images of children were found on the devices.
Addressing crimes against women, children and vulnerable persons remains a top priority for the SAPS in the province. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Thu, 02/15/2024 - 09:34
Pensioners often carry households at the expense of their own needs
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Unemployed doctors to be placed by April, says Minister Phaahla
Government is working tirelessly to ensure that unemployed doctors who want to join the public service are placed by 1 April this year, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla has announced.
This follows an ongoing public outcry over doctors who have completed statutory community service programmes but remain unemployed.
“I am, therefore, happy to announce that working with the Minister of Finance we have a solution to address the current challenge of doctors who want to stay in the public service but could not be offered funded posts,” said the Minister.
During the debate on the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), Phaahla said the Finance Minister will flesh out more details during his Budget Speech next week on how these posts will be funded.
“Our national team is working with the National Treasury team to thrash out the details and working with provincial health departments to speed up the process so that by 1st April 2024 all those who will not be already in posts can be able to start.”
Phaahla said he was confident that some provinces will even be able to start giving out appointment letters before 1 April 2024.
“The measures we are working on with the Minister of Finance will give us sufficient breathing space while we are working on long-term solutions.”
He told Parliament that over the last 15 years, government has ramped up the training of doctors both in the local universities and the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro programme in Cuba.
The number of graduates, according to Phaahla, has almost doubled over the last 10 years, from 1 338 graduates who entered the internship programme in 2014 to 2 210 this year.
“The medical profession is very key in the multidisciplinary teams and that is why we are doing everything to retain as many doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other members of the teams in the public health system.”
In addition, he said his department was committed to working with the medical association and the trade union to look at more opportunities for doctors including offering primary health services in the community as the State prepares to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI).
NHI
He told the House that the government interventions are laying the foundation for the implementation of the NHI.
Phaahla also took the time to thank members of both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) who passed the Bill last year.
As stated in the Bill, he said the NHI will be implemented in two remaining phases from 2024 to 2026, while between 2026 and 2028 government will focus on establishing the Board and CEO and several key committees of the NHI Fund.
“We are confident that the innovative funding of infrastructure as stated by the President will also contribute to health facilities.”
In the meantime, he said his department was strengthening key delivery areas.
These include the healthcare benefits design, digital health systems, and risk identification and fraud prevention.
COVID-19
Since the lifting of all restrictions in June 2022, he said the health sector has been on a recovery path.
“Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members indeed as stated by the President, key indicators show that we have recovered well from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
For example, he cited the improved life expectancy approaching pre-COVID, the continued reduction in maternal mortality in pregnancy and reduced infant and under-five mortality rates.
Meanwhile, he said backlogs in planned surgery procedures including in orthopaedics, general surgery and eye operations are being attended to through the mobilisation of specialists to spend time in under-served areas with many doing it free of charge.
In addition, Phaahla said procurement and distribution of medicines has stabilised with the result and that public health institutions now have stock availability of 85%.
As stated by the President in his SONA, the department will also focus on serious interventions to improve the quality of health services by upgrading infrastructure, including building new facilities. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 02/14/2024 - 09:32
Recovery plan for power outages in Karoo underway
Eskom says its electricity supply recovery plans for towns in the Karoo, which lost power due to severe damage to infrastructure during inclement weather, are progressing well.
The damage cut electricity supply to Sutherland, Roggeveld, Laingsburg, Ladismith, Leeu Gamka, Swartberg, Merweville, Matjiesfontein, Prince Albert, Fraserburg and the surrounding areas.
“Eskom's recovery plan to repair the infrastructure… is making significant progress with the electricity restoration date (ETR) in sight. The ETR remains this Thursday, even though teams are pushing to secure an earlier date and time to bring back electricity supply to the affected towns in the Karoo,” the power utility said.
Eskom assured customers that repairs are “near completion”.
“To date, the intermediate structures have been planted. Two conductors, with one phase each, are running along the intermediate structures as part of the stringing process. The remaining four conductors will be run today, with stringing to commence.
“Eskom understands the frustration of these customers that must endure such a prolonged period without electricity and can assure them that the multiple teams onsite are working around the clock to bring back supply as soon as possible.
“Eskom thanks all its stakeholders for their continued support and the affected customers for their patience and understanding,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 02/14/2024 - 09:58
SIU welcomes arrest of allegedly corrupt former Eskom officials
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the arrest and appearance in court of two former Eskom officials on charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
The two employees, Thandi Magagula and Nontuthubo Mahweliri, were employed at the Hendrina Power Station and were arrested by the Hawks last week and have appeared in different courts.
“The court appearance is part of the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption strategy by law enforcement agencies to strengthen its fight against corruption, especially when such crimes are committed by state employees in positions of trust to deliver services for the benefit of the public and the economy, but instead, steal from the most vulnerable to enrich themselves and fund their opulent lifestyles,” the SIU said.
Magagula allegedly conducted business with the electricity supplier while employed there.
“An SIU investigation revealed that Magagula held a private investment in a company called Montoza Engineering. Montoza Engineering had one or more contracts with Eskom and according to Eskom records during the period of approximately October 2015 to November 2015, had rendered services and provided work or goods to Eskom to the value of approximately R58 888.76.
“Magagula as an employee of Eskom was not supposed to conduct any business with the entity as this is against Eskom’s policy on conflict of interest,” the SIU said.
She also underwent a disciplinary hearing at Eskom, was found guilty and was given a seven-day suspension.
Mahweliri also allegedly operated under the same modus operandi.
“The investigation by the SIU found that Mahweliri failed to declare that she is a member of a company called NKG Trading investments, which had a contract with Eskom and failed to apply for permission to perform private work. Her company received payments to the value of R1 082 884 for the period 2017 and 2018.
“The SIU also referred Mahweliri for disciplinary action. Eskom held a hearing, and she was found guilty of all charges of misconduct and suspended for 7 days without pay,” the SIU said.
Both cases were postponed and they are expected to appear in the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 02/14/2024 - 10:01
Earlier this week residents picketed, demanding that a new office be built and for staff to be trained
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SAPS to promote fitness and wellness on National Police Day
The South African Police Service (SAPS) will on Thursday celebrate its annual National Police Day by promoting fitness and wellness within its ranks.
The day will entail sporting codes and fitness activities to encourage members’ participation in sport and to institutionalise health and wellness culture in the organisation.
Last year, the SAPS signed a memorandum of understating (MOU) with Virgin Active and Planet Fitness to ensure that members remain physically fit and healthy.
The day’s festivities will start with a fun run at 05:30 and as well as an aerobics session. Members will participate in various sporting activities such as netball and soccer.
Police Minister Police General Bheki Cele, the Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale and the National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola will take part in exercise activities.
Cabinet approved 27 January as National Police Day in 2005.
On National Police Day, the South African Police Service (SAPS) remembers the sacrifices that the men and women in blue have made and continue to make as they provide safety for all who live in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 02/14/2024 - 10:27
Pregnancy is a joyous journey, but it’s crucial to look beyond the anticipation of a new arrival and consider the mental health challenges that could come with it. While some new mothers experience what is known as the ‘baby blues’, one in seven women are at risk of developing post-partum depression – a more serious …
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