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FIFA Strips Indonesia Of U-20 World Cup hosting Rights
FIFA has stripped Indonesia of the right to host the Under-20 football World Cup after protests against Israel’s participation led to the cancellation of the tournament’s main draw. The world football’s governing body announced its decision on Wednesday, following a meeting with the Indonesian football federation’s (PSSI) President Erick Thohir, and said a new host […]

FIFA has stripped Indonesia of the right to host the Under-20 football World Cup after protests against Israel’s participation led to the cancellation of the tournament’s main draw.
The world football’s governing body announced its decision on Wednesday, following a meeting with the Indonesian football federation’s (PSSI) President Erick Thohir, and said a new host country would be announced “as soon as possible” with the tournament set to start on May 20.
PSSI had cancelled the draw for the tournament on Sunday after the governor of the largely Hindu island of Bali refused to host Israel’s team.
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, while publicly supporting the Palestinian cause.
“FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023,” a FIFA statement said.
“A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged. Potential sanctions against the PSSI may also be decided at a later stage.”
Earlier this month, protesters marched in the capital Jakarta waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and demanding Israel not be allowed to participate.
“Indonesia is a FIFA member, so for any international soccer matters, we have to abide by the rules,” Thohir said in a statement on PSSI’s website.
“I ask all football lovers to keep their heads high over this tough decision by FIFA. It’s time we proved to FIFA to work harder to transform soccer, towards clean and high-achieving soccer.”
On Tuesday, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo spoke against mixing matters of “sports and politics”.
“I hereby guarantee Israel’s participation has nothing to do with the consistency of our foreign policy position towards Palestine, because our support for Palestine is always strong and sturdy,” he said in a livestreamed address.
The PSSI said losing hosting rights would harm Indonesian football teams’ chances of taking part in other FIFA tournaments, while the economic losses would amount to “trillions of rupiah”.
The Indonesian football federation could be further disciplined by FIFA. A suspension could remove Indonesia from Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which starts in October.
FIFA and public authorities in Indonesia agreed to FIFA’s hosting requirements in 2019 before being selected to stage the 2021 edition of the Under-20 World Cup. The coronavirus pandemic forced the tournament to be postponed for two years.
As host, Indonesia automatically qualified for the Under-20 World Cup, but it has not played in the tournament since 1979.
Israel qualified for its first Under-20 World Cup in June.
It is unclear who could now host the tournament, which was scheduled to be played in six stadiums in Indonesia.
Argentina, which did not qualify for the tournament, is reportedly interested in hosting.
FIFA said that it was committed to aiding the PSSI following a deadly stampede last year that led to the deaths of 135 spectators at a stadium in East Java in October.
“Members of the FIFA team will continue to be present in Indonesia in the coming months and will provide the required assistance to the PSSI, under the leadership of President Thohir,” FIFA said in the statement.
“A new meeting between the FIFA President and the PSSI President for further discussions will be scheduled shortly.”
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
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LG’s 2023 TV Lineup Wows Consumers With Exceptional Picture Quality and Immersive Sound

LG Electronics (LG) unveiled its new television lineup for 2023, which boasts a range of technological advancements designed to deliver superior picture quality, sound performance, and usability. This lineup is headlined by its most advanced range of OLED TVs yet, the OLED evo C3. With premium self-lit picture quality, powerful image processing technologies, and an enhanced webOS platform offering even more smart features and services, the company’s latest OLED TVs elevate viewing experiences as only LG OLED can.
It’s been 10 years since LG first released OLED, and in that time, much has changed. What’s new for 2023’s big TVs, and is it worth getting excited about? It might be difficult to believe, but TVs are celebrating a bit of an anniversary this year as OLED turns ten.
“At LG, we are committed to continuous innovation across our home entertainment products, and our 2023 TV range is no exception. And as our technologies have evolved, so has the role of the TV in Nigerian homes,” said Choongbae Seok, General Manager, TV Division, LG Electronics West African Operations.
“Whether it be the hub where people gather for the latest sporting match, game, or movie, or a statement piece positioned to impress invited guests, this year we are providing a television for every consumer,” he said.
The C3 OLED evo provides higher brightness and color accuracy, as well as amazing clarity and detail, thanks to the precision and performance of LG OLED evo technology and the new α9 AI Processor Gen6. It comes in 83, 77, and 65-inch sizes. The other lineup includes the QNED 81 Series (75’’, 65″); the Nano 77 Series (75”, 65”, 55″); and the UHD UR Series (75’’, 65”, 55”, 50”). LG TVs now feature a slimmer design and minimal bezel that complement your home interior. Upgrade your viewing experience to enjoy vivid colors and breathtaking detail in real 4K.
LG continues to leverage its technological leadership, not just to create products and services for a better life. 2023 LG OLED TVs are designed to be kinder to the environment, from production all the way through to disposal, creating sustainable cycles. LG OLED TVs have no backlighting unit, meaning each TV requires fewer materials to produce than a conventional LED TV. They also employ many components made from recycled plastics and are even shipped in eco-packaging made from recyclable materials and featuring single-color printing. Easier on viewers’ eyes, LG’s 2023 model OLED TV has been certified low-blue-light by TÜV Rheinland and flicker-free by UL Solutions.
Outlets such as CNET highlighted the OLED C3, saying, “It sets the standard for high-end TV picture quality.” (CNET, 06/23)
For TechRadar, the LG OLED C3 arrives with new HDR-improving picture processing, a pleasing look, a smart TV interface overhaul, and a wealth of features that will appeal to both gamers and movie fans. “LG has delivered another winner with the C3 OLED,” the review noted. (TechRadar, 03/2023)
The LG range of 2023 TVs comprises the following:
Faster HDMI switching
The new LG OLED TV models support a wide range of HDMI 2.1a-compatible features, with 4 ports available on the C3 models again. They are also the first TVs to be certified by the HDMI organization for the recently announced Quick Media Switching VRR (QMS-VRR). QMS-VRR eliminates the momentary black screen when switching between content from different sources connected via the TV’s HDMI 2.1a-compatible ports. This is only available when using HDMI 2.1 QMS VRR-certified source devices.
Gaming remains a focus
For the ultimate gaming experience, LG OLED and QNED TVs feature a 0.1 ms response time, low input lag, and up to four HDMI 2.1a-compatible ports. LG OLED TVs are also equipped with Game Optimizer, which allows users to quickly select and switch between game-related features such as game genre display presets. Settings for Nvidia G-Sync, FreeSync Premium, and variable refresh rate (VRR) are also easily accessible through the Game Optimizer.
Improved picture and sound quality
The latest processor in the Alpha series uses LG’s advanced AI-powered deep learning technology to ensure excellent picture and sound quality. AI Picture Pro offers improved upscaling for greater clarity, and improved dynamic tone mapping helps bring out depth and detail in every image. AI Picture Pro also includes image processing technology that recognizes and refines objects or faces to have more lifelike HDR quality. In addition, AI Sound Pro ensures that viewers can immerse themselves even more in what is happening on screen by delivering virtual 9.1.2 surround sound through the TV’s built-in speaker system.
Improved webOS and software
This year’s models are equipped with the latest webOS version and include the redesigned All New Home user interface, which offers a wealth of personalization options and more comfort for an even better user experience. The new Quick Cards give users easy access to the content and services they use most, grouped into logical categories such as home office, gaming, music, and sports. Based on their TV behavior and viewing habits, the more advanced webOS ensures that consumers easily receive personalized recommendations tailored to their preferences.
LG TVs are available in all Fouani showrooms nationwide. For more information, kindly visit https://www.lg.com/africa/tvs
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Soludo commends Igwe Achebe, Glo on Ofala Festival

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has commended the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, Onitsha people and the sponsors of the annual Ofala festival, Globacom, for their efforts in promoting the annual festival.
The Governor who was a special guest at the 2023 Ofala festival in Onitsha over the weekend said the huge success of the festival and its tourism potentials would complement his government’s efforts in bringing development to the state.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, paid glowing tribute to digital solutions provider, Globacom, and other sponsors for their relentless support for the Ofala Festival of Onitsha Kingdom.
The Obi who thanked the telecommunications company for consistently sponsoring the festival for the past twelve years, explained that Globacom had helped to project it as a tourism destination.
He said, “Globacom as our principal partner has remained steadfast with us even with the present economic challenges. We thank them exceedingly and trust that our mutually beneficial partnership will continue to grow”,
Also at the festival on Sunday, Globacom’s Retail Sales Chief, South East and South South, Augustine-ndu Offor, explained that the sustained support of cultural festivals such as Ofala has added economic value to the surrounding region by leading to the development of tourism. He added that it is in line with the vision of empowerment that MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank (MMPSB), a subsidiary of Globacom, was launched this year. MMPSB, through its G-kala wallet enables the unbanked and underbanked to use their mobile phones to send, save, collect and deposit their money, thereby empowering the financially excluded in the society. The 8% interest rate per annum on the G Kala savings account is a good demonstration of the added value the company provides its customers.
The sponsorship agreement between Globacom and Ofala Festival started in 2011 for an initial period of three years. The partnership is now in its 12th year with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the palace in 2022 to extend the deal to 2025.
Award
Nigerian Journalists, Media Houses, Battle For Awards At 17th NMNA, Oct 29th

The Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award (NMNA) is here again. And up for grabs are professional awards that stands out the worth of a Journalist and the Media Houses they represent.
The Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award since its inception in 2006, has honoured journalists in various categories of the media profession viz a viz Politics, Crime, Aviation, Tourism, Society and others.
Who wins this year? Which newspaper will emerge the best this year 2022-23? Which is the Best TV Station In Nigeria and which is the Radio Station of the Year?
The event will also have in attendance Top government officials, Captains of Industry, and Corporate organisations that are presently making waves. These will be honoured for their different contributions to the growth of the country and for their strong support and identification with the Nigerian Press.
The event is slated for Sunday, October 29th. The D-Day for Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award at The Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Host is the Honourable Minister for Defence, Bello Matawalle. Co-host, Honourable Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa. Special Guest of Hounour, Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, Honourable Minister for FCT, Nyesom Wike and many other distinguished guests.
Keynote Address will be delivered by the Chairman of Odu’a Group, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru.
This year’s theme is: ‘A Way Out Of Nigeria’s Quagmire In The Next Four Years.’
Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award, a celebration of the fourth estate of government.
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