oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | business, commerce, news, outages, telecommunications
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Safaricom PLC has declared planned system upkeep for its services, set to take place on Monday, March 24, 2025.
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The top telecommunications company stated that all M-Pesa services will experience an outage for approximately half an hour during this maintenance period.
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The news ignited discussions among Kenyans, particularly Safaricom subscribers, who voiced worries about the telecom’s various offerings.
The journalist Wycliffe Musalia from LIFEHACK.co.ke boasts more than six years of expertise in areas such as finance, business, technology, and climate reporting. This extensive background provides him with significant understanding of both Kenya’s and worldwide economic patterns.
Customers of Safaricom faced a half-hour disruption in services after a planned system maintenance was carried out.
The top telecoms and mobile banking company stated that these maintenance activities are part of their dedication to improving services for their clients.
What Safaricom services encountered issues?
On Saturday, March 22, Safaricom issued a statement to the public announcing that all M-PESA services would experience disruptions during the maintenance work planned for Monday, March 24.
Part of the notification stated, ‘All other Safaricom services such as calls, data, and SMS will remain continuously accessible.’
The telecommunications company stated that the maintenance schedule has been planned to minimize disruption for customers, and apologized to those who might experience issues as a result.
How did Kenyans comment on Safaricom’s maintenance?
Nevertheless, this announcement ignited discussions amongst Kenyans, with several individuals expressing dissatisfaction over restricted or non-existent access to certain M-Pesa features such as Fulaja and M-Shwari loans.
They contended that as long-term customers, their SIM cards had never been eligible for an upgrade or a higher loan limit.
Kipngeno Josphat Bett asked:
Safaricom has decided to discontinue some of their loan services like Fuliza M-Shwari. What factors should be considered regarding this decision?
Kârtêlÿ KE wondered:
Since I last saw my friend, they have been lending me money for more than three years now.
Wekesa Dennis Simiyu asked:
My line has been active for more than 10 years, yet I can use Fuliza 00. Why is that?
Gi Tau Jo Hn pleaded:
Could you please assist me in increasing my Fuliza limit since mine consistently stays at zero?
Sammie Wales wrote:
Safaricom ndio ninasoma kwamba kutoka kwa Fuliza, unaokosa ni muhimu kukubaliana na usalama au hata uweze hatari zenye chanzo bado zipo.
Safaricom internet services
Other customers reported issues with Safaricom’s internet services, specifically mentioning the Safaricom Home Fibre.
Fridah Weish asked:
What’s happening with the home fiber? It keeps turning on and off. In the next room, it’s completely out of order…
Thomas Mnang’at claimed:
Leo kulingana asubuhi, tafuta data ambayo imeshululiwa mara kadhaa za siku iliyopita ikiwa haijafanyika tena mapema mumetemelia pesa zangu.
Millie Jeps Rutto requested:
There seems to be an issue with our network here; could you please send us a booster?
Ceci Solai wondered:
Alafu network siku hizi inatetesha vizuri sana kama hivi mara la Tukielezeza Ni Kwa Nini?
Charlez Parsankah Didaz asked:
Sasa siku hizi linetelevishwa kwamba maelezo ya mtandao yasiyo sahihi yanatumika.
Shiko Irene argued:
I purchased data packages last week, but the network disappeared until the bundles expired without any notice. Although I did not raise an issue at that time, dealing with your debt has become a hassle that troubles me greatly; thus, please compensate me, guys.
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | carbon emissions, climate change, climatology, global warming, greenhouse gases
The previous year marked the highest temperature ever recorded, with the ten warmest years occurring within the last decade. Additionally, the concentration of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached its peak in 800,000 years, as stated in a UN report.
Last week, in their yearly State of the Climate report, the World Meteorological Organization highlighted clear signs of a planet experiencing escalating warmth, including oceans reaching unprecedented hot levels, increasing sea levels, and glaciers melting faster than ever before.
“Earth is sending out stronger warning signs,” stated António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General. He pointed out that the report indicates it’s still feasible to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.8 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. “It is crucial for leaders to take action to achieve this—capitalizing on the advantages of affordable, clean renewable energy sources for both their citizens and economic growth,” he emphasized.
The report linked the warming to human activities such as burning coal, oil, and natural gas, with a lesser contribution from the naturally occurring El Niño weather event. The El Niño began in June 2023 and lasted until mid-2024, contributing additional warmth and aiding in breaking temperature records. By 2024, global temperatures briefly exceeded the 1.5°C threshold for the first time ever; however, scientists consider this milestone met only when Earth’s average temperature remains consistently above that mark over an extended duration.
According to the report, global warming has exacerbated severe weather conditions, resulting in record-high displacements over the past 16 years, intensifying food shortages, and causing substantial financial loss. The document noted that in 2024, there were a minimum of 151 unprecedented extreme climate incidents.
“This serves as a wakeup call that we are escalating the dangers to our lives, economies, and the Earth itself,” stated Celeste Saulo, who is the Secretary-General of WMO.
The report’s warnings come as the United States President Donald Trump has issued a series of rollbacks on climate commitments and cast doubt on climate science. The U.S. is the world’s second biggest polluter currently and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases historically. It’s left some worried that other countries will also have less ambitious targets as a result.
“The science is conclusive. Efforts to conceal climate science from the public won’t prevent us from experiencing the severe consequences of climate change,” stated Brenda Ekwurzel from the non-profit organization, Union of Concerned Scientists, based in the United States.
Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan climate advocate, also cautioned that “the more we postpone reducing emissions, the more severe the consequences will become.”
“Pursuing the elimination of fossil fuels is not optional; it is a critical measure in addressing the crisis happening right now,” she stated.
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | asia, aviation, cambodia, civil aviation, infrastructure
Cambodia anticipates that its new airport catering to the capital city will commence operations in July, according to an official statement made on Friday. This marks a significant advancement towards enhancing the nation’s thriving tourism industry, which had been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Construction started in 2019 on Phnom Penh’s latest airport, called Techuch International Airport, spanning across 2,600 hectares (6,425 acres). This site sits near the boundary between Kandal and Takeo provinces, approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) from downtown Phnom Penh.
“I believe the TIA airport will have a soft launch in July 2025, and we anticipate that numerous travelers are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to visit this new facility,” stated Charles Vann, who leads the airport’s project steering committee, at a press event.
The newly constructed airport represents a $1.5 billion collaboration between the Cambodian government and Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp. The construction firm handling this project is the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd.
The designers behind the airport are the British company Foster + Partners, which states on their website that their design “captures a strong sense of location” and is “attentive to the tropical weather conditions.”
The terminal structure features a singular expansive roof canopy made of a light-weight steel gridshell. This design incorporates an advanced screening system that modulates natural light, thereby brightening the extensive interior area of the terminal.
The construction will occur in three stages. At first, the airport aims to accommodate approximately 13 million passengers annually. By 2030, this capacity is projected to expand to handle around 30 million passengers per year, eventually reaching an annual passenger limit of about 50 million by 2050.
This will mark the opening of the second significant airport in Cambodia within just two years. The Chinese-backed Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport commenced operations in 2023 in the northwestern region of Siem Reap, located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex, which is one of the nation’s top draws for tourists.
Tourism stands as one of the primary supports for Cambodia’s economy. Data from the Ministry of Tourism indicates that the country welcomed approximately 6.7 million international visitors in 2024, marking a rise of about 23 percent compared to the year before.
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | passports and international travel, russian, russian politics, tourists, Travel
Clad in cozy overcoats and fuzzy caps, many individuals have ventured out into Moscow’s crisp early-spring climate, standing patiently in line. However, their motivation isn’t to catch sight of a star or visit a special showcase; rather, what draws them is the opportunity for Japanese visas.
As many European countries have prohibited direct flights with Russia, and Japan has introduced visa benefits, Russian travelers are seeking out novel vacation spots. They’re taking advantage of their currency’s strength and an increase in real wages due to the country’s economic upturn following substantial wartime expenditures made by Moscow in the conflict in Ukraine.
In the 2024 edition of Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Japan was voted as the globe’s top travel destination by its readers. This year, the country recorded over 36.8 million visitors, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of approximately 32 million set back in 2019, as per data provided by the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Japanese carriers no longer operate direct routes to Russia, yet the Japanese embassy in Moscow reported that the number of Russian visitors was rising alongside the growing availability of connecting flights.
Dmitry Gorin, the vice president of the Russian Union of Tourism Industry, stated that the number of Russians vacationing in Japan is expected to double this year, reaching approximately 200,000 from about 100,000 in 2024.
Reuters
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Gorin noted that queues at the embassy are expected because Japan’s renowned cherry blossoms in spring attract many visitors.
He emphasized that the crucial factors were simple visa procedures and budget-friendly flights.
In November, Japan eliminated the requirement for Russian visitors to submit paperwork beforehand to prove they had reserved accommodation for their stay. Round-trip tickets, frequently involving layovers in China, begin at approximately 40,000 rubles ($477.64), according to Gorin.
Elizaveta, who
Reuters
As she waited in line for her appointment at the Japanese embassy in Moscow, she mentioned that the more straightforward visa procedure had motivated her to purchase tickets.
She mentioned, ‘We have been wanting to visit for quite some time now.’ However, traveling to Europe has become increasingly challenging recently. Given that obtaining a visa for Japan only requires around four to five days, they opted to make their trip there instead.’
Prior to Russia initiating the dispute in Ukraine in February 2022, countless Russians visited Europe annually. These journeys, which now require detours due to most European airspace being off-limits to Russian airlines, have grown costlier.
The current yearly visitor count of approximately 300,000 individuals is roughly 90% lower than the figures from 2019, as stated by Gorin.
Russia’s economy experienced a temporary downturn due to sanctions, but it quickly recovered. Soaring consumer demand, particularly for air travel, has pushed the economy towards overheat. However, the ruble’s significant strengthening this year—driven by optimism about improved relations between Washington and Moscow potentially leading to a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine—has primarily benefited Russian travelers going to Japan and other destinations.
Most international travelers have shifted their focus to destinations that haven’t enforced sanctions against Moscow.
“The appreciation of the ruble has a direct impact on tour costs and consumer enthusiasm for overseas vacations,” stated Lyubov Voronina, who leads international initiatives at travel comparison website sletat.ru.
Voronina stated that depending on their travel plans, tourists can presently save anywhere from 10% to 30%.
This timing is ideal for many who now benefit from increased spending money alongside reduced costs.
“I’ve had this dream for a very long time, even back when I was a child,” stated Nikita at the embassy.
I now have the funds available and have made my decision to proceed. Additionally, the costs have decreased.
The main hurdle for Russians is the lengthy line, but when Anton was questioned about whether he feared not having enough time to file his application that day, he merely responded with, “I’ll just come back tomorrow instead.”
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | business, diversity, equities, investing, investment strategies and advice
A key lesson I picked up as I started my investment journey is how crucial diversification can be.
Diversification is crucial since different types of assets tend to behave distinctively. Take for instance last year; local bonds outperformed stocks. Yet, at other points in history, equities have shown superior performance compared to fixed-income securities.
Having assets from different classes will make your investment portfolio less prone to fluctuations and help it perform more steadily over time when contrasted with a portfolio that only concentrates on a single type of asset.
Among the numerous stocks listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), their performance levels differ significantly. Take for instance the constituents of the PSE Index (PSEi); Converge emerged as the top performer in 2024 with its share price nearly doubling. Conversely, Bloomberry stood out as the poorest performing stock within this timeframe, seeing its share value drop by 53.5 percent.
Should you unfortunately hold shares in Bloomberry, your investment portfolio wouldn’t have taken as big of a hit if you had other stock holdings too.
A key rationale for diversification is to steer clear of errors that could result in substantial financial setbacks.
In terms of investment, the size of your funds significantly influences the total profits you can achieve. To illustrate, a 20% gain on a ₱100,000 investment yields just ₱20,000 whereas a 10% profit on a ₱1 million portfolio amounts to ₱100,000.
If you already possess P1 million, you wouldn’t want to make errors that could result in a substantial decrease of your funds.
A method to achieve this is by steering clear of putting all your investments into one stock since unexpected events might lead to a sharp decline in a company’s share price, resulting in considerable financial loss.
In addition to investing in multiple asset classes and various stocks or bonds, there are numerous other methods to diversify your investments.
A method is to purchase international shares and debentures. These financial instruments from abroad tend to behave distinctively when contrasted with local equities and fixed-income securities, particularly those issued by nations beyond Asia.
In the previous year, the U.S.’s S&P 500 index surged by 23.3 percent whereas the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) climbed just 1.2 percent. As of now this year, both indices have experienced declines. Nonetheless, some markets like China’s are showing robust performance.
The positive development here is that investment funds targeting foreign stocks and bonds are now accessible to Filipinos interested in exploring international markets. You can acquire these funds via asset management firms, banks, and brokers with just a few thousand pesos.
A different approach to diversification involves purchasing stocks and bonds from various sectors. These distinct elements impacting separate industries account for their varying performance levels.
Last year, the PSE Financials Index rose by 24.1 percent due to increased profit margins for banks and consistent loan requests. Conversely, the PSE Property Index declined by 16.7 percent because negative sentiments towards property firms were fueled by elevated interest rates and an abundance of unsold residential condos and leased offices.
Ultimately, when purchasing bonds, you can spread out risk by acquiring those with varying maturity periods—ranging from short-term to long-term ones. This strategy ensures that not all of your bonds will be ready for redemption simultaneously, enhancing both your cash flow flexibility and your capacity to take advantage of new prospects as they arise.
If, for instance, you allocated all your resources into a 10-year bond at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak when interest rates were extremely low, you wouldn’t have been able to put money into bonds offering significantly better returns currently available.
Diversification serves as a crucial strategy for managing risks since it aids in minimizing volatility and prevents substantial financial losses. While your possible returns may not match those from heavily investing in a single stock that significantly increases in value within a year, you gain peace of mind knowing that the likelihood of suffering major setbacks due to poor decisions is greatly reduced. INQ
