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Emirates to Deploy A380 on More Routes in 2016

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*Emirates A380 Dual Economy Class Cabin
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Emirates has made public -ts plan to deploy its highly-popular A380 to even more destinations across its network in 2016 – reinforcing its commitment to provide an enhanced onboard experience for its passengers.

Birmingham (BHX), Prague (PRG) and Taipei (TPE) have been added to the growing list of Emirates A380 destinations, making Emirates the first and only airline to operate a scheduled A380 service from each of these destinations.

Emirates’ daily Birmingham flight, EK39/40, will be up-gauged to an A380 beginning 27th March 2016. Emirates A380 services to Prague and Taiwan will start from 1st May 2016. Additionally, Barcelona will be served with a second daily

Emirates A380 service from 1st June 2016.
“The introduction and increase of Emirates’ A380 services in these strategic destinations means said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates.

“Our onboard innovations on the A380, across all classes, continue to impress and delight our customers. Deploying larger capacity aircraft, such as the A380, also helps us to efficiently meet growing passenger demand in these markets, contribute to tourism development and enhance customer choice and options,” Thierry Antinori added.

Flying the world’s largest fleet of A380 aircraft at 71, Emirates continues to set the pace for A380 deployment.  Since Emirates launched is first A380 flight in 2008, the aircraft has flown over 42 million passengers, covering more than 630 million kilometers.

Emirates’ inaugural A380 flight to Birmingham, EK39 will depart Dubai at 07:35hrs and arrive at 12:20hrs and will be operated in a two-class configuration.  EK40 will depart Birmingham at 14:20hrs and arrive in Dubai at 00:35hrs (+1). The addition of an A380 on this route follows the recent introduction of Emirates’ third daily flight to Birmingham, as well as the airline’s milestone 15th year of operations to the city being celebrated this week.

The daily Emirates Dubai-Prague route, operating as EK139, will depart Dubai at 09:05hrs and arrive in Prague at 13:30hrs. The return leg, operating as EK140, will depart Prague at 15:40hrs and arrive in Dubai at 23:35hrs. The A380 route will be operated in a three-class configuration, representing a 44 per cent increase in capacity.

In Taiwan, Emirates will up-gauge its service to a two-class A380 service, representing a 44 per cent increase in capacity. Emirates flight EK366 will depart Dubai at 04:35hrs and arrive in Taipei at 16:50hrs the same day. The return flight EK367 will leave Taipei at 23:30hrs, arriving in Dubai at 05:05hrs the next day. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport recently completed enhancements making it compatible with the double-decker aircraft.

Barcelona will be served twice daily with an Emirates A380 service, in a three-class configuration. From 1st June 2016, the second A380 service flight EK187 will depart Dubai at 15:45hrs and arrives in Barcelona at 20:55, while the return leg, EK188 departs Barcelona at 22:40hrs and arrives in Dubai at 07:25hrs the next day. The first A380 service to Barcelona was launched on 1st February 2014.

On a three-class configured Emirates A380, there are up to 429 seats in Economy Class, 76 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 14 Private Suites in First Class where passengers also have access to the world’s only onboard Shower Spas. First Class and Business Class passengers can also socialize at 40,000 feet at the Onboard Lounge.  Emirates’ two-class configured A380 features 58 flat-bed seats and the Onboard Lounge in Business Class, and 557 spacious seats in

Economy Class.
Passengers in all classes can enjoy access to over 2,000 channels of films, TV shows, music and games through ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, as well as free Wi-Fi and gourmet cuisine.

There are currently 36 A380 destinations on the Emirates network, setting the industry benchmark for both A380 connectivity and customer experience.


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MasterCard Predicts Africa’s AI Market to Soar to $16.5Bn by 2030

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A new MasterCard report has predicted that Africa’s AI economy will more than triple in five years, reaching $16.5 billion by 2030 from $4.5 billion in 2025.

The whitepaper by the global payments technology company, with a presence in over 50 African countries, identifies responsible adoption, stronger data infrastructure, and aggressive skills development as the three pillars that will determine who benefits.

Mark Elliott, division president for Africa at MasterCard, emphasised that Africa stands at an inflection point, where smart technologies have the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives.

He likened AI’s potential to the continent’s leap into mobile money, which bypassed traditional banking infrastructure and brought millions into the financial system.

“Digital innovation, particularly AI, can drive real change on the ground by empowering communities and building a future where everyone participates in the new economy,” Elliott said.

The in-depth study flags several African frontrunners in AI adoption. South Africa tops the list, blending advanced infrastructure with strong research capabilities. It points out that Kenya is making strides with practical AI solutions, from credit scoring to healthcare services in local languages.

Nigeria’s vibrant start-up scene also gets a strong mention for attracting significant venture capital, while Morocco’s strong push in healthcare, agriculture, and energy, underpinned by bold national digital strategies, is another key driver.

Elliott stressed that success depends on powering electricity access, digitisation, and ensuring AI is fuelled by diverse, high-quality local data.

He added that inclusive transformation needs everyone involved, from small businesses to large corporations, policymakers, and communities. “The only good AI is responsible AI,” said Elliot.

Greg Ulrich, MasterCard’s chief AI and data officer, said Africa’s relationship with technology is one of active innovation, pointing to mobile payments as a homegrown success.

“AI is accelerating this transformation, reshaping how people live, work, and connect,” he said. Ulrich described MasterCard’s fraud detection systems, trained in cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg, as proof that global expertise and local talent can combine to deliver secure, real-time services.

He also cautioned that with scale comes responsibility. “Trust is earned, one transaction at a time,” Ulrich said.

He believes that with one of the world’s youngest populations, Africa’s next challenge is turning strategy into delivery, building infrastructure, nurturing talent, and ensuring AI lifts all communities.

 


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Huawei Hosts MTN MIP Fellows for Immersive Tech Experience in Lagos

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L-R: Isaac Ogugua-Ezechukwu, Programs Administrator, Professional Education, School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University; Blessings Mosugu, Vice President, MTN Media Innovation Programme Cohort 4; Gavin Geng Xiaoyan, Director of Solution Sales\Chief Technical Officer, Huawei; Vanessa Ukamaka Richard, Secretary, MTN MIP Cohort 4 and Dr Chike Mgbeadichie, Programs Director, Professional Education, School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University, during the July session of the MTN Media Innovation Program held at the Huawei office in Victoria Island, recently.
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The fellows of MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) Cohort 4 recently embarked on an immersive tour of Huawei’s Innovation Center, Cloud Service Centre, and Network Support Centre in Lagos, as part of their ongoing industry exposure sessions.

L-R: Isaac Ogugua-Ezechukwu, Programs Administrator, Professional Education, School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University; Blessings Mosugu, Vice President, MTN Media Innovation Programme Cohort 4; Gavin Geng Xiaoyan, Director of Solution Sales\Chief Technical Officer, Huawei; Vanessa Ukamaka Richard, Secretary, MTN MIP Cohort 4 and Dr Chike Mgbeadichie, Programs Director, Professional Education, School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University, during the July session of the MTN Media Innovation Program held at the Huawei office in Victoria Island, recently.

At the Huawei Innovation Center, the fellows were introduced to a wide array of next-generation technologies. Demonstrations covered Huawei’s smart city solutions, advanced power technologies, cloud systems, and upgraded router and antenna designs. These solutions represent the core of Huawei’s contributions as a strategic partner in MTN’s journey from a connectivity provider to a digital enabler.

One of the highlights of the tour was a live demo of an AI-powered video generator, which transformed selfies into high-definition 30-second avatar-based videos. The videos, created and delivered within seconds via Bluetooth, showcased the real-time capabilities of 5G.

Speaking on how 5G is transforming digital lifestyle globally, the Deputy Managing Director, Marketing and Solutions at Huawei Nigeria, Gavin Geng, noted that “Huawei’s goal is to bridge the gap between global innovation and local demand by tailoring technology to meet Nigeria’s specific challenges. From delivering Nigeria’s first digital village alongside our partners, to launching Nigeria’s first local cloud service, we are committed to working with our customers to build infrastructure that serve both urban and underserved communities.”

He emphasised Huawei’s commitment to security and cutting-edge innovation, adding that “as an employee-owned company adhering to strict global security standards, we ensure that customers’ data and connectivity remain secure while they benefit from next-gen solutions such as 5G, AI, smart city technologies.”

The session underscored MTN’s readiness to meet the increasing demands of Nigeria’s data-driven population and support the country’s digital transformation goals.

Afterwards, the fellows received certificates to commemorate the visit and proceeded to the Huawei Service Centre. Spanning 4,000 square metres, the facility supports operations in telecoms, finance, transportation, power, and public service.

With a dedicated DevOps team, the centre customises its monitoring systems for different clients. It is ISO27001 certified, and all employees hold security certifications, reflecting its emphasis on data protection and operational excellence.

To wrap up the day, the MIP cohort was hosted to a dinner attended by MTN’s Chief Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo. He encouraged the delegates to maximise the opportunity the programme offers and shared personal insights during an experience-sharing moment.


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NIMC Sets 48-hour Deadline for Diaspora Partners to Activate New Licences

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The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has given its Diaspora Front-End Partners (FEPs) 48 hours to obtain and activate their National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment licences on its newly upgraded diaspora enrolment platform.

The commission said the deadline followed the successful completion of a major upgrade aimed at improving the security, efficiency and reliability of NIN registration for Nigerians living abroad.

According to NIMC, the upgraded platform will offer a more seamless and robust service to diaspora applicants, ensuring faster processing and better data protection. To prepare for the transition, all FEPs have been onboarded onto the new system and taken through intensive training to equip them with the knowledge needed for effective management of the platform.

Once compliant partners activate their licences, Nigerians abroad will be able to access NIN enrolment services through them without disruption.

“The Commission apologises for any inconvenience the upgrade process might have caused and has set up a dedicated service team to resolve all issues related to diaspora enrolment,” NIMC said in a statement signed by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, its head of corporate communications.

Diaspora applicants experiencing difficulties have been advised to contact the commission for prompt assistance.

While the new system rolls out overseas, NIN enrolment continues across all centres in Nigeria, with applicants able to locate their nearest centres on the NIMC website. Nigerians at home or abroad can also modify their NIN data via the online self-service portal.

NIMC further encouraged NIN holders to download the NIMC NINAuth App on iOS or Google Play to instantly verify their NIN, control who can access their information, and enjoy secure authentication services.

 


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