The opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France is currently underway as star athletes, musicians, world leaders and fans troop in from across the world to witness the colourful event. Up to 500,000 people are watching in person from specially built stands, where tickets have sold for up to 2,700 euros ($2,900), on the river banks for free, and from the overlooking balconies and apartments, AFP reports. This is the first time when the Olympics opening parade will be moved outside the main athletics stadium, and into the heart of the capital — in keeping with their motto “Games Wide Open.”See photos below
Source:Punch
July 26, 2024 19:30 UTC
There is nothing wrong with a peaceful demonstration and a lawful legitimate protest. Worse still there is a covert and subterranean attempt to provoke the security forces to open mutiny and rebellion against constituted authority and thereby truncuate our democracy. This is unacceptable and no responsible Government will sit back and allow it to happen. I urge those that are behind this surreptitious, subterranean and sinister subterfuge to have a rethink and not spark off a reaction from the security forces that they will later regret. The way forward is to put off the protest, exercise patience, enter dialogue with the Federal Government and express our collective concerns in a lawful, restrained, responsible and legitimate manner.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 26, 2024 19:00 UTC
Breaking down the data by recipient, judges emerged as the recipients of the highest average bribe amount, receiving N31,000 per bribe. This unsettling revelation has far-reaching implications for the judicial system, public trust, and the sanctity of legal processes in the country. Judges as leading recipients of bribes undermines the credibility and impartiality of the judicial system. Businesses rely on a robust and impartial legal system to safeguard their interests, ensure contractual compliance, and uphold commercial norms. However, when judicial corruption distorts legal outcomes, businesses face heightened risks, financial losses, and reputational damage, impacting their competitiveness and sustainability.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 26, 2024 11:10 UTC
Below are the top most spoken languages in the world:1. It is the third most spoken language in the world with an estimate of about 600 million speakers. SpanishSpanish is one of the most prominent and largely spoken languages in the world. It is the sixth most spoken language in the world with about 320 million speakers. As one of the most spoken languages in the world, Urdu has 230 million speakers.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 26, 2024 01:10 UTC
Britain’s new Labour government launched its flagship green energy infrastructure plan on Tuesday, announcing a multi-billion-pound partnership with the business arm of the royal family to develop offshore wind farms. The UK currently produces only 14 gigawatts of energy through offshore wind, according to government data. The government was introducing its legislation to establish GB Energy into parliament on Thursday. The government says GB Energy will have five key functions, including leading projects and building supply chains. But the Conservatives’ energy spokeswoman Claire Coutinho called GB Energy “nothing but a gimmick that will end up costing families, not cutting bills”.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 25, 2024 20:14 UTC
Nigeria’s Super Falcon will slug it out with Brazil in their first Women’s Olympic Football Tournament game on Thursday. This opening clash promises to be a test of skill and strategy as the Super Falcons face one of the tournament’s strong contenders. She will be assisted by Mi-Suk Park as Assistant Referee 1 and Joanna Kate Charaktis as Assistant Referee 2. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) responsibilities will be handled by Kate Jacewicz, with Ivan Bebek serving as the Assistant VAR. France v Colombia, Spain v Japan and Germany v Australia among mouthwatering opening-day clashes.
Source:Punch
July 25, 2024 20:06 UTC
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has urged carers and mothers to take extra precautions to protect the elderly and children during the rainy season. Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, made the call on Thursday, emphasising the need to safeguard the health and safety of vulnerable groups. “She recommended measures such as providing protective clothing, maintaining a clean environment, and seeking professional medical care in case of illness. “The FCTA also highlighted the importance of preventing mosquito breeding, using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and boiling drinking water before use. Proper food handling and storage were also emphasised to prevent contamination.”“Dr Fasawe noted that the government has implemented measures to protect vulnerable groups, including a free insurance scheme, advocacy campaigns, and continuous sensitization on immunisation and vaccination.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 25, 2024 18:18 UTC
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has removed 63,000 accounts associated with the notorious “Yahoo Boys” scam group, the company announced in its Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report on Wednesday. The accounts, deleted over the past few weeks, were used for financial sextortion scams and distributing blackmail scripts. Meta reported that a smaller network of 2,500 accounts, linked to around 20 individuals, primarily targeted adult men in the United States using fake identities. Meta said it identified and disabled those accounts through a combination of advanced technical signals and comprehensive investigations, enhancing its automated detection systems. Further, the parent company of Facebook said it removed around 7,200 assets in Nigeria, including 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 pages, and 5,700 groups that were providing scam-related resources.
Source:Punch
July 25, 2024 14:43 UTC
Shareholders have criticised the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, for a deliberate attempt at demarketing Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals. The Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mrs. Bisi Bakare, expressed dismay over recent allegations from the petroleum regulatory agency regarding the quality of diesel produced by Dangote Petroleum Refinery. NMDPRA boss Ahmed has faced backlash for suggesting that the diesel produced by the $20 billion Dangote refinery is of inferior quality compared to imports into the country. Bakare commended Africa’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, for his visionary approach to establishing one of the world’s foremost refineries in Nigeria. The shareholders group strongly condemned what they termed as “unwarranted efforts to demarket the refinery” by regulatory bodies.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 25, 2024 04:55 UTC
Sa’adu Zungur University, Gadau, formerly known as Bauchi State University, has given notice for online screening to all prospective candidates for the 2024/2025 Admission, especially all those who chose the University as their first choice. According to a statement from the University signed by the Registrar, A. G. Hassan, PhD, the online screening for 2024/2025 admission commences on Thursday 25th July, 2024. To this end, all prospective candidatesinto various programmes of the University who scored 140 points and above in the 2024 JAMB/UTME should visit the University’s website at www.basug.edu.ng for thescreening procedure. The Registrar stressed that to be eligible for the screening/admission, a candidate must have obtained a minimum admissible score of 140 points in the 2024 UTME, obtained a minimum of Five relevant O’ level Credits (including English andMathematics) at not more than two (2) sittings. He added that eligible candidates are to create accounts and pay the sum of N2,000;00 only for the screening exercise through the online screening portal on https://basug screened admission cloud.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 25, 2024 01:44 UTC
However from that proposition, emerges the philosophical and practical question as to whether artificial intelligence can ever be sharper than the intelligent humans who provide the intelligent feedstock, upon which artificial intelligence is anchored. In short, artificial intelligence aspires to create and deploy machines which can analyse, predict, reason and adapt just like people or even seek to outperform human intelligence. As with all human inventions, artificial intelligence (AI) can be deployed for virtuous or vicious outcomes.Some far-reaching virtuous examples illustrate the point. Data security concerns pertaining to AI cybersecurity are real given slapdash policies on data collection and surveillance in some jurisdictions. At the end of the day, artificial intelligence tool is not a horsewhip which should be innovatively leveraged, vis-à-vis robust cybersecurity, for the benefit of humanity.
Source:The Guardian
July 24, 2024 17:18 UTC
The Federal Government has resumed mass trial of persons allegedly involved in terrorism and suspects of other heinous crimes against the Nigerian State in pursuance of its commitment promoting social justice by entrenching transparent administrative system. This was contained in a statement made available to news men in Abuja on Wednesday by Mr Abu Michael, Head Stratcomm, National Counter Terrorism Centre -Office of National Security Adviser. “More than 300 suspects are on trial with 5 reputable judges manning the 5 courts and Chambers set up for speedy administration of justice on the ongoing trial in terrorism and other related cases in the country. It further explained that between 2017 and 2018, the trials so far resulted in 163 convictions, 882 discharges and 5 accquitals while suspects that were unculpable were being deradicalised, engaged in profitable ventures, and efforts to reintegrate them are being sustained. It stated that the NCTC-ONSA is working assiduously with relevant authorities in fulfilling its mandates and to boosting the efforts of the incumbent administration towards realising good governance and a just society.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 24, 2024 11:52 UTC
A passenger plane crashed on takeoff in Kathmandu on Wednesday, with the pilot rescued from the flaming wreckage but all 18 others aboard killed, police in the Nepali capital told AFP. Nepal has a woeful track record on aviation safety and the Himalayan republic has seen a spate of deadly light plane and helicopter crashes over the decades. The Saurya Airlines flight was carrying two crew and 17 of the company’s staff members, Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki told AFP. The plane crashed at around 11:15 am (0530 GMT), the military said in a statement, adding that the army’s quick response team had been lending assistance with rescue efforts. That accident was Nepal’s deadliest since 1992, when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane died when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
July 24, 2024 09:11 UTC
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria is not just catching up with the rest of the world, but also poised to overtaking them in terms of economy and technology. The Vice President called on Nigerian youths to embrace the initiative, which he said, is important for the nation’s economic future. He commended the partnership with Gluwa, stating that it aligns with President Tinubu’s agenda to revolutionise the nation’s digital technology sphere. Earlier, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, noted the importance of the initiative, describing it as a rare opportunity at the doorstep of the youths. Explaining that Jigawa has a history with ICT education, the governor said the new initiative aligns with both the Federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Jigawa’s 12-point Agenda.
Source:The Guardian
July 24, 2024 06:53 UTC
Indian police shot dead two protesters and arrested more than 130 others during street rallies sparked by a ruling party official’s remarks about the Prophet Mohammed, authorities told AFP Saturday. In India and neighbouring countries, Muslims took to the streets in huge numbers after Friday prayers to condemn the remarks, with police firing on a crowd in the eastern Indian city of Ranchi. “Police were forced to open fire to disperse protesters… resulting in the death of two,” a police officer in Ranchi told AFP. Cities around India saw sizable demonstrations on Friday, with some crowds burning effigies of Nupur Sharma — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokeswoman whose comments set off the furore. [ad]Diplomatic stormSharma’s remarks have embroiled India in a diplomatic storm, with the governments of nearly 20 countries calling in Indian envoys for an explanation.
Source:The Guardian
July 24, 2024 01:43 UTC