Crisis looms in Osun community over land tussle
The peaceful atmosphere of Ogburu, a community in Osun and a boundary town between the state and Oyo state is now being threatened with crisis over an outburst of an indigene of Ibadan land, one Oyebamiji on a radio programme that the community belongs to Ibadan, Oyo state and not Iwo in Osun state. The development is now creating tension in the community as indigenes of the place vowed to resist any move by Ibadan people to encroach on their forefathers’ land. They specifically charged the duo of governor Ademola Adeleke and his Oyo state counterpart, Seyi Makinde, to do their best in averting looming communal war in the town. The state government of Osun provided all amenities in the town.”“The Osun and Oyo state should warn those that are planning to cause dispute. Some villages tried to shift loyalty to Ibadan and we dragged them to court and we won.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 07, 2023 06:02 UTC
LCCI blames poor policy for auto industry growth decline
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has attributed the decline in the automotive industry’s contribution to the economy in the third quarter of this year to policy inconsistencies. According to the LCCI president, the trade policy dynamics have compelled the NCS to change the exchange rate of computing import duties several times and recently increased from N770.88/$ to N783.17/$. According to them, the policy has the potential to increase government revenue and reduce importation, but the uncertainty around the business environment needs expedited action. According to the LCCI president, these measures have led to inconsequential gains and losses for stakeholders in the sector. Olawale-Cole disagreed with the data presented by the NBS, particularly regarding the substantial year-on-year increase in the imported used automobile sector.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 23:57 UTC
NCF names squad for women’s W’Cup qualifiers
Head coach of the team, Leke Oyede, dropped the final squad after inviting 18 players to camp in one of the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s high-performance centres in Benin, Edo State. “We have had adequate time to prepare for the qualifiers and the mission means a lot to not just me but the players as well. We want to play at the World Cup and we believe we can measure up with any team we will face in Uganda,” Oyede told our correspondent. Seeking a first appearance at the T20 World Cup, Nigeria are in Group B of the qualifying series along with Namibia, hosts Uganda and arch-rivals Rwanda. Nigeria’s first match is against Namibia on Sunday December 10 at the Entebbe Cricket Oval, Uganda.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 23:57 UTC
Baffled, punch-drunk Boris Johnson is forced to contemplate a moral universe | John Crace
Boris Johnson had sneaked in shortly before seven in the morning. “I promise to tell the truth …” said Johnson, taking the oath. Was what we were about to get at best a partial truth and even an outright lie? As ever, Johnson expected forgiveness to be extended without any real sense of contrition. 00:03:53 Boris Johnson's first Covid inquiry appearance – video highlightsWith a recurring sense of conscience, Keith kept returning to a sense of right and wrong.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 23:19 UTC
Taylor Swift named Time's 2023 ‘Person of the Year
American superstar, Taylor Swift has been named 2023’s Person of the Year by Time Magazine. The historic reveal was made on Wednesday, placing Swift as the first woman to be given the title twice by Time. TIME’s Person of the Year is the “annual designation for the person, group or concept that most shaped the headlines, for good or ill”. On Tuesday, Forbes named Swift as the fifth most powerful woman in the world and the first entertainer to break into the top five since the list’s inception. Similarly, People Magazine also crowned the singer as the most intriguing person of 2023 on Tuesday.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 20:59 UTC
The ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ 2.1 Update Is A Surprising Emotional Gut Punch
Cyberpunk 2077 CDPRWhile I probably won’t be putting all that much more time into Cyberpunk 2077 from here, due to the four(!) different Vs I have already run over the last three years, I did circle back for the 2.1 update which dropped yesterday. But the more interesting, touching aspect of the game is the “life sim” aspects that it added. I’ve said previously that Cyberpunk 2077 has some of my favorite NPCs in history, namely Panam and Judy, the male V and female V romance choices respectively, albeit they still make great friends if you’re not their type. At least the time I did it, it’s “I Really Want To Stay At Your House,” the Rosa Walton track that was always in the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack, but had special significance during the gripping, tragic finale of Cyberpunk Edgerunners, the beloved TRIGGER anime series that aired on Netflix.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 20:09 UTC
Massive weekend storm to pack a punch for millions in eastern half of US
Massive weekend storm to pack a punch for millions in eastern half of USFrom gusty winds to dangerous thunderstorms and even snow, a massive storm will affect 180 million people in the eastern half of the United States this weekend. The storm will strengthen, but that process will be delayed until it advances from the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic coast, where it can pack a punch, AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Joseph Bauer said. The heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds will pivot across much of New England during Sunday night as powerful storms push through South Florida. Following the storm, temperatures will return to near or slightly below the historical average for early December. However, Sunday will turn out stormy, with heavy rain and strong winds developing as temperatures peak near 60.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 19:23 UTC
Operators rally FG for $2bn coffee industry growth
But the overlooked coffee industry in Nigeria has the potential to generate more than $2bn yearly, according to industry insiders who spoke with The PUNCH. Industry players said the need for strategic investments, modernised farming practices and value-added processing to harness the full economic benefits of the coffee industry are sacrosanct. “Real farmers need effective and sustained funding of their activities through cheap funds from the Financial Institutions.”While funding remains an issue for the farmers, there is a need for the government to get involved in coffee production, coffee cropping, and coffee cultivation. “They need help, they need funding. He further proposed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture should have a policy on coffee that would help coffee farmers.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 18:00 UTC
Overregulation hampering marketing industry growth – Tinubu’s aide
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, has said that overregulation is hurting the growth of the marketing industry. He stated this at the 12th edition of the ADVAN African Awards for Marketing Excellence held in Lagos recently. Regulation can also be overdone, underdone, or inconsistent, resulting in negative consequences for the industry and society. “Regulation also needs to be adaptable, responsive, and transparent to keep up with the changing realities and demands of the market and society,” Ogra said. He remarked, “This year we have been able to increase our award categories, adding something for the junior managers in our team.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 15:05 UTC
Over 9,000 civil servants fail promotion exam
No fewer than 9, 000 civil servants who sat the 2022 Federal Civil Service Promotion examinations failed. The PUNCH reports that no fewer than 13,000 civil servants sat the 2022 examination, which held in about 69 Computer Based Test centres. The letter containing the list of successful civil servants was dated November 30, 2023 and sent from the Federal Civil Service Commission. In a list attached to the letter, it was noted that only 3,851 civil servants out of the over 13,000 civil servants who sat the promotion examination passed. A total of 313 civil servants were promoted from the role of Senior Administrative Officer to Principal Administrative Officer.
Source:Punch
December 06, 2023 13:52 UTC
Global airline net profits to reach $25.7bn in 2024 — IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predicted that the global airline industry’s net profits are expected to reach $25.7 billion in 2024, representing. The figure according to the global airline clearing house will be a slight improvement over 2023 which is expected to show a $23.3 billion net profit (2.6 per cent net profit margin). This is just as it has been predicted that African airlines are expected to generate losses in both 2023 and 2024. While airline industry operating profits are expected to reach $49.4 billion in 2024 from $40.7 billion in 2023, total revenues in 2024 are expected to grow 7.6 percent year over year to a record $964 billion. IATA has, however, attributed the 25.7 billion net expected in 2024 to what it described as a tribute to aviation’s resilience.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 06, 2023 12:23 UTC
Experts urge banks to fortify against impending cyber threats surge in 2024
Financial institutions and organisations should fortify their defences in 2024, as threats will surge driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and heightened automation, according to Kaspersky experts. Adapting to the evolving landscape, 2024 demands proactive cybersecurity strategies, sector collaboration, and innovative defenses. Last year, Kaspersky experts accurately predicted the rise in Web3 threats, increased demand for malware loaders, and the shift of ransomware groups towards destructive activities. Looking ahead, 2024 predicts an AI-driven surge in cyberattacks that mimic legitimate communication channels, leading to a proliferation of lower-quality campaigns. “In the ever-evolving landscape of financial cybersecurity in 2024, we anticipate a surge in threats, heightened automation, and the unwavering persistence of cybercriminals.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 06, 2023 05:54 UTC
That Arian punch, clerical cool, and the sound of our stratosphere
But I want to talk about tomorrow — the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra. But in recent years, it seems to me that story is often overshadowed by another — the tale of St. Nicholas’ punch. “At one point, jolly ol’ St. Nicholas got so angry at Arius’ obstinacy that he socked him right in the face,” Michelle La Rosa recounted last year. A contemporary rendering of St. Nicholas of Myra, enjoying a refreshing beverage, presumably after slapping Arius in the face. If you want to know what’s happening with Cardinal Burke, read it here at The Pillar.
Source:Punch
December 05, 2023 23:41 UTC
Indian siblings make chess history with grandmaster titles
In a groundbreaking moment for Indian chess, siblings, R Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali Rameshbabu have penned their names in history as the first-ever brother-sister pair to achieve the esteemed title of Grandmaster in the world of chess. This historic feat was accomplished when Vaishali, 22, crossed the 2500 FIDE ratings during the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain, becoming India’s third female Grandmaster. Together, the siblings have now become the first brother and sister duo to become grandmasters. “Becoming a [grandmaster] has been my goal since I started playing chess,” Vaishali said after earning the title last week at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain. “I’m happy to see that she’s finally getting to where she belongs.”As the chess world applauds the historic achievement of the Praggnanandhaa siblings, the future looks promising as they aim to build on their success and bring more accolades to Indian chess.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 05, 2023 23:12 UTC
PDP directs members to withdraw all pending intra-party court cases
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its members to discontinue all pending intra-party litigations across the country. The decision was reached at its 578th meeting in Abuja on Tuesday. According to a statement issued by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, the committee used the session to thoroughly review the state of the party and “directed that all pending intra-party litigations across the country should be withdrawn forthwith.”The statement said that the decision is pursuant to the provision of Section 58 (1)(l) of the Constitution of the PDP as amended in 2017 and in line with the spirit of unity and reconciliation in the Party. The NWC urged all party leaders, critical stakeholders, and members across the country to remain united and continue to promote the values “for which the PDP is known as a truly democratic party.”The statement also mentioned that the NWC considered and approved the report of the Establishment Committee for the appointment of a substantive Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI). It added that the successful candidate will be announced in due course.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 05, 2023 21:39 UTC