Trump found guilty in hush-money case
A New York jury has convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush-money case, Thursday, barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. The first criminal trial of a former US president ended with the 77-year-old Trump found guilty on each of the 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a payment meant to silence porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump, who was released without bail and is all but certain to appeal, initially sat still in the drab Manhattan courtroom, shoulders dipping. Addressing reporters outside minutes later, though, Trump branded the verdict a “disgrace” and “rigged,” he vowed that the “real verdict” would come from voters in the November 5 presidential election. However, it does not bar Trump from continuing his White House run, even in the unlikely event that Judge Juan Merchan sentences him to prison.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2024 11:20 UTC
India court urges national emergency declaration for heatwaves
An Indian court has urged the government to declare a national emergency over the country’s ongoing heatwave, saying that hundreds of people had died during weeks of extreme weather. India is enduring a crushing heatwave with temperatures in several cities sizzling well above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). “Due to extreme weather conditions in the form of (the) heatwave, hundreds of people have lost their lives this month,” the court said Thursday. Ruling on the current heatwave and such events in the future, it also said India should begin declaring them “national calamities”. Researchers say human-induced climate change has driven the devastating heat impact in India and should be taken as a warning.
Source:The Guardian
May 31, 2024 07:54 UTC
FCCPC survey links rising food prices to insecurity, subsidy removal
Traders in major food markets in the country have blamed insecurity and fuel subsidy removal for the rising food prices in the country, according to a survey conducted by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The FCCPC noted that it had been conducting fact-finding interactions with traders’ associations and marketers to ascertain factors responsible for the continuous hike in food prices. There are many reasons attached to the constant hike in the prices of food commodities,” she asserted. That is the only way to tackle the constant hike in food items,” he averred. “Most of the goods witnessing a constant hike in prices are due to insecurity.
Source:Punch
May 30, 2024 22:20 UTC
First Anniversary: Tinubu defeated Boko Haram terrorists in one year — Akume
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for defeating Boko Haram terrorists within his first year in office. The SGF made the development known during a book launch in Abuja to celebrate President Tinubu’s achievements since he assumed office on May 29, 2023. This was as the Defence Headquarters on Thursday revealed that 103 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to the Nigerian military in Borno State between May 21 and May 23, 2024. The federal government under President Tinubu’s leadership has defeated Boko Haram terrorists,”He further commended the president for infrastructural developments achieved during his first year in office. “President Tinubu, in just one year, has built many roads across Nigeria and other critical infrastructures like the Abuja Metro Rail,” SGF Akume added.
Source:Punch
May 30, 2024 22:10 UTC
Student Loan: State-owned institution students’ registration starts June 25 – NELFUND
The Management of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has revealed that over 60,000 students of Federal Government institutions have so far registered for the student loan since the portal for application was officially opened on Friday last week. The Fund also announced that the portal would be opened for application by students of State-owned tertiary institutions on June 25th, 2024. The Act which is known as the Nigerian Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to process all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery. “To ensure efficient application processing, we are pleased to report that over 90% of Federal Institutions of higher learning have submitted their students’ data to NELFUND. The NELFUND boss also revealed that the loan scheme has been expanded to students attending state-owned higher institutions, adding that the portal for loan applications would open for the students in three weeks.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 30, 2024 16:38 UTC
LGs autonomy: Supreme Court gives governors seven days to file defence
The Supreme Court, on Thursday, ordered the 36 state governors of the federation seven days to file their respective defence in the suit seeking full autonomy for the 774 Local Governments in the country filed against them by the Federal Government. Fagbemi, while arguing the application requested the court to order the defendants to file their defense within five days in view of the urgency of the matter. The AGF, on behalf of the federal government, instituted the court action against the governors primarily seeking full autonomy for local governments as third tiers of government in the country. In the suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, the AGF is praying to the Apex Court for an order prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary, and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders. “That, by the provisions of the Constitution, there must be a democratically elected local government system and that the Constitution has not made provisions for any other systems of governance at the local government level other than democratically elected local government system.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 30, 2024 16:18 UTC
‘Hong Kong 47’ trial: 14 activists found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion
All Hong Kong wanted was a chance to freely elect their government. The UK’s minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: “Today’s verdict will only further tarnish Hong Kong’s international reputation. View image in fullscreen People stand in line outside the West Kowloon magistrates courts in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government crackdown has left the city with essentially no active political opposition. The Hong Kong government has issued large bounties for several “fugitives”, leading several countries hosting exiled Hongkongers to tear up their bilateral extradition agreements.
Source:The Guardian
May 30, 2024 15:41 UTC
Court orders forfeiture of Emefiele’s $1.4m bribery proceeds
The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered the interim forfeiture of $1,426,175.14 linked to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. Justice Ayokunle Faji directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper. The court order followed an ex parte application marked FHC/L/CS/232/2024, moved by EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala. “It is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”Justice Faji after granting the interim forfeiture order adjourned till June 25 for the hearing on the final forfeiture. The Wednesday forfeiture comes days after Justice Yelim Bogoro of the same Federal High Court on May 23, 2024, ordered the interim forfeiture of $4.7 million, N830 million, and properties linked to Emefiele.
Source:Punch
May 30, 2024 15:39 UTC
Biafra Day should not be politicised, says Otti
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said that Biafran Day should not be politicised, describing the day as a period of emotional remembrance for the genocidal onslaught experienced during the Nigerian Civil War. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared a sit-at-home across the Southeast on May 30 to honour Biafran heroes who died during the civil war from 1967 to 1970. Otti disclosed that he is in touch with schools to ensure that exam students are not adversely affected, stressing the importance of ensuring that students can write their exams without disruption. “We are not interested in unnecessary confrontation with the people who are appealing for a sit-at-home in honour of their dead ones. It was an emotional period when we remember the genocidal onslaught.
Source:The Guardian
May 30, 2024 13:11 UTC
WTT Contender Lagos: Brazilian fires Aruna warning
Brazil table tennis star and world No.6, Hugo Calderano, has sent warning signals to Nigerian star Quadri Aruna and others listed for the WTT Contender Lagos after claiming the men’s singles title at the WTT Contender Rio de Janeiro 2024. The second edition of the first WTT Series in Sub-Saharan Africa will be held from June 19 to 23 at the Molade-Okoya Thomas Hall in Lagos with $80,000 up for grabs. In front of his home fans, Calderano successfully shielded himself by defeating sixth seed An Jaehyun of South Korea in straight sets (11-7, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6) for his sixth WTT Series title and his first this season. After his success on home soil, up next for Calderano is a trip to Lagos, where he will battle Aruna and other top stars for the title. The tournament will also give a boost of 400 ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points for the champions.
Source:Punch
May 30, 2024 03:55 UTC
Prison reforms long overdue
The recently collapsed Suleja Custodial Centre was built in 1914 to house 250 inmates but has 449 inmates. There are 244 custodial centres with 80,507 inmates as of April 29, the Nigerian Correctional Centre says. Although the Muhammadu Buhari administration initiated the building of new custodial centres in the six geopolitical zones, this did not fully take off. There is an urgent need to construct new custodial centres and re-evaluate the policing and legal systems to reduce unwarranted arrests. This will allow states to build more correctional centres, a solution to the chaos.
Source:Punch
May 30, 2024 03:45 UTC
Eastwing Aviation gets FG’s approval to award certificates
THE aviation industry in Nigeria has received a boost with the approval of the listing of Eastwing Aviation Training Institute under the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) by the Federal Government. The institute obtained approval recently after meeting the technical evaluation by the Federal Government. With the approval, Eastwing Aviation Institute can now admit students through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the students, upon completion of their studies, will be awarded a national diploma or high national diploma. “What this approval means for our youths is that every one of them now has the opportunity to explore this field, even if it means just coming to us for advice. The Eastwing Aviation Institute also recently established a non-governmental organisation to encourage less privileged youths who are talented and who meet the basic requirements to join the institute.
Source:The Guardian
May 29, 2024 22:37 UTC
Atiku offers six ways to remodel Tinubu’s policies
“First, President Tinubu’s policies do not create prosperity. Atiku asserted that President Tinubu’s policies had created a hostile environment for businesses of all sizes. He further noted that President Tinubu’s foreign exchange policies had failed to positively affect Nigeria’s foreign trade balance, contrary to expectations. “President Tinubu’s policies have failed to attract foreign investments into the country despite all the posturing and media hype by the president’s men. He noted that President Tinubu’s policies revealed an overestimation of their effectiveness and a lack of readiness for potential consequences.
Source:Punch
May 29, 2024 21:17 UTC
Are you safe? Top 8 professional jobs AI can’t replace
The notion that artificial intelligence will replace many jobs has continued to gain prominence. Despite AI’s innovations, it still cannot replace human intelligence. Truly, AI has come to stay to make work efficient but can’t replace the professional jobs discussed below:1. TeachersAnother professional job that AI can’t replace is teaching. Artificial intelligence can’t solve your life struggles.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 29, 2024 20:03 UTC
Cyber attacks relied on substance over size in 2023 — Research
This is as threat actors deviate from big-batch attacks to focus on a narrower range of more lucrative targets. Though thousands of ransomware attacks were blocked by Trend Micro in Nigeria in 2023, year-on-year research shows that ransomware groups are working smarter instead of harder, prioritising high-value targets over volume. There has been a general downward trend in ransomware detections, with worldwide detections from 2021 to 2023 averaging less than half of the recorded detections in 2020. Historically, ransomware attacks were launched in “bulk” such as spam campaigns with malicious links, but attacks that focus on quantity can more easily be blocked. A continued increase in Trojan FRS threat detections globally could suggest that attackers are using more effective ways to evade preliminary detection by focusing on arrival and defense evasion techniques.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 29, 2024 18:35 UTC