Thursday, April 29, 2021
Google Unveils $2bn Data Hub in Poland
US tech giant Google on Wednesday launched a new cloud data hub in Warsaw — its first in Central and Eastern Europe — with an investment of nearly $2.0 billion (1.7 billion euros).
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki hailed the new hub saying it would ensure “better service from private and public entities” and strengthen security because the data would be stored in Poland.
“We hope that the new Google Cloud region will… help in recovery from the pandemic and will contribute to a thriving digital economy in Poland and the neighbouring countries,” Magdalena Dziewguc, Google Cloud’s country manager, said in a statement.
US embassy charge d’affaires Bix Aliu said US companies have invested around $60 billion in Poland and Google “is adding close to $2 billion to that number by expanding cloud services”.
Poland’s economy last year went into recession for the first time since the fall of communism three decades ago because of the coronavirus crisis but it is expected to bounce back this year.
The government has put an emphasis on developing the tech sector.
Microsoft announced last year that it would invest one billion dollars in Poland to expand its operations, including the creation of a new regional cloud-computing data hub.
Google and Microsoft are among the global leaders in providing cloud services — an industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
As well as charging for the service, cloud operators are able to harvest huge amounts of data and open up many other revenue streams.
Source: Channels Tv
NASA Chooses Elon Musk’s SpaceX To Take Humans Back To Moon
NASA has selected SpaceX to land the first astronauts on the surface of the Moon since 1972, the agency said Friday, in a huge victory for Elon Musk’s company.
The contract, worth $2.9 billion, involves the prototype Starship spacecraft that is being tested at SpaceX’s south Texas facility.
“Today I’m very excited, and we are all very excited to announce that we have awarded SpaceX to continue the development of our integrated human landing system,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, NASA’s Human Landing System program manager.
READ ALSO: Google Unveils $2bn Data Hub in Poland
SpaceX beats out Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics to be the sole provider for the system, a surprising break from the past when NASA has chosen multiple companies in case one fails.
Industry analysts said the decision underscores the company, founded by Musk in 2002 with the goal of colonizing Mars, as NASA’s most trusted private sector partner.
Last year, SpaceX became the first private firm to successfully send a crew to the International Space Station, restoring American capacity to accomplish the feat for the first time since the Shuttle program ended.
For its Moon lander bid, SpaceX put forward its reusable Starship spacecraft, which is designed to carry large crews and cargo for deep space voyages, and land upright both on Earth and other celestial bodies.
Prototypes of the vessel are currently being put through their paces at the company’s south Texas facility, though all four versions that have so far attempted test flights have exploded.
Under the Artemis program to return humans to the Moon, NASA wants to use the Space Launch System rocket to launch four astronauts on board an Orion crew capsule, which will then dock with a lunar space station called Gateway.
Starship will be waiting to receive two crew members for the final leg of the journey to the surface of the Moon.
The idea is for Gateway to be the go-between but for the initial mission Orion might dock directly with Starship, Watson-Morgan said.
The astronauts would then spend a week on the Moon before boarding Starship to return to lunar orbit, then take Orion back to Earth.
Separately, SpaceX has plans to combine the Starship spaceship with its own Super Heavy rocket, to make a combined vessel that will tower 394 feet (120 meters) tall and be the most powerful launch vehicle ever deployed.
Humanity last stepped foot on the Moon in 1972 during the Apollo program.
NASA wants to go back and establish a sustainable presence, complete with a lunar space station, in order to test new technologies that will pave the way for a crewed mission to Mars.
In 2019, then vice president Mike Pence challenged NASA to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024, but it’s likely that timeline will be relaxed under President Joe Biden.
Another change under the current administration is its stated goal of placing the first person of color on the Moon under the Artemis program.
AFP
Source: Channels Tv
Gunmen Abduct Mission School Students In Plateau
Four students of Capro Secondary Mission School located at Gana Ropp in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State were abducted in the early hours of Thursday.
However, three of the students have escaped, while one is still in captivity.
The school is an arm of Calvary ministries.
Capro is few kilometres away from the Yakubu Gowon airport and about 60 kilometres from Jos, the state capital.
A global mission leader and President of Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam confirmed that the attackers broke the rear fence of the school where a hole was drilled to gain access into the school compound and abducted the students.
He further stated that the intervention of security agencies prevented what could have been another mass abduction as the assailants took to their heels after realising the reinforcement of security in the area.
Three of the students escaped as the abductors fled.
The Plateau State Police Command is yet to make any statement on the incident as community efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the abducted student still in captivity.
Spate of Abductions
The Plateau abduction comes as the country continues to battle several security challenges, including but not limited to an insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, secessionist agitations in the South-East and Fulani-Herdsmen crises across the Middle-Belt and several South-West states.
Bandits have, in recent times, targeted schools for mass abductions.
Several students of Greenfield University in Kaduna are still in captivity after they were abducted on April 20.
Bandits who abducted 39 students from Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, in Igabi local government area of Kaduna state recently released a video of the students, including a pregnant female student, calling for help.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sought the assistance of the United States in fighting insecurity across the country.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday inaugurated a 40-man committee to find a solution to the country’s security challenges. The Committee is set to hold a four-day security summit in May.
Source: Channels Tv
Tight Security At National Assembly Over Alleged Security Threat
Increased security was observed at the National Assembly on Thursday as security agents spent more time inspecting vehicles coming into the assembly complex.
The search of vehicles was more intense than normal causing a long queue at the entrance into the assembly, Channels Television correspondent observed.
Staff and journalists also spent more time trying to get into the complex.
According to reports, there was an alleged security threat which necessitated the tighter inspection.
The country has been experiencing a wave of insecurity issues, including but not limited to an insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, secessionist agitations in the South-East and Fulani-Herdsmen crises across the Middle-Belt and several South-West states.
Earlier this week, Governor, Abubakar Bello, said the Federal Capital Territory was no longer safe after Boko Haram terrorists took over a community in Niger State.
Niger shares a long border with the FCT.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sought the assistance of the United States in fighting insecurity across the country.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday also inaugurated a 40-man committee to find a solution to the country’s security challenges. The Committee is set to hold a four-day security summit in May.
Source: Channels Tv
India’s COVID-19 Crisis Could ‘Happen Anywhere’ – WHO
The World Health Organization issued a stark warning to European nations Thursday, saying that relaxing Covid measures could spark a “perfect storm” allowing cases to spiral — as seen in India.
New infections and deaths are soaring in India, which experts have said can in part be blamed on mass gatherings in the nation of 1.3 billion people.
The head of WHO Europe said countries should not make the mistake of relaxing restrictions too soon to avoid similar new waves of infection.
“When personal protective measures are being relaxed, when there are mass gatherings, when there are more contagious variants and the vaccination coverage is still low this can create a perfect storm in any country,” Hans Kluge told reporters Thursday.
“It is very important to realise that the situation in India can happen anywhere.”
The so-called Indian variant — or B.1.617 — is sweeping the country, but the WHO has not yet confirmed whether it is more transmissible or more deadly than other strains of the virus.
Experts have said large gatherings — at sports matches or weddings, for example — are in part to blame for the explosion in cases.
Kluge said European nations must keep in mind that “individual and collective public health and social measures remain dominant factors in shaping the pandemic’s course”.
READ ALSO: India’s Death Toll Hits New Record As COVID-19 ‘Tsunami’ Worsens
He noted that while the number of new cases in the region fell “significantly” last week for the first time in two months, “infection rates across the region remain extremely high”.
He said vaccines were on the rise in the European region, with seven percent of the population now fully inoculated.
The WHO said this means that more people in Europe have now received the vaccine than the number of people who have been infected with the disease.
AFP
Source: Channels Tv
Presidency To Ortom: Benue Governor Only Sees Problems Of Others, Not His
The presidency has replied to an accusation levelled against President Muhammadu Buhari by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom over the insecurity in the country.
Ortom had on Tuesday accused President Buhari of working for the Fulani ethnic stock to take over Nigeria in a reaction to the recent killing of residents allegedly perpetrated by herdsmen.
But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, condemned Governor Ortom for blaming President Buhari for the deaths.
READ ALSO: Insurgency: We Are Committed To Destroying Boko Haram Terrorists – COAS
Shehu berated the governor via a statement titled ‘Governor Ortom Only Sees The Problems Of Others, He Doesn’t See His Own,’ which he issued on Thursday.
“The rising levels of incidents, especially the killings and violence in various parts of the country call for further collaboration with security agencies to curb its recurrence,” he said while accusing the Benue leader was politicising the killings.
“The President expresses his condolences to the families of our dear citizens who lost their loved ones in the recent spate of killings in Benue State.
“No responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of the military and that of innocent citizens taking refuge in an Internally Displaced People’s camp.
“President Buhari is deeply pained by the terrible acts of violence happening not only in Benue State but also in other parts of the country and expects that the law enforcement agencies will go to every possible extent to catch the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice.”
On April 27, Ortom said: “What is happening now, to me, is very clear; Mr President is just working for these Fulanis to take over the whole country.”
“His body language is what is being played out. The body language, the action and inaction of Mr. President shows that he is only the President of Fulani people; I have known this.”
He also lamented that no fewer than 70 people have been killed in the last two weeks in three local governments in the Benue State.
See the full statement below:
GOVERNOR ORTOM ONLY SEES THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS, HE DOESN’T SEE HIS OWN
The President expresses his condolences to the families of our dear citizens who lost their loved ones in the recent spate of killings in Benue State.
Furthermore, he states that the rising levels of incidents, especially the killings and violence in various parts of the country call for further collaboration with security agencies to curb its recurrence.
He also states his disappointment and sadness to hear Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State make a litany of accusations against his person and his government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state.
No responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of the military and that of innocent citizens taking refuge in an Internally Displaced People’s camp. President Buhari is deeply pained by the terrible acts of violence happening not only in Benue State but also in other parts of the country and expects that the law enforcement agencies will go to every possible extent to catch the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice.
The lives of fellow citizens should not be desecrated by deploying them in political diatribe which unfortunately appeared to be the intent of the string of emotional attacks and blame laid at the doors of the President for those killings by Governor Ortom. President Buhari took an oath to defend the life and property of every citizen, a duty he takes seriously and is committed to ensuring.
Those citizens regardless of their affiliations, who either incite, sponsor or are proven to be abettors of these atrocities will face the law squarely and be answerable for their crimes against our fellow citizens and nation.
President Buhari continuously stresses that the strength of our country lies in our diversity in faith, culture, and traditions and attempts to sharpen the divide between northern and southern Nigeria, between Muslims and Christians, and between communities that have coexisted for centuries should be frowned upon and resisted. As Nigerians, we accuse colonial rulers of the policy of divide and rule. Today, it is our own leaders who put region against region, religion against religion, ethnic group against ethnic group and community against community.
The future of Benue State and indeed that of the entire country lies in harmony and respect for the law, order, and the constitution. It is the only way to achieve progress and development.
While the President will continue to keep security, police and the armed forces on their toes to be on top of their act in troubled parts of the country, the situation in the states will greatly be helped by everyone working together because that is the foundation on which progress and prosperity can be achieved.
Benue under the Ortom administration ought to cooperate with the Federal Government in the implementation of a number of national strategies programs in addressing underlying issues militating against peace, progress and development. This can still get done when the interest of the people is placed above all other interests. A government voted into office by the people, should treat the people as its masters and not as its servants.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 29, 2021
Source: Channels Tv
Europa League: Man Utd Demolish Roma To Banish Semi-Final Hoodoo
Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani each scored twice as Manchester United took a huge stride towards the Europa League final by coming from behind to thrash an injury-hit Roma 6-2 at Old Trafford.
Fernandes’s early opener was quickly cancelled out by Lorenzo Pellegrini’s penalty before Edin Dzeko put Roma in front at half-time.
But the Italians lost three players to injury before the break and United took advantage with a dominant second-half performance.
Two predatory finishes from Cavani turned the tie around before Fernandes also fired home from the spot.
Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood rounded off the scoring in a sensational second-half performance.
READ ALSO: 10-Man Arsenal Lose To Former Coach Emery’s Villarreal
United are aiming to get to a final under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the fifth time of asking after four semi-final defeats in the past two seasons.
But only a second leg collapse will prevent them from facing Villarreal or Arsenal in Gdansk on May 26.
In contrast to the vast majority of games this season, United came flying out the blocks and led after just nine minutes.
Pogba and Cavani teed up Fernandes, who dinked the ball over the advancing Pau Lopez for his 25th goal of the season.
Roma fans had urged their side to “make sure he remembers us” after taking umbrage to Solskjaer’s admission he did not know much about the current Roma squad in his post-match interview after seeing off Granada in the quarter-finals.
Sitting seventh in Serie A, this competition represented Roma’s last realistic chance to qualify for the Champions League next season and they reacted like a side whose season depended on it.
Pogba was penalised for handball as he slid in to try and block Rick Karsdorp’s cross and Pellegrini confidently beat David de Gea from the spot.
Dzeko was a persistent thorn in United’s side in four years as a Manchester City player and scored for the sixth time at Old Trafford when he tapped home Pellegrini’s low cross on 34 minutes.
By that stage Jordan Veretout and Lopez had hobbled off injured and Leonardo Spinazzola followed before the break, leaving Roma without the chance to make any further substitutions in the second-half.
United seized upon their opportunity with arguably their best 45 minutes of the season after the break.
Another fine team move involving Pogba, Fernandes and Cavani ended with the Uruguayan firing into the top corner three minutes into the second-half.
Cavani was then guilty of missing a glorious chance from Luke Shaw’s cutback, but was in the right place for a tap in when substitute goalkeeper Antonio Mirante parried Aaron Wan Bissaka’s shot into his path.
Two Roma players Solskjaer would have been aware of were Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling, who were both making their return to Old Trafford.
Smalling had a night to forget, but was harshly penalised when he clashed with Cavani as a ball flashed across the Roma goal.
Fernandes was clinical from the spot to give United breathing space.
The Portuguese turned provider for Pogba to power home a header 15 minutes from time.
And Greenwood came off the bench to land the final blow as he rounded off a counter-attack thanks to some more weak goalkeeping by Mirante.
AFP
Source: Channels Tv
CBN Announces Appointment Of New Directors For First Bank, Reinstates Adeduntan As MD
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced new appointments in one of Nigeria’s commercial banks, First Bank of Nigeria PLC, and retained Dr Sola Adeduntan as the bank’s Managing Director.
This comes a day after the bank announced the removal of Adeduntan and Gbenga Shobo as his successor.
The CBN, however, queried the bank for the move on Thursday, saying that it did not notify it of the decision to remove Adeduntan who had yet to complete his tenure.
As news of the query made the rounds, the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, told a news conference in Abuja that: “Ordinarily the board is vested with the authority to make changes in the management team subject to CBN approval.
“However, the CBN considers itself a key stakeholder in management changes involving FBN due to the forbearances and close monitoring by the Bank over the last 5 years aimed at stemming the slide in the going concern status of the bank.
“It was therefore surprising for the CBN to learn through media reports that the board of directors of FBN, a systemically important bank under a regulatory forbearance regime had effected sweeping changes in executive management without engagement and/or prior notice to the regulatory authorities.”
In reinstating Adeduntan and announcing new directors for the bank, the CBN governor reassured the depositors, creditors and other stakeholders of the bank of its (CBN’s) commitment to ensuring the stability of the financial system.
“There is, therefore, no cause for panic amongst the banking public, given that the actions being taken are meant to strengthen the bank and position it as a banking industry giant,” he said.
The apex bank also ordered the immediate removal of all the directors of FBN Limited and FBN Holdings PLC.
See the CBN governor’s full statements and the list of the new directors appointed below:
GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT ON THE PURPORTED MANAGEMENT CHANGE AT THE FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA LTD
1.0 Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
2.0 The media has been awash with commentaries on the purported management changes at First Bank of Nigeria Ltd (FBN) and the related regulatory inquiry by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Board of First Bank of Nigeria Limited. It has therefore become necessary for me to address the public to clear any misconceptions.
3.0 Ordinarily the board is vested with the authority to make changes in the management team subject to CBN approval. However, the CBN considers itself a key stakeholder in management changes involving FBN due to the forbearances and close monitoring by the Bank over the last 5 years aimed at stemming the slide in the going concern status of the bank. It was therefore surprising for the CBN to learn through media reports that the board of directors of FBN, a systemically important bank under a regulatory forbearance regime had effected sweeping changes in executive management without engagement and/or prior notice to the regulatory authorities. The action by the board of FBN sends a negative signal to the market on the stability of leadership on the board and management and it is in light of the foregoing that the CBN queried the board of directors on the unfortunate developments at the bank.
4.0 As you may be aware, FBN is one of the systemically important banks in the Nigerian banking sector given its historical significance, balance sheet size, large customer base and high level of interconnectedness with other financial service providers, amongst others. By our last assessment, FBN has over 31m customers, with a deposit base of N4.2trn, shareholders funds of N618bn and NIBSS instant payment (NIP) processing capacity of 22% of the industry. To us at the CBN, not only is it imperative to protect the minority shareholders, that have no voice to air their views, also important, is the protection of the over 31m customers of the bank who see FBN as a safe haven for their hard-earned savings.
5.0 The bank maintained healthy operations up until 2016 financial year when the CBN’s target examination revealed that the bank was in grave financial condition with its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and non-performing loans ratio (NPL) substantially breaching acceptable prudential standards.
6.0 The problems at the bank were attributed to bad credit decisions, significant and non-performing insider loans and poor corporate governance practices. The shareholders of the bank and FBN Holding Plc also lacked the capacity to recapitalize the bank to minimum requirements. These conclusions arose from various entreaties by the CBN to them to recapitalize.
7.0 The CBN stepped in to stabilize the bank in its quest to maintain financial stability, especially given FBN’s systemic importance as enumerated earlier. Regulatory action taken by the CBN in this regard included:
- Change of management team under the CBN’s supervision with the appointment of a new Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer in January 2016.
- Grant of the regulatory forbearances to enable the bank to work out its non-performing loans through provision for write-off of at least N150b from its earning for four consecutive years.
iii. Grant of concession to insider borrower to restructure their non-performing credit facilities under very stringent conditions
- Renewal of the forbearances on a yearly basis between 2016 and 2020 following thorough monitoring of progress towards exiting from the forbearance measures
8.0 The measures had yielded the expected results as the financial condition of FBN improved progressively between 2016 when the forbearance was initially granted to the current financial year. For instance, profitability, liquidity and CAR improved whilst NPL reduced significantly.
9.0 Notwithstanding the significant improvement in the bank’s financial condition with the positive trajectory of financial soundness indicators, the insider-related facilities remained problematic.
10.0 The insiders who took loans in the bank, with controlling influence on the board of directors, failed to adhere to the terms for the restructuring of their credit facilities which contributed to the poor financial state of the bank. The CBN’s recent target examination as at December 31, 2020 revealed that insider loans were materially non-compliant with restructuring terms (e.g. non-perfection of lien on shares/collateral arrangements) for over 3 years despite several regulatory reminders. The bank has not also divested its non-permissible holdings in non-financial entities in line with regulatory directives
11.0 Following a further review of the situation and in order to preserve the stability of the bank, so as to protect minority shareholders and depositors, the Management of the CBN in line with its powers under BOFIA 2020 has approved and hereby directs:
- Immediate removal of all directors of FBN Ltd and FBN Holdings Plc
- The appointment of the following persons as directors in FBN Ltd and FBN Holdings Plc Holdco
- Chairman – Remi Babalola
- Dr. Fatade Abiodun Oluwole
- Kofo Dosekun
- Remi Lasaki
- Dr Alimi Abdulrasaq
- Ahmed Modibbo
- Khalifa Imam
- Sir Peter Aliogo
- UK Eke – Managing Director
Bank
- Chairman – Tunde Hassan-Odukale
- Tokunbo Martins
- Uche Nwokedi
- Adekunle Sonola
- Isioma Ogodazi
- Ebenezer Olufowose
- Ishaya Elijah B. Dodo
- Sola Adeduntan – Managing Director
- Gbenga Shobo – Deputy Managing Director
- Remi Oni – Executive Director
- Abdullahi Ibrahim – Executive Director
12.0 The CBN hereby reassures the depositors, creditors and other stakeholders of the bank of its commitment to ensuring the stability of the financial system. There is therefore no cause for panic amongst the banking public, given that the actions being taken are meant to strengthen the bank and position it as a banking industry giant.
Sunday, April 25, 2021
stardoms ng blogging site launch
Stardoms Ng blogging site launch on 25th of april 2021, this site is launched today in order to promote and helps spread important news to the people and Stardomites at large.
stardoms Ng is preparing to go nation wide and serve a better, quick, flexible and trusted source of news around the nation.
CEO YOUNG
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