Improving Forest Regeneration and Restoration through Machine Learning Applications in the US, Other Countries — Expert
Segun Adeyemo, a Nigerian-born doctoral student at Mississippi State University, has made significant strides in applying machine learning techniques to enhance forest regeneration and restoration efforts in the United States and other countries. His recently published research showcases the potential of cutting-edge technology in tackling the urgent issues of forest restoration and changing climate. Adeyemo’s innovative approach involves utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms to identify suitable habitats for key tree species, such as American chestnut, butternut, and oaks, in the context of climate change. His innovative application of machine learning in forest restoration has reached a global audience of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. His groundbreaking applications of machine learning in forest restoration serve as an inspiring example of how cutting-edge technology can be leveraged to address the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 02, 2024 10:23 UTC
CBN permits international oil firms to sell 50% of proceeds
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday, announced that international oil companies can sell their retained 50 per cent of repatriated export proceeds in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market. This decision comes after the CBN placed limits on the transfer of crude export proceeds by IOCs to offshore parent company accounts on February 14. The apex bank noted that these transfers affected domestic foreign exchange market liquidity and sought to reverse the trend through ongoing reforms. Kanya, banks can only transfer 50 per cent of repatriated export proceeds to IOCs’ offshore parent company accounts, with the remaining 50 per cent repatriated after 90 days. Providing more clarifications, the apex bank said the “50% balance of the repatriated export proceeds may be sold to Authorized Dealers or eligible users of foreign exchange with eligible transactions”.
Source:Punch
June 01, 2024 21:58 UTC
107,646 produced passport booklets uncollected nationwide —NIS
The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has said that 107,646 produced passports remained uncollected nationwide. The Service Public Relations Service (SPRO), Mr Kenneth Udo, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. The CG however, appealed to applicants whose passports have been produced to go for pick-up at the various Passports Issuing Centres across the country. The NIS CG directed that all Passport Offices in Lagos should operate on Saturdays between 9am – 2pm. This, she said would enable officials to attend to applicants coming for the collection of their produced passports only.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 01, 2024 17:17 UTC
Building the Youths…Building` the Present, Securing the Future
The health system, education system, transport, and justice systems to mention a few just simply aren’t working…as they ought to! The education system needs to be overhauled from primary right through tertiary! When employers complain about the employability of Nigerian graduates, it is a damning assessment of the education system, and by extension, the curriculum that supports this system. At present, we have Universities, Universities of Education, Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, Univeristies of Agriculture, and Universities of Technology. The youths stand as the bridge between the present and the future as they presently constitute the strength of the nation, whilst in the future, will occupy leadership and parental positions.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 01, 2024 16:43 UTC
107,646 produced passport booklets uncollected nationwide, says CG
The Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Kemi Nandap has said that 107,646 produced passports remained uncollected nationwide. The Service Public Relations Service (SPRO) Mr Kenneth Udo said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. The CG however, appealed to applicants whose passports have been produced to go for pick-up at the various Passports Issuing Centres across the country. The NIS CG directed that all Passport Offices in Lagos should operate on Saturdays between 9am – 2pm. This, she said would enable officials attend to applicants coming for the collection of their produced passports only.
Source:The Guardian
June 01, 2024 16:23 UTC
Labour declares nationwide strike over minimum wage
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a nationwide strike over a proposed new minimum wage. The union accused the government of impoverishing the people further and denying them a decent living, especially through the tariff hike. “Today’s meeting further demonstrated the unseriousness and apparent contempt with which the Nigerian state holds the demands of Nigerian workers and people. “Nigerian workers, who are the backbone of our nation’s economy, deserve fair and decent wages that reflect the current economic realities. The welfare of Nigerian workers and people is non-negotiable, and we are ready to take all necessary steps to ensure that their rights are protected and their voices heard.
Source:The Guardian
June 01, 2024 00:36 UTC
FG urged to fight shisha, snuff, others with graphic health warnings
Medical experts and Civil Society Organisations have called on the Federal Government to fully implement the graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging and labelling. While the 2024 yearly graphic warnings will begin in June 2024, experts and CSOs urge the FG to implement graphic health warnings on 60 per cent of display areas of tobacco products, including shisha and others. Fagbule said findings have shown that graphic health warnings have helped people quit taking tobacco products. “I advocate that the government’s regulatory body should look at the contents of these things and implement the graphic health warnings and labelling on them,” Dr Akintade said. “There is no full compliance to the graphic health warnings yet.
Source:Punch
May 31, 2024 21:35 UTC
12-year-old wins $50,000 US spelling bee prize
Mastering words such as “cricetine” and “indumentum”, 12-year-old Bruhat Soma clinched victory Thursday in the United States spelling bee. “Bruhat Soma from Florida cemented his win by correctly spelling his final word, ‘abseil’,” organizer Scripps National Spelling Bee announced on X.Soma, who also competed in the past two annual competitions, will take home a $50,000 prize and a championship trophy. Soma correctly spelled 29 words in 90 seconds during the competition’s second-ever “Spell-off” tiebreaker, US media reported. In earlier rounds, Soma correctly spelled 10 words right, including “coulisse” — defined as a backstage area — and the Dutch town Hoofddorp. Children have participated in US classroom, school, and regional spelling bees in hopes of making it to the national contest since 1925, according to Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Source:Punch
May 31, 2024 20:53 UTC
Police unveil upgraded cybercrime reporting platform
The Nigeria Police Force has unveiled a platform for reporting cybercrime. “The new reporting platform, managed by the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), can be accessed at: [https://nccc.npf.gov.ng/ereport/signin]. This upgraded domain replaces the previous site [https://incb.npf.gov.ng] which must be discarded.”The statement stated that the upgraded domain offers enhanced security to protect user information and is user-friendly for efficient reporting. “The upgraded domain includes enhanced security measures to protect user information and ensure confidentiality and is user-friendly for easy and efficient reporting of cybercrime incidents. “The Inspector General of Police urges all members of the public to utilize this new platform for reporting any cybercrime activities as vigilance and prompt reporting can significantly contribute to police efforts in tackling the menace of cybercrime in Nigeria, and even beyond,” it added.
Source:Punch
May 31, 2024 14:02 UTC
India: Heat kills at least 15 as temperatures near 50C
Several people have died due to heat-related ailments over the past 24 hours as temperatures continue to soar in northern and central India. Ten fatalities were recorded at the government hospital in Odisha’s Rourkela region on Thursday, authorities told Reuters news agency. The searing heat comes as India is holding its general election, the results of which will be declared on 4 June. On Thursday, a labourer admitted with a heat stroke died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Delhi. India’s National Centre for Disease Control calls heat strokes a “life-threatening” condition with a mortality rate of 40 to 64%.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2024 13:17 UTC
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