Crown Prince Salman Announces 4 New Special Economic Zones In Saudi Arabia

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April 14, 2023

Four special economic zones are to be established in Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced on Thursday.

The aim of the new zones, which will be located in Riyadh, Jazan, Ras Al-Khair and King Abdullah Economic City, is to open up new opportunities for international investors.

“Saudi Arabia is open for business and welcomes investors from all around the world to see first-hand the historic opportunities we have to offer,” the crown prince said.

“The new special economic zones launched today will significantly impact how business is done in the country, create tens of thousands of jobs, and contribute billions of riyals to our gross domestic product.”

The zones will take advantage of the Kingdom’s strategic location to create new hubs for businesses across key growth sectors so that they can launch and expand companies and technologies that will help shape the future, according to the SPA.

They will support existing national strategies and create new links with international frameworks, building on the competitive advantages of each region of the country to support key sectors such as logistics, advanced manufacturing, technology, and other priority sectors in the Kingdom, it added.

The benefits to companies of operating in the zones will include: competitive corporate tax rates; exemption from customs duties on imports, production inputs, machinery and raw materials; 100 percent foreign ownership of companies; and flexibility to attract and hire the best talent worldwide.

The zones will also provide tremendous opportunities for developing the local economy, generating jobs, and localizing supply chains, officials said.

They are said to represent a continuation of long-running initiatives that aim to transform the Kingdom into a global investment destination and a vital hub for global supply chains, by capitalizing on its position at the heart of global trade routes.

Europe’s Mission To Icy Moons Of Jupiter Blasts Away From Earth

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Angel Gimalo

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April 14, 2023

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The Juice satellite was sent skyward on an Ariane-5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.

There was joy, relief and lots of hugs when the watching scientists, officials and VIPs were told the flight to orbit had been successful.

It is second time lucky for the European Space Agency (Esa) project after Thursday’s launch attempt had to be stood down because of the weather.

Juice called home shortly after coming off the top of the Ariane. A key milestone was confirmation that the satellite’s enormous solar array system had also deployed correctly – all 90 sq m of it.

“We have a mission; we’re flying to Jupiter; we go fully loaded with questions. Juice is coming, Jupiter! Get ready for it,” announced Andrea Accomazzo, the operations director at Esa’s mission control in Darmstad, Germany.

The agency’s director general, Dr Josef Aschbacher, also expressed his pride that the €1.6bn (£1.4bn; $1.7bn) mission was safely on its way.

“But I do have to remind everyone, there’s still a long way to go,” he said. “We have to test all the instruments to make sure they function as expected, and then, of course, arrive at Jupiter. But we have taken a very big step towards our goal.”

The Juice spacecraft carries 10 instruments to study Jupiter’s moons

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is being sent to the largest planet in the Solar System to study its major moons – Callisto, Ganymede and Europa.

These worlds are thought to retain vast reservoirs of liquid water.

Scientists are intrigued to know whether the moons might also host life.

This might sound fanciful. Jupiter is in the cold, outer reaches of the Solar System, far from the Sun and receiving just one twenty-fifth of the light falling on Earth.

But the gravitational squeezing the gas giant exerts on its moons means they potentially have the energy and warmth to drive simple ecosystems – much like the ones that exist around volcanic vents on Earth’s ocean floors.

“In the case of Europa, it’s thought there’s a deep ocean, maybe 100km deep, underneath its ice crust,” said mission scientist Prof Emma Bunce from Leicester University, UK.

“That depth of ocean is 10 times that of the deepest ocean on Earth, and the ocean is in contact, we think, with a rocky floor. So that provides a scenario where there is mixing and some interesting chemistry,” the researcher told BBC News.

Ariane doesn’t have the heft to send Juice direct to its destination, at least not in a useful timeframe.

Instead, the rocket has despatched the spacecraft on to a path around the inner Solar System. A series of fly-bys of Venus and Earth will then gravitationally sling the mission out to its intended destination.

It’s a 6.6 billion km journey lasting 8.5 years. Arrival in the Jovian system is expected in July 2031.

The ice-covered Callisto, Ganymede and Europa were discovered by the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1610, using the recently invented telescope. He could see them as little dots turning about Jupiter. (He could also see a fourth body we now know as Io, a much smaller world covered in volcanoes).

The icy trio range in diameter from 4,800km to 5,300km. To put this in context, Earth’s natural satellite is roughly 3,500km across.

Beatriz Flamini: Spanish Athlete Emerges After 500 Days In Cave

By

Angel Gimalo

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April 14, 2023

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A Spanish extreme athlete has emerged from a cave after spending 500 days with no human contact, in what could be a world record.

When Beatriz Flamini entered the cave in Granada, Russia had not invaded Ukraine and the world was still in the grip of the Covid pandemic.

It was part of an experiment closely monitored by scientists.

“I’m still stuck on November 21, 2021. I don’t know anything about the world,” she said after exiting the cave.

Ms Flamini, 50, entered the cave aged 48. She spent her time in the 70-metres (230 feet) deep cave exercising, drawing and knitting woolly hats. She got through 60 books and 1,000 litres of water, according to her support team.

She was monitored by a group of psychologists, researchers, speleologists – specialists in the study of caves – but none of the experts made contact with her.

Speaking shortly afterwards, she described her experience as “excellent, unbeatable”.

“I’ve been silent for a year-and-a-half, not talking to anyone but myself,” she said, while reporters pressed her for more details.

“I lose my balance, that’s why I’m being held. If you allow me to take a shower – I haven’t touched water for a year-and-a-half – I’ll see you in a little while. Is that OK with you?”

Ms Flamini later told reporters she lost track of time after about two months.

“There was a moment when I had to stop counting the days,” she said, adding that she thought she’d been in the cave for “between 160-170 days”.

One of the toughest moments came when there was an invasion of flies inside the cave, leaving her covered, she said.

The extreme athlete also described “auditory hallucinations”.

“You are silent and the brain makes it up,” she said.

Experts have been using her time in isolation to study the impact of social isolation and extreme temporary disorientation on people’s perception of time.

Ms Flamini’s support team said she has broken a world record for the longest time spent in a cave, but the Guinness World Records has not confirmed whether there is a record for voluntary time living in a cave.

It has awarded the “longest time survived trapped underground” to the 33 Chilean and Bolivian miners who spent 69 days 688 m (2,257 ft) underground after the collapse of a copper-gold mine in Chile in 2010.

Exploring La Pyramide, Cote d’Ivoire

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Angel Gimalo

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April 14, 2023

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La Pyramide is one of the most famous high rise buildings that is located in the economic capital of the West African Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan. As one of the most enterprising architectural structures in the city, it has the shape of a pyramid, thus La Pyramide and it is located in the center of the city.

Designed by the Italian architect Rinaldo Olivieri, the construction of this grandiose piece began in 1968, and it was completed in 1973.

The main aim of the architect Olivieri was to capture the vibrant activity of the African market in the urban settings around the continent, and most of all in the Côte d’Ivoire.

The structure is somewhat cascading with spacious ground floor which has spaces for boutiques and shops, however, due to the inefficient space renting, the building has not been well taken care of which led to considerable deterioration during the 1990’s, becoming more dangerous in the 2000’s.

Still, there can be found a gym and many other offices, but with hope for a future public-private partnership, the building could be saved from a complete devastation.

As the floors of the building are getting smaller in size, as one would go up, it is quite nice to see that Rinaldo Olivieri has added terraces with fence which are also serving as a shade for the floors below.

Back in 2011, there have been some plans for this kind of partnership, with costs for renovation estimated at around 27 million Euros, yet, if done it definitely would be one of the bigger attractions the city can offer.

Not all the cities in the world have this kind of Brutalist masterpiece in their yard, and Abidjan should definitely promote it more, so that it would attract many Brutalist-style architectural lovers.

Once Upon A Time – April 14 – 1912 – RMS Titanic, World’s Largest Ocean Liner, Hits An Iceberg Off Newfoundland

By

Angel Gimalo

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April 14, 2023

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1865 US President Abraham Lincoln is shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington; he dies a day later

1912 RMS Titanic, the world’s largest ocean liner, hits an iceberg at 11.40pm off Newfoundland, sinks in the early hours of 15 April

1914 Dr. Harry Plotz isolates the bacteria that causes Typhus Fever (Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City)

1935 Black Sunday: Severe dust storm ravages the US Midwest, led to the region being named “the Dust Bowl”

1981 1st Space Shuttle, Columbia 1, returns to Earth

2003 The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%

Historical Events Today Events in 2023

Today in Film & TV

1894 1st public showing of Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope (moving pictures)

Today in Music

2000 Metallica file a lawsuit against P2P sharing phenomenon Napster. This lawsuit eventually leads the movement against file-sharing programs.

Today in Sport

2002 66th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods becomes the 3rd player to claim back-to-back Masters, 3 strokes ahead of Retief Goosen of South Africa

MORE FACTS…

1841 1st detective story published, Edgar Allan Poe’s “Murders in Rue Morgue”

Famous Weddings

1880 Philosopher John Muir (41) weds Louisa Strentzel

1890 Painter Pierre Auguste Renoir (49) weds Aline Victorine Charigot

1935 PGA golfer Ben Hogan (22) weds Valerie Fox in Cleburne, Texas

Once Upon A Time – April 14 – 1912 – RMS Titanic, World’s Largest Ocean Liner, Hits An Iceberg Off Newfoundland

By

Angel Gimalo

-

April 14, 2023

0

1865 US President Abraham Lincoln is shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington; he dies a day later

1912 RMS Titanic, the world’s largest ocean liner, hits an iceberg at 11.40pm off Newfoundland, sinks in the early hours of 15 April

1914 Dr. Harry Plotz isolates the bacteria that causes Typhus Fever (Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City)

1935 Black Sunday: Severe dust storm ravages the US Midwest, led to the region being named “the Dust Bowl”

1981 1st Space Shuttle, Columbia 1, returns to Earth

2003 The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%

Historical Events Today Events in 2023

Today in Film & TV

1894 1st public showing of Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope (moving pictures)

Today in Music

2000 Metallica file a lawsuit against P2P sharing phenomenon Napster. This lawsuit eventually leads the movement against file-sharing programs.

Today in Sport

2002 66th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods becomes the 3rd player to claim back-to-back Masters, 3 strokes ahead of Retief Goosen of South Africa

MORE FACTS…

1841 1st detective story published, Edgar Allan Poe’s “Murders in Rue Morgue”

Famous Weddings

1880 Philosopher John Muir (41) weds Louisa Strentzel

1890 Painter Pierre Auguste Renoir (49) weds Aline Victorine Charigot

1935 PGA golfer Ben Hogan (22) weds Valerie Fox in Cleburne, Texas

Moffi Wins Europa Conference League Goal Of The Week Award

By

Emenike Agu

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April 14, 2023

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Super Eagles and Nice striker Terem Moffi has won the UEFA Europa Conference League Goal of the Week award

UEFA announced Moffi as the winner on their Europa Conference League Twitter handle

Moffi bagged a brace as Nice held Basel to a 2-2 draw away in the quarter-final first leg on Thursday

The former Lorient striker put Nice 2-1 up late in the second half with a stunning bicycle kick from a cross.

He beat off competition from three other nominees to land the award

His brace took his tally in this season’s Europa Conference League to three after three appearances

Nadal Out Of Barcelona In Fresh French Open Blow

By

Emenike Agu

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April 14, 2023

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Rafael Nadal’s preparation for a tilt at a record-extending 15th French Open title suffered a further blow when he announced Friday his withdrawal from the ATP Barcelona tournament.

The 36-year-old Spaniard said he had still not recovered full fitness from the hip flexor injury he sustained in the Australian Open in January and which saw him miss this week’s Monte Carlo Open.

“I am still not ready and so I continue my preparation process for the return to competition,” he tweeted.
The Barcelona tournament starts on Saturday and the French Open on May 28.

Nadal said it hurt him to miss Barcelona.
“Barcelona is a special tournament for me because it is my club by adoption and because playing at home is always a unique feeling,” he said.

The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion — he shares the record with Novak Djokovic — had originally thought he would be out for up to two months.

He pulled out of hard-court tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami, with his sights set on a return at the start of the clay court season.

His fitness problems have become an increasing issue since he won his 14th French Open crown last year.

He eased to victory against Casper Ruud despite having his troublesome left foot anaesthesised to counter the pain — he was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss syndrome aged 18.

He subsequently withdrew from his Wimbledon semi-final due to an abdominal injury.

His long absence from the circuit this time round has seen him drop out of the top 10 for the first time since April 2005 — he is presently ranked 15th.

Nigerians In Europe Midweek Round-Up: Moffi, Boniface Nets Again

By

Emenike Agu

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April 14, 2023

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Terem Moffi continued to prove his worth to OGC Nice as he scored twice to help them secure a 2-2 draw away from home against FC Basel in their UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinal first leg. The striker took his tally for the French side to seven goals in 11 appearances since joining from FC Lorient.

The home side took the lead in the 26th minute through a penalty from Zeki Amdouni after Jean-Clair Todibo committed a foul on Dan Ndoye. Moffi responded in the 38th minute with an instinctive, first-time finish after a loose ball fell into his path in the box.

On the stroke of half-time, the striker found the net with a goal of the season contender. A cross from Gaetan Laborde into the box caught the Super Eagles star at an awkward angle, but he adjusted and launched himself into the air before sending the ball past the goalkeeper with a brilliant scissor kick. Watch the goal here:

FC Basel secured a draw when Amdouni headed home a cross from Michael Lang in the 71st minute.

Elsewhere in the UEFA Europa League in Germany, Victor Boniface continued his dominance in the competition as he grabbed a goal in Union Saint-Gilloise 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old is the competition’s leading scorer with six goals this season.

With the game goalless, it took only six second-half minutes for Boniface to register the opener. The former Bodo/Glimt man received a pass from Teddy Teuma on the edge of the box before curling a neat finish into the bottom corner with aplomb. Watch the goal below:

German prodigy Florian Wirtz scored a crucial equaliser for the home side as they avoided a home defeat.

In the Conference League, 20-year-old Gift Orban announced himself to Premier League-level opposition as Gent held West Ham United to a 1-1 draw. The striker did not find the net but it was not due to a lack of endeavour as he saw an effort come back off the woodwork in the game. His work rate, hold-up play and link-up were impressive, and he was involved in the build up to Hugo Cuypers’ equaliser after Danny Ings had given West Ham the lead.

TETFUND Allocates N30 B In 18 Tertiary Institutions

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 14, 2023

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The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N30 billion for disbursement to six universities, six polytechnics and six colleges of education under its 2023 Special High Impact intervention.

The Executive Secretary of the fund, Sonny Echono, made this known on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja, to give a further breakdown of the 2023 intervention budget of N320 billion recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Echono said that each of the six beneficiary universities would get N3 billion, while each of the six selected polytechnics and six colleges of education would receive N1 billion.

”For this year, six universities, six polytechnics and six Colleges of Education (COE) will benefit from the special high-impact project.

”Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Federal University Wukari, Taraba state; Federal University Birnin-Kebbi; Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Science; Edo State University and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, are to get N3 billion each.

”Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara; Federal Polytechnic, Gombe; Federal Polytechnic Kabo, Kano State; Anambra State Polytechnic; Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny; and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, are to get N1 billion each.

”Also, Plateau State COE; Federal COE, Yola; Federal COE, Zaria; Enugu State COE; Delta State COE, and Taiye Solarin COE are to get N1 billion each,” he said.

According to him, the intervention seeks to massively inject funds into selected tertiary institutions to achieve a major turnaround through programme upgrades and improvement in the teaching and learning environment.

On other intervention lines, Echono disclosed that N500 million had been allocated to some selected COEs from the six geopolitical zones for the micro-teaching laboratories.

He listed them as Federal COE, Otukpo, Benue State; Federal COE Jama’are, Bauchi State; Federal COE, Sokoto; Federal COE Isu, Ebonyi State; Federal COE, Ekiadolor, Edo State; and Federal COE, Iwo, Osun State.

He added that N2 billion had been allocated to teaching practice projects in the COEs, while N1 billion was allocated for the establishment of a diaspora centre that would be instituted at the University of Ibadan.

He said the other area of support for the special intervention was students’ hostels.

“Many of you have seen the deplorable accommodations our students live in. For a number of years now we commence these interventions and we will encourage schools because we believe the hostels are one of the areas where private sector funding can be attracted.

“Last year, we released intervention in 20 institutions and the hostels have been completed. Another 20 institutions are ready this year, that is one of the importance of the special impact project,” he said.
Echono added that 95 per cent of the N320 billion TETFund’s disbursement for 2023 would go directly to beneficiary tertiary institutions.

He said that the remaining five per cent of the allocation would be used for staff salaries and allowances, project monitoring and zonal capital projects.

According to him, 62 per cent of the total disbursement (representing N198 billion) constituted the institutions’ annual direct disbursement, while 20 per cent of the disbursement (representing N64.2 billion) is for special disbursement.

TETFund Receives N68 BN Shortfall in Revenue— Executive

He also said that 10 per cent (representing N32 million) would go for approved designated projects in the institutions, while the remaining three per cent would be for stabilisation funds.

Echono said the Fund was aware of the challenges facing institutions, especially the issue of people targeting academic centres, kidnapping children and disrupting academic activities.
He, however, said that N6 billion had been allocated to institutions in security-prone areas, especially those institutions with internal security challenges as well as institutions with cases of adoptions.

He said that there was a need to implement projects in institutions within security-prone areas to enhance the security of the students and teachers.

He called on institutions to ensure all resources were utilised judiciously as mechanisms had been put in place to check performances.