Why Nigeria signed latest radio regulations @WRC'23 says NCC - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has adduced reasons why the nation joined the rest of the world in signing the updated radio regulations at the just concluded World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2023, reports ITREALMS.

The signing which took place at the conclusion of the WRC 2023, saw Nigeria signing unto the Final Act WRC-23, which constitutes a record of the decisions taken at the conference, to deepen connectivity.

Exposed! Those benefiting from factory farming says latest CWF report - ITREALMS

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Latest report by the Compassion in World Farming (CWF) has debunked the myths perpetuated to keep the global factory farming industry alive, ITREALMS can authoritatively reports.

Despite evidence of devastating impacts CWF also exposed the few multi-national corporations making billions from the systems that are cruel to animals while damaging our health and killing planet.

OPPO showcases latest innovative technologies @Mobile World Congress 2023 - ITREALMS

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At the 2023 Mobile World Congress 2023 (MWC2023), OPPO showcased a range of its latest innovative technologies, reports ITREALMS.

OPPO, ITREALMS gathered, not only showed a selection of flagship devices including the pocketable OPPO Find N2 Flip, but also introduces a number of industry-leading innovations based on its four Smart Initiatives - smart entertainment, smart productivity, smart health, and smart learning, such as OPPO Wi-Fi 6 Router AX5400, OPPO Zero-Power Tag, MariSilicon Y Bluetooth audio SoC, OHealth H1 family health monitor, OPPO Air Glass 2 and more. By delivering enhanced, connected experiences through these virtuous innovations, OPPO is reinforcing its position as a future-focused company that seeks to unlock new possibilities for smart living.

Why CBN injected latest $210m into Forex Market - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has explained why it injected on Tuesday the sum of $210 million into the Foreign Exchange regime, saying its to assuage customers’ requests and needs in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, reports ITRealms.

CBN, ITRealms gathered took this step in the bid to meet demands in various fragments of the market had offered $100 million to authorized dealers in the wholesale, whereas the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) dealers received the sum of $55 million.

Figures made available by CBN on Teusday, June 26, 2018, showed customers requesting foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to name a few, hence they were allocated the sum of $55 million.

ITRealms  recollects that CBN had last week Thursday, made similar intervention to the tune of $210 million for requests in the wholesale forex market.

However, ITRealms reports that Naira stability in the FOREX market is steady as it exchanges at an average of N360/$1 in the Bureau De Change (BDC) sections of the market on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Samsung latest smartphone-Galaxy Note 8, debuts

ITRealms:

Samsung Electronics, at the weekend unpacked the latest addition to its Galaxy Note family, the Galaxy Note 8, reports ITRealms.

The device, ITRealms gathered was formally unveiled at the company’s unveiling event held on the 23^rd of August, 2017 in New York, United Statesof America (USA).

The Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Changwook Lee, who confirmed the debut, said Galaxy Note 8 blends with an advanced S Pen with superior viewing experience, stressing the Galaxy Note 8 provides users with a unique and powerful mobile experience.

The new Galaxy Note 8, he said, introduces the most refined Note experience to-date by combining the latest technology that users expect from Samsung’s Galaxy series.

“In 2011, we introduced the original Galaxy Note and launched a whole new smart device category. Its larger screen size and iconic S Pen technology initiated a new standard in smartphone culture. The undeniable success of the category strengthened our conviction that consumers want higher quality features on their devices and they want those new features to positively impact their quality of life. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a powerful, original smartphone that enables its users to tell the stories of their lives through dynamic and seamless expressions of their passions across work, play and life experiences,” he said.

Lee reiterated Samsung’s commitment to fulfilling its brand promise of inspiring the world and creating the future by bringing new and meaningful innovations to the doorstep of consumers.

Embracing the legacy of Samsung’s Galaxy Note series, the Galaxy Note 8 boasts a 6.3-inch Quad High Definition (QHD) resolution display that reproduces clearer and more vivid images with better viewing angles, to deliver the ultimate viewing experience to users. Its large screen and refined multi-window feature optimize users’ experience by making multi-tasking easier; users can choose how they access their applications using the device’s full, split or pop-up screen options. They can also easily change the size and positioning of on-screen applications with just one swipe.

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​The Galaxy Note 8 parades an advanced camera system that generates brighter and clearer images. The device is equipped with two 12MP rear cameras and features a Smart Optical Image Stabilizer that counter-balances camera shake and automatically extends exposure time in poor lighting conditions. In addition, its industry leading 8-megapixel Smart Auto Focus front-facing camera offers users the best experience be it when taking selfies or doing video chats. 

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Built with 6GB RAM, a 10nm processor, and expandable memory (up to 256GB), Note 8 offers users more flexibility when it comes to browsing, streaming, playing games, and multitasking.

Director of Hand Held Products for Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas described the Galaxy Note 8 as a testament to Samsung’s leadership and innovation in the smartphone market and its commitment to developing best-in-class products to meet the ever-changing needs of its consumers.

“We appreciate the relentless passion of the Note community. They’ve been a constant inspiration to us and we designed the new Note for them.  Our consumers do not need to worry about the safety of their devices as Samsung continues to uphold its commitment to lead the industry in battery safety. The Galaxy Note 8’s battery has undergone Samsung’s 8-Point Battery Safety Check—the most rigorous in the industry,” said Revmatas.

The Galaxy Note 8 comes equipped with water and dust resistance (IP68⁴). The device stays with its users through rain or shine. With the advanced S-Pen, users can write on their device, even when the display is wet.

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s Adaptive Fast Charging technology, users can get their battery charge up from zero to 50% capacity in just 30 minutes. Its ultra power saving mode also lets users make the most of their battery power, helping them stay connected for longer periods. The device’s new App Pair feature also lets users create a custom pair of apps on the Edge panel and simultaneously launch two apps with ease.

The device’s advanced S Pen features new innovations that reinvent and modernize users’ note-taking experience. The S Pen allows users do what other smartphones can’t, like discreetly taking notes in Screen off memo or quickly annotating documents and photos. Users can enjoy a much more authentic pen experience with a natural brush effect that perfectly emulates writing on paper with a fountain or calligraphy pen.

In addition to its innovative technological advancements, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 offers a choice of biometric authentication options—including iris and fingerprint scanning. Samsung Knox⁶ provides defense-grade security at the hardware and software layers and with Secure Folder, users can keep their personal and professional data separate.

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Pre-registration for the device will begin soon. The Galaxy Note8 will be be offered in Midnight Black, Orchid Grey, Maple Gold and Deepsea Blue⁸.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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NCAA latest inductee into ‘FOI Hall of Shame’

ITRealms:

 

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today conferred the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
with membership of its Freedom of Information (FOI) “Hall of Shame”, accusing the agency of wasting public funds to advance a culture of secrecy and cover up dubious transactions, reports ITRealms.

In a statement in Lagos announcing the NCAA’s induction into the FOI Hall of Shame, MRA’s Freedom of Information Programme Manager, Mr. Ridwan Sulaimon, said rather than complying with the FOI Act which encapsulates a public policy of open government, the agency has chosen to dissipate public funds in challenging every effort to make it transparent and any attempt by citizens to obtain information from it.  

He called on the Buhari Administration to direct an investigation into the amount of public funds that the NCAA had wasted in unjustifiable litigations aimed at avoiding its duties and obligations under the FOI Act and ensure that the funds are recovered from those officials responsible for every decision not to comply with the Law in all cases resulting in legal expenses.

The NCAA is the regulatory body overseeing the activities of all airlines and their pilots, engineers and cabin staff, airports, airstrips and heliports, navigation aids, all aviation service providers, including the airport authority and air traffic service providers, aviation training institutions, among others and oversees the entire aviation industry.

The agency claims that its operating principles, guidelines and standards applied in the civil aviation sector in Nigeria are based on the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and stipulated national laws and regulations.

Mr. Sulaimon said: “This claim by the NCAA that its operations and activities are guided by national laws and regulations is a myth going by its clear disregard for the FOI Act.  An agency that performs such important functions and activities as the NCAA should be open and transparent.  But a quick examination of the activities of NCAA since the inception of the FOI Act reveals that it is one of those public institutions undermining the Act through its actions and omissions.”

MRA noted that since 2011 when the FOI Act was passed into Law, the NCAA has failed to comply with its duties and obligations under the Act, saying that the agency prefers to squander public resources in fighting any request for the disclosure of information by engaging the services of lawyers to assist its efforts to advance an illegal and unjustifiable culture of secrecy.

It cited as evidence of this the web of litigations that the NCAA has been entangled in since 2013, following its refusal to grant a series of FOI requests made by several individuals, civil society organizations and networks, including human rights lawyer and former President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Enough Is Enough (EIE), Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), MRA, and the Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC), to disclose, among other things, its budgets, procurement information and details of its purchase of two controversial BMW 760 LiHSS bullet proof cars for then Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, worth N225 million.

MRA accused the NCAA of also failing to meet most of its other obligations under the FOI Act, saying it had not published the title and address of the appropriate officer to whom applications for information under the FOI Act should be made, as required by Section 2(3)(f) of the Act.

It also noted that despite the express provisions of the Law, over the last six years since the FOI Act came into force, the NCAA had not issued or submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation, as required by Section 29(1) of the Act, any annual report on its implementation of the Act and has not on its own published such a report for any year, as stipulated by the Law.

Additionally, MRA said, the NCAA has not complied with its proactive disclosure obligations under Section 2(3) and (4) of the Act as it has not published on its website or circulated anywhere else, the categories of information which the Law requires it to publish and disseminate widely to members of the public through various means, including print, electronic and online sources.

MRA added that it was not aware of any request for information that the NCAA has granted over the last six years, insisting that on the contrary, the NCAA has repeatedly refused to disclose information requested by members of the public, including many civil society organizations, even when no exemptions applied to the information requested, with nearly all of them resulting in litigation against the NCAA for its failure to disclose requested information.

It said despite the clear provisions of Section 13 of the FOI Act, which mandates every public institution to ensure the provision of appropriate training for its officials on the public’s right to access information and records held by them for effective implementation of the Act, there is no indication that the NCAA has done this in the last six years.

Mr. Sulaimon said: “In the light of this appalling record by the NCAA, one can only wonder why the agency feels that such egregious disregard for a valid and subsisting Law is in its interest, and while it is so blatantly flouting the law with impunity, whether it has any moral authority to insist that other public institutions and private bodies over which it is given regulatory powers by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (Establishment, Etc.) Act should comply with the provisions of that Law.”

Media Rights Agenda launched the “FOI Hall of Shame” on July 3 to draw attention to public officials and institutions that are undermining the effectiveness of the Freedom of information Act, 2011 through their actions or inactions, decisions or utterances.

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Hyundai is latest member of ITU

ITRealms:

The Hyundai Motor Company is the latest member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU's) standardization arm (ITU-T), underscoring the importance of increased collaboration between the automotive and information and communication technology (ICT) industries in an era of rapid convergence, reports ITRealms.

Hyundai's participation in ITU, ITRealms gathered, will support the company in building its "hyper-connected intelligent cars" platform, which includes smart remote-maintenance services, autonomous driving, smart traffic flow, and a connected "mobility hub" to provide security and data management for connected cars.

Director, Hyundai, Eon Youl Shin, said "Hyundai Motors is looking forward to participating in ITU and will bring important momentum from the automotive industry to advance the future of connected car technology.”

Shin also noted that Hyundai's membership comes as ITU ramps up efforts to provide a unique, global platform for automotive-ICT collaboration – which has already sparked the development of a range of ITU standards tailored to the automotive industry.

In furtherance to accelerating ITU standardization work in this arena has led to fresh interest from other major carmakers as they, too, see the strong business case to join ITU to influence the development of connected-car standards.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Latest Canon broadcast, cinema range showcase @IBC 2016

ITRealms:

Leader in imaging solutions, Canon says latest from its shelf was on showcase at the IBC 2016, the leading global tradeshow for the media and broadcast industry that took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, ITRealms reports.

Canon demonstrated its full range of professional imaging products that demonstrated Canon’s Full HD, 4K - digital TV and digital cinematography and High-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging products, through a variety of end-to-end workflow scenarios – from shooting experiences, to review and editing processes, including innovative low-light and long distance live shooting demos.

Marketing Director, CME & CCNA Canon Central and North Africa, Hendrik Verbrugghe, said Canon has exhibited at IBC for more than three decades and continue to listen to our customers when developing the product range to ensure our innovations meet their needs.

“We understand that content providers and creators demand quality products that will deliver the creative vision in quality imaging. As Africa is growing in content development Canon is ready to provide the continent quality professional products in broadcast and film,” he Verbrugghe.

The new flagship, Cinema EOS models and are ready for the 4K generation, enabling high-end production houses and broadcasters to intuitively and easily shoot with a wide dynamic range, in supreme quality.

The EOS C700 cameras capture creative slow motion 4K video footage internally with high frame rates of up to 59.94P/50P and 2K up to 200p/240p (sensor crop mode), or 4K RAW up to. For a truly integrated, efficient and reliable HDR workflow all versions of the EOS C700 can connect directly to the incredible 4K display monitor - DP-V2420 – a high luminance monitor that is capable of supporting the new ITU-R BT.2100 standard for HDR output.

The XC15 follows in the footsteps of the popular XC10 and is a compact, 4K (UHD) and Full HD video camcorder with stills capability, aimed at content creators such as news gatherers and independent or documentary filmmakers. The XC15 includes a microphone adapter with dual XLR inputs for professional audio capture, quick autofocus and a 24p frame rate option for cinematographers.

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Ford Explorer is MECOTY best midsize SUV

ITRealms:

Latest in the garage, the 2016 Ford Explorer has been named “Best Midsize SUV” in the prestigious Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) awards, reports ITRealms.

The new Ford Explorer which is also now available in Nigeria saw 12-man panel of judging ‘motoring minds’ from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Levant countries, declaring it the MECOTY biggest, and most coveted award of the regional automotive industry.

Reacting, the managing director, Ford Middle East, Thierry Sabbagh said they were pleased with the recognition for the 2016 Ford Explorer.

“Explorer sets the standard for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) when it was first introduced in the 90’s, and it continues to build on its heritage as the mid-size SUV leader with outstanding Built Ford Tough capability, technology, convenience and comfort,” the MD said.

Industry watchers, ITRealms gathered pronounced in 2015 that Explorer led its segment in the GCC with a 40 per cent share, and continues to top its category through first quarter (Q1) of 2016.

ITRealms recalls that whilst building on 25-year innovation and sales leadership, the latest 2016 Ford Explorer features a refreshed and sharp new design in addition to its generous interior space, specifically engineered for people seeking adventure time and a way to express their individuality.

Just as Ford Explorer has proved to be America’s top-selling SUV for 25 years with over seven million unit sales.

ITRealms notes that new Ford Explorer has become the favourite among Nigerian consumers, coming top as the 2015 second best-selling Ford vehicle in Nigeria, and could take to the streets of Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt with pride due to the Explorer’ s sleek design, increased comfort and appealing style.

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Efe Nathan, gospel singer to release I Declare verse 2

ITRealms:

Gospel Soul Singer, Efe Nathan has concluded plans to release into the market her latest in stock of ‘I Declare’ part 2.

ITRealms gathered that this is the second coming of ‘I Declare’ as she had in 2011 kept the gospel scene beehive with her ‘I Declare’ in the album titled “A New Level”.

Sources close to singer and Sh! Entertainment told ITRealms that there have been whisperings about what Efe has been up to, but alas, she is finally ready to hit the stage once again.

“Efe has been in the studio cooking up a medley that does what she is gifted to do best… transport your soul into quiet worship and dance, all at once,” our source told ITRealms.

Further, ITRealms gathered that in 2011, Efe released I Declare, in the album titled ‘A New Level’ released in the same year.

“Now we wonder what Efe has done to this soulful worship song, as the countdown begins towards its remix premiere across Nigeria, West Africa and beyond,” our source declared.

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Pix: Efe Nathan, gospel singer.