
The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency (LSMTL) has launched an online registration portal to streamline its material testing processes. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the web registration portal was launched during the eGIS retreat 2.0, held at the 21st Century Technologies, Lekki, Lagos, on Saturday. The initiative aims to improve efficiency and accuracy in the testing of building materials, which is crucial for ensuring the safety and durability of structures. The General Manager of LSMTL, Mrs Olayinka Abdul, said at the launch that the new web portal would automate data capture and tracking of building materials tests, reducing manual errors and speeding up the processes. Abdul said: “This software application captures and tracks building data to streamline the LSMTL’s quality assurance process for long-lasting structures. “This initiative will directly benefit all stakeholders, such as potential clients and LSMTL agents.” Abdul said that LSMTL was taking proactive steps to improve building safety in Lagos by leveraging data-driven insights from geotechnical investigations. She added that detailed geotechnical investigations would be conducted to identify the specific characteristics of different areas in the state and recommend appropriate construction practices. Abdul emphasised the importance of data collection and analysis in preventing building collapse. She said that the agency was committed to using data-driven approaches to improve building safety and prevent disasters. “By collecting and analysing data, collaborating with other agencies, and developing detailed maps, LSMTL aims to create a more resilient and sustainable built environment in Lagos,” she said. The general manager also emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in the online portal payment process. She said that it would be important to provide a clear and accessible platform for customers to track the progress of their tests and make payments. According to Abdul, the portal is linked to the Alpha Beta Portal, a state government platform. She said that the initiative would further enhance transparency and accountability. Abdul also emphasised the importance of adhering to professional standards and regulations to ensure quality of testing services, urging professionals to be COREN- certified. Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said that eGeographic information service was developed to fully harness the power of technology and quality of life for Lagos residents. He said, “Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has public trust which is fostered by what every ministry, departments and agency of government does to ensure we build on existing work and common platforms for information sharing and enhanced services, which is the focus of this two-day retreat.”Gurugram, Dec 22 (IANS): A cyber crime team of the Gurugram Police has arrested a Malaysian national who allegedly duped a man of Rs 2.81 crore on the pretext of investing in the stock market, police said. Police said on Sunday that they received a complaint regarding cheating of about Rs 2.81 crore for investing in the stock market. On the complaint, a case was registered under the relevant sections in Police Station Cyber ??West, Gurugram. During the investigation, a cyber crime police team led by Priyanshu Diwan, ACP (cybercrime) nabbed the accused from Tamil Nadu on Friday. The accused was identified as Mohammad Jameel bin Mohammad Iqbal, a resident of Malaysia. "During the probe, the investigation team found that the mother of the accused is from Tamil Nadu and he is also married in Tamil Nadu, due to which he knew the Tamil language. The above accused had come to India with another Malaysian partner, and he had taken the Indian SIM card used in committing the fraud from another accused, Devkaran. Some other SIM cards provided by the accused have also been used in the fraud cases," Priyanshu Diwan, ACP (cybercrime), said. Police then circulated a lookout notice against the accused, and the accused had come to Tamil Nadu to attend a wedding ceremony, after which the accused was arrested by Gurugram Police. Four accused have already been arrested in this case, he said. The investigation team has recovered a Malaysia passport, an international driving licence, a Malaysia identity card, a health card, a debit card, a Malaysia driving licence, a mobile phone, a SIM card, a ring and foreign and Indian currency from the possession of the accused. Further action will be taken in the case as per the rules. The case is under investigation, he added. Diwan said the Gurugram Police cyber crime teams are constantly taking necessary action against cyber criminals. It may be noted that the Gurugram Police have recovered Rs 83.41 crore from 1,658 cyber fraudsters, including 22 bank officials from different banks, in just 11 months from January to November 30 this year. The ACP said that the Gurugram Police are closely working with other agencies and organisations to counter these frauds.
Thomas scores 25 as Austin Peay defeats Georgia State 62-50
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich fans protested against Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi during the teams’ Champions League match on Tuesday. The supporters in Bayern's stadium's Südkurve held up several banners making clear their opposition to the Qatari businessman during the first half of Bayern's 1-0 win. One banner showed Al-Khelaifi’s face with a line over it, another accused him of being “plutocratic” with an expletive, and more banners read: “Minister, club owner, TV rights holder, UEFA ExCo member & ECA chairman all in one?” The 51-year-old Al-Khelaifi is unpopular among the Bayern fans for his influence on European soccer as chairman of the European Club Association, Qatar Sports Investments — the owner of PSG — and the Qatari state-owned beIN media group. He also joined UEFA’s executive committee in 2019. Al-Khelaifi has long drawn scrutiny for apparent conflicts of interest because of his various roles. The ECA has a big influence on shaping the Champions League's playing format and commercial strategy, while beIN is one of the competition's major broadcast partners. In 2022, UEFA left Al-Khelaifi unpunished despite finding PSG guilty of misconduct for confrontations with match officials after losing in the Champions League. There were heated scenes involving Al-Khelaifi and then-PSG sporting director Leonardo after a defeat to Real Madrid. UEFA sanctioned Leonardo but did not cite Al-Khelaifi in its disciplinary statement, nor did it say why. Al-Khelaifi, a former tennis professional, is a longtime friend of Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , an International Olympic Committee member who is influential in global sports. Bayern fans had long protested against their own club’s sponsorship deals with Qatar, which was accused of human rights abuses before it hosted the 2022 World Cup. The fans eventually got their way last year when Bayern’s long-running sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways was not renewed. The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported at the time that the decision came from Qatar. Sheikh Tamim was reportedly unhappy with the Bayern fans’ constant criticism and the club’s failure to distance itself from their protests. Kim Min-jae’s first-half header was enough for Bayern's victory, its seventh straight without conceding across all competitions. PSG forward Ousmane Dembelé was sent off early in the second half. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerIan Schieffelin came within two assists of a triple-double and Clemson handed Penn State its first loss with a 75-67 decision for the championship of the Sunshine Slam tournament Tuesday in Daytona Beach, Fla. Schieffelin finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for the Tigers (6-1), leading four players in double figures. Chase Hunter added 17 points, while Chauncey Wiggins scored 14 and reserve Del Jones chipped in 10 points. Clemson sank 9 of 19 3-pointers, converted 16 of 20 free throws and was able to limit the impact of the Nittany Lions' full-court pressure. The Tigers committed just 13 turnovers, helping them hold Penn State (6-1) to less than 85 points for the first time this year. Ace Baldwin starred in defeat with game highs of 20 points and 11 assists, while center Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 14 points. Nick Kern came off the bench to score 11 but Penn State was outscored 15-2 on the fast break and made just 4 of 18 attempts from 3-point range. Schieffelin came up big down the stretch, assisting on a 3-pointer by Jaeden Zackery with 6:04 left that made it 65-61. Then he made two foul shots and tossed in a jump hook from the lane to up the margin to 71-66 with 1:03 left. The big storyline going into this game was which team would be able to control the pace. Penn State came in averaging 96 ppg, while Clemson demonstrated its ability to enforce a slower tempo in March, advancing to a regional final in the NCAA Tournament. In the first 10 minutes of the game, the Tigers made the Nittany Lions play at a crawl, opening up a 17-10 advantage when Schieffelin converted a short hook in the lane. But Penn State answered with an 18-4 run over nearly six minutes, establishing a 28-21 lead when Kern shook free for a layup. Clemson rallied with nine straight points but the Nittany Lions had the last say as Baldwin converted a layup with 24 seconds left, cutting the Tigers' edge to 38-36 at halftime. --Field Level Media
Deion Sanders Threatens Violence Against Son in Recently Surfaced VideoBargain hunting may boost stock market
LINCOLN — There’s a cost to Nebraska football embracing its 34-year tradition of Black Friday games. A chance to reflect much, for one thing. Or celebrate, for another. NU on Saturday ended a 10-game losing streak to Wisconsin and a seven-season bowl drought in one fell swoop, but when the Huskers reconvened Monday, a short week of preparation for a nasty rival stared them right in the face. “We haven’t even had a team meeting since the game,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said at his weekly press conference. “We walked in today, 8 o’clock, and it’s Iowa special teams (prep). No time for ‘hey, great job.’ There’s no time for it.” Bad memories still linger in the Huskers’ minds, though. The Hawkeyes have won eight of the last nine in this series — six of those by one score, including last year, a 13-10 gut punch that kept Nebraska from making a bowl. If Iowa blew kisses at NU in 2019 on a game-winning field goal, they did something else in 2023. “Their players are waving at our guys — ‘hey, have a good Christmas!’ — that was painful,” Rhule said. “That was really painful. So I don’t doubt that our guys will be ready. But their guys will be ready. It really just comes down to football.” Win the turnover battle. Block and tackle well. Make plays when they’re available. Execute the way offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen wants. To focus on those things — without the psychological pressure of a long December hanging over the program’s head — is a nice bonus to clinching the bowl before heading to Kinnick Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. game on NBC. The temps will be in the 20s; Nebraska, practicing outside most of the year, is prepared for that. Iowa’s offense, though fitted with a new coordinator, resembles a more effective version of the Hawkeyes’ recent attacks, with a blend of power and zone runs executed by running back Kaleb Johnson, second nationally in rush yards. Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten — and 13th nationally — in rushing yards per game. “They’ve run some people off the field just by running the football down their throat,” Rhule said. So, Iowa is Iowa is Iowa. It was Iowa 10 years ago, when it lost 37-34 to Nebraska two days before the firing of Bo Pelini. It was Iowa two years ago on the day it lost to NU just as the school was finalizing a deal for Rhule. And at 7-4 overall — 5-3 in the Big Ten — this season, it is Iowa now. Nebraska, on the other hand, moved from a program with no bowl berths this decade to at least one this winter. It saw, in its win over Wisconsin, a work ethic rewarded, a process confirmed and a rare midseason offensive coordinator hire vindicated. “They know that they can do it, they know they’re capable of it,” Rhule said. “So let’s continue to do it. That’s the expectation now. What was once possible, now we know we can do it, so let’s do it.” Rhule anticipates Nebraska’s roster will be healthier after the flu ran through the team last week, and NU’s offense now manages playing time the way the Husker defensive coaches have — by who practices well during the week. That translated into backups who got more snaps against Wisconsin than other games this season — Emmett Johnson, Luke Lindenmeyer and Nate Boerkircher — and who stood more often on the sideline. That’s Holgorsen’s effect, to some degree, and it’s the new price of success. "Dana's brought a standard, offensively, that, I'm not going to say we didn't have before,” Rhule said, “but he has the experience to kind of follow through on it that will be good for us all to learn from.” The lessons learned in a game are the lessons learned in a season, Rhule said. The week is short, the prep is detailed and Iowa is Iowa. Who might Nebraska be? “We have to make sure the football’s right,” Rhule said.
I’ve had a dry patch of skin on my head for months and my wife is worried it’s skin cancerNone