TheNewsGuru

Tag: paris

  • Pichai announces Google’s AI research centre for France after meeting Macron

    Following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Google’s chief executive Sundar Pichai on Monday, the tech giant has announced it will open a research centre in Paris devoted to artificial intelligence.

    “The different achievements in this country, including in science, art and the academic field, make it an ideal place for the creation of a centre of theoretical research in artificial intelligence,” Pichai said in a statement.

    The announcement came as Macron welcomed 140 multinational business leaders to Versailles in Paris on Monday night, ahead of the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday.

    Google said it will extend its headquarters in the capital to accommodate the centre — the third to open worldwide, after California and Switzerland.

    The number of staff in Paris is set to increase from 700 to 1,000.

    Facebook earlier announced its intention to double the number of researchers at its own AI centre, opened in Paris in 2015, from 30 to 60.

    The social media giant will also invest EUR 10 million by 2022 to “accelerate artificial intelligence” in France.

    The announcements “signal the competitiveness of France” in the growing sector, the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

    Both companies intend to open programmes in France to help train tens of thousands of people in digital skills.

     

  • Photos: Buhari returns to Nigeria from Paris

    President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after participating at the “One Planet” summit in Paris, France.

    The president’s aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, at about 4:35 p.m. where he was received by senior government officials including his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Musa Bello.

    While in Paris, President Buhari had appealed to the international community to support Nigeria’s commitment to reduce the negative effects of climate change.

    Mr. Buhari told participants that Nigeria could not implement its Nationally Determined Contributions without adequate financial, technical and capacity building support from developed nations.

    He said Nigeria had already ratified the Paris Agreement in May 2017 but its Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce emission by 20 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2030 could not be attained alone.

    According to him, the country is not under illusion of the challenges it is facing, having just come out of recession.

    The summit with the theme “Climate Change Financing’’, was attended by over 60 heads of state and governments, as well as representatives of non-governmental and private organisations.

  • President Buhari arrives Paris ahead of One Planet Summit [Video]

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Paris to join 50 other world leaders in the One Planet Summit in France.

    The summit, is jointly organised by the United Nations, the World Bank Group, and the French Government in partnership with non-governmental organisations concerned about reversing the negative effects of climate change.

    The summit holds at the eco-friendly La Seine Musicale, situated on the picturesque Seguin Island in western Paris.

    This was disclosed in a tweet by his Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad.;

  • News Hour: EFCC uncover Nigerian operating IPOB’s foreign accounts in Paris I TNGtv

  • 2024, 2028 Olympic Games: Paris, Los Angeles win hosting rights

    The International Olympic Committee, IOC, formally announced on Wednesday the 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris.

    Los Angeles will be set to host the 2028 Summer Games.

    Both cities had wanted to host the 2024 event after Hamburg, Rome and Budapest withdrew from the race. Los Angeles agreed to wait an extra four years after the IOC made guarantees on funding

    Paris is set to take its place alongside London as the only three-time hosts of the Summer Games in 2024. Los Angeles will join the group four years later.

    The International Olympic Committee voted in June to award the 2028 Games at the same time as 2024.

    The IOC President, Thomas Bach said the votes for both cities were “unanimous”.

  • Paris Club Refund: Opposition tasks Oyo govt. on payment of workers’ salaries

    Paris Club Refund: Opposition tasks Oyo govt. on payment of workers’ salaries

    ….empathises with workers over current plight

    Oyo state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has been advised to use the latest Paris Club refund from the Federal Government to offset the salary arrears of the workers and also to embark on people-oriented projects that will improve the lot of the people of the state.

    A chieftain of the Oyo state branch of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Seyi Makinde, said in a statement he issued in Ibadan, the state capital on Wednesday, that the state Government should be considerate about the plight of the workers and ensure the immediate payment of their wages, in order to ameliorate their suffering.

    To the workers in the state, Makinde, said that he feels what they are feeling and that his party when voted into power in 2019, shall make workers’ welfare its top priority.

    ”Even, the Bible and all the holy Books said that you should not make your labourers suffer for their wages. We feel with the workers and we shall wipe away your tears, when you vote us into office”.

    The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in 2015, added that the state government should be aware of the fact that the workers would not in anyway tolerate stories or excuses that would preclude them from collecting the whopping five months salaries due to them, while the state pensioners, who are being owed for about five months should not be allowed to go their graves early, even when the resources are available.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Federal Government on Tuesday commenced the payment of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund on the orders of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    According to a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday, the state government is set to receive about seven billion Naira from the latest tranche of the Paris Club Refund.

    Makinde, popularly referred to as ”Omi Titun (new spring)” by his supporters, opined that the latest additional funds from the Federal Government should be expended on projects that are palpable and beneficial to all the residents and not for the benefits of a few associates or cronies.

    His words; ”The latest tranche of about 7 billion Naira to the state by the Federal Government is a welcome development and it should be of benefits to all and sundry. The workers and Pensioners in the state, who are being owed months of salaries and pensions, should take priority, while other projects that would improve the lots of the people should also be taken into consideration.

    ”The era of government officials claiming phantom projects as their achievements are long gone. The people and rightly so, want their representatives to honestly render genuine accounts to them instead of fictitious figures and claims that are only figments of some people’s imagination.

    He also explained that the state government should take advantage of the benevolence of the Dangote group, who has expressed interest in partnering with the state government with the supply of improved rice, to ensure the mass production of the product in the state, adding that the state has the required resources like land, labour and technological know-how to make the project a huge success.

    The SDP chieftain disclosed that the state government needs to put in place the right infrastructures to accelerate the success of the projects, while also providing the residents the attendant benefits.

    ”I travelled to Iseyin last weekend and what I experienced on that journey, made me very sad. The trip that was supposed to last just over an hour took us about two and a half hours to accomplish.

    ”Residents of the area told us that we were able to do that because we had vehicles that are strong. They said it takes them between 3-4 hours to negotiate.

    ”Also, there is a land mass of hundreds of miles between Ido to Iseyin that can comfortably grow more rice that can feed millions in this country. Just last week, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, spoke about the plans of the Federal Government to stop the importation of rice into the country.

    ”States like Lagos, Kebbi, Sokoto, Benue and others are now keying into the vision of the Federal Government to grow enough rice for the country and even for export.

    ”Our dear state, that has the wherewithal to produce enough to feed its people and even export, should not lag behind in this regards. This is where the Paris Club Refund should be made to count. It is not supposed to be spent on ostentatious projects, but those that will wipe away the tears of our workers, pensioners and make our workers happy”. the statement said.

  • Google escapes $1.3 billion tax bill in France

    Google was left off the hook in one of its many court battles when a Paris court dismissed a $1.27 billion tax bill levied against the tech giant, according to media reports.

    Paris’ administrative tribunal ruled Wednesday that Google’s advertising business doesn’t have a taxable presence in France, absolving it of responsibility for five years of back taxes for a period ending in 2010, CNET reported.

    The tax authority had accused Google of routing ad sales in the country through its Irish-based subsidiary.

    In a statement, Google said the ruling “has confirmed Google abides by French tax law and international standards,” adding, “We remain committed to France and the growth of its digital economy”.

    The ruling is a victory amid a series of legal challenges Google has faced across Europe on concerns including taxes, competition and privacy.

    Last month, the European Union slapped Google with a $2.72 billion fine for favouring its own shopping services in its search results over those of rivals.

    TheNewsGuru reports the fine is the biggest antitrust penalty the EU has ever applied to a single company, exceeding the $1 billion fine handed to Intel in 2009, which left Google bitter.

    Also, according to CNET, the EU has also taken aim at Google for its Android operating system, expressing concern that consumers will automatically use Google’s built-in apps, rather than explore other options.

    The Competition Commission has also found the internet giant systematically abuse its dominance in search to promote its own shopping services.

     

  • ‘Being naked is part of what makes us human’-Paris Jackson

    ‘Being naked is part of what makes us human’-Paris Jackson

    Michael Jackson’s daughter , Paris Jackson has revealed her opinion about the concept of nudity.The 19-year-old, who recently signed with IMG models, believes nudity is also a way she can convey her feminist ideas.She said that nudity is what makes us human

    In her words:‘I’ll say it again for those questioning what I stand for and how I express myself. Nudity started as a movement for ‘going back to nature’, ‘expressing freedom’, ‘being healthier’ and was even called a philosophy.

    ‘Being naked is part of what makes us human. For me it helps me feel more connected to Mama Gaia. I’m usually naked when I garden.

    ‘It’s actually a beautiful thing and you don’t have to make it sexual the way many Hollywood stars (and the media) do.

     

    ‘Not only is your body a temple and should be worshipped as so, but also part of feminism is being able to express yourself in your own way, whether it’s being conservative and wearing lots of clothes or showing yourself.’

    ‘We don’t always agree with one another and that’s okay. But again, we are all human, and to appreciate the things that other people do that make us human helps us feel connected. How can that be a bad thing?’