Miguel Abitbol spent almost $4,000 on television equipment to show World Cup soccer matches at his bar and restaurant in Rio de Janeiro. He’s praying there will be enough electricity to power it. Abitbol’s 48-inch (122-centimeter) set is one of 16 million expected to be sold in Brazil this year as it hosts the world’s most-watched sporting event. The kick off in June is looming as the nation contends with a drought that reduced water supply needed for hydroelectric power to near-critical levels. A blackout in February cut electricity to 6 million people.
Updated 5 Years ago

The software maker's efforts to move further into cloud computing - a move championed by new chief executive Satya Nadella - seem to be paying off. Azure, a cloud computing product, saw revenue grow 150%, Microsoft.
Updated 5 Years ago

London's biggest and most expensive office building, HSBC Holdings'global headquarters, is up for sale and could fetch more than £1.1 billion ($1.85 billion), according to a report in the Financial Times. The 44-storey, 1.1 million square foot building based in the city's Canary Wharf district is being marketed by estate agents JLL and GM Real Estate, sources familiar with the matter told the FT.
Updated 5 Years ago

ABUJA—REGIONAL sentiments and emotions took centre stage, yesterday, during contributions on resource control by members of the National Conference Committee on Devolution of Powers. Delegates almost had a free-for-all as they hurled abuses at one another. At a stage contributions were suspended. - See more at: It took ceaseless and desperate attempts by the committee’s co-chairmen, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah and former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie to calm frayed nerves.
Updated 5 Years ago

Health services have collapsed in states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, a report from the National Emergency Management Agency has said. The report, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, says that the insurgency has brought the health system to “total collapse” in most local government areas of Borno.
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As Nigeria continues to play a crucial role in advancing the continents growth through creation of business opportunities and enabling environment, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s Number One Banking Brand has once again pledged its support for the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA) taking place for the first time in Nigeria from Wednesday, May 7 through Friday, May 9, 2014 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. According to FirstBank’s spokesperson Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank is happy to be playing a leading role at the foremost economic gathering on the continent; which will bring together regional and global leaders to discuss innovative structural reforms and investments that can sustain the continent’s growth while creating jobs and prosperity for all its citizens.
Updated 5 Years ago

After recording an impressive performance for 2013, Sterling Bank Plc has consolidated on the performance with improved results for the first quarter (Q1)ended March 31, 2014. Despite the industry headwinds, Sterling Bank Tuesrday reported gross earnings of N24.6 billion, up from N19.84 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Profit before tax rose from N3.02 billion to N3.54 billion, while profit after tax increased from N2.72 billion to N3.14 billion.
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Poised to boost the value of its service delivery and also grow its weight in the highly competitive consulting business environment, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) has completed the acquisition of Booz & Company which will henceforth be known as Strategy& (pronounced Strategy and). The new name which will be used alongside the PwC brand is now officially part of the PwC Network and is expected to reflect the strength in strategy which Booz & Company had been synonymous with before now.
Updated 5 Years ago

The management of Fidelity Bank plc has approved six hundred million naira loan for the garment and leather sectors- comprising shoe, belt and bag makers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. The gesture is aimed at upgrading the capacity and product quality of the operators.
Updated 5 Years ago

Notwithstanding efforts by the federal government to stem the tide of diseases in the country, indications have emerged that Nigeria bears over 25% of Africa's vector-borne disease burden amid progress being made to tackle these diseases. World Health Organisation (WHO), Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Gama Vaz disclosed this at the Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate World Health Day 2014 in Abuja.
Updated 5 Years ago