Quick Takes

Solar Plane Flight Completes First Leg

A record-breaking attempt to fly around the world in a solarpowered plane has completed its first leg. The aircraft, called Solar Impulse-2, took off from Abu Dhabi, heading east to Muscat in Oman.

With businessman and pilot Andre Borschbeg at the controls, the aircraft touched down in Oman at 16:14 GMT after a 12-hour flight. Over the next five months, it will skip from continent to continent, crossing both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

“And there we are. There is confirmation we have touched down. Solar Impulse has touched the ground,” a flight controller said as the plane’s wheels touched the tarmac.

The single-seater vehicle took off and had a five-day solo flight over the Pacific - Solar Impulse’s biggest challenge.

The plan is to stop off at various locations around the globe, to rest and to carry out maintenance, and also to spread a campaigning message about clean technologies.

Before taking off, those who flew in the solar plane told BBC News: “I am confident we have a very special aeroplane, and it will have to be to get us across the big oceans. We may have to fly for five days and five nights to do that, and it will be a challenge.”

IHS Invests in Imo, Abia Communities

IHS Towers, one of the two infrastructure companies (InfraCos), given operational licence by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide broadband infrastructure under the open model access, has officially unveiled a building complex to house the Nekede/Ihiagwa Divisional Police Command in Owerri, Imo State. The company also renovated the Ohuhu Ekwuru Community Primary School, Ohuhu, Abia State.

Speaking during the unveiling, General Manager, IHS, Mr. Jimoh Umoru said the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility stems from the belief that IHS is part of the communities in which it operates.

“We are passionate about improving the quality of education in Nigeria and are pleased to partner with government and communities toward providing a more conducive learning environment to breed future leaders,” Umoru said.

Following the company’s intervention, Ohuhu Ekwuru Community Primary School now has blocks of renovated classrooms, a borehole, and toilets. Headmistress of the community school, Mrs. Flora Otunoye, thanked IHS for their generosity, saying that this is the first time in the history of the community that a private organisation has donated such critical infrastructure to the community.

Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, who unveiled the new Police Station, also applauded IHS for the building, which he said, would encourage members of the Nigerian Police Force to serve and perform their duties in securing the lives and property of the indigenes.

Microsoft Announces Office 365 ProPlus

Microsoft Vice President, Worldwide Education, Anthony Salcito, has announced the global expansion of Microsoft ground-breaking Office 365 ProPlus Benefit, which is already providing millions of students and teachers with the powerful capabilities of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive and Access on up to five PCs or Macs and mobile devices,,including Android, iPad and Windows tablets. Now, millions more deserving teachers and their students at eligible schools can download at no cost, this business-class productivity platform.

Salcito unveiled the product at the Microsoft in Education Global Forum, which was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The programme was designed to highlight the achievements of some teachers and schools in the Middle East, Africa and India.

For education leaders who gathered at the forum, the proPlus benefit is a game changer.