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Interpol Bust Cybercrime Syndicates, Arrests 12 Suspects

By
Koko Lawrence
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2

The INTERPOL Cybercrime Unit NCB Abuja has arrested 12 alleged members of a prolific Cybercrime network as part of a Nigeria Police Operation coordinated with the INTERPOL.

The suspects were said to be members of ‘Silver Terrier’, a network known for business E-mail compromise (BEC) scams, which have defrauded thousands of companies globally.

Their arrest was sequel to an intelligence-led operation according to local media.

The ten days operation, which took place between December 13 to 22, 2021, where the INTERPOL Cybercrime Officers NCB Abuja simultaneously carried out the Operations in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Lagos Island, in Lagos State and Asaba in Delta State, arrested targeted suspects identified, ahead of time with intelligence provided by the INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate in Singapore.

“Field operations were preceded by an intelligence exchange and analysis phase, where the Cybercrime Unit of the NCB Abuja used INTERPOL’S secure global communication network – i24/7 to work with the Police Forces across the globe and also help in the investigation of BEC scams linked to Nigeria,” the report said.

“Preliminary analysis confirms that the suspect’s collective involvement in BEC criminal schemes associated with more than 50,000 victims. One of the suspects arrested has in his possession more than 800,000 potential victims’ domains credentials on his laptop.

“Another suspect had been monitoring conversation between 16 companies and their clients and diverting funds to Silver terrier whenever the companies’ monetary transaction is about to be made.

“Operation Falcon ii sends a clear message that Cybercrime will have serious repercussions for those involved in BEC Fraud, particularly as we continue our onslaught against the threat actors, identifying and analyzing every Cyber trace they leave.

“The vice president of INTERPOL and Head of National central Bureau Abuja, AIG Umar emphasized that at this time of increased threats, members of the public, businesses and organization are reminded to protect themselves from online scams by the following advice featured in INTERPOL’s #JustOneClick, #WashYourcyberHands, #OnlineCrimeIsRealCrime and #BECareful campaigns.”

Referees Are ‘Spoiling’ The Africa Cup of Nations, Have Turned It Into ‘Absolute JOKE’- UK Media

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Referees are ‘SPOILING’ the Africa Cup of Nations and have turned it into an ‘absolute JOKE’ as fans are left furious at the number of red cards… with 13 sending offs as many as the last four tournaments COMBINED! according to UK DailyMail report.

Read more,

  • There has been a number of contentious red cards given at Africa Cup of Nations
  • So far, AFCON has produced 13, as many as the last four tournaments combined 
  • Fans have been left furious and have accused referees of ‘spoiling’ the event 
  • Cape Verde pair Patrick Andrade and Vozinha became the latest to be sent off

The Africa Cup of Nations has been labelled an ‘absolute joke’ because referees are ‘spoiling’ the tournament with red cards.  

Fans angrily took to social media after Cape Verde’s last-16 defeat to Senegal was overshadowed by the fact they were reduced to nine men. 

Midfielder Patrick Andrade was sent off midway through the first half before goalkeeper Vozinha was also sent off following a collision with Liverpool‘s Sadio Mane.

Cape Verde had two players sent off in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 loss to Senegal

Cape Verde had two players sent off in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 loss to Senegal

A total of 13 red cards have been shown so far, as many as the last four tournaments combined

A total of 13 red cards have been shown so far, as many as the last four tournaments combined

Fans have been furious at the officiating and the decisions to continually hand out red cards

Fans have been furious at the officiating and the decisions to continually hand out red cards

Another disgruntled follower of the tournament wrote: ‘These referees at AFCON 2021 have given me more than enough reason to discontinue watching the tournament.  Officiating at its lowest.’

The dismissal of Vozinha was the 13th so far in this instalment of the tournament, as many as in the previous four AFCONs combined.

d. 

Twitter has been awash with vitriol directed towards referees for their decision making so far

Twitter has been awash with vitriol directed towards referees for their decision making so far

Cape Verde controversially had goalkeeper Vozinha sent off for an innocuous challenge

Cape Verde controversially had goalkeeper Vozinha sent off for an innocuous challenge

Many of the red cards have been awarded after the fact following the use of the video assistant referee (VAR). 

‘AFCON referees should be reminded that they don’t have to issue a red card every time they visit the VAR monitor,’ another angry fan tweeted. 

Another added: ‘These referees at AFCON believe visiting a monitor is red card offense, they don’t challenge the VAR decision, pathetic #AFCON2021.’

The decision to send off Vozinha proved highly contentious in Tuesday night’s Senegal-Cape Verde knockout tie, which Senegal won 2-0. 

Memes became popular but there was an overwhelming sense of anger towards the referees

Memes became popular but there was an overwhelming sense of anger towards the referees

All five of the last-16 matches has seen a red card, with the group stage also littered with reds

All five of the last-16 matches has seen a red card, with the group stage also littered with reds

Vozinha and Mane collided in what appeared to be a 50-50 clash of heads but in a blink of an eye the Blue Sharks found themselves down to nine men. 

‘#AFCON2021 refereeing is ridiculous,’ another tweet read. ‘The underdogs are always crippled by the decision of the referees. #SENCPV no red card for the keeper.’

The two dismissals in the Senegal-Cape Verde game mean there has now been at least one sending off in all five of the knockout matches played so far.

Across those five games, seven red cards have been shown. 

Proposed 400% health insurance tariff hike to reflect economic reality, says AGPMPN

By
Cleopatra Okohai
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0

The Lagos State Chairman of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr. Makinde Akinlemibola says the proposed increase in the tariff of private health insurance scheme is necessary to reflect the current economic changes and reality.

According to Akinlemibola, the present tariff of health insurance can no longer provide adequate health services for the people.

LN247News had reported on Tuesday that a Health HMO had flayed the proposed tariff hike.

The Managing Director, Ultimate Health HMO, Lekan Ewenla, had described as ill-timed the proposed tariff increase in the private health insurance scheme.

According to the HMO boss, the proposal by the AGPMPN is not achievable and capable of disrupting the operations of the organised private sector.

However, speaking with Pressmen in an interview, the Lagos state chairman of AGPMPN also clarified that the last time there was an increase in the tariff was 10 years ago.

“The last time there was an increase in tariff was about 10 years ago for example. That was when the capitation was increased from N500 to N750 naira.

“Look at the rate of naira depreciation from then till now. The majority of the medications are imported, the ones not imported have most of the raw materials for their productions imported,” he said.

Read Also: Lassa virus found in semen of survivors 12 months after

Speaking further Akinlemibola said, “The major personnel used by providers to run the scheme, that is doctors and nurses, are hard to come by now. Where you are fortunate to get them, the remuneration required to keep them has tripled,” he explained.

Akinlemibola, however, stated that the association has the best interest of the people at heart while insisting that the health insurance scheme is still the cheapest means of accessing good health care in the country.

He urged the government and the regulatory bodies to do more to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services at all times.

Akinlemibola, however, assured the association was ready to negotiate but noted that “reason and fairness would be the watchword throughout this negotiation.”

South Carolina bill would make it illegal to ask vaccine status

By
Henry Williams
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0

Republican lawmakers in South Carolina introduced legislation to make it illegal for employers to ask about coronavirus vaccination status, saying it’s private medical information.

The bill’s author said the legislation is needed because unvaccinated individuals are suffering real-world consequences.

“We have people in South Carolina that are losing their jobs because they have to report to their employer that they’re unvaccinated,” bill sponsor Rep. Mike Burns told Fox News Digital. “We also have people who are having their insurance rates put in a different category. They’re charging up to an extra $100 a week more than the vaccinated people. It is absolutely insane to do this kind of thing.”

The legislation, H. 4848, was introduced on Jan. 20. The bill would make it a criminal offense for any employer, business, nonprofit or public entity to ask about someone’s COVID-19 vaccination status.

Over 33,000 sign petition to stop foreign institutions from demanding IELTS

By
Henry Williams
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0

Over 33,000 have signed a petition to stop foreign institutions from demanding an English proficiency test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) from Nigerians.

Checks by The Nation show the petition on change.org titled “Stop asking Nigerians to write IELTS” has 33,800 signatures as at the time of filing this report.

IELTS is one of the world’s known English language tests for work, study and migration. It is an international standardised test of English language proficiency.

Annually, thousands of young Nigerian migrants take IELTS tests physically in different locations all over Nigeria as part of the requirements to secure admissions into universities overseas or work abroad.

Correspondents learnt the test costs over N80,000 per time and expires after two years.

One has to re-sit if they have not been successful with their applications for UK scholarships.

Denmark To Lift Covid-19 Restrictions on Feb 1

By
Rhoda Onuzulike
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0

The Danish health minister, Magnus Heunicke said its government plans to lift Covid restrictions on February 1.

“I would like… Covid-19 to no longer be categorised as a disease dangerous to society as of February 1”, Heunicke wrote in a letter to lawmakers, proposing the de facto lifting of all domestic restrictions, such as mask-wearing and early closings for bars and restaurants etc.

The government’s decision, which is subject to parliamentary approval, will be the most far-reaching easing of curbs seen among the Nordic countries.

People won’t be needing to present vaccine passes upon entry of restaurants, Commuters can take the bus without having to wear a face mask and shops can lift limits on customer numbers etc.

In addition, while the number of people hospitalised with a Covid infection continues to rise, the Danish Health Authority said 35 percent of those who were actually in the hospital are for ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS.

Nigerian Army destroys ISWAP caliphate in Borno

By
Henry Williams
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0

Troops of 401 Special Forces Brigade in conjunction with 19 Brigade Baga while on offensive clearance operations between Cross kauwa and Gudumbali in Borno State have neutralised terrorists and destroyed the purported Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP) Caliphate.

The achievement was recorded on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in the early hours of today 26 January 2022, troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Damboa, Borno State, destroyed and burnt identified BokoHaram/ISWAP Night Market at Gumsuri.

ISWAP is a splinter group of Boko Haram. It has been two decades since Mohammed Yusuf founded the group that became known as Boko Haram, and over a decade since its violent attacks reached the scale of an insurgency.

ISWAP terrorists align ideologically with IS, and has also adopted many of its technologies and tactics.

Oil bullish as tension between Ukraine and Russia heats up

By
Henry Williams
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0

The global benchmark, the Brent crude oil is bullish in the London session on Wednesday, as geopolitical tensions in Europe especially and the Middle East raised supply concerns.

Both benchmarks were initially bearish in the Asian session in what was perceived as profit-taking, ahead of updates from the U.S. Federal Reserve and U.S. oil inventory data. Oil prices hit seven-year highs last week on worries that supplies could tighten due to Ukraine-Russia tensions.

U.S. President, Joe Biden stated on Tuesday he would consider personal sanctions on President Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine, while Western leaders stepped up military preparations and made plans to shield Europe from a potential energy supply shock.

Fake ‘Grimacecoin’ Jumps 285,000% After McDonald’s and Elon Musk Joke

By
Henry Williams
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0

A token created after a McDonald’s response to Elon Musk proposal to eat a happy meal on TV if the retail restaurant giant accepted Dogecoin as a means of payment, surged as much as 285,614% in a few hours as opportunistic actors jumped at the chance to make cash in what many are calling a bear crypto market.

McDonald’s responded to Elon Musk’s tweet asking one of America’s oldest retail giants to accept dogecoin as a means of payment and in turn, he will eat McDonald’s bestselling meal combo, the happy meal, on TV. They responded stating, “Only if Tesla accepts grimacecoin,” referencing the company’s purple mascot named after a tastebud.

While McDonald’s hasn’t pivoted to a crypto token company yet, Wednesday’s tweet spurred the creation of nearly 10 grimacecoins on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) network alone.

Mane In Concussion Scare After Collusion In Clash Against Cape Verde

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Sadio Mane scored as Senegal beat nine-man Cape Verde 2-0 in the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, but was immediately forced off with concussion.

Mane curled in off the underside of the crossbar soon after keeper Vozinha had been dismissed over a nasty clash of heads with the Liverpool forward.

Mane continued despite appearing to be briefly knocked out in the incident.

After celebrating his goal he lay down on halfway, and before the game restarted he was led off the field.

Cape Verde midfielder Patrick Andrade had been shown a straight red card midway through the first half, while Bamba Dieng added Senegal’s second in second-half injury time.

Senegal will face either Mali or Equatorial Guinea in the last eight on Sunday.

Concern for Mane after clash

Tournament organisers the Confederation of African Football may have questions to answer about their concussion protocols after Vozinha and Liverpool striker Mane were both floored in the 53rd minute.

The Cape Verde keeper rushed out of his box in an attempt to intercept a long kick downfield by Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy, and collided head-first at pace with Mane, who had got to the ball first and headed forward.

After a lengthy stoppage a clearly groggy Vozinha was about to be substituted but, following a video assistant referee review, deserved to receive Cape Verde’s second red card for his reckless challenge.

Somehow Mane was deemed fit to continue and, after having a shot saved by substitute keeper Marcio Rosa, the forward then broke the deadlock from the resulting corner.

Senegal manager Aliou Cisse said Mane had been taken to hospital following the game.

“He felt faint, his head was spinning and he had to go there,” said Cisse.

Mane later posted a picture from his hospital bed of himself and Vozinha on his Instagram account, adding that everything was well.

Why wasn’t Mane substituted straight away?

Mane’s head clash was really uncomfortable to watch. It was clear that the Liverpool forward was knocked out as he fell and hit his head again on the turf – he looked like a defeated boxer.

Meanwhile, the Cape Verde keeper couldn’t walk straight before being ushered away by his team-mates following his red card.

But it’s the aftermath that raises questions. Why wasn’t Mane substituted straight away?

Yes, he scored not long after the collision but the decision not to take him off looked even more unwise when he laid down on the pitch following his goal and clearly looked in distress, before eventually being replaced.

It wasn’t a good look and you just hope Mane is OK.

More red cards in knock-out stages

Patrick Andrade sent off
Cape Verde midfielder Patrick Andrade was sent off in the first half, and keeper Vozinha followed after the break

Senegal had topped their group despite scoring once in just three matches, and spurned several more chances in front of goal.

Mane hit the right-hand upright in the first minute, and the Teranga Lions had a man advantage 20 minutes later when Andrade was dismissed following a VAR consultation.

He had caught Pape Gueye on the top of the ankle with his studs and his initial yellow was upgraded to red, meaning all five last-16 ties at the tournament have had at least one sending-off.

Two men down, Cape Verde had few forays forward and Julio Tavares had their best chance with five minutes left but tamely flicked a cross straight at Mendy.

Dieng, who had earlier sent two attempts wide, wrapped up the game from a counter-attack as the islanders pushed for a late equaliser.

Senegal were runners-up in 2019 and remain among the favourites to win the Nations Cup, but coach Aliou Cisse will need further improvements in the final third if the West Africans are to lift the trophy for the first time.

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