Financial and trading services company Robinhood disclosed that it had been the victim of a cyberattack earlier this month. The company said that the data breach had affected millions of accounts on its platform.
Robinhood said hackers breached its systems on Nov. 3 and obtained information on millions of its customers. The hackers later demanded that the company send a payment for the return of the stolen data.
The online trading platform stated that hackers had obtained a list of email addresses for around 5 million people and complete names for another group of about 2 million people.
The company said the names, dates of birth, and zip codes of a small number of accounts, about 310 people, were stolen. Robinhood said detailed information of around 10 accounts were also obtained. Robinhood did not say what types of information from those 10 people were stolen.
Robinhood said it was able to halt the intrusion and stop the hackers from stealing more data. Once it stopped the breach, the hackers reportedly demanded an extortion payment. The company did not say if it had complied with the demand. Robinhood said it immediately contacted law enforcement to inform them about the incident.
The hackers were able to access Robinhood’s customer support systems by impersonating a customer service representative over the phone. Robinhood said it is working on properly notifying affected customers about the breach, and it is continuing its investigation with the assistance of security company Mandiant.
Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said that Nigeria and the Republic of Cuba will strengthen cooperation in the area of biotechnology development.
Dr. Onu said this when he received the Cuban ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Clara Polido Escandell, in his office in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The Minister said that the relationship between both countries will include research in vaccine production, medicine production and development of biotechnological materials. He added that the collaboration will be a mutually beneficial one.
The Minister further said that Cuban researchers and innovators have been able to produce medicine to manage diseases such as Meningitis which affects tropical African nations.
Dr. Onu who described the relationship between both nations as “warm and strong”, further assured the Cuban diplomat that Nigeria would stand on the principle of justice and will continue to be a dependable ally.
He used the opportunity to call on the Organised Private Sector (OPS), to invest more in STI, as Nigeria has all it takes to be a world power in scientific innovations.
She said her country is willing to provide expertise and assistance to Nigeria in the development of STI.
She used the opportunity to appreciate Nigeria as a dependable and strong ally, especially at the international stage.
Okra Solar is an Australian technology company using advanced digital monitoring, billing and mesh-grids to make electrification more affordable to underserved communities in Africa and Asia.
The company recently signed an MoU with SAO Group, one of Africa’s leading social impact investment and multi- competency advisor firms to energize community households, Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and Digital Literacy Centers (DLC) in South West of Nigeria.
This new alliance will see both parties work together to structure a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will secure finance for the scale-out of Okra mesh-grids in Ondo and Kwara State.
SAO and Okra Solar will be responsible for raising 6M USD for this SPV that will bring electricity to severely impacted communities, some of whom have been without electricity for 3 years despite being connected to the grid.
Currently SAO has agreements in place with the Kwara state government for the electrification of up to 1,000 schools, and an agreement with the Ondo state government for the electrification of up to 584 primary health care centers.
“There are more than 150,000 unelectrified households in the proximity of schools and PHCs in these areas that would be suitable for electrification through Okra’s mesh-grid technology,” said Indranil Roy, Business Development Manager, Okra Solar Nigeria on the selection criteria for the pilot project.
“Visiting the communities in Kwara that we considered for the pilot, it was clear that in addition to powering the households, we need to be connecting the schools and Primary healthcare centers as well.” He added.
Speaking further on their plans, Ayodeji Sotinrin, Chief Executive Officer of SAO Group shared that, “As a company that takes pride in our reputation for quality work across many sectors of Nigeria’s environment, we are delighted to have partnered with Okra for the roll-out of clean and very affordable energy solutions, starting in rural communities, where households are primarily dependent on imported fuels or have no energy at all.
This programme will ensure every household is given access to energy, our primary health facilities are no longer faced with operating under torchlight and our schools have the required supply of power to enable the introduction of Information Technology systems to its curriculum, allowing for enhanced education, increased employability and better livelihoods to all.”
As part of SAO Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, the group will finance two pilot projects that will provide 24-hour energy to 198 households, 2 schools and 2 PHCs.
This will also validate the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within the SPV business model, and furthermore, act as a showcase to attract funding from national and international donor organisations.
This pilot project is aimed for commissioning in March 2022 and is eligible under the NEP program supported by the REA, World Bank and African Development Bank.
It is a showcase of a new technology and business model being introduced to the Nigerian off-grid electrification ecosystem.
New Zealand’s parliament is on high alert as thousands of anti-vaccination mandate protesters gathered in Wellington demanding the government repeal obligatory vaccination.
As mostly unmasked demonstrators marched through central Wellington and gathered outside parliament, all but two entrances to the building, known as the Beehive, were sealed off in the presence of unprecedented levels of police and security officers.
Approximately 2,000 protesters had assembled in central Wellington as of early Tuesday. The Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard, told local news outlet Stuff that it was the most significant boost in parliamentary security he had seen since his election in 1984.
While the protest was peaceful, many people were spotted waving signs and placards that read “Freedom” and “Kiwis are not lab rats,” as well as yelling slogans demanding that the government repeal obligatory vaccination and remove limitations.
“I will not be forced to take something I don’t want in my body,” a protester stated outside parliament.
When challenged about the government’s stance on forcing the vaccine, another protester yelled, “Treat us like people!”
This year, New Zealand claimed inorder to contain a highly contagious epidemic of the Delta variant, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shifted from an extermination strategy based on lockdowns to a plan of living with the virus and increasing vaccinations.
In October, Ardern announced that teachers and workers in the health and disability sectors would be required to be completely vaccinated against COVID-19, and that restrictions would be lifted only when 90% of the eligible population had been vaccinated.
in Indianapolis, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The Lagos State Government, in alliance with the Federal Government, has organized a training programme to unveil the use of circular economy in reducing environmental health risks to electronic waste collectors in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr Dolapo Fasawe.
Fasawe, who was represented by the Director of Electronic Waste Management, LASEPA, Mrs Adedayo Adebayo said, “To drastically reduce the dangers imposed on the society by disposed and dismantled electronics, we continuously engage our people through education, advocacy, sensitization and call for attitudinal change against all forms of pollution.”
The Director-General, NESREA, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, represented by the Director, Inspection and Enforcement, NESREA, Mrs Miranda Amachree, stated that circular economy will guarantee proper legislation to govern e-waste collectors.
“This laudable approach has four components: implementation of responsibility legislation in the e-waste sector; establishment of 30 collection centers to collect 300 tonnes of e-waste through formalized collection channels; the development of a cost-effective recycling system for various e-waste categories, and development of regional and global knowledge exchange on circular economy models for e-waste,” she stated
The UK government has confirmed on 10 November 2021, All new heavy goods vehicles in the UK will be zero-emission by 2040. This, combined with the UK’s 2030 phase out for petrol and diesel cars and vans, represents a world-leading pledge to end the sale of all polluting road vehicles within the next 2 decades.
The UK will become the first country in the world to commit to phasing out new, non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles weighing 26 tonnes and under by 2035, with all new HGVs sold in the UK to be zero emission by 2040.
This comes as new research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, commissioned by the UK COP Presidency and published today, shows the progress made in the passenger vehicle market:
31% of the global passenger vehicle market is now covered by vehicle manufacturer commitments to end sales of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, up from a near zero share of the market at the start of 2021
global sales of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) have grown dramatically since 2019 from 2.1 million to 5.3 million.
ZEVs are forecast to be 70% of all new car sales in 2040, with this projection having doubled in the last 5 years. 19% of 2020 passenger vehicles sales were in countries that now have an internal combustion engine (ICE) phase-out date, up from 5% in 2019
A group of ministers and industry leaders committed to working towards 100% zero emission new car and van sales by 2040 or earlier at Transport Day at COP26. Twenty four countries, 6 major vehicle manufacturers (GM, Ford, Mercedes, BYD, Volvo, JLR), 39 cities, states and regions, 28 fleets and 13 investors all jointly set out their determination for all new car and van sales to be zero emission by 2040 globally and 2035 in leading markets.
In this group, companies like Sainsbury’s and countries including El Salvador and New Zealand are today making new commitments to 100% zero emission vehicles. They follow proposals made by the EU, Chile, Canada and a number of US states this year to ensure all new cars are zero emission by 2035. Also announced today, a number of emerging markets and developing economies have committed to work to accelerate the adoption of zero emission vehicles in their markets, including India, Ghana, Kenya, Paraguay, Rwanda and Turkey.
The UK government is also unveiling a new design for electric vehicle chargepoints, which could become as iconic as the Great British post box, London bus or black cab. Showcased in the UK Pavilion at COP26 and designed together with the Royal College of Art and PA Consulting, the concept prioritises inclusivity and ease of use, designed with consumers, local government, accessibility groups and industry.
U.S Special Envoy Jeffrey Feltman visits Ethiopia to underscore the United States’ concern with the escalation of the conflict and the risk of intercommunal violence, and to encourage all parties to engage in a dialogue on a cessation of hostilities.
Feltman’s visit came amid a crisis viewed as spiraling into a civil war.
Feltman traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hasan, Minister of Defense Abraham Belay, and Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide. He also met with AU High Representative Olusegun Obasanjo, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, UN Undersecretary General Martin Griffiths, and other international partners and government leaders.
Diplomats were scrambling on Tuesday for a peaceful resolution to the conflict putting hundreds of thousands of civilian lives at risk in Ethiopia. The war between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and rebels that started a year ago has escalated and is now threatening his hold on power, with a coalition of opposition groups advancing on the capital, Addis Ababa.
It’s Feltman’s second visit within just a few days, and it comes as the United Nations warns that the risk of Ethiopia’s conflict spiraling out of control into a full-blown civil war was “only too real.”
Feltman also traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, where he consulted with President Kenyatta and other political leaders on the conflict in Ethiopia as well as other key key issues bordering on the region. The U.S Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa said the United States will continue to work with international partners to address the crisis in Ethiopia, including through action with the United Nations, the African Union, and other relevant partners and institutions.
A pair of diamond bracelets that belonged to France’s Queen Marie Antoinette sold at auction for 7.46 million Swiss francs ($8.18 million), several times the pre-sale estimate, Christie’s said.
Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international director of jewelry who conducted the auction, told the Geneva saleroom that the bracelets had stayed in the family for almost 200 years. The buyer was bidding by telephone and not identified.
The hammer price was 6.2 million Swiss francs, but with commission the final price was 7.46 million Swiss francs, Christie’s spokesperson Alexandra Kindermann said.
A blue velvet box bearing a label “bracelets of Queen Marie Antoinette” holds the double bracelets, each composed of three strings of diamonds and a large barrette clasp, for a total of 112 diamonds.
Marie Antoinette, who sent a letter from prison in the Tuileries in Paris saying that a wooden chest with jewels would be sent for safekeeping, was guillotined in 1793. Her surviving daughter Marie Therese, Madame Royale, received the jewels on her arrival in Austria, the auction house said.
The bracelets, which were the property of a European royal family, had been expected to fetch $2 million to $4 million, Christie’s said before the sale.
An Art Deco ruby and diamond bracelet, ordered by the Duke of Windsor from Cartier, and offered to his American wife Wallis Simpson on their first wedding anniversary by the man who gave up the British throne to marry her, failed to find a new owner.
The pre-sale estimate for the Duchess of Windsor bracelet was 1 million to 2 million Swiss francs, the auction house said.
Supporters and those eager to hear the verdict of trial of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu will have to endure more suspense as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the nations capital, adjourned his trial till January 19.
The adjournment came on a day Kanu’s team of lawyers, staged a walk-out over refusal of operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, to allow some of them to gain access into the courtroom.
Kanu, who was brought into the courtroom around 9:52am, had shortly after his case was called up, bemoaned the refusal of security agents to allow some members of his legal team, especially his lawyer from the the United State of America, Bruce Fein, to enter the courtroom.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader who he said was handling the case for him in the US, was around to witness the trial.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, speaks during a U.S.-Egypt strategic dialogue with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry at the State Department, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool).
Egypt and the United States of America have begun a strategic bilateral dialogue since 2015.
U.S Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry led the Dialogue on November 8-9, 2021, in Washington, D.C. The two sides noted the coming centennial of U.S.-Egypt diplomatic relations in 2022 and reaffirmed the importance of the two countries strategic partnership and identified areas in which to deepen bilateral and regional cooperation,.
Other aspect of the cooperation includes, economic and commercial affairs, education, cultural issues, consular affairs, human rights, justice and law enforcement, and defense and security. They also agreed on the importance of holding this dialogue on a regular basis.
The United States and Egypt addressed their steadfast commitment to the national security of both countries and to the stability of the Middle East. Egypt commended the U.S. role in economic development in Egypt and its supply of defense equipment, and joint cooperation to reinforce Egypt’s defense capabilities.
The United States expressed its appreciation for Egypt’s leadership in mediating solutions to regional conflicts, notably in promoting peace and ending violence in Gaza. Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the United States reiterated President Biden’s support for Egypt’s water security.
On issues regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms, including civil and political rights, freedom of expression, fighting racism, women’s empowerment, and economic, social, and cultural rights the two sides also held a constructive dialogue. as Egypt welcomed the election of the United States to the UN Human Rights Council.
The two countries while complementing efforts made to consolidate future partnerships, both reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing diplomatic and consular cooperation.
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