South Sudan Accuses Chinese Telecom Giant, Huawei of Hacking, Forgery

South Sudan Accuses Chinese Telecom Giant, Huawei of Hacking, Forgery

 A HUAWEI PRODUCT IN THE BACKGROUND,NOW THE COMPANY IS EMBROILED IN A CRISIS SITUATION

Chinese telecom giant, Huawei is currently embroiled in a major hacking and forgery scandal in South Sudan, a situation that may further affect how governments in Africa relates with the company.

In a letter dated October 10, 2014 and addressed to South Sudan”s Minister of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin,  the countryÕs Minister of Information and Broadcasting,  Michael Makuei Lueth accused  Huawei of hacking into government  e-mails and forging government documents.

The Information Minister wrote:

ÓRecently we have discovered a serious case that one of Chinese Private Company, Huawei has committed. Huawei attempted to send forged document to Hon Li Ruogu, the President of the Export- Import Bank of China on my behalf.Ó

ÒWe are shocked  by this Chinese private company unbecoming behavior, which tantamount to forgery. Huawei wanted to create confusion between our government  and the Chinese

ÒI suspect that Huawei has been hacking many Government officials e-mail and falsifying and forging documents on behalf of the senior government officials,Ó Lueth further alleged.

The minister alleged that on 3 October, HuaweiÕs Sullivan Chen sent an email to Acting Director General of Information, Paul Jacob Kumbo in hopes of getting a letter printed on official ministry letter-head, signed, and stamped so he could send it to China.

ÒThe purpose of the letter was the postponement of the funding of the Digital Migration TV project,Ó Lueth  alleged.Ê

A close rival of Huwaei is believed to have been given the nod to execute the TV Digital Migration project.

Lueth said he summoned HuaweiÕs Acting Managing Director and senior staff to explain the matter but none of them showed up.

Meanwhile, in reaction to the Information Ministers letter, the South Sudan government has launched an investigation into the allegations.

Lueth had recommended that

 a, a serious action should be launched against Huawei in order to  ascertain  these dirty  and malicious acts of the company

b, Mr . Sullivan  Chen should be investigated and if found guilty ; deported from South Sudan back to China

c. Chinese embassy to be informed about the criminal and harmful deeds of Huawei against the Republic of South Sudan and its people.

In addition, the Acting Director General of the   Ministry of  Information and Broadcasting, Paul Jacob Kumbo also alleged that the account of the  Minister was hacked but that the attempted forgery emanated  from a business rivalry between two Chinese firms

”The Minister did not write any letter. This is just forgery and an extension of the fight between  the two companies”

”We are told one of the junior staff of Huwaei company is suspected in this. I met the company including its Managing Director , who denied any knowledge of the letter” Kumbo added.

Last year a former United States Central Intelligence Agency boss, Mr. Micheal Hayden accused the company of spying on US.

Its reputation was also called to question in a $1m bribery scandal involving the chairman of Belgian telecom operator, Belgacom, Mr Micheal Moss.

Huawei with its headquarters in Shenzen Guadong, China  is one of the major players in Nigeria’s telecoms industry. The company has recently expanded its operations in Nigeria to include  security solutions and handsets products.

Shell has hijacked UNEP report implementation process, ERA/FoEN Alleges

Shell has hijacked UNEP report implementation process, ERA/FoEN Alleges

source:cnn.com

A STERN LOOKING NIGERIAN SOLDIER STANDS GUARDING A FLOW STATION IN THE NIGER DELTA

The inauguration of a committee for the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland is a welcome development but with the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke in the driver’s seat, Shell has obviously hijacked the process, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has alerted.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who inaugurated the Committee, said the move is part of government’s efforts to seek an enduring solution to the issue.

The 14-member Committee is to propose a focused engagement and implementation plan with clearly defined steps and is also mandated to advise the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) Advisory Council on the manner in which assets and funds of the project may be held and utilised.

But ERA/FoEN in a statement issued in Lagos said that the minister’s involvement in the process and the inclusion of HYPREP in the exercise clearly makes a mockery of the demands of the Ogoni and civil society groups as clearly spelt out in the UNEP report.

ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Ojo said: “We strongly affirm that Shell has hijacked this process through the minister of petroleum. The involvement of the same minister who has left out vocal groups that have demanded that Shell be made to take full responsibility of the Ogoni pollution which can best be categorized as ecocide.

Ojo pointed out that, “We have said it time and again that HYPREP being an administrative unit under the petroleum ministry has no role in the clean up of Ogoniland. Rather, an independent third party should be responsible for the management of such clean up funds through the Federal Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the National Oil Spills Detection and Remediation Agency (NOSDRA) which has the statutory oversight function on oil spills clean up and remediation.”

“Given the antecedent of Shell in often declaring spill sites as cleaned up throughout the Niger Delta the firm has lost complete trust with the people and civil society groups and thus cannot be trusted to tell the truth”

“We reiterate that while we applaud the Federal Government for bowing to local and international pressure to implement recommendations of the UNEP report, the process that the minister of petroleum has unveiled is totally unacceptable. Our recommendations have not changed. Shell should have no role in the clean-up process beyond the polluter pays principle”, Ojo insisted.

Winners emerge in Nestlé MILO Back to School Promo

 OFFICIALS OF NESTLE NIGERIA PLC RECENTLY DURING AN ACTIVATION EXERCISE

Winners emerge in Nestlé MILO Back to School Promo

Over 110 scholarships worth a N100, 000 each have been given out in the ongoing Nestlé MILO Back to School Promo. Some of the lucky winners are Ms. Esther Balogun (Shoprite supermarket, Ibadan), Master KazeemSalaudeen (Globus supermarket, Festac) and Mrs SalawatAweda (Ojuwoye market, Mushin).

Explaining the rationale behind the promo, Category Manager, Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, DojaEkeruche said, “The back to school period elicits pressure as the financial requirements for most parents are heavy and can pose weighty financial strain. Nestlé MILO back to school was borne out of our desire to support the parents and also their children to resume school with most of the materials needed to fuel their success. She added, “This promotion also serves as a way to reward our loyal consumers who keep drinking nourishing Nestlé MILO and making us win the ADVAN Brand of the year award.”

The promo which has no age limit and is open to shoppers across Nigeria has been approved by NAFDAC, CPC and APCON. Mrs Ekeruche said, “To participate, shoppers are required to buy two packs of MILO 500g, get a scratch card, scratch, and what you see is what you get. Everyone is a winner. No try again and no blanks.”

The promotion is currently running in supermarkets, neighbourhood stores and open markets across the country. There are also mobile sales teams in residential areas and consumers can also take part online. In addition to scholarships, other prizes include computers with internet access, all-in-one printer scanner photocopier, bicycles, mobile phones, schoolbags, lunchboxes and water bottles.

The Category Manger said, “Nestlé MILO is an innovative brand. We always listen to our consumers and exceed their expectations.”

REAL ROCK PROPERTY ASSET HITS N3BILLION

REAL ROCK PROPERTY ASSET HITS N3BILLION

BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU

.Source:  Construction Week

Dubai is a market where all the big players are jostling for a share of the pie

Real Rock Properties Limited has not less than N3billion in terms of fixed assets as at today.

In an exclusive chat with Paedia Express Multimedia in Lagos,Nigeria ,the Chief Executive  Officer of the firm,Mr Handee Joshua said that he was highly elated that the hard work of members of staff of the organization has finally begun to show.

He explained that the company as at press time gotten hold of at least over 200 hectares of landed property in Agbara in Ogun state aside from other prized assets that they have in an island in Badagry ,Lekki Peninsular ,Mowe,Oregun among other areas in Lagos.

He disclosed to this reporter that aside from the technical partnership they have with a firm so that they can access and broker deals in Dubai,United Arab Emirates ,they also have options afield in the United Kingdom,Canada ,South Africa among other places of interests in the sector globally.

He later invited Paedia Express Multimedia t join huim for an early morning business meeting he had with officials of Enterprise Bank Plc on the current realities of the real estate sector in Nigeria and beyond.

He pointed out that the assets the company has alone in Lekki Peninsular area was not less than N2.5billion if evaluated and hence predicted that the future was bright for his firm.

Real Rock Properties Limited was recently voted as the best real estate company in 2014 by an agency of the Federal government of Nigeria.

South Korea spy agency says Kim Jong-Un had ankle surgery

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un attends a military drill between KPA Large Combined Unit 526 and KPA Combined Unit 478

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a military drill between Korean People's Army (KPA) Large Combined Unit 526 and KPA Combined Unit 478 at an undisclosed location in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang October 24, 2014. REUTERS/KCNA (NORTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA

South Korea spy agency says Kim Jong-Un had ankle surgery

South Korea's spy agency believes North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, who recently dropped out of public view for nearly six weeks, had surgery to remove a cyst from his ankle, Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday.

 

Seoul officials say Kim Jong Un had ankle surgery Associated Press

North Korea's Kim Jong-Un reappears with walking stick AFP

N. Korea media indicates Kim absent from key anniversary event AFP

Two Koreas trade border fire as Kim fails to appear AFP

After long absence, Kim reappears with cane Associated Press

In a briefing for legislators, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it also had information that Kim had demoted around 200 military officers and that 50 executions had been carried out in the North so far this year.
Citing ruling and opposition party MPs present at the briefing, Yonhap said the intelligence shared by NIS suggested a cyst had been found in Kim's ankle joint back in May.
Foreign medical experts were flown to Pyongyang to carry out an operation to remove the cyst sometime in September or October, the agency said.
Kim dropped out of sight after attending a music concert with his wife in early September.
His prolonged and unexplained absence fuelled rampant speculation about his health and even rumours of a coup in the nuclear-armed state.

An undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 2 …

He finally reappeared in mid-October, with state media showing him using a walking stick as he conducted a series on inspection visits to new residential complexes in Pyongyang.
Competing theories for his absence had ranged widely from an extended rest period to a leadership coup, via a long list of possible illnesses and ailments including broken ankles, gout and diabetes.
Kim, a heavy smoker, has shown striking weight gain since coming to power and TV footage just prior to his "disappearance" had shown him walking with a pronounced limp.
The NIS intelligence suggested that Kim's weight problem could hamper his recovery from ankle surgery.
Of the 50 executions carried out this year, the NIS said a number were related to an ongoing purge of those close to Kim's uncle and one-time political mentor Jang Song-Thaek.
Jang was executed last December on charges of treason and corruption.
On the demotion of the 200 military officers, the NIS said the apparent reason was under-performance in strategic artillery drills.