Russian anti-virus giant Kaspersky has sacked dozens of its employees and shutting down its operations after the United States banned the sale and use of the software in its domain citing security risks.
Kaspersky declared a “gradual wind down” of its US activities beginning July 20, which coincided with the ban’s activation.
Due to the restriction, the company considers its US business “no longer viable”.
Kaspersky first disputed the prohibition, stating that they “do not engage in activities that threaten US national security.
The company promised to pursue all legal options” to continue operating.
However, facing an uphill battle, they chose to withdraw.
Last month, the US authorities declared that Kaspersky antivirus software would no longer be sold across the country and asked users to move to an alternate provider.
The Bureau of Industry and Security of the Commerce Department announced that it had implemented the “first of its kind” ban, claiming that Kaspersky’s Russian basis puts consumers’ privacy and national security at risk.
“Russia has shown it has the capacity, and even more than that, the intent to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans.
‘‘And that’s why we are compelled to take the action that we’re taking today,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a call with reporters.
According to Raimondo, Kaspersky will be banned from selling its software to American consumers and businesses starting on July 20, after that the company will no longer be permitted to push software updates to U.S. customers.
“That means your software and services will degrade. That’s why I strongly recommend that you immediately find an alternative to Kaspersky,” Raimondo said.
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Kaspersky sacks dozens, to shut down US operations
Listen to Ndume, sanction Wike – Dele Momodu tells Tinubu
The Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu on Thursday issued some advice to President Bola Tinubu.
Momodu said Tinubu should listen to former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, because the lawmaker is his friend.
He urged the President to sanction the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike before he causes chaos in the country.
Momodu noted that Wike disrespected Tinubu in his rift with Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State.
Posting on his Facebook page, Momodu wrote: “Your Excellency, I have decided to write this open letter to you as a concerned friend and Brother.
“As you’re aware, I’m a member of opposition but you and I have had a long history together. I owe you only one thing, TRUTH.
“It is very obvious that the first thing that takes flight in the Presidential villa is TRUTH. The reason is simple. Some Nigerians are experts in hijacking men and women of power.
“The deification process is often swift and irreversible. I’m writing you today, not because I expect you to act on my suggestions, but to put it on record that someone gave you the true picture of things. I’m also hoping that some of your friends will read and interpret to you, in a sober moment.
“In the name of God, beware of those hero-worshippers at the National Assembly who have turned you into God. NDUME is your best friend. Listen to him. There’s danger ahead.
“You must enforce DISCIPLINE as a leader. Your new disciple, NYESOM WIKE, has publicly disrespected you in the FUBARA matter. You need to sanction him before he throws Nigeria into total chaos.”
Listen to Ndume, sanction Wike – Dele Momodu tells Tinubu
Kaduna: Gov Sani approves climate change policy, others
The Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has approved the Kaduna State Climate Change Policy.
The approval provides a comprehensive framework to tackle the impact of climate change, promote sustainability and align with national and international climate goals.
The approval was made known in a statement from the Kashim Ibrahim House after the State Executive Council Meeting that held on Thursday.
“The 2024 Climate Change Policy addresses the increased extreme weather events and aligns with the National Climate Change Policy (2021-2030).
“Developed with input from various stakeholders and supported by organizations like ACReSAL and Lafiya Projects, this policy aims to reduce emissions, enhance climate resilience, and integrate climate considerations into state planning,” the statement said.
The policy will focus on public education, monitoring systems and sustainable development initiatives to prepare Kaduna State for future climate challenges.
According to the statement, Governor Sani’s administration remains committed to investing in human capital, environmental sustainability and efficient state operations through these new policies.
Similarly, the governor approved new policies to optimize and prioritize the state-owned Government Printing Department.
“This initiative will require all State Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) to use the Printing Department’s services for essential printing needs,” the statement said.
Kaduna: Gov Sani approves climate change policy, others
Court to deliver judgment in trial of Kano mosque arsonist August 1
An Upper Shari’a Court in Kano on Thursday, fixed August 1 to deliver judgment in a suit filed against Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, charged with setting a mosque on fire and killing 23 people.
Abubakar, who lives in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, is charged with s culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous hurt and mischief by fire.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the offences contravened the provisions of sections 140, 148, 167 and 370 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Director Public Prosection, DPP, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Mr Salisu Tahir, informed the court that he filed a new charge against the defendant.
He urged the new charge to be read to the defendant.
Tahir alleged that on May 15, at about 5:15 am, the defendant poured petrol and set fire on a mosque in Gadan Larabar Abasawa village of Gezawa LGA of Kano State and locked the doors, trapping 23 worshippers in a burning fire during subhi (dawn) prayer.
He said that 23 people died while receiving medical attention at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano.
The prosecution also alleged that on the same date at about 5:15 am, the defendant attempted to kill Shu’aibu Ibrahim and Ibrahim Sani.
The defendant pleaded guilty to all the charges.
The defence counsel, Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, urged the court to temper Justice with mercy since the defendant did not stress the court because he admitted to the crime.
The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya, asked the defendant if he was in his right senses when he took the guilty plea.
He adjourned the matter until August 1 and August 2, for judgment in the second and third charge and continuation of hearing.
Court to deliver judgment in trial of Kano mosque arsonist August 1
ICPC arraigns 3 staff of Ekiti teaching hospital for forgery
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned three staff members of Ekiti State Teaching Hospital over allegations of forgery and deceits.
The three-staff members, Mr. Fatuki Adebayo Paul, Mr. Babalola Idris Adebayo and Mr. Afolayan David Ayodele, were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye of the Ekiti State High Court on Wednesday.
ICPC, in a charge number: HAD/02ICPC/2024 arraigned the trio on a six-counts charge bordering on forgery of a document contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C28 LFN 2004, and knowingly and corruptly giving a document with false information with intent to deceive the principal, contrary and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
All of the three defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Counsel for the defendants, Mr. Rotimi Adabembe and Mr. Busayo Sule separately prayed to the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms, having entered the not guilty plea.
Counsel to the ICPC, Mr. Kehinde Adetoye did not oppose the bail applications filed.
Justice Ogunmoye thereafter granted the defendants to bail in sum of two million naira and two sureties in like sum, one of whom must hold a directorial position within the Ekiti State Government and evidence of their residence within the jurisdiction must be confirmed.
The case was further adjourned to October 15, 2024, for hearing.
ICPC arraigns 3 staff of Ekiti teaching hospital for forgery
Tinubu promises to assist states, private sector in paying N70,000 minimum wage
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the Federal Government will find ways to assist states and private sector organizations to pay the newly approved N70,000 national minimum wage.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
TVN reports that Tinubu announced a N70,000 minimum wage after a meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
Tinubu also pledged to review the country’s minimum wage every three years up from five years.
According to the statement, the President said he would use his discretionary power to resolve the non-payment of four months’ salaries of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU.
“President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries,” the statement said.
Recall that there has been an impasse between the Federal Government and workers over a new minimum wage.
The Federal Government had earlier insisted on a N62,000 minimum wage while organized labor proposed N250,000.
Tinubu promises to assist states, private sector in paying N70,000 minimum wage
Hardship: Flood markets with food to ease economic woes – Esther Ajayi charges Tinubu
As rising inflation continues to drive hunger across the country, the Founder of Love of Christ Generation Church, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, has charged President Bola Tinubu to flood the markets with foodstuffs.
Ajayi made the call at a press conference to herald the programme, Comforting the Comforter, scheduled to hold on the 20th July, 2024.
While stating that Nigerians are expecting much from Tinubu’s administration, she urged the President to flood the market with ‘Tinubu rice, Tinubu fish and Tinubu yam’ among other foodstuffs.
“I am aware that there are people sabotaging the good intention of the government but let the administration flood the market with food. Let there be Tinubu rice, Tinubu fish, Tinubu yam etc.
“Tinubu is a courageous leader. He is going to turn our country around. If we can just be a little patient, I can see us going to a greater height soon.
“We have come to Abuja now, you will see. It is a turn around for the best.”
Ajayi further enjoined Nigerians to always bless the country with their utterances and also pray for its leaders for a prosperous and developed nation as the pain being suffered is temporary.
Hardship: Flood markets with food to ease economic woes – Esther Ajayi charges Tinubu
Shut down all substandard universities – Afe Babalola tells Nigerian Govt
Eminent lawyer and elder statesman, Afe Babalola, SAN, says unless the Federal Government takes decisive steps towards closing down all mushroom institutions and study centres across the country, the nation’s educational system will continue to witness a decline.
Babalola stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday while being conferred with the Fellow of King’s College, London, for his transformative contributions to education and the society.
The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti ABUAD, said the National Universities Commission (NUC) should particularly focus its searchlight on all universities and centres that are not operating according to approved standards and requirements.
He described such institutions as ‘major weapons’, fashioned against quality and functional education in Nigeria and the world at large.
“The biggest menace facing quality education today, especially in Nigeria and across Africa, is the proliferation of mushroom satellite institutions and campuses, including study centers that have long deviated from their original conceptualization and intent.
“What we expect is for the National University Commission (NUC) to close down mushroom universities.
“There are many of such institutions that had been pronounced illegal by authorities but which are still operating, allegedly, and which commenced operations even without the permission of NUC,” he said.
Babalola continued, saying, “I recall that the NUC once published their names. But why don’t they arrest owners of such illegal universities, why don’t they close them down?
“Why can’t they make the staffs of such universities, face punishment and put them before the court of law? Yet they are even building new ones everyday.”
Earlier, the Governor of Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji, hailed Babalola’s achievements in the areas of medicine, law, invention and sciences.
Oyebanji, represented by the newly appointed State’s Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, said Babalola’s footprints across all sectors had made him the father of the state, stressing that his uncommon humanity and impact had also ranked him higher.
On her part, the Vice President, International Engagement and Service of King’s College, London, Prof. Funmi Olonisakin said the fellowship award conferred on Babalola was in recognition of the transformative contributions of the legal luminary to the society.
Shut down all substandard universities – Afe Babalola tells Nigerian Govt
Why we accepted N70,000 minimum wage- NLC
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero on Thursday gave reasons why the Organized Labour accepted the proposal of N70,000 minimum wage from the President, Bola Tinubu.
Ajaero, who spoke to State House reporters after the meeting with the President, said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.
He said another reason for accepting the offer is because “ the President promised a review every three years as against what obtained in the past.”
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the sum of N70,000 as national minimum wage, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said.
Tinubu was said to have announced the new wage during a meeting with the leadership of the Organized Labour in Abuja.
Thursday’s meeting came a week after the first meeting the President had with the Labour leaders last week.
The new minimum wage when approved by the National Assembly will replace the N30,000 minimum wage which expired on April 18, 2024
Onanuga who posted via his official X handle, @aonanuga at exactly 03:31 pm said, “Breaking: President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”
Firstborn of theatre icon Hubert Ogunde, George, is dead
George Ogunde, the first child of the late theatre icon Hubert Ogunde, has passed away.
His sister, Dayo Ogunde, shared the sad news in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“It’s hard to say goodbye Brother mi, our first child in the Ogunde clan. But we take solace in the fact that you are in a better place.
“You were such a wonderful and friendly soul. May your soul continue to rest in the bosom of your maker.
“Goodnight George Ogunde.
“Omo Gbegande Esiwu Ijoku,” Dayo Ogunde wrote.
George Ogunde, like his late iconic father, was also a theatre practitioner and had his own troupe.
Last year, the deceased was captured in an emotionally overwhelmed state as he marked his birthday.
His younger brother, Owobo Ogunde, acted in the role of Bashorun in Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre.
One of Hubert Ogunde’s daughters, Afolabi Ogunde-Kikiowo, died in September 2019.
The legend, Hubert Ogunde, was a prominent Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician. He was born in 1916 and passed away in 1990.
Ogunde is often regarded as the father of Nigerian theatre and played a crucial role in the development of contemporary theatre in Nigeria.
In a 2022 interview, one of the late Pa Ogunde’s sons, Mr Oluwemimo Ogunde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General of Ogun State, went down memory lane to discuss the life and times of his dad.
According Online reports that the family has not yet released an official statement regarding the cause of death, location, burial arrangements, and other details.