Google Accused of Hiding Competing Webmail Service from Search Results

The search engine has been accused of hiding a ProtonMail service from its search results for about a year, which cost the company hundreds of thousands in lost revenue.

ProtonMail provides encrypted email accounts for users, and is known to be one of the most popular services since its very launch 2 years ago, according to its Google search ranking: ProtonMail claims it was placed on the first or second page of the searches for encrypted and secure email.

However, its ranking plummeted a year ago – from the first page to the 5th, 10th, and nowhere visible at all. The company says they were trying to contact Google all throughout spring 2016, having created 2 tickets on Google’s web spam report form explaining the situation. Moreover, ProtonMail even contacted Google’s president of EMEA strategic relationships, but no response or change followed.

As a result, the company’s growth rate dropped by 25% for the past months, which cost it “several hundred thousand Swiss Francs”, and it decided to go semi-public, publishing tweets addressed to Google and accusing it of intentionally hiding ProtonMail from search results. Perhaps, this was noticed by the search giant, because the mail service received a reply from Google that it had “fixed something” without providing any details of what exactly it was. Indeed, ProtonMail immediately returned to the first page of results and stays there.

The industry experts suggest that one potential cause of the drop in ranking could be the site moving domains, from .ch to .com, as such moves can cause the collected authority attributed to the website to be lost, thus forcing website operators to start afresh. However, ProtonMail claims that the event demonstrated the existence of “search risk”, pointing out that any service can thus easily be suppressed by search companies or the governments that control them, even across national borders. For instance, Google, which is a US firm, controls more than 90% of European search traffic. ProtonMail agrees with the European Commission that more transparency and oversight is critical in Google’s case.

Google confirmed that they managed to find and fix the problem affecting the search results after the affected company’s report, but no further details followed.

China Adopted New Controversial Cybersecurity Law

The country has just adopted a new cybersecurity law, which is supposed to tackle threats like hacking and terrorism. However, the new law has also triggered concern from foreign business and rights groups. The legislation is set to come into effect in June 2017.

The critics argue that the new law threatens to shut out foreign tech firms. Besides, the law lists contentious requirements for security reviews and requires data to be stored on servers in China. The suggestions are that it will further tighten restrictions on China’s Internet, which is already subject to the most sophisticated online censorship mechanism dubbed the Great Firewall of China.

It is known that 40+ global business groups petitioned the Chinese authorities urging them to amend controversial sections of the law, while Chinese officials claimed it wouldn’t interfere with foreign business interests.

The demands to store personal and important business data in the country, provide support to security agencies and pass national security reviews all have raised concern within companies, which fear they would be required either to hand over intellectual property or build backdoors in their products to be allowed to operate in China’s market.

The American Chamber of Commerce in China called the provisions of the law “vague, ambiguous, and subject to broad interpretation”, while Human Rights Watch said its elements like criminalizing the use of the web to “damage national unity” can potentially restrict online freedom.

In the meantime, the Cyberspace Administration of China claimed that every article in the law was in accordance with the rules of international trade and that the country is not going to close its doors on foreign companies.

No Links Found between Trump and Russian Bank

A US cybersecurity firm Mandiant investigated allegations of secret communication with the Trump Organization and found no evidence of contact, email or financial links. The cybersecurity firm is owned by the California-based company FireEye. It was hired to examine Internet server logs presented to the Russian bank by media organizations investigating the link.

It all started with a story published by the online magazine a few days ago. It was about communication between a server hosting Donald Trump domain addresses and a server owned by the Russian Alfa Bank. The latter is owned by two oligarchs, one of whom worked with Vladimir Putin in the early 1990s. The story allegedly quoted cybersecurity experts who claimed that the communication between the servers was human rather than robotic and was intended to be secret.

The investigation was launched, where the cybersecurity firm was presented with a log of the communication between the servers over a period of 3 months, listing the separate contacts. Mandiant concluded that the information presented was inconclusive and was not evidence of substantive contact or a direct email or financial link between the bank and the Trump campaign or Organization.

The story in the online magazine said that the Trump server had a capacity for mass email but was only being used for a small amount of traffic, almost all of which was with servers from Alfa Bank. However, other cybersecurity experts later dismissed these claims as “nonsense”, saying the domain in question was actually controlled by a company that handles marketing for hotels, including those owned by Trump. Even the FBI has spent weeks looking into the Alfa-Trump logs, but eventually concluded that there could be an innocuous explanation to the connection – for example, a marketing email or spam.

Photos: Chief priest flees as repentant youths destroy evil forests in Aboh Mbaise, Imo State

Following months of intense prayers led by Rev, Fr. Kirian, youths in Umuemeri Uguru Nwenkwo autonomous community in Aboh, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, denounced evil practices and gave their lives to God.
On Tuesday, November 8th, the youth launched a final war against evil in their communities by destroying the evil forests and trees in the community.

The chief priest (pictured in the middle, on white and red cap) of one of the evil forest is seen running away.

Facebook user and CEO of Silver Sports Media, Owerri, Kennedy Onwunali posted the photos, along with details of the spiritual warfare. Read what he said below:

"After months of prayers by the people of Umuemeri ogwu in Aboh Mbaise local government area of imo state lead by rev frd kirian the people of the area denounced evil practices and embraced God by evacuating all evil materials in their homes mainly at night to avoid being noticed by the people the grand final of the war was fixed for Tuesday the 8/11/2016 as early as 4am in the morning the youths trooped out in their thousands and prayers was held in every part of the community know for their exploits in cow business all over the country until the priest arrived and warned that everybody should despise and return back the next day because the coast was not clear for the action before then their was serious disagreement between the father and son of one of the most powerful family in the area over tress to be brought down or not which made the first son of the man to pick tent with the people an action the powerful man saw as a challenge to this authority and immediately disowned him in the present of people who welcome him with gladness and assured him of this place in the community the youths were about living for their verous homes when the second son of the man arrived with police men to sensing that the men came with the second son who the powerful man has picked as replacement of the first son the youths in their thousands who came from various parts of the world for the final war made it clear of their mission which is to be freed from the powers of evil which has kept them at a state of no do well in the society and the police men left the environment to the joy of the people and the d day came with mach discussion between the powerful family and the people brokered by the first son the man gave in to get one of the trees he objected to be brought down with this the people boost into jubilation and prayers and words like the evil that our generation see today we shall see no more to the glory of God.

Graphic photos: Bank manager, cashier, 2 others killed in robbery attack in Ekiti State - Police

Armed robbers killed a manager and cashier with Heritage Bank, two other persons and carted away undisclosed sum of money in Otun Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Friday, November 11th.

A security guard attached to the palace of the paramount ruler of the town, Adedapo Popoola and another guard at Unity Bank, were among those killed in the robbery incident which lasted for about one hour.

The spokesman for Ekiti State Police Command Alberto Adeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said the incident said bodies of the victims has been deposited at the Usi-Ekiti General Hospital.

"We have commenced investigations into the incident and hope that the perpetrators would soon be apprehended," headed.

Rob Kardashian shares more photos of Kim K, North and Kourtney Kardashian in their Halloween outfits

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna who are currently in charge of Kim Kardashian's website, Kim Kardashian West, shared more beautiful photos of Kim K, her daughter, North West and sister Kourtney Kardashian all in their Halloween outfits. More photos after the cut...

‘They have insatiable taste for women and beautiful ones at that! - Ben Bruce compares Donald Trump to Obansanjo

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce took to his Facebook page today to a lenghty piece he wrote ‘Like Trump Like Obasanjo’, where he compared US president elect Donald Trump to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. According to Senator Bruce, Donald Trump and Obasanjo who can be brash and outspoken undeniably have an insatiable taste for women and beautiful ones at that. Read his post after the cut

‘Like Trump Like Obasanjo

On the morning of Saturday the 20th of February, 2016, I was having breakfast at Eko Hotel with a friend of mine, Reno Omokri and one of the top Democratic Party strategists in the US and an argument ensued. Omokri said Trump would go all the way while the American said he was not going anywhere. I joined the conversation by saying that Trump is a phenomenon and no one knows how far he will go.

Today, I sit here writing this piece pleasantly stunned that what the mainstream media, what the establishment and what the powers that be said could never happen has happened due to this phenomenal man's belief in himself when others did not believe in hm.

I have met Donald Trump one on one before and what I clearly remember about him is that he is a White and younger version of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The two of them can be brash and outspoken but they always seem to come out on top by some sort of divine arrangement that makes whatever they do turn out for the best even if it began with controversy.

More similarities between the duo is that they both undeniably have an insatiable taste for women and beautiful ones at that!

Then again, they are both men who have succeeded in business and, even though they were political outsiders, they extended their business success to politics.

And even though there is a lot of anxiety in the Black world and especially Nigeria, I believe that a Trump Presidency would be better for Africa and Nigeria than a Hillary administration.

For one, Boko Haram are now afraid. Very afraid! This is a man that is not afraid to use the word radical Islamic terror and to declare to all who care to listen that he will be their nemesis.

Nigeria needs such a partner!

We are spending way too much of our resources on fighting terrorists. We need a big strong hand to help us fight them. A hand that will not be afraid to sell us weapons and will not make us grovel before it is willing to help us destroy our enemies who want to destroy us.

But secondly and very importantly, Nigeria is an oil producing nation and though I believe that it is what is between the ears of our people that will make this nation great, we still need foreign exchange and Hillary's plans for alternative energy was not going to see the price of oil go up anytime soon.

But Trump won in Texas because the oil industry knows that they have a friend in him, and any friend of Texas big oil is a friend of Nigeria.

And forget about all that talk about immigration reform. Trump will not stop Nigerians from entering the US. The US needs Nigerians more than Nigerians need the US.

Without Nigerian healthcare professionals, the US health industry would collapse overnight. Neither Trump or Hillary wanted that.

Trump's rhetoric was directed more at Mexican immigrants because of the immediate threat posed to the US by illegal immigration from Mexico.

Having said that, let me add that the last similarity between Trump and former President Obasanjo is that they both look not very intelligent, but their looks betray their vast knowledge and deep wisdom. You meet them and size them up by their looks and end up underestimating them.

But when they reach into their reptilian brain and come out with strategies it becomes too late to do what you should have done.

I am glad that Trump won and I cannot wait to see how he will change the world positively.

But one thing is clear, any politician who underestimates the role of social media in the battle to win the hearts and minds of the people is a politician that is going the way of the dinosaurs.

Social media and particularly Twitter was the weapon Trump used to fight the mainstream media. Social media is the ultimate form of democracy in that it gives the underdog a vehicle to amplify his or her voice against a biased media that wants to suppress it.

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce is the founder of the Silverbird Entertainment Group and the Senator Representing Bayelsa East

'I believe this recession will not last long' - President Buhari

President Buhari says he believes that the current economic recession will not last. Delivering his Independence day celebration speech, he said

"I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis. The recession for many individuals and families is real. For some It means not being able to pay school fees, for others it's not being able to afford the high cost of food (rice and millet) or
the high cost of local or international travel, and for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic. I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices. But let me say to all Nigerians today, I ran for office four times to make the point that we can rule this nation with honesty and transparency, that we can stop the stealing of Nigeria's resources so that the resources could be used to provide jobs for our young people, security, infrastructure for commerce, education and healthcare. I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective. I believe that this recession will not last. Temporary problems should not blind or divert us from the corrective course this government has charted for our nation. We have identified the country’s salient problems and we are working hard at lasting solutions. To re-cap what I have been saying since the inception of this administration, our problems are security, corruption and the economy, especially unemployment and the alarming level of poverty"he said

NBC storms UNIBEN, UNILAG and ABU for Campus recruitment drive

As part of its strategic approach to promote a culture of academic excellence and encourage young students to continually strive to be the best in their various academic fields, the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) a member of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, embarked on its 2016 Campus Recruitment Drive in leading Nigerian universities - University of Benin, Edo State (UNIBEN), University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU).

The NBC Campus Recruitment Drive started over a decade ago and is aimed at providing a unique opportunity for undergraduates who are highfliers and are passionate about building a world-class career in a world-class organization. This initiative has also been identified by the company as a unique platform to attract the best and to support the transformation of its business by the year 2020 and even beyond, and human resources plays a very important role in the achievement of that vision.

The 2016 NBC Campus Recruitment Drive events themed – Careers with NBC & Life Success after Graduationwitnessed large turnout of students from various faculties and provided an opportunity for students to interact with top management executives from NBC, as well as to learn about the company and its well-loved brands.

Speaking during the Campus Recruitment Drive held at the University of Benin, Edo State, the NBC Public Affairs Manager, East & Central Region, Mr. Ekuma Eze stated that the company will continually invest in the development of its Human Resource Capacity through various initiatives in order to attract and retain the best quality of individuals available across the country.

Ekuma Eze further revealed that the Company is expanding the capacity of its production facilities in order to meet up with the demands of consumers and the resulting market growth. “Currently, there is a need to inject new talent and employees to drive the actualization of NBC vision, hence the great opportunity the Career Fair offers to join NBC after fulfilling necessary academic requirements expected for their various degree programmes”.

Also speaking during the event held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), NBC Public Affairs Manager, Lagos and West Region, Ifeoma Okoye explained that the NBC Campus Recruitment Drive is conceptualized to attract, retain young talents and groom them to attain the highest height of their chosen career. She stated that the platform is designed to prepare and empower students with the basic knowledge required to cope with the demands of a standard working environment.

While engaging the participants in the institutions of higher learning, NBC Talent Resourcing Manager, Ayodele Olowosejeje, stressed that the Company is committed to welcoming new talents, developing employees and engaging people from outside as part of its organizational renewal.

Top ranking officials from the universities, commended NBC for bringing the career expo to their institutions, and that their students were privileged to benefit from the magnanimity of the Company’s noteworthy gesture. All the Deans present at the various career expo acclaimed that, NBC would be a great place for the graduating students to start and grow a fulfilling career, after fulfilling necessary academic requirements for their various degree programmes.

As an equal opportunity employer, NBC promotes diversity and sound workplace practices, providing livelihood to many in its value chain. The NBC Campus Career Expo is aimed at engaging young talents in different institutions of higher learning across the country and offers them great opportunities to build their career. As a sign of confidence in the country’s educational system, NBC Limited has continued to make strategic investments in improving the standard of basic education, while positioning itself as an employer of choice.

Nollywood actor, Elder Maya dies after long battle with Liver disease

Veteran Nollywood actor, Martins Njubuigbo popularly known as Elder Maya has died after a long battle with liver disease. Fellow actor Yomi Fabiyi shared the sad news yesterday and wrote:

RIP Elder Mayah. You were a veteran and a hard working one at that. Journey well papa. My concerns and sympathy with his families and close colleagues.#SAVENIGERIAMOVIEINDUSTRY register shares in the grief of AGN

Happy Independence day Nigeria 2016

As Africa’s most populous country and largest economy celebrates 56 years of independence from British rule on Saturday, many Nigerian nationals are using the occasion to bash their government over allegations of corruption, greed and ineffectiveness.

The Nigerian government declared Monday a public holiday in honor of the country’s Independence Day anniversary. In the United States, celebrations will also be held to mark the occasion. There are nearly 400,000 immigrants from Nigeria, making up the U.S.' largest African community.

In Georgia, for example, university students planned to meet to discuss Nigerian culture and politics. In Maryland, there will be parties with DJs. A New York group of Nigerians planned to host a parade. "Paint the town green, white, green," the Facebook post reads. "
The 2016 Nigeria Independence Day Parade and Festival is today, Oct. 1st 2016, with live performance by Ayo Jay. Come join in the festivities. See you there!!".

 Nigeria, an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, has many natural landmarks and wildlife reserves. Protected areas such as Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park have waterfalls, dense rainforest, savanna and rare primate habitats. One of the most recognizable sites is Zuma Rock, a 725m-tall monolith outside the capital of Abuja that’s pictured on the national currency.

Capital: Abuja
Dialing code: +234
President: Muhammadu Buhari
National anthem: National Anthem of Nigeria
Population: 173.6 million (2013) World Bank
Currency: Nigerian naira

Prostitute Who Survived ‘Ghost Attack’ In Abia Brothel Speaks From Hospital

The alleged mysterious attack from ghosts or spirits suffered by some persons at a popular brothel in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, have continued to trail mixed reactions.

This is just as a commercial sex worker, Miss Chika Obi, who was one of the unconscious victims in the wake of the attack, regained consciousness, saying she did not know how she landed in the hospital.

It would be recalled that the body of a lady suspected to be a commercial sex worker, alongside the body of a man and some unconscious persons, was on Wednesday retrieved from the said brothel..

Speaking with New Telegraph, the survivor, who hails from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, said “I have been residing in that hotel for over six months now doing my hustling business to survive. We pay a certain amount of money to the owner of the place. The owner is a fat woman.

“Honestly, I cannot remember what happened. All I can tell you is that I slept in my room as usual. I was alone that night because I did not get any client. Then I saw myself here in the hospital.

“I do not know if it is a spiritual attack or what. I cannot explain how so-called ghosts struck. I’m confused, I cannot even remember where my phone is. But we used a generator that night, when there was no electricity. The generator set was not very far from my room.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Nta Ogbonnaya stated that the police would go after the owner (a woman) of the brothel, adding that the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, had begun investigation into the incident.

Actor Mr Ibu Reveals He Almost Committed Suicide Following Son’s Death

According to him, it was due to the negligence of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

The actor made the revelation in an interview with PunchNG.

“The matter was actually between the Paediatric Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and me. It was in 2011. On January 18, 2011, my 2-year-old son fell ill. He was diagnosed with inflammation of the liver.

The hospital suggested that he should be scanned. At the same time, I was informed that I could take my son out of the hospital to get the scan done elsewhere. But the same people later declined, saying that everything had to be done in the hospital because he was too weak to be taken outside.”

“After a while, I was told that there was no electricity in the hospital. When I asked if there was no standby generator, they said there was no fuel in it. I offered to pay for fuel only to be told that the man that operated the generator was not around“, he continued, adding, “When I left the place and got back later, the man still had not returned. Then I was advised to write an application and to submit to the admin department. After writing the application, I found that there was nobody to receive and treat it.

While I was waiting, I was told that my son’s condition required blood transfusion. I did everything possible to ensure that the boy was given treatment at the hospital, but my efforts were in vain. Finally, the boy gave up the ghost.”

“Later, one of the doctors came to me and, without even sympathising with me, asked if I could release my boy’s corpse to him so that they could cut it open and use it to teach other medical students. In that moment, I felt like committing murder for the first time in my life.“

Kunle Afolayan is a year older today

Born into a family of thespians, his father is Ade Love (Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan), popular theater and film director and actor in the 70’s and 80’s, Afolayan’s first rise to fame was in the Tunde Kelani movie “Saworoide” released in 1998.
In 2005 after studying at the New York Film Academy he released his first movie “The Figurine” in 2009.

Today, Kunle Afolayan can be regarded as one of the leading movie directors in Nigeria if not the most prominent out of them all. His other movies are “Phone Swap”, “The Ceo”, “October 1”and others.

He is married to Tolu Afolayan with three kids.

Happy birthday Kunle Afolayan!

LACIFF opens call for entries

LACIFF opens call for entries*Announces jury of five

The Lakecity Film Festival (LACIFF) has made a call for entries. The first edition of the three-day festival, which is to take place from December 16th to 18th in the beautiful town of Oguta, Imo State has been accepting films that will be in competition as well as screen to the public since September 24. Entries will close in November. Interested filmmakers can find details at the festival’s website www.laciff.com.ng.

LACIFF holds this year under the theme: ‘The reel is yours, show your story’.

Ekine Stronghold, the chief executive of Nollyflames Studios Ltd., and founder of LACIFF said the festival focuses on films with themes around arts, culture, tourism and history.

“This festival welcomes films from all over the globe that celebrate indigenous film irrespective of genre. LACIFF creates an environment necessary for the global cross-pollination of cultures, boosts cultural awareness and exchange in a bid to encourage filmmakers to look more inwardly and tell their individual stories through their own lenses. Hence the pay off line, ‘the reel is yours, show your story’,” he explained.

Meanwhile, LACIFF has also announced a stellar jury of five. They are creator of the popular TV drama TINSEL and former Vice-president of the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), Yinka Ogun; Former president of Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) and present Chairman of Audio Visual rights Society (AVRS), Bond Emeruwa; Veteran Writer, actor and producer Tari West Johnson; andAssistant professor of Film Studies at the prestigious Montana State University, kathy kasic. The Board is ably presided by Elite filmmaker of note, popularly known as the sultan of filmmaking, Alhaji Sani Muazu.

Explaining the reason for the choice of members of the jury Stronghold said “the uniqueness of LACIFF requires a competent jury with a broad base of filmmaking knowledge, experience and a well balanced ethnic coloration due to the diversification of culture”.

The festival Advisory Board is composed of seasoned individuals in the motion picture industry, festival management and other businesses. Members include Ace Producer and entrepreneur, Rogers Ofime; Former president of SWGN and Executive secretary of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Tony Anih; Veteran actor, Jide Kosoko; Journalist per-excellence and jury extra-ordinaire, Shaibu Hussein. The board is chaired by festival guru and Chief Executive Officer of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude.

The festival will be resident in the beautiful town of Oguta popularly known for its beautiful lake and tourism potentials but will also pursue an all year round travel festival programme. The Lakecity Oguta Ameshi, is home to worldclass stars like legal icon Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, foremost African female literati Flora Nwapa,  International Musician Dr. Alban, Revered showman Charly Boy, Nollywood veteran Camellia Mberekpe, Screen Adonis Clems Ohameze, fast rising screen sweetheart Chioma Igwe, veteran filmmaker Nevile Ossai and a host of others.

Stronghold is a content creator, writer and entertainment consultant with a passion for building credible relationships whose synergy can create innovative ideas that better the society and add value to the individuals themselves. Currently the national Public Relations Officer (PRO) of SWGN, he has written several movies and sitcoms and is one of the writers on the popular sitcomThe Johnsons.

He has had a robust working experience with several media firms as program’s manager, web content manager and operations executive. He is married to Nneka and they live in the south-eastern part of Nigeria with their two children.

RokOnSky Launches - London goes Nollywood-crazy for Mary Njoku

Friday, September 30, 2016

RokOnSky Launches - London goes Nollywood-crazy for Mary Njoku

Mary Njoku and her Nollywood colleagues are taking London by storm for the launch of Rok on Sky. The Actress & Producer, Head of Rok Studios and now CEO of a TV channel, Mary, was snapped giving interviews across the city yesterday, as hype builds for the newly launched Rok on Sky.

Mary spent time at the BBC talking to the Africa team there, as well as at Vox Africa, discussing all the gist around the launch of her new TV channel, Rok on Sky channel 344. She also held an interview with the stunning Mercy Aigbe-Gentry.

Rok launched yesterday, with some amazing awesome originals, including  Husbands of Lagos,Desperate Housegirls, Losing Control and Cougars.  It's sure to be the go-to station for brand new, amazing Nollywood content.

Also spotted in London are Alexx Ekubo and the cast of Husbands of Lagos Yvonne Jegede, Uche Odoputa, Peggy Ovire and Bola Ninalowo.

Instagram: @ROK_SKY

Twitter: @ROK_SKY

Facebook: @ROK SKY

Snapchat: @ROK_SKY