SOLAR SYSTEM

On September 29, 2013, a large magnetic filament erupted on the Sun’s northern hemisphere and produced a C1.2 solar flare.

Observation in the EUV (Extreme ultraviolet radiation) showed two elongated ribbon-like structures, symmetrically developing on either side of the active region, along the polarity inversion line (neutral line).

Two-ribbon flares are extremely powerful eruptions; during magnetic reconnection the magnetic energy is converted into radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum – energetic particles are accelerated up to several hundred MeV (1 MeV = 10^6 eV)) or even to GeV (1 GeV = 10^9 eV) range. These high-energy particles (Solar energetic particles or SEPs)- atoms associated with solar flares- are a type of cosmic rays.

In summary, the large flare often shows two bright bands of emission in H alpha. These ribbons appear to move slowly apart as the flare develops. Before the flare a prominence is often observed and this disappears at the onset of the flare. The two ribbons form on either side of the prominence.
As the ribbons move apart loop-like structures are seen connecting one ribbon to the other one. These are post flare loops and are an indication that magnetic reconnection has allowed the coronal magnetic field to relax into a lower energy state (i.e. a simpler configuration).

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Cyber expert who stopped ‘WannaCry’ attack arrested in U.S

Cyber expert who stopped ‘WannaCry’ attack arrested in U.S

 

Marcus Hutchins is widely credited with helping to neutralize the global "WannaCry" ransomware attack .

A cyber security researcher widely credited with helping to neutralize the global “WannaCry” ransomware attack earlier this year has been arrested on unrelated hacking charges, according to court documents unsealed on Thursday.

Marcus Hutchins, a 23-year-old British-based malware researcher who gained attention in May for detecting a “kill switch” that effectively disabled the WannaCry worm, was detained by the FBI in Las Vegas on Wednesday, a U.S. Justice Department spokesman said.

He was among tens of thousands of hackers who had descended on the city during the annual Black Hat and Def Con conventions.

An indictment filed in a U.S. District Court in Wisconsin accused Hutchins, also known online as “MalwareTech,” of advertising, distributing and profiting from malware code known as “Kronos” that stole online banking credentials and credit card data.

Hutchins’ alleged activity took place between July 2014 and July 2015, according to the indictment.

Hutchins, who faces six counts related to Kronos, was indicted along with an unnamed co-defendant on July 12, but the case remained under seal until Thursday, a day after his arrest.

Hutchins appeared before U.S. Judge Nancy Koppe in Las Vegas on Thursday. Dan Coe, a federal public defender, told the court Hutchins “had cooperated with the government prior to being charged.”

The hearing was scheduled to continue Friday afternoon to determine whether he will be represented by private legal counsel or a public defender.

Hutchins showed no emotion as Koppe read the charges against him.

KRONOS MALWARE

Kronos malware downloaded from email attachments left victims’ systems vulnerable to theft of banking and credit card credentials, which could have been used to siphon money from bank accounts.

The indictment alleges that the unidentified co-defendant advertised the Kronos malware on AlphaBay, a dark web marketplace that international authorities took offline last month.

Investigators said the site allowed anonymous users to facilitate global trade in drugs, firearms, hacking tools and other illicit goods.

The Justice Department said Kronos was used to steal banking systems credentials in Canada, Germany, Poland, France, the United Kingdom and other countries.

Within the cyber security community, Hutchins was heralded as a folk hero for his apparent role in stopping the WannaCry attack, which infected hundreds of thousands of computers and caused disruptions at car factories, hospitals, shops and schools in more than 150 countries.

A Justice Department official said his arrest was unrelated to WannaCry.

Some security researchers and computer crime experts said they were skeptical of the charges against Hutchins.

“The government needs to show intent to further a crime,” said Orin Kerr, a professor at George Washington University Law School and expert on computer crime. “Merely creating and selling malware, on its own, isn’t enough.”

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IGP Idris reacts days after police officers took photographs with Nnamdi Kanu

IGP Idris reacts days after police officers took photographs with Nnamdi Kanu

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has declared that the force will not take it lightly with two of its officers who recently took photographs with Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and had been touring states to gain more support. In one of such tours, he met the policemen at a checkpoint who excitedly posed for photographs with him. Reacting to the photographs that went viral days later, IGP Idris, who was in Lagos, said he was not happy with what happened that day. He also said the police would be tough in handling the issue as it was very bad for professional policemen to act the way the officers did on seeing Kanu. Idris, who described Kanu as one troubling the unity of Nigeria, said the action of the policemen that day proved double loyalty He said the police force was being sanitized to meet the aspirations of the people. He revealed that the police would create new 88 area commands to meet the level of insecurity in the country.

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BILLIONAIRE KIDNAPPER (EVANS)

Latest news about billionaire kidnapper (Evans)

- Ibrahim Idris has spoken about the detention of notorious billionaire kidnapper, Evans - He said the police did a great job and should be commended - He also noted that serious work was being done to end kidnapping in the country The inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, has addressed the issue of the continued incarceration of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans. His arrest sparked nationwide commendation for the police .  He promised that Evans would get a fair hearing and said the police should be commended for their work in arresting the notorious kidnapper. On the issue of Badoo attacks in Lagos, Idris said the police force was working to increasing security in the riverine and remote areas. He noted that the choice of location of some schools and houses were making security issues difficult citing some schools that were located inside bushes. He said: “We are trying to improve and enhance how we deal with criminality in the coastal areas, not only Lagos, but from here to Port Harcourt and one of our strategic plans is to better equip our marine police. “We are trying to acquire more gunboats so that we can be very effective and visible in these coastal areas — somebody will build a school in an isolated bush. That is why we said when you are looking at criminality, you have to also look at some factors and try to address those factors as a whole and not always point at the police. “There is a limit to what we can do; if you go and build your house in the bush, we are talking of personnel, you cannot put policemen in every school. If we do that, we are going to have a problem in addressing other issues. “There are some basic utilities that a school requires — closed-circuit television cameras. Put some things there to fortify the school. If the location is bad, make sure you fortify the school. You can have a security department; hire more security men on the ground. But nobody looks at some of these factors.”

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Pictures of Nigerian civil war - From starving children to execution of Nigerian soldiers

 Pictures of Nigerian civil war - From starving children to execution of Nigerian soldiers

- The civil war which saw the Nigerian federal troops opposing Biafra secessionist fighting for independence is estimated to have killed between one and two milllion people

- Most of the dead are said to have died from hunger and disease, from 1967 to 1970 in south-eastern Nigeria

NAIJ.com in the photos below brings you images from the 30 months fratricidal war that engulfed Nigeria some 50 years ago.

Moise, 14 (L) and Ferdinand, 16 (R), two children soldiers of the Biafran army during a discussion in Umuahia on August 31, 1968.

Moise, 14 (L) and Ferdinand, 16 (R), two children soldiers of the Biafran army during a discussion in Umuahia on August 31, 1968. AFP PHOTO/Francois Mazure

During the Biafran war, civilians unload a ferry that carries relief between Calabar and Oron on September 09, 1968.

During the Biafran war, civilians unload a ferry that carries relief between Calabar and Oron on September 09, 1968 / AFP PHOTO / Colin HAYNES

In the photo, Biafran children can be seen sitting in a plane chartered by the International Red Cross (ICRC) and humanitarian organisation “Terre des Hommes”. The plane transported them to Libreville, Gabon, on October 02, 1968 after their evacuation from Biafra.

In the photo, Biafran children can be seen sitting in a plane chartered by the International Red Cross (ICRC) and humanitarian organisation “Terre des Hommes” AFP PHOTO / Francois Mazure.

Photo of a wounded Nigerian army soldier being carried by his comrades on the pannier rack of a bicycle on December 07, 1968 in the bush at Ekim near Itu, during the war.

A Nigerian solider wounded in the neck being carried by his comrades / AFP PHOTO / Philippe CARVALLO

Below is a picture of wounded soldiers of the Nigerian Federal Army while waiting for a plane that will transport them to Port Harcourt for treatment on December 11, 1968 in Urua Inyang, during the war.

Here is a picture of wounded soldiers of the Nigerian Federal Army while waiting for a plane that will transport them to Port Harcourt for treatment. / AFP PHOTO / Philippe CARVALLO

On July 24, 1967, European families prepare to be evacuated by boat from Port Harcourt during the war.

On July 24, 1967, European families prepare to be evacuated by boat from Port Harcourt. / AFP PHOTO / Colin HAYNES

A photo of young militia women of the civil defence during a parade at a military training on August 17, 1967, in Enugu

A parade of young militia women of the civil defence during a military training on August 17, 1967, in Enugu. / AFP PHOTO / Colin HAYNES

The photo below shows Biafran prisoners and civilians wait at the federal camp of Nakurdi on November 01, 1967 in Enugu after fightings during the Biafran war.

Biafran prisoners and civilians wait at the federal camp of Nakurdi on November 01, 1967 in Enugu

The photo below shows a view of the destroyed prison of Calabar on November 13, 1967 after the federal troops took the city from the Biafran rebellion.

The photo below shows a view of the destroyed prison of Calabar on November 13, 1967. / AFP PHOTO / Colin HAYNES

Two Nigerian federal army officers after their execution by the Biafran army, on July 02, 1968 during the war. / AFP PHOTO / Colin HAYNES

Two Nigerian federal army officers after their execution by the Biafran army, on July 02, 1968 during the war. / AFP PHOTO / Colin HAYNES

Starving children pose in a refugee camp near Aba, on August 06, 1968 during the Biafran war. / AFP PHOTO.

Starving children pose in a refugee camp near Aba, on August 06, 1968 during the Biafran war. / AFP PHOTO

In the photo below, Nigerian federal army soldiers (R), prisoners of the Biafran army, wait to be questioned, on August 08, 1968 near Ikot Ekpene during the war. / AFP PHOTO /

In the photo below, Nigerian federal army soldiers (R), prisoners of the Biafran army, wait to be questioned / AFP PHOTO

Photo of civilians fleeing Aba to go to Umuahia on August 28, 1968 as the Nigerian federal troops advance toward the city during the Biafran war.

Photo of civilians fleeing Aba to go to Umuahia on August 28, 1968 as the Nigerian federal troops advance toward the city during the Biafran war. / AFP PHOTO / Francois Mazure

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