An Ebola outbreak has been declared in the northeast region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The World Health Organisation says three deaths are being linked to the virus, and it is taking the situation "very seriously".
One of those killed had tested positive for Ebola after coming down with a haemorrhagic fever last month in Bas-Uele, a province which borders the Central African Republic.
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier has told Sky News that work is under way to find people who may have been in contact with the Ebola sufferer.
The health agency's regional director is also on their way to Bas-Uele, where residents are being given advice on how to treat their loved ones and perform safe burials.
Another WHO spokesman, Eric Kabambi, said: "The case is in a very remote zone, very forested, so we are a little lucky."
The DRC suffered a three-month outbreak of Ebola in 2014. Although it was quickly contained, 49 people were killed.
Ebola occasionally jumps from animals including bats and monkeys to humans - and without preventative measures, the virus can spread quickly between people.
The virus is fatal in up to 90% of cases, and the WHO recently developed an experimental vaccine for use in emergencies.
In a statement, the DRC's health ministry said: "Our country must confront an outbreak of the Ebola virus that constitutes a public health crisis of international significance."
Health minister Oly Illunga has urged the population not to panic.
Ebola caused alarm globally in 2013 when the world's worst outbreak began in West Africa - killing more than 11,300 people and infecting an estimated 28,600 as it swept through Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Liberia was only declared free of active Ebola virus transmission last June.
The WHO has warned that the virus could resurface at any time, as it can linger in the eyes, central nervous system and bodily fluids of some survivors.
Friday, May 12, 2017
NHS Trust hit by cyber attack
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust has confirmed that it has been hit by a cyber attack.
All non-urgent activity at the trust has been postponed. It is also asking people not to visit Accident and Emergency.
According to the Trust's website it runs four hospitals. All are believed to be affected.
All non-urgent activity at the trust has been postponed. It is also asking people not to visit Accident and Emergency.
According to the Trust's website it runs four hospitals. All are believed to be affected.
HP laptops secretly recording user keystrokes
Security researchers have discovered that a feature installed in a number of HP laptops is recording all of the keystrokes that the laptop users make.
In capturing everything users press on their keyboards the software is recording sensitive information, and by saving that information in an easily accessible file the researchers claim that it is potentially exposing users' passwords to attackers.
According to the Swiss cybersecurity group behind the research, Modzero, the feature wasn't designed to spy on users - but it was implemented in such a way that it records everything users type.
This means that from the moment a user logs into Windows on affected HP laptops, every key they press, including to enter passphrases for online banking and email accounts, is recorded and stored.
The security firm claims that this "leads to a high risk of leaking sensitive user input".
"Users are not aware that every keystroke made while entering sensitive information - such as passphrases (or) passwords on local or remote systems - are captured by (the software)," the security advisory continued.
The researchers complained that they first reported the issue to HP on 28 April, but decided to publish their security advisory yesterday because HP had failed to respond to them.
Speaking to Sky News, a spokesperson for HP said the company was "aware of the keylogger issue on select HP PCs."
HP told Sky News: "Our supplier partner developed software to test audio functionality prior to product launch and it should not have been included in the final shipped version. Fixes will be available shortly via HP.com."
28 models of HP laptops running either Windows 7 or Windows 10 are affected, the full list of which is available on Modzero's advisory notice. HP declined to inform Sky News of how many customers it believes may be affected by the issue.
According to market analysis by Gartner, HP's machines accounted for 19.5% of worldwide personal computer shipments during the first quarter of this year, with over 12 million units being shipped.
In capturing everything users press on their keyboards the software is recording sensitive information, and by saving that information in an easily accessible file the researchers claim that it is potentially exposing users' passwords to attackers.
According to the Swiss cybersecurity group behind the research, Modzero, the feature wasn't designed to spy on users - but it was implemented in such a way that it records everything users type.
This means that from the moment a user logs into Windows on affected HP laptops, every key they press, including to enter passphrases for online banking and email accounts, is recorded and stored.
The security firm claims that this "leads to a high risk of leaking sensitive user input".
"Users are not aware that every keystroke made while entering sensitive information - such as passphrases (or) passwords on local or remote systems - are captured by (the software)," the security advisory continued.
The researchers complained that they first reported the issue to HP on 28 April, but decided to publish their security advisory yesterday because HP had failed to respond to them.
Speaking to Sky News, a spokesperson for HP said the company was "aware of the keylogger issue on select HP PCs."
HP told Sky News: "Our supplier partner developed software to test audio functionality prior to product launch and it should not have been included in the final shipped version. Fixes will be available shortly via HP.com."
28 models of HP laptops running either Windows 7 or Windows 10 are affected, the full list of which is available on Modzero's advisory notice. HP declined to inform Sky News of how many customers it believes may be affected by the issue.
According to market analysis by Gartner, HP's machines accounted for 19.5% of worldwide personal computer shipments during the first quarter of this year, with over 12 million units being shipped.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Theresa May to visit northeast in bid to woo working class Labour voters
Theresa May is to campaign in the North East in a bid to woo working class people whose families have voted Labour for generations.
In a bold move at the halfway point in the election campaign, the Prime Minister says she will fight for votes in all four corners of the UK and reach out to people abandoned by Labour.
But Jeremy Corbyn is making a speech attempting to persuade voters he is not soft on terror or going to war, insisting he is not a pacifist but pledging "no more hand-holding with Donald Trump".
The Prime Minister's strategy is clearly aimed at persuading Labour voters in its heartlands who voted Leave in last year's EU referendum to back her on Brexit and give her a bigger Commons majority.
She is expected to say: "So far during this campaign, we have learned one thing about Jeremy Corbyn: proud and patriotic working class people in towns and cities across Britain have not deserted the Labour Party - Jeremy Corbyn has deserted them.
"Millions of people here in the North East of England, and across our country, have loyally given the Labour Party their allegiance for generations. I respect that.
"We respect that parents and grandparents taught their children and grandchildren that Labour was a party that shared their values and stood up for their community.
"But across the country today, traditional Labour supporters are increasingly looking at what Jeremy Corbyn believes in and are appalled."
She will add: "We have learned from the shambolic leak of his manifesto that at the heart of his plan is a desire to go back to the disastrous socialist policies of the 1970s.
"Labour voters are appalled because they see a leader who can't lead, a shadow chancellor who can't be trusted and people like Diane Abbott who can't add up."
Mr Corbyn, a veteran opponent of nuclear weapons and military action, will attempt to reassure voters sceptical about his anti-war record.
In a bold move at the halfway point in the election campaign, the Prime Minister says she will fight for votes in all four corners of the UK and reach out to people abandoned by Labour.
But Jeremy Corbyn is making a speech attempting to persuade voters he is not soft on terror or going to war, insisting he is not a pacifist but pledging "no more hand-holding with Donald Trump".
The Prime Minister's strategy is clearly aimed at persuading Labour voters in its heartlands who voted Leave in last year's EU referendum to back her on Brexit and give her a bigger Commons majority.
She is expected to say: "So far during this campaign, we have learned one thing about Jeremy Corbyn: proud and patriotic working class people in towns and cities across Britain have not deserted the Labour Party - Jeremy Corbyn has deserted them.
"Millions of people here in the North East of England, and across our country, have loyally given the Labour Party their allegiance for generations. I respect that.
"We respect that parents and grandparents taught their children and grandchildren that Labour was a party that shared their values and stood up for their community.
"But across the country today, traditional Labour supporters are increasingly looking at what Jeremy Corbyn believes in and are appalled."
She will add: "We have learned from the shambolic leak of his manifesto that at the heart of his plan is a desire to go back to the disastrous socialist policies of the 1970s.
"Labour voters are appalled because they see a leader who can't lead, a shadow chancellor who can't be trusted and people like Diane Abbott who can't add up."
Mr Corbyn, a veteran opponent of nuclear weapons and military action, will attempt to reassure voters sceptical about his anti-war record.
Trump attacks 'showboat' Comey after sacking
President Donald Trump has called sacked FBI director James Comey a "showboat" and a "grandstander".
In an extraordinarily personal and scathing assessment of the man he has just fired, Mr Trump insisted that Mr Comey left the FBI in turmoil.
But President Trump's dismissal of the very man in charge of investigating whether his campaign colluded with Russia has attracted allegations of a coverup.
And his harsh comments, made in an interview with NBC News, were also rapidly contradicted by the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, who praised Mr Comey, as well as the new acting FBI director Andrew McCabe.
Mr McCabe said, in contrast to claims by Mr Trump's spokespeople, that Mr Comey enjoyed "broad support" from the rank and file.
During his interview, President Trump also contradicted his own surrogates on how the decision was was made to fire Mr Comey.
Mr Trump insisted that, whatever the opinion of the attorney general and his deputy, he was "going to fire regardless of recommendation".
However, White House spokespeople and vice president Mike Pence all said that Mr Trump acted on the recommendation of these officials.
Mr Trump also said that Mr Comey had told him on three separate occasions that he personally wasn't under investigation over his campaigns potential ties to Russia.
He also insisted he had no investments or business interests in Russia, and that he wasn't at all worried about the "optics" of meeting the Russian foreign minister at the White House the morning after firing the director of the FBI.
In an extraordinarily personal and scathing assessment of the man he has just fired, Mr Trump insisted that Mr Comey left the FBI in turmoil.
But President Trump's dismissal of the very man in charge of investigating whether his campaign colluded with Russia has attracted allegations of a coverup.
And his harsh comments, made in an interview with NBC News, were also rapidly contradicted by the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, who praised Mr Comey, as well as the new acting FBI director Andrew McCabe.
Mr McCabe said, in contrast to claims by Mr Trump's spokespeople, that Mr Comey enjoyed "broad support" from the rank and file.
During his interview, President Trump also contradicted his own surrogates on how the decision was was made to fire Mr Comey.
Mr Trump insisted that, whatever the opinion of the attorney general and his deputy, he was "going to fire regardless of recommendation".
However, White House spokespeople and vice president Mike Pence all said that Mr Trump acted on the recommendation of these officials.
Mr Trump also said that Mr Comey had told him on three separate occasions that he personally wasn't under investigation over his campaigns potential ties to Russia.
He also insisted he had no investments or business interests in Russia, and that he wasn't at all worried about the "optics" of meeting the Russian foreign minister at the White House the morning after firing the director of the FBI.
May refuses to make pledges on tax and pensions
Theresa May has refused to promise not to increase taxes during a five-year term in government if she wins the General Election.
In an interview on LBC Radio, the Prime Minister said the Conservatives had no plans to put up taxes but would not give a five-year guarantee.
She also refused to give a guarantee to maintain the so-called triple lock on pensions, which means they currently go up by the rise in earnings, prices or 2.5%, whichever is higher.
Quizzed by presenter Nick Ferrari on the triple lock, she said: "Pensions will go up under a Conservative government."
She was then asked if she would put taxes up and said: "We have no plans to increase the level of tax. That's because we are a party which believes in low tax."
But asked more than once if that promise applied to a full five-year term, the Prime Minister ignored the question, signalling the promise will not be in the Tory manifesto.
In a half-hour interview, in which she took around half a dozen calls, the PM broke with her election routine and failed to mention "strong and stable government" or "coalition of chaos".
But on Brexit she appeared to slap down her predecessor David Cameron, who said earlier that it was important that she "win well" so she can stand up to people that want an "extreme Brexit".
:: Hugs and selfies as Cameron and Brown hit campaign trail
Asked if that was why she called the election, she replied: "No, the reason I called the election was because we need the security, the stability for five years of greater certainty that will take us through Brexit
and beyond.
"It is about ensuring we have got a strong negotiating hand. Every vote for me and my team will strengthen the UK's hand negotiating that Brexit.
"The reason I called the election was because we need someone who can take us through Brexit."
In an interview on LBC Radio, the Prime Minister said the Conservatives had no plans to put up taxes but would not give a five-year guarantee.
She also refused to give a guarantee to maintain the so-called triple lock on pensions, which means they currently go up by the rise in earnings, prices or 2.5%, whichever is higher.
Quizzed by presenter Nick Ferrari on the triple lock, she said: "Pensions will go up under a Conservative government."
She was then asked if she would put taxes up and said: "We have no plans to increase the level of tax. That's because we are a party which believes in low tax."
But asked more than once if that promise applied to a full five-year term, the Prime Minister ignored the question, signalling the promise will not be in the Tory manifesto.
In a half-hour interview, in which she took around half a dozen calls, the PM broke with her election routine and failed to mention "strong and stable government" or "coalition of chaos".
But on Brexit she appeared to slap down her predecessor David Cameron, who said earlier that it was important that she "win well" so she can stand up to people that want an "extreme Brexit".
:: Hugs and selfies as Cameron and Brown hit campaign trail
Asked if that was why she called the election, she replied: "No, the reason I called the election was because we need the security, the stability for five years of greater certainty that will take us through Brexit
and beyond.
"It is about ensuring we have got a strong negotiating hand. Every vote for me and my team will strengthen the UK's hand negotiating that Brexit.
"The reason I called the election was because we need someone who can take us through Brexit."
2030: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
The future of humanity and of our planet lies in our hands. It lies also in the hands of today’s younger generation who will pass the torch to future generations.
Years ago, an earlier generation of world leaders came together to create the United Nations. From the ashes of war and division, they fashioned this Organization and enshrined as its statutes the values of peace, dialogue and international cooperation which today underpins the importance of the body. The supreme embodiment of those values is the Charter of the United Nations.
We can be the first generation to succeed in ending poverty; just as we may be the last to have a chance of saving the planet. The world will be a better place in 2030 if we are successful. Children, young women and men are critical agents of change and will find in the new goals a platform to channel their infinite capacities and energies for activism into the creation of a better world. These must be seen as towards ending poverty and hunger in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment structured to protecting the planet from degradation through sustainable consumption and production. There’s also the crying need to sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.
The dvidend of such strides is the fostering of peace, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. So mobilizing the means required to implement this agenda through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development must be based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the participation of all countries and all stakeholders and all people.
The inter-linkages and integrated nature of Sustainable Development Goals are of crucial importance in ensuring that the purpose of the new agenda is realized. If we realize our ambitions across the full extent of the agenda, the lives of all will be profoundly improved and our world will be transformed for the better.
Sustainable Development Goals and targets are integrated and indivisible global in nature and universally applicable, taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.
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