Latest news with #Bernard
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Daily Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
No such mining permit issued: Sabah Lands and Surveys Department
Published on: Friday, July 25, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025 Text Size: Bernard and Farhash. PETALING JAYA: The Sabah Lands and Surveys Department clarified that no mineral prospecting licence had been issued to Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd, the company linked to businessman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. Director Datuk Bernard Liew said no prospecting licence was awarded to the company under the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960 and that allegations claiming otherwise were baseless. He added that the department was the authoritative body governing mining in the Bornean state. 'Any mineral exploration activity in Sabah can only be conducted after obtaining a legitimate licence issued under Sections 6 and 8 of the Sabah Mining Ordinance. And this is subject to technical conditions and other relevant laws that are already in place. The department views seriously any statement made via the media that can mislead the public,' he said in a statement. MalaysiaNow had reported that Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) had awarded Bumi Suria an exploration licence for coal mining. The report said it had been granted exclusive rights to explore and search for minerals on 70,000ha of forest reserve in Kalabakan and Gunung Rara near the Kalimantan border. SMM CEO Natasha Sim earlier said the state government agency was not a licence-awarding body, nor did it have jurisdiction to award or issue licences. On Monday, Farhash said his lawyers had served MalaysiaNow with a cease and desist letter, saying allegations that he owned Bumi Suria and that the company had been awarded a mineral prospecting or exploration licence in Sabah were false and defamatory. The lawyers said Farhash was merely a director and shareholder of Bumi Suria, and demanded that the article be removed from the website and all social media channels. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
CTV News
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
'Best view of Halifax': Easter Seals to host 20th Drop Zone Challenge
The 20th Drop Zone Challenge for Easter Seals is happening soon, and Crystal Garrett gets the details. In a matter of weeks, people will rappel down one of Halifax's tallest buildings – all for a good cause. Easter Seals Nova Scotia is hosting its annual Drop Zone Challenge. It's the 20th anniversary of the event, which raises funds for Camp Tidnish. 'This is the 88th year for Camp Tidnish, and it is the only barrier-free accessible camp in Nova Scotia for children, youth, adults and seniors. We've had people that have been going to this camp since 1974, and it really is a wonderful experience for persons with disabilities,' said Easter Seals Nova Scotia CEO Joanne Bernard. 'It is one place that people look forward to all year. They maintain friendships for generations and it just really is a truly special place.' The Drop Zone Challenge also raises funds for other programs put on by Easter Seals, with all the money staying in Nova Scotia. Easter Seals special events coordinator Caden Flynn, who lives with cerebral palsy, first got involved with the organization through its Learn to Sledge program when he was a child. 'One of the things I loved about that program, and about a lot of our programs, is we're focusing not only on the physical aspects of accessibility – getting in the building – but we really focus on social inclusion, which I think is a huge piece of developing confidence and building on abilities that these people and children already have,' he said. 'I can't stress how important programs like this were to my development as a kid.' The Drop Zone Challenge will see people rappel down 1801 Hollis St. Both Bernard and Flynn have participated in the challenge themselves. 'It is the most fun I've ever had in Downtown Halifax despite what the footage might look like. It is not as scary as it looks. Frankly, it is also the best view of Halifax you'll ever get,' said Flynn. Bernard took part in 2014, years before she became CEO of the organization. 'It was a bucket list thing, and I felt really accomplished about something of overcoming my fear,' she said. The Drop Zone Challenge takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 12. Participants will receive training prior to the event. 'Anyone can participate,' said Bernard. The Easter Seals said if it can raise $100,000 this year, it will hit a milestone of $2 million raised. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Microsoft server hack has now hit 400 victims, researchers say
A sweeping cyber-espionage campaign organisation centred on vulnerable versions of Microsoft's server software has now claimed about 400 victims, according to researchers at Netherlands-based Eye Security. The figure, which is derived from a count of digital artifacts discovered during scans of servers running vulnerable versions of Microsoft's SharePoint software, compares to 100 organisations cataloged over the weekend. Eye Security says the figure is likely an undercount. "There are many more, because not all attack vectors have left artifacts that we could scan for," said Vaisha Bernard, the chief hacker for Eye Security, which was among the first organisations to flag the breaches. The spy campaign kicked off after Microsoft failed to fully patch a security hole in its SharePoint server software, kicking off a scramble to fix the vulnerability when it was discovered. Microsoft and its tech rival, Google owner Alphabet, have both said Chinese hackers are among those taking advantage of the flaw. Beijing has denied the claim. The details of most of the victim organisations have not yet been fully disclosed. Bernard declined to identify them.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Tally of Microsoft victims surges to 400 as hackers exploit SharePoint flaw
The number of companies and organizations compromised by a security vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.'s SharePoint servers is increasing rapidly, with the tally of victims soaring more than six-fold in a few days, according to one research firm. Hackers have breached about 400 government agencies, corporations and other groups, according to estimates from Eye Security, the Dutch cybersecurity company that identified an early wave of the attacks last week. That's up from roughly 60 based on its previous estimate provided to Bloomberg News on Tuesday. The security firm said that most of the victims are in the US, followed by Mauritius, Jordan, South Africa and the Netherlands. The National Nuclear Security Administration, the US agency responsible for maintaining and designing the nation's cache of nuclear weapons, was among those breached, Bloomberg reported earlier. The hacks are among the latest major breaches that Microsoft has blamed, at least in part, on China and come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over global security and trade. The US has repeatedly criticized China for campaigns that have allegedly stolen government and corporate secrets over a period spanning decades. The real number of victims from the SharePoint exploits "might be much higher as there can be many more hidden ways to compromise servers that do not leave traces," Eye Security's co-owner Vaisha Bernard said in an email to Bloomberg News. "This is still developing, and other opportunistic adversaries continue to exploit vulnerable servers." The organizations compromised in the SharePoint breaches include many working in government, education and technology services, Bernard said. There were smaller numbers of victims in countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America. State-backed hackers tend to exploit major cybersecurity weaknesses, like the SharePoint vulnerability, in waves, according to Sveva Scenarelli, a threat analyst with Recorded Future Inc. They start with secretive, targeted hacks and then, once the vulnerability is discovered, will begin using it more indiscriminately, she said. "Once access has been acquired, individual threat groups can then triage compromised organizations, and prioritize those of particular interest for follow-on activity," said Scenarelli, of the cyber intelligence firm's Insikt Group. She said this can include finding ways to maintain access to a compromised network, burrowing deeper and setting up paths to steal sensitive information. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is set to meet his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week for a third round of trade talks, suggested in a Bloomberg Television interview Wednesday that the SharePoint hacks will be discussed. "Obviously things like that will be on the agenda with my Chinese counterparts," he said. The security flaws allow hackers to access SharePoint servers and steal keys that can let them impersonate users or services, potentially enabling deep access into compromised networks to steal confidential data. Microsoft has issued patches to fix the vulnerabilities, but researchers cautioned that hackers may have already got a foothold into many servers. Microsoft on Tuesday accused Chinese state-sponsored hackers known as Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon of being behind the attacks. Another hacking group based in China, which Microsoft calls Storm-2603, also exploited them, according to the company. The Redmond, Washington company has repeatedly blamed China for major cyberattacks. In 2021, an alleged Chinese operation compromised tens of thousands of Microsoft Exchange servers. In 2023, another alleged Chinese attack on Microsoft Exchange compromised senior US officials' email accounts. A US government review later accused Microsoft of a "cascade of security failures" over the 2023 incident. Eugenio Benincasa, a researcher at ETH Zurich's Center for Security Studies who specializes in analyzing Chinese cyberattacks, said members of the groups identified by Microsoft had previously been indicted in the US for their alleged involvement in hacking campaigns targeting US organizations. They are well known for their "extensive espionage," he said. It's likely that the SharePoint breaches are being carried out by proxy groups that work with the government rather than Chinese government agencies directly carrying out the hacking, according to Benincasa. Private hacking companies in the country sometimes participate in "hacker for hire" operations, he added. "Now that at least three groups have reportedly exploited the same vulnerability, it's plausible more could follow," he said. "Cybersecurity is a common challenge faced by all countries and should be addressed jointly through dialogue and cooperation," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. "China opposes and fights hacking activities in accordance with the law. At the same time, we oppose smears and attacks against China under the excuse of cybersecurity issues." According to Microsoft, the hacking group Linen Typhoon was first identified in 2012, and is focused on stealing intellectual property, primarily targeting organizations related to government, defense, strategic planning, and human rights. Violet Typhoon, first observed in 2015, was "dedicated to espionage" and primarily targeted former government and military personnel, non-governmental organizations, as well as media and education sectors in the US, Europe, and East Asia. The hackers have also used the SharePoint flaws to break into systems belonging to the US Education Department, Florida's Department of Revenue and the Rhode Island General Assembly, Bloomberg previously reported. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said that while the National Nuclear Security Administration possesses some of the most restricted and dangerous information in the world, the networks where classified information are stored are isolated from the internet. "So even if those networks were compromised, I'm not sure how such information could have been transmitted to the adversaries," Lyman said in an email. "But there are other categories of information that are sensitive but unclassified, that may be treated with less care and might have been exposed. This includes some information related to nuclear materials and even nuclear weapons." (With assistance from Lucille Liu and Ari Natter.) Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Fundraiser for eight-year-old girl who was assaulted
Pikwakanagan – In the aftermath of the tragic assault on an eight-year-old Quadeville girl, many people from neighbouring communities have rallied to help her family as they face unknown costs in her journey to recovery. The little girl suffered horrific injuries in a June 23 attack which at first were believed to have been carried out by a wild animal, but after two weeks of an exhaustive and extensive police investigation, a youth from the small hamlet was arrested and charged with attempted murder and sexual assault with a weapon. Quadeville, located in the Madawaska Valley Highlands between Foymount and Palmer Rapids, is a quiet little community made up of less than 75 people. Everybody knows each other and so both the identity of the victim and the teenage boy who was arrested July 7 is common knowledge. The little girl went missing early Monday evening, June 23. When she could not be located, Ontario Provincial Police were notified and together with members of the Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan Township Fire Department and locals, an extensive search of the area was conducted. She was found in the early morning hours of June 24, clinging to life in an old sawmill in the community, rushed to hospital in Ottawa where she is slowly recovering from serious injuries to her neck and throat. A long recovery period is expected. Many believe it was a miracle she survived. People from neighbouring communities and beyond have been reaching out to help the little girl and her family who moved to the community a few years ago. The victim, her two sisters and a brother, are being raised by an aunt and uncle. GoFundMe fundraisers have been launched, community dinners have been held and people have been making donations to the pastor of the Pentecostal Church in the community, Joe Fiorentino. Nicole Bernard of Pikwakanagan has a heart of gold and is always ready to help out whenever and wherever she can. She has organized a raffle for a basket of gift cards and gifts valued at about $500 which will be given away in a draw on Monday, August 4. To support the draw, 100 squares are being sold at $25 each with all proceeds going to the victim. When all squares are sold, it will raise $2,500. In addition, several businesses and individuals have and continue to donate money to the effort, and it is hoped that at least $5,000 will be raised. Ms. Bernard does not know the victim or her family, but she knows the young boy charged and his parents. She said the incident has caused anger in the community, but she also believes cooler heads will prevail as time passes. 'The Ottawa Valley, like I don't think people realize how close we actually are,' she said, adding she has known the accused's parents since before he was born. 'Really, if you are the parent, it doesn't mean that you screwed up the kid. It means that something has gone wrong somewhere.' The basket contains a beautiful wood carving of three wolves. Ms. Bernard said it aptly represents the strength of the girl. 'The wolf is a powerful animal,' she said. 'And she is a strong little girl.' Ms. Bernard was emotional when asked why she is doing her bit to help out. 'This girl needs help. She's going to go through a lot of …..,' she said fighting back tears. 'I have three granddaughters and my oldest is a year younger than this little girl and so it pulls at my heart strings. 'But even far more than that, for us we've spent a lot of time in Quadeville playing sports like ball and broomball. When the (winter) carnivals were on, we were there to support each other. They have been here to Pikwakanagan, to Eganville, and all over. We're from the Ottawa Valley and so we look after each other.' This is a story that should appeal to everyone, she said, because it could have been their child. 'This little girl has a long road ahead of her and I have nick-named her Little Warrior,' she said. 'She matters. Every child matters. Every person matters. If we just sit back and do nothing, that's even more sad than what took place.' Ms. Bernard realizes many people are struggling financially due to the high cost of living, and she is quite happy to accept even small donations because every dollar counts. 'It's going to go directly to her, and we want to get her help,' she said. 'They are a sister community to the Ottawa Valley. We all stick together, because together we can do a lot. One person can't do much on their own.' It's easy to support the fundraiser. If you are driving around the Golden Lake area, simply pull into the drive-up window at Golden Lake Smoke Shop, hand Ms. Bernard or whoever might be working at the time your $25 and you will have your name and phone number written in one of the spaces. If you want to contribute more than the $25 entry, whatever amount you give will be added to the fund. You can also send your money by e-transfer to: brownealyssa18@ (please put For Maya' in the message line, and a space will be assigned to you. Please include your name and phone number. For more information, Ms. Bernard can be reached at 613-635-3070. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
