UK says Russia's GRU behind massive Georgia cyber-attack - BBC News

A huge cyber-attack which knocked out more than 2,000 websites in the country of Georgia last year was carried out by Russia, according to Georgia, the UK and the US.

The UK government says that the GRU (Russian military intelligence) was behind the "attempt to undermine Georgia's sovereignty".

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described it as "totally unacceptable".

Russia's Foreign Ministry denied any involvement, the RIA news agency said.

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) found that the GRU was "almost certainly" behind the attacks, which affected pages including Georgia's presidential website and the country's national TV broadcaster. It said the attack was the first significant example of GRU cyber-attacks since 2017.

Previous GRU cyber-attacks

• December 2015: An attack on part of Ukraine's electricity grid left 230,000 people without power for between one and six hours
• December 2016: A malware designed specifically to disrupt electricity grids led to a fifth of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv losing power for an hour
• June 2017: A destructive cyber-attack targeted the Ukrainian financial, energy and government sectors. It also affected other European and Russian businesses
• October 2017: The Kyiv metro and Odessa airport, as well as Russia's central bank and two Russian media outlets, were disrupted after ransomware encrypted hard drives

Source: UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The UK said Russia had sought to "sow discord and disrupt the lives of ordinary Georgian people".

"The Russian Government has a clear choice: continue this aggressive pattern of behaviour against other countries, or become a responsible partner which respects international law," Mr Raab said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also condemned the attacks, saying: "The United States calls on Russia to cease this behaviour in Georgia and elsewhere."

In many cases, website homepages were replaced with an image of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, and the caption "I'll be back".

This is the latest element of an ongoing campaign of pressure by the UK against Russian intelligence since the poisoning of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury two years ago. The aim is to try and deter Russian activity by exposing it.

A notable aspect of this attribution is that it relates to events which took place relatively recently, in October 2019. One of the targets was Georgian broadcasters.

The GRU's targeting of broadcasters goes back at least to 2015 and a takedown of the French TV5Monde channel. That led to concern about what they might do against other broadcasters in other countries.

This is seen as part of Russia's tactics of hybrid warfare, or grey-zone activities, which are designed to destabilise countries.

The problem for the UK, though, is that so far there is little sign of the GRU being deterred.

A key test will come with the US election this year, and whether it attempts to interfere in that as it was accused of doing in 2016.

"The scale of this attack is something we haven't seen before," Prof Alan Woodward, cyber-security expert at Surrey University in the UK, said at the time of the Georgia attack.

During the brief 2008 Russian-Georgian conflict, Georgia accused Moscow of carrying out cyber-attacks against its government, although Russia denied this.

• Russia puts down deep roots in Georgia
• Georgians mourn Russian land grab

The war broke out after Georgia attempted to recapture South Ossetia, which had fought a separatist war against Georgia in the 1990s. Russian forces then entered the country and seized control of the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Who is Mikheil Saakashvili?

Mr Saakashvili served two terms as president in Georgia between 2004 and 2013.

He gave up his Georgian citizenship in 2015, when he became governor of Ukraine's Odessa region.

He was deported from Ukraine in 2018 after falling out with his predecessor - but his Ukrainian citizenship was restored in May 2019.

Mr Saakashvili is wanted in Georgia on criminal charges, which he claims are politically motivated.

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2020-02-21 04:20:19Z
CBMiLGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy90ZWNobm9sb2d5LTUxNTc2NDQ10gEwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvbS9uZXdzL2FtcC90ZWNobm9sb2d5LTUxNTc2NDQ1

British Army officer becomes first woman to pass brutal Para course - BBC News

A British Army officer has become the first woman to pass a gruelling Parachute Regiment entry test.

Capt Rosie Wild, 28, was described as a "trailblazer" after passing the P Company course - which many men fail.

Several women have attempted P Company, also known as the All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection (AAPPS), since they were first able to apply in the 1990s.

Physical challenges across the five days include a timed 20-mile endurance march and an aerial assault course.

Capt Wild was awarded the coveted maroon beret of the Parachute Regiment, or the Paras, on Tuesday - though she will not join the regiment.

She will serve in 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery which is attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army's rapid reaction force.

Brig John Clark, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said he hoped Capt Wild's achievement "will encourage other women to have a go".

"A more representative force will only make us stronger," he added.

The eight tests in the P Company course involve:

• Marching 10 miles (16km) while carrying a 16kg backpack, in under 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Completing an aerial assault course designed to test a candidate's ability to overcome fear
• Carrying a 60kg telegraph pole as a team of eight soldiers over 1.9miles (3.1km)
• Running two miles (3.2km) with a backpack and rifle, within 18 minutes
• Completing a 2.2-mile steeplechase - a cross-country run followed by an assault course
• "Milling" - a boxing contest in which soldiers have points deducted for dodging or blocking punches
• Marching 20 miles (32km) with a backpack and rifle, within four hours and 10 minutes
• Carrying a 79kg stretcher for more than four miles (8km) as part of a team of 16 soldiers

Capt Wild, who is also a competitive triathlete, joined the Army three years ago.

In 2017 she was presented with the sword of honour at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, given to the best cadet of the intake.

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2020-02-19 14:51:29Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay01MTU1MzgxNdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNTE1NTM4MTU

UK's cash system 'will collapse without new laws' - BBC News

Campaigners have called for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to save banknotes and coins, saying without urgent new laws the cash system could collapse within a decade.

They want Mr Sunak to take action in his first Budget on 11 March.

"We must ensure the shift to digital doesn't leave millions behind or put our economy at risk," said Natalie Ceeney, of the Access to Cash Review.

The Treasury said it wanted "to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

Cash is important to millions of people, who still use it for paying for vital goods and services, such as utility and council bills.

According to the Financial Inclusion Commission, nearly two million people in Britain don't have a bank account, meaning they need notes and coins to pay their way.

There were 11 billion cash payments in the UK in 2018, but they are forecast to fall to 3.8 billion in 2028, accounting for fewer than one in 10 (9%) of all payments.

A cashless society

"The UK is fast becoming a cashless society - without knowing what this really means for consumers or for the UK economy," said Ms Ceeney.

Over the past year, 13% of free-to-use UK cash points have closed, as lower levels of cash use have made them economically unviable. A quarter (25%) of the machines now charge people to withdraw their cash.

The Post Office's cash access service has come under threat. Barclays recently reversed plans to stop customers taking cash out from Post Offices after a backlash.

Long-term access to cash

"The cash network has already been dramatically eroded, and unless urgent action is taken in the Budget, it's clear that it will crumble completely," warned Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor.

"The new Chancellor must seize this opportunity and guarantee long-term access to cash in the Budget, while developing a clear strategy to ensure that the transition to digital payments doesn't leave anyone behind."

Various initiatives have been set up by the industry to help maintain people's access to cash, including cashback initiatives at local shops and a "request an ATM" service.

But the Access to Cash Review believes the only way to manage the cash system is for the government to legislate and give regulators the tools that they need to protect cash access.

Banks should be forced to provide suitable cash access to their customers, they say.

A spokesman for the Treasury said: "Technology has transformed banking for millions of people, but we know that many still rely on cash.

"That's why we've invested £2bn to ensure everyday banking services are available at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

"We're also working closely with industry and regulators to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

A UK Finance spokesman said the banking and finance industry recognises the importance of ensuring cash remains free and widely available for those that continue to need it.

It said the industry has introduced a number of measures to achieve help, including "arrangements by Link to protect free-to-use ATMs in more remote and rural areas and to ensure that every High Street in the UK has free access to cash."

The trade body warned that there is no "one size fits all" approach and understanding the needs of local communities is critical.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called for financial incentives so smaller businesses could offer partial refunds on goods and services.

Martin McTague, FSB national policy and advocacy chairman, said: "We need to look at how we make offering cashback commercially viable for small businesses. The right financial incentives are a must."

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2020-02-19 11:31:56Z
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UK's cash system 'will collapse without new laws' - BBC News

Campaigners have called for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to save banknotes and coins, saying without urgent new laws the cash system could collapse within a decade.

They want Mr Sunak to take action in his first Budget on 11 March.

"We must ensure the shift to digital doesn't leave millions behind or put our economy at risk," said Natalie Ceeney, of the Access to Cash Review.

The Treasury said it wanted "to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

Cash is important to millions of people, who still use it for paying for vital goods and services, such as utility and council bills.

According to the Financial Inclusion Commission, nearly two million people in Britain don't have a bank account, meaning they need notes and coins to pay their way.

There were 11 billion cash payments in the UK in 2018, but they are forecast to fall to 3.8 billion in 2028, accounting for fewer than one in 10 (9%) of all payments.

A cashless society

"The UK is fast becoming a cashless society - without knowing what this really means for consumers or for the UK economy," said Ms Ceeney.

Over the past year, 13% of free-to-use UK cash points have closed, as lower levels of cash use have made them economically unviable. A quarter (25%) of the machines now charge people to withdraw their cash.

The Post Office's cash access service has come under threat. Barclays recently reversed plans to stop customers taking cash out from Post Offices after a backlash.

Long-term access to cash

"The cash network has already been dramatically eroded, and unless urgent action is taken in the Budget, it's clear that it will crumble completely," warned Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor.

"The new Chancellor must seize this opportunity and guarantee long-term access to cash in the Budget, while developing a clear strategy to ensure that the transition to digital payments doesn't leave anyone behind."

Various initiatives have been set up by the industry to help maintain people's access to cash, including cashback initiatives at local shops and a "request an ATM" service.

But the Access to Cash Review believes the only way to manage the cash system is for the government to legislate and give regulators the tools that they need to protect cash access.

Banks should be forced to provide suitable cash access to their customers, they say.

A spokesman for the Treasury said: "Technology has transformed banking for millions of people, but we know that many still rely on cash.

"That's why we've invested £2bn to ensure everyday banking services are available at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

"We're also working closely with industry and regulators to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

A UK Finance spokesman said the banking and finance industry recognises the importance of ensuring cash remains free and widely available for those that continue to need it.

It said the industry has introduced a number of measures to achieve help, including "arrangements by Link to protect free-to-use ATMs in more remote and rural areas and to ensure that every High Street in the UK has free access to cash."

The trade body warned that there is no "one size fits all" approach and understanding the needs of local communities is critical.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called for financial incentives so smaller businesses could offer partial refunds on goods and services.

Martin McTague, FSB national policy and advocacy chairman, said: "We need to look at how we make offering cashback commercially viable for small businesses. The right financial incentives are a must."

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2020-02-19 10:13:51Z
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UK's cash system 'will collapse without new laws' - BBC News

Campaigners have called for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to save banknotes and coins, saying without urgent new laws the cash system could collapse within a decade.

They want Mr Sunak to take action in his first Budget on 11 March.

"We must ensure the shift to digital doesn't leave millions behind or put our economy at risk," said Natalie Ceeney, of the Access to Cash Review.

The Treasury said it wanted "to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

Cash is important to millions of people, who still use it for paying for vital goods and services, such as utility and council bills.

According to the Financial Inclusion Commission, nearly two million people in Britain don't have a bank account, meaning they need notes and coins to pay their way.

There were 11 billion cash payments in the UK in 2018, but they are forecast to fall to 3.8 billion in 2028, accounting for fewer than one in 10 (9%) of all payments.

A cashless society

"The UK is fast becoming a cashless society - without knowing what this really means for consumers or for the UK economy," said Ms Ceeney.

Over the past year, 13% of free-to-use UK cash points have closed, as lower levels of cash use have made them economically unviable. A quarter (25%) of the machines now charge people to withdraw their cash.

The Post Office's cash access service has come under threat. Barclays recently reversed plans to stop customers taking cash out from Post Offices after a backlash.

Long-term access to cash

"The cash network has already been dramatically eroded, and unless urgent action is taken in the Budget, it's clear that it will crumble completely," warned Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor.

"The new Chancellor must seize this opportunity and guarantee long-term access to cash in the Budget, while developing a clear strategy to ensure that the transition to digital payments doesn't leave anyone behind."

Various initiatives have been set up by the industry to help maintain people's access to cash, including cashback initiatives at local shops and a "request an ATM" service.

But the Access to Cash Review believes the only way to manage the cash system is for the government to legislate and give regulators the tools that they need to protect cash access.

Banks should be forced to provide suitable cash access to their customers, they say.

A spokesman for the Treasury said: "Technology has transformed banking for millions of people, but we know that many still rely on cash.

"That's why we've invested £2bn to ensure everyday banking services are available at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

"We're also working closely with industry and regulators to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

A UK Finance spokesman said the banking and finance industry recognises the importance of ensuring cash remains free and widely available for those that continue to need it.

It said the industry has introduced a number of measures to achieve help, including "arrangements by Link to protect free-to-use ATMs in more remote and rural areas and to ensure that every High Street in the UK has free access to cash."

The trade body warned that there is no "one size fits all" approach and understanding the needs of local communities is critical.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called for financial incentives so smaller businesses could offer partial refunds on goods and services.

Martin McTague, FSB national policy and advocacy chairman, said: "We need to look at how we make offering cashback commercially viable for small businesses. The right financial incentives are a must."

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2020-02-19 09:11:09Z
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UK's cash system 'will collapse without new laws' - BBC News

Campaigners have called for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to save banknotes and coins, saying without urgent new laws the cash system could collapse within a decade.

They want Mr Sunak to take action in his first Budget on 11 March.

"We must ensure the shift to digital doesn't leave millions behind or put our economy at risk," said Natalie Ceeney, of the Access to Cash Review.

The Treasury said it wanted "to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

Cash is important to millions of people, who still use it for paying for vital goods and services, such as utility and council bills.

According to the Financial Inclusion Commission, nearly two million people in Britain don't have a bank account, meaning they need notes and coins to pay their way.

There were 11 billion cash payments in the UK in 2018, but they are forecast to fall to 3.8 billion in 2028, accounting for fewer than one in 10 (9%) of all payments.

A cashless society

"The UK is fast becoming a cashless society - without knowing what this really means for consumers or for the UK economy," said Ms Ceeney.

Over the past year, 13% of free-to-use UK cash points have closed, as lower levels of cash use have made them economically unviable. A quarter (25%) of the machines now charge people to withdraw their cash.

The Post Office's cash access service has come under threat. Barclays recently reversed plans to stop customers taking cash out from Post Offices after a backlash.

Long-term access to cash

"The cash network has already been dramatically eroded, and unless urgent action is taken in the Budget, it's clear that it will crumble completely," warned Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor.

"The new Chancellor must seize this opportunity and guarantee long-term access to cash in the Budget, while developing a clear strategy to ensure that the transition to digital payments doesn't leave anyone behind."

Various initiatives have been set up by the industry to help maintain people's access to cash, including cashback initiatives at local shops and a "request an ATM" service.

But the Access to Cash Review believes the only way to manage the cash system is for the government to legislate and give regulators the tools that they need to protect cash access.

Banks should be forced to provide suitable cash access to their customers, they say.

A spokesman for the Treasury said: "Technology has transformed banking for millions of people, but we know that many still rely on cash.

"That's why we've invested £2bn to ensure everyday banking services are available at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

"We're also working closely with industry and regulators to ensure everyone who needs cash can access it."

A UK Finance spokesman said the banking and finance industry recognises the importance of ensuring cash remains free and widely available for those that continue to need it.

It said the industry has introduced a number of measures to achieve help, including "arrangements by Link to protect free-to-use ATMs in more remote and rural areas and to ensure that every High Street in the UK has free access to cash."

The trade body warned that there is no "one size fits all" approach and understanding the needs of local communities is critical.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called for financial incentives so smaller businesses could offer partial refunds on goods and services.

Martin McTague, FSB national policy and advocacy chairman, said: "We need to look at how we make offering cashback commercially viable for small businesses. The right financial incentives are a must."

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2020-02-19 08:43:22Z
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Pillowcases full of snakes keep getting dumped outside a UK fire station - CNN

The latest haul of 15 corn snakes and a carpet python was found on Saturday in a bin behind Farringdon Fire Station in Sunderland, northeast England, according to a statement from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

The 16 snakes were taken to the vets and found to be in fairly good condition despite their ordeal, according to RSPCA inspector Heidi Cleaver.

The inspector said she "couldn't believe" more snakes had been found in the "exact same spot" as the 13 royal pythons who were discovered on Thursday. One of the snakes found last week has since died.

"We were in the midst of Storm Dennis at the weekend when these snakes, who need heat and light in order to survive, were left outside in the cold with just a pillowcase to contain them," said Cleaver.

"It would have been very stressful for the snakes to be in such close proximity to each other as well."

The UK was battered by heavy rain and strong winds during Storm Dennis over the weekend, leading to severe flooding in some areas.

The RSPCA has appealed for information about the mystery surrounding the snakes being repeatedly dumped in the area.

Snakes can't maintain their body temperature by themselves and rely on their environment to do so.

If the reptiles get too cold they may be unable to feed or move as normal, and their immune system may cease to function properly, leaving them vulnerable to disease.

Snakes also made headlines in the US last week after a park in the Florida was closed to the public due to a water snake orgy.

Officials decided to close the park after a large group of Florida water snakes came together for mating season.

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2020-02-18 13:25:00Z
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