International
Cyberattack hits Montenegro government
AFP
A major cyberattack has targeted government institutions in Montenegro, Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic announced, with Russia the chief suspect.
The computer systems of several state bodies including the finance ministry were “infected”, he said late Friday, and the NATO-member Balkan nation has asked its allies to help limit the damage.
Abazovic did not comment on the origins of Friday’s attack, but his defence minister fingered Russia.
Moscow added Montenegro to its list of “enemy countries” in March, after the country of 620,000 people backed European Union sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Defence Minister Rasko Konjevic described “very sophisticated attacks that could not be carried out by individuals”.
“Who could have some kind of political interest in inflicting such damage on Montenegro?” I think there is enough (evidence) to suspect that Russia is behind the attack,” Konjevic told state television.
Media outlets, citing an informal National Security Agency press briefing, said on Saturday that the attack was directed by “several Russian services”.
They reported that “all essential infrastructure” was at risk, including electricity and water supply systems, while power plants have switched to manual operation.
It was the second wave of cyberattacks on Montenegro’s institutions — a first struck in the wake of a no-confidence vote that toppled Montenegro’s government on August 19.
The prime minister convened the National Security Council late Friday to decide on measures to be taken.
“We could not have it confirmed in the council by people competent in this field whether an individual, a group or a state was behind (the attack), but we could not exclude that either,” Abazovic told a press conference.
“Montenegro will send a request to international partners for expert assistance to possibly salvage data from this attack and prevent future attacks,” the prime minister said.
Public Administration Minister Marash Dukaj said: “The accounts of citizens and companies, as well as their data, are not under threat.”
The US embassy has issued a warning to its citizens in Montenegro, saying the “persistent” cyberattacks could cause “disruptions to the public utility, transportation (including border crossings and airport), and telecommunication sectors”.
International
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.
The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.
An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.
Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.
Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.
Internacionales
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.
In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.
Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
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