PARIS: French President Francois Hollande called Wednesday for measures to prevent cyberattacks ahead of the upcoming elections after US intelligence accused Russia of meddling in that country’s vote to boost Donald Trump.
Hollande asked his security Cabinet to brief him on the “specific vigilance and protection measures being taken during the electoral campaign, including in the cyber domain,” the presidency said in a statement.
Hollande, who is not himself seeking re-election, did not say what kind of threat the two-stage presidential election faces, nor did he point the finger at any group or country.
But the call comes in the midst of a furor over Russia’s alleged interference in the US campaign that has already forced out one of Trump’s top aides.
Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned on Monday after it was revealed that he misled top officials over his contacts with Russia during the campaign.
The revelations have added to suspicions over Russia’s role in the election.
US intelligence agencies had already accused Russian intelligence of hacking Democratic Party e-mails that embarrassed Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton.
With France going into a high-stakes election that could see the country tack sharply to the right, the country’s anti-cyberattacks agency, ANSSI, is on high alert.
This week, aides to one of the leading candidates, the staunchly europhile Emmanuel Macron, accused Russia of trying to derail his bid.
Macron’s spokesman Benjamin Griveaux on Tuesday accused Moscow of being behind a flurry of cyberattacks over the past month on Macron’s campaign website and e-mail servers.
“Half of the attacks, and there are hundreds a day, come from Ukraine, which is known for its links to hackers and people responsible for cyberattacks in Russia,” Griveaux said, accusing the Kremlin of trying to boost conservative nominee Francois Fillon and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
Macron’s aides have also accused the state-owned Russia Today (RT) channel and the Sputnik news agency — both of which have French-language sites — of waging a “smear campaign” against the 39-year-old former economy minister for reporting allegations about his private life.
Macron, who is married, last week denied rumors of having had a gay affair.
Hollande voices fear of cyberattacks in French vote
Hollande voices fear of cyberattacks in French vote
Germany takes delivery of Israeli-made underwater drone
- "The army said the Blue Whale was the navy’s “largest and most advanced unmanned underwater vehicle to date“
- The device was tested in the Baltic Sea
BERLIN: The German navy on Wednesday said it had taken delivery of an Israeli-made Blue Whale underwater drone intended for reconnaissance and detecting “hybrid threats at sea.”
The autonomous underwater vehicle, developed by Israeli company IAI together with German submarine- and warship-maker TKMS, was received in the northern port of Eckernfoerde, the navy said in a statement.
The army on its website said the Blue Whale was the navy’s “largest and most advanced unmanned underwater vehicle to date.”
The device was tested in the Baltic Sea, a flashpoint for tensions between Russia and NATO since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the army said.
Military experts and European leaders say Russia has ramped up its “hybrid war” in the strategic region — now bordered entirely by NATO members, with the exception of Russia — through airspace incursions and suspected sabotage of undersea cables.
TKMS said the Blue Whale was capable of “conducting reconnaissance operations, detecting targets above and below the sea surface, collecting acoustic information, and locating sea mines on the seabed.”
Israel and Germany have upped their defense cooperation in recent months and in January signed a security pact to expand joint work on counterterrorism and cyber defense.
In December, Germany approved a $3.1 billion expansion of a contract for the Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile defense system, which is Israeli-made and developed with US support.
