France confirms data breach at government agency that manages citizens’ IDs

crop cyber spy hacking computer system in darkness

France confirms data breach at government agency that manages citizens’ IDs The French government agency that handles the issuing and management of citizens’ identity documents, including national IDs, passports, and immigration documents, confirmed Wednesday that it experienced a data breach. In an announcement, the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) said the data stolen in the breach could include full names, dates and places of birth, mailing and email addresses, and phone numbers on an undisclosed number of citizens.

ANTS said the investigation to determine how the breach happened and its impact is ongoing, and people whose data was affected are being notified.  ANTS, which said it detected the attack on April 15, did not specify how many people were affected by the breach. But some reporting suggests millions may have had some of their personal information stolen.  According to Bleeping Computer, a hacker has advertised the stolen data on a hacking forum, claiming to have a database with 19 million records. The hacker’s forum post referenced the same kind of stolen information as mentioned in ANTS’ announcement, and was published before ANTS publicly disclosed the breach on April 20.

Source: France confirms data breach at government agency that manages citizens’ IDs | TechCrunch

Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken.
Amos 5:14

France condemns China’s execution of a French citizen held on death row for 15 years

French and Chinese flags above a bronze rooster and dragon in a formal conference room.

PARIS — France said China has executed a French citizen convicted of drug trafficking after keeping him on death row for more than 15 years. Chan Thao Phoumy, 62, was executed in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, despite French authorities’ clemency appeals, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Saturday. It didn’t say when the sentence was carried out. A Chinese court sentenced him to death in 2010. The ministry’s statement expressed “consternation” and added: “We particularly regret that Mr. Chan’s defense did not have access to the final court hearing, which constitutes a violation of his rights.”

“We extend our condolences to his family, whose grief we share,” it said. In a short statement Sunday that didn’t mention Chan by name, the Chinese Embassy in Paris said that China “treats defendants of all nationalities equally, handles all cases impartially and strictly in accordance with the law.” France abolished the death penalty by act of parliament in 1981, and has become a vigorous campaigner against its use and for its abolition everywhere. China’s use of executions — carried out by firing squads or lethal injections — is shrouded in secrecy but has long been extensive. Amnesty International says China is the world’s lead executioner, believed to sentence and put to death thousands of people annually.

Source: France condemns China’s execution of a French citizen held on death row for 15 years – ABC News

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5

Dozens of evangelicals win seats in France’s local elections

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From major cities such as Paris and Marseille to rural villages in the centre of the country, France cast its final votes on 22 March in a second round of voting for its local political representatives. Beyond the ideological battle between sharply divided factions (from the Social Democrats who won in Paris to the far right that triumphed in Nice), the variety of candidates seeking the support of their neighbours on the municipal council was vast. Specifically, some 200 evangelical Christians were invited to join local political initiatives ahead of these elections, with political parties of various ideologies.

Source: Dozens of evangelicals win seats in France’s local elections, Evangelical Focus

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:12

Islam scholar Tariq Ramadan goes on trial in Paris accused of raping three women

interior of the divinity school oxford

Former Oxford University professor and UK government adviser faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted

Source: Islam scholar Tariq Ramadan goes on trial in Paris accused of raping three women | France | The Guardian

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:7

Video shows deer breaking into Minnesota Montessori school

School was not in session over the holiday weekend, but a four-legged friend still managed to pay a visit to a Zimmerman, Minnesota, Montessori school. The entire incident lasted less than 10 minutes, but left Prairie Hill Montessori with a shattered door and quite the story to tell. “We got a call, we were up…

Small plane crashes at Sonoma Valley Airport; 3 injured

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Chester, Pennsylvania, police officer hospitalized after violent attack while responding to burglary

A Chester police officer is expected to recover after authorities say he was violently attacked Tuesday morning while responding to a reported domestic burglary. According to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, Officer Michael Tierney approached a man connected to a reported burglary near Meadow Lane and West 9th Street in Chester when the suspect…

Invasive pest found on Costco plants a threat to California Wine Country vineyards, officials warn

Authorities in Northern California alerted residents on Tuesday about an invasive species found on plants from Costco that could threaten the region’s vineyards and other agriculture in the region. Agriculture officials in Marin, Napa, Nevada and Solano counties issued a consumer alert “urgently asking residents to take immediate action” after glassy-winged sharpshooters were found on grapevines…

Heavy rains in Marietta lead to spike in emergency tree removal calls

The owner of a Marietta tree cutting service says business is up this week as residents grow concerned about the effects of heavy rain on their trees. Tree-cutting crews report they are working nonstop, removing trees as more severe storms are forecast. Crews with Top Tier Trees cut down a tree that fell in the…

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigns after internal probe into his conduct, mayor says

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has resigned following an internal investigation into his conduct, the mayor announced Tuesday evening.  In a press conference, Mayor Jacob Frey said Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell is the acting police chief effective immediately.  In a written reprimand to the police chief, Frey said an investigation into O’Hara’s behavior found…

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile and other weapons toward sea, South says, in latest weapons demo

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile and other weapons toward the sea on Tuesday, South Korea’s military said, the latest in a series of weapons demonstrations by North Korea this year. The missile fired from Jongju, a city near the North’s west coast, flew about 80 kilometers (50 miles), South Korea’s…

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