Pioneer in short

attack on France’s postal services

A pro-Russian hacking group claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack that halted package deliveries by France’s national postal service just days before Christmas, prosecutors said on Wednesday. After the claim by the cybercrime group known as Noname057, the French intelligence agency DGSI took over the investigation into the hacking attack, the Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement to The Associated Press. The group has been accused of other cyberattacks in Europe, including around a NATO summit in the Netherlands and French Government sites. It was the target of a big European police operation earlier this year.

Central computer systems at the French national postal service La Poste were knocked offline Monday in a distributed denial of service, or DDoS, cyberattack that still wasn’t fully resolved by Wednesday morning, the company said. Postal workers couldn’t track package deliveries, and online payments at the company’s banking arm were also disrupted.

Ex-Maldives VP urges peace

Former Maldives Vice President Faisal Naseem on Wednesday urged world leaders to place peace at the centre of global decision-making, warning that many contemporary crises are the result of human actions and can be prevented through cooperation and foresight. His remarks came against the backdrop of growing concern over political instability, radicalisation and the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 8th Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Lecture, Naseem said that conflicts driven by human choices must be addressed through dialogue rather than violence. Emphasising collective responsibility, he noted that major powers need to engage with one another to de-escalate tensions and prevent further loss of life.

US to replace lottery system

The Department of Homeland Security said that it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritises skilled, higher-paid foreign workers. The change follows a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa program that critics say has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay, but supporters say drives innovation.