China and ‘others’ could shut down US power supplies
China and “one or two others” have the capability to shut down essential services such as the national grid with a cyber attack. That’s the warning from the director of the US National Security Agency and head of US Cyber Command, Michael Rogers, who has not previously confirmed the risk publicly. Speaking to a government intelligence committee he says it’s only a matter of time before we see something “dramatic”. Rogers’ comments show how international ‘warfare’ has changed dramatically due to our reliance on computer and internet systems. While nuclear threats were the domain of only a few countries and were detectable, cyber attacks are easily launched and can be hard to detect. The Obama administration is hoping to get a consensus within the international community setting out when a cyber attack would be considered an act of war.
Read the full story.
Australian foreign minister under fire for criticizing Obama over climate change risk
A row has broken out after Australia’s foreign minister said that President Obama’s speech about climate change was wrong. Julie Bishop said that the biggest threat to The Great Barrier Reef was from nutrients from agricultural land and that the natural risk had been that way for 200 years. However scientists have criticized Ms. Bishop and backed the President’s warning that the Reef is at risk from global warming and say that the Australian government is downplaying the risk to coral reefs around the world.
Ontario moves to cut auto insurance fraud
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has welcomed news that the Ontario legislature has passed
Bill 15,
Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act. IBC vice-president, Ontario said: “It’s a great step and strikes a blow at those in the car accident business who have wrongly profited from the current auto insurance product.” The bill, which will need Royal Assent to become law, will provide the basis for claims, appeals and other aspects concerning fraudulent auto claims.
