Week in review (15th – 19th May)

Massive cyberattack hits countries all over the world

A massive Cyberattack hit over 150 countries on the weekend infecting over 100.000 computers. Major companies like FedEx, Renault and telefonica in Spain have been affected. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The virus locks the system and files on the computer until a ransom is paid. It had exploited a known bug in Microsoft Windows operating system. The attackers demand 300$ in Bitcoin and threaten to delete files and increase the sum if the money is not paid.

Microsoft Windows partly blames the affected organizations itself as Microsoft had released an update in March which could have saved many computers from the cyberattack. The scale of the attack is what is unprecedented.

To infect (ɪnˈfekt) – infizieren

to affect (əˈfekt) – beeinflussen

responsibility (rɪˌspɒn(t)səˈbɪləti) – die Verantwortung

file (faɪl) – die Akte

ransom (ˈræn(t)səm) – das Lösegeld

to exploit (ˈeksplɔɪt) – ausbeuten, ausnutzen

bug (bʌg) – hier: der Fehler

to demand (dɪˈmɑ:nd) – etwas fordern

to threaten (ˈθretən) – drohen

to delete (ˈθretən) – löschen

to increase (ɪnˈkri:s) – ansteigen, zunehmen

to blame (bleɪm) – beschuldigen

scale (skeɪl) – hier: der Umfang, die Höhe

unprecedented (ʌnˈpresɪdəntɪd) – beispiellos, noch nie da gwesen

Trump shares classified information with Russia

The newest development in the relation between Trump and Russia draws a lot of criticism. Last week the US president met with two high ranking Russian officials in the oval office. The meeting was documented by Russian photographers after the US media had been banned from the meeting.

Back in May 2016 first reports emerged of hackers attacking the Democratic Party. Although US Intelligence suspected the Russians behind the attack the Trump campaign publicly refused the findings. Several members of the Trump campaign are under investigation regarding their ties to Russia. The first  from the Trump team who had to resign was Micheal Flynn, National Security advisor. And last week FBI director Comey was fired just as the investigations into the alleged meddling of the Russians with the Trump campaign were getting serious.

Now Trump has shared classified information about possible Islamic state group terror plots. The details could lead to the exposure of a source of information inside Syria. Furthermore, it makes America look like a country that can`t be trusted with secrets. Ironic is that Trump has often criticized Hilary Clinton for how she handled sensitive information.

development (dɪˈveləpmənt) – die Entwicklung

to draw criticism (drɔ ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm) – Kritik auf sich ziehen

official (əˈfɪʃəl) – der Beamte

to ban (bæn) – jmd. ausschließen

to emerge(ɪˈmɜ:ʤ) – aufkommen

to suspect (səˈspekt) – jmd. verdächtigen

to refuse (rɪˈfju:z) – etw. verweigern

investigation (ɪnˌvestɪˈgeɪʃən) – die Ermittlung

regarding (rɪˈgɑ:dɪŋ) – bezüglich

ties (taɪ) – die Beziehungen

to resign (rɪˈzaɪn) – zurücktreten

alleged (əˈleʤd) – angeblich, mutmaßlich

to meddle (ˈmedl̩) – sich einmischen

classified (ˈklæsɪfaɪd) – hier: geheim

plot (plɒt) – hier: die Verschwörung, der Plan

exposure (ɪkˈspəʊʒəʳ) – hier: die Entlarvung

source (sɔ:s) – die Quelle

furthermore (ˌfɜ:ðəˈmɔ:ʳ) – außerdem

sensitive (ˈsen(t)sɪtɪv) – brisant, heikel

Turkish bodyguards beat protesters in D.C.

During the visit of the Turkish leader to the US a protest ended in violence when bodyguards of Recep Tayyip Erdogan beat protesters. People were protesting against Erdogan´s policies in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Video clips show men in suits beating protesters and people lying on the ground being kicked in the head. 9 people were hurt during the clash, 2 of them had to go to the hospital.

Trump and Erdogan met earlier this week to talk about their strained ties. The tensions between the two countries had been high due to different opinions regarding YPG (or People´s Protection Units, the Kurdish militia). While Erdogan says he won`t allow them in Turkey Trump sees them as an important ally in the fight against terrorism.

The Turkish government said in a statement regarding the violent incident in Washington that the protesters were affiliated with a terrorist group but failed to provide any evidence. There will most likely be no consequences for the bodyguards.

violence (ˈvaɪələn(t)s) – die Gewalt

policy (ˈpɒləsi) – hier: die Politik

clash (klæʃ]) – der Zusammenstoß, das Aufeinandertreffen

strained (streɪnd) – angespannt

ties (taɪ) – hier: die Beziehungen

tension([ˈten(t)ʃən) – die Spannung (neg.)

opinion – (əˈpɪnjən) – die Meinung

to allow (əˈlaʊ) – etw. erlauben

ally (ˈælaɪ) – der Verbündete

incident (ˈɪn(t)sɪdənt) – der Zwischenfall, der Vorfall

affiliate (əˈfɪlieɪt)  – assoziiert, verbunden mit

to fail (feɪl) – versagen

to provide (prə(ʊ)ˈvaɪd) – etw. bereitstellen

evidence (ˈevɪdən(t)s) – der Beweis

likely (ˈlaɪkli) – wahrscheinlich