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Hackers are holding travel money provider Travelex to ransom after infiltrating its systems on New Year's Eve. The cyber attack forced the firm to turn off all computer systems across 30 countries, after criminals broke into its sites with the infamous Sodinokibi ransomware. Hackers have now reportedly demanded $3million (£2.3million) in exchange for either restoration of IT systems or the preservation of customer data.

They are reportedly threatening to release 5GB of customers' personal information - including social security numbers, dates of birth and payment card details - into the public domain unless the company pays up. It is understood that a deadline for payment has been set by the cyber criminals. The Metropolitan Police is leading the investigation into the attack.

Info dated on the 07/01/2020. Read more HERE

A surge in drug-linked gang violence in Sweden led to a 60% increase in bomb blasts in 2019, according to government statistics, as police work to rid the streets of explosives and guns with more officers on patrol.

Sweden has been hit by a wave of shootings and bombings over the past couple of years which police have linked to gang conflicts in major cities, shocking Swedes, who have long considered their country as one of the safest in the world. Some 257 bomb attacks were reported to police last year, up from 162 the previous year, the statistics from the National Council for Crime Prevention showed. Read more HERE.

TAAL VOLCANO in the Philippines is continuously erupting, sparking fears for hundreds of thousands of residents with a staggering 466 volcanic earthquakes recorded since Sunday. Here is the latest information on the Taal Volcano.
The Taal volcano is still erupting, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the volcano remains at a level four alert out of a possible five. The warning states an “explosive eruption is possible within hours to days.” Thick layers of ash from the erupting volcano have covered land and lakes around the mountain, with stark images of half-buried animals in black sludge. Read more HERE.

Iran has admitted its military made an “unforgivable mistake” in unintentionally shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner and killing all 176 people onboard, after days of rejecting western intelligence reports that pointed to Tehran being responsible.

A military statement on state TV early on Saturday blamed “human error” for the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 on Wednesday in the tense aftermath of strikes on US targets. It was followed by an apology from Iran’s president and condolences from the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, responded on Saturday morning that Iran must make an official apology and agree to a full investigation and compensation, as well as cooperating with Ukraine’s own investigators. “Our 45 professionals should have full access and cooperation to establish justice,” a statement from the presidency said. Read more HERE.

WITH Brexit looming, new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing a huge challenge to absorb the costs of the UK’s departure from the bloc alongside a “whole range of problems” facing the bloc, from slow growth across the Eurozone to the behaviour of “rogue members” such as Poland and Hungary, a political analyst has said.

During Ms von der Leyen’s speech at the London School of Economics yesterday, she emphasised the importance of prioritising key aspects of the EU’s relationship with the UK after the end of the year, saying without an extension of the transition period, it would not be possible to agree everything. The event was entitled Old friends, new beginnings: building another future for the EU-UK partnership - and speaking immediately afterwards, Professor Tony Travers, director of LSE London, told Express.co.uk it had been clear Ms von der Leyen was keen to look beyond Brexit as she seeks to make a mark during her tenure. Read more HERE.