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☆ Sri Lanka travel visa costs doubled to $100 last month. The reason for the hike is disputed
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Erica Lamberg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The cost to obtain a short-term visa to visit Sri Lanka rose from $50 to $100 in April. In response, VFS Global said, "Visa categories were introduced as per the directives of [Sri Lanka's] Department of Immigration and Emigration (DI&E)." Both parties agreed that 30-day travel visas priced at $50 had been reinstated as of May 7. But VFS Global's fees angered many in Sri Lanka's travel industry and led to allegations of corruption by Sri Lankan opposition leaders. "The government of Sri Lanka won't be charging, but the platform … will," he said.

Persons: Harin Fernando, VFS, scammers, Fernando, — Organizations: VFS, Sri, Harin, CNBC, of Immigration, E, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Security, VFS Global Locations: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's, Sri Lankan, India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand

☆ Teacher Li: A Chinese dissident in Europe is enraging Beijing. Now police are coming for his social media followers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Nectar Gan | Yong Xiong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

And now, Chinese authorities appear to be going after his followers in China. Li Ying spends most of his days in front of the computer running his X account. Li’s warnings sent shock waves through the small but influential Chinese X sphere. On X, Li Ying’s account provided a window into the outpouring of grief and disaffection. “The Chinese authorities are fearful of young people like Teacher Li, seeing him as a threat to its rule,” Wang said.

Persons: Lee, Xi Jinping, –, Li, ”, ” Lee, Li Ying, Li reposts, Elon Musk, Covid lockdowns, ” Li, “, Yaqiu Wang, ‘, ’ ”, Li Keqiang, Shen Xiang, ramped, Li Keqiang’s, Xi, it’s, it’ll, ” Wang, Wang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Twitter, US, Facebook, Elon, Ministry of Public Security, CNN, YouTube, Future Publishing, Getty, Freedom Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Italy, Washington, Anhui province, “

☆ Vietnam Lists Overseas Political Groups as 'Terrorist Organisations'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's government on Wednesday listed two political groups operating in the United States as "terrorist organisations" and accused them of orchestrating attacks and trying to create their own states in the Southeast Asian country's Central Highlands. The groups include North Carolina-headquartered Montagnard Support Group Inc (MSGI) and Montagnard Stand for Justice (MSFJ), which was established in Thailand, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement. Both operate in the United States, it said.

Organizations: Justice, Ministry of Public Security Locations: HANOI, United States, Central Highlands, North Carolina, Thailand

☆ US officials combing leaked documents from Chinese tech firm for clues about Chinese hacking campaigns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —US officials have been scouring a trove of newly leaked documents from a Chinese tech firm for clues on how the government in Beijing allegedly uses the company in extensive hacking campaigns, multiple US cybersecurity officials familiar with the matter told CNN. The documents, posted anonymously online last weekend for anyone to access, include screenshots of chat logs, as well as records of employees and Chinese government clients of the tech firm I-Soon. “This is some of the best visibility we’ve had into Chinese hacking operations outside of a government SCIF,” said Adam Kozy, who used to track Chinese hackers for the FBI, using an acronym for classified facilities. In a leaked marketing presentation, I-Soon touted its participation in an unspecified hacking project for China’s Ministry of Public Security in 2018. The project “achieved significant results” and received “recognition and praise” from Chinese officials, according to a presentation slide.

Persons: Biden, ”, Adam Kozy, I’m, ” Liu Pengyu, Wu Haibo, Beijing’s, Christopher Wray, Dakota Cary, ” GitHub, “, Wu, Obama, Xi Jinping, Adam Meyers, CrowdStrike, Meyers Organizations: CNN, FBI, Embassy, Telecom, China’s Ministry of Public Security, US Justice Department, US Locations: Beijing, Taiwan, India, Hong, Sichuan, China, Washington ,, Shanghai, Dakota, Asia, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan

☆ China’s Hacker Network: What to Know
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( J. Edward Moreno | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Leaked documents posted online last week show how the Chinese government is working with private hackers to obtain sensitive information from foreign governments and companies. The hackers worked for a security firm called I-Soon, part of a network of spies for hire working closely with Beijing. The leak showed how China’s top surveillance agency, the Ministry of Public Security, has increasingly recruited contractors to attack government targets and private companies as part of a cyberespionage campaign in Asia. Its hackers were able to get private information including:records from a Vietnamese airline, with the identities of travelers. I-Soon is one of hundreds of private companies that support China’s hacking efforts through the sale of espionage services and stolen data.

Organizations: Ministry of Public Security, Facebook Locations: Beijing, Asia, Washington, United States, Vietnam

☆ A cache of leaked Chinese hacking documents just confirmed experts' warnings about how compromised the US could be
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Over 570 documents from a Chinese state-backed hacking group were uploaded to Github last week. The documents mentioned at least 20 hacking targets, including countries like the UK and India. The leaks come after multiple warnings by officials on the scales of China's hacking operations. AdvertisementA trove of leaked Chinese hacking documents might have given the world a glimpse of how widespread and effective China's hacking operations could be. The documents, which track hacking activity across multiple countries, belong to iSoon, a private security contractor with ties to China's Ministry of Public Security, according to the Post's report on Wednesday.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Washington Post, China's Ministry of Public Security, Business Locations: Github, India

☆ U.S.-China fentanyl talks get off to a 'productive' start, security advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong (C) announces the launch of the U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group next to U.S. Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal (center L) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on January 30, 2024. Ng Han Guan | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — The U.S. and China had a "productive" first day of talks in Beijing about the fentanyl crisis, Jennifer Daskal, a deputy homeland security advisor, told NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer in an exclusive interview Tuesday. "We're looking for results and we had a productive step forward," Daskal said, while acknowledging the risk that China could use its sway over the fentanyl supply chain as a bargaining chip. Daskal, leader of the White House delegation for this week's high-level talks, said the diversity of representatives from both sides "showed a real commitment." "We will know if it works if we start seeing the supply of precursor drugs diminish, if we start seeing the supply of pill presses and other equipment diminish," Daskal said.

Persons: of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, Jen Daskal, Ng, Guan, Jennifer Daskal, Janis Mackey Frayer, Daskal, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Wang Xiaohong, Wang, Biden, Hua Zhendong, Mackey, Hua, Yu Haibin, Yu, NBC's Mackey Frayer Organizations: of Public Security, U.S ., Homeland, Getty, NBC News, National Narcotics Control Commission, Public Security, Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science, China -, Counternarcotics, White House, International Narcotics Control Locations: U.S, China, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Afp, BEIJING, The U.S, Mexico, Washington, San Francisco

On Nov. 18, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced that authorities in northern Myanmar had handed over some 31,000 suspects. The Kokang Self-Administered Zone and the Wa Self-Administered Division both share a border with China and are heavily influenced by their bigger neighbor. The Ming family are not the only powerful Kokang families caught up in the drive. Wa police handed 194 Chinese nationals to Chinese authorities on Nov. 28, according to Wa's state media, Voice of Wa State. Others say that China is showing it won't tolerate the scams anymore, regardless of how powerful are the people behind them.

Persons: ”, Lu Jiantang, Jason Tower, Ming, Hu Xijin, ” Hu, Wei Qingtao, they’ll, ” Wei, Liu Zhengqi, Ming Xuechang, Kokang, Yin Masan, MNDAA, cyberscammers, Richard Horsey, “, Bai Suocheng, Li Kyar Wen, It’s, Wanqing Chen Organizations: China’s Ministry of Public Security, U.S . Congress, United States Institute of Peace, Communist Party, China’s Communist Party, CCTV, Global Times, of Public Security, Fully, Wa Construction Ministry, Wa Communist Party, Brotherhood Alliance, Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, National Liberation Army, International Crisis Locations: BANGKOK, China, Myanmar, “, Wa, Kokang, Yunnan, Wa State, Shan, Arakan, cyberscams, Beijing

☆ DouYu CEO Chen Shaojie arrested in latest executive crackdown in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Michelle Toh | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —The chairman and CEO of Chinese video game live-streaming platform DouYu has been arrested, becoming the latest business leader to run afoul of authorities in the world’s second largest economy. DouYu (DOYU) said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that its chief, Chen Shaojie, had been arrested by police in the southwestern city of Chengdu on or around November 16. State-run news agency Xinhua cited the statement as confirmation that the DouYu executive had been arrested. Sweeping crackdownChen is one of the latest high-flying executives in China to come under scrutiny by authorities. Chen founded DouYu and quickly built it into one of China’s most valuable startups.

Persons: Chen Shaojie, Chen, Chen’s, DouYu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Xinhua, Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Public Security, CNN, International Locations: China, Hong Kong, Chengdu, New York

☆ Myanmar hands over to China thousands of telecom fraud suspects
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Myanmar authorities have handed over 31,000 telecom fraud suspects to China since law enforcement officers from both countries launched a crackdown on online scams in September, Chinese authorities said on Tuesday. More than 100,000 people engage in telecom fraud each day in at least 1,000 scam centres in Myanmar, which shares a border with southwest China, Chinese state media has reported. The Myanmar ringleader of a gang committed suicide last week while on the run from Myanmar authorities, Chinese police said. With telecom scams in Myanmar targeting Chinese citizens surging, Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong visited Myanmar this month, saying China was ready to work with Myanmar on tackling cross-border crime including online gambling. Nong also said China supported Myanmar in maintaining stability on their common border as Myanmar's junta battled insurgents in the area.

Persons: Nong Rong, Nong, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo Organizations: Ministry of Public Security, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Myanmar, China

☆ Biden removes sanctions from Chinese institute in push for fentanyl help
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Washington put the institute on the list in 2020 over alleged abuses against Uyghurs and other minority groups, effectively barring it from receiving most goods from U.S. suppliers. Former Chinese ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang in an interview last year described it as "shocking" the U.S. would sanction the institute, which he described as essential to controlling fentanyl. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As part of the meeting, the men agreed to cooperate on addressing the source of the opioid fentanyl, with China promising to go directly after specific chemical companies that make fentanyl precursors. Reporting by Paul Grant and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, Biden, U.S . Qin Gang, Xi Jinping, Paul Grant, Alexandra Alper, Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama, Josie Kao Organizations: of Commerce, REUTERS, Rights, Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science, U.S . Qin, Reuters, Economic Cooperation, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Federal Register, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Beijing, United States, Washington, U.S, San Francisco, Asia, China, State

These are then smuggled into the United States, the officials say. Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on 28 people and entities involved with the international proliferation of illicit drugs, including a large China-based network. Biden is also due to meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in San Francisco. In San Francisco, state and local officials have tried to clean up drugs from the city's streets, with limited success. "We know San Francisco - and cities across the United States - will benefit from more targeting of the trafficking and production of fentanyl worldwide," a spokesperson for Breed said in a statement.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, Mike Odeh, Jake Sullivan, Washington, General Merrick Garland, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Alicia Barcena, Brooke Jenkins, Mayor London Breed, Breed, Michael Martina, Sayantani Ghosh, Michelle Nichols, Josie Kao Organizations: Customs, Port, U.S . Customs, FRANCISCO, U.S, Economic Cooperation, United, city's, APEC, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, . National, Washington, Biden, Institute of Forensic Science, China's Ministry of Public Security, Commerce, San Francisco . Mexican Foreign, Mayor London, Thomson Locations: Arizona, Mexico, Nogales , Arizona, U.S, Asia, Pacific, San Francisco, United States, China, CHINA, MEXICO, Washington, San Francisco . Mexican, Francisco's

☆ US set to take action to win China's cooperation on fentanyl
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Biden will discuss the issue with China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in San Francisco at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that Washington hoped the summit would result in action to help combat the fentanyl trade. China has long questioned why the U.S. would expect cooperation on fentanyl while targeting the institute. China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the fentanyl issue. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is increasingly mixed with other illicit drugs, often with lethal results.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Karine Jean, Pierre, Leah Millis, Joe Biden's, Bejing, Biden, Xi Jinping, Washington, Marsha Blackburn, Blackburn, Michael Martina, Michelle Nichols, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: National, White House Press, White, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, China's Institute of Forensic Science, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, China's, Economic Cooperation, . National, Washington, Institute of Forensic Science, China's Ministry of Public Security, Commerce, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, Washington, San Francisco, Asia, U.S, China, America, China's

CNN —The Chinese government has built up the world’s largest known online disinformation operation and is using it to harass US residents, politicians, and businesses—at times threatening its targets with violence, a CNN review of court documents and public disclosures by social media companies has found. Victims face a barrage of tens of thousands of social media posts that call them traitors, dogs, and racist and homophobic slurs. While tech and social media companies have shut down thousands of accounts targeting these victims, they’re outpaced by a slew of new accounts emerging virtually every day. As part of a mission “to manipulate public perceptions of [China], the Group uses its misattributed social media accounts to threaten, harass and intimidate specific victims,” the complaint states. In the past, the Spamouflage network mostly focused on issues domestically relevant to China.

Persons: –, Xi Jinping, Biden, Mike Gallagher, Chen Pokong, ”, Chen, “, Spamouflage’s, Liu Pengyu, ” Liu, Jiayang, Darren Linvill, hasn’t, Fan, Communist Party playbook, Mandiant, Nancy Pelosi, ” Ben Nimmo, George Floyd’s, Ben Nimmo, Lindsay Gorman, Gorman, ” Linvill, Linvill, Spamouflage, Jiajun Qiu, Qiu, ” Qiu Organizations: CNN, US State Department, FBI, Communist Party, Meta, Google, ”, CCP, US Department of Justice, Department, DOJ, China’s Ministry of Public Security, Group, New Yorker, telltale, Media, Clemson University, Capitol, Department of Homeland Security, Marshall Fund’s Alliance, Securing Democracy, YouTube Locations: United States, Beijing, San Francisco, China “, New York, China, New York City, America, Washington, Hong Kong, US, Texas, Virginia, Manassas , Virginia

SYDNEY/BEIJING Nov 13 (Reuters) - Australia scored a significant win for influence in the Pacific Islands region with a trump card that China, seeking to expand security ties, doesn't have: the opportunity of resettlement. "It is something China can't do," said Australian National University Pacific expert Graeme Smith. "China can turn up and offer more infrastructure money... they can't turn up and offer this kind of resettlement relationship. Australia also will be able to block any policing deal between China and Tuvalu - as well as any telecommunications, energy or port deal - under its treaty. "Cooperation in the Pacific region tends to focus on non-traditional security, including maintenance of public security and infrastructure to deal with climate change," he added.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Kausea Natano, Graeme Smith, Richard Marles, Peter Dean, Smith, Wang Yiwei, Kirsty Needham, Martin Pollard, Miral Organizations: SYDNEY, Pacific, Australian National University Pacific, Pacific Islanders, Defence, United States Studies Centre, Albanese's, Pacific Games, State, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Renmin University, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Australia, China, Tuvalu, Washington, Beijing, Rarotonga, Sydney, Pacific Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Kiribati, U.S, United States, Pacific

☆ Vietnam rare earths arrests include key figure in bid to build industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Luu Anh Tuan, Chairman of mining company VTRE in his Hanoi office with samples of rare earth oxides in Hanoi, Vietnam September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Francesco Guarascio/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHANOI, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Police in Vietnam have arrested six people accused of violating mining regulations, including the chairman of a company at the heart of efforts to develop Vietnam's rare earth industry, seizing 13,715 tons of rare earths ores. VTRE has partnered with Australian mining companies Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) (ASM.AX) and Blackstone Minerals LTD (BSX.AX), which were not involved in the investigation. ASM signed a binding agreement in April with VTRE for the purchase of 100 tons of processed rare earths this year, and committed to negotiating a longer-term supply deal. Vietnam is planning to organise auctions for concessions at its largely unexploited rare earths mines, which are considered to contain the world's second biggest deposits of the critical minerals used in electric cars and wind turbines.

Persons: Anh Tuan, Francesco Guarascio, Yen Bai, VTRE, Blackstone, Dong Pao, Tuan, Doan Van Huan, Khanh Vu, Edmund Klamann, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Police, Earth JSC, Duong Group, Ministry of Public Security, Strategic Materials, Blackstone Minerals LTD, Blackstone, ASM, Australian, Thai Duong Group, Thomson Locations: Hanoi, Vietnam, Rights HANOI, Vietnamese, Yen, Lai Chau, Yen Bai

☆ Exclusive: Star Chinese fund manager Wang detained and under investigation - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Wang Yawei, a star fund manager in China, has been detained by authorities since August and is under investigation, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter. The 52-year-old founder of Qianhe Capital Management in Shenzhen and Top Ace Asset Management in Hong Kong is the latest high-profile Chinese business executive to be investigated or detained. His case relates to an investigation into Zhu Congjiu, a former senior official at China's top securities regulator, the sources said. Before setting up his own shop, Wang spent 14 years at China Asset Management Co (AMC), one of the country's largest mutual fund houses, as its vice-president and chief investment officer. Zhu is one of several former China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) officials to come under scrutiny in recent years.

Persons: Wang Yawei, Zhu Congjiu, Wang, Zhu, Xi, Sumeet Chatterjee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Qianhe Capital Management, Asset Management, Communist, Central Commission, Ministry of Public Security, Qianhe, China Asset Management Co, AMC, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Shanghai bourse, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Zhejiang province

☆ Costa Rica president to visit Panama amid migration crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves Robles speaks during his joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 24 March 2023. Yoan Valat/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPANAMA CITY, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves will visit Panama's Darien Gap in early October in an effort to contain a migrant crisis, both countries said on Saturday. Some 390,000 people have crossed to Panama from Colombia, traversing the Darien Gap, between January and September. Most of them are Venezuelans, with others from Ecuador, Haiti and other countries, according to Panama's Ministry of Security. Reporting by Elida Moreno in Panama City; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Emmanuel Macron, Yoan, Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Public Security Juan Pino, Mario Zamora, Elida Moreno, Oliver Griffin, William Mallard Organizations: Costa Rica, PANAMA CITY, Panama's, Public Security, Costa, Panama's Ministry of Security, Thomson Locations: Costa, Paris, France, PANAMA, Darien, Costa Rican, United States, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama City

☆ Costa Rica President to Visit Panama Amid Migration Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

By Elida MorenoPANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves will visit Panama's Darien Gap in early October in an effort to contain a migrant crisis, both countries said on Saturday. Panama's Minister of Public Security Juan Pino and his Costa Rican counterpart, Mario Zamora, on Saturday visited communities in the dangerous stretch of jungle, where thousands of migrants pass each day on their way toward the United States. Some 390,000 people have crossed to Panama from Colombia, traversing the Darien Gap, between January and September. Most of them are Venezuelans, with others from Ecuador, Haiti and other countries, according to Panama's Ministry of Security. (Reporting by Elida Moreno in Panama City; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by William Mallard)

Persons: Elida Moreno, Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Public Security Juan Pino, Mario Zamora, Oliver Griffin, William Mallard Organizations: Elida Moreno PANAMA CITY, Panama's, Public Security, Costa, Panama's Ministry of Security Locations: Darien, Costa Rican, United States, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama City

BANGKOK (AP) — One of Myanmar’s biggest and most powerful ethnic minority militias has arrested and repatriated more than 1,200 Chinese nationals allegedly involved in criminal online scam operations, an official of the group said Saturday. The arrests were carried out in territory controlled by the United Wa State Army, or UWSA, in eastern Shan state in raids on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nyi Rang, a liaison officer from the militia, told The Associated Press. The United Wa State Army is the biggest and strongest ethnic armed organization among the major ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, with an army of approximately 30,000 well-equipped soldiers and sophisticated weaponry including heavy artillery and helicopters, from China, with which it maintains close relations. The U.N. report about Southeast Asian cybercrime said the online fraud gangs were also active in southeastern Kayin state on the Thai border. The complexes were developed by Chinese investors in cooperation with the local Border Guard Forces, which are militias affiliated with Myanmar’s army.

Persons: Nyi Rang, —, Wa, Aung, Suu Kyi, Chen Hai, cybercrime, Shwe Kokko Organizations: Myanmar’s, United Wa State Army, Associated Press, Human Rights, United Wa State Party, Beijing’s Ministry of Public Security, Foreign, Border Guard Forces Locations: BANGKOK, Shan, Wa, Yunnan province, Asia, Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kayin, Mong, China, Thailand, Suu, Thai, Shwe, Myawaddy

☆ China suspected of using AI on social media to sway US voters, Microsoft says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Paul Ratje/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 7 (Reuters) - Microsoft researchers said on Thursday they found what they believe is a network of fake, Chinese-controlled social media accounts seeking to influence U.S. voters by using artificial intelligence. A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said that accusations of China using AI to create fake social media accounts were "full of prejudice and malicious speculation" and that China advocates for the safe use of AI. In a new research report, Microsoft said the social media accounts were part of a suspected Chinese information operation. The U.S. government has accused Russia of meddling in the 2016 election with a covert social media campaign and has warned of subsequent efforts by China, Russia and Iran to influence voters. A Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters that the company's researcher used a "multifaceted attribution model," which relies on "technical evidence, behavioral evidence and contextual evidence."

Persons: Paul Ratje, Christopher Bing, Cynthia Osterman, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Center, REUTERS, Microsoft, U.S . Department of Justice, Ministry of Public Security, Facebook, Twitter, Reuters, Liberty, Thomson Locations: Dona Ana, Las Cruces , New Mexico, U.S, Washington, China, Russia, Iran, United States

☆ Chinese social media campaigns are successfully impersonating U.S. voters, Microsoft warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese state-aligned influence and disinformation campaigns are impersonating U.S. voters and targeting political candidates on multiple social media platforms with improved sophistication, Microsoft said in a threat analysis report Thursday. Chinese influence campaigns have historically struggled to gain traction with intended targets, who in this case are U.S. voters and residents. Policymakers and industry experts have expressed concern about foreign influence campaigns on social media platforms, especially on X, formerly known as Twitter. Microsoft found content from Chinese influence campaigns on multiple apps, including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn, and X. In August, Facebook parent Meta announced it had disrupted the largest ever identified disinformation campaign and linked it to China state-affiliated actors.

Persons: Elon Musk, Microsoft's Organizations: U.S, Microsoft, Communist Party, Twitter, Democratic House, Facebook, Meta, CCP, Embassy, Washington , D.C, Justice Department, China's Ministry of Public Security Locations: East Asia, China, U.S, Washington ,

☆ China's sprawling spy agencies are designed to root out the 'five poisons' at home and abroad, British intelligence says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Yin Gang/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Xinhua via Getty ImagesIn a recent report to parliament, the British intelligence services detailed the operations and goals of the Chinese intelligence services. The Chinese intelligence services are also collecting information on the Chinese democracy movement at home and abroad — including in the US — in an attempt to subvert it. According to the British intelligence report, Xi has sought to make Chinese intelligence activity more professional through reform and investment. "In more ways than one, the broad remit of the Chinese Intelligence Services poses a significant challenge to Western attempts to counter their activity," the report said, citing assessments by British intelligence officers. "To compound the problem, it is not just the Chinese Intelligence Services: the Chinese Communist Party co-opts every state institution, company and citizen.

Persons: Yin, Ma Ying, Xi Jinping, Chuang, Gong, Dalai Lama, Murad Sezer, Xi, Xie Huanchi, hoover, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, intel, Beijing, Service, Ministry of Public Security, Yin Gang, Getty, Xinhua, of State Security, of Public Security, Force, NSA, REUTERS, CCP, of, People, US National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Chinese Intelligence Services, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, Xinhua, Taipei, Singapore, Xinjiang, Taiwan, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Istanbul, Johns

☆ Mexican city will fine anyone performing misogynistic songs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Authorities in the Mexican city of Chihuahua have moved to ban performances of songs that “promote violence against women,” citing high levels of domestic violence. The law bans the performance of songs that promote violence against women, as well as their discrimination, marginalization or exclusion, said Bonilla. Narcocorridos and corridos tumbados, types of homegrown Mexican music linked to violence and the drug trade, could also be affected. In 2012, the city banned popular Mexican group Los Tigres del Norte after the band played three songs categorized as narcocorridos. Chihuahua city is the capital of Chihuahua state in northern Mexico.

Persons: Marco Bonilla, ” Bonilla, Valerie Macon, ”, Bonilla, councilwoman Paty Ulate, Ulate, “, corridos, Natanael Cano, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, corridos tumbados Organizations: CNN, Authorities, Facebook, Getty, Instituto Municipal de, Tigres del Norte, Ciudad Juárez Locations: Mexican, Chihuahua, AFP, Mexico, Ciudad

The decree fulfills a campaign promise by Lula, who criticized looser gun controls under Bolsonaro, arguing they were responsible for a wave of political violence during last year's election. The country has nearly 800,000 registered gun owners, up from 117,467 in 2018 when Bolsonaro was elected, according to the 2023 Brazilian Yearbook of Public Security. Lula's decree rolled back firearms access for that group. Lula's decree also closes a loophole that allowed many gun owners to go out in public with loaded weapons if they claimed to be going to a gun club. Gun owners who bought their weapons during the previous administration will not be forced to give them up, but the decree envisages a buyback program starting this year.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Jair Bolsonaro, Lula, Bolsonaro, Lula's, Lisandra, Gabriel Stargardter, Brad Haynes, David Holmes, Richard Chang Organizations: of Public Security, Brazilian Armed Forces, CAC, Gun, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Brazil, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro

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