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☆ Former US Marine pilot arrested in Australia worked with Chinese hacker unknowingly, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A former US Marine pilot fighting extradition from Australia on US charges of training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers, unknowingly worked with a Chinese hacker, his lawyer said. The lawyer’s filing supports Reuters reporting linking Duggan to convicted Chinese defense hacker Su Bin. The case will be heard in a Sydney court this month, two years after his arrest in rural Australia at a time when Britain was warning its former military pilots not to work for China. Su Bin, arrested in Canada in 2014, pleaded guilty in 2016 to theft of US military aircraft designs by hacking major US defense contractors. Duggan asked Su Bin to help source Chinese aircraft parts for his Top Gun tourist flight business in Australia, Collaery wrote.

Persons: CNN —, Daniel Duggan, Duggan, Su Bin, Bernard Collaery, Mark Dreyfus, Collaery, Su Bin “, ”, AVIC, “, Mr Duggan Organizations: CNN, US Marine, Reuters, Gun, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, US, AVIC, ASIO, US Navy Criminal Investigation Service, United Locations: Australia, Australian, Beijing, Sydney, Britain, China, Canada, United States, Australia’s Tasmania, backdated

☆ Generative AI's disinformation threat is 'overblown,' top cyber expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In APAC alone, there was a surge in deepfakes by 1530% from 2022 to 2023, according to a Sumsub report. But one top expert is going against the grain, suggesting instead that the threat deep fakes pose to democracy may be "overblown." However, new generative AI tools do "threaten to make the generation of fake content easier," he added. In any case, it is unlikely that the generation of content is limiting attackers," Lee said. Experts have previously told CNBC that they expect AI-generated disinformation to be a key risk in upcoming elections around the world.

Persons: Martin Lee, Lee Organizations: Cisco's, CNBC Locations: deepfakes

☆ RSA CEO Rohit Ghai says emergent 5G technology increases the need to protect critical networks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Rosalie Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Emergent 5G technology is faster and more secure than ever. "There's a huge amount of intellectual property and corporate data that sits on mobile devices," Ghai said. 5G networks are very, very dynamic. The other change is using identity and access governance to make sure privileged access to IT and OT [operational technology] networks is managed. That same pattern follows in 5G networks.

Persons: Rohit Ghai, Ghai, —, It's Organizations: Service, RSA, Infrastructure Security, 5G Locations: San Francisco, cybersecurity

☆ Elon Musk vs Australia: Fight heats up over Sydney church stabbing video on X
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The country’s e-safety commissioner ordered social media giants to take it down. Australia wants X to remove the video completely, not just hide it from Australian users who could circumvent a local ban by using virtual private networks. With her message to Musk, Australian Senator Jacqui Lambie posted an image of herself in army fatigues taken at a Veteran Mentors' Junior Leadership camp in January. President David Adler told CNN he hadn’t been asked to take it down, either by X or Australia’s e-safety commissioner. In a statement Wednesday, Australia’s eSafety commissioner said the takedown request wasn’t designed to stifle discussion about the church attack.

Persons: Elon Musk, that’s, X, ’, Anthony Albanese, Jacqui Lambie, “, hadn’t, ”, fatigues, AJA, David Adler, Adler, AJA hasn’t, Krissy Barrett, Reece Kershaw, Marcus Hoyne, Bishop, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, Joanne Gray, Grzegorz Wajda, Gray, Musk, Musk’s, Australia’s, Lambie’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Christian Church, Australian, Leadership, Australian Jewish Association, CNN, ” CNN, Joint Counter, Counter, New South Wales Police Seven, Australian Federal Police, AFP, Australia’s Security Intelligence Organisation, National Press Club, Musk, Court, Bishop Mar, Good Shepherd, University of Sydney, European Jewish Association, X Corp Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Tasmania, United States, New, Australia’s, Krakow, Poland

☆ Canada spies found China 'clandestinely and deceptively' interfered in last two elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Canada's domestic spy agency concluded that China interfered in the last two elections, an official probe heard on Monday, the firmest evidence so far of suspected Chinese meddling in Canadian politics. Canada's domestic spy agency has concluded that China interfered in the last two elections, based on the firmest evidence so far of suspected Chinese meddling in Canadian politics. Under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China's possible role, Trudeau set up a commission into foreign interference. "We know that the PRC (Peoples' Republic of China) clandestinely and deceptively interfered in both the 2019 and 2021 elections," it said. "State actors are able to conduct foreign interference successfully in Canada because there are few legal or political consequences.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, Trudeau, Erin O'Toole Organizations: Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Peoples, Global News, Conservatives, CSIS Locations: China, Peoples ' Republic of China, PRC, Canada

☆ Opinion: Intelligence briefings for Trump are risky – but so is denial of briefings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Opinion Frederick D. Baron | Dennis Aftergut | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The White House reportedly plans to follow tradition and authorize national security briefings for Trump after he officially becomes his party’s nominee at the Republican National Convention in July. Serious financial need is a top reason for denial of clearances for federal government positions requiring access to classified national security information, due to vulnerability to bribery or coercion. Given the risks posed by Trump’s access to national security intelligence, we must ask whether Biden’s asymmetrical belief in sticking to political norms is an Achilles heel. In opting to provide intelligence briefings to candidate Trump, they are likely to impose conditions on the briefings for security reasons. In granting intelligence briefings to his rival, he clearly reasoned that preserving a nonpartisan tradition was the wisest decision at this difficult moment in the nation’s history.

Persons: Frederick D, Baron, Dennis Aftergut, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Frederick Baron, Cooley, Biden, Trump, Jamie Raskin, Robert Hur’s, Jack Smith, Raskin, “, Putin, ”, Steve Benen, John Bolton, Obama, John Brennan, Adam Schiff, • Organizations: of National Security, Department of Justice, Intelligence, Defending American Democracy, CNN, Trump, White, Republican National Convention, Sensible, Southern District of, Maryland, Foreign Relations, Helsinki Trump, NATO, MSNBC, Mar, National Security Council, National Security, CIA, House Intelligence, Thursday’s State, Union Locations: Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Russia, Helsinki, “, New York, Thursday’s

☆ South Korea's top intelligence officials resign
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Nov 26 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted the resignation of head of the intelligence agency and his two deputies on Sunday, his office said. Yoon's office did not specify any reasons for the resignations. But local media have reported there were troubles during previous personnel reshuffles at the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Yoon appointed two senior NIS officials to take over the deputy positions immediately, his office said. "Director Kim worked to reestablish the status of the NIS as the nation's top security intelligence agency during a government change, and build a collaboration system with intelligence agencies of friendly countries," Yoon's office said in a statement.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, reshuffles, Kim Kyou, Yoon, Kim, Hyonhee Shin, William Mallard Organizations: National Intelligence Service, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Korea

☆ Five Eyes intelligence chiefs warn on China's 'theft' of intellectual property
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Zeba Siddiqui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The officials from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - known as the Five Eyes intelligence sharing network - made the comments following meetings with private companies in the U.S. innovation hub Silicon Valley. From quantum technology and robotics to biotechnology and artificial intelligence, China was stealing secrets in various sectors, the officials said. In response, Chinese government spokesman Liu Pengyu said the country was committed to intellectual property protection. The U.S. has long accused China of intellectual property theft and the issue has been a key sore point in U.S.-China relations. "The Chinese government is engaged in the most sustained scaled and sophisticated theft of intellectual property and expertise in human history," said Mike Burgess, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's director-general.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Jim Bourg, Wray, Liu Pengyu, Mike Burgess, Burgess, we've, Zeba Siddiqui, Jamie Freed Organizations: Committee, Federal Bureau of Investigation, REUTERS, Rights STANFORD, FBI, Reuters, The, Australian Security Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, California, China, United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.S, Valley . U.S, Washington, The U.S, Australian, Stanford , California

☆ U.S. supports Finland, Estonia as it probes Baltic Sea pipe burst, says Blinken
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The picture provided by The Finnish Border Guard shows Finnish Border Guard's offshore patrol vessel Turva guarding on October 11, 2023 at sea near the place where damaged Balticconnector gas pipeline is pinpointed at the Gulf of Finland. Lehtikuva/FINNISH BORDER GUARD via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday the United States would support Finland and Estonia as they probe damage to a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable under the Baltic Sea. Location of damaged gas pipeEarlier on Thursday, Finnish intelligence said it could not rule out the possibility of a "state actor" being involved in damaging the infrastructure. "Involvement of a state actor in this job cannot be ruled out," Finnish Security Intelligence Service Director Antti Pelttari told reporters. A chief investigator also said that it currently looked like the damage was caused by "mechanical force", not an explosion.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Finland's Gasgrid, Antti Pelttari, Elviira, Niklas Pollard, Gwladys, Terje Solsvik, Mark Potter, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Finnish Border Guard, GUARD, REUTERS, NATO, NATO Allies, Security Intelligence, Thomson Locations: of Finland, States, Finland, Estonia, Baltic, Brussels, NATO Allies Finland

Most foreign airlines have suspended or curtailed services, leaving passengers uncertain how to leave or reach the country and consular services struggling to keep up with demand for assistance, with priority given to those with missing relatives. Israel's parliamentary finance committee said late on Tuesday it would debate authorising state guarantees for providing war risk insurance for Israeli airlines. British Airways said it would suspend flights to Tel Aviv after diverting a flight from London back to Britain shortly before it was due to reach Tel Aviv, citing security concerns. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Washington remains in talks with U.S. airlines about flights to Israel. Passengers have complained of mounting costs especially for leaving Israel, but airlines deny driving up prices.

Persons: Yiannis, El Al, Sun Dor, Israel, ” Neil Roberts, Jan Lipavsky, Lipavsky, couldn't, Annalena Baerbock, Carsten Spohr, Pete Buttigieg, flydubai, Steven Scheer, Carolyn Cohn, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Michael Kahn, Victoria Klesty, Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher, Huseyin Hayatsever, David Shepardson, Alexander Cornwell, Mark Potter, Lincoln Organizations: Larnaca International Airport, REUTERS, El, Hamas, Association, British Airways, Lufthansa, German, . Transportation, U.S, Nordic, Dubai's Emirates, Etihad Airways, Thomson Locations: Israel, Larnaca, Cyprus, Israeli, Athens, Rome, Madrid, Bucharest, New York, Paris, Istanbul, El, Tel Aviv, London, Britain, Czech, Oman, Prague, Lipavsky, Denmark, Carsten Spohr ., Washington, Norwegian, Oslo, Abu Dhabi, United States, COVID

☆ Australia's new submarines are still 2 decades away from delivery, but the Aussies are already looking out for spies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Australia is working with the US and UK to build nuclear-powered subs and other military technology. It can be intentional — for example, a foreign intelligence service spreading election conspiracies on social media — or unintentional, as when someone unwittingly shares the foreign intelligence service's social-media posts. Australian officials look at the Collins-class submarine HMAS Collins in September 2021. Those Australian intelligence officials echoed worries that US officials have about foreign efforts to compromise AUKUS. US intelligence officials estimate that Chinese espionage steals US economic secrets worth between $200 billion and $600 billion a year.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Anthony Albanese, Tayfun, Andrew Shearer, Mike Burgess, Burgess, CPOIS Damian Pawlenko, Azorian, PETER, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: US, Service, Australia, British, Australian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Australian National Intelligence, of National Intelligence, US Navy, Australian Security Intelligence, ASIO, FBI, Collins, Royal Australian Navy, intel, China Aviation, of State Security, Western, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, Boston College Law School Locations: Australia, France, China, Canberra, San Diego, Virginia, North Dakota, Canada , New Zealand, AUKUS, Soviet, Beijing

"India is important in Western calculations for balancing China, and Canada is not," said Stephanie Carvin, a professor of international relations at Ottawa's Carleton University. A free trade deal would be a "major political win" for both India and Britain, Bajpaee said. Reuters Graphics'WAITING GAME'White House national security adviser John Kirby said the United States was "deeply concerned" and encouraged Indian officials to cooperate in any investigation. Britain, the United States, Canada and others threw out more than 100 Russian diplomats to punish Moscow for an attack it has always denied carrying out. Canada has not made public the intelligence it has because there is an active murder investigation, the senior source said.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Justin Trudeau, Evan Vucci, Stephanie Carvin, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, James, Chietigj Bajpaee, Bajpaee, John Kirby, Trudeau, Kirby, Sergei Skripal, Yulia, Wesley Wark, Canada's, Richard Fadden, Steve Scherer, David Ljunggren, Andrew MacAskill, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Indian, Canada, Bharat, Ottawa's Carleton University, Chatham House, Reuters Graphics, White House, Washington Post, week's, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, CTV, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Britain, China Canada, OTTAWA, Canada, United States, China, Ottawa, Australia, New Zealand, London, England, Moscow, Waterloo , Ontario

☆ Security raid on Chinese academic fuels concern over Australia-China exchanges
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Chinese academic, who specialises in foreign affairs research at a Beijing university, had visited universities in three Australian states in July and August. The Guardian first reported on Monday that the man had his accommodation raided and his laptop taken by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Australian Federal Police in Perth, and was told his visa was being assessed for security reasons. A high-level dialogue between Chinese and Australian academic, industry and media delegations resumed in Beijing on Thursday after a four-year halt. It included a Chinese scholar who had his Australian visa revoked in 2020 by ASIO, amid concern over foreign interference in politics. "Any Chinese academic with an interest in relations with Australia would surely be re-assessing travel plans fearing the same thing could happen to them.

Persons: Florence Lo, Anthony Albanese, James Laurenceson, Greg McCarthy, McCarthy, Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Guardian, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Federal Police, Reuters, ASIO, China Relations Institute, University of Technology, University of Adelaide, Peking University, The Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Western Australia, Beijing, Perth, Sydney, Canberra

☆ Ten dead as clashes resume in Palestinian camp in south Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Residents carry belongings on their heads as they walk near the entrance of Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp during Palestinian faction clash, in Sidon, Lebanon September 11, 2023. The Ain el-Hilweh camp has been rocked by factional clashes since late July between the Palestinian mainstream movement Fatah and Islamist fighters. The two remaining victims were civilians, a Lebanese security source and two Palestinian sources said. One was killed on Saturday when a stray bullet from the clashes reached a town near the camp, the Lebanese security source said. Residents fear a similar scenario to the northern Palestinian camp of Naher al-Bared, where Lebanon's army waged a 15-week onslaught to dislodge Islamist groups in 2007.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Fatah, Fighting, Ain, Naher, Maya Gebeily, Mark Heinrich, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, United, Fatah, Security, UNRWA, Thomson Locations: Ain el, Sidon, Lebanon, Rights BEIRUT, Ain, Palestine, Israel's

☆ Four Killed as Clashes Resume in Palestinian Camp in South Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Four people were killed and dozens wounded in renewed violence between rival groups in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, with a senior Palestinian official flying in on Monday amid fears the bloodshed could spread. Fighting resumed over the weekend after a month-long ceasefire and has killed four people, according to the United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA). At least two of them were civilians, a Lebanese security source and two Palestinian sources said. One was killed on Saturday when a stray bullet from the clashes reached a town near the camp, the Lebanese security source said. Ain el-Hilweh is the largest of 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, hosting around 80,000 of up to 250,000 Palestinians countrywide, according to UNRWA.

Persons: Fatah, Fighting, Ain, Naher, Maya Gebeily, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Palestinian, United Nations, UNRWA, Fatah, Security Locations: BEIRUT, Lebanon, Ain, Palestinian, Israel's, Sidon

☆ New Zealand says it is aware of China-linked intelligence activity in country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JADE GAO/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWELLINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - New Zealand is aware of intelligence activity linked to China in and against the island nation and the Pacific region, it said in a report released on Friday. "This is a complex intelligence concern for New Zealand," the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) said in the annual report. The report also highlighted "foreign interference" activity from Iran and Russia. The report added that, more broadly, the international security environment in which New Zealand operates is now more challenging and less predictable than in recent decades. The intelligence report also noted that technological innovation, global economic instability and declining social trust also posed threats.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Premier Li Qiang, JADE, Alexei Navalny, Andrew Hampton, NZSIS, Lucy Craymer, Richard Chang, Muralikumar Organizations: Zealand, Premier, of, People, JADE GAO, New Zealand, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, New, Russian Embassy, Thomson Locations: Beijing, New Zealand, China, New, Wellington, Australia, Britain, Canada, United States, Iran, Russia, Iranian, Russian

“We’re horrified that something like this could happen, not only to us, but to anyone,” Saffrine Duggan told her supporters. Former US fighter pilot Daniel Duggan is in custody in Australia pending extradition to the US on charges including that he trained Chinese military pilots. Courtesy Saffrine DugganTraining Chinese pilotsDuggan doesn’t deny training Chinese pilots, but he maintains they were civilians – plane enthusiasts seeking to improve their skills or prospective members of China’s then rapidly expanding aviation industry. And a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Defence Force confirmed to Reuters that four of its former military pilots had been recruited by the company. It’s the wrong type of approach and landing.”In its statement to CNN, TFASA denied teaching aircraft carrier approach and landing techniques to Chinese military pilots.

Persons: Daniel Duggan, Duggan, Duggan’s, “, ”, Saffrine, “ We’re, ” Saffrine Duggan, Paul Devitt, Duggan –, –, ” Duggan, Saffrine Duggan, TFASA, they’re, Duggan doesn’t, China’s, Glenn Kolomeitz, ” “ Dan, Richard Marles, It’s, Constant, Daniel Duggan's, Mike Burgess, Ben Hancock, ” Hancock, Hancock, hasn’t, Dan didn’t, “ TFASA, he’s, Xi Jinping, reunify, Joe Biden, Ng Han Guan, Xi, Donald Trump, “ Don’t Organizations: Australia CNN —, Marine Attack Squadron, Intelligence, Security, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Lithgow Correctional Centre, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, US Marines, US State Department, of Defense Trade, Test Flying Academy of South, CNN, TFASA, Embassy, Former, Saffrine Duggan Training, Australian Defence Force, RAF, UK Defence Ministry, UK Armed Forces, Australia’s, New Zealand’s Defence Force, Reuters, Marles, ASIO, Buckeye, Marine Corps, US Navy, Aircraft, Training Squadron, US Department of Defense, Harrier, Getty, Pacific Locations: Brisbane, Australia, United States, Yuma , Arizona, China, Beijing, Lithgow, Sydney, Australian, Test Flying Academy of South Africa, Tasmania, South Africa, Former US, New South Wales, Persian, Asia, Townsville, Pensacola, Fla, Western, Taiwan, AFP

☆ Former F.B.I. Analyst Goes to Prison for Taking Classified Documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Adam Goldman | Traci Angel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

intelligence analyst from Kansas received nearly four years in prison on Wednesday in a case that bears parallels to that of former President Donald J. Trump, including the same charge of willful retention of national security secrets. The analyst, Kendra Kingsbury, 50, was accused of improperly removing and unlawfully taking home about 386 classified documents to her personal residence in Dodge City, Kan. She pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Espionage Act. During her sentencing hearing in Federal District Court in Kansas City, Mo., Ms. Kingsbury said she was loyal and did not apologize for taking the records. She was “guilty of being too honest,” Ms. Kingsbury said, because she had told the F.B.I. Some of the documents would have revealed the “government’s most important and secretive methods of collecting essential national security intelligence,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo, adding that she removed sensitive documents during the more than 12 years she worked in the F.B.I.’s office in Kansas City.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Kendra Kingsbury, Kingsbury, Ms Organizations: Kansas, Federal, Court Locations: Dodge City, Kan, Kansas City, Mo

CNN —Canada’s former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole has accused China of targeting him with misinformation and voter suppression campaigns during the 2021 election, citing intelligence from Canada’s spy agency. Canadian Security Intelligence Service last week identified multiple threats against him, O’Toole told Parliament on Tuesday. O’Toole emphasized that alleged misinformation occurred in the run-up to the 2021 general election, which saw the reelection of a Liberal Party government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Earlier this month, Canada expelled an accredited Chinese diplomat accused of involvement in a harassment campaign against Canadian opposition lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives. China has repeatedly dismissed previous claims of political interference in Canada’s political system.

Persons: CNN —, Erin O’Toole, O’Toole, ”, Justin Trudeau, Michael Chong, Chong, Marco Mendicino, Mendicino, Meng Wanzhou, Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor, Meng Organizations: CNN, Conservative Party, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Liberal Party, Huawei, Canadian Public Safety, CSIS, ” Locations: China, Canada, Canadian, Beijing

OTTAWA, May 8 (Reuters) - Canada on Monday expelled Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei after an intelligence report accused him of trying to target a Canadian lawmaker critical of China's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority. The expulsion escalates already tense Sino-Canadian relations and is likely to prompt China, Canada's second-largest trading partner, to respond. China's embassy in Ottawa said it condemns the expulsion, and that it has formally protested the move to the government. China's Toronto consulate-general said the report on Chong has "no factual basis and is purely baseless." Trudeau said he found out about the intelligence report from the newspaper, and on Wednesday blamed the spy agency for not passing it onto him at the time.

CNN —Canada decided to expel a Chinese diplomat on Monday, following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling, which Beijing has fiercely denied. “Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr. Zhao Wei,” read a statement by Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly. The intelligence service also said that Beijing had tried to sway the outcome of Canada’s federal elections in 2019 and 2021. Chong himself has focused much of his criticism on Trudeau’s government, which he says was too slow to act. Last week, Joly previewed the possibility of retaliatory action against China, but warned that Canada needed to carefully weigh how China might react.

☆ Canada summons Chinese ambassador over allegations of political interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Paula Newton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Ottawa CNN —Canada summoned China’s ambassador on Wednesday to respond to allegations of political interference and intimidation. However, she admitted Canada’s government was carefully weighing the possibility of retaliation by China, which denies interfering in Canadian political affairs. CNN asked China’s foreign ministry about the allegations, specifically the accusations made by CSIS about political interference and attempts at intimidation made by a Chinese diplomat. “China always opposes any country’s interference in other countries internal affairs. We have never had and have no interest in interfering in Canada’s internal affairs.

☆ Canada's spy agency withheld information about China's threats to lawmaker, Trudeau says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, May 3 (Reuters) - Canada's spy agency withheld information about Chinese threats against a Canadian lawmaker and his family in 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, adding that he had told the agency that in the future such threats must be revealed immediately. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had determined that information about the threats against Michael Chong, a member of parliament with Canada's main opposition Conservative party, were not concerning enough to inform him, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. Trudeau has previously said China attempted to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 votes, but did not change the outcome. On Wednesday, Trudeau said he learned about the threats against Chong from the Globe report and upon enquiring about it, found out that CSIS had decided to withhold information. Chong was sanctioned by Beijing in 2021 after his motion passed the Canadian parliament declaring China's treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority genocide.

SYDNEY, April 17 (Reuters) - The lawyer for an Australian charged with foreign interference said his client had become "very worried" about two alleged foreign intelligence agents while living in Shanghai and returned to Australia after a decade-long career in China. Csergo is alleged to have accepted cash for writing reports, which Australian federal police say contained information about Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation had searched Csergo's laptop and WeChat accounts upon his return from Shanghai, the court was told. "The Chinese did not want it to be known they were making these inquiries and receiving these reports," Barko commented. Csergo, 55, appeared in court via video link from Parklea Prison where he is being held as a high security prisoner.

☆ New Zealand intelligence service says foreign interference attempts 'persistent'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WELLINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) - Attempts by some countries to interfere with New Zealand's democracy, economy and civil society "are persistent", according to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service's (NZSIS) annual report. The report said it had identified increasingly aggressive activity from individuals seen as conducting intelligence and associated with a "small number of foreign states" that it did not name. "These individuals pose an enduring threat to New Zealand's national security," the agency added in the report released this week, which covers the year ended June 2022. "For some states, these activities are enduring and persistent," it said, though it added greater awareness of the issue had made it more challenging for countries to conduct interference activity. The NZSIS report said New Zealand also cannot take regional Pacific security for granted, because it had become an important theatre of geopolitical competition.

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