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☆ The US Army's new plan to counter Russia and China has a glaring problem, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The 2024 Army Force Structure Transformation would be the Army's fifth major reorganization since 2003. The most striking aspect of the Army's plan is the large number of new units, for counter-drone protection as well as air and missile defense. In addition, there would be nine counter-small UAS batteries tasked with destroying small drones, and four more Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) battalions to stop manned aircraft, helicopters and drones. Monica K. Guthrie/US ArmyThe Army is also basing its plans on untried weapons, such as the Long-Range Hypersonic Missile and air defense lasers. China and Russia have much stronger air and missile forces than the regional opponents the army has faced for the last generation."

Persons: Monica K, Mark Cancian, Cancian, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Army, 2024, Army, Business, Congressional Research Service, Congress, Air Defense, Domain, Forces, CRS, Special Operations Forces, Security Force, Guthrie, Energy, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, Nuclear Forces, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Russia, China, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Forbes

☆ Stock market today: Dow aims for 8-day win streak with next week's CPI report in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US stocks jumped on Friday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average vied for an 8-day win streak. The upcoming April CPI report next week is the big data point that could move markets. AdvertisementUS stocks edged higher on Friday, setting the Dow Jones Industrial Average up for a potential eight-day win streak. Next week, investors will be laser-focused on the Wednesday release of April's inflation report, with economists expecting a 0.3% rise in the consumer price index. Fundstrat's Tom Lee said a light CPI report next week could set the stock market up for more gains in May.

Persons: —, Jerome Powell, Michelle Bowman, Lorie Logan, Austan Goolsbee, Neel Kashkari, Michael Barr, Tom Lee, Lee Organizations: Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, Service, Federal Locations: Fundstrat, Here's

☆ Behind America's divided economy: Booming luxury travel and a jump in 'relief' loans
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

First-class travel has exhibited special strength, though management noted that can be tied in part to a resurgence of business trips. People taking these loans are more likely to be lower-income with no more than a high school diploma, Lanier said. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesFrozen food maker Tyson Foods has seen consumers shifting more to eating at home than the quick-service restaurants it supplies. It's also important to remember that lower-income Americans were feeling financial pressures before the pandemic, said Tyler Schipper, an associate professor of economics at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Airbnb touted interest in travel to events like the Paris Olympics and the European Cup in Germany this summer.

Persons: there's, It's, Christophe Le Caillec, underscoring, Blair Lanier, Lanier, McDonald's, Tyson, Daniel Acker, Tyson Foods, Stanley Black, Decker, Jane Fraser, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Fraser, Nancy Lazar, Piper Sandler, Tyler Schipper, Thomas, Schipper, Eric Thayer, We've, Cliff Pemble Organizations: TSN, American Express, Federal Reserve, CNBC, People, University of Michigan, San Francisco Federal Reserve, U.S, PepsiCo, Bloomberg, Getty, Tyson, Management, Adobe Analytics, Furniture, Citigroup, University of St, Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Caribbean . Booking Holdings, Paris Olympics, European, Ticketmaster, Cedar Fair, Flags, Wayfair, Garmin Locations: America, U.S, Minnesota, New York, Germany, Valencia , California

☆ McDonald’s is working to introduce a $5 value meal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald's is working to introduce a value meal in U.S. stores to help offset an increasingly challenging environment for consumers, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC. The value meal was first reported by Bloomberg News. The potential new offering comes at a time when low-income consumers are beginning to pull back on spending, particularly at fast-food brands. Mentions of low-income consumers on company earnings calls are at their highest levels in nearly two years, according to data from Bank of America. An initial proposal by McDonald's for the $5 value meal did not clear necessary hurdles, and additional details are now being discussed, according to a person familiar with the process.

Persons: McDonald's, Dave, Buster's, Chris Kempczinski, Kempczinski, Ian Borden, — CNBC's Amelia Lucas Organizations: CNBC, Bloomberg News, Bank of America, McDonald's, U.S Locations: U.S

☆ Opinion | Give Me Laundry Liberty or Give Me Death!
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

MAGA Republicans say that America is in crisis: The economy is collapsing while the nation is being overrun by hordes of violent immigrants. But if that’s what you believe, you should be laser-focused on fighting the clear and present danger, right? In April, Republicans planned to vote on a series of more specific bills: the Liberty in Laundry Act, the Refrigerator Freedom Act and more. Should the government be trying to limit home energy consumption? If so, should it do so with efficiency mandates for appliances, or in some other way?

Persons: MAGA, they’re Organizations: MAGA Republicans, Republicans, Appliances, Department of Energy, Liberty, Laundry Locations: America

☆ Chinese warplane fired flares, put Australian Navy helicopter in danger, Canberra says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Chinese jet “dropped flares about 300 meters (984 feet) in front of the Seahawk helicopter and about 60 meters (197 feet) above it,” Marles said in an interview with 9 News on Monday. The MH-60 Seahawk is a twin-engine helicopter and carries a crew of three, according to the Australian Navy. “They’re in international waters, international airspace, and they’re doing work to ensure that the sanctions that the world has imposed through the United Nations on North Korea, due to their intransient and reckless behavior, are enforced,” the prime minister told CNN affiliate Nine News. According to Australian public broadcaster ABC, Australian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond raised the Toowoomba incident in a meeting with Chinese navy Adm. Hu Zhongming at an international naval symposium in Qingdao. Earlier in 2022, Australia said a Chinese warship used a laser to “illuminate” an Australian P-8A aircraft in waters north of Australia.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Richard Marles, ” Marles, Albanese, “, ” Albanese, “ We’ve, ”, Maj, Rob Millen, Peter Dutton, Xi Jinping, ” Dutton, Mark Hammond, Hu Zhongming, Hammond Organizations: South Korea CNN —, Seahawk, Nations, Defense Ministry, Australian Defense, Australian Navy, United Nations, North, Australian Defense Ministry, CNN, Nine, Royal Canadian Navy, Australian Defence Force, Nine News, Australian, ABC, ” ABC, Pilots Locations: Seoul, South Korea, South Korea CNN — Australia, North Korea, Canberra, Beijing, China, Canadian, South, Ottawa, Australia, Philippines, Japan, United States, Chinese, Toowoomba, Qingdao, “, South China Sea, ”, Australian

In flip-flops and shorts, one of the finest soldiers in a resistance force battling the military junta in Myanmar showed off his weaponry. Nearby, electrical innards foraged from Chinese-made drones used for agricultural purposes were arrayed on the ground, their wires exposed as if awaiting surgery. Other parts needed to construct homemade drones, including chunks of Styrofoam studded with propellers, crowded a pair of leaf-walled shacks. Despite the ragtag conditions, rebel drone units have managed to upend the power balance in Myanmar. By most measures, the military that wrested power from a civilian administration in Myanmar three years ago is far bigger and better equipped than the hundreds of militias fighting to reclaim the country.

Persons: Ko Shan Organizations: Karenni Nationalities Defense Force Locations: Myanmar

☆ Amgen stock soars on weight loss injection progress as Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly shares slide
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

That fueled investor concerns about new competition in the rapidly growing weight loss drug industry, sending shares of the current obesity players, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly , lower on Friday. Eli Lilly shares dropped nearly 3%, while Novo Nordisk's U.S.-traded shares fell more than 1%. Still, investors were pleased with Eli Lilly on Tuesday after the company assured them it can overcome ongoing supply constraints for its popular drugs. Eli Lilly hiked its full-year guidance in part due to optimism around increased production of Zepbound, its diabetes injection Mounjaro and similar drugs for the rest of the year. That signals Novo Nordisk is struggling to meet demand for the treatment.

Persons: Amgen, Eli Lilly, Bob Bradway, Bradway, Jay Bradner, autoinjector, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Eli Lilly's Zepbound, William Blair, Matt Phipps, Michael Yee, Amgen's Bradway, Karsten Munk Knudsen Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk's, Jefferies, MariTide, Nordisk Locations: Novo Nordisk's U.S, North Carolina, Indiana, Ireland, Germany, U.S

☆ Amgen scraps experimental weight loss pill, moves forward with injection
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amgen on Thursday said it will stop developing its experimental weight loss pill and instead move forward with its injectable drug and other products in development for obesity. Amgen is developing an injectable obesity treatment called MariTide, which is an ongoing mid-stage trial in obese or overweight adults without diabetes. The drugmaker's oral drug, called AMG-786, is the second weight loss pill to be discontinued over the last year. Investors are laser-focused on Amgen's pipeline of experimental weight loss treatments. Amgen's injectable treatment also appears to help patients keep weight off after they stop taking it based on some clinical trial data.

Persons: Amgen, Eli Lilly, Jay Bradner, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Eli Lilly's Zepbound, Zepbound Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk's Locations: Amgen, Thousand Oaks , California, MariTide, Novo

☆ CNN gets a rare look at the Iranian missiles and drones that hit Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Fred Pleitgen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But he’s more than happy to show the missiles and drones Iran used in its first ever attack against Israel launched directly from Iranian soil. Iran’s attack on Israel included drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. “NATO, The United States and Arab countries of the region wanted to create barriers for our drones, missiles and cruise missiles, but they failed,” Belali says. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that ballistic missiles that reached Israel fell on the airbase and caused only light structural damage. Shahed attack drones on an unmarked truck at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards exhibit in Tehran, Iran on May 1, 2024.

Persons: Tehran CNN —, ”, General Ali Belali, ” Belali, Israel, Belali, Jordan, Fred Pleitgen, Daniel Hagari, John Krzyzaniak, Lockheed Martin Organizations: Tehran CNN, Revolutionary Guard, Islamic, Israel, CNN, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Forces, NATO, Israel Defense Forces, Washington, Wisconsin, Control, ISIS, Lockheed, CIA, Guards Locations: Tehran, Islamic Republic, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Gaza, Iraq, France, United States, Washington ,, Syria, Kurdish, American, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow

☆ Underwater superyachts? A CEO is pitching fantastical ships that can go 800ft down and stay submerged for weeks.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It says the M5 will be able to travel 820 feet underwater and stay submerged for a month. A promotional concept rendering for the Migaloo M5, a proposed submersible superyacht. The Migaloo concept clearly aims to cater to an increasing desire for privacy and security among the world's richest people. Bobbing about underwater in a Migaloo M5, Elon Musk wouldn't have to worry about a jet-tracking student any longer. A promotional concept rendering for the Migaloo M5, a proposed submersible superyacht MigalooIt remains to be seen if and when any prospective buyers will bite.

Persons: Christian Gumpold, —, there's, Gumpold, Migaloo, Bond, It's, Elon Musk, it's Organizations: Service, Elon, SAFE, Fast Company Locations: Austria, Austrian

☆ This emerging market fund has outperformed over 1, 5 and 10 years. Here's how
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The global emerging markets fund managed by Aubrey Capital has achieved impressive returns over the past decade. This approach has helped the Aubrey Global Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund to post returns of 13.8% over the past year, nearly double the MSCI Emerging Market Index 's 8.2% gain. Aubrey's investment approach is based on its Global Emerging Markets Strategy , which oversees nearly $600 million of assets. Out of about 2,000 consumer-facing companies in the emerging markets universe, Aubrey is only invested in about 35. Nearly half the Aubrey Global Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund is invested in India.

Persons: Aubrey Capital, Mark Martyrossian, Aubrey, Martyrossian, Taiwan's, It's, Varun Organizations: Aubrey, CNBC, Aubrey Global, Fund, Global, PepsiCo, Companies, Arca Continental, Burger King, Arcos Dorados, DLF Locations: Turkey, South Africa, Hong Kong, China, India, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Delhi, Mumbai

☆ McDonald’s earnings miss estimates as diners pull back, Middle East boycotts hit sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

McDonald's reported mixed quarterly results Tuesday as its reorganization weighed on its profit and boycotts hurt its Middle Eastern sales. McDonald's reported U.S. same-store sales growth of 2.5%, missing expectations of 2.6%. A month into the second quarter, McDonald's U.S. same-store sales are roughly flat, executives said. McDonald's said the segment's same-store sales fell 0.2%, marking the first time since the pandemic that one of the chain's divisions reported a same-store sales decline. McDonald's international operated markets segment, which includes Germany and the United Kingdom, reported same-store sales growth of 2.7%.

Persons: McDonald's, Chris Kempczinski, Kempczinski, Ian Borden, we've, Borden Organizations: LSEG, U.S Locations: U.S, Israel, Japan, Latin America, Germany, United Kingdom

A general view of the atmosphere during The SDI Takeover @ Dave & Buster's in Los Angeles on June 23, 2022Arcade giant Dave & Buster's is taking its games to a new level by offering social wagering on its app. Customers can soon make a friendly $5 wager on a Hot Shots basketball game, a bet on a Skee-Ball competition or on another arcade game. Dave & Buster's, started in 1982, now has more than 222 venues in North America, offering everything from bowling to laser tag, plus virtual reality. The company says it has five million loyalty members and 30 million unique visitors to its locations each year. "We're thrilled to work with Lucra to bring this exciting new gaming platform to our customers,"said Simon Murray, senior vice president of entertainment and attractions at Dave & Buster's.

Persons: Buster's, We're, Lucra, Simon Murray, Dylan Robbins, Michael Madding, Robbins, Madding, Goldman Sachs, Marc Lasry, John Isner, Julie, Zach Ertz Organizations: SDI, Stanford Graduate School, Business, Raptor, SeventySix, Dupr, @ & ' Locations: Los Angeles, North America

☆ Chinese scientists want to use lasers to power ultrafast, stealthy submarines. A laser expert says there's a major flaw in their plan.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Chinese researchers say they have made a breakthrough in laser propulsion technology that could one day be used on submarines and missiles. A laser propulsion expert at McGill University told Business Insider they see flaws in the claims. Rather than relying on nuclear or battery power, the scientists say they have found a way to use lasers to propel submarines — known as underwater laser propulsion. This technology has already been used in Russian Shkval torpedoes since the 1970s, using rocket exhaust rather than laser power. "The average overall thrust is low and the jet power cannot exceed the power supply of the laser."

Persons: —, Yang Ge, Xulong Yang, Ge Yang, Andrew Higgins, Higgins Organizations: McGill University, Business, Service, Submarines, China's Harbin University, China Morning Post, NASA, Harbin University, China Defense Locations: China, Sinica, torpedos

☆ How 'Challengers' turned Zendaya and the cast into tennis stars, from strength training to 10,000-calorie diets
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist star as tennis players in Luca Guadagnino's movie "Challengers." AdvertisementCompeting at such a high level doesn't happen overnight for professional tennis players, who spend years sharpening their skills with coaches, trainers, nutritionists, and sports psychologists. So to convincingly play elite players, Zendaya, O'Connor, and Faist turned to Gilbert, who has coached players like Andy Roddick and Coco Gauff to championship wins at the US Open. Zendaya, O'Connor, and Faist underwent physical transformations to look like tennis prosMike Faist as Art Donaldson in "Challengers." Zendaya and Faist had two months of preparation before traveling to Boston to start filming "Challengers."

Persons: Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist, Luca Guadagnino's, Brad Gilbert, —, it's, Tashi Duncan, Art Donaldson, Patrick Zweig, Tashi, Patrick, Tashi's, O'Connor, Faist, Gilbert, Andy Roddick, Coco Gauff, Donaldson, MGM Gilbert, Bryan Doo, Riff, Steven Spielberg's, Kim Gilbert, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Patrick's, Jay Berger, Guadagnino, O'Connor wouldn't Organizations: Service, MGM, Business Locations: Arrakis, Boston, New Rochelle

☆ Microsoft shares jump 4% after the big AI winner delivers in all the right places
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

However, momentum from AI services will keep Azure growth stabilized at these high levels, outperforming the market's expectations. AI services continue to be a large source of revenue growth, contributing seven percentage points of growth. The Office Commercial Products and Cloud Services revenue rose 12%, while the Office Consumer Products and Cloud Services revenue grew 4%. Windows Commercial Products and Cloud Services revenue increased 12%, driven by demand for Windows 365. The company guided Azure's constant currency revenue growth to 30% to 31%, which is higher than estimates of 29%.

Persons: OpenAI, Satya Nadella, there's, we're, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Satya Narayana Nadella, Lucas Jackson Organizations: Microsoft, Revenue, Google, Fortune, Productivity, Products, Cloud Services, Consumer Products, Novo Nordisk, Nvidia, Activision, Windows, Management, CNBC Locations: OpenAI, ChatGPT, Novo, Manhattan, New York City

☆ Ukraine is getting a new type of laser-guided bomb that can pummel 'soft' Russian targets, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine is getting a new type of laser-guided missile from the UK, the Paveway IV. AdvertisementUkraine is about to get a new type of laser-guided bomb that can wreck "soft" Russian targets, a military analyst said. Britain is giving Ukraine a cache of Paveway IV bombs as part of its latest aid delivery, its defense ministry told Business Insider. Paveway IV bombs are dropped from planes, and weigh in at around 500 lbs. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Royal Air Force Locations: Ukraine, Russia

Israel welcomed a U.S. aid package signed by President Biden on Wednesday that will send about $15 billion in military aid to Israel, increasing American support for its closest Middle East ally despite strains in their relationship over Israel’s prosecution of the war in the Gaza Strip. “Our alliance is ironclad,” Israel Katz, the country’s foreign minister, said in a statement thanking Mr. Biden for signing the legislation. It was part of a long-stalled $95.3 billion in aid that had faced vehement opposition from some Republicans over its support for Ukraine, which is also part of the legislation, as is Taiwan. The aid for Israel includes more than $5 billion to replenish three of the country’s defense systems: Iron Dome, which intercepts rockets that fly in high arcs; David’s Sling, which shoots down drones, missiles and rockets; and Iron Beam, which was designed to use laser beams to destroy incoming projectiles. It also includes $1 billion to enhance the production and development of artillery and munitions and $2.4 billion for American military operations in the U.S. Central Command region, which includes the Middle East as well as parts of South Asia and East Africa.

Persons: Israel, Biden, ” Israel Katz, Mr Organizations: Ukraine, U.S . Central Command Locations: Israel, East, Gaza, Taiwan, South Asia, East Africa

☆ Germany Arrests Lawmaker’s Aide on Suspicion of Spying for China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | More About Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An aide to a German lawmaker in the European Parliament has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said Tuesday. It came just hours after the German authorities arrested three people in the west of the country on suspicion of leaking technological data used in maritime propulsion and exporting a high-powered laser to China. Prosecutors said that Jiang G., as he was identified in keeping with German privacy rules, had worked for a German member of the European Parliament since 2019. Calling him an “employee of a Chinese secret service,” prosecutors accused Mr. G. of repeatedly passing along information about parliamentary deliberations and decisions to Chinese intelligence in January. Mr. G., a German citizen, also was accused of spying on Chinese opposition groups in Germany, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

Persons: Jiang G Organizations: Prosecutors, Mr Locations: China, Dresden, German, Germany

German national Jian G, who worked for AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, was arrested by Saxony State criminal police in Dresden and had his residences searched, the prosecutor’s office said early Tuesday. The aide was later suspended by the European Parliament, a spokesman for the body told CNN. Prosecutors said he passed on information about “negotiations and decisions in the European Parliament” to China in January. The far-right AfD party has nine seats in the European Parliament, and is competing alongside Germany’s traditional parties in the European elections in June. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the homes and workplace of the trio were searched in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg.

Persons: Jian G, Maximilian Krah, ”, Jens Schlueter, Jian, “, Krah, Nancy Faeser, Thomas R, – Herwig, Ina F, –, Wang Wenbin Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, International Trade, Security, Defence, Foreign Trade, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of State Security, ” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Crown Prosecution Service Locations: China, Europe, Saxony, Dresden, Germany, United States, Bad Homburg

☆ A 10-second trick will tell you the cause of your under-eye dark circles — and how to get rid of them
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

How your skin reacts tells you whether the dark circles are caused by thinner under-eye skin or pigmentation. Related storiesFor thin skin, Zubritsky told BI that products with hyaluronic acid should help hydrate and plump the skin. AdvertisementBoth she and Penzi suggested Neutrogena Hydroboost Eye Gel Cream, and Penzi also recommended First Aid Beauty Hydrating Eye Cream with Hyaluronic Acid. If you deal with puffiness, "it's important to look for under-eye creams with ingredients like caffeine," Zubritsky said, because caffeine constricts blood vessels and improves circulation. Advanced Eye, Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Caffeine Eye Gel Cream, and CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream as all options with caffeine in them.

Persons: —, Dr, Lindsey Zubritsky, Zubritsky, Lauren Penzi, Penzi, dermatologists, Bliss Organizations: Service, Business, L'Oreal Paris, Triple, Neutrogena Hydro Locations: Pennsylvania, New York

☆ Germany arrests three suspected of spying for China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Three German nationals have been arrested on suspicion of working with the Chinese secret service to hand over technologies that could be used for military purposes, German prosecutors said on Monday. The suspects were identified as Herwig F. and Ina F, a married couple who run a company in Dusseldorf, and Thomas R., whom prosecutors described as an agent for an employee of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). The Chinese contract partner was the MSS employee from whom Thomas R. received his orders, it added. The suspects also purchased a special laser from Germany on behalf of and with payment from the MSS and exported it to China without authorisation, according to the prosecutors. The Chinese embassy in Berlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Herwig, Ina F, Thomas R, Olaf Scholz Organizations: China's Ministry of State Security, Russia Locations: Dusseldorf, Germany, China, Beijing, Europe, Berlin

CNN —Three people in Germany have been arrested under suspicion of spying for China, while two people have been charged in the United Kingdom for espionage offenses. “Allegations suggest the suspects have had ties to a Chinese secret service since before June 2022,” the German prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The couple are accused of buying and exporting a specialized laser to China without authorization, violating European Union regulations. Germany’s justice minister Marco Buschmann congratulated the prosecutor’s office in a post on social media platform X, writing that the arrests highlighted the need to stay vigilant. Separately in the UK, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced charges against two men who allegedly breached the UK’s Official Secrets Act on behalf of China.

Persons: Thomas R, Thomas, Herwig, Ina F, Marco Buschmann, Nick Price Organizations: CNN, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Foreign Trade, Ministry of State Security, Britain’s, Prosecution Service, CPS, Terrorism, Crown Prosecution Service, Metropolitan Police, ’ Locations: Germany, China, United Kingdom, Westminster, London

☆ Germany Arrests 3 Suspected of Passing Secrets to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Three German citizens who are believed to have gathered sensitive naval data and obtained a high-powered laser on behalf of the Chinese security services were arrested on Monday, prosecutors said, underscoring the fragile nature of the relationship between the two countries. A man identified as Thomas R., in keeping with German privacy rules, acted as an “agent” for the Chinese Ministry of State Security, and engaged two others — a married couple identified as Herwig and Ina F. — who ran an engineering company in Düsseldorf, the authorities said. The arrests come at an awkward time for the German government: Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently spent three days in China as the countries signed several bilateral trade agreements, but Germany is also vigilant to the threat posed by China. “We are aware of the considerable danger posed by Chinese espionage to business, industry and science,” said Nancy Faeser, the German minister of the interior. “We are looking very closely at these risks and threats and have issued clear warnings and raised awareness so that protective measures are increased everywhere,” she added.

Persons: Thomas R, ”, Herwig, Ina F, —, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Nancy Faeser Organizations: Chinese Ministry of State Security Locations: Düsseldorf, China, Germany

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