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☆ Russia is using bags of cash and diamonds to avoid sanctions and fund its weapons program, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia is using illicit cash channels to fund covert activities, analysts say. Kremlin is exploiting gaps in sanctions laws, but also using older methods like cash and diamonds. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia is using covert financial networks to fund its purchases of banned weapons technology, getting round Western sanctions in the process, analysts told Insider. That money, he said, is then placed in accounts in countries such as Turkey and the UAE, where western sanctions are not closely enforced. Under Western sanctions, banks must investigate suspicious transactions to make sure they're not being used to circumvent sanctions.

Persons: —, Pavlo Verkhniatskyi, Verkhniatskyi, Banks, David Lewis, Russia Verkhniatskyi, FATF Organizations: Service, International, University of Exeter, Force Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Turkey, UAE, Kazakhstan, Armenia, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar

☆ Israeli police arrest five following uproar over Jews spitting on Christians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Kareem Khadder | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Jerusalem CNN —Israel Police arrested five people Wednesday on suspicion of spitting towards Christians or churches in the Old City of Jerusalem, they announced, following an uproar a day earlier over Orthodox Jews spitting at Christian pilgrims. Four of the suspects were arrested for incidents on Wednesday, and one for an incident earlier in the week, police said. One of the individuals was arrested on assault charges, and the other four were arrested on suspicion of unlawful disorderly conduct, Israel Police told CNN. One of the arrests is connected to the viral video from Monday of ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting on Christian pilgrims carrying a cross out of the Church of the Flagellation in the Old City, police said. The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the spitting was part of a wider problem that leads to physical violence.

Persons: Father Matteo, Jesus, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Doron Turgeman, ” Turgeman, Israel’s, Rabbi David Lau Organizations: Jerusalem CNN — Israel Police, Israel Police, CNN, ”, Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem Police Locations: Jerusalem, Old City, Old, Israel

RAW Chief Ravi Sinha, the only serving official publicly affiliated with the agency, did not return messages seeking comment. All six officials denied that RAW engages in targeted killings, noting that the agency has no mandate for such operations. Fallout from the Vancouver incident has also raised concerns that RAW will come under greater global monitoring, Indian intelligence officials and analysts said. "The current developments have undoubtedly increased global curiosity about RAW," said Dheeraj Paramesha Chaya, an expert on Indian intelligence at Britain's Hull University. "Our footprint is growing in parts of the world which were not important earlier," a recently retired senior RAW official said, without providing specifics.

Persons: Blair Gable, Justin Trudeau's, Hardeep Singh, RAW's, Narendra Modi, Ravi Sinha, Sinha, Ajit Doval, Paramesha, Trudeau, David Headley, Headley, Adrian Levy, Levy, Modi, Krishn Kaushik, Sanjeev Miglani, Katerina Ang Organizations: High Commission of, REUTERS, Canadian, Reuters, RAW, National, Britain's Hull University, Ottawa, Washington Post, MUMBAI RAW, Indian Foreign Ministry, Indian, Islamabad, American Embassy, Intelligence Bureau, Hull, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, India deniability, South, CIA, U.S . Council, Foreign Relations, PRS, Thomson Locations: High Commission of India, Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, DELHI, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vancouver, India, Ottawa, Mumbai, West, Delhi, China, Washington, U.S, MUMBAI, Islamabad, North America, Chicago, United States, London, Britain, Australia, South Asia, Europe, Southeast Asia, New Delhi

☆ Elite Ukrainian commandos on jet skis conducted a daring raid on a Russian electronic warfare station in Crimea, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian commandos on jet skis conducted a mission to damage a Russian electronic warfare station in Crimea. Members of the group told The Times of London how they carried out their covert and daring mission. AdvertisementAdvertisementA unit of Ukrainian commandos traveled covertly across the Black Sea on jet skis in a daring raid on a Russian electronic warfare station in Crimea, a report says. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe electronic warfare station had thwarted drone strikes and tracked British Storm Shadow missiles. While the unit approached the peninsula, five Ukrainian support ships fired at Russian positions as a diversion tactic, per The Times.

Persons: —, Borghese, Levan, Timur, Ukraine's, Kyrylo Budanov, GUR Organizations: Times, Ukrainian, Service, Brotherhood Battalion, Storm Shadow, Raptor, REUTERS, Fleet Locations: Crimea, London, Ukrainian, Ukrainian Crimea, Sevastopol, Ukraine

☆ China says US is the true 'empire of lies'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The United States is the true "empire of lies", the Chinese foreign ministry said on Saturday, lashing out at a U.S. State Department report that accused Beijing of ploughing billions of dollars annually into information manipulation efforts. China is manipulating global media through censorship, data harvesting and covert purchases of foreign news outlets, the U.S. State Department said in the report on Thursday. The report has disregarded facts, and is itself false information, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. "Facts have repeatedly proven that the United States is the true 'empire of lies'," it added. Beijing is seeking to combat the negative images of China it feels are propagated by global media.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Mark Schiefelbein, Ryan Woo, Giles Elgood Organizations: Rights, . State Department, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, U.S

☆ US accuses China of global media manipulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China is manipulating global media through censorship, data harvesting and covert purchases of foreign news outlets, the United States said on Thursday, warning the trend could lead to a "sharp contraction" of global freedom of expression. Chinese leaders have sought to combat the negative images of China they feel are spread by world media. It had also invested in satellite networks and digital television services in developing regions that prioritize Chinese state-backed media content. Chinese data harvesting overseas "has enabled Beijing to fine-tune global censorship by targeting specific individuals and organizations," it said. "Unchecked, Beijing's efforts could result in .... a sharp contraction of global freedom of expression," the report said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Mark Schiefelbein, Michael Martina, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Treasury, Rights, U.S . State Department, NATO, Global, Center, Thomson Locations: United States, Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Washington, U.S, .

☆ Russia blamed Western intel and spy planes for Ukraine's devastating attack on its Black Sea Fleet HQ
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has accused the West of providing intel that enabled a strike on its Black Sea HQ. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia accused Ukraine's allies the US and UK of providing the intelligence that enabled last week's strike on its Black Sea fleet's headquarters. In a press briefing Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the attack was planned using surveillance data from Western intelligence. NATO countries fly surveillance planes over the international waters of the Black Sea, sometimes resulting in confrontation. Ukraine also said that among the 34 dead was the admiral of the Black Sea Fleet, Viktor Sokolov.

Persons: —, Ukraine's, Maria Zakharova, Zakharova, Per, hadn't, Viktor Sokolov, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, ", Medvedev Organizations: intel, Service, US, Foreign, NATO, AFP, Russia, Washington, Kremlin, Black, ., Security, Abrams, West, Telegram, Newsweek Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Sevastopol, British, Crimea, . Russian

But in an about turn, Macron announced on Sunday that the ambassador would return to Paris and French troops would leave. Two security sources in Niger said Itte had flown out of the country. Demonstrators hold placards and Niger's flags as they gather outside Niger's embassy in support of the President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum in Paris, France, August 5, 2023. Crowds of junta supporters have spent days camping outside a French military base to demand the troops' departure. Some analysts have expressed concern that the withdrawal of French troops from Niger could further hamper Western efforts to stem the violence, which has risen since the coups, and bolster Russian influence in the region.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Sylvain Itte, Mohamed Bazoum, Macron, Itte, Catherine Colonna, Yucouba Abdou, Abdou, Niger Mohamed Bazoum, Stephanie Lecocq, Paris, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Moussa Aksar, Michel Rose, John Irish, Sofia Christensen, Anait, Toby Chopra, Estelle Shirbon, Philippa Fletcher, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Niger, Quai, French, Nigerien, Reuters, REUTERS, France, Thomson Locations: Niger French, NIAMEY, Niger, Paris, France, Niamey, French, N'Djamena, Niger's, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sahel

☆ Documentary takes Argentine cartoon strip icon Mafalda to television
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Joaquin Salvador Lavado, known as "Quino", launched the comic six decades ago, initially as a failed covert advertising campaign for electrical appliances. Mafalda, however, evolved into something else, questioning everything from nuclear power to overpopulation and capitalism to dictatorship, with kindness and a razor wit disguised as childish ingenuity. "Quino built the story with very human characters through the eyes of children, who say terrible barbarities with no filter," series director Lorena Munoz told Reuters. The two-hour docuseries, "Rereading: Mafalda", will reexamine the series through a feminist lens and its historical context, especially its criticism of the 1960s military dictatorship of Juan Carlos Ongania. Work on the series was paused during the pandemic but was nominated ahead of its commercial release for best documentary at this year's Canneseries Festival.

Persons: Joaquin Salvador Lavado, Quino, Lorena Munoz, Juan Carlos Ongania, Susanita, Munoz, Candelaria Grimberg, Sarah Morland, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Libertad, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Felipe, Manolito, Buenos Aires, Japan

☆ Ukraine kits out kayaks with grenade launchers, optimized for covert military operations, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine has developed a potential game-changer for its wartime defense, said an ABC News report. The Poloz-M16 kayaks were used in a successful nighttime operation last year. Ukraine: A powerhouse in military technologyThe kayaks are part of a broader campaign in Ukraine to develop unconventional solutions to counter Russia's aggression. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, recently emphasized the country's potential to become a powerhouse in military technology. "We will be the strongest in military tech – that is, everything related to innovations in the military field.

Persons: Serhiy Ostashenko, Adamant, Mykhailo Fedorov, Fedorov Organizations: ABC, Service Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Dnipro, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Russia, Australia

☆ Kenya Pledges Security Boost as It Commemorates 2013 Mall Massacre
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Duncan MiririNAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya pledged on Thursday to reinforce security measures against Somali militants as it commemorated a deadly mall attack which security analysts say led to improvements in the country's readiness to counter threats. Kenyan security forces were widely criticised by the public and local media at the time for their chaotic, uncoordinated response to the attack. After the siege, Kenya worked to improve its security agencies' coordination and readiness to respond to emergencies. Kenyan security forces were praised for ending that siege in less than a day. The government has also been deploying the military and other security forces to fight cattle rustlers and armed bandits in several counties in East Africa's Rift Valley.

Persons: Duncan Miriri, Raymond Omollo, Richard Maige, al, Nicolas Delaunay, Estelle Shirbon, Emelia Organizations: Somali, East, Southern Africa, Crisis Locations: Duncan Miriri NAIROBI, Kenya, Somalia's al Shabaab, Westgate, Nairobi, Somalia, al Shabaab, Kenyan, Southern, Lamu, East

☆ Teo Boon Ching: 'Godfather' of illicit wildlife trade jailed for trafficking rhino horns worth $2 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“Wildlife trafficking is a serious threat,” said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in the release. Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images‘Body blow’Prosecutors said a covert operation exposed Ching’s efforts to traffic about 219 kilograms [483 pounds] of rhino horns “resulting from the poaching of numerous rhinoceros” with an estimated value of $2.1 million. The horns were delivered in a suitcase in Thailand by those working for the wildlife trafficking organization, officials said. The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which supplied intelligence on Ching to US enforcement agents, said his jailing was a “body blow” to the illegal wildlife trade. “Chinese and Vietnamese organized crime networks have long exploited Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries as transit hubs for smuggling illegal wildlife commodities from Africa into Asia,” an EIA statement read.

Persons: Teo Boon Ching, Ching, ”, Damian Williams, Sam Yeh, Olivia Swaak, Goldman, “, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Southern, of, ” Rhinos, World Wildlife Fund, Rhinos, Getty, Prosecutors, Environmental Investigation Agency, US Treasury Department, Wildlife Justice Commission Locations: Malaysian, Manhattan, of New York, Thailand, United States, Africa, Asia, China, Vietnam, AFP, New York, London, Malaysia

Ray Epps, the Trump supporter who was swept up in one of the most persistent right-wing conspiracy theories connected to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a single misdemeanor charge for his role in the attack on the Capitol. Prosecutors said at the hearing that aside from breaching the barricades outside the Capitol, Mr. Epps placed his hands on a giant Trump sign that the mob used as a battering ram against the police. Mr. Epps will face a maximum of one year in prison when he is sentenced in December. Mr. Epps, a former Marine and wedding venue owner who voted twice for Donald J. Trump, became the unlikely focus of a conspiracy theory promoted on Fox News and by right-wing commentators. It held that he had been a covert government asset who helped instigate the riot as a way of discrediting Trump supporters.

Persons: Ray Epps, Trump, Epps, Donald J Organizations: Capitol, Federal, Court, Justice Department, Prosecutors, Trump, Mr, Fox News Locations: Washington

☆ Sudan: Ukraine's special services 'likely' behind strikes on Wagner-backed forces, a Ukrainian military source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Victoria Butenko Nima Elbagir Gianluca Mezzofiore Tamara Qiblawi Allegra Goodwin Andrew Carey Pallabi Munsi Mahamat Tahir Zene Barbara Arvanitidis Alex Platt Lauren Kent | Victoria Butenko | Nima Elbagir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Covert strikes by Ukraine in Sudan would mark a dramatic and provocative expansion of Kyiv’s theater of war against Moscow. Aside from a string of Ukrainian drone attacks that hit deep inside Russian territory, Ukraine’s ongoing counter-offensive has been focused on the country’s occupied east and south. A high-level Sudanese military source said he had “no knowledge of a Ukrainian operation in Sudan” and did not believe it was true. What appears to be a DJI MAVIC 3 drone can be seen in the videos filming the drone strikes. Six drone strikes targeted pickup trucks driving on Shambat bridge.

Persons: Wagner, Sudan ”, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo –, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Wim Zwijnenburg, ” Zwijnenburg, Zwijnenburg, Hemedti, Gen, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Wagner’s, General Khalifa, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Andrey Averyanov, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba Organizations: Chad CNN, CNN, Sudanese, Kyiv, Rapid Support Forces, Ukrainian, Central African, PAX, AK, CAR, PMC Wagner, Reuters Analysts, Kremlin, Agence France, Presse Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, N'Djamena, Chad, Ukrainian, Sudan’s, Russian, Sudan, Moscow, Omdurman, Khartoum, balaclava, British, al, Zurug, Russia, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic, Libya, Ombada, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Latakia, Bangui, “, Syria, Burkina Faso, St . Petersburg, Eritrea

☆ Ukraine's drone campaign plans to exhaust Russia's air defenses, disable its bombers, and damage military production, says spy chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's head of defense intelligence discussed his military drone campaign with The Economist. He said Ukraine is targeting air defenses, military sites, and military production facilities. In a wide-ranging interview with The Economist, Lieutenant-General Kyrylo Budanov, outlined his three main objectives for Ukraine's drone strikes against Russia. Meanwhile, drone attacks in the Russian capital are causing frequent disruptions at Moscow's main international airport. Budanov in the interview rejected criticisms that the attacks could escalate the war and said Ukraine was not targeting Russian civilians.

Persons: Kyrylo Budanov, Budanov, ALEXANDER NEMENOV Organizations: Service, Russia, Moscow International Business, Getty, West, Drones, Economist Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Wall, Silicon, Moskva City, Moscow, AFP, Russia, Sevastopol, Tver

To boost his profile, Zuberi also donated to, or hired, several Washington advocacy groups, lobbying shops and public relations firms. Those officials included Olson, former NATO supreme commander Gen. Wesley Clark and former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Sandweg. The trio lobbied U.S. officials after returning from their Doha meeting with Qatari officials, the FBI said. He added that one of his greatest regrets was recruiting Allen into the effort because of the subsequent negative publicity. Allen has denied any wrongdoing but stepped down as president of the Brookings Institution, a prestigious Washington think tank, amid the FBI investigation.

Persons: —, Richard G, Olson, Obama, Imaad Zuberi, Judge G, Michael Harvey, Harvey, Prosecutors, Evan Turgeon, Turgeon, Zuberi, Harvey's, “, Joe Biden, Zubari, Wesley Clark, John Sandweg, John Allen, Allen, strategize, ___ Mustian Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, State, Prosecutors, FBI, Justice Department's, Press, NATO, . Immigration, Allen, Brookings Institution Locations: Persian, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Zuberi, Washington, Doha, U.S, New York

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - About half of Americans support sending U.S. military personnel into Mexico to fight drug cartels, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll, though there is less backing for sending troops without Mexico's approval. Some of the candidates have said they would be prepared to send military forces without first receiving permission from the Mexican government. Fifty-one percent of Republicans opposed unilateral action, compared to 40% who supported it. Only former Vice President Mike Pence, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have stopped short of saying they support sending U.S. military personnel into Mexico. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online and nationwide between Sept. 8 and Sept. 14, gathering responses from 4,413 U.S. adults.

Persons: Terry Sullivan, Marco Rubio's, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, South Carolina Tim Scott, Haley, Mike Pence, Asa Hutchinson, Chris Christie, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Gram Slattery, Jason Lange, Stephen Eisenhammer, Ross Colvin, Grant McCool Organizations: Reuters, United, U.S . Centers for Disease, Department of Defense, Tech, South Carolina, New, Thomson Locations: Mexico, U.S, United States, Ukraine, Florida, South, Arkansas, New Jersey, Mexican, Washington, Mexico City

☆ All smoke and no FIRE: Early retirees open up about the struggles of ditching their paychecks in exchange for freedom and the new ways they're generating extra income
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Laila Maidan | Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Members pose questions from how to save and invest to how to raise a family while on the path to early retirement. Early retirement doesn't mean never working againBut the FIRE movement can be more smoke than fire. Think about what's important to you and what you want your lifestyle in early retirement to look like, Cheng said. One message he shares with his community is that early retirement may not be the ultimate finish line for everyone. He also started coaching high school tennis and grew his online blog that offers tips on early retirement.

Persons: Rachel Covert, Isaac Mizrahi, Covert, That's, subreddit, Gwendolyn Merz, Merz, She'd, Marguerita Cheng, Cheng, It's, Michael Quan, Quan, Winnie Jiang, Sam Dogen, Dogen, Sam Dogen Dogen, Shan Fu, Fu, I'm Organizations: Financial Independence, Social Security, Lean FIRE, FIRE, Fortune, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Credit Suisse, Millennials Locations: NerdWallet, New York City, Mexico, Portugal, Asia

☆ Why RTO mandates are layoffs in disguise, according to workplace experts: ‘Companies are daring employees to quit’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

However, that is exactly what some companies want, according to workplace experts that CNBC Make It spoke to. RTO is a cheap and dirty way for companies to avoid legal complications and financial obligations associated with layoffs. "Rolling back those gains, such as remote work and flexible hours, is audacious, but companies are daring employees to quit," Ruettimann added. "RTO is a cheap and dirty way for companies to avoid legal complications and financial obligations associated with layoffs," said Ruettimann. "Announcing direct layoffs can lead to a drop in morale among remaining employees, which could affect productivity and overall workplace atmosphere," he added.

Persons: Dan Schawbel, Laurie Ruettimann, Meghan Biro, Schawbel, Ruettimann, It's Organizations: Companies, Workplace Intelligence, New York Times, CNBC, Bloomberg, Employees

☆ 50 Years Ago, a Bloody Coup Ended Democracy in Chile
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Pascale Bonnefoy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Fifty years ago on Monday, a violent coup ended one of Latin America’s most stable democracies, brought an abrupt halt to the Chilean military’s tradition of noninvolvement in politics and ushered in 17 years of ruthless dictatorship. Salvador Allende, Chile’s socialist president, had embarked on an ambitious agenda that included the nationalization of the copper industry, land redistribution and state control over other strategic industries and banks. As the economy spiraled out of control and political polarization fueled increasing violence, businessmen, conservative politicians, professionals and some trade groups pressed for military intervention. The civilian and military conspiracy to overthrow Mr. Allende’s government, aided by C.I.A. financing and covert operations to destabilize the country, culminated in a bloody coup, the likes of which Chileans, unlike people in other Latin American countries, had never experienced.

Persons: Salvador Allende, Mr Organizations: C.I.A

☆ Inside Operation Barrel Roll, a covert US military campaign that dropped 2 million tons of bombs on Laos over 9 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( James Pasley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

For nine years, a covert CIA-run operation called "Operation Barrel Roll" dropped more than 580,000 bombs on Laos. The US was trying to stop North Vietnamese forces from transporting weapons and soldiers through Laos. But the bombs' impact continued long after an estimated 80 million bombs were dropped but failed to detonate. The CIA covertly executed the bombings, which is referred to as the US "secret war" on Laos. Here's what happened and why the bombs are still hurting Laos today.

Organizations: CIA, Service Locations: Laos, Wall, Silicon

☆ 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 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

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Australia and China opened their first high-level dialogue in three years Thursday in a sign of a slight thaw to relations between countries that have clashed on everything from human rights to COVID-19 origins to trade. Australia's current Foreign Minister Penny Wong has sought to stabilize the two countries' relationship since her party won elections last year. China's and Australia’s relations sank to low depths during the pandemic. In response, China effectively blocked out Australian barley in 2020 by imposing an 80.5% tariff, widely regarded in Australia as punishment. “We continue to advocate for positive progress on the cases of Australians detained in China,” Emerson said.

Persons: ”, Craig Emerson, Li Zhaoxing, Penny Wong, Anthony Albanese, China's Premier Li Qiang, “, Premier Li, ” Albanese, Xi Jinping, Cheng Lei, ” Emerson Organizations: —, Australian, U.S, Australia's, China's Premier, Association of Southeast, Nations, Huawei Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, — Australia, China, Beijing, U.S, Australia, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Asia, asia

☆ Zelenskyy's wife opened up about how Russia's war on Ukraine is stressing their marriage: 'This may be a bit selfish, but I need my husband'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska has opened about the stress Russia's war has put on her family and marriage. "This may be a bit selfish, but I need my husband, not a historical figure, by my side," Zelenska told the BBC. Zelenska said the war has forced her family to live apart from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "This may be a bit selfish, but I need my husband, not a historical figure, by my side," Zelenska told the BBC in a report published on Tuesday. Still, Zelenska said, she believes in her comedian-turned-president of Ukraine husband and supports him.

Persons: Olena Zelenska, Zelenska, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's, Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy — Organizations: BBC, Service, Eastern European, Russian Locations: Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Zelenskyy, Russia

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