An "American spy" arrested near Venezuelan oil installations last week will be charged with "terrorism," Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Monday.

Venezuela announced the arrest on Friday, saying the man had been spying on two oil refineries when he was captured with cash and weapons.

Seven Venezuelan citizens were arrested in follow-up raids over the weekend, Saab said.

"All the Venezuelan citizens are going to be charged with the crimes of treason, terrorism, illicit traffic of weapons and association (to commit crimes), while the US citizen is going to be charged with terrorism, illicit traffic of weapons and association," Saab told state television.

Announcing the arrest on Friday, President Nicolas Maduro said the US citizen had been "spying in Falcon state on the Amuay and Cardon refineries" when he was detained the previous day.

Maduro said the man was a US marine who had previously served "at CIA bases in Iraq."

The arrest occurred after authorities on Wednesday "discovered and dismantled" a "plan to cause an explosion" at El Palito refinery -- the closest to Caracas -- located in Carabobo state.

Last month two former US soldiers, Luke Alexander Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, were sentenced to 20 years in prison in Venezuela on charges including terrorism, after a failed bid to invade the Caribbean country last May.

Just hours before Friday's announcement, the Venezuelan government said it was establishing an "emergency plan" intended to regulate "fuel distribution" in light of severe gasoline shortages in the country, where people wait in lines stretching miles to fuel up their vehicles.

An "American spy" arrested near Venezuelan oil installations last week will be charged with "terrorism," Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Monday. Venezuela announced the arrest on Friday, saying the man had been spying on two oil refineries when he was captured with cash and weapons.

An "American spy" arrested near Venezuelan oil installations last week will be charged with "terrorism," Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Monday. Venezuela announced the arrest on Friday, saying the man had been spying on two oil refineries when he was captured with cash and weapons. Seven Venezuelan citizens were arrested in follow-up raids over the weekend, Saab said. "All the Venezuelan citizens are going to be charged with the crimes of treason, terrorism, illicit traffic of weapons and association (to commit crimes), while the US citizen is going to be charged with terrorism, illicit traffic of weapons and association," Saab told state television. Announcing the arrest on Friday, President Nicolas Maduro said the US citizen had been "spying in Falcon state on the Amuay and Cardon refineries" when he was detained the previous day. Maduro said the man was a US marine who had previously served "at CIA bases in Iraq." The arrest occurred after authorities on Wednesday "discovered and dismantled" a "plan to cause an explosion" at El Palito refinery -- the closest to Caracas -- located in Carabobo state. Last month two former US soldiers, Luke Alexander Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, were sentenced to 20 years in prison in Venezuela on charges including terrorism, after a failed bid to invade the Caribbean country last May. Just hours before Friday's announcement, the Venezuelan government said it was establishing an "emergency plan" intended to regulate "fuel distribution" in light of severe gasoline shortages in the country, where people wait in lines stretching miles to fuel up their vehicles.

US 'spy' to be charged with terrorism: Venezuela

A former officer for the CIA and then the FBI was charged in federal court in Hawaii Monday with selling US secrets to China, including disclosing the identities of US informants in China.

According to&nbsp;&nbsp;the US&nbsp;Justice Department,&nbsp;Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, was arrested on a charge that he conspired with a relative, also a former&nbsp;CIA&nbsp;officer, to communicate classified information to Chinese intelligence officials.&nbsp;

He continued to meet with the undercover agent, accepting money and offering secrets until this month, when he said he was happy to keep working for Beijing but "would prefer to discuss opportunities after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided," the indictment said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-how-chinas-spy-racket-is-bigger-than-the-cold-war-308878">Here's how China's spy racket is bigger than the cold war!</a>

The Justice Department said Ma was arrested on August 14, but only unsealed the indictment on Monday.

Ma, 67, a naturalized US citizen born in Hong Kong, worked for the Central Intelligence Agency with a high-level security clearance from 1982 to 1989.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/all-you-need-to-know-about-chinas-espionage-programme-operation-fox-hunt-311547">All you need to know about China's espionage programme 'Operation Fox Hunt'</a>

He had a relative, unnamed and uncharged in the indictment due to his age, 85, and advanced cognitive disease, who also worked for the agency from 1967 to 1983.

The indictment says that at least as early as 2001, the two were already providing information to agents of Beijing's Ministry of State Security.

The indictment says FBI investigators gained video and audio recordings of their meetings with MSS agents in Hong Kong in March 2001 -- though it does not explain how and when they obtained such evidence

At those meetings they provided details of CIA communications, field operations and informants, and the video shows them receiving $50,000.

After them Ma applied for a position at the FBI in Hawaii that gave him access to classified information that, over the following decade at least, he downloaded and photographed documents to turn over to his Chinese handlers.

After them Ma applied for a position at the FBI in Hawaii that gave him access to classified information that, over the following decade at least, he downloaded and photographed documents to turn over to his Chinese handlers.

He and his relative were also asked to identify from pictures possible US agents and informants in China during this period, according to the charges.

The&nbsp;CIA&nbsp;and FBI declined to comment on why it took so long to arrest him. Ma's lawyer, Craig Jerome, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The case though is the latest of several brought against US government employees who sold secrets to China.

After China reportedly broke up a network of CIA sources and operatives inside China around 2010, the agency began digging deeply for leaks and possible moles that may have exposed them.

Last November Jerry Chun Shing Lee, who worked for the CIA from 1994 to 2007, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for giving US secrets to Chinese intelligence.

A former officer for the CIA and then the FBI was charged in federal court in Hawaii Monday with selling US secrets to China, including disclosing the identities of US informants in China.

A former officer for the CIA and then the FBI was charged in federal court in Hawaii Monday with selling US secrets to China, including disclosing the identities of US informants in China. According to the US Justice Department, Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, was arrested on a charge that he conspired with a relative, also a former CIA officer, to communicate classified information to Chinese intelligence officials. He continued to meet with the undercover agent, accepting money and offering secrets until this month, when he said he was happy to keep working for Beijing but "would prefer to discuss opportunities after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided," the indictment said. Also read: Here's how China's spy racket is bigger than the cold war! The Justice Department said Ma was arrested on August 14, but only unsealed the indictment on Monday. Ma, 67, a naturalized US citizen born in Hong Kong, worked for the Central Intelligence Agency with a high-level security clearance from 1982 to 1989. Also read: All you need to know about China's espionage programme 'Operation Fox Hunt' He had a relative, unnamed and uncharged in the indictment due to his age, 85, and advanced cognitive disease, who also worked for the agency from 1967 to 1983. The indictment says that at least as early as 2001, the two were already providing information to agents of Beijing's Ministry of State Security. The indictment says FBI investigators gained video and audio recordings of their meetings with MSS agents in Hong Kong in March 2001 -- though it does not explain how and when they obtained such evidence At those meetings they provided details of CIA communications, field operations and informants, and the video shows them receiving $50,000. After them Ma applied for a position at the FBI in Hawaii that gave him access to classified information that, over the following decade at least, he downloaded and photographed documents to turn over to his Chinese handlers. After them Ma applied for a position at the FBI in Hawaii that gave him access to classified information that, over the following decade at least, he downloaded and photographed documents to turn over to his Chinese handlers. He and his relative were also asked to identify from pictures possible US agents and informants in China during this period, according to the charges. The CIA and FBI declined to comment on why it took so long to arrest him. Ma's lawyer, Craig Jerome, could not immediately be reached for comment. The case though is the latest of several brought against US government employees who sold secrets to China. After China reportedly broke up a network of CIA sources and operatives inside China around 2010, the agency began digging deeply for leaks and possible moles that may have exposed them. Last November Jerry Chun Shing Lee, who worked for the CIA from 1994 to 2007, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for giving US secrets to Chinese intelligence.

Former CIA officer arrested for giving classified information to China

It's the year and the definition of a cold war has remarkably changed. If we talk of spies in the modern day and age, the mastermind of the most notorious spy ring would be a Chinese sitting somewhere in Mainland China.

China has been operating spy rings like never before, and in its web are people from all professions -- journalists, political leaders, policy makers, and researchers.

You name it and you will find them on the Chinese payroll.

An Australian MP is currently being investigated. His name is Shaoquette Moselmane.

This man is extremely pro-China, and he is very vocal about it. In the recent months, he has even lauded the Chinese response to the novel coronavirus.

That move itself is enough to get alarm bells ringing.

Another thing to be kept in consideration is agents these days no longer keep a low-profile or roam around in hoodies.

China does not anyway need spies to evesdrop. It has technologies like Huawei or Zoom for that job. The task for its human agents is to influence policies.

Since the Commmunist Party can only control the circus at home, it needs agents abroad to generously dish out the party's propaganda and influence affairs in its favour.

And who better to do this job than a legislator?

Shaoquette is not a lone wolf. There are several others working with him -- supposedly working for China. While some are influencing policies, others are stealing information and critical research.

They are placed in some of the world's top research labs, and they are being paid in millions to smuggle information to the dragon's nest.

There is Charles Lieber also -- a professor at the Harvard University. Only earlier this year, US authorities found out that Lieber was working closely with China.

China had paid him $1 million.

US authorities busted two other chinese agents -- Yanqing Ye. She was a researcher at the Boston University. But before that she was in the Chinese army.

Then there is cancer researcher Zaosong Zheng. He was arrested at the Boston airport.

Authorities found 21 biological samples in his bag. Zaosong was allegedly flying to China.

It does not end there.

There are Chinese agents in some 500 odd foreign universities. They are msquerading as Confucious scholars. On the chinese payroll are also journalists. They are being offered overtures -- sponsored trips or junkets to China.

What they have to do in return is speak in favour of the Uighur camps or Cheer china's coronavirus response, write editorials praising China.

There's evidence to it as well. The international federation of journalists recently carried a survey, in which journalists from 58 countries were asked whether they received overtures from Beijing.

Turns out, in at least 29 of these countries, journalists had been on trips to China.

Some of the respondents said that China has a visible presence in their national press.

67% of the respondents said they were approached by Chinese entities.

All of this summed up serves as China's non-traditional espionage -- one that is an integral part of Xi's plan of global dominance.

Every country has intelligence agencies. But what China is doing is escalating this spy war.

It is recruiting like never before -- eavesdropping, and stealing information and secrets like never before.

It's the year and the definition of a cold war has remarkably changed. If we talk of spies in the modern day and age, the mastermind of the most notorious spy ring would be a Chinese sitting somewhere in Mainland China.

It's the year and the definition of a cold war has remarkably changed. If we talk of spies in the modern day and age, the mastermind of the most notorious spy ring would be a Chinese sitting somewhere in Mainland China. China has been operating spy rings like never before, and in its web are people from all professions -- journalists, political leaders, policy makers, and researchers. You name it and you will find them on the Chinese payroll. An Australian MP is currently being investigated. His name is Shaoquette Moselmane. This man is extremely pro-China, and he is very vocal about it. In the recent months, he has even lauded the Chinese response to the novel coronavirus. That move itself is enough to get alarm bells ringing. Another thing to be kept in consideration is agents these days no longer keep a low-profile or roam around in hoodies. China does not anyway need spies to evesdrop. It has technologies like Huawei or Zoom for that job. The task for its human agents is to influence policies. Since the Commmunist Party can only control the circus at home, it needs agents abroad to generously dish out the party's propaganda and influence affairs in its favour. And who better to do this job than a legislator? Shaoquette is not a lone wolf. There are several others working with him -- supposedly working for China. While some are influencing policies, others are stealing information and critical research. They are placed in some of the world's top research labs, and they are being paid in millions to smuggle information to the dragon's nest. There is Charles Lieber also -- a professor at the Harvard University. Only earlier this year, US authorities found out that Lieber was working closely with China. China had paid him $1 million. US authorities busted two other chinese agents -- Yanqing Ye. She was a researcher at the Boston University. But before that she was in the Chinese army. Then there is cancer researcher Zaosong Zheng. He was arrested at the Boston airport. Authorities found 21 biological samples in his bag. Zaosong was allegedly flying to China. It does not end there. There are Chinese agents in some 500 odd foreign universities. They are msquerading as Confucious scholars. On the chinese payroll are also journalists. They are being offered overtures -- sponsored trips or junkets to China. What they have to do in return is speak in favour of the Uighur camps or Cheer china's coronavirus response, write editorials praising China. There's evidence to it as well. The international federation of journalists recently carried a survey, in which journalists from 58 countries were asked whether they received overtures from Beijing. Turns out, in at least 29 of these countries, journalists had been on trips to China. Some of the respondents said that China has a visible presence in their national press. 67% of the respondents said they were approached by Chinese entities. All of this summed up serves as China's non-traditional espionage -- one that is an integral part of Xi's plan of global dominance. Every country has intelligence agencies. But what China is doing is escalating this spy war. It is recruiting like never before -- eavesdropping, and stealing information and secrets like never before.

Here's how China's spy racket is bigger than the cold war!

China has widenened the wedge with Canada, as it has charged two detained Canadians for suspected espionage, indictments that could result in life imprisonment.

The indictments were of particularly serious circumstances which violated Article 111 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, which pertains to espionage and state secrets.

Under that article, a conviction can carry a sentence of from 10 years to life imprisonment when circumstances are particularly serious. The charges mean a formal trial can begin.

Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in late 2018 on state security charges, soon after Canadian authorities arrested Huawei Technologies Co's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, in Vancouver on a US warrant.

While China maintains the detentions are not linked to Meng, former diplomats and experts have said they are being used to pressure Canada.

China has repeatedly called for Meng's release, and has warned Canada that it could face consequences for aiding the United States in her case.

Canada has called the arrests "arbitrary".

Earlier this month, China's envoy to Canada, Cong Peiwu, told Reuters the two detained men were "in good health." The foreign ministry said on Friday that consular visits to detainees had been suspended due the coronavirus.

The ruling Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission said last year that Kovrig is accused of "stealing and spying on sensitive Chinese information and intelligence." It said Spavor provided Kovrig with intelligence, without giving details.

Kovrig works for the International Crisis Group (ICG), a non-governmental organisation that focuses on conflict resolution. ICG could not immediately be reached for comment.

ICG has previously said the accusations against Kovrig are "vague and unsubstantiated." 
Spavor, 44, is a businessman with deep ties to North Korea.

Last month, Huawei's Meng, the daughter of the founder of the telecoms giant, lost a legal bid to avoid extradition to the United States to face bank fraud charges, dashing hopes for an end to her house arrest in Vancouver.

She recently raised a new argument in a Canadian court in a bid to fight extradition, court documents released on Monday showed.

(with inputs from Reuters)

China has widenened the wedge with Canada, as it has charged two detained Canadians for suspected espionage, indictments that could result in life imprisonment. The indictments were of particularly serious circumstances which violated Article 111 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, which pertains to espionage and state secrets.

China has widenened the wedge with Canada, as it has charged two detained Canadians for suspected espionage, indictments that could result in life imprisonment. The indictments were of particularly serious circumstances which violated Article 111 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, which pertains to espionage and state secrets. Under that article, a conviction can carry a sentence of from 10 years to life imprisonment when circumstances are particularly serious. The charges mean a formal trial can begin. Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in late 2018 on state security charges, soon after Canadian authorities arrested Huawei Technologies Co's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, in Vancouver on a US warrant. While China maintains the detentions are not linked to Meng, former diplomats and experts have said they are being used to pressure Canada. China has repeatedly called for Meng's release, and has warned Canada that it could face consequences for aiding the United States in her case. Canada has called the arrests "arbitrary". Earlier this month, China's envoy to Canada, Cong Peiwu, told Reuters the two detained men were "in good health." The foreign ministry said on Friday that consular visits to detainees had been suspended due the coronavirus. The ruling Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission said last year that Kovrig is accused of "stealing and spying on sensitive Chinese information and intelligence." It said Spavor provided Kovrig with intelligence, without giving details. Kovrig works for the International Crisis Group (ICG), a non-governmental organisation that focuses on conflict resolution. ICG could not immediately be reached for comment. ICG has previously said the accusations against Kovrig are "vague and unsubstantiated." Spavor, 44, is a businessman with deep ties to North Korea. Last month, Huawei's Meng, the daughter of the founder of the telecoms giant, lost a legal bid to avoid extradition to the United States to face bank fraud charges, dashing hopes for an end to her house arrest in Vancouver. She recently raised a new argument in a Canadian court in a bid to fight extradition, court documents released on Monday showed. (with inputs from Reuters)

China charges two detained Canadians with suspected espionage

A Russian court on Monday sentenced ex-US marine Paul Whelan to 16 years in prison in an espionage case.

The trial was held behind closed doors since Whelan was accused of gathering state secrets, however, he called it a "sham trial" and asked for US President Donald Trump's intervention.

Whelan, 50, was arrested in December 2018 when he was on a visit to Russia for a wedding. He took a USB drive from an acquaintance&nbsp;which he said he thought contained holiday photographs. The US ambassador to Russia had said earlier that was an unfair trial with US&nbsp;secretary of state Mike Pompeo demanding his release last month.

Whelan's health had deteriorated during the trial&nbsp;as US secretary of state demanded his release, saying: "It is unacceptable that Paul Whelan has been denied necessary medical treatment until his condition became dire."

However, Russian foreign ministry said he was receiving "all necessary medical assistance."

Russia's prosecutor during the trial, however, stressed that the ex-marine had information on Russia's state secret. Whelan was earlier "dishonorably discharged" as a marine.

The verdict comes even as relations between Russia and the US continue to be on the edge with the Trump administration having put sanctions on the country.

A Russian court on Monday sentenced ex-US marine Paul Whelan to 16 years in prison in an espionage case. The trial was held behind closed doors since Whelan was accused of gathering state secrets, however, he called it a "sham trial" and asked for US President Donald Trump's intervention.

A Russian court on Monday sentenced ex-US marine Paul Whelan to 16 years in prison in an espionage case. The trial was held behind closed doors since Whelan was accused of gathering state secrets, however, he called it a "sham trial" and asked for US President Donald Trump's intervention. Whelan, 50, was arrested in December 2018 when he was on a visit to Russia for a wedding. He took a USB drive from an acquaintance which he said he thought contained holiday photographs. The US ambassador to Russia had said earlier that was an unfair trial with US secretary of state Mike Pompeo demanding his release last month. Whelan's health had deteriorated during the trial as US secretary of state demanded his release, saying: "It is unacceptable that Paul Whelan has been denied necessary medical treatment until his condition became dire." However, Russian foreign ministry said he was receiving "all necessary medical assistance." Russia's prosecutor during the trial, however, stressed that the ex-marine had information on Russia's state secret. Whelan was earlier "dishonorably discharged" as a marine. The verdict comes even as relations between Russia and the US continue to be on the edge with the Trump administration having put sanctions on the country.

Russian court sentences US ex-marine to 16 years in prison in spy case

American authorities have initiated an aggressive campaign to root out Chinese espionage operations in the US and have caught a group of Chinese government officials, business people and academics pursuing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">American State</a> secrets. There is reason to believe that the strength of this group is increasing rapidly as more people align themselves with its cause.

Public records show that in 2019, US authorities arrested and expelled two Chinese diplomats who claimed to have driven onto a military base in Virginia. Caught and jailed were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">CIA</a> and Defense Intelligence Agency officials due to espionage charges linking them to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">China</a>.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-expels-japanese-journalist-in-military-espionage-row-sources-277045">Russia expels Japanese journalist in military espionage row</a>

William Barr, US Attorney General with FBI Director Christopher Wray and US Counter-Intelligence Chief William Evanina addressed a conference on the government's efforts to counter Chinese “economic malfeasance” involving espionage and the theft of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">US</a> scientific and technological secrets.

Be it medical research or military secrets, China's efforts to steal unclassified American technology have long been thought to be extensive and aggressive. That US officials only launched a broad effort to stop alleged Chinese espionage in the United States in 2018 seems to contradict this notion.

73 per cent of the 137 publicly reported instances of Chinese-linked espionage against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">United States</a> took place in the last decade alone, as per reports from the Washington-based <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-reveals-an-undeclared-north-korean-missile-base-headquarters-191924">Center for Strategic and International Studies</a> (CSIS). The Chinese Embassy in Washington is yet to comment on these revelations.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">Chinese Communist Party presents central threat of our times: Pompeo</a>

Citing data from the think tank, military and commercial technologies are the most common targets for theft, excluding cases of intellectual property litigation and attempts to smuggle munitions or controlled technologies. Out of the 180 investigations into misuse of National Institutes of Health funds, inappropriate sharing of confidential information and more, around 90 per cent of the cases are linked to China.

CSIS experts have postulated that a principal reason for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">China </a>to invest in such levels of espionage, including extensive hacking in cyberspace, roots from the nation's dependence on Western technology. As legal avenues remain closed, espionage remains a viable option.

Federal prosecutors in Boston announced three new criminal cases involving industrial spying or stealing, including charges against a Harvard professor in January alone.

Harvard's Charles Lieber is accused of lying to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">Pentagon </a>and NIH about his involvement in the Thousand Talents Plan - a Chinese government scheme that offers mainly Chinese scientists working overseas lavish financial incentives to bring their expertise and knowledge back to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">China</a>. Another accusation levelled against the academic is his affiliation with the Wuhan University of Technology.

Court documents show that Leiber was a "principal investigator" working on at least six research projects funded by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-presents-central-threat-of-our-times-pompeo-277567">US </a>Defense Department agencies during the time he was signed up with the Chinese university.&nbsp;

There has been no comment from Leiber or his legal team as of yet.

American authorities have initiated an aggressive campaign to root out Chinese espionage operations in the US and have caught a group of Chinese government officials, business people and academics pursuing American State secrets.

American authorities have initiated an aggressive campaign to root out Chinese espionage operations in the US and have caught a group of Chinese government officials, business people and academics pursuing American State secrets. There is reason to believe that the strength of this group is increasing rapidly as more people align themselves with its cause. Public records show that in 2019, US authorities arrested and expelled two Chinese diplomats who claimed to have driven onto a military base in Virginia. Caught and jailed were CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency officials due to espionage charges linking them to China. Also read: Russia expels Japanese journalist in military espionage row William Barr, US Attorney General with FBI Director Christopher Wray and US Counter-Intelligence Chief William Evanina addressed a conference on the government's efforts to counter Chinese “economic malfeasance” involving espionage and the theft of US scientific and technological secrets. Be it medical research or military secrets, China's efforts to steal unclassified American technology have long been thought to be extensive and aggressive. That US officials only launched a broad effort to stop alleged Chinese espionage in the United States in 2018 seems to contradict this notion. 73 per cent of the 137 publicly reported instances of Chinese-linked espionage against the United States took place in the last decade alone, as per reports from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The Chinese Embassy in Washington is yet to comment on these revelations. Also read: Chinese Communist Party presents central threat of our times: Pompeo Citing data from the think tank, military and commercial technologies are the most common targets for theft, excluding cases of intellectual property litigation and attempts to smuggle munitions or controlled technologies. Out of the 180 investigations into misuse of National Institutes of Health funds, inappropriate sharing of confidential information and more, around 90 per cent of the cases are linked to China. CSIS experts have postulated that a principal reason for China to invest in such levels of espionage, including extensive hacking in cyberspace, roots from the nation's dependence on Western technology. As legal avenues remain closed, espionage remains a viable option. Federal prosecutors in Boston announced three new criminal cases involving industrial spying or stealing, including charges against a Harvard professor in January alone. Harvard's Charles Lieber is accused of lying to the Pentagon and NIH about his involvement in the Thousand Talents Plan - a Chinese government scheme that offers mainly Chinese scientists working overseas lavish financial incentives to bring their expertise and knowledge back to China. Another accusation levelled against the academic is his affiliation with the Wuhan University of Technology. Court documents show that Leiber was a "principal investigator" working on at least six research projects funded by US Defense Department agencies during the time he was signed up with the Chinese university. There has been no comment from Leiber or his legal team as of yet.

China's extensive espionage revealed: US only started thorough cleanup as of 2018

Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is accused by Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO and owner of the Washington Post of digital espionage. It is reported that Bezos had his phone hacked in 2018 after receiving a Whatsapp message from the personal account of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-takes-a-dig-at-mark-zuckerberg-calls-making-of-facebook-childs-play-274396">Also read:&nbsp;Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos takes a dig at Mark Zuckerberg, calls making of Facebook child's play</a>

The digital forensic analysis indicates that the breach was likely triggered by an infected file sent to Bezos, and large amounts of data were allegedly stolen from Bezos' phone in the hack though the nature of the stolen material is unclear.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/shah-rukh-khan-a-r-rahman-and-other-b-town-stars-attend-jeff-bezos-welcome-party-in-mumbai-274817">In pics: Shah Rukh Khan, A R Rahman and other B-town stars attend Jeff Bezos welcome party in Mumbai</a> 
 
Preceding the hack was an exchange between Amazon CEO and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. Investigators found digital evidence suggesting it contained code that ultimately led to the phone's breach.&nbsp;

Gavin de Becker was hired in March 2019 by Bezos after the latter's private messages about a personal relationship were leaked to a tabloid; Becker suggests that Sauda Arabia was behind the 2018 hack as well, for at the time it was linked to the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi reporter who wrote for the Post.&nbsp;

The Saudi Embassy tweeted their disagreement, calling the report "absurd" and called for an investigation "so that we can have all the facts out".

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Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.
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An investigation being conducted by the United Nations is expected to confirm that Bezos' mobile phone was hacked in a WhatsApp message from Bin Salman.

Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is accused by Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO and owner of the Washington Post of digital espionage. It is reported that Bezos had his phone hacked in 2018 after receiving a Whatsapp message from the personal account of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is accused by Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO and owner of the Washington Post of digital espionage. It is reported that Bezos had his phone hacked in 2018 after receiving a Whatsapp message from the personal account of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Also read: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos takes a dig at Mark Zuckerberg, calls making of Facebook child's play The digital forensic analysis indicates that the breach was likely triggered by an infected file sent to Bezos, and large amounts of data were allegedly stolen from Bezos' phone in the hack though the nature of the stolen material is unclear. In pics: Shah Rukh Khan, A R Rahman and other B-town stars attend Jeff Bezos welcome party in Mumbai Preceding the hack was an exchange between Amazon CEO and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. Investigators found digital evidence suggesting it contained code that ultimately led to the phone's breach. Gavin de Becker was hired in March 2019 by Bezos after the latter's private messages about a personal relationship were leaked to a tabloid; Becker suggests that Sauda Arabia was behind the 2018 hack as well, for at the time it was linked to the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi reporter who wrote for the Post. The Saudi Embassy tweeted their disagreement, calling the report "absurd" and called for an investigation "so that we can have all the facts out". Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out. — Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) January 22, 2020 × An investigation being conducted by the United Nations is expected to confirm that Bezos' mobile phone was hacked in a WhatsApp message from Bin Salman.

Mohammed Bin Salman caught spying; Jeff Bezos accused Saudi Prince of hacking his phone

Wang was convicted of espionage, given 10 years in jail

Iran-U.S Prisoner swap: U.S Pupil swapped for Iranian scientist

Wang was convicted of espionage, given 10 years in jail.

Russian national <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-express-outrage-over-maria-butina-conviction-putin-says-its-arbitrary-213911">Maria&nbsp;Butina</a>, who was jailed in the United States in April after admitting to working as a Russian agent, arrived in Moscow on Saturday, greeted by her father and Russian journalists who handed her flowers.

Butina pleaded guilty in December last year to one count of conspiring to act as a foreign agent for Russia, prompting Moscow to accuse Washington of forcing her to confess to what it described as ridiculous charges.

The only Russian arrested and convicted in the three-year investigation of Moscow's interference in US politics,&nbsp;Butina&nbsp;parlayed ties with the NRA firearms lobby into a network of high-level Republican allies.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-agent-maria-butina-sentenced-to-18-months-213784">30-year-old native of Siberia</a>&nbsp;said she was on a quest to establish better relations between Russia and the United States, and enrolled in university in Washington while living with a Republican operative.

She attended political rallies and NRA conventions, often with her powerful Moscow sponsor Alexander Torshin, a politician close to President Vladimir Putin.

Her social media was full of pictures of her posing with various firearms around the United States, in some dressed in camo with an assault rifle and, in one, as a cowgirl with a giant six-shooter.

And she had her picture taken with some of the country's conservative elite: NRA head Wayne LaPierre, senator Rick Santorum, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, and President Donald Trump's son Don Jr.

But she was arrested in July 2018 on allegations she was engaging in espionage, though she had no connection with Russia's established spy agencies.

In December,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-agent-maria-butina-released-from-united-states-prison-258249">Butina&nbsp;entered a plea deal</a> on a charge that she acted as an illegal, unregistered foreign agent, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, half of which was credited as already served.

The Russian foreign ministry made her into a cause celebre, placing a picture of her with the word "Free&nbsp;Butina" at the top of its social media pages.

Russian national Maria Butina, who was jailed in the United States in April after admitting to working as a Russian agent, arrived in Moscow on Saturday, greeted by her father and Russian journalists who handed her flowers.

Russian national Maria Butina, who was jailed in the United States in April after admitting to working as a Russian agent, arrived in Moscow on Saturday, greeted by her father and Russian journalists who handed her flowers. Butina pleaded guilty in December last year to one count of conspiring to act as a foreign agent for Russia, prompting Moscow to accuse Washington of forcing her to confess to what it described as ridiculous charges. The only Russian arrested and convicted in the three-year investigation of Moscow's interference in US politics, Butina parlayed ties with the NRA firearms lobby into a network of high-level Republican allies. The 30-year-old native of Siberia said she was on a quest to establish better relations between Russia and the United States, and enrolled in university in Washington while living with a Republican operative. She attended political rallies and NRA conventions, often with her powerful Moscow sponsor Alexander Torshin, a politician close to President Vladimir Putin. Her social media was full of pictures of her posing with various firearms around the United States, in some dressed in camo with an assault rifle and, in one, as a cowgirl with a giant six-shooter. And she had her picture taken with some of the country's conservative elite: NRA head Wayne LaPierre, senator Rick Santorum, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, and President Donald Trump's son Don Jr. But she was arrested in July 2018 on allegations she was engaging in espionage, though she had no connection with Russia's established spy agencies. In December, Butina entered a plea deal on a charge that she acted as an illegal, unregistered foreign agent, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, half of which was credited as already served. The Russian foreign ministry made her into a cause celebre, placing a picture of her with the word "Free Butina" at the top of its social media pages.

Convicted Russian agent Maria Butina lands in Moscow after deportation from United States

An Australian travel-blogging couple held in Iran on spying charges have been freed and returned home, authorities said Saturday, in a possible swap for an Iranian student&nbsp;wanted in the US.

Perth-based Jolie King and Mark Firkin had been documenting their journey from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/australian-pm-to-visit-india-in-january-calls-india-a-natural-partner-253636">Australia</a> to Britain on social media for the past two years but went silent after posting updates from Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan about three months ago.

The pair, who have tens of thousands of followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, were alleged to have used a drone to take pictures of "military sites and forbidden areas", an Iranian judiciary spokesman said last month.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said they were released after "very sensitive negotiations" and had been reunited with their family in Australia.

"We are extremely happy and relieved&nbsp;to be safely back in Australia with those we love," the couple said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry in Canberra.

"While the past few months have been very difficult, we know it has also been tough for those back home who have been worried for us", they added.

Hours later, state media in Tehran said an Iranian student held in Australia for 13 months on accusations of circumventing US sanctions on military equipment had also been released and returned home.

Australia's attorney general Christian Porter confirmed in a statement that he had stopped&nbsp;the extradition of Reza Dehbashi to the United States.

But he dismissed "speculation" over the case, amid media reports including in the Sydney Morning Herald that it could be part of a prisoner swap involving the bloggers.

Porter declined to comment further "particularly when any such response from me may diminish our government's capacity to deal with future matters of this type in Australia's best interests."

State media in Tehran said Dehbashi, a PhD student at the University of Queensland, had been detained on allegations of "attempting to purchase and transfer advanced American military radar equipment via Dubai to Iran".

It said Dehbashi had dismissed the charges as "a misunderstanding".

Emotional reunion

An Iranian state channel showed footage of what it said was Dehbashi arriving at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and hugging a tearful woman apparently from his family.

The Australian couple sought privacy, however.

They said in their statement that intense media coverage "may not be helpful" in the negotiations for the release of a third Australian detained in Iran in an unrelated case.

Melbourne University Academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who specialises in Middle East politics with a focus on Gulf states, had been detained for "some months" before King and Firkin were arrested.

Her case also came to light last month. Moore-Gilbert is accused by Iranian authorities of "spying for another country".

Negotiations over the fate of the university lecturer are "very long term", Payne said.

"She has been detained for some considerable time and has faced the Iranian legal system and has been convicted and sentenced," the minister said.

"We don't accept the charges on which she was convicted and we would seek to have her returned to Australia," Payne added, declining to comment further on the case.

Payne has maintained the cases of those detained were not related to diplomatic tensions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-urges-australia-to-release-tamil-family-253223">Australia</a> said in August that it would join a US-led naval coalition to escort commercial ships in the Gulf, after a spate of attacks blamed on Iran but that Tehran denied.

However, that announcement is believed to have come after the arrests.

Prisoner swap proposal

News of the release of the King and Firkin comes just weeks after an Iranian woman arrested in Australia and sentenced in the United States was returned home.

Negar Ghodskani was sentenced last month in Minneapolis to 27 months in prison for violating sanctions against Tehran, but was released following time served in custody in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asked-australia-for-help-discrediting-russia-probe-252947">Australia and the United States</a>.

After her extradition to the US, she confessed to participation in a conspiracy to illegally export technology to Iran in breach of sanctions, according to the US Justice Department.

She was pregnant when she was arrested in 2017 in Australia where she was a legal resident. She gave birth while in Australian custody and her son was sent to Iran to live with his father.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in April floated a potential prisoner swap with a British-Iranian mother being held in Tehran.

He suggested exchanging Ghodskani for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in jail in Tehran for alleged sedition.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe has also been separated from her daughter while in custody.

An Australian travel-blogging couple held in Iran on spying charges have been freed and returned home, authorities said Saturday, in a possible swap for an Iranian student wanted in the US.

An Australian travel-blogging couple held in Iran on spying charges have been freed and returned home, authorities said Saturday, in a possible swap for an Iranian student wanted in the US. Perth-based Jolie King and Mark Firkin had been documenting their journey from Australia to Britain on social media for the past two years but went silent after posting updates from Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan about three months ago. The pair, who have tens of thousands of followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, were alleged to have used a drone to take pictures of "military sites and forbidden areas", an Iranian judiciary spokesman said last month. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said they were released after "very sensitive negotiations" and had been reunited with their family in Australia. "We are extremely happy and relieved to be safely back in Australia with those we love," the couple said in a statement issued by the foreign ministry in Canberra. "While the past few months have been very difficult, we know it has also been tough for those back home who have been worried for us", they added. Hours later, state media in Tehran said an Iranian student held in Australia for 13 months on accusations of circumventing US sanctions on military equipment had also been released and returned home. Australia's attorney general Christian Porter confirmed in a statement that he had stopped the extradition of Reza Dehbashi to the United States. But he dismissed "speculation" over the case, amid media reports including in the Sydney Morning Herald that it could be part of a prisoner swap involving the bloggers. Porter declined to comment further "particularly when any such response from me may diminish our government's capacity to deal with future matters of this type in Australia's best interests." State media in Tehran said Dehbashi, a PhD student at the University of Queensland, had been detained on allegations of "attempting to purchase and transfer advanced American military radar equipment via Dubai to Iran". It said Dehbashi had dismissed the charges as "a misunderstanding". Emotional reunion An Iranian state channel showed footage of what it said was Dehbashi arriving at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and hugging a tearful woman apparently from his family. The Australian couple sought privacy, however. They said in their statement that intense media coverage "may not be helpful" in the negotiations for the release of a third Australian detained in Iran in an unrelated case. Melbourne University Academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who specialises in Middle East politics with a focus on Gulf states, had been detained for "some months" before King and Firkin were arrested. Her case also came to light last month. Moore-Gilbert is accused by Iranian authorities of "spying for another country". Negotiations over the fate of the university lecturer are "very long term", Payne said. "She has been detained for some considerable time and has faced the Iranian legal system and has been convicted and sentenced," the minister said. "We don't accept the charges on which she was convicted and we would seek to have her returned to Australia," Payne added, declining to comment further on the case. Payne has maintained the cases of those detained were not related to diplomatic tensions. Australia said in August that it would join a US-led naval coalition to escort commercial ships in the Gulf, after a spate of attacks blamed on Iran but that Tehran denied. However, that announcement is believed to have come after the arrests. Prisoner swap proposal News of the release of the King and Firkin comes just weeks after an Iranian woman arrested in Australia and sentenced in the United States was returned home. Negar Ghodskani was sentenced last month in Minneapolis to 27 months in prison for violating sanctions against Tehran, but was released following time served in custody in Australia and the United States. After her extradition to the US, she confessed to participation in a conspiracy to illegally export technology to Iran in breach of sanctions, according to the US Justice Department. She was pregnant when she was arrested in 2017 in Australia where she was a legal resident. She gave birth while in Australian custody and her son was sent to Iran to live with his father. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in April floated a potential prisoner swap with a British-Iranian mother being held in Tehran. He suggested exchanging Ghodskani for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in jail in Tehran for alleged sedition. Zaghari-Ratcliffe has also been separated from her daughter while in custody.

Australian bloggers return home after being held for spying charges in Iran

LinkedIn Is Now Breeding Ground For Espionage

Gravitas: China Hiring spies through Linkedin

An Australian academic has been arrested in China on suspicion&nbsp;of "espionage", foreign minister Marise Payne said Tuesday, in a development sure to deepen tensions between the two countries.

Yang Hengjun had been held in Beijing for several months without charge, but Payne said the author and scholar had been formally arrested on 23 August.

Yang, an outspoken pro-democracy activist, was detained in January shortly after making a rare return to China from the United States.

"If Dr Yang is being held for his political beliefs, he should be released," Payne said, expressing concern about "harsh conditions". "We expect, that basic standards of justice and procedural fairness are met."

China's near-silence about Yang's fate and the refusal to grant consular access has been a point of friction in relations that have markedly deteriorated in recent months.

There is a growing concern in Australia about Beijing's influence on domestic politics and growing military clout in the Pacific.

On Monday, an official corruption inquiry heard that a well-connected Chinese property developer delivered Aus $100,000 in cash to the opposition Labor Party's headquarters before a 2015 election.

The man, Huang Xiangmo, was effectively banned from returning to Australia in February.

Australia has traditionally been keen to avoid friction with its biggest trading partner, but Payne's statement was unusually strongly worded.

"Dr Yang has been held in Beijing in harsh conditions without charge for more than seven months," she said.

"Since that time, China has not explained the reasons for Dr Yang's detention, nor has it allowed him access to his lawyers or family visits."

Payne said she had raised the case five times with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in person and via letters.

Yang had initially been held in "residential surveillance at a designated location" before being moved to "criminal detention", his lawyer told AFP.

An Australian academic has been arrested in China on suspicion of "espionage", foreign minister Marise Payne said Tuesday, in a development sure to deepen tensions between the two countries.

An Australian academic has been arrested in China on suspicion of "espionage", foreign minister Marise Payne said Tuesday, in a development sure to deepen tensions between the two countries. Yang Hengjun had been held in Beijing for several months without charge, but Payne said the author and scholar had been formally arrested on 23 August. Yang, an outspoken pro-democracy activist, was detained in January shortly after making a rare return to China from the United States. "If Dr Yang is being held for his political beliefs, he should be released," Payne said, expressing concern about "harsh conditions". "We expect, that basic standards of justice and procedural fairness are met." China's near-silence about Yang's fate and the refusal to grant consular access has been a point of friction in relations that have markedly deteriorated in recent months. There is a growing concern in Australia about Beijing's influence on domestic politics and growing military clout in the Pacific. On Monday, an official corruption inquiry heard that a well-connected Chinese property developer delivered Aus $100,000 in cash to the opposition Labor Party's headquarters before a 2015 election. The man, Huang Xiangmo, was effectively banned from returning to Australia in February. Australia has traditionally been keen to avoid friction with its biggest trading partner, but Payne's statement was unusually strongly worded. "Dr Yang has been held in Beijing in harsh conditions without charge for more than seven months," she said. "Since that time, China has not explained the reasons for Dr Yang's detention, nor has it allowed him access to his lawyers or family visits." Payne said she had raised the case five times with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in person and via letters. Yang had initially been held in "residential surveillance at a designated location" before being moved to "criminal detention", his lawyer told AFP.

Australian academic Yang Hengjun arrested in China over spying charges

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday addressed the Rajya Sabha on the International Court of Justice's verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and appriciated him for his exemplary courage.

"The International Court of Justice (ICJ) by a vote of 15-1 upheld India's claim that Pakistan violates the Vienna Convention on several counts," said Union foreign minister in Rajya Sabha.

Watch: S Jaishankar briefs Rajya Sabha over ICJ's verdict

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"The ICJ has directed that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Kulbhushan Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with Vienna Convention," he added.

Yesterday, In a major win for India, the world court continued its stay on the execution of the Indian national, held in a Pakistani jail on allegations of "espionage", and called for an effective review and reconsideration of the conviction.

India put intense diplomatic pressure on Pakistan through numerous diplomatic notes and demarches and letter by the External Affairs Minister over a sustained period for consular access and release of Mr Jadhav, as per government sources.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday addressed the Rajya Sabha on the International Court of Justice's verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and appriciated him for his exemplary courage.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday addressed the Rajya Sabha on the International Court of Justice's verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and appriciated him for his exemplary courage. "The International Court of Justice (ICJ) by a vote of 15-1 upheld India's claim that Pakistan violates the Vienna Convention on several counts," said Union foreign minister in Rajya Sabha. Watch: S Jaishankar briefs Rajya Sabha over ICJ's verdict "The ICJ has directed that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Kulbhushan Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with Vienna Convention," he added. Yesterday, In a major win for India, the world court continued its stay on the execution of the Indian national, held in a Pakistani jail on allegations of "espionage", and called for an effective review and reconsideration of the conviction. India put intense diplomatic pressure on Pakistan through numerous diplomatic notes and demarches and letter by the External Affairs Minister over a sustained period for consular access and release of Mr Jadhav, as per government sources.

Kulbhushan Jadhav has shown exemplary courage under very difficult circumstances: S Jaishankar

China is digging in for a tough period of deteriorating ties with the United States, fanning the flames of patriotism with Korean War films, a viral song on the trade war, and editorials lambasting Washington.

The trade spat has turned into a war of words since President Donald Trump blacklisted Huawei last week over concerns the telecom giant's equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage.

The move, which bans US companies from providing technology Huawei needs, came as the two sides have yet to resume trade negotiations after they exchanged steep increases in tariffs.

A commentary on state-run Xinhua news agency Friday said China now had a "deeper understanding" of US "capriciousness" and was ready to fight with its "Long March" spirit.

It echoes President Xi Jinping's tough stance when he called on cadres earlier this week to brace themselves for a "new Long March" -- recalling the legendary strategic retreat by Communist revolutionaries in the 1930s who regrouped and went on to triumph in 1949.

Xi warned local officials of "complicated and long-term effects" of external influences.

The world's top two economies will "go through a long period of irrational conflict," said Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, at a government organised briefing Wednesday.

"And then during this process, step by step... come to understand each other, resist each other, and (finally) cooperate with each other."

'Selfish and arrogant'

Trump has left the door open for reconciliation with plans to meet President Xi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan next month.

But Chinese state media have ramped up the rhetoric.

A Xinhua commentary Thursday called the US government "selfish and arrogant".

"The US is defying international rules, abandoning cooperation agreements and harping on America first, American privilege and American exceptionalism," it said.

Since Trump raised tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods in mid-May, the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily has been running a daily column tag-lined "an alarm bell", rejecting Trump's arguments that China's rise was leading to American losses.

Korean War films stoking anti-US sentiments from the 1950s were broadcast for six consecutive days on state television from May 16, reminding audiences of a time when the Cold War came to China's doorstep as it fought on North's side against US-led UN forces defending the South.

Meanwhile, a song penned by a former Chinese government official vowing to beat the US "out of its wits" on the trade war went viral this week, before it was pulled down from popular social media platforms WeChat and Weibo for violating their content rules.

The song is set to the tune of a well-known wartime anti-Japanese propaganda film, "Tunnel War".&nbsp;

"The Chinese nation is facing a dangerous threat now, similar to the difficult times addressed in the film," lyricist Zhao Liangtian told AFP.

"I want to use this song to awaken the masses. We need to unite as one to develop and to fight."

'Fake' patriotism

Chinese netizens have rallied around Huawei after Trump's threat to kneecap the company, which is widely seen as a move to thwart Beijing's hi-tech ambitions.

An interview last week with the telecom giant's founder, Ren Zhengfei, was one of the top trending topics on China's Twitter-like microblogging platform Weibo.

Hundreds of commentators said they wouldn't abandon the company, while a few called for boycotting iPhones.

But several others said the idea of smashing iPhones was "mere fake patriotism," after Ren himself said his family uses Apple products.

"US attempts to damage Huawei is only a delay tactic, it won't lead to a deadlock," said Shi Yinhong, director of the American studies centre at Renmin University.

But China's tech sector would have to brace itself for a long, painful period as it had relied heavily on American technologies, he said.

"The American door is closing," he said, "but China still doesn't have a plan B."&nbsp;

China is digging in for a tough period of deteriorating ties with the United States, fanning the flames of patriotism with Korean War films, a viral song on the trade war, and editorials lambasting Washington.

China is digging in for a tough period of deteriorating ties with the United States, fanning the flames of patriotism with Korean War films, a viral song on the trade war, and editorials lambasting Washington. The trade spat has turned into a war of words since President Donald Trump blacklisted Huawei last week over concerns the telecom giant's equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage. The move, which bans US companies from providing technology Huawei needs, came as the two sides have yet to resume trade negotiations after they exchanged steep increases in tariffs. A commentary on state-run Xinhua news agency Friday said China now had a "deeper understanding" of US "capriciousness" and was ready to fight with its "Long March" spirit. It echoes President Xi Jinping's tough stance when he called on cadres earlier this week to brace themselves for a "new Long March" -- recalling the legendary strategic retreat by Communist revolutionaries in the 1930s who regrouped and went on to triumph in 1949. Xi warned local officials of "complicated and long-term effects" of external influences. The world's top two economies will "go through a long period of irrational conflict," said Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, at a government organised briefing Wednesday. "And then during this process, step by step... come to understand each other, resist each other, and (finally) cooperate with each other." 'Selfish and arrogant' Trump has left the door open for reconciliation with plans to meet President Xi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan next month. But Chinese state media have ramped up the rhetoric. A Xinhua commentary Thursday called the US government "selfish and arrogant". "The US is defying international rules, abandoning cooperation agreements and harping on America first, American privilege and American exceptionalism," it said. Since Trump raised tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods in mid-May, the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily has been running a daily column tag-lined "an alarm bell", rejecting Trump's arguments that China's rise was leading to American losses. Korean War films stoking anti-US sentiments from the 1950s were broadcast for six consecutive days on state television from May 16, reminding audiences of a time when the Cold War came to China's doorstep as it fought on North's side against US-led UN forces defending the South. Meanwhile, a song penned by a former Chinese government official vowing to beat the US "out of its wits" on the trade war went viral this week, before it was pulled down from popular social media platforms WeChat and Weibo for violating their content rules. The song is set to the tune of a well-known wartime anti-Japanese propaganda film, "Tunnel War". "The Chinese nation is facing a dangerous threat now, similar to the difficult times addressed in the film," lyricist Zhao Liangtian told AFP. "I want to use this song to awaken the masses. We need to unite as one to develop and to fight." 'Fake' patriotism Chinese netizens have rallied around Huawei after Trump's threat to kneecap the company, which is widely seen as a move to thwart Beijing's hi-tech ambitions. An interview last week with the telecom giant's founder, Ren Zhengfei, was one of the top trending topics on China's Twitter-like microblogging platform Weibo. Hundreds of commentators said they wouldn't abandon the company, while a few called for boycotting iPhones. But several others said the idea of smashing iPhones was "mere fake patriotism," after Ren himself said his family uses Apple products. "US attempts to damage Huawei is only a delay tactic, it won't lead to a deadlock," said Shi Yinhong, director of the American studies centre at Renmin University. But China's tech sector would have to brace itself for a long, painful period as it had relied heavily on American technologies, he said. "The American door is closing," he said, "but China still doesn't have a plan B."

China digs in for protracted trade fight with US

The US Justice Department unveiled 17 new criminal charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday, saying he unlawfully published the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in obtaining access to classified information.

The superseding indictment comes a little more than a month after the Justice Department unsealed a narrower criminal case against Assange.

Assange was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protest-against-seizure-of-assanges-belongings-220232">initially charged with conspiring with Manning</a> to gain access to a government computer as part of a 2010 leak by WikiLeaks of hundreds of thousands of US military reports about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He now faces a total of 18 criminal counts, and could face many decades in prison if convicted.

"These unprecedented charges demonstrate the gravity of the threat the criminal prosecution of Julian Assange poses to all journalists in their endeavour to inform the public about actions that have been taken by the US government," said Barry Pollack, an American attorney for Assange.

The Justice Department said that not only did Assange aid and encourage Manning with the theft of classified materials, but he jeopardized the lives of human sources that included Afghans, Iraqis, journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates and political dissidents from repressive regimes by publishing their identities.

Law enforcement officials said on Thursday that the State Department had pleaded with Assange not to reveal the identities of such sources, but Wikileaks ignored the warning.

Manning was arrested in May 2010 and convicted by court-martial in 2013 of espionage in connection with the 2010 Wikileaks disclosures.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-soldier-and-wikileaks-source-manning-returned-to-jail-for-defying-grand-jury-subpoena-219278">Barack Obama reduced Manning's sentence to 7 years</a> from 35 years, but she is now in jail after repeatedly refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating Assange.

Wikileaks describes itself as specialising in the publication of "censored or otherwise restricted official materials involving war, spying and corruption."

Assange is now fighting extradition to the United States, after Ecuador in April revoked his seven-year asylum in the country's London embassy. He was arrested that day, April 11, by British police as he left the embassy.

He is now serving a 50-week sentence in a London jail for skipping bail when he fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012.

The decision to charge Assange with espionage crimes is notable and unusual. Most cases involving the theft of classified information have targeted government employees, like Manning, and not the people who publish the information itself.

In the wake of Assange’s arrest, prosecutors in Sweden re-opened a criminal investigation into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swedish-prosecutor-requests-julian-assanges-detention-over-rape-allegation-220098">allegations that Assange sexually assaulted a woman</a> during a visit to Sweden. At one point, before his arrest in Britain, Swedish prosecutors charged him with assaulting two women.

Swedish authorities recently sent British authorities a fresh request for Assange’s extradition.

The decision regarding which country should have its chance to prosecute him first is now in the hands of Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Britain’s interior security minister.

The Justice Department's quick turnaround with the filing of a more substantial indictment against Assange is not surprising.

Under extradition rules, the United States had only a 60-day window from the date of Assange's arrest in London to add more charges. After that, foreign governments do not generally accept superseding charges.

Watch: 'We need to save his life,' says Pamela Anderson after visiting Julian Assange in London jail 
&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

The US Justice Department unveiled 17 new criminal charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday, saying he unlawfully published the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in obtaining access to classified information.

The US Justice Department unveiled 17 new criminal charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday, saying he unlawfully published the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in obtaining access to classified information. The superseding indictment comes a little more than a month after the Justice Department unsealed a narrower criminal case against Assange. Assange was initially charged with conspiring with Manning to gain access to a government computer as part of a 2010 leak by WikiLeaks of hundreds of thousands of US military reports about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He now faces a total of 18 criminal counts, and could face many decades in prison if convicted. "These unprecedented charges demonstrate the gravity of the threat the criminal prosecution of Julian Assange poses to all journalists in their endeavour to inform the public about actions that have been taken by the US government," said Barry Pollack, an American attorney for Assange. The Justice Department said that not only did Assange aid and encourage Manning with the theft of classified materials, but he jeopardized the lives of human sources that included Afghans, Iraqis, journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates and political dissidents from repressive regimes by publishing their identities. Law enforcement officials said on Thursday that the State Department had pleaded with Assange not to reveal the identities of such sources, but Wikileaks ignored the warning. Manning was arrested in May 2010 and convicted by court-martial in 2013 of espionage in connection with the 2010 Wikileaks disclosures. President Barack Obama reduced Manning's sentence to 7 years from 35 years, but she is now in jail after repeatedly refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating Assange. Wikileaks describes itself as specialising in the publication of "censored or otherwise restricted official materials involving war, spying and corruption." Assange is now fighting extradition to the United States, after Ecuador in April revoked his seven-year asylum in the country's London embassy. He was arrested that day, April 11, by British police as he left the embassy. He is now serving a 50-week sentence in a London jail for skipping bail when he fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012. The decision to charge Assange with espionage crimes is notable and unusual. Most cases involving the theft of classified information have targeted government employees, like Manning, and not the people who publish the information itself. In the wake of Assange’s arrest, prosecutors in Sweden re-opened a criminal investigation into allegations that Assange sexually assaulted a woman during a visit to Sweden. At one point, before his arrest in Britain, Swedish prosecutors charged him with assaulting two women. Swedish authorities recently sent British authorities a fresh request for Assange’s extradition. The decision regarding which country should have its chance to prosecute him first is now in the hands of Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Britain’s interior security minister. The Justice Department's quick turnaround with the filing of a more substantial indictment against Assange is not surprising. Under extradition rules, the United States had only a 60-day window from the date of Assange's arrest in London to add more charges. After that, foreign governments do not generally accept superseding charges. Watch: 'We need to save his life,' says Pamela Anderson after visiting Julian Assange in London jail ×

US announces 17 new espionage charges against Wikileaks' Julian Assange

Julian Assange's lawyers have filed a court complaint in Spain against a group of Spaniards they allege extorted the WikiLeaks founder whom they say may have been the victim of "espionage", a source in his defence team said Saturday.

Assange, who for seven years lived holed up in London's Ecuadoran embassy where he had taken refuge to avoid extradition to Sweden on rape accusations, was arrested on April 11 after Quito terminated his asylum.

The 47-year-old founder of WikiLeaks, which exposed everything from US military secrets to the wealthy's tax evasion, is now awaiting sentencing for breaching his British bail conditions in 2012.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the complaint was against "a group of Spaniards who allegedly engaged in extortion."

The source told AFP the complaint was also against various employees of the embassy and Ecuador's foreign ministry "who could be responsible," without detailing how.

The source added a probe was ongoing into the alleged extortion, as well as "espionage" that could have taken place against Assange, without giving further details.

According to online daily eldiario.es, four Spaniards have videos and personal documents of Assange which they somehow obtained via an alleged spying system that included security cameras set up in the embassy in London.

The Spaniards allegedly tried to extort three million euros ($3.3 million) out of WikiLeaks not to publish any of it, the report says.

If confirmed, it is unclear how the Spaniards got access to the alleged spying system and were able to get the information about Assange.

It is also unclear whether his lawyers accuse the embassy and ministry employees targeted in the complaint, reportedly made to Spain's top-level National Court, of being behind the alleged espionage.

The National Court could not comment when contacted by AFP.

The accusations of espionage contrast with Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno's version of events.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, he alleged Assange had himself tried to set up a "centre for spying" in Ecuador's embassy.

Now in prison in Britain, Assange is also fighting a US extradition warrant relating to the release by WikiLeaks of a huge cache of official documents.

Julian Assange's lawyers have filed a court complaint in Spain against a group of Spaniards they allege extorted the WikiLeaks founder whom they say may have been the victim of "espionage", a source in his defence team said Saturday.

Julian Assange's lawyers have filed a court complaint in Spain against a group of Spaniards they allege extorted the WikiLeaks founder whom they say may have been the victim of "espionage", a source in his defence team said Saturday. Assange, who for seven years lived holed up in London's Ecuadoran embassy where he had taken refuge to avoid extradition to Sweden on rape accusations, was arrested on April 11 after Quito terminated his asylum. The 47-year-old founder of WikiLeaks, which exposed everything from US military secrets to the wealthy's tax evasion, is now awaiting sentencing for breaching his British bail conditions in 2012. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the complaint was against "a group of Spaniards who allegedly engaged in extortion." The source told AFP the complaint was also against various employees of the embassy and Ecuador's foreign ministry "who could be responsible," without detailing how. The source added a probe was ongoing into the alleged extortion, as well as "espionage" that could have taken place against Assange, without giving further details. According to online daily eldiario.es, four Spaniards have videos and personal documents of Assange which they somehow obtained via an alleged spying system that included security cameras set up in the embassy in London. The Spaniards allegedly tried to extort three million euros ($3.3 million) out of WikiLeaks not to publish any of it, the report says. If confirmed, it is unclear how the Spaniards got access to the alleged spying system and were able to get the information about Assange. It is also unclear whether his lawyers accuse the embassy and ministry employees targeted in the complaint, reportedly made to Spain's top-level National Court, of being behind the alleged espionage. The National Court could not comment when contacted by AFP. The accusations of espionage contrast with Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno's version of events. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, he alleged Assange had himself tried to set up a "centre for spying" in Ecuador's embassy. Now in prison in Britain, Assange is also fighting a US extradition warrant relating to the release by WikiLeaks of a huge cache of official documents.

Assange may have been victim of 'espionage' in embassy: Lawyers

&nbsp;A former US Defence Intelligence Agency officer pleaded guilty to attempted espionage for China, the Justice Department said on Friday.

The officer, Ron Rockwell Hansen, was accused of trying to transmit classified US national defence information to China and receiving "hundreds of thousands of dollars" while illegally acting as an agent for the Chinese government.&nbsp;

Hansen started working at the DIA, which specialises in military intelligence, in 2006 after his retirement from the US Army, and held a top-secret security clearance for many years, according to the Justice Department.&nbsp;

In 2014, a Chinese intelligence service recruited Hansen, the Justice Department said.

FBI agents took Hansen into custody in June, when he was travelling to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to take a connecting flight to China.

He faces up to 15 years in prison. His sentencing will take place on September 24. It was not immediately clear who was representing Hansen in his case.

A former US Defence Intelligence Agency officer pleaded guilty to attempted espionage for China, the Justice Department said on Friday. The officer, Ron Rockwell Hansen, was accused of trying to transmit classified US national defence information to China and receiving "hundreds of thousands of dollars" while illegally acting as an agent for the Chinese government.

A former US Defence Intelligence Agency officer pleaded guilty to attempted espionage for China, the Justice Department said on Friday. The officer, Ron Rockwell Hansen, was accused of trying to transmit classified US national defence information to China and receiving "hundreds of thousands of dollars" while illegally acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Hansen started working at the DIA, which specialises in military intelligence, in 2006 after his retirement from the US Army, and held a top-secret security clearance for many years, according to the Justice Department. In 2014, a Chinese intelligence service recruited Hansen, the Justice Department said. FBI agents took Hansen into custody in June, when he was travelling to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to take a connecting flight to China. He faces up to 15 years in prison. His sentencing will take place on September 24. It was not immediately clear who was representing Hansen in his case.

Ex-US intelligence officer pleads guilty to attempted espionage for China

Chinese telecom giant Huawei will give foreign media a peek into its headquarters Wednesday as the normally secretive company steps up a counter-offensive against US warnings that it could be used by Beijing for espionage and sabotage.

Huawei has kicked off the year with an aggressive PR campaign that has seen reclusive founder Ren Zhengfei suddenly give a series of interviews with foreign media to deny the company was a threat, while executives have dismissed the US warnings as baseless.

The charm offensive reaches another gear Wednesday when Huawei rolls out the media welcome mat at its headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen.

Foreign journalist visits are hardly routine at a headquarters where high-tech labs and manufacturing facilities employ 60,000 people, but these are unusual times for the company.

The United States says Huawei equipment could be manipulated by China's Communist government to spy on other countries and disrupt critical communications.

Washington is urging governments to shun the company just as the world readies for the advent of ultra-fast 5G telecommunications, an advancement that Huawei was expected to lead and which will allow widespread adoption of next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence.

Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, Ren's daughter, also faces a court hearing on Wednesday in Vancouver on a US extradition request. Two Canadians have been detained in China in suspected retaliation over her arrest.

The US Justice Department accuses Huawei and Meng of circumventing US sanctions against Iran. Two affiliates also have been charged with stealing trade secrets from telecommunications group T-Mobile.

Wolf ethos&nbsp;

Founded by Ren in 1987, Huawei has espoused a relentless "wolf" ethos that executives say fuelled its rise to become the world leader in telecom network hardware.

It remains to be seen how the new charm offensive will play out, but the wolf may already smell blood.

After intense recent lobbying by Huawei, reports have suggested Britain and New Zealand may walk back earlier indications that the company would be frozen out of their telecom plans.

At the world's top mobile industry fair in Spain last week, Huawei bagged 5G commercial contracts or partnership agreements with 10 telecom operators including Switzerland's Sunrise, Iceland's Nova, Saudi Arabia's STC and Turkey's Turkcell.

On Thursday, Huawei Chairman Guo Ping will hold a news conference at the Shenzhen headquarters that may be the real reason for the media tour's timing.

The New York Times on Monday cited anonymous sources saying Huawei this week will announce plans to sue the US government for barring American federal agencies from using the company's products.

The topic of the news conference has not been disclosed, but a big announcement would allow Huawei to seize back the narrative from Meng's extradition hearing.

Huawei declined to comment publicly on the Times report.

Opening its sprawling grounds also is a chance for Huawei to show that it is a global player not to be trifled with.

Around 60,000 employees work at Shenzhen HQ, which has cutting-edge laboratories, hotels, swimming pools and fitness centres, a dozen cafeterias, and a Huawei University where it trains staff as well as foreign customers and partners.

Huawei strenuously denies any connections to China's government.&nbsp;

Sceptics, however, say it is highly unlikely that Ren, a former Chinese army engineer, could have steered his company to such heights in such a strategic sector without the support of Beijing, which has clearly stated its goal of becoming the world's high-tech leader.

Besides its network dominance, Huawei is the world's number three smartphone supplier after Samsung and Apple.

Chinese telecom giant Huawei will give foreign media a peek into its headquarters Wednesday as the normally secretive company steps up a counter-offensive against US warnings that it could be used by Beijing for espionage and sabotage.

Chinese telecom giant Huawei will give foreign media a peek into its headquarters Wednesday as the normally secretive company steps up a counter-offensive against US warnings that it could be used by Beijing for espionage and sabotage. Huawei has kicked off the year with an aggressive PR campaign that has seen reclusive founder Ren Zhengfei suddenly give a series of interviews with foreign media to deny the company was a threat, while executives have dismissed the US warnings as baseless. The charm offensive reaches another gear Wednesday when Huawei rolls out the media welcome mat at its headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen. Foreign journalist visits are hardly routine at a headquarters where high-tech labs and manufacturing facilities employ 60,000 people, but these are unusual times for the company. The United States says Huawei equipment could be manipulated by China's Communist government to spy on other countries and disrupt critical communications. Washington is urging governments to shun the company just as the world readies for the advent of ultra-fast 5G telecommunications, an advancement that Huawei was expected to lead and which will allow widespread adoption of next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence. Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, Ren's daughter, also faces a court hearing on Wednesday in Vancouver on a US extradition request. Two Canadians have been detained in China in suspected retaliation over her arrest. The US Justice Department accuses Huawei and Meng of circumventing US sanctions against Iran. Two affiliates also have been charged with stealing trade secrets from telecommunications group T-Mobile. Wolf ethos Founded by Ren in 1987, Huawei has espoused a relentless "wolf" ethos that executives say fuelled its rise to become the world leader in telecom network hardware. It remains to be seen how the new charm offensive will play out, but the wolf may already smell blood. After intense recent lobbying by Huawei, reports have suggested Britain and New Zealand may walk back earlier indications that the company would be frozen out of their telecom plans. At the world's top mobile industry fair in Spain last week, Huawei bagged 5G commercial contracts or partnership agreements with 10 telecom operators including Switzerland's Sunrise, Iceland's Nova, Saudi Arabia's STC and Turkey's Turkcell. On Thursday, Huawei Chairman Guo Ping will hold a news conference at the Shenzhen headquarters that may be the real reason for the media tour's timing. The New York Times on Monday cited anonymous sources saying Huawei this week will announce plans to sue the US government for barring American federal agencies from using the company's products. The topic of the news conference has not been disclosed, but a big announcement would allow Huawei to seize back the narrative from Meng's extradition hearing. Huawei declined to comment publicly on the Times report. Opening its sprawling grounds also is a chance for Huawei to show that it is a global player not to be trifled with. Around 60,000 employees work at Shenzhen HQ, which has cutting-edge laboratories, hotels, swimming pools and fitness centres, a dozen cafeterias, and a Huawei University where it trains staff as well as foreign customers and partners. Huawei strenuously denies any connections to China's government. Sceptics, however, say it is highly unlikely that Ren, a former Chinese army engineer, could have steered his company to such heights in such a strategic sector without the support of Beijing, which has clearly stated its goal of becoming the world's high-tech leader. Besides its network dominance, Huawei is the world's number three smartphone supplier after Samsung and Apple.

In rare move, Huawei opens its door for foreign media to counter espionage accusations

A day after Poland arrested<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/poland-arrests-chinese-employee-of-huawei-over-spying-allegations-189601"> Chinese employee of Huawei along with a Polish national over espionage allegations</a>, the telecom equipment maker&nbsp;terminated its employee saying that he had harmed the company's global reputation.

"This incident created harmful effects on Huawei's global reputation," news agency AFP quoted the company as saying.

Citing management rules in company contracts, Huawei said it "has decided to immediately terminate its employer relationship with Wang Weijing."

"Huawei has always abided by applicable laws and regulations of the country where it is located... and requires all employees to abide by the country's laws and regulations," it said.

Huawei, the world’s biggest producer of telecoms equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and US-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying.

Polish authorities on Friday arrested Wang Weijing and a former Polish security official on spying allegations, a move that could fuel Western security concerns about the telecoms equipment maker.

Reacting to the Weijing's arrest China had said that it was "highly concerned" by the arrest.&nbsp;

"We require relevant countries to handle relevant cases fairly and in accordance with the law, and earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the person concerned," news agency AFP quoted Chinese foreign ministry as saying.

In December, Canadian authorities arrested a top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, at the behest of US authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of US trade sanctions.

US intelligence agencies allege Huawei is linked to China's government and that its equipment could contain "back doors" for use by government spies. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims.

The US criticism has led to a number of Western countries and companies to review whether they should allow Huawei's equipment to be used in their telecoms networks.

(With inputs from news agencies) 
&nbsp;

A day after Poland arrested Chinese employee of Huawei along with a Polish national over espionage allegations, the telecom equipment maker terminated its employee saying that he had harmed the company's global reputation.

A day after Poland arrested Chinese employee of Huawei along with a Polish national over espionage allegations, the telecom equipment maker terminated its employee saying that he had harmed the company's global reputation. "This incident created harmful effects on Huawei's global reputation," news agency AFP quoted the company as saying. Citing management rules in company contracts, Huawei said it "has decided to immediately terminate its employer relationship with Wang Weijing." "Huawei has always abided by applicable laws and regulations of the country where it is located... and requires all employees to abide by the country's laws and regulations," it said. Huawei, the world’s biggest producer of telecoms equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese government and US-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. Polish authorities on Friday arrested Wang Weijing and a former Polish security official on spying allegations, a move that could fuel Western security concerns about the telecoms equipment maker. Reacting to the Weijing's arrest China had said that it was "highly concerned" by the arrest. "We require relevant countries to handle relevant cases fairly and in accordance with the law, and earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the person concerned," news agency AFP quoted Chinese foreign ministry as saying. In December, Canadian authorities arrested a top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, at the behest of US authorities as part of an investigation into alleged violations of US trade sanctions. US intelligence agencies allege Huawei is linked to China's government and that its equipment could contain "back doors" for use by government spies. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims. The US criticism has led to a number of Western countries and companies to review whether they should allow Huawei's equipment to be used in their telecoms networks. (With inputs from news agencies)

Huawei sacks employee arrested in Poland over spying charges

Breaking News: US probe into Marriott hack points at Chinese espionage operations

At the University of Buckingham, a course has been designed to teach would-be spies about the new global dangers. From January, students can get a Bachelor’s degree in security, intelligence and cyber threats. WION’s Mandy Clark travelled to Buckingham to find out more.&nbsp;

The University of Buckingham has created the first undergraduate degree in understanding international espionage. It’s run by Julian Richards, an expert on Pakistan who spent nearly 20 years working in the intelligence field -- but just don’t call his course a spy school.&nbsp;

"So, first of all, this is not a training programme for people going into the world of espionage. This is about these issues rather than training to do these things. The intelligence agencies train their own spies, we don’t do that here in the Universities, they pick the brightest people that they want and then they train them accordingly,” Richards notes. 
&nbsp; 
The issues covered in the course include modern challenges of terrorism, a possible new Cold War between Russia and the West, and cyber threats.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The goal of this course is to understand modern threats to the modern world. But you don’t have to cast away all thoughts of James Bond and his gadget inventor Q.&nbsp;

“Q is not entirely fictional in a way. Technology is an important part of this whole business, not just in governments but in commercial organisations as well. Things like autonomous technology, biomedical technology, the miniaturisation of surveillance devices, drones are the things we need to think about. We need to think about how they look, how they are going to be used, what are the ethical and legal considerations about these things not, just in governments, but across all sorts of organisations. We are not training people to be Q’s or to be James Bonds but we are equipping them with the consideration of what these things will mean and how we will have to develop strategies and policies to deal with it,” Richards added.&nbsp;

 
What the course doesn’t do is reveal how spies do what they do. That’s a secret, WION's Bureau Chief, London, Mandy Clark reported.&nbsp;

At the University of Buckingham, a course has been designed to teach would-be spies about the new global dangers. From January, students can get a Bachelor’s degree in security, intelligence and cyber threats.

At the University of Buckingham, a course has been designed to teach would-be spies about the new global dangers. From January, students can get a Bachelor’s degree in security, intelligence and cyber threats. WION’s Mandy Clark travelled to Buckingham to find out more. The University of Buckingham has created the first undergraduate degree in understanding international espionage. It’s run by Julian Richards, an expert on Pakistan who spent nearly 20 years working in the intelligence field -- but just don’t call his course a spy school. "So, first of all, this is not a training programme for people going into the world of espionage. This is about these issues rather than training to do these things. The intelligence agencies train their own spies, we don’t do that here in the Universities, they pick the brightest people that they want and then they train them accordingly,” Richards notes. The issues covered in the course include modern challenges of terrorism, a possible new Cold War between Russia and the West, and cyber threats. The goal of this course is to understand modern threats to the modern world. But you don’t have to cast away all thoughts of James Bond and his gadget inventor Q. “Q is not entirely fictional in a way. Technology is an important part of this whole business, not just in governments but in commercial organisations as well. Things like autonomous technology, biomedical technology, the miniaturisation of surveillance devices, drones are the things we need to think about. We need to think about how they look, how they are going to be used, what are the ethical and legal considerations about these things not, just in governments, but across all sorts of organisations. We are not training people to be Q’s or to be James Bonds but we are equipping them with the consideration of what these things will mean and how we will have to develop strategies and policies to deal with it,” Richards added. What the course doesn’t do is reveal how spies do what they do. That’s a secret, WION's Bureau Chief, London, Mandy Clark reported.

UK college offers espionage degree to decode modern threats to world

A preliminary enquiry has been ordered by the Army to ascertain facts on suspected leakage of classified information from IT devices of a Lt Colonel posted in Jabalpur.&nbsp;

&quot;It is yet to be established whether it has happened inadvertently or deliberately as reported,&quot; a senior Army official told ANI.

The officer has only been questioned as part of an ongoing enquiry, the official said.

&quot;He continues to perform his routine duties in the unit. Evidence related to the case including digital evidence has been seized and sent for further forensic analysis,&quot; the official said.

Recently, An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer was taken into custody for possibly leaking of classified information.

The authorities are still investigating the case.

In another case, the Delhi Police arrested an IAF officer Group Captain Arun Marwah on charges of providing secret IAF documents to Pakistan&#39;s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI).

The officer has only been questioned as part of an ongoing enquiry, the official said.

A preliminary enquiry has been ordered by the Army to ascertain facts on suspected leakage of classified information from IT devices of a Lt Colonel posted in Jabalpur. "It is yet to be established whether it has happened inadvertently or deliberately as reported," a senior Army official told ANI. The officer has only been questioned as part of an ongoing enquiry, the official said. "He continues to perform his routine duties in the unit. Evidence related to the case including digital evidence has been seized and sent for further forensic analysis," the official said. Recently, An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer was taken into custody for possibly leaking of classified information. The authorities are still investigating the case. In another case, the Delhi Police arrested an IAF officer Group Captain Arun Marwah on charges of providing secret IAF documents to Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI).

Army probing suspected leak of classified information

The Delhi Police has arrested an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer&nbsp;Group Captain Arun Marwah on charges of providing secret IAF documents to Pakistan&#39;s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).&nbsp;

Marwah was handed over to the Special Cell&#39;s northern range on Wednesday after being interrogated for nearly 10 days by the counter intelligence wing of the IAF, a senior police official said.

He has been booked under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) provisions and five days police custody has been granted by the court for questioning him, he said.

Reports said earlier that the officer may have been &quot;honey trapped&quot; as he was suspected of sending pictures of classified documents through social media channel WhatsApp.

The identity of the woman hasn&#39;t been established.

As per the complaint filed against Marwah by the Air Force, he was caught by the counter intelligence wing after he was found carrying a high-end phone at the headquarters, which are banned there.

The counter intelligence wing is also probing whether he was part of any larger espionage ring.

The IAF officially did not comment on the matter.

Punishment under the Official Secrets Act entails a jail term of up to seven years.

The special cell of Delhi Police has filed an FIR against the officer under the Officials Secrets Act.

The Delhi Police has arrested an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer Group Captain Arun Marwah on charges of providing secret IAF documents to Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Marwah was handed over to the Special Cell's northern range on Wednesday after being interrogated for nearly 10 days by the counter intelligence wing of the IAF, a senior police official said. He has been booked under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) provisions and five days police custody has been granted by the court for questioning him, he said. Reports said earlier that the officer may have been "honey trapped" as he was suspected of sending pictures of classified documents through social media channel WhatsApp. The identity of the woman hasn't been established. As per the complaint filed against Marwah by the Air Force, he was caught by the counter intelligence wing after he was found carrying a high-end phone at the headquarters, which are banned there. The counter intelligence wing is also probing whether he was part of any larger espionage ring. The IAF officially did not comment on the matter. Punishment under the Official Secrets Act entails a jail term of up to seven years.

Delhi Police arrests Air Force officer suspected of passing secrets to Pakistan's ISI

An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer has been taken into custody for possibly leaking&nbsp;of classified information, sources said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

A team of the IAF&#39;s central security and investigation took the officer into custody, and currently, he is being interrogated, said the sources.

The investigators are probing whether the officer was a victim of a honey trap as it is suspected he was sending pictures of classified documents to a woman through Facebook and WhatsApp.

It is also being probed whether he was part of a larger espionage ring being run from Pakistan, the sources said.

Sources were cited by a news portal as saying that the officer had established contact with his handlers through Facebook. Later the officer was in touch with his handlers through multiple social media platforms.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We are trying to establish whether others too were involved and how big the ring was&rdquo;, top sources said.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We have strong reason to believe that the officer was regularly meeting his handlers in the Capital&rdquo;, these sources added.

The IAF officially did not comment on the matter.&nbsp;

The identity of the officer has been kept secret as the investigation into the case was going on, the sources said.&nbsp;

The investigators are also examining whether the officer has passed on any sensitive information to anyone.

A team of the IAF's central security and investigation took the officer into custody, and currently, he is being interrogated

An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer has been taken into custody for possibly leaking of classified information, sources said on Wednesday. A team of the IAF's central security and investigation took the officer into custody, and currently, he is being interrogated, said the sources. The investigators are probing whether the officer was a victim of a honey trap as it is suspected he was sending pictures of classified documents to a woman through Facebook and WhatsApp. It is also being probed whether he was part of a larger espionage ring being run from Pakistan, the sources said. Sources were cited by a news portal as saying that the officer had established contact with his handlers through Facebook. Later the officer was in touch with his handlers through multiple social media platforms. “We are trying to establish whether others too were involved and how big the ring was”, top sources said. “We have strong reason to believe that the officer was regularly meeting his handlers in the Capital”, these sources added. The IAF officially did not comment on the matter. The identity of the officer has been kept secret as the investigation into the case was going on, the sources said. The investigators are also examining whether the officer has passed on any sensitive information to anyone.

IAF officer detained for leaking information allegedly to Pakistani woman spy

A day after a Pakistan High Commissioner staffer was expelled from India over charges of espionage, a personal assistant of a Samajwadi Party&#39;s (SP) member of parliament (MP) in the upper house was detained by Delhi Police on Friday night.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Farhat, the aide of Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indian Parliament) MP Munabbar Saleem, was detained last night, said a senior crime branch officer, adding his interrogation is underway, Indian news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Delhi Police is trying to nab other members of the espionage racket after Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was reportedly caught receiving defence secret documents about the&nbsp;deployment of Indian security forces here on October 26.

&nbsp;

Two others, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, residents of Nagaur, Rajasthan, were held along with Akhtar. Another accused Sohaib was detained in Jodhpur and brought to Delhi by the police where he was arrested, PTI reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The personal assistant of Samajwadi party's member of parliament was detained by Delhi Police last night

A day after a Pakistan High Commissioner staffer was expelled from India over charges of espionage, a personal assistant of a Samajwadi Party's (SP) member of parliament (MP) in the upper house was detained by Delhi Police on Friday night. Farhat, the aide of Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indian Parliament) MP Munabbar Saleem, was detained last night, said a senior crime branch officer, adding his interrogation is underway, Indian news agency PTI reported. Meanwhile, Delhi Police is trying to nab other members of the espionage racket after Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was reportedly caught receiving defence secret documents about the deployment of Indian security forces here on October 26. Two others, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, residents of Nagaur, Rajasthan, were held along with Akhtar. Another accused Sohaib was detained in Jodhpur and brought to Delhi by the police where he was arrested, PTI reported. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Pakistan espionage case: Indian MP's close aide detained?

US Army soldier&nbsp;Chelsea Manning, who is serving 35 years of jail term for passing classified files to WikiLeaks, was sent to 14 days in solitary confinement on Friday for attempting suicide and keeping a banned book. 
 
A group supporting Manning released a statement saying that a disciplinary board at the military prison in Kanas informed her of the decision after a hearing on Thursday. 
 
According to Reuters, Manning was quoted in the statement saying she could appeal the punishment. 
 
&quot;I am feeling hurt. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I don&#39;t know how to explain it,&quot; Manning said. 
 
In the statement, Manning also said the prohibited book in her prison cell was &quot;Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy&quot; by Gabriella Coleman. 
 
Army spokesman Wayne Hall told Reuters in an email that &quot;it would be inappropriate for the Army to comment at this time&quot;. 
 
A lawyer for Manning, Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union, questioned the logic of &quot;our systems of incarceration punishing people with the cruelty of solitary for attempting to end their life&quot;, Reuters reported. 
 
Manning, a 28-year-old transgender Army private, had sparked a worldwide debate on government secrecy after she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. 
 
Manning &nbsp;was born male and revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. She tried to commit suicide in July. 
 
This month, she also went on a hunger strike, agreeing to end it when the Army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery, following which she began hormone therapy in 2015.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The US army soldier is serving a 35-year prison term for passing classified files to WikiLeaks

US Army soldier Chelsea Manning, who is serving 35 years of jail term for passing classified files to WikiLeaks, was sent to 14 days in solitary confinement on Friday for attempting suicide and keeping a banned book. A group supporting Manning released a statement saying that a disciplinary board at the military prison in Kanas informed her of the decision after a hearing on Thursday. According to Reuters, Manning was quoted in the statement saying she could appeal the punishment. "I am feeling hurt. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I don't know how to explain it," Manning said. In the statement, Manning also said the prohibited book in her prison cell was "Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy" by Gabriella Coleman. Army spokesman Wayne Hall told Reuters in an email that "it would be inappropriate for the Army to comment at this time". A lawyer for Manning, Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union, questioned the logic of "our systems of incarceration punishing people with the cruelty of solitary for attempting to end their life", Reuters reported. Manning, a 28-year-old transgender Army private, had sparked a worldwide debate on government secrecy after she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. Manning was born male and revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. She tried to commit suicide in July. This month, she also went on a hunger strike, agreeing to end it when the Army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery, following which she began hormone therapy in 2015. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Chelsea Manning sent to solitary confinement for attempting suicide

When former NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden&nbsp;met with Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone to discuss a movie on his life, he never thought he would be making his own film debut.

Stone had initially interviewed&nbsp;Snowden&nbsp;to include him in DVD outtakes,&nbsp;Snowden&nbsp;said via video link on late Thursday in San Diego after a screening of Stone&#39;s &quot;Snowden&quot;, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the title character.&nbsp;But&nbsp;Snowden&nbsp;and Stone ended up filming nine takes for a scene in which he talks about his fears stemming from his actions.

&quot;I spoke at length just about personal values and just what it meant to me with the things that were happening since 2013,&quot; said&nbsp;Snowden. &quot;I guess he liked it. People do seem to respond to that.&quot;

The movie, due out in September, follows the 2013 events that led&nbsp;Snowden, a former contractor with the National Security Agency, to expose the US&nbsp;government&#39;s mass surveillance programs and flee the country after the government filed espionage charges 
against him. 
 
He was granted asylum in Russia later that year, and has lived there since with his girlfriend, Lindsay Mills.&nbsp;&quot;When there is enough in the public record, you don&#39;t really get to decide whether or not the movie gets made,&quot;&nbsp;Snowden&nbsp;said.&nbsp; 
 
The film follows&nbsp;Snowden&#39;s discovery of the US&nbsp;government&#39;s mass surveillance programs that digitally monitor unaware citizens.&nbsp;It fictionialises and condenses some events, such as how&nbsp;Snowden&nbsp;smuggled the data out of the NSA - dramatised with a Rubik&#39;s Cube in the film - and got it to documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras and Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald in Hong Kong.

 
&quot;I admitted that I did not have a plan beyond getting straight out of there (Hong Kong), I planned to ask the world for justice and see what happened. It was kind of surprising how that worked out,&quot; he said.

Asked by an audience member if he was happy,&nbsp;Snowden&nbsp;said: &quot;I actually live a surprisingly free life,&quot; working with organisations such as the American Civil Liberties Union that Gordon-Levitt donated his &quot;Snowden&quot; acting fee to.&nbsp;&quot;Every day, I&#39;m working on something now that I can be proud of. I love my country, I love the things that we try to do,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;The fact that Lindsay&nbsp;has been with me for ten years, is still with me, that&#39;s something that just makes me happy every day.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The movie, due out in September, will follow the 2013 events that led Snowden to expose the US government's mass surveillance programs

When former NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden met with Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone to discuss a movie on his life, he never thought he would be making his own film debut. Stone had initially interviewed Snowden to include him in DVD outtakes, Snowden said via video link on late Thursday in San Diego after a screening of Stone's "Snowden", which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the title character. But Snowden and Stone ended up filming nine takes for a scene in which he talks about his fears stemming from his actions. "I spoke at length just about personal values and just what it meant to me with the things that were happening since 2013," said Snowden. "I guess he liked it. People do seem to respond to that." The movie, due out in September, follows the 2013 events that led Snowden, a former contractor with the National Security Agency, to expose the US government's mass surveillance programs and flee the country after the government filed espionage charges against him. He was granted asylum in Russia later that year, and has lived there since with his girlfriend, Lindsay Mills. "When there is enough in the public record, you don't really get to decide whether or not the movie gets made," Snowden said. The film follows Snowden's discovery of the US government's mass surveillance programs that digitally monitor unaware citizens. It fictionialises and condenses some events, such as how Snowden smuggled the data out of the NSA - dramatised with a Rubik's Cube in the film - and got it to documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras and Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald in Hong Kong. "I admitted that I did not have a plan beyond getting straight out of there (Hong Kong), I planned to ask the world for justice and see what happened. It was kind of surprising how that worked out," he said. Asked by an audience member if he was happy, Snowden said: "I actually live a surprisingly free life," working with organisations such as the American Civil Liberties Union that Gordon-Levitt donated his "Snowden" acting fee to. "Every day, I'm working on something now that I can be proud of. I love my country, I love the things that we try to do," he said. "The fact that Lindsay has been with me for ten years, is still with me, that's something that just makes me happy every day." (Reuters)

Edward Snowden talks film debut and dramatising his life in 'Snowden'

US Assistant Attorney General John Carlin said on Tuesday that Chinese hacking activity appears to have declined since the Chinese government vowed last September to stop supporting the hacking of US trade secrets. 
 
The assertion supports findings released earlier this month from cyber security firm FireEye that breaches attributed to China-based groups had plunged by 90 per cent in the past two years. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The reported decline comes nine months after China vowed to stop supporting hacking of US trade secrets

US Assistant Attorney General John Carlin said on Tuesday that Chinese hacking activity appears to have declined since the Chinese government vowed last September to stop supporting the hacking of US trade secrets. The assertion supports findings released earlier this month from cyber security firm FireEye that breaches attributed to China-based groups had plunged by 90 per cent in the past two years. (Reuters)

Chinese economic cyber-espionage on decline, says US official

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