Chinese spies reportedly used a right-wing Belgian politician as an intelligence asset for three years, the Financial Times reported earlier this week, highlighting China’s widespread influence operations overseas.

According to the report, Frank Creyelman, a former Belgian senator, was contacted by Daniel Woo, an officer in China’s Ministry of State Security to unduly influence discussions in Europe concerning Europe and Europe’s relations with the US and UK.

Woo also asked Creyelman to convince some lawmakers in the European parliament to speak in favour of China over some issues. 
 
“Our purpose is to divide the US-European relationship,” Woo wrote in a text message to Creyelman.

The relationship between the Chinese agent and his asset in Europe was revealed in secret documents obtained by the Financial Times, Der Spiegel and Le Monde from a western security agency.

<h2>Espionage efforts by China</h2>

The episode highlights continued efforts by the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) to engage in intelligence operations on foreign soil, spanning Canberra, Ottawa, London and even Washington DC.&nbsp;

The Western nations have repeatedly warned against such covert operations.

“The MSS has spent decades trying to shape politics and global discourse on China. Recruiting and manipulating academics, policymakers, business leaders and, as this case shows, even politicians is part of that,” Alex Joske, a consultant at McGrathNicol and the author of Spies and Lies, was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

<h2>What tasks were given by Woo to Creyelman?</h2>

As per the report, Woo once entrusted Creyelman with “attacking Adrian Zenz”, a researcher who helped reveal how China detained hundreds of thousands of the mainly Muslim Uyghur minority in its far-western region of Xinjiang.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Exposed: How China is using LinkedIn for espionage

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On one occasion, he asked the former Belgian senator to disrupt a conference on Taiwan.

<h2>Modus Operandi</h2>

According to one CIA officer, cited by the FT, these Chinese agents especially focus on low-ranking officials having contacts with senior politicians.

“These lower-ranking politicians have established access to senior officials, regularly discuss with them sensitive topics and then, wittingly or unwittingly, share with the MSS what they have gleaned,” said the former CIA officer.

It was still unclear how the Chinese agent managed to hire Creyelman, the FT report said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spy-balloon-panda-diplomacy-us-china-ties-in-2023-entered-a-phase-of-21st-century-cold-war-669728">Also read:&nbsp;Spy balloon, Panda diplomacy: US-China ties in 2023 entered a phase of 21st century cold war</a>

However, experts noted that Europe had become a soft target of such covert and secret Chinese operations as “the consequences of being caught in Europe were less severe than in the US”.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese spies reportedly used a right-wing Belgian politician as an intelligence asset for three years, the Financial Times reported earlier this week, highlighting China’s widespread influence operations overseas.

Chinese spies reportedly used a right-wing Belgian politician as an intelligence asset for three years, the Financial Times reported earlier this week, highlighting China’s widespread influence operations overseas. According to the report, Frank Creyelman, a former Belgian senator, was contacted by Daniel Woo, an officer in China’s Ministry of State Security to unduly influence discussions in Europe concerning Europe and Europe’s relations with the US and UK. Woo also asked Creyelman to convince some lawmakers in the European parliament to speak in favour of China over some issues. “Our purpose is to divide the US-European relationship,” Woo wrote in a text message to Creyelman. The relationship between the Chinese agent and his asset in Europe was revealed in secret documents obtained by the Financial Times, Der Spiegel and Le Monde from a western security agency. Espionage efforts by China The episode highlights continued efforts by the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) to engage in intelligence operations on foreign soil, spanning Canberra, Ottawa, London and even Washington DC. The Western nations have repeatedly warned against such covert operations. “The MSS has spent decades trying to shape politics and global discourse on China. Recruiting and manipulating academics, policymakers, business leaders and, as this case shows, even politicians is part of that,” Alex Joske, a consultant at McGrathNicol and the author of Spies and Lies, was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. What tasks were given by Woo to Creyelman? As per the report, Woo once entrusted Creyelman with “attacking Adrian Zenz”, a researcher who helped reveal how China detained hundreds of thousands of the mainly Muslim Uyghur minority in its far-western region of Xinjiang. Watch: Gravitas: Exposed: How China is using LinkedIn for espionage × On one occasion, he asked the former Belgian senator to disrupt a conference on Taiwan. Modus Operandi According to one CIA officer, cited by the FT, these Chinese agents especially focus on low-ranking officials having contacts with senior politicians. “These lower-ranking politicians have established access to senior officials, regularly discuss with them sensitive topics and then, wittingly or unwittingly, share with the MSS what they have gleaned,” said the former CIA officer. It was still unclear how the Chinese agent managed to hire Creyelman, the FT report said. Also read: Spy balloon, Panda diplomacy: US-China ties in 2023 entered a phase of 21st century cold war However, experts noted that Europe had become a soft target of such covert and secret Chinese operations as “the consequences of being caught in Europe were less severe than in the US”. (With inputs from agencies)

How a Chinese spy used a European senator as intelligence asset for three years

A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a significant breakthrough in drone technology, creating a fleet of drones capable of engaging in "group chats" to discuss tasks and collaborate, much like real human teams.

This innovation could have far-reaching applications in enhancing security patrols, disaster rescue operations&nbsp;and aerial logistics, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

Typically, communication within drone swarms is inspired by the behaviour of bee and ant colonies. In contrast, the Chinese researchers have developed swarms that can converse and cooperate like humans, SCMP said in the report. This approach opens up new possibilities for seamless communication and collaboration among drones.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sizeable-hole-spotted-in-parachute-used-by-astronauts-landing-from-tiangong-space-station-watch-654309">Also read |&nbsp;China: Sizeable hole spotted in parachute used by astronauts landing from Tiangong space station. Watch</a>

<h2>Where can it be used?</h2>

The researchers believe this technology can be harnessed to improve various sectors, including security patrols, disaster relief efforts, and aerial logistics. By enabling drones to engage in dialogue and teamwork, the technology has the potential to significantly enhance their capabilities and overall performance in various domains.

A notable advantage of these conversational drones is the transparency they offer in terms of their decision-making processes. This transparency allows researchers and operators to gain a better understanding of the drones' behaviour, which can be crucial for optimising their performance and safety.

<h2>Who made this innovation?</h2>

This groundbreaking technology is the result of the work of Li Xuelong and his team at the School of Artificial Intelligence, Optics, and Electronics at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shaanxi province. Their work represents an exciting integration of large language models, such as ChatGPT, into practical applications, effectively bringing them to life.

A demonstration video from the researchers showcases the capabilities of these conversational drones. In the video, a team of five drones collaborates to locate a set of keys in an outdoor park. The drones exhibit human-like dialogue interaction, proactive environmental awareness, and autonomous entity control. The latter involves the drones' ability to adjust their flight status in real-time based on environmental feedback.

Also watch |&nbsp;Albanese-Xi Jinping meet is the first of its kind in over 7 years

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<h2>'Human-like' dialogue</h2>

The key feature of these drones is their "human brain," which enables them to communicate with each other using natural language.

This capacity was developed based on an open-source large language model called InternLM. It allows for seamless communication between operators and drones, bridging the gap between humans and machines.

In the key-finding experiment shown in the demonstration, the drones independently decided how to divide tasks.

Three of them offered their search capabilities, while the other two, equipped with grippers, volunteered to retrieve the keys. They also shared images via the group chat for confirmation. This dialogue-driven decision-making process significantly enhances the stability and safety of complex task execution.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a significant breakthrough in drone technology, creating a fleet of drones capable of engaging in "group chats" to discuss tasks and collaborate, much like real human teams.

A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a significant breakthrough in drone technology, creating a fleet of drones capable of engaging in "group chats" to discuss tasks and collaborate, much like real human teams. This innovation could have far-reaching applications in enhancing security patrols, disaster rescue operations and aerial logistics, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Typically, communication within drone swarms is inspired by the behaviour of bee and ant colonies. In contrast, the Chinese researchers have developed swarms that can converse and cooperate like humans, SCMP said in the report. This approach opens up new possibilities for seamless communication and collaboration among drones. Also read | China: Sizeable hole spotted in parachute used by astronauts landing from Tiangong space station. Watch Where can it be used? The researchers believe this technology can be harnessed to improve various sectors, including security patrols, disaster relief efforts, and aerial logistics. By enabling drones to engage in dialogue and teamwork, the technology has the potential to significantly enhance their capabilities and overall performance in various domains. A notable advantage of these conversational drones is the transparency they offer in terms of their decision-making processes. This transparency allows researchers and operators to gain a better understanding of the drones' behaviour, which can be crucial for optimising their performance and safety. Who made this innovation? This groundbreaking technology is the result of the work of Li Xuelong and his team at the School of Artificial Intelligence, Optics, and Electronics at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shaanxi province. Their work represents an exciting integration of large language models, such as ChatGPT, into practical applications, effectively bringing them to life. A demonstration video from the researchers showcases the capabilities of these conversational drones. In the video, a team of five drones collaborates to locate a set of keys in an outdoor park. The drones exhibit human-like dialogue interaction, proactive environmental awareness, and autonomous entity control. The latter involves the drones' ability to adjust their flight status in real-time based on environmental feedback. Also watch | Albanese-Xi Jinping meet is the first of its kind in over 7 years 'Human-like' dialogue The key feature of these drones is their "human brain," which enables them to communicate with each other using natural language. This capacity was developed based on an open-source large language model called InternLM. It allows for seamless communication between operators and drones, bridging the gap between humans and machines. In the key-finding experiment shown in the demonstration, the drones independently decided how to divide tasks. Three of them offered their search capabilities, while the other two, equipped with grippers, volunteered to retrieve the keys. They also shared images via the group chat for confirmation. This dialogue-driven decision-making process significantly enhances the stability and safety of complex task execution. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese scientists develop drone with 'human brain' capable of engaging in 'group chats'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments on intelligence failure have caused a political uproar. Just on Sunday Netanyahu took a swipe at intelligence officials claiming that they never warned him that Hamas was planning a wide-scale attack on October 7th. Netanyahu has now deleted the post on X.

Israel-Palestine war: Locals protest, demand answers for Intel failure on Oct 7 attack

A senior Israeli official on Saturday admitted that the current situation in Israel reflected the "mistakes" made by him and the ones making intelligence assessments.

"It's my mistake, and it reflects the mistakes of all those making (intelligence) assessments," National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told a press briefing on being asked about his recent remarks predicting no Hamas aggression.

"We really believed that Hamas learned the lesson from&nbsp;its last major war with Israel in 2021," Hanegbi said.

He further rebuffed queries on any negotiations towards any prisoner swap deal with Hamas.

"There's no way to negotiate with an enemy we have sworn to obliterate," he said.

Last week on Saturday (Oct 7), the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel breaching the Gaza border barrier. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-are-all-ready-israeli-pm-netanyahu-visits-areas-of-hamas-assault-for-first-time-646890">'We're all ready': Israeli PM visits areas of Hamas assault for first time</a>

As per Israeli officials, more than 1,300 civilians and security forces have been killed since the assault, and at least 120 have been seized by militants and believed to be held captive in Gaza.

<h2>US intelligence warned of assault by Hamas, reveals report</h2>

The US intelligence community is believed to have briefed President Joe Biden about the assault by Hamas in the weeks ahead of the October 7 terrorist attacks, a CNN report has revealed.

As per reports, one update shared on September 28, which was backed by multiple intelligence inputs, indicated that Hamas was planning a massive rocket attack on Israel.&nbsp;

The second assessment was produced on October 5, when the country’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) warned of the increasing possibility of violence by Hamas.

On October 6, the day before Hamas’ assault, US officials reportedly circulated inputs that came directly from Israel. All of this indicated a massive Gazan attack on Israel.

It was unclear whether or not the US intelligence assessments were shared with the Israeli administration.

While the intelligence hinted at the possibility of violence, none of the inputs gave details or indicated the sheer scale and brutality of the attack.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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A senior Israeli official on Saturday admitted that the current situation in Israel reflected the "mistakes" made by him and the ones making intelligence assessments.

A senior Israeli official on Saturday admitted that the current situation in Israel reflected the "mistakes" made by him and the ones making intelligence assessments. "It's my mistake, and it reflects the mistakes of all those making (intelligence) assessments," National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told a press briefing on being asked about his recent remarks predicting no Hamas aggression. "We really believed that Hamas learned the lesson from its last major war with Israel in 2021," Hanegbi said. He further rebuffed queries on any negotiations towards any prisoner swap deal with Hamas. "There's no way to negotiate with an enemy we have sworn to obliterate," he said. Last week on Saturday (Oct 7), the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel breaching the Gaza border barrier. Also read: 'We're all ready': Israeli PM visits areas of Hamas assault for first time As per Israeli officials, more than 1,300 civilians and security forces have been killed since the assault, and at least 120 have been seized by militants and believed to be held captive in Gaza. US intelligence warned of assault by Hamas, reveals report The US intelligence community is believed to have briefed President Joe Biden about the assault by Hamas in the weeks ahead of the October 7 terrorist attacks, a CNN report has revealed. As per reports, one update shared on September 28, which was backed by multiple intelligence inputs, indicated that Hamas was planning a massive rocket attack on Israel. The second assessment was produced on October 5, when the country’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) warned of the increasing possibility of violence by Hamas. On October 6, the day before Hamas’ assault, US officials reportedly circulated inputs that came directly from Israel. All of this indicated a massive Gazan attack on Israel. It was unclear whether or not the US intelligence assessments were shared with the Israeli administration. While the intelligence hinted at the possibility of violence, none of the inputs gave details or indicated the sheer scale and brutality of the attack. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel admits intelligence failure in predicting Hamas attacks

The US&nbsp;intelligence community has initiated a comprehensive examination of available data, directing the nation's intelligence agencies to investigate whether Iran played a direct role in the recent deadly attack on Israel by Hamas.

Despite strong belief in Iran's complicity due to its extensive support of the Palestinian militant group over the years, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has clarified that the Biden administration lacks direct evidence linking Tehran to the planning and execution of the assault.

"We're looking to acquire further intelligence," Sullivan stated during a White House press briefing. "But as I stand here today, while Iran plays this broad role – sustained, deep, and dark role in providing all of this support and capabilities to Hamas – in terms of this particular gruesome attack on October 7, we don't currently have that information."

Multiple officials with access to classified intelligence have echoed the administration's stance that no direct evidence has surfaced&nbsp;indicating Iran's direct involvement in the attack. It remains a waiting game for intelligence agencies to potentially uncover more definitive information.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shani-louk-abducted-from-music-fest-by-hamas-and-paraded-naked-confirmed-alive-by-mother-645181">Shani Louk, whose partially naked body was paraded in a truck, is alive in Gaza, says her mother</a>

<h2>Israeli intelligence also investigates</h2>

Meanwhile, Israeli intelligence is also revisiting existing evidence regarding the attack. A senior Israeli official noted that while it's unlikely that Iran had absolutely no knowledge of the incident, they have observed meetings and close coordination between Iran and Hamas, reported CNN.

Also watch |&nbsp;Arab foreign ministers to meet over Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Both US&nbsp;and Israeli intelligence failed to receive advance warning of the attack, a surprising oversight considering the scale of the assault. This has prompted the Biden administration to approach the situation with caution.

<h2>Iran's long-standing support for Hamas</h2>

For years, Iran has been the primary benefactor of Hamas, providing substantial financial aid, weaponry, and components smuggled into Gaza, along with comprehensive technical and ideological support. Although Hamas maintains a degree of autonomy from the Iranian regime, questions arise due to the unprecedented scale and sophistication of the recent attack.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

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The US intelligence community has initiated a comprehensive examination of available data, directing the nation's intelligence agencies to investigate whether Iran played a direct role in the recent deadly attack on Israel by Hamas.

The US intelligence community has initiated a comprehensive examination of available data, directing the nation's intelligence agencies to investigate whether Iran played a direct role in the recent deadly attack on Israel by Hamas. Despite strong belief in Iran's complicity due to its extensive support of the Palestinian militant group over the years, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has clarified that the Biden administration lacks direct evidence linking Tehran to the planning and execution of the assault. "We're looking to acquire further intelligence," Sullivan stated during a White House press briefing. "But as I stand here today, while Iran plays this broad role – sustained, deep, and dark role in providing all of this support and capabilities to Hamas – in terms of this particular gruesome attack on October 7, we don't currently have that information." Multiple officials with access to classified intelligence have echoed the administration's stance that no direct evidence has surfaced indicating Iran's direct involvement in the attack. It remains a waiting game for intelligence agencies to potentially uncover more definitive information. Also read | Shani Louk, whose partially naked body was paraded in a truck, is alive in Gaza, says her mother Israeli intelligence also investigates Meanwhile, Israeli intelligence is also revisiting existing evidence regarding the attack. A senior Israeli official noted that while it's unlikely that Iran had absolutely no knowledge of the incident, they have observed meetings and close coordination between Iran and Hamas, reported CNN. Also watch | Arab foreign ministers to meet over Israeli-Palestinian conflict Both US and Israeli intelligence failed to receive advance warning of the attack, a surprising oversight considering the scale of the assault. This has prompted the Biden administration to approach the situation with caution. Iran's long-standing support for Hamas For years, Iran has been the primary benefactor of Hamas, providing substantial financial aid, weaponry, and components smuggled into Gaza, along with comprehensive technical and ideological support. Although Hamas maintains a degree of autonomy from the Iranian regime, questions arise due to the unprecedented scale and sophistication of the recent attack. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US intel searches for Iranian link in Hamas attack on Israel

Even as questions are being raised over Israel’s apparent intelligence failure, a senior Egyptian intelligence officer has claimed that the country’s security agencies downplayed the repeated “warnings” Cairo had issued over Hamas’s potential strike.

The official, whose identity has not been revealed, told AP news agency that the Israeli officials focused on the West Bank and ignored the threat that “something big” was being planned from Gaza.

The majority of the supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu's government comprise Jewish settlers in the West Bank. They had demanded the government to crack down on rising tensions in the region for the last 18 months.

Egypt, which has historically acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had communicated to Israel about the threat multiple times, the official claimed, adding “but they underestimated”.

“We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying.

<h2>Israel responds&nbsp;</h2>

However, Israel’s Prime Minister's Office categorically dismissed the official’s claims as “totally fake news”.

“The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false,” the prime minister’s office tweeted.

“No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly.”

This development comes at a time when Israeli security agencies, who were caught off guard by attacks, are scrambling to crack down on the Hamas terror group.

<h2>Media seeks answers&nbsp;</h2>

Several local media have also raised questions about security agencies'&nbsp;apparent failure in pre-empting the terror attacks.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that neither the Israeli Defence Force nor the Israel Security Agency — commonly known as the Shin Bet — issued any warnings that the terrorist organisation was about to launch the assault.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-at-war-hamas-threatens-to-televise-the-killing-of-captive-israelis-644671">Hamas slammed for threatening to televise the killing of captive Israelis</a>

Last week, senior IDF and defence ministry officials publicly said that Hamas was not particularly interested in open conflict, the outlet reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/defence-shares-soar-amid-israel-hamas-conflict-644714">Defence shares soar amid Israel-Hamas conflict</a>

“This is a major failure,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to&nbsp;Netanyahu.

“This operation actually proves that the (Israeli intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Even as questions are being raised over Israel’s apparent intelligence failure, a senior Egyptian intelligence officer has claimed that the country’s security agencies downplayed the repeated “warnings” Cairo had issued over Hamas’s potential strike.

Even as questions are being raised over Israel’s apparent intelligence failure, a senior Egyptian intelligence officer has claimed that the country’s security agencies downplayed the repeated “warnings” Cairo had issued over Hamas’s potential strike. The official, whose identity has not been revealed, told AP news agency that the Israeli officials focused on the West Bank and ignored the threat that “something big” was being planned from Gaza. The majority of the supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu's government comprise Jewish settlers in the West Bank. They had demanded the government to crack down on rising tensions in the region for the last 18 months. Egypt, which has historically acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had communicated to Israel about the threat multiple times, the official claimed, adding “but they underestimated”. “We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying. Israel responds However, Israel’s Prime Minister's Office categorically dismissed the official’s claims as “totally fake news”. “The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false,” the prime minister’s office tweeted. “No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly.” This development comes at a time when Israeli security agencies, who were caught off guard by attacks, are scrambling to crack down on the Hamas terror group. Media seeks answers Several local media have also raised questions about security agencies' apparent failure in pre-empting the terror attacks. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that neither the Israeli Defence Force nor the Israel Security Agency — commonly known as the Shin Bet — issued any warnings that the terrorist organisation was about to launch the assault. Also read | Hamas slammed for threatening to televise the killing of captive Israelis Last week, senior IDF and defence ministry officials publicly said that Hamas was not particularly interested in open conflict, the outlet reported. Also read | Defence shares soar amid Israel-Hamas conflict “This is a major failure,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu. “This operation actually proves that the (Israeli intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Egypt intelligence official claims Israel ignored its warning on Hamas attack

A former sergeant from the US Army was arrested on Friday (Oct 6) for attempting to provide classified information to China, said US Justice Department.

Joseph Daniel Schmidt (29) has been charged with retaining secret national defense information and trying to give it to China. Schmidt served in an army intelligence unit from 2015 to 2020.

After leaving the military, Schmidt offered the secret information to Chinese consulate in Turkey and the Chinese security services.

Schmidt had access to secret and top secret information while serving in the 109 Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. In March 2020, he went to Hong Kong. The Justice Department has reportedly said that in Hong Kong, Schmidt "continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information."&nbsp;

"He allegedly retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks," the department said.&nbsp;

Schmidt was living in Hong Kong and returned to the US on Friday (Oct 6). He was arrested as he landed in San Francisco.

"Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution," acting US attorney Tessa Gorman said.&nbsp;

"In that context the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking –- not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks."&nbsp;

If found guilty of charges levelled against him, Schmidt could face up to 20 years in prison.

Schmidt has been arrested just two months after the arrest of two members of the US Navy who were suspected of spying for China.

Jinchao Wei, serving on USS Essex in San Diego, allegedly gave away dozens of photos, documents and videos that detail &nbsp;operation of ships and the system that are aborad it.

Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, served at a naval base near LA and is accused of spying for China for almost two years.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A former sergeant from the US Army was arrested on Friday (Oct 6) for attempting to provide classified information to China, said US Justice Department. Joseph Daniel Schmidt (29) has been charged with retaining secret national defense information and trying to give it to China.

A former sergeant from the US Army was arrested on Friday (Oct 6) for attempting to provide classified information to China, said US Justice Department. Joseph Daniel Schmidt (29) has been charged with retaining secret national defense information and trying to give it to China. Schmidt served in an army intelligence unit from 2015 to 2020. After leaving the military, Schmidt offered the secret information to Chinese consulate in Turkey and the Chinese security services. Schmidt had access to secret and top secret information while serving in the 109 Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. In March 2020, he went to Hong Kong. The Justice Department has reportedly said that in Hong Kong, Schmidt "continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information." "He allegedly retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks," the department said. Schmidt was living in Hong Kong and returned to the US on Friday (Oct 6). He was arrested as he landed in San Francisco. "Members of our military take a sworn oath to defend our country and the Constitution," acting US attorney Tessa Gorman said. "In that context the alleged actions of this former military member are shocking –- not only attempting to provide national defense information, but also information that would assist a foreign adversary to gain access to Department of Defense secure computer networks." If found guilty of charges levelled against him, Schmidt could face up to 20 years in prison. Schmidt has been arrested just two months after the arrest of two members of the US Navy who were suspected of spying for China. Jinchao Wei, serving on USS Essex in San Diego, allegedly gave away dozens of photos, documents and videos that detail operation of ships and the system that are aborad it. Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, served at a naval base near LA and is accused of spying for China for almost two years. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ex-US armyman arrested for attempting to spy for China

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) said on Friday (August 11) that it was aware of intelligence activity linked to China in and against New Zealand and the Pacific region.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) said on Friday (August 11) that it was aware of intelligence activity linked to China in and against New Zealand and the Pacific region. In its report "New Zealand's Security Threat Environment 2023," the NZSIS said this was a complex intelligence concern for Wellington. The intelligence service's report was made public for the first time as part of a government shift to better inform New Zealanders about risks the country is facing, and comes two months before a general election where foreign policy is being pushed into the electoral spotlight. "This report highlights the activities of three states in particular: the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia," the report said. "NZSIS has detected interference activity from several foreign states. Most notable is the continued targeting of New Zealand’s diverse ethnic Chinese communities. We see these activities carried out by groups and individuals linked to the intelligence arm of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)," it added. 'International security environment more challenging' The NZSIS report further said that the international security environment in which New Zealand is operating is now more challenging and less predictable than has been the case in recent decades. "Strategic competition is contributing to this unpredictability, evident in both a growing assertiveness from China and in international reactions to that assertiveness, as well as through largescale conflicts such as Russia’s illegal military invasion of Ukraine," it added. 'Strongly dissatisfied with report': China The Chinese embassy in New Zealand said that it was strongly dissatisfied with the NZSIS report, adding Beijing was conducting normal exchanges with overseas Chinese citizens by international law. In a statement, the embassy said China hoped that relevant countries could create an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese citizens overseas and local Chinese. The Russian embassy, meanwhile, criticised New Zealand's "interference" in Russian internal affairs by commenting publicly on the imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Aware of China-linked intelligence activity in New Zealand: Wellington

Around the time the FBI&nbsp;was investigating the equipment recovered from the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina in February, American intelligence agencies and Microsoft discovered what they feared was a more dangerous intruder, a&nbsp;mysterious computer code appearing in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. Guam is strategically significant as the American overseas territory hosts one of its largest airbases.

The malware, which Microsoft claimed was placed by a Chinese government hacking group, sparked concern since Guam, with its Pacific ports and massive American air base, would be the focal point of any American military reaction to an invasion or blockade of Taiwan. To make the infiltration harder to track, the operation was carried out with tremendous stealth, often passing through home routers and other popular internet-connected consumer devices, reported the New York Times.

<h2>What can the malware do?</h2>

The hackers were seen using a code known as "web shell," a malicious script that allows remote access to a server. Home routers are primarily&nbsp;vulnerable, particularly&nbsp;older devices with out-of-date software and security.

The computer code, unlike the balloon that captivated Americans as it performed pirouettes above vital nuclear installations, could not be shot down on live television.

Instead, Microsoft revealed details of the code on Wednesday, allowing business users, manufacturers, and others to find it&nbsp;and delete it.

The National Security Agency, together with other domestic agencies and intelligence counterparts in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada -- collectively known as Five Eyes-- issued a 24-page alert referring to Microsoft's discovery and issuing broader cautions about a "recently discovered" vulnerability.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-ron-desantis-all-you-need-to-know-about-republican-leader-seeking-prez-nomination-595578">Who is Ron DeSantis? All you need to know about Republican leader who joined White House race</a>

<h2>'Volt Typhoon'</h2>

Microsoft dubbed the hacking group&nbsp;"Volt Typhoon" and said it was part of a state-sponsored Chinese campaign aiming not just targeting key infrastructure like communications, electric and gas utilities, but also marine operations and transportation. For the time being, the breaches looked to be part of an espionage effort.

However, the Chinese might utilise the code, which is designed to breach firewalls, to launch devastating assaults if they so choose.

As stated by Microsoft, there is no proof that the Chinese organisation has exploited the access for hostile assaults thus far. Chinese intelligence and military hackers, unlike Russian outfits, typically prioritise espionage.

In interviews, administration officials said they suspected the code was part of a massive Chinese intelligence collecting programme that included internet, outer space, and, as the balloon incident revealed, the lower atmosphere.

<h2>Biden administration's response</h2>

The Biden administration has refused to divulge what the FBI discovered when examining the equipment retrieved from the balloon. However, the craft — better defined as a massive airborne vehicle — appears to have incorporated specialised radars and communications interception gear, which the FBI&nbsp;has been investigating since the balloon was shot down.

It is unclear if the administration's quiet regarding its discovery from the balloon is driven by a desire to block the Chinese government from learning what the US has discovered or by a desire to move past the diplomatic snub that accompanied the discovery.

President Biden said during a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday that the balloon episode had paralysed the already tense relations between Washington and Beijing.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Good old banks are aiding china's ambitions

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“And then this silly balloon that was carrying two freight cars’ worth of spying equipment was flying over the United States,” he told reporters.

&nbsp;“And it got shot down, and everything changed in terms of talking to one another,” he added.

China has never admitted hacking into American networks, even in the most severe case: the theft of security clearance data from the Office of Personnel Management under the Obama administration, including six million sets of fingerprints.

That data exfiltration took about a year and ended in an agreement between President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping that resulted in a modest decrease in detrimental Chinese cyberactivity.

<h2>Tabletop exercises</h2>

In an interview, Tom Burt, the executive in charge of Microsoft's threat intelligence unit, stated that the code was discovered "while investigating intrusion activity impacting a US&nbsp;port" by the company's analysts, many of whom had previously worked for the National Security Agency and other intelligence organisations, reported the New York Times.

Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said that covert efforts “like the activity exposed today are part of what’s driving our focus on the security of telecom networks and the urgency to use trusted vendors” whose equipment has met cybersecurity standards.

In the countless number of tabletop exercises performed by the United States in recent years to simulate such an attack, one of China's first anticipated steps would be to cut off American communications and limit the United States' capacity to respond.

As a result, the simulations anticipate satellite and ground communications strikes, particularly near American locations where military assets might be mobilised.

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Around the time the FBI was investigating the equipment recovered from the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina in February, American intelligence agencies and Microsoft discovered what they feared was a more dangerous intruder, a mysterious computer code appearing in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States.

Around the time the FBI was investigating the equipment recovered from the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina in February, American intelligence agencies and Microsoft discovered what they feared was a more dangerous intruder, a mysterious computer code appearing in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. Guam is strategically significant as the American overseas territory hosts one of its largest airbases. The malware, which Microsoft claimed was placed by a Chinese government hacking group, sparked concern since Guam, with its Pacific ports and massive American air base, would be the focal point of any American military reaction to an invasion or blockade of Taiwan. To make the infiltration harder to track, the operation was carried out with tremendous stealth, often passing through home routers and other popular internet-connected consumer devices, reported the New York Times. What can the malware do? The hackers were seen using a code known as "web shell," a malicious script that allows remote access to a server. Home routers are primarily vulnerable, particularly older devices with out-of-date software and security. The computer code, unlike the balloon that captivated Americans as it performed pirouettes above vital nuclear installations, could not be shot down on live television. Instead, Microsoft revealed details of the code on Wednesday, allowing business users, manufacturers, and others to find it and delete it. The National Security Agency, together with other domestic agencies and intelligence counterparts in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada -- collectively known as Five Eyes-- issued a 24-page alert referring to Microsoft's discovery and issuing broader cautions about a "recently discovered" vulnerability. ALSO READ | Who is Ron DeSantis? All you need to know about Republican leader who joined White House race 'Volt Typhoon' Microsoft dubbed the hacking group "Volt Typhoon" and said it was part of a state-sponsored Chinese campaign aiming not just targeting key infrastructure like communications, electric and gas utilities, but also marine operations and transportation. For the time being, the breaches looked to be part of an espionage effort. However, the Chinese might utilise the code, which is designed to breach firewalls, to launch devastating assaults if they so choose. As stated by Microsoft, there is no proof that the Chinese organisation has exploited the access for hostile assaults thus far. Chinese intelligence and military hackers, unlike Russian outfits, typically prioritise espionage. In interviews, administration officials said they suspected the code was part of a massive Chinese intelligence collecting programme that included internet, outer space, and, as the balloon incident revealed, the lower atmosphere. Biden administration's response The Biden administration has refused to divulge what the FBI discovered when examining the equipment retrieved from the balloon. However, the craft — better defined as a massive airborne vehicle — appears to have incorporated specialised radars and communications interception gear, which the FBI has been investigating since the balloon was shot down. It is unclear if the administration's quiet regarding its discovery from the balloon is driven by a desire to block the Chinese government from learning what the US has discovered or by a desire to move past the diplomatic snub that accompanied the discovery. President Biden said during a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday that the balloon episode had paralysed the already tense relations between Washington and Beijing. ALSO WATCH | Good old banks are aiding china's ambitions “And then this silly balloon that was carrying two freight cars’ worth of spying equipment was flying over the United States,” he told reporters. “And it got shot down, and everything changed in terms of talking to one another,” he added. China has never admitted hacking into American networks, even in the most severe case: the theft of security clearance data from the Office of Personnel Management under the Obama administration, including six million sets of fingerprints. That data exfiltration took about a year and ended in an agreement between President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping that resulted in a modest decrease in detrimental Chinese cyberactivity. Tabletop exercises In an interview, Tom Burt, the executive in charge of Microsoft's threat intelligence unit, stated that the code was discovered "while investigating intrusion activity impacting a US port" by the company's analysts, many of whom had previously worked for the National Security Agency and other intelligence organisations, reported the New York Times. Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said that covert efforts “like the activity exposed today are part of what’s driving our focus on the security of telecom networks and the urgency to use trusted vendors” whose equipment has met cybersecurity standards. In the countless number of tabletop exercises performed by the United States in recent years to simulate such an attack, one of China's first anticipated steps would be to cut off American communications and limit the United States' capacity to respond. As a result, the simulations anticipate satellite and ground communications strikes, particularly near American locations where military assets might be mobilised. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained | Everything about 'Volt Typhoon': China-backed hackers targeting critical US base in Guam

Vikram Chandra speaks to international AI expert Alex Volkov on his attempts to reach the alter-ego of Microsoft's Bing Chatbot, Sydney, who had earlier expressed a desire to merge its brains with the flesh of a human.

The India Story | Microsoft's 'Sydney' AI wants to merge with humans

The protagonist of Netflix's hit show Sex Education, Otis Milburn during one of his monologues to a fellow hopeless romantic drops a pearl of wisdom. Otis remarks, "...love isn't about grand gestures, or the moon and the stars. It's just dumb luck."&nbsp;

And for once, we could not have related to a fictional being more than ever. Love is a different feeling altogether. People fall in love for different reasons. It could be a person's way of laugh, their idiosyncrasies, or their outlook towards life. There is no set manual as to what attracts us to a fellow human. However, scientists have laid out nine qualities that if you find in a guy, you should quickly snap him up.

1) He makes you laugh

Any relationship can only go the distance when there are laughs and gags involved. A man that is witty and has a good sense of humour is definitely a catch. Imagine being old and still having a partner that makes you laugh. The looks and money may not count for much at such an age but if you have someone that ticks this box, you've got yourself sorted.&nbsp;

2) He is smart

As they say, "smart is the new sexy". A significant amount of women are stimulated by a better half who is smart, intelligent, and possesses a good head on the shoulder. A study by Hanken School of Economics in Finland has also reported that smart men are less likely to be unfaithful. Primarily because they know how to communicate and get their grievances sorted.&nbsp;

3) He is emotionally intelligent

While being smart and intelligent are good attributes, they do not form the complete package. A relationship can get messy and complicated at times. Thus, one needs emotional intelligence and maturity. A man shouldn't be afraid to talk about his feelings or be vulnerable in front of his partner. It shows empathy and allows your partner to get closer and connect to you more viscerally.&nbsp;

4) Respects your opinions and listens

In a world where most men are concerned only about themselves, it is rare to find someone who actively listens to your opinions, ideas, and worldviews. In fact, not only listens to them but respects them even if sometimes he may not necessarily agree with them. Listening to and respecting someone's opinions display&nbsp;an open-mindedness which helps in conflict resolution as the relationship proceeds further.

5) Celebrates your triumphs

As mentioned above, if a guy listens to your opinions without any biases, it is highly likely that he will also celebrate your achievements and victories in a similar manner. &nbsp;The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that couples who did so were more satisfied with their relationships than those who reacted negatively or were indifferent.

6) Both share the same values

When you are planning for the long haul, it is pertinent to have the same set of beliefs and values that you both can share.&nbsp;However, a caveat is that couples do not need to be completely alike in their values. Some difference is tolerable and healthy.&nbsp;

7) He attempts to connect with your close ones

This can be a home run if the guy does this for you. Taking the big step of meeting your family members and friends can be a daunting task. It informally means that both of you are taking your relationship to the next level. Some might have cold feet and attempt to walk away but if your guy does not and makes a conscious attempt to connect with all of them, you've got a winner.&nbsp;

8) He supports your career

This goes without saying, but if a man cannot get behind your career choices one hundred per cent, then he isn't the prince charming you once thought him to be. It is&nbsp;non-negotiable. Most women are forced to leave their careers&nbsp;just because the man in their life could not adjust his lifestyle according to his partner's career choices. Thus, if you find a man who truly supports your career, you have hit the jackpot.&nbsp;

9) He is willing to slog it out

Often there comes a time in every relationship where the going gets tough. In such situations, one needs someone who is willing to put their head down and get stuck in. Meaning, they put the work in and attempt to make the relationship work. It may not always be pretty, but this is what separates a true long-term relationship from those that break at the first slight inconvenience.&nbsp;

 
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&nbsp;

The protagonist of Netflix's hit show Sex Education, Otis Milburn during one of his monologues to a fellow hopeless romantic drops a pearl of wisdom. Otis remarks, ".

The protagonist of Netflix's hit show Sex Education, Otis Milburn during one of his monologues to a fellow hopeless romantic drops a pearl of wisdom. Otis remarks, "...love isn't about grand gestures, or the moon and the stars. It's just dumb luck." And for once, we could not have related to a fictional being more than ever. Love is a different feeling altogether. People fall in love for different reasons. It could be a person's way of laugh, their idiosyncrasies, or their outlook towards life. There is no set manual as to what attracts us to a fellow human. However, scientists have laid out nine qualities that if you find in a guy, you should quickly snap him up. 1) He makes you laugh Any relationship can only go the distance when there are laughs and gags involved. A man that is witty and has a good sense of humour is definitely a catch. Imagine being old and still having a partner that makes you laugh. The looks and money may not count for much at such an age but if you have someone that ticks this box, you've got yourself sorted. 2) He is smart As they say, "smart is the new sexy". A significant amount of women are stimulated by a better half who is smart, intelligent, and possesses a good head on the shoulder. A study by Hanken School of Economics in Finland has also reported that smart men are less likely to be unfaithful. Primarily because they know how to communicate and get their grievances sorted. 3) He is emotionally intelligent While being smart and intelligent are good attributes, they do not form the complete package. A relationship can get messy and complicated at times. Thus, one needs emotional intelligence and maturity. A man shouldn't be afraid to talk about his feelings or be vulnerable in front of his partner. It shows empathy and allows your partner to get closer and connect to you more viscerally. 4) Respects your opinions and listens In a world where most men are concerned only about themselves, it is rare to find someone who actively listens to your opinions, ideas, and worldviews. In fact, not only listens to them but respects them even if sometimes he may not necessarily agree with them. Listening to and respecting someone's opinions display an open-mindedness which helps in conflict resolution as the relationship proceeds further. 5) Celebrates your triumphs As mentioned above, if a guy listens to your opinions without any biases, it is highly likely that he will also celebrate your achievements and victories in a similar manner. The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that couples who did so were more satisfied with their relationships than those who reacted negatively or were indifferent. 6) Both share the same values When you are planning for the long haul, it is pertinent to have the same set of beliefs and values that you both can share. However, a caveat is that couples do not need to be completely alike in their values. Some difference is tolerable and healthy. 7) He attempts to connect with your close ones This can be a home run if the guy does this for you. Taking the big step of meeting your family members and friends can be a daunting task. It informally means that both of you are taking your relationship to the next level. Some might have cold feet and attempt to walk away but if your guy does not and makes a conscious attempt to connect with all of them, you've got a winner. 8) He supports your career This goes without saying, but if a man cannot get behind your career choices one hundred per cent, then he isn't the prince charming you once thought him to be. It is non-negotiable. Most women are forced to leave their careers just because the man in their life could not adjust his lifestyle according to his partner's career choices. Thus, if you find a man who truly supports your career, you have hit the jackpot. 9) He is willing to slog it out Often there comes a time in every relationship where the going gets tough. In such situations, one needs someone who is willing to put their head down and get stuck in. Meaning, they put the work in and attempt to make the relationship work. It may not always be pretty, but this is what separates a true long-term relationship from those that break at the first slight inconvenience. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Look out for these nine qualities in a man and never let him go, if you find them all

After India’s miserable performance in the 1962 war with China, the need for a separate external intelligence agency was felt. RN Kao, a civil servant, was assigned the task of establishing a national spy agency called R&AW.

How was RAW started? Story of India’s external intelligence agency

The Dutch intelligence service said on Thursday it had stopped a Russian spy claiming to be a 33-year-old Brazilian citizen named Viktor Muller Ferreira, who was posing as an intern from accessing the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which is investigating war crimes in Ukraine.

The Dutch named him Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov. The man used a Brazilian cover identity but was unmasked as a member of Russia's GRU military intelligence and refused entry in April as a "threat to national security", the AIVD (General Intelligence and Security Service) said in a statement.

"The AIVD prevented a Russian intelligence officer from gaining access as an intern to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague," the AIVD statement said.

"The person in question works for the Russian Military Intelligence Service GRU, but he used a Brazilian cover identity to travel from Brazil to the Netherlands," AVID added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-ukraine-bids-farewell-to-its-war-heroes-488400">In pics: Ukraine bids farewell to its war heroes</a>

Covert access to the Hague-based ICC would be "highly valuable to the Russian intelligence services" as it is probing both Ukraine and the Russian war in Georgia in 2008. The illegal was supposed to commence an internship with the ICC, which would mean he would have access to the ICC's building and systems.

Had the Russian spy succeeded "he would have been able to gather intelligence there and to look for (or recruit) sources, and arrange to have access to the ICC’s digital systems, he might also have been able to influence criminal proceedings of the ICC," it added.

The Dutch agency said it "holds him to be a threat to national security" and alerted the immigration services before his arrival. "On these grounds, the intelligence officer was refused entry into the Netherlands in April and declared unacceptable. He was sent back to Brazil on the first flight out," it said.

The ICC has also been informed of this case. There was no immediate response from the ICC, which opened a probe into potential war crimes in Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion on February 24.

(with inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Dutch intelligence service said on Thursday it had stopped a Russian spy claiming to be a 33-year-old Brazilian citizen named Viktor Muller Ferreira, who was posing as an intern from accessing the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which is investigating war crimes in Ukraine.

The Dutch intelligence service said on Thursday it had stopped a Russian spy claiming to be a 33-year-old Brazilian citizen named Viktor Muller Ferreira, who was posing as an intern from accessing the Hague-based International Criminal Court, which is investigating war crimes in Ukraine. The Dutch named him Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov. The man used a Brazilian cover identity but was unmasked as a member of Russia's GRU military intelligence and refused entry in April as a "threat to national security", the AIVD (General Intelligence and Security Service) said in a statement. "The AIVD prevented a Russian intelligence officer from gaining access as an intern to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague," the AIVD statement said. "The person in question works for the Russian Military Intelligence Service GRU, but he used a Brazilian cover identity to travel from Brazil to the Netherlands," AVID added. Also Read: In pics: Ukraine bids farewell to its war heroes Covert access to the Hague-based ICC would be "highly valuable to the Russian intelligence services" as it is probing both Ukraine and the Russian war in Georgia in 2008. The illegal was supposed to commence an internship with the ICC, which would mean he would have access to the ICC's building and systems. Had the Russian spy succeeded "he would have been able to gather intelligence there and to look for (or recruit) sources, and arrange to have access to the ICC’s digital systems, he might also have been able to influence criminal proceedings of the ICC," it added. The Dutch agency said it "holds him to be a threat to national security" and alerted the immigration services before his arrival. "On these grounds, the intelligence officer was refused entry into the Netherlands in April and declared unacceptable. He was sent back to Brazil on the first flight out," it said. The ICC has also been informed of this case. There was no immediate response from the ICC, which opened a probe into potential war crimes in Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion on February 24. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Dutch intelligence stops Russian spy from entering ICC investigating war crimes in Ukraine

How was RAW started, Story of India’s external intelligence agency

Top US intelligence officials said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to use nuclear weapons unless he feels an 'existential threat' to the Russian state amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

US Intel officials: Putin unlikely to use nuclear weapons unless he feels an 'existential threat'

After intelligence inputs over Russian invasion, the United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Ukraine. &nbsp;

The Western intelligence officials have warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine has become increasingly imminent.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leave-ukraine-within-48-hours-as-russian-attack-can-come-any-time-us-tells-americans-452534" hreflang="en">Leave Ukraine within 48 hours as attack can come any time, US tells Americans</a>

The State Department is planning to announce early on Saturday that all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be asked to leave the country before the feared Russian invasion, said the US officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier, the department had told the families of US Embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave the country. But it had also left it to the discretion of non-essential personnel if they wanted to depart or not. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A limited number of diplomats of the US may be relocated to Ukraine's far west, along the border with NATO ally Poland, so that the US could retain a diplomatic presence in the country, the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-refused-russian-covid-test-in-putin-trip-due-to-dna-theft-fears-report-452420">Macron refused Russian Covid test in Putin trip due to DNA theft fears: Report</a>

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden will speak over phone on Saturday, the White House and Russian media said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On the same day, Putin will also talk to&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron, Russia's TASS news agency said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After intelligence inputs over Russian invasion, the United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Ukraine. The Western intelligence officials have warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine has become increasingly imminent.

After intelligence inputs over Russian invasion, the United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Ukraine. The Western intelligence officials have warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine has become increasingly imminent. Also Read: Leave Ukraine within 48 hours as attack can come any time, US tells Americans The State Department is planning to announce early on Saturday that all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be asked to leave the country before the feared Russian invasion, said the US officials. Earlier, the department had told the families of US Embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave the country. But it had also left it to the discretion of non-essential personnel if they wanted to depart or not. A limited number of diplomats of the US may be relocated to Ukraine's far west, along the border with NATO ally Poland, so that the US could retain a diplomatic presence in the country, the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. Also Read: Macron refused Russian Covid test in Putin trip due to DNA theft fears: Report Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden will speak over phone on Saturday, the White House and Russian media said. On the same day, Putin will also talk to French President Emmanuel Macron, Russia's TASS news agency said. (With inputs from agencies)

US to evacuate embassy in Ukraine after intelligence inputs over imminent Russian invasion

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market in India is set to reach $7.8 billion by 2025 -- covering hardware, software and services markets -- and growing at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 20.2 per cent, a new report showed on Tuesday.

The businesses in India will accelerate the adoption of both AI-centric and AI non-centric applications for the next five years, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/artificial-intelligence-completes-beethovens-unfinished-tenth-symphony-417463">Artificial intelligence completes Beethoven's unfinished tenth symphony</a>

AI software segment will dominate the market and would grow from $2.8 billion in 2020 at a CAGR of 18.1 per cent by the end of 2025.

"Indian organisations plan to invest in AI to address current business scenarios across functions, such as customer service, human resources (HR), IT automation, security, recommendations, and many more," IDC India Associate Research Director, Cloud and AI, Rishu Sharma said.

"Increasing business resilience and enhancing customer retention are among the top business objectives for using AI by Indian enterprises," Sharma added.

Indian organisations cited the cloud as the preferred deployment location for their AI/ML solutions. About 51 per cent of organisations are processing transactional and social media data through AI/ML solutions in the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/spacecows-ai-to-help-rangers-predict-herds-movements-to-save-sacred-sites-and-rock-art-413278">SpaceCows: AI to help rangers predict herds' movements to save sacred sites and rock art</a>

"With data being one of the most crucial components in an AI/ML project, businesses use variety of databases to handle large data volumes for making real time business decisions. Organisations must focus on getting high-quality training data for AI/ML models," AI Senior Market Analyst, Swapnil Shende said.

AI applications forms the largest share of revenue for the AI software category, at more than 52 per cent in 2020.

"The major reasons for AI projects to fail includes disruptive results to current business processes and lack of follow-ups from business units," the report noted.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market in India is set to reach $7.8 billion by 2025 -- covering hardware, software and services markets -- and growing at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 20.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market in India is set to reach $7.8 billion by 2025 -- covering hardware, software and services markets -- and growing at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 20.2 per cent, a new report showed on Tuesday. The businesses in India will accelerate the adoption of both AI-centric and AI non-centric applications for the next five years, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). Also Read | Artificial intelligence completes Beethoven's unfinished tenth symphony AI software segment will dominate the market and would grow from $2.8 billion in 2020 at a CAGR of 18.1 per cent by the end of 2025. "Indian organisations plan to invest in AI to address current business scenarios across functions, such as customer service, human resources (HR), IT automation, security, recommendations, and many more," IDC India Associate Research Director, Cloud and AI, Rishu Sharma said. "Increasing business resilience and enhancing customer retention are among the top business objectives for using AI by Indian enterprises," Sharma added. Indian organisations cited the cloud as the preferred deployment location for their AI/ML solutions. About 51 per cent of organisations are processing transactional and social media data through AI/ML solutions in the country. Also read | SpaceCows: AI to help rangers predict herds' movements to save sacred sites and rock art "With data being one of the most crucial components in an AI/ML project, businesses use variety of databases to handle large data volumes for making real time business decisions. Organisations must focus on getting high-quality training data for AI/ML models," AI Senior Market Analyst, Swapnil Shende said. AI applications forms the largest share of revenue for the AI software category, at more than 52 per cent in 2020. "The major reasons for AI projects to fail includes disruptive results to current business processes and lack of follow-ups from business units," the report noted.

India’s Artificial Intelligence market expected to touch $7.8 billion by 2025: Report

If the documents obtained by Anadolu Agency are to be believed, French cement giant Lafarge financed Daesh. It also constantly informed the French intelligence services about its relationship with the terrorist organisation. &nbsp;

Belonging to French institutions, these documents reveal that one of the world’s largest cement giants, French Lafarge, constantly informed the French domestic, foreign and military intelligence services about its relationship with Daesh. The relationship was also within the knowledge of the French state. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says it will uphold the Sharia law in Afghanistan

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In the documents, the company had commercial relations with Daesh, which built shelters for itself with its cement, even after it took over the factory, and it was noted that Daesh also financed itself by selling Lafarge cement. &nbsp;

In the French state documents obtained by the news agency, it is understood that the relationship between Lafarge company and the French intelligence service started with an e-mail sent by the company’s security director Jean Claude Veillard to an address belonging to the Ministry of Interior intelligence on January 22, 2014. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-80-killed-in-fighting-for-the-strategic-yemeni-city-of-marib-sources-411595" hreflang="en">Nearly 80 killed in fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib: Sources</a>

In his e-mail, company official Veillard stated that Lafarge is still active in Syria and needs to establish relations with “local actors” in order to continue its work. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On September 1, 2014, the details of sending cement to Daesh were discussed in the correspondence between Lafarge Security Manager Veillard and the French Ministry of Interior intelligence.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the top court in France on Tuesday overturned a decision by a lower court to dismiss charges brought against Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria's civil war.

The ruling by the Court of Cassation marks a major setback for the cement giant, which is accused of paying nearly 13 millions euros ($15.3 million) to jihadist groups including the Islamic State to keep its cement factory in northern Syria running through the early years of the war.

It has acknowledged that its Syrian subsidiary paid middlemen to negotiate with armed groups to allow the movement of staff and goods inside the war zone.

(With inputs from agencies)

If the documents obtained by Anadolu Agency are to be believed, French cement giant Lafarge financed Daesh. It also constantly informed the French intelligence services about its relationship with the terrorist organisation.

If the documents obtained by Anadolu Agency are to be believed, French cement giant Lafarge financed Daesh. It also constantly informed the French intelligence services about its relationship with the terrorist organisation. Belonging to French institutions, these documents reveal that one of the world’s largest cement giants, French Lafarge, constantly informed the French domestic, foreign and military intelligence services about its relationship with Daesh. The relationship was also within the knowledge of the French state. Watch: Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says it will uphold the Sharia law in Afghanistan × In the documents, the company had commercial relations with Daesh, which built shelters for itself with its cement, even after it took over the factory, and it was noted that Daesh also financed itself by selling Lafarge cement. In the French state documents obtained by the news agency, it is understood that the relationship between Lafarge company and the French intelligence service started with an e-mail sent by the company’s security director Jean Claude Veillard to an address belonging to the Ministry of Interior intelligence on January 22, 2014. Also Read | Nearly 80 killed in fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib: Sources In his e-mail, company official Veillard stated that Lafarge is still active in Syria and needs to establish relations with “local actors” in order to continue its work. On September 1, 2014, the details of sending cement to Daesh were discussed in the correspondence between Lafarge Security Manager Veillard and the French Ministry of Interior intelligence. Meanwhile, the top court in France on Tuesday overturned a decision by a lower court to dismiss charges brought against Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria's civil war. The ruling by the Court of Cassation marks a major setback for the cement giant, which is accused of paying nearly 13 millions euros ($15.3 million) to jihadist groups including the Islamic State to keep its cement factory in northern Syria running through the early years of the war. It has acknowledged that its Syrian subsidiary paid middlemen to negotiate with armed groups to allow the movement of staff and goods inside the war zone. (With inputs from agencies)

Cement giant Lafarge financed Daesh, informed French intelligence: Report

A former Air Force intelligence analyst who helped find targets for deadly US drone strikes has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for leaking top-secret details about the program.

Daniel Hale told a federal judge he felt compelled to leak information to a journalist out of guilt over his own participation in a program that he believed was 'indiscriminately' killing civilians in Afghanistan.

In a statement, Hale said, "It is wrong to kill. It is especially wrong to kill the defenceless".

However, the US District Judge Liam O’Grady told Hale that he had options to seek other measures than speaking with the journalist.&nbsp;

<a href="wionews.com/technology/biden-if-us-has-real-shooting-war-it-could-be-result-of-cyber-attacks-401055">Also read |&nbsp;Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks</a>

Also, he imposed a punishment that was harsher than the 12 to 18-month term sought by Hale’s attorneys.

Prosecutors argued that Hale, who deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2012 and was honourably discharged the following year, abused the government’s trust and knew the documents he was sharing “risked causing serious, and in some cases exceptionally grave, damage to the national security” but leaked them anyway.&nbsp;

They further say that the documents leaked by Hale were found in an internet compilation of the material designed to help Islamic State fighters avoid detection.

A former Air Force intelligence analyst who helped find targets for deadly US drone strikes has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for leaking top-secret details about the program.

A former Air Force intelligence analyst who helped find targets for deadly US drone strikes has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for leaking top-secret details about the program. Daniel Hale told a federal judge he felt compelled to leak information to a journalist out of guilt over his own participation in a program that he believed was 'indiscriminately' killing civilians in Afghanistan. In a statement, Hale said, "It is wrong to kill. It is especially wrong to kill the defenceless". However, the US District Judge Liam O’Grady told Hale that he had options to seek other measures than speaking with the journalist. Also read | Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks Also, he imposed a punishment that was harsher than the 12 to 18-month term sought by Hale’s attorneys. Prosecutors argued that Hale, who deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2012 and was honourably discharged the following year, abused the government’s trust and knew the documents he was sharing “risked causing serious, and in some cases exceptionally grave, damage to the national security” but leaked them anyway. They further say that the documents leaked by Hale were found in an internet compilation of the material designed to help Islamic State fighters avoid detection.

Former intelligence analyst who leaked information sentenced to prison for 45 months

People with high levels of emotional intelligence are less likely to be susceptible to 'fake news', a new study suggests.&nbsp;

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, indicates that those who identified the types of news correctly were most likely to score highly in the EQ tests.&nbsp;

"Fake news on social media is now a matter of considerable public and governmental concern," said researcher Tony Anderson from the University of Strathclyde in the UK.&nbsp;

"Research on dealing with this issue is still in its infancy but recent studies have started to focus on the psychological factors which might make some individuals less susceptible to fake news," Anderson added.&nbsp;

For the study, the research team invited nearly 100 participants to read a series of news items on social media and to ascertain whether they were real or fictitious, briefly describing the reasons for their answers.&nbsp;

They were also asked to complete a test to determine their levels of emotional intelligence (EQ or emotional quotient) and were asked a number of questions when considering the veracity of each news item.&nbsp;

Participants were presented with real and fabricated news stories on issues including health, crime, wealth inequality and the environment.&nbsp;

Fictitious items featured aspects including emotive language, brief information and a lack of attributed sources.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

People with high levels of emotional intelligence are less likely to be susceptible to 'fake news', a new study suggests. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, indicates that those who identified the types of news correctly were most likely to score highly in the EQ tests.

People with high levels of emotional intelligence are less likely to be susceptible to 'fake news', a new study suggests. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, indicates that those who identified the types of news correctly were most likely to score highly in the EQ tests. "Fake news on social media is now a matter of considerable public and governmental concern," said researcher Tony Anderson from the University of Strathclyde in the UK. "Research on dealing with this issue is still in its infancy but recent studies have started to focus on the psychological factors which might make some individuals less susceptible to fake news," Anderson added. For the study, the research team invited nearly 100 participants to read a series of news items on social media and to ascertain whether they were real or fictitious, briefly describing the reasons for their answers. They were also asked to complete a test to determine their levels of emotional intelligence (EQ or emotional quotient) and were asked a number of questions when considering the veracity of each news item. Participants were presented with real and fabricated news stories on issues including health, crime, wealth inequality and the environment. Fictitious items featured aspects including emotive language, brief information and a lack of attributed sources. (With inputs from agencies)

High EQ can help to identify fake news 

Any US President has a huge burden&nbsp;on his shoulders given US involvement in maintaining security in many corners of the world. The person at the helm of the most powerful country on the planet has a great responsibility as smallest of his decisions can have huge consequences in the real world. Internal security in the US is also a prime concern of a US President.

To help in the decision making, US intelligence agencies filter the essential information and prepare what is called Presidential Daily Brief.

What is President's Daily Brief?

President's Daily Brief (PDB) is essentially high-level analysis of national security issues, that is, a round-up of threats USA faces from within and outside the country. The inputs for the PDB are taken from US intelligence agencies including the CIA. Changes are also made to the PDB based on preferences of a particular president.

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It has been customary for president-elect and vice-president-elect to read PDB&nbsp;of the current president during the transition period. Joe Biden read former US President George Bush's PDB after 2008 US Presidential election results. Presidents may share their PDB with vice-presidents while in office. Joe Biden has had that access while serving as vice-president during Barack Obama's presidency. And as he prepared to take the office in the run-up to his inauguration, he had access to Donald Trump's PDB.

Do former US Presidents get intelligence briefings?

Former US Presidents traditionally get intelligence briefings even after they leave office. This provision is made both, as a courtesy and as a way to keep former presidents abreast of security updates should they be asked for advice by the incumbent president.

Former US Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama are given regular intelligence briefings.

Incumbent US president may often informally call upon his predecessors to know their take on a particular issue. The briefings to the former presidents help them to be ready for such a scenario.

Why is Biden opposing briefings to Trump?

For starters, Trump is famous for disliking the intelligence briefs. He has been reluctant to sit for the briefings even when he was president.

On top of that, he is widely perceived to be one who is likely to use the top-secret information for gains other than merely political.

US President Joe Biden told CBS News that Trump's behaviour worried him.

“I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings,” Biden has been quoted as saying.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-should-not-receive-intelligence-briefings-joe-biden-feels-361686">Donald Trump should not receive intelligence briefings, Joe Biden feels</a>

Biden is not the only one to have such reservations.

Susan Gordon,&nbsp;a career CIA officer who was deputy director of national intelligence till 2019 feels iffy about continued intel briefings to Trump.

In January, Gordon wrote in Washington Post&nbsp;saying that Trump's&nbsp;business deals made him beholden to foreign investors and lenders. She said that Trump may be unusually vulnerable because of those who have ill intent.

Joe Biden has expressed his fears on Friday (February 6) that Trump "might slip and say something"

Any US President has a huge burden on his shoulders given US involvement in maintaining security in many corners of the world. The person at the helm of the most powerful country on the planet has a great responsibility as smallest of his decisions can have huge consequences in the real world.

Any US President has a huge burden on his shoulders given US involvement in maintaining security in many corners of the world. The person at the helm of the most powerful country on the planet has a great responsibility as smallest of his decisions can have huge consequences in the real world. Internal security in the US is also a prime concern of a US President. To help in the decision making, US intelligence agencies filter the essential information and prepare what is called Presidential Daily Brief. What is President's Daily Brief? President's Daily Brief (PDB) is essentially high-level analysis of national security issues, that is, a round-up of threats USA faces from within and outside the country. The inputs for the PDB are taken from US intelligence agencies including the CIA. Changes are also made to the PDB based on preferences of a particular president. × It has been customary for president-elect and vice-president-elect to read PDB of the current president during the transition period. Joe Biden read former US President George Bush's PDB after 2008 US Presidential election results. Presidents may share their PDB with vice-presidents while in office. Joe Biden has had that access while serving as vice-president during Barack Obama's presidency. And as he prepared to take the office in the run-up to his inauguration, he had access to Donald Trump's PDB. Do former US Presidents get intelligence briefings? Former US Presidents traditionally get intelligence briefings even after they leave office. This provision is made both, as a courtesy and as a way to keep former presidents abreast of security updates should they be asked for advice by the incumbent president. Former US Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama are given regular intelligence briefings. Incumbent US president may often informally call upon his predecessors to know their take on a particular issue. The briefings to the former presidents help them to be ready for such a scenario. Why is Biden opposing briefings to Trump? For starters, Trump is famous for disliking the intelligence briefs. He has been reluctant to sit for the briefings even when he was president. On top of that, he is widely perceived to be one who is likely to use the top-secret information for gains other than merely political. US President Joe Biden told CBS News that Trump's behaviour worried him. “I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings,” Biden has been quoted as saying. Also Read | Donald Trump should not receive intelligence briefings, Joe Biden feels Biden is not the only one to have such reservations. Susan Gordon, a career CIA officer who was deputy director of national intelligence till 2019 feels iffy about continued intel briefings to Trump. In January, Gordon wrote in Washington Post saying that Trump's business deals made him beholden to foreign investors and lenders. She said that Trump may be unusually vulnerable because of those who have ill intent. Joe Biden has expressed his fears on Friday (February 6) that Trump "might slip and say something"

What US President's intelligence briefing is and why Biden wants Trump out of loop

US President Joe Biden said on Friday (local time) that former US President Donald Trump should not receive classified intelligence briefings. He was being interviewed in a show on CBS. It is traditional in the US that former presidents can request and get presented&nbsp;intelligence briefings by US agencies. However, Biden said that Trump should not be given these briefings owing to his "erratic behavior unrelated to the insurrection."

"I just think that there is no need for him to have the -- the intelligence briefings. What value is giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?" Biden was quoted as saying.

When asked what was his concern about Trump getting the intelligence briefings, Biden said that he would "rather not speculate out loud"

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-revoke-terrorist-designation-of-houthis-in-yemen-361678">US to revoke terrorist designation of Houthis in Yemen</a>

Donald Trump is facing his second impeachment trial this week in US Senate. He has been charged with inciting violence at the Capitol Hill on January 6.

Trump spent the months after the election fighting the results in court and making baseless allegations of widespread fraud. He did not attend Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration with other former U.S. presidents, flying instead to Florida where he has set up his post-presidential office.

(With Reuters inputs)

US President Joe Biden said on Friday (local time) that former US President Donald Trump should not receive classified intelligence briefings. He was being interviewed in a show on CBS.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday (local time) that former US President Donald Trump should not receive classified intelligence briefings. He was being interviewed in a show on CBS. It is traditional in the US that former presidents can request and get presented intelligence briefings by US agencies. However, Biden said that Trump should not be given these briefings owing to his "erratic behavior unrelated to the insurrection." "I just think that there is no need for him to have the -- the intelligence briefings. What value is giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?" Biden was quoted as saying. When asked what was his concern about Trump getting the intelligence briefings, Biden said that he would "rather not speculate out loud" Also Read | US to revoke terrorist designation of Houthis in Yemen Donald Trump is facing his second impeachment trial this week in US Senate. He has been charged with inciting violence at the Capitol Hill on January 6. Trump spent the months after the election fighting the results in court and making baseless allegations of widespread fraud. He did not attend Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration with other former U.S. presidents, flying instead to Florida where he has set up his post-presidential office. (With Reuters inputs)

Donald Trump should not receive intelligence briefings, Joe Biden feels

The United States government has been buying location data of its citizens collected through smartphones, a new report has revealed.

The memo, obtained by The New York Times sheds light on how an intelligence agency - the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) procured US citizen's location data through brokers.&nbsp;The memo in question was sent to Senator Ron Wyden and reveals that US citizens, irrespective of what part of the world they're in, were being tracked.

Data brokers are responsible for collecting and selling people's information, including data about their information. They then pass on this information to companies, who pay for this data.

Once the brokers have access to this data, they can aggregate it, and also sell it to parties willing to pay for it, which includes the US government in this case. 
&nbsp; 
The Verge quoted the memo as saying that DIA "personnel can only query the US location database when authorized through a specific process”. This process, it adds, requires permission from seniors along with the Office of Oversight and Compliance, and the Office of General Counsel.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/a-chinese-hacker-group-is-stealing-global-airline-passenger-data-357997" hreflang="en">A Chinese hacker group is stealing global airline passenger data</a>

In addition, the agency claims to have seen location data of citizens five times in the last two and a half years.

The Fourth Amendment in the US requires agencies to procure a warrant before accessing data from third party companies. The DIA claims to have not been trespassing this provision and claims that it is not possible for it isn't invoking the power of law.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/over-22-billion-records-exposed-in-data-breaches-in-2020-report-356964" hreflang="en">Over 22 billion records exposed in data breaches in 2020: Report</a>

The memo adds how the DIA “does not construe the Carpenter decision to require a judicial warrant endorsing purchase or use of commercially available data for intelligence purposes.” 
&nbsp;

The United States government has been buying location data of its citizens collected through smartphones, a new report has revealed. The memo, obtained by The New York Times sheds light on how an intelligence agency - the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) procured US citizen's location data through brokers.

The United States government has been buying location data of its citizens collected through smartphones, a new report has revealed. The memo, obtained by The New York Times sheds light on how an intelligence agency - the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) procured US citizen's location data through brokers. The memo in question was sent to Senator Ron Wyden and reveals that US citizens, irrespective of what part of the world they're in, were being tracked. Data brokers are responsible for collecting and selling people's information, including data about their information. They then pass on this information to companies, who pay for this data. Once the brokers have access to this data, they can aggregate it, and also sell it to parties willing to pay for it, which includes the US government in this case. The Verge quoted the memo as saying that DIA "personnel can only query the US location database when authorized through a specific process”. This process, it adds, requires permission from seniors along with the Office of Oversight and Compliance, and the Office of General Counsel. Also read: A Chinese hacker group is stealing global airline passenger data In addition, the agency claims to have seen location data of citizens five times in the last two and a half years. The Fourth Amendment in the US requires agencies to procure a warrant before accessing data from third party companies. The DIA claims to have not been trespassing this provision and claims that it is not possible for it isn't invoking the power of law. Also read: Over 22 billion records exposed in data breaches in 2020: Report The memo adds how the DIA “does not construe the Carpenter decision to require a judicial warrant endorsing purchase or use of commercially available data for intelligence purposes.”

US Defense Intelligence Agency admits it bought people's location data: Report

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-pointless-for-kim-to-attend-south-korea-asean-summit-263634">South Korea</a> is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US&nbsp;pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation.

The expiry of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is likely to intensify discord between South Korea and the United States, which wants its two Asian allies to keep their dispute out of security cooperation.

Seoul gave Tokyo three month's notice in August for ending GSOMIA after Tokyo imposed export controls on South Korea over a dispute stemming from its 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula.

The accord will expire at Saturday midnight unless it is renewed. Both sides are refusing to budge, with Seoul urging Tokyo to lift its trade regulations first. Japan has called for GSOMIA to be maintained.

"Unless there's a change in Japan's attitude, our position is we won't reconsider," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told parliament on Thursday.

Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono said an expiry of the agreement would not have a direct impact on Japan's security.

"But given the current situation with North Korea I have the concern that this could send a mistaken message to North Korea and other countries in the region," he said, adding he thought Seoul would make a "sensible decision".

GSOMIA was sealed in 2016 after a years-long US&nbsp;push for a better joint response to North Korea's growing military threat.

Washington has been unusually strident in its public criticism of South Korea's decision, which has not been the only source of tension in the relationship.

On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cuts-short-meeting-with-south-korea-on-military-costs-263118">US&nbsp;negotiators broke off talks after South Korea</a> rejected demands to hike its contribution five-fold to $5 billion to maintain 28,500 US&nbsp;soldiers as a buffer against North Korean aggression.

"The unprecedented breakdown showed the current state of the alliance, where money and business dealings are wearing away shared values and trust that formed its foundation," said Kim Hong-Kyun, a former South Korean deputy foreign minister.

Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence

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Deadline

Asked whether ending GSOMIA risked harming the alliance with the United States, Kang said such analysis was understandable but the decision was made "solely within the context" of Japan ties.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-wants-united-states-to-end-joint-drills-with-south-korea-to-resume-talks-263025">South Korea has pledged to continue security cooperation</a> with Japan, including via a trilateral arrangement involving the United States.

The three countries signed the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement (TISA) in 2014. But that is limited to information regarding Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, whereas GSOMIA covers broader intelligence.

Kim, the former diplomat, said US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who has insisted on South Korea contributing more to defence costs, could resort to "brinkmanship" in future talks, as he did in dealing with North Korea.

Cho Han-bum, senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Seoul made a mistake by expanding trade rows to security issues, but Trump was unlikely to withdraw troops that are key to keeping China and Russia in check.

The United States on Thursday denied a South Korean news report it was considering cutting troop numbers if the burden-sharing talks do not go as Trump wished.

South Korea is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation.

South Korea is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation. The expiry of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is likely to intensify discord between South Korea and the United States, which wants its two Asian allies to keep their dispute out of security cooperation. Seoul gave Tokyo three month's notice in August for ending GSOMIA after Tokyo imposed export controls on South Korea over a dispute stemming from its 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula. The accord will expire at Saturday midnight unless it is renewed. Both sides are refusing to budge, with Seoul urging Tokyo to lift its trade regulations first. Japan has called for GSOMIA to be maintained. "Unless there's a change in Japan's attitude, our position is we won't reconsider," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told parliament on Thursday. Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono said an expiry of the agreement would not have a direct impact on Japan's security. "But given the current situation with North Korea I have the concern that this could send a mistaken message to North Korea and other countries in the region," he said, adding he thought Seoul would make a "sensible decision". GSOMIA was sealed in 2016 after a years-long US push for a better joint response to North Korea's growing military threat. Washington has been unusually strident in its public criticism of South Korea's decision, which has not been the only source of tension in the relationship. On Tuesday, US negotiators broke off talks after South Korea rejected demands to hike its contribution five-fold to $5 billion to maintain 28,500 US soldiers as a buffer against North Korean aggression. "The unprecedented breakdown showed the current state of the alliance, where money and business dealings are wearing away shared values and trust that formed its foundation," said Kim Hong-Kyun, a former South Korean deputy foreign minister. Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence Deadline Asked whether ending GSOMIA risked harming the alliance with the United States, Kang said such analysis was understandable but the decision was made "solely within the context" of Japan ties. South Korea has pledged to continue security cooperation with Japan, including via a trilateral arrangement involving the United States. The three countries signed the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement (TISA) in 2014. But that is limited to information regarding Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, whereas GSOMIA covers broader intelligence. Kim, the former diplomat, said US President Donald Trump, who has insisted on South Korea contributing more to defence costs, could resort to "brinkmanship" in future talks, as he did in dealing with North Korea. Cho Han-bum, senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Seoul made a mistake by expanding trade rows to security issues, but Trump was unlikely to withdraw troops that are key to keeping China and Russia in check. The United States on Thursday denied a South Korean news report it was considering cutting troop numbers if the burden-sharing talks do not go as Trump wished.

South Korea to terminate intelligence pact with Japan in defiance of United States

Is the world turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia's dodgy track record on terrorism? Is it because of the Oil might? Saudi Arabia's funding is behind violence in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan and even the U.S. But no country, be it the U.S., Russia or China stands up to Riyadh. Palki explains why Saudi Arabia remains insulated from terrorism.

Gravitas: The unchecked might of Saudi Arabia, Why does the world let Saudi go scot-free?

Nearly 2 decades after the 9/11 attacks, Saudi Arabia continues to be covertly & overtly supporting terrorists. Saudi Arabia continues to provoke, instigate and catalyse terrorism across the region. Take a look at Saudi Arabia's dismal track record on terror.

Gravitas: The Saudi link to terror isn't new

A secret cable from Saudi Arabia on Sri Lanka terror attacks spark intense speculation. Did Saudi Arabia have an inkling about Sri Lanka easter massacre ahead of the attack? A secret cable signed by Saudi foreign minister instructs Saudi diplomats to avoid public space and even churches. Did Riyadh hide intelligence on the terror attacks? Palki takes a look at the contents of the secret cable.

Gravitas: Saudi cable leak on Lanka

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-trumps-russia-in-counterterrorism-threat-to-us-fbi-director-170729">China </a>poses the most serious intelligence threat to the United States and is seeking to "steal its way up the economic ladder" at US expense, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-firing-one-trump-on-collision-course-with-new-fbi-director-31533">FBI Director Christopher Wray</a> said Friday.

Wray, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, said China poses a "multi-layered" threat to US interests.

"Economic espionage dominates our counter-intelligence program today," the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.

"More than ever, adversaries target our nation's assets, our information and ideas, our innovation, our research and development, our technology.

"And no country poses a broader, more severe intelligence collection threat than China," Wray said.

"China has pioneered a societal approach to stealing innovation in any way it can from a wide array of businesses, universities and organisations," he said.

"They're doing it through Chinese intelligence services, through state-owned enterprises, through ostensibly private companies, through graduate students and researchers, through a variety of actors all working on behalf of China."

Wray's comments come as US and Chinese trade officials are due to resume talks in Beijing on April 30 and then return to Washington for another round on May 8.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised China for what he said was the rampant theft of US know-how and made that a central feature of the ongoing trade talks.

Wray said that economic espionage investigations in nearly all of the 56 FBI field officers "almost invariably lead back to China."

"And they span just about every industry or sector," he said.

"It's illegal. It's a threat to our economic security and, by extension, it's a threat to our national security," Wray said. "This is behavior that violates the rule of law. It violates principles of fairness and integrity.

"Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder at our expense," he said.

The FBI director said the United States "is by no means their only target."

"They're strategic in their approach," he said. "They actually have a formal plan set out in five-year increments to achieve dominance in critical areas.

"And to get there they're using an expanded set of non-traditional methods, both lawful and unlawful," he said.

"The Chinese government is taking the long view," he said. "They're calculating, they're focused, they're patient and persistent."

Wray said that for the past couple of decades the United States has "underestimated this threat" posed by China.

"People are waking up and realising that this is a threat that needs to be taken seriously," he said.

China poses the most serious intelligence threat to the United States and is seeking to "steal its way up the economic ladder" at US expense, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday.

China poses the most serious intelligence threat to the United States and is seeking to "steal its way up the economic ladder" at US expense, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday. Wray, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, said China poses a "multi-layered" threat to US interests. "Economic espionage dominates our counter-intelligence program today," the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. "More than ever, adversaries target our nation's assets, our information and ideas, our innovation, our research and development, our technology. "And no country poses a broader, more severe intelligence collection threat than China," Wray said. "China has pioneered a societal approach to stealing innovation in any way it can from a wide array of businesses, universities and organisations," he said. "They're doing it through Chinese intelligence services, through state-owned enterprises, through ostensibly private companies, through graduate students and researchers, through a variety of actors all working on behalf of China." Wray's comments come as US and Chinese trade officials are due to resume talks in Beijing on April 30 and then return to Washington for another round on May 8. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised China for what he said was the rampant theft of US know-how and made that a central feature of the ongoing trade talks. Wray said that economic espionage investigations in nearly all of the 56 FBI field officers "almost invariably lead back to China." "And they span just about every industry or sector," he said. "It's illegal. It's a threat to our economic security and, by extension, it's a threat to our national security," Wray said. "This is behavior that violates the rule of law. It violates principles of fairness and integrity. "Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder at our expense," he said. The FBI director said the United States "is by no means their only target." "They're strategic in their approach," he said. "They actually have a formal plan set out in five-year increments to achieve dominance in critical areas. "And to get there they're using an expanded set of non-traditional methods, both lawful and unlawful," he said. "The Chinese government is taking the long view," he said. "They're calculating, they're focused, they're patient and persistent." Wray said that for the past couple of decades the United States has "underestimated this threat" posed by China. "People are waking up and realising that this is a threat that needs to be taken seriously," he said.

No country poses a more severe intelligence threat than China: FBI director Wray

Namal Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan politician and the son of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke to WION and said, as a country, they have to come together.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-bombings-death-toll-from-terror-attack-rises-to-310-40-people-arrested-212788">Sri Lanka saw the worst terror attack</a> on Sunday killing around 310 people and over 500 injured.&nbsp;Sri Lanka has imposed a state of emergency hours after blaming a local Islamist group for the attacks.

WION: What is the situation on the ground?

Namal Rajapaksa: Everyone is shocked to hear what happened because we haven't seen a suicide attack or bomb blast in this country for the last ten years. But it is a very devastating and unfortunate incident that took place and we strongly believe it's lack of security and action taken by the government to stop these kinds of activities because clearly, the Prime Minister said we accepting the fact that they have got to know about this few weeks ago. So then they should have acted on that.

WION: Was it an intelligence failure?

Namal Rajapaksa: We cannot blame on the intel because of limited sources because what we know in last four years Sri Lanka has become the weakest when it comes to Intel because of the sudden political decisions the government has taken but despite all that they manage to give the report to the government by the second week of April but the government failed to take action.&nbsp;

But at this stage, we are not going to spend our time blaming on the president or the prime minister because we believe this is the time we have to come together as a nation, keep our political differences aside. As a country we have to work together we have to support each other to come over this. We know even now on our way to meet you guys, there was a blast. This has never happened in this country for so many years, even during the wartime, Sri Lanka did not see this kind of fear.

WION: Why was Sri Lanka targetted?

Namal Rajapaksa: If you look at our region, one is geopolitical importance in Sri Lanka. At the same time Sri Lanka has the weakest intelligence ever since 2015, because once you destabilize your intelligence, once you start punishing your intelligent officers and once you get together with certain nations to disarm your intelligence or withdraw intelligence and try to put them behind bars for fighting against terrorism for 30 years, then obviously Sri Lanka becomes the weakest link in the region. So when that happens it is much easier for certain organisations to get active in this country.&nbsp;

Namal Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan politician and the son of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke to WION and said, as a country, they have to come together.

Namal Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan politician and the son of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke to WION and said, as a country, they have to come together. Sri Lanka saw the worst terror attack on Sunday killing around 310 people and over 500 injured. Sri Lanka has imposed a state of emergency hours after blaming a local Islamist group for the attacks. WION: What is the situation on the ground? Namal Rajapaksa: Everyone is shocked to hear what happened because we haven't seen a suicide attack or bomb blast in this country for the last ten years. But it is a very devastating and unfortunate incident that took place and we strongly believe it's lack of security and action taken by the government to stop these kinds of activities because clearly, the Prime Minister said we accepting the fact that they have got to know about this few weeks ago. So then they should have acted on that. WION: Was it an intelligence failure? Namal Rajapaksa: We cannot blame on the intel because of limited sources because what we know in last four years Sri Lanka has become the weakest when it comes to Intel because of the sudden political decisions the government has taken but despite all that they manage to give the report to the government by the second week of April but the government failed to take action. But at this stage, we are not going to spend our time blaming on the president or the prime minister because we believe this is the time we have to come together as a nation, keep our political differences aside. As a country we have to work together we have to support each other to come over this. We know even now on our way to meet you guys, there was a blast. This has never happened in this country for so many years, even during the wartime, Sri Lanka did not see this kind of fear. WION: Why was Sri Lanka targetted? Namal Rajapaksa: If you look at our region, one is geopolitical importance in Sri Lanka. At the same time Sri Lanka has the weakest intelligence ever since 2015, because once you destabilize your intelligence, once you start punishing your intelligent officers and once you get together with certain nations to disarm your intelligence or withdraw intelligence and try to put them behind bars for fighting against terrorism for 30 years, then obviously Sri Lanka becomes the weakest link in the region. So when that happens it is much easier for certain organisations to get active in this country.

Sri Lanka attacks: We have to come together as a nation, says Namal Rajapaksa to WION

The United States is closely watching Chinese intentions toward Taiwan, concerned that Beijing's growing military prowess may increase the risk it could one day consider bringing the self-ruled island under its control by force, a US official said on Tuesday.

The senior US defence intelligence official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, did not predict that China's military, known as the People's Liberation Army (PLA), would take such a step but said such a possibility was the top worry as <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/china-already-leads-the-world-in-some-military-technology-pentagon-report-190597&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwitkoHo0vHfAhUW3Y8KHdmXDXgQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2plz0va-glQArWFANWel6q">China </a>expands and modernizes its military capabilities.

"The biggest concern is that ... they are getting to a point where the PLA leadership may actually tell Xi Jinping that they are confident in their capabilities," the official said, referring to China's president.

Pressed on whether the official was referring to Chinese confidence in its capabilities to be able to successfully win a battle with Taiwan, the official said, "Well, specifically that would be the most concerning to me."

Taiwan is only one of a growing number of flashpoints in the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/world-economy-to-slow-this-year-due-to-us-china-trade-conflict-world-bank-189112&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwih_paA0_HfAhVJXSsKHbDCDWAQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Gtz0a361tP0-nlu0XAStT">US-China relationship</a>, including a trade war between the countries, US sanctions on the Chinese military, and China's increasingly muscular military posture in the South China Sea.

However, in meetings with Pentagon leaders, PLA officials have long described Taiwan as China's most sensitive issue.

China has repeatedly sent military aircraft and ships to circle the island on drills in the past few years and worked to isolate the island internationally, whittling down its few remaining diplomatic allies.

It has also strongly objected to US warship passages through the Taiwan Strait this year and issued a terse warning about Taiwan after talks in Beijing on Tuesday with the US Navy`s top officer, Admiral John Richardson.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

In the talks, Chinese General Li Zuocheng, chief of China’s Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department, stressed that Taiwan was "China's internal affairs" and that Beijing would allow "no external interference."

"If someone tries to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will do whatever it takes to safeguard national reunification, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity," according to an English-language statement by China's defence ministry on the talks.

Washington has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to help it defend itself and is the island’s main source of arms. The Pentagon says Washington has sold Taiwan more than $15 billion in weaponry since 2010.

Xi has stepped up pressure on the democratic island since Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party became president in 2016.

On January 2, Xi said in a speech that China reserved the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control but would strive to achieve peaceful "reunification."

Still, the US defence intelligence official cautioned against over-reacting, noting Xi could believe he has plenty of time to achieve reunification with Taiwan.

The official also cautioned that China`s military still faced gaps in its capabilities.

"They could order them to go today, but I don't think they're particularly confident in that capability," the official said.&nbsp;

Also on Tuesday, the Defense Intelligence Agency released a report describing Taiwan as the "primary driver" for China's military modernization, which it said had made major advances in recent years.

US defence officials have become particularly alarmed about China's advances in super-fast "hypersonic" technology, which could allow it to field missiles that are far harder to detect.&nbsp;

"The result ... is a PLA on the verge of fielding some of the most modern weapon systems in the world. In some areas, it already leads the world," the report said.

The United States is closely watching Chinese intentions toward Taiwan, concerned that Beijing's growing military prowess may increase the risk it could one day consider bringing the self-ruled island under its control by force, a US official said on Tuesday.

The United States is closely watching Chinese intentions toward Taiwan, concerned that Beijing's growing military prowess may increase the risk it could one day consider bringing the self-ruled island under its control by force, a US official said on Tuesday. The senior US defence intelligence official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, did not predict that China's military, known as the People's Liberation Army (PLA), would take such a step but said such a possibility was the top worry as China expands and modernizes its military capabilities. "The biggest concern is that ... they are getting to a point where the PLA leadership may actually tell Xi Jinping that they are confident in their capabilities," the official said, referring to China's president. Pressed on whether the official was referring to Chinese confidence in its capabilities to be able to successfully win a battle with Taiwan, the official said, "Well, specifically that would be the most concerning to me." Taiwan is only one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, including a trade war between the countries, US sanctions on the Chinese military, and China's increasingly muscular military posture in the South China Sea. However, in meetings with Pentagon leaders, PLA officials have long described Taiwan as China's most sensitive issue. China has repeatedly sent military aircraft and ships to circle the island on drills in the past few years and worked to isolate the island internationally, whittling down its few remaining diplomatic allies. It has also strongly objected to US warship passages through the Taiwan Strait this year and issued a terse warning about Taiwan after talks in Beijing on Tuesday with the US Navy`s top officer, Admiral John Richardson. WHATEVER IT TAKES In the talks, Chinese General Li Zuocheng, chief of China’s Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department, stressed that Taiwan was "China's internal affairs" and that Beijing would allow "no external interference." "If someone tries to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will do whatever it takes to safeguard national reunification, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity," according to an English-language statement by China's defence ministry on the talks. Washington has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to help it defend itself and is the island’s main source of arms. The Pentagon says Washington has sold Taiwan more than $15 billion in weaponry since 2010. Xi has stepped up pressure on the democratic island since Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party became president in 2016. On January 2, Xi said in a speech that China reserved the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control but would strive to achieve peaceful "reunification." Still, the US defence intelligence official cautioned against over-reacting, noting Xi could believe he has plenty of time to achieve reunification with Taiwan. The official also cautioned that China`s military still faced gaps in its capabilities. "They could order them to go today, but I don't think they're particularly confident in that capability," the official said. Also on Tuesday, the Defense Intelligence Agency released a report describing Taiwan as the "primary driver" for China's military modernization, which it said had made major advances in recent years. US defence officials have become particularly alarmed about China's advances in super-fast "hypersonic" technology, which could allow it to field missiles that are far harder to detect. "The result ... is a PLA on the verge of fielding some of the most modern weapon systems in the world. In some areas, it already leads the world," the report said.

US eyes Taiwan risk as China's military capabilities grow

Russia has drawn up draft legislation aimed at stopping leaks of personal information from state agencies, a step that follows publication of details of Russians allegedly involved in clandestine intelligence operations abroad.

The bill, produced by Russia's communications ministry, bars unauthorised people from creating and publishing databases of personal data drawn from official sources, and fines anyone violating that rule.

It also requires that state agencies setting up systems for handling personal data consult with the Federal Security Service, Russia's main domestic intelligence agency.

The communications ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The bill, published late on Thursday, says it is in response to a 2017 instruction from President Vladimir Putin and makes no mention of the spate of leaks.

However, Russian authorities have been embarrassed by leaks about two men Britain alleges were Russian intelligence agents who used a nerve agent to poison former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia denies involvement.

The two men told Russian television they were innocent tourists who went to the English city of Salisbury, where Skripal was living, to view its cathedral.

But the Bellingcat investigative journalism website, drawing on leaked passport information, identified the two as officers with Russia's GRU military intelligence agency.

In a separate case, a Russian accused in a US&nbsp;indictment of conducting cyber attacks around the world was traced, via leaked official databases, to an address in Moscow that Washington says is a base for Russian military intelligence.

The legislation, comprising two draft laws and a draft government resolution, has been published for a 30-day period of public consultation, after which it will be submitted to parliament and the government for approval.

Russia has an active black market in illegal databases compiled using confidential information stolen from state-run registries. The data includes passport details, addresses, car registrations, flight manifests and even tax returns.

Releasing personal data in this way is already illegal under existing legislation, but Russian authorities have struggled to stamp out the practice. Many of the databases are openly available on the Internet.

Russia has drawn up draft legislation aimed at stopping leaks of personal information from state agencies, a step that follows publication of details of Russians allegedly involved in clandestine intelligence operations abroad.

Russia has drawn up draft legislation aimed at stopping leaks of personal information from state agencies, a step that follows publication of details of Russians allegedly involved in clandestine intelligence operations abroad. The bill, produced by Russia's communications ministry, bars unauthorised people from creating and publishing databases of personal data drawn from official sources, and fines anyone violating that rule. It also requires that state agencies setting up systems for handling personal data consult with the Federal Security Service, Russia's main domestic intelligence agency. The communications ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The bill, published late on Thursday, says it is in response to a 2017 instruction from President Vladimir Putin and makes no mention of the spate of leaks. However, Russian authorities have been embarrassed by leaks about two men Britain alleges were Russian intelligence agents who used a nerve agent to poison former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia denies involvement. The two men told Russian television they were innocent tourists who went to the English city of Salisbury, where Skripal was living, to view its cathedral. But the Bellingcat investigative journalism website, drawing on leaked passport information, identified the two as officers with Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. In a separate case, a Russian accused in a US indictment of conducting cyber attacks around the world was traced, via leaked official databases, to an address in Moscow that Washington says is a base for Russian military intelligence. The legislation, comprising two draft laws and a draft government resolution, has been published for a 30-day period of public consultation, after which it will be submitted to parliament and the government for approval. Russia has an active black market in illegal databases compiled using confidential information stolen from state-run registries. The data includes passport details, addresses, car registrations, flight manifests and even tax returns. Releasing personal data in this way is already illegal under existing legislation, but Russian authorities have struggled to stamp out the practice. Many of the databases are openly available on the Internet.

Russia, stung by intelligence leaks, plans to tighten data protection

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