Four Chinese nationals have been indicted for financial dealings with North Korean companies sanctioned for involvement in the production of weapons of mass destruction(WMD), the US Justice Department said Tuesday.

Ma Xiaohong, the head of Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. Ltd, and three top executives of the Chinese company were indicted by a federal grand jury in New Jersey, the department said in a statement.

"Through the use of more than 20 front companies, the defendants are alleged to have sought to obscure illicit financial dealings on behalf of sanctioned North Korean entities that were involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," assistant attorney general John Demers said.

"Ma, her company, and her employees tried to defraud the United States by evading sanctions restrictions and doing business with proliferators of weapons of mass destruction," said US Attorney Craig Carpenito.

According to the indictment, DHID worked with North Korea-based Korea Kwangson Banking Corp. (KKBC), which has ties to two other sanctioned North Korean entities -&nbsp;Tanchon Commercial Bank (Tanchon) and Korea Hyoksin Trading Corporation (Hyoksin).

Tanchon and Hyoksin are subject to US sanctions because of their links with the Korea Mining Development Trading Co. (KOMID), which the United States considers North Korea's premier arms dealer and main exporter of goods and equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons.

Four Chinese nationals have been indicted for financial dealings with North Korean companies sanctioned for involvement in the production of weapons of mass destruction(WMD), the US Justice Department said Tuesday.

Four Chinese nationals have been indicted for financial dealings with North Korean companies sanctioned for involvement in the production of weapons of mass destruction(WMD), the US Justice Department said Tuesday. Ma Xiaohong, the head of Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. Ltd, and three top executives of the Chinese company were indicted by a federal grand jury in New Jersey, the department said in a statement. "Through the use of more than 20 front companies, the defendants are alleged to have sought to obscure illicit financial dealings on behalf of sanctioned North Korean entities that were involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," assistant attorney general John Demers said. "Ma, her company, and her employees tried to defraud the United States by evading sanctions restrictions and doing business with proliferators of weapons of mass destruction," said US Attorney Craig Carpenito. According to the indictment, DHID worked with North Korea-based Korea Kwangson Banking Corp. (KKBC), which has ties to two other sanctioned North Korean entities - Tanchon Commercial Bank (Tanchon) and Korea Hyoksin Trading Corporation (Hyoksin). Tanchon and Hyoksin are subject to US sanctions because of their links with the Korea Mining Development Trading Co. (KOMID), which the United States considers North Korea's premier arms dealer and main exporter of goods and equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons.

US indicts Chinese nationals for dealings with North Korean companies in producing weapons of mass destruction

A former engineer and a Chinese businessman have been charged with economic espionage and conspiring to steal trade secrets from General Electric Co to benefit China, according to an indictment unsealed by the US Justice Department on Tuesday.

The indictment against the former GE engineer, Xiaoqing Zheng, and Chinese businessman Zhaoxi Zhang, comes after Zheng was initially charged in August in connection with the alleged theft. It marks the first time the US government has formally said the scheme was carried out to benefit China and that the Chinese government provided "financial and other support."

According to the indictment, Zheng stole the proprietary data on GE's turbine technology by encrypting the files on his computer and secretly embedding them into a digital photograph of sunset before emailing the photograph to his personal email.

Zheng, 56, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and was allowed to remain free on bond. His attorney Kevin Luibrand declined to comment.

The charges are the latest in a handful of cases brought by the Justice Department since last year as part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration, which has vowed to fight Chinese theft of corporate secrets, cheating through intellectual property theft, illegal corporate subsidies and the use of rules that hamper US corporations that want to sell their goods in China.

The FBI has said in the past that nearly every one of the agency’s 56 field offices have investigations into economic espionage tied to China.

The 14-count indictment against the pair charges that Zheng, who worked at GE Power &amp; Water in Schenectady, New York, stole multiple electronic files containing details about design models, engineering drawings and other specifications related to the company's gas and steam turbines.

Prosecutors say he emailed the files to Zhang, who was located in China.

GE said in a statement it has "been in close cooperation with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for some time on this matter."

The two men allegedly used the stolen information to advance their own business interests in two turbine research and development companies - Liaoning Tianyi Aviation Technology Co Ltd and Nanjing Tianyi Avi Tech Co Ltd.

The indictment adds that the pair received financial and other support from the Chinese government through those two companies, and they coordinated with Chinese government officials.

According to the indictment, Zheng told GE in February 2016 that he was operating an aviation parts supply company in China with his brothers, and asked permission to ensure it did not violate any rules about conflicts of interest. GE approved his proposal, asking that he protect the company's intellectual property.

About a year later, around November or December 2017, GE discovered a large number of encrypted files saved on Zheng's computer.

By July 2018, the company learned he had embedded the files in the seemingly innocuous photo of a sunset and emailed them to himself.

In interviews with the FBI in August 2018, prosecutors said he admitted to taking GE files. He also told agents his companies in China had received grant money from the Chinese government.

Zheng and Zhang, 46, were formally indicted on April 18. A jury trial has been set for June 24 in Albany, New York. Zhang was believed to be in China, the Justice Department said.

A former engineer and a Chinese businessman have been charged with economic espionage and conspiring to steal trade secrets from General Electric Co to benefit China, according to an indictment unsealed by the US Justice Department on Tuesday.

A former engineer and a Chinese businessman have been charged with economic espionage and conspiring to steal trade secrets from General Electric Co to benefit China, according to an indictment unsealed by the US Justice Department on Tuesday. The indictment against the former GE engineer, Xiaoqing Zheng, and Chinese businessman Zhaoxi Zhang, comes after Zheng was initially charged in August in connection with the alleged theft. It marks the first time the US government has formally said the scheme was carried out to benefit China and that the Chinese government provided "financial and other support." According to the indictment, Zheng stole the proprietary data on GE's turbine technology by encrypting the files on his computer and secretly embedding them into a digital photograph of sunset before emailing the photograph to his personal email. Zheng, 56, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and was allowed to remain free on bond. His attorney Kevin Luibrand declined to comment. The charges are the latest in a handful of cases brought by the Justice Department since last year as part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration, which has vowed to fight Chinese theft of corporate secrets, cheating through intellectual property theft, illegal corporate subsidies and the use of rules that hamper US corporations that want to sell their goods in China. The FBI has said in the past that nearly every one of the agency’s 56 field offices have investigations into economic espionage tied to China. The 14-count indictment against the pair charges that Zheng, who worked at GE Power & Water in Schenectady, New York, stole multiple electronic files containing details about design models, engineering drawings and other specifications related to the company's gas and steam turbines. Prosecutors say he emailed the files to Zhang, who was located in China. GE said in a statement it has "been in close cooperation with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for some time on this matter." The two men allegedly used the stolen information to advance their own business interests in two turbine research and development companies - Liaoning Tianyi Aviation Technology Co Ltd and Nanjing Tianyi Avi Tech Co Ltd. The indictment adds that the pair received financial and other support from the Chinese government through those two companies, and they coordinated with Chinese government officials. According to the indictment, Zheng told GE in February 2016 that he was operating an aviation parts supply company in China with his brothers, and asked permission to ensure it did not violate any rules about conflicts of interest. GE approved his proposal, asking that he protect the company's intellectual property. About a year later, around November or December 2017, GE discovered a large number of encrypted files saved on Zheng's computer. By July 2018, the company learned he had embedded the files in the seemingly innocuous photo of a sunset and emailed them to himself. In interviews with the FBI in August 2018, prosecutors said he admitted to taking GE files. He also told agents his companies in China had received grant money from the Chinese government. Zheng and Zhang, 46, were formally indicted on April 18. A jury trial has been set for June 24 in Albany, New York. Zhang was believed to be in China, the Justice Department said.

US accuses pair of stealing secrets, spying on General Electric to aid China

A collaborator of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-to-fight-us-extradition-request-lawyer-209644">WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested</a> Thursday in Ecuador while trying to flee to Japan, the South American country's interior minister said.

Maria Paula Romo did not identify the person but told Sonorama radio he was very close to Assange, who was arrested Thursday in London on a US extradition request after spending seven years in the Ecuadoran embassy there.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-transparency-icon-or-enemy-of-the-state-209557">Julian Assange, Transparency icon or enemy of the state?</a>

Channel Teleamazonas identified him as Ola Bini, a software developer focused on privacy, security and cryptography, but did not name its source.

Earlier Thursday, the minister had linked the collaborator with alleged attempts to destabilize the government of President Lenin Moreno.&nbsp;

He "has been detained simply for investigation purposes," she said, adding he had taken foreign trips with former Ecuadoran foreign minister Ricardo Patino, who gave political asylum to Assange in 2012.&nbsp;

"We have sufficient evidence that he was collaborating in attempts to destabilize the government," she said.

Romo's announcement followed the arrest of Assange earlier Thursday.

British police moved in after Ecuador pulled its asylum for Assange and cancelled his citizenship, granted in 2012.&nbsp;

He had been living in the embassy, fearing arrest, but the Ecuadoran government says that Assange "repeatedly violated" the conditions of his protection.

The US Justice Department said Assange was being charged with a computer hacking conspiracy relating to his work with former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in March 2010.

A collaborator of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested Thursday in Ecuador while trying to flee to Japan, the South American country's interior minister said.

A collaborator of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested Thursday in Ecuador while trying to flee to Japan, the South American country's interior minister said. Maria Paula Romo did not identify the person but told Sonorama radio he was very close to Assange, who was arrested Thursday in London on a US extradition request after spending seven years in the Ecuadoran embassy there. Also read: Julian Assange, Transparency icon or enemy of the state? Channel Teleamazonas identified him as Ola Bini, a software developer focused on privacy, security and cryptography, but did not name its source. Earlier Thursday, the minister had linked the collaborator with alleged attempts to destabilize the government of President Lenin Moreno. He "has been detained simply for investigation purposes," she said, adding he had taken foreign trips with former Ecuadoran foreign minister Ricardo Patino, who gave political asylum to Assange in 2012. "We have sufficient evidence that he was collaborating in attempts to destabilize the government," she said. Romo's announcement followed the arrest of Assange earlier Thursday. British police moved in after Ecuador pulled its asylum for Assange and cancelled his citizenship, granted in 2012. He had been living in the embassy, fearing arrest, but the Ecuadoran government says that Assange "repeatedly violated" the conditions of his protection. The US Justice Department said Assange was being charged with a computer hacking conspiracy relating to his work with former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in March 2010.

Julian Assange aide arrested trying to leave Ecuador: Official

Chinese telecom giant <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-rare-move-huawei-opens-its-door-for-foreign-media-to-counter-espionage-accusations-201444">Huawei accused the US government</a> on Thursday of hacking its servers and stealing company emails.

Rotating chairman Guo Ping did not provide further details about the allegations, which he made as he announced a lawsuit against<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-asks-canada-to-stop-extradition-process-of-huawei-cfo-meng-wanzhou-to-us-200715"> US legislation barring American federal</a> agencies from buying Huawei products.

The US government "has hacked our servers and stolen our emails and source code", Guo said at a news conference.

The telecom giant had earlier said it was suing the United States for barring government agencies from buying the telecom company's equipment and services.

Huawei said the suit was filed in a US District Court in Plano, Texas, challenging a 2019 US defence bill that prevents US government agencies from buying Huawei equipment and services, as well as working with third parties that are Huawei customers.

The lawsuit is Huawei's latest attempt to fight back against US warnings that the company could serve as a Trojan horse for China's intelligence services.

"The US Congress has repeatedly failed to produce any evidence to support its restrictions on Huawei products. We are compelled to take this legal action as a proper and last resort," Huawei's rotating chairman Guo Ping said in a statement.

The United States says Huawei equipment could be manipulated by China's Communist government to spy on other countries and disrupt critical communications.

Washington is urging governments to shun the company just as the world readies for the advent of ultra-fast 5G telecommunications, an advancement that Huawei was expected to lead and which will allow wide adoption of next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence.

Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, Ren's daughter, faces potential extradition from Canada to the United States over charges of Iran sanctions violations.

The US Justice Department accuses Huawei and Meng of circumventing US sanctions against Iran. Two affiliates also have been charged with stealing trade secrets from telecommunications group T-Mobile. 
&nbsp;

Chinese telecom giant Huawei accused the US government on Thursday of hacking its servers and stealing company emails. Rotating chairman Guo Ping did not provide further details about the allegations, which he made as he announced a lawsuit against US legislation barring American federal agencies from buying Huawei products.

Chinese telecom giant Huawei accused the US government on Thursday of hacking its servers and stealing company emails. Rotating chairman Guo Ping did not provide further details about the allegations, which he made as he announced a lawsuit against US legislation barring American federal agencies from buying Huawei products. The US government "has hacked our servers and stolen our emails and source code", Guo said at a news conference. The telecom giant had earlier said it was suing the United States for barring government agencies from buying the telecom company's equipment and services. Huawei said the suit was filed in a US District Court in Plano, Texas, challenging a 2019 US defence bill that prevents US government agencies from buying Huawei equipment and services, as well as working with third parties that are Huawei customers. The lawsuit is Huawei's latest attempt to fight back against US warnings that the company could serve as a Trojan horse for China's intelligence services. "The US Congress has repeatedly failed to produce any evidence to support its restrictions on Huawei products. We are compelled to take this legal action as a proper and last resort," Huawei's rotating chairman Guo Ping said in a statement. The United States says Huawei equipment could be manipulated by China's Communist government to spy on other countries and disrupt critical communications. Washington is urging governments to shun the company just as the world readies for the advent of ultra-fast 5G telecommunications, an advancement that Huawei was expected to lead and which will allow wide adoption of next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence. Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, Ren's daughter, faces potential extradition from Canada to the United States over charges of Iran sanctions violations. The US Justice Department accuses Huawei and Meng of circumventing US sanctions against Iran. Two affiliates also have been charged with stealing trade secrets from telecommunications group T-Mobile.

US government hacked our servers, stole company emails: Huawei

The Canadian government, as expected, on Friday approved extradition proceedings against the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, prompting a furious reaction from China.

Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei's founder, was detained in Vancouver last December and is under house arrest. In late January the US Justice Department charged Meng and Huawei with conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran.

Meng is due to appear in a Vancouver court at 10 am Pacific time (1800 GMT) on March 6, when a date will be set for her extradition hearing.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-row-china-questions-state-of-judicial-independence-in-canada-200522">Huawei invites US media to see for itself on spy claims</a>

"Today, Department of Justice Canada officials issued an authority to proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms&nbsp;Meng Wanzhou," the government said in a statement.

China, whose relations with Canada have deteriorated badly over the affair, denounced the decision and repeated previous demands for Meng's release.

US Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas Oxman said Washington thanked the Canadian government for its assistance. "We greatly appreciate Canada's steadfast commitment to the rule of law," she said in a statement.

Legal experts had predicted the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would give the go-ahead for extradition proceedings, given the close judicial relationship between Canada and the United States.

But it could be years before Meng is sent to the United States since Canada's slow-moving justice system allows many decisions to be appealed.

A final decision will likely come down to the federal justice minister, who will face the choice of angering the United States by rejecting the extradition bid, or China by accepting it.

Professor Wesley Wark of the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs said, "the Canadians will take a beating throughout this whole process" from China.

"I suspect the Trudeau government is desperately hoping that the Americans reach a deal with the Chinese," he said by phone.

US President Donald Trump told Reuters in December he would intervene if it served national security interests or helped close a trade deal with China, prompting Ottawa to stress the extradition process should not be politicized. Last week Trump played down the idea of dropping the charges.

After Meng's detention, China arrested two Canadians on national security grounds, and a Chinese court later sentenced to death a Canadian man who previously had only been jailed for drug smuggling.

Brock University professor Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat who served two postings in China, said Beijing was likely to retaliate further.

"They're not going to take this lying down ... one shudders to think what the consequences could be," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, saying Beijing might crack down on Canadian canola shipments or stop Chinese students from going to Canada.

Ottawa rejects Chinese calls to release Meng, saying it cannot interfere with the judiciary.

"The Chinese side is utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the issuance of (the) authority to proceed," the embassy in Ottawa said in a statement.

Beijing had earlier questioned the state of judicial independence in Canada, noting the government faces accusations that it tried to intervene to stop a corruption trial.

Canadian Justice Minister David Lametti declined to comment.

Huawei was not immediately available for comment.

Meng's lawyers said they were disappointed and described the US charges as politically motivated.

The Canadian government, as expected, on Friday approved extradition proceedings against the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, prompting a furious reaction from China.

The Canadian government, as expected, on Friday approved extradition proceedings against the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, prompting a furious reaction from China. Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei's founder, was detained in Vancouver last December and is under house arrest. In late January the US Justice Department charged Meng and Huawei with conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran. Meng is due to appear in a Vancouver court at 10 am Pacific time (1800 GMT) on March 6, when a date will be set for her extradition hearing. Also read: Huawei invites US media to see for itself on spy claims "Today, Department of Justice Canada officials issued an authority to proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms Meng Wanzhou," the government said in a statement. China, whose relations with Canada have deteriorated badly over the affair, denounced the decision and repeated previous demands for Meng's release. US Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas Oxman said Washington thanked the Canadian government for its assistance. "We greatly appreciate Canada's steadfast commitment to the rule of law," she said in a statement. Legal experts had predicted the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would give the go-ahead for extradition proceedings, given the close judicial relationship between Canada and the United States. But it could be years before Meng is sent to the United States since Canada's slow-moving justice system allows many decisions to be appealed. A final decision will likely come down to the federal justice minister, who will face the choice of angering the United States by rejecting the extradition bid, or China by accepting it. Professor Wesley Wark of the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs said, "the Canadians will take a beating throughout this whole process" from China. "I suspect the Trudeau government is desperately hoping that the Americans reach a deal with the Chinese," he said by phone. US President Donald Trump told Reuters in December he would intervene if it served national security interests or helped close a trade deal with China, prompting Ottawa to stress the extradition process should not be politicized. Last week Trump played down the idea of dropping the charges. After Meng's detention, China arrested two Canadians on national security grounds, and a Chinese court later sentenced to death a Canadian man who previously had only been jailed for drug smuggling. Brock University professor Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat who served two postings in China, said Beijing was likely to retaliate further. "They're not going to take this lying down ... one shudders to think what the consequences could be," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, saying Beijing might crack down on Canadian canola shipments or stop Chinese students from going to Canada. Ottawa rejects Chinese calls to release Meng, saying it cannot interfere with the judiciary. "The Chinese side is utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the issuance of (the) authority to proceed," the embassy in Ottawa said in a statement. Beijing had earlier questioned the state of judicial independence in Canada, noting the government faces accusations that it tried to intervene to stop a corruption trial. Canadian Justice Minister David Lametti declined to comment. Huawei was not immediately available for comment. Meng's lawyers said they were disappointed and described the US charges as politically motivated.

Canada approves extradition process of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou

The US Justice Department on Thursday<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyber-hackers-using-stolen-apple-ids-to-steal-cash-from-chinas-alipay-wechat-users-171116"> indicted two Chinese hackers</a> tied to Beijing's security services who allegedly targeted companies and agencies in a dozen countries, which US officials said showed President Xi Jinping had not fulfilled his pledge to stop cybercrime.

Deputy Attorney General<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-fixes-bug-that-lets-hackers-hijack-users-application-170727"> Rod Rosenstein said the move </a>was being made to rebuff "China's economic aggression."

The Justice Department said the hackers had targeted numerous managed service providers (MSPs), specialist firms which help other companies manage their information technology systems - potentially giving hackers entry into the computer networks of dozens of companies.

Companies who were hacked were not named, but 45 victims in the United States included key government agencies - the NASA Goddard Space Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the US Navy, where the personal information of more than 100,000 personnel was stolen.

Internationally, the hackers accessed the computers of a major bank, three telecommunications or consumer electronics companies, mining and health care companies, and business consultancies.

Rosenstein slammed Beijing for repeatedly violating a pledge made by Xi to then-president Barack Obama in 2015 to halt cyber-attacks on US companies and commercial infrastructure.

"These defendants allegedly compromised MSP clients in at least a dozen countries," Rosenstein said. "It is unacceptable that we continue to uncover cybercrime committed by China against other nations."

"We want China to cease its illegal cyber activities and honour its commitment to the international community," he said. "But the evidence suggests that China may not intend to live up to its promises."

In London, the Foreign Office likewise accused China of not living up to their bilateral agreement against hacking driven by commercial and economic motives.

"These activities must stop. They go against the commitments made to the UK in 2015, and, as part of the G20, not to conduct or support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property or trade secrets," Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement.

The Justice Department said the two hackers, Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong, worked for the so-called APT10 group which Washington, London and other allies say is backed by China's Ministry of State Security.

From at least 2006 to 2018, the APT10 Group "conducted extensive campaigns of intrusions into computer systems around the world," the US Justice Department said.&nbsp;

APT10 stole "hundreds of gigabytes" of sensitive data and information from its targets, invading their systems through the hacked MSPs.

The indictments of the two hackers came less than two months after US indicted 10 Chinese also linked to APT10, including two intelligence officers, over a five-year scheme to steal aircraft engine technology from US and French aerospace firms.

Those cases involved both hacking and recruiting insiders to steal data and IT system passwords.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are already frayed over trade, hacking and geopolitical issues.

In October, the Department of Justice obtained the unprecedented extradition of a senior Chinese intelligence official from Belgium to stand trial in the United States for running the effort to steal US aviation industry secrets.

In early December, Canada arrested an executive of China's leading Huawei telecommunications company at Washington's request.

The US plans to charge her with fraud charges related to sanctions-breaking business dealings with Iran.

Since then, China has detained three Canadians, in an apparent bid to pressure Ottawa into fully releasing the Huawei executive, who is now out on bail.

And, according to reports, US officials believe Chinese government-linked hackers were behind the theft of data on some 500 million guests of hotel giant Marriott, first reported on November 30.

Last week, Bill Priestap, head of the FBI's counterintelligence division, told Congress that China's cyber-attacks are part of a broad campaign to demote the United States from its leadership position in the world.

"The Chinese government is attempting to acquire or steal not only the plans and intentions of the United States government, but also the ideas and innovations of the very people that make our economy so incredibly successful," he said.

The indictment drew strong support in Congress where Beijing has less and less support.

"For years, China has stomped on international law and has used its cyber capabilities to steal American technology, intellectual property, and private information," said senior Republican Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

"It sends a clear and direct message that we will punch back when attacked."

The US Justice Department on Thursday indicted two Chinese hackers tied to Beijing's security services who allegedly targeted companies and agencies in a dozen countries, which US officials said showed President Xi Jinping had not fulfilled his pledge to stop cybercrime.

The US Justice Department on Thursday indicted two Chinese hackers tied to Beijing's security services who allegedly targeted companies and agencies in a dozen countries, which US officials said showed President Xi Jinping had not fulfilled his pledge to stop cybercrime. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the move was being made to rebuff "China's economic aggression." The Justice Department said the hackers had targeted numerous managed service providers (MSPs), specialist firms which help other companies manage their information technology systems - potentially giving hackers entry into the computer networks of dozens of companies. Companies who were hacked were not named, but 45 victims in the United States included key government agencies - the NASA Goddard Space Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the US Navy, where the personal information of more than 100,000 personnel was stolen. Internationally, the hackers accessed the computers of a major bank, three telecommunications or consumer electronics companies, mining and health care companies, and business consultancies. Rosenstein slammed Beijing for repeatedly violating a pledge made by Xi to then-president Barack Obama in 2015 to halt cyber-attacks on US companies and commercial infrastructure. "These defendants allegedly compromised MSP clients in at least a dozen countries," Rosenstein said. "It is unacceptable that we continue to uncover cybercrime committed by China against other nations." "We want China to cease its illegal cyber activities and honour its commitment to the international community," he said. "But the evidence suggests that China may not intend to live up to its promises." In London, the Foreign Office likewise accused China of not living up to their bilateral agreement against hacking driven by commercial and economic motives. "These activities must stop. They go against the commitments made to the UK in 2015, and, as part of the G20, not to conduct or support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property or trade secrets," Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement. The Justice Department said the two hackers, Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong, worked for the so-called APT10 group which Washington, London and other allies say is backed by China's Ministry of State Security. From at least 2006 to 2018, the APT10 Group "conducted extensive campaigns of intrusions into computer systems around the world," the US Justice Department said. APT10 stole "hundreds of gigabytes" of sensitive data and information from its targets, invading their systems through the hacked MSPs. The indictments of the two hackers came less than two months after US indicted 10 Chinese also linked to APT10, including two intelligence officers, over a five-year scheme to steal aircraft engine technology from US and French aerospace firms. Those cases involved both hacking and recruiting insiders to steal data and IT system passwords. Relations between Washington and Beijing are already frayed over trade, hacking and geopolitical issues. In October, the Department of Justice obtained the unprecedented extradition of a senior Chinese intelligence official from Belgium to stand trial in the United States for running the effort to steal US aviation industry secrets. In early December, Canada arrested an executive of China's leading Huawei telecommunications company at Washington's request. The US plans to charge her with fraud charges related to sanctions-breaking business dealings with Iran. Since then, China has detained three Canadians, in an apparent bid to pressure Ottawa into fully releasing the Huawei executive, who is now out on bail. And, according to reports, US officials believe Chinese government-linked hackers were behind the theft of data on some 500 million guests of hotel giant Marriott, first reported on November 30. Last week, Bill Priestap, head of the FBI's counterintelligence division, told Congress that China's cyber-attacks are part of a broad campaign to demote the United States from its leadership position in the world. "The Chinese government is attempting to acquire or steal not only the plans and intentions of the United States government, but also the ideas and innovations of the very people that make our economy so incredibly successful," he said. The indictment drew strong support in Congress where Beijing has less and less support. "For years, China has stomped on international law and has used its cyber capabilities to steal American technology, intellectual property, and private information," said senior Republican Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. "It sends a clear and direct message that we will punch back when attacked."

US indicts two Chinese hackers for targeting companies in 12 countries

China challenged the United States Friday to show evidence to support charges that Beijing backed a scheme by Chinese and Taiwanese companies to steal trade secrets from a US-based semiconductor firm.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions accused the companies on Thursday of stealing an estimated $8.75 billion worth of know-how from semiconductor giant Micron.

The Justice Department unveiled criminal charges against Chinese state-owned Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) of Taiwan, along with three UMC officials.

It said they conspired to steal US-based Micron's advanced designs to turn Fujian Jinhua into a major player in the global computer chip market.

"If the US side is really concerned, they should provide concrete examples that can withstand the test of evidence and facts," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular press briefing.

The charges were the latest in a series of cases targeting what Washington calls an ongoing Beijing programme to steal valuable US industrial and commercial secrets in order to advance the Chinese economy.

"Taken together, these cases and many others like them paint a grim picture of a country bent on stealing its way up the ladder of economic development and doing so at American expense," Sessions said.

"This behaviour is illegal. It is wrong. It is a threat to our national security. And it must stop."

US President Donald Trump has cited China's alleged theft of US technological know-how among a litany of grievances in his trade war with the Asian power.

Trump and Xi spoke on the phone about trade and other issues hours after the charges were announced, and the US leader tweeted that the pair had a "very good" conversation.

Xi said he was "very happy" to talk to Trump again and that he would like to see him at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires later this month, adding that the two countries should "push for a mutually acceptable solution to China-US economic and trade issues", according to state media.

- Chip designs - 
The indictment released in the US district court in San Jose, California alleges that three former Micron employees in Taiwan -- Stephen Chen Zhengkun, He Jianting and Kenny Wang Yungming -- joined UMC in 2015 and 2016 with the express plan to hand over to the company Micron's design and manufacturing processes for specific dynamic random access memory (DRAM) semiconductors.

Those would then be transferred to Fujian Jinhua under an contract set by Chen.

Prior to the plot, US prosecutors said, neither the Chinese nor the Taiwanese company had any DRAM production capability.

But China had set out the goal of acquiring DRAM capability in its current strategic economy plan.

Chen was originally a top executive at Micron's Taiwan operation. He moved in 2015 to lead UMC, a contract chip manufacturer listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and subsequently became president of Fujian Jinhua.

- Competitive threat to Micron - 
The theft posed a major threat to Micron, a company valued at around $100 billion and which controls 20-25 percent of the global market for DRAM chips.

The indictment came four months after Fujian Jinhua won a patent dispute with Micron in a Chinese court, gaining an order for the US company to stop sales in China of more than a dozen solid-state drives, memory sticks and chips.

In retaliation, the US Commerce Department on Monday placed heavy restrictions on Fujian Jinhua's ability to buy US machinery and materials for its factories that would boost its DRAM production capabilities.

In addition to the criminal charges announced Thursday, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit to block imports of any UMC and Fujian Jinhua products using stolen Micron technology.

In recent years Washington has stepped up its fight against China's alleged ongoing economic espionage programme to obtain all sorts of advanced technologies, from agriculture to heavy manufacturing.

"China is probably, over the long term, the biggest challenge, national security challenge that faces our country," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham.

"Where the semiconductor piece fits in is, it's part of a mosaic of our strategic effort to push back against this continued Chinese effort."

China challenged the United States Friday to show evidence to support charges that Beijing backed a scheme by Chinese and Taiwanese companies to steal trade secrets from a US-based semiconductor firm.

China challenged the United States Friday to show evidence to support charges that Beijing backed a scheme by Chinese and Taiwanese companies to steal trade secrets from a US-based semiconductor firm. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions accused the companies on Thursday of stealing an estimated $8.75 billion worth of know-how from semiconductor giant Micron. The Justice Department unveiled criminal charges against Chinese state-owned Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) of Taiwan, along with three UMC officials. It said they conspired to steal US-based Micron's advanced designs to turn Fujian Jinhua into a major player in the global computer chip market. "If the US side is really concerned, they should provide concrete examples that can withstand the test of evidence and facts," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular press briefing. The charges were the latest in a series of cases targeting what Washington calls an ongoing Beijing programme to steal valuable US industrial and commercial secrets in order to advance the Chinese economy. "Taken together, these cases and many others like them paint a grim picture of a country bent on stealing its way up the ladder of economic development and doing so at American expense," Sessions said. "This behaviour is illegal. It is wrong. It is a threat to our national security. And it must stop." US President Donald Trump has cited China's alleged theft of US technological know-how among a litany of grievances in his trade war with the Asian power. Trump and Xi spoke on the phone about trade and other issues hours after the charges were announced, and the US leader tweeted that the pair had a "very good" conversation. Xi said he was "very happy" to talk to Trump again and that he would like to see him at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires later this month, adding that the two countries should "push for a mutually acceptable solution to China-US economic and trade issues", according to state media. - Chip designs - The indictment released in the US district court in San Jose, California alleges that three former Micron employees in Taiwan -- Stephen Chen Zhengkun, He Jianting and Kenny Wang Yungming -- joined UMC in 2015 and 2016 with the express plan to hand over to the company Micron's design and manufacturing processes for specific dynamic random access memory (DRAM) semiconductors. Those would then be transferred to Fujian Jinhua under an contract set by Chen. Prior to the plot, US prosecutors said, neither the Chinese nor the Taiwanese company had any DRAM production capability. But China had set out the goal of acquiring DRAM capability in its current strategic economy plan. Chen was originally a top executive at Micron's Taiwan operation. He moved in 2015 to lead UMC, a contract chip manufacturer listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and subsequently became president of Fujian Jinhua. - Competitive threat to Micron - The theft posed a major threat to Micron, a company valued at around $100 billion and which controls 20-25 percent of the global market for DRAM chips. The indictment came four months after Fujian Jinhua won a patent dispute with Micron in a Chinese court, gaining an order for the US company to stop sales in China of more than a dozen solid-state drives, memory sticks and chips. In retaliation, the US Commerce Department on Monday placed heavy restrictions on Fujian Jinhua's ability to buy US machinery and materials for its factories that would boost its DRAM production capabilities. In addition to the criminal charges announced Thursday, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit to block imports of any UMC and Fujian Jinhua products using stolen Micron technology. In recent years Washington has stepped up its fight against China's alleged ongoing economic espionage programme to obtain all sorts of advanced technologies, from agriculture to heavy manufacturing. "China is probably, over the long term, the biggest challenge, national security challenge that faces our country," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham. "Where the semiconductor piece fits in is, it's part of a mosaic of our strategic effort to push back against this continued Chinese effort."

Watch: China says US should provide 'concrete proof' of espionage

British banking giant Barclays has agreed to pay a $2 billion fine to resolve a fraud case involving mortgage derivatives sold in the run-up to the 2008 global financial crisis, the US Justice Department said Thursday.

Authorities said the loans underlying the investment vehicles "were significantly less creditworthy than Barclays represented," and the company "intentionally misrepresented" key facts about the mortgages involved.

Federal prosecutors also reached settlements with two former Barclays executives over their roles in the sale and trading of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), a type of investment derivative that bundled home loans into securities sold to investors.

Paul Menefee of Austin, Texas, the former head banker for subprime RMBS securitizations at Barclays, and John Carroll of Port Washington, New York, former head trader for subprime loan acquisitions, will pay a combined total of $2 million.

The settlement makes Barclays the latest major bank to be sanctioned for crisis-era fraud nearly a decade after the collapse of major New York financial institutions dealing in mortgage-backed derivatives sparked a global recession.

Last week, Swiss bank UBS agreed to pay $230 million to New York State, also settling charges the bank had misrepresented the value of mortgages underlying securities sold before the crisis.

Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse reached similar crisis-related settlements late last year.In exchange for payment of the fine, the Justice Department will withdraw a civil complaint filed against the Barclays in December 2016, leaving the bank with a clean record in the case.

"I am pleased that we have been able to reach a fair and proportionate settlement with the Department of Justice," Barclays CEO Jes Staley said in a statement.&nbsp

"It has been a priority for this management team from the start to resolve these historic issues in a timely and appropriate manner wherever possible."

The bank said the settlement would affect its core capital ratio, a closely watched measure of financial soundness, by 0.5 percent.

The settlement lets Barclays put its biggest legal worry in the US behind it. Shares in the British lender jumped in London on the news, with the stock`s price up 0.6 percent toward 1430 GMT.

After a three-year investigation, federal prosecutors accused Barclays of a fraudulent scheme from 2005 to 2007 involving 36 deals in RMBS initially valued at $31 billion.&nbsp

Barclays misled investors about the assets` quality, causing billions of dollars in losses, the Justice Department said in a statement.

The bank lied about the creditworthiness of borrowers whose loans underpinned the securities and who then defaulted at "exceptionally high rates," the statement said.

US federal authorities have faced public outrage and hostile scrutiny from lawmakers over the perceived failure to bring criminal cases against any senior bank executives for their roles in sparking the crisis -- despite a Justice Department finding that industry practices involved widespread fraudulent conduct.

Last month, Britain`s Serious Fraud Office announced charges against Barclays Bank over emergency fundraising from Qatar during the financial crisis -- adding to charges against parent company Barclays PLC and four former top executives.

British banking giant Barclays has agreed to pay a $2 billion fine to resolve a fraud case involving mortgage derivatives sold in the run-up to the 2008 global financial crisis, the US Justice Department said Thursday

British banking giant Barclays has agreed to pay a $2 billion fine to resolve a fraud case involving mortgage derivatives sold in the run-up to the 2008 global financial crisis, the US Justice Department said Thursday. Authorities said the loans underlying the investment vehicles "were significantly less creditworthy than Barclays represented," and the company "intentionally misrepresented" key facts about the mortgages involved. Federal prosecutors also reached settlements with two former Barclays executives over their roles in the sale and trading of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), a type of investment derivative that bundled home loans into securities sold to investors. Paul Menefee of Austin, Texas, the former head banker for subprime RMBS securitizations at Barclays, and John Carroll of Port Washington, New York, former head trader for subprime loan acquisitions, will pay a combined total of $2 million. The settlement makes Barclays the latest major bank to be sanctioned for crisis-era fraud nearly a decade after the collapse of major New York financial institutions dealing in mortgage-backed derivatives sparked a global recession. Last week, Swiss bank UBS agreed to pay $230 million to New York State, also settling charges the bank had misrepresented the value of mortgages underlying securities sold before the crisis. Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse reached similar crisis-related settlements late last year.In exchange for payment of the fine, the Justice Department will withdraw a civil complaint filed against the Barclays in December 2016, leaving the bank with a clean record in the case. "I am pleased that we have been able to reach a fair and proportionate settlement with the Department of Justice," Barclays CEO Jes Staley said in a statement. "It has been a priority for this management team from the start to resolve these historic issues in a timely and appropriate manner wherever possible." The bank said the settlement would affect its core capital ratio, a closely watched measure of financial soundness, by 0.5 percent. The settlement lets Barclays put its biggest legal worry in the US behind it. Shares in the British lender jumped in London on the news, with the stock`s price up 0.6 percent toward 1430 GMT. After a three-year investigation, federal prosecutors accused Barclays of a fraudulent scheme from 2005 to 2007 involving 36 deals in RMBS initially valued at $31 billion. Barclays misled investors about the assets` quality, causing billions of dollars in losses, the Justice Department said in a statement. The bank lied about the creditworthiness of borrowers whose loans underpinned the securities and who then defaulted at "exceptionally high rates," the statement said. US federal authorities have faced public outrage and hostile scrutiny from lawmakers over the perceived failure to bring criminal cases against any senior bank executives for their roles in sparking the crisis -- despite a Justice Department finding that industry practices involved widespread fraudulent conduct. Last month, Britain`s Serious Fraud Office announced charges against Barclays Bank over emergency fundraising from Qatar during the financial crisis -- adding to charges against parent company Barclays PLC and four former top executives.

Barclays to pay $2 billion fine for crisis-era fraud: US authorities

President Trump today attacked the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-likely-to-approve-release-of-secret-surveillance-memo-31549">FBI and US Justice Department </a>for showing pro-Democrats bias, and working against Republicans.

In a tweet, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/andrew-mccabe-fbi-deputy-director-blasted-by-donald-trump-steps-down-31141">President said: &quot;The top leadership</a> and investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago.&quot;

&quot;Rank &amp; File are great people!, he added sarcastically in his tweet.

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The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Rank &amp; File are great people!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/959389424806191104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In another tweet soon after the US president said,&quot;You(FBI) had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly.&quot;

&quot;By all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team. Tom Fitton, JW,&quot; Trump added.

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&ldquo;You had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly, by all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team.&rdquo; Tom Fitton, JW
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/959393270144086016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump&#39;s latest Twitter attack comes ahead of his expected decision to approve the release of a confidential Republican-drafted memo alleging abuse of authority in the FBI&#39;s probe of the US election campaign.

CNN had earlier reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray who was handpicked by Trump could resign if &nbsp;Trump goes ahead and approves the release of the secret memo.

The four-page memo reportedly reveals abuse at the FBI and Justice Department in connection with surveillance of a member of Trump&#39;s 2016 presidential campaign who had ties to Russia.

The four-page memo reportedly reveals abuse at the FBI and Justice Department

President Trump today attacked the FBI and US Justice Department for showing pro-Democrats bias, and working against Republicans. In a tweet, the President said: "The top leadership and investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago." "Rank & File are great people!, he added sarcastically in his tweet. The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans - something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Rank & File are great people! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2018 × In another tweet soon after the US president said,"You(FBI) had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly." "By all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team. Tom Fitton, JW," Trump added. “You had Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party try to hide the fact that they gave money to GPS Fusion to create a Dossier which was used by their allies in the Obama Administration to convince a Court misleadingly, by all accounts, to spy on the Trump Team.” Tom Fitton, JW — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2018 × Trump's latest Twitter attack comes ahead of his expected decision to approve the release of a confidential Republican-drafted memo alleging abuse of authority in the FBI's probe of the US election campaign. CNN had earlier reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray who was handpicked by Trump could resign if Trump goes ahead and approves the release of the secret memo. The four-page memo reportedly reveals abuse at the FBI and Justice Department in connection with surveillance of a member of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign who had ties to Russia.

Now, Trump attacks FBI, US Justice Department for 'favouring' Democrats

The Justice Department warned the White House weeks ago that national security adviser Michael Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian officials before President Donald Trump took power, a US&nbsp;official said on Monday.

Trump is evaluating the situation surrounding Flynn and talking to vice president Mike Pence about it, Trump&#39;s spokesman said, in a pointed refusal to make a public show of support for his embattled aide.

The US&nbsp;official confirmed a Washington Post report that Sally Yates, the then-acting US&nbsp;attorney general, told the White House late last month that she believed Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

She said Flynn might have put himself into a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said. Yates was later fired for opposing Trump&#39;s temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations.

Flynn had told Pence he had not discussed US&nbsp;sanctions against Russia with Russian officials in the weeks before Trump took office on Jan&nbsp;20, prompting Pence to defend him in subsequent television interviews.

In recent days, Flynn has acknowledged he might have discussed sanctions with the Russians but could not remember with 100 per cent certainty, which officials said had upset Pence, who felt he had been misled.

Officials said Flynn apologised to Pence twice, including in person on Friday.

&quot;The president is evaluating the situation. He is speaking to ... Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with General Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is, our national security,&quot; White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Early Trump supporter

Flynn, a retired US&nbsp;Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He has frequently raised eyebrows among Washington&#39;s foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up US&nbsp;relations with Russia.

Top White House officials have been reviewing Flynn&#39;s contacts with the Russians and whether he discussed the possibility of lifting US&nbsp;sanctions on Russia once Trump took office.

That would potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act.

&ldquo;He&rsquo;s not out of the woods,&rdquo; said a US&nbsp;official who is familiar with the transcripts of intercepted communications between Flynn and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, in late December.

This official said Flynn &quot;did discuss sanctions.&quot;

While Flynn did not make any promises about lifting them, he did indicate that sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama on Russia for its Ukraine incursion &quot;would not necessarily carry over to an administration seeking to improve relations between the US&nbsp;and Russia,&quot; the official said.

An hour before Spicer read his statement, Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump&#39;s closest aides, had told reporters that Flynn had the full confidence of the president.

It was notable, however, that Trump did not use the opportunity of a joint news conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday to make a public show of support for Flynn.

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer told reporters he wanted an independent investigation of Flynn&rsquo;s discussions with the Russians.

&ldquo;His security clearance ought to be withdrawn until that independent investigation is completed. And if he has violated any law or ethical precept, he ought to be fired,&quot; Schumer said.

Flynn was going about his business despite the cloud hanging over him, participating in national security meetings.

He was at Trump&#39;s side at the president&#39;s Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida on Saturday when word reached the presidential entourage that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile at the same time Trump was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

While Trump left Flynn&#39;s status pending, he appeared to close the door on another source of speculation, as to whether Priebus might be replaced.

Appearing briefly before reporters in the West Wing of the White House, Trump said Priebus was doing a &quot;great job.&quot;

(Reuters)

Trump is evaluating the situation surrounding the national security adviser and talking to vice president Mike Pence about it

The Justice Department warned the White House weeks ago that national security adviser Michael Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian officials before President Donald Trump took power, a US official said on Monday. Trump is evaluating the situation surrounding Flynn and talking to vice president Mike Pence about it, Trump's spokesman said, in a pointed refusal to make a public show of support for his embattled aide. The US official confirmed a Washington Post report that Sally Yates, the then-acting US attorney general, told the White House late last month that she believed Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States. She said Flynn might have put himself into a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said. Yates was later fired for opposing Trump's temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations. Flynn had told Pence he had not discussed US sanctions against Russia with Russian officials in the weeks before Trump took office on Jan 20, prompting Pence to defend him in subsequent television interviews. In recent days, Flynn has acknowledged he might have discussed sanctions with the Russians but could not remember with 100 per cent certainty, which officials said had upset Pence, who felt he had been misled. Officials said Flynn apologised to Pence twice, including in person on Friday. "The president is evaluating the situation. He is speaking to ... Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with General Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is, our national security," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. Early Trump supporter Flynn, a retired US Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He has frequently raised eyebrows among Washington's foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up US relations with Russia. Top White House officials have been reviewing Flynn's contacts with the Russians and whether he discussed the possibility of lifting US sanctions on Russia once Trump took office. That would potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act. “He’s not out of the woods,” said a US official who is familiar with the transcripts of intercepted communications between Flynn and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, in late December. This official said Flynn "did discuss sanctions." While Flynn did not make any promises about lifting them, he did indicate that sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama on Russia for its Ukraine incursion "would not necessarily carry over to an administration seeking to improve relations between the US and Russia," the official said. An hour before Spicer read his statement, Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump's closest aides, had told reporters that Flynn had the full confidence of the president. It was notable, however, that Trump did not use the opportunity of a joint news conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday to make a public show of support for Flynn. Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer told reporters he wanted an independent investigation of Flynn’s discussions with the Russians. “His security clearance ought to be withdrawn until that independent investigation is completed. And if he has violated any law or ethical precept, he ought to be fired," Schumer said. Flynn was going about his business despite the cloud hanging over him, participating in national security meetings. He was at Trump's side at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida on Saturday when word reached the presidential entourage that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile at the same time Trump was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. While Trump left Flynn's status pending, he appeared to close the door on another source of speculation, as to whether Priebus might be replaced. Appearing briefly before reporters in the West Wing of the White House, Trump said Priebus was doing a "great job." (Reuters)

Justice dept warned Trump weeks ago Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail

US President Donald Trump can hire his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a senior White House adviser without breaking federal anti-nepotism laws, the Department of Justice said.

In a letter dated January 20 posted on its website, the department&#39;s Office of Legal Counsel said the president has special hiring authority that exempts White House positions from laws barring the president from naming a relative to lead a federal agency.

The New York Times first reported the decision, saying it was posted to the department&#39;s site on Saturday.

Questions about Kushner&#39;s role emerged as voters and lawmakers questioned potential conflicts of interest for Trump, given his wide-ranging business interests, history of employing family members, and the influence of his daughter Ivanka Trump, who is married to Kushner.

The office of White House counsel had asked the Justice department for a definitive opinion on Kushner&#39;s role.

The Justice department said that if Trump chooses to officially hire Kushner and give him security clearance usually granted for White House staff, then conflict-of-interest laws would apply and Kushner would have to abide by their restrictions.

&quot;Congress has not blocked, and most likely could not block, the President from seeking advice from family members in their personal capacities,&quot; the department wrote in its 14-page opinion.

&quot;Consequently, even if the anti-nepotism statute prevented the President from employing relatives in the White House as advisors, he would remain free to consult those relatives as private citizens,&quot; it said.

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

It says he will not be breaking federal anti-nepotism laws

US President Donald Trump can hire his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a senior White House adviser without breaking federal anti-nepotism laws, the Department of Justice said. In a letter dated January 20 posted on its website, the department's Office of Legal Counsel said the president has special hiring authority that exempts White House positions from laws barring the president from naming a relative to lead a federal agency. The New York Times first reported the decision, saying it was posted to the department's site on Saturday. Questions about Kushner's role emerged as voters and lawmakers questioned potential conflicts of interest for Trump, given his wide-ranging business interests, history of employing family members, and the influence of his daughter Ivanka Trump, who is married to Kushner. The office of White House counsel had asked the Justice department for a definitive opinion on Kushner's role. The Justice department said that if Trump chooses to officially hire Kushner and give him security clearance usually granted for White House staff, then conflict-of-interest laws would apply and Kushner would have to abide by their restrictions. "Congress has not blocked, and most likely could not block, the President from seeking advice from family members in their personal capacities," the department wrote in its 14-page opinion. "Consequently, even if the anti-nepotism statute prevented the President from employing relatives in the White House as advisors, he would remain free to consult those relatives as private citizens," it said. (Reuters)

Trump can hire son-in-law Kushner as White House adviser: Justice department

&nbsp;US Justice department&#39;s internal watchdog&nbsp;said it will investigate the department and&nbsp;FBI actions regarding the Clinton email scandal on Thursday.&nbsp;

The announcement comes eight days before US President-elect Donald Trump&nbsp;takes the oath.&nbsp;

Inspector General Michael Horowitz said the review was taking place after appeals from &quot;numerous chairmen and ranking members of congressional oversight committees, various organisations and members of the public.&quot;

Horowitz said that five allegations will be investigated, which include FBI director James Comey&#39;s announcement over reopening a probe on Clinton emails just before the November 8 election.&nbsp;

Allegations of&nbsp;Justice department and FBI employees disclosing&nbsp;&quot;nonpublic information&quot; and releasing of documents in few weeks before election by FBI was &quot;influenced by improper considerations.&quot;

Comey recieved flak for the announcement from Democrats and Republicans alike, with Democrats alleging the announcement caused political damage.&nbsp;

White House spokesman&nbsp;Josh Earnest said the White House was not involved in the inquiry.&nbsp;

&quot;I can tell you that the White House was not involved in that decision.&quot;&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Five allegations will be investigated, including FBI director James Comey's announcement of reopening probe on Clinton emails before Nov 8

US Justice department's internal watchdog said it will investigate the department and FBI actions regarding the Clinton email scandal on Thursday. The announcement comes eight days before US President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath. Inspector General Michael Horowitz said the review was taking place after appeals from "numerous chairmen and ranking members of congressional oversight committees, various organisations and members of the public." Horowitz said that five allegations will be investigated, which include FBI director James Comey's announcement over reopening a probe on Clinton emails just before the November 8 election. Allegations of Justice department and FBI employees disclosing "nonpublic information" and releasing of documents in few weeks before election by FBI was "influenced by improper considerations." Comey recieved flak for the announcement from Democrats and Republicans alike, with Democrats alleging the announcement caused political damage. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House was not involved in the inquiry. "I can tell you that the White House was not involved in that decision." (WION with inputs from AFP)

US: Justice department watchdog to probe FBI over Clinton emails

The US Justice Department said today it is moving to seize more than $1 billion in assets linked to Malaysia&#39;s 1Malaysia Development Berhad state investment fund. 
 
The assets are &quot;associated with an international conspiracy to launder funds misappropriated&quot; from 1MBD, which was established by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to support economic investment, the Justice Department said. 
 
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch will reveal details of the seizure effort later today. 
 
The scandal around the embezzlement of billions of dollars from the fund, much of them borrowed, has battered Najib&#39;s government. 
 
Authorities from Singapore to Switzerland and the United States have joined in tracking down missing funds of 1MDB, which is owned by the Malaysian Finance Ministry also headed by Najib. He also chaired the company&#39;s advisory board until it was dissolved in May. 
 
Switzerland and Singapore have frozen millions of dollars worth of assets on suspicion of 1MDB-related embezzlement and money-laundering but so far no major figures have been brought to justice. 
 
In July 2015, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Najib had received payments totaling $681 million in his personal bank accounts in 2013. Subsequent reports said the money originated from 1MDB and may have exceeded $1 billion, which 1MDB denies. 
 
The government later acknowledged the payments, but called them a &quot;personal donation&quot; from the Saudi royal family. 
 
(AFP)

The scandal around the embezzlement of billions of dollars from the fund, much of them borrowed, has battered Najib's government

The US Justice Department said today it is moving to seize more than $1 billion in assets linked to Malaysia's 1Malaysia Development Berhad state investment fund. The assets are "associated with an international conspiracy to launder funds misappropriated" from 1MBD, which was established by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to support economic investment, the Justice Department said. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch will reveal details of the seizure effort later today. The scandal around the embezzlement of billions of dollars from the fund, much of them borrowed, has battered Najib's government. Authorities from Singapore to Switzerland and the United States have joined in tracking down missing funds of 1MDB, which is owned by the Malaysian Finance Ministry also headed by Najib. He also chaired the company's advisory board until it was dissolved in May. Switzerland and Singapore have frozen millions of dollars worth of assets on suspicion of 1MDB-related embezzlement and money-laundering but so far no major figures have been brought to justice. In July 2015, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Najib had received payments totaling $681 million in his personal bank accounts in 2013. Subsequent reports said the money originated from 1MDB and may have exceeded $1 billion, which 1MDB denies. The government later acknowledged the payments, but called them a "personal donation" from the Saudi royal family. (AFP)

US moves to seize $1 billion in assets of Malaysian 1MDB fund

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US moves to seize $1 billion in assets of Malaysian 1MDB fund

US moves to seize $1 billion in assets of Malaysian 1MDB fund