Connect with us

Election News

US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

Published

on

china

LONDON / CHINA— The U.S. and British governments imposed sanctions on Monday against a firm and two people tied to the Chinese government for a series of malicious cyberattacks on the U.K.’s election watchdog and politicians in both countries.

Officials claimed those sanctioned were responsible for a hack that may have gotten access to information on tens of millions of U.K. voters kept by the Electoral Commission, as well as cyber espionage against politicians who have been vocal about the China danger.

US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

According to the Foreign Office, the hack of the election rolls “has not had an impact on electoral processes, has not affected the rights or access to the democratic process of any individual, nor has it affected electoral registration.”

The Electoral Commission stated in August that it discovered a breach in its system in October 2022 but added that “hostile actors” have been able to access its systems since 2021.

At the time, the watchdog stated that the data included registered voters’ names and residences. However, it stated that much of the information was already in the public domain.

In Washington, the Treasury Department sanctioned Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology business Ltd., describing it as a Chinese Ministry of State Security front business that has “served as cover for multiple malicious cyberoperations.”

It cited two Chinese nationals, Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, who worked for the Wuhan company for cyber operations that targeted vital infrastructure sectors in the United States, “directly endangering U.S. national security.”

Separately, British cybersecurity officials reported that Chinese government-affiliated hackers “conducted reconnaissance activity” against British legislators critical of Beijing in 2021. They stated that no parliamentary accounts were successfully compromised.

Three legislators, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, told reporters on Monday that they had been “subjected to harassment, impersonation, and attempted hacking from China for some time.” Duncan Smith stated that in one instance, hackers impersonating him used bogus email accounts to send messages to his contacts.

US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

The lawmakers are members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international pressure group dedicated to resisting Beijing’s expanding influence and exposing alleged human rights violations by the Chinese government.

Before the announcement, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that China is “behaving in an increasingly assertive way abroad” and is “the greatest state-based threat to our economic security.”

“It’s appropriate that we take precautions to protect ourselves, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said without revealing any specifics.

China opponents, notably Duncan Smith, have long urged Sunak to adopt a stronger stance on China, labeling it a threat rather than a “challenge” to the United Kingdom, but the government has refrained from using such harsh rhetoric.

US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the findings, saying that countries should base their assertions on evidence rather than “smear” others without a factual basis.

“Cybersecurity issues should not be politicized,” ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated. “We hope all parties will stop spreading false information, take a responsible attitude, and work together to maintain peace and security in cyberspace.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

Election News

Biden Blasted for CNN Interview Saying “Americans Have the Money to Spend”

Published

on

President Joe Biden sat down with CNN’s Erin Burnett: Screen Shot

In a rare appearance with CNN, President Biden refused to acknowledge that Americans’ troubles with inflation saying Americans have more money in their pockets thanks to my policies. “They have the money to spend” he told CNN.

According to polls, voters are concerned about Biden’s economic policies. He did admit that inflation, one of the major problems that harmed Biden’s popularity during the first half of his administration, was real.

‘It is true, but the fact is that if you look at what people have, they have enough money to spend,’ he asserted. He blamed the lack of consumer confidence on ‘greedy companies’.

‘It irritates them, as much as me, that you must spend more. For example, consider the whole concept of shrinkflation. It’s around 20% less for the same price; this is corporate greed. It is corporate greed, and we must deal with it.’

Biden’s words sparked outrage on social media, despite the fact that many Americans are still struggling.

One critic remarked on X: ‘Most people don’t have the money because they are honest, unlike pathological liar Joe!’

Another on X stated; ‘He is the most stupid president our country has ever had, and that is how history will remember him.’

‘The man is out of touch with everything,’ said another.

He admitted that inflation was an issue, but opted to blame ‘greedy businesses’ for the public’s lack of trust in the economy.

Biden’s approval Rating Plummeting

In a recent CNN poll, Biden’s approval ratings for the economy (34%) and inflation (29%) were both poor. When it comes to electing a president, voters are most concerned about the economy.

‘The polling data has been inaccurate all along,’ Biden said of the figures, disputing the effectiveness of phone polls.

‘We’ve already turned it around,’ Biden said when asked if he was running out of time to change voters’ perceptions of him with less than six months until Election Day.

‘I guess I’m pleased with the campaign’s progress. And, from what I’ve seen, most people don’t truly focus and make up their minds until the fall. There’s a lot going on,’ he added.

In an interview with CNN done in the battleground state of Wisconsin, Biden stated why he believes the polls are wrong and warned Israel that if it invades Rafah, he will withhold US arms.

Robert Kennedy Jr a Wildcard

Biden’s re-election campaign has highlighted its large fundraising efforts and on-the-ground presence in battleground states. They also point out that Trump is required to appear in New York for the trial.

Meanwhile, Biden is dealing with an uncertain Middle East and progressives who are dissatisfied with his unwavering support for Israel and the treatment of Palestinian refugees.

Then there’s Robert Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign. Both Trump and Biden’s campaigns are concerned that Kennedy will play a spoiler role, diverting votes away from them.

Trump has stepped up his criticism on RFK Jr., and Biden has announced a dozen Kennedy family endorsements to offset RFK Jr.’s use of the clan’s political legacy.

Biden’s health remains a concern. The president will turn 82 just weeks after Election Day, November 5, and is already the oldest president in American history; Trump is 77.

His approval rating remains at a low 38 percent, according to Gallup polls.

Continue Reading

Election News

Trump Rally in New Jersey Sees Nearly 100,000 Attendees

Published

on

Former President Donald Trump attended a rally in New Jersey on Saturday, again blaming President Joe Biden for the court cases he is facing as the probable Republican nominees prepare to square off in the November 2024 presidential election.

Blasting President Biden as “a total moron,” Trump repeatedly described the cases against him as politically motivated and timed to hurt his campaigning ability in front of a gathering of almost 100,000 people.

“He is a fool. “He’s not a smart man,” Trump stated about Biden. “I talk about him differently now because now the gloves are off.”

Lisa Fagan, a spokesman for the city of Wildwood, where the protest was held, told The Associated Press that she estimated a throng of approximately 100,000 people based on her personal observations on the ground Saturday, having witnessed “dozens” of prior events in the same place.

Several high-profile endorsers joined Trump on stage, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing an underage prostitute in New York in 2011.

The beachfront gathering, described by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., as the largest political gathering in state history, was intended to serve as a show of force at a critical time for Trump, who is facing dozens of felony charges in four separate criminal cases with the election less than six months away.

Massive Crow of Trump Supporters

Thousands of Trump supporters, dressed in “Never Surrender” T-shirts and red “Make America Great Again” hats, gathered onto the sand between the boardwalk and carnival attractions to meet the former Republican president hours before he took the stage.

“The everyday American people are 100% behind him,” said Doreen O’Neill, a 62-year-old Philadelphia nurse.

“They have to cheat and smear him and humiliate him in that courtroom every single day,” O’Neill stated. “This country is going to go insane if they steal the election again.”

Trump has repeatedly accused the Biden administration and Democratic leaders in New York of exploiting the court system to prevent his return to the White House. Prosecutors claim the former president breached the law to conceal an affair with a porn performer that would have jeopardized his first presidential campaign.

On Saturday, Trump said that even those he accuses of politically motivated indictments did not pursue every case they could, citing the boosts his campaign has received with each wave of accusations.

“I heard they were going to do a couple of other things and they said from Washington … ‘we’re indicting him into the White House,'” Trump stated. “They said, ‘Don’t do it.'”

Gag Order from New York Judge

While Trump seized on his legal difficulties on Saturday, a judge’s gag order — and the possibility of incarceration — limit his ability to publicly remark on witnesses, jurors, and anyone involved in the New York trial, which is anticipated to last most of the month. The court in the case has already fined Trump $9,000 for breaking the injunction and warned him he might face jail time if he does not comply.

The order makes no mention of Judge Juan M. Merchan, whom Trump described as “highly conflicted,” or District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom Trump claimed are “doing the bidding for crooked Joe Biden.”

Trump’s role as a defendant has reduced his capacity to persuade voters on the campaign trail.

He spent last week’s off-day from court in Wisconsin and Michigan, both battleground states for the general election. And on Saturday, he campaigned with tens of thousands of voters in New Jersey, a solidly Democratic state.

Parts of New Jersey contain deep-red enclaves, and the southern shoreline in particular attracts tourists and summer homeowners from neighboring Pennsylvania, a vital swing state.

Saturday’s trip to the New Jersey Shore resort was not Trump’s first.

While president, Trump staged a rally in January 2020 to celebrate Van Drew, a New Jersey congressman who had recently defected from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in response to the former president’s first impeachment.

Trump drew a crowd that lined the streets, packed bars, and supported countless merchants in what is typically a sleepy city in the winter. The summer season is almost here for the resort noted for its large beaches, boardwalk games, and shops.

Wildwood is located in New Jersey’s 2nd District, which Van Drew has served for three terms and includes all or part of six counties in southern New Jersey. It voted for Trump in 2016 and again in 2020, despite previously supporting Barack Obama.

Continue Reading

Election News

Election Violence Increasing in Mexico, 30 Candidates Already Killed

Published

on

Mexico’s general election will occur in early June, marking the end of a record-breaking campaign season. Approximately 30 candidates have been killed in the last month.

Mexico is experiencing unrestrained electoral violence. Noé Ramos Ferretiz, a candidate for the municipal presidency of Mante, a city in Tamaulipas, was stabbed multiple times while campaigning last Friday.

The lawmaker, a member of the National Action Party (PAN), died in the middle of the ceremony, shocking his fans. Following that, photographs of blood-stained pamphlets circulated widely.

More than 270 political candidates in Mexico have requested official protection ahead of the June general election, highlighting a cycle of political violence that is undermining Mexican democracy.

According to Semafor, at least 15 federal candidates have been slain this campaign season, and 28 have been attacked, although this is only a fraction of the violence observed among the 70,000 candidates competing for municipal and state elections. Over the past five years, independent think tanks have reported over 800 political attacks.

According to analysts, government policy has long overlooked addressing the root causes of teenage involvement in organized crime, and the topic has emerged as a prominent discussion subject among presidential candidates.

Voters in Mexico Discouraged

A Mexican election security think tank director told El Economista that each attack on a candidate reduces voter turnout by roughly 1.3%. Voters are aware that organized crime is “violating their public administration, state, and government,” according to the director, and many people believe that their vote will have little impact on violence.

Political violence in Mexico has increased significantly under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and former President Enrique Peña Nieto. According to El Economista, political murders are now three times greater than in the mid-2000s.

The National Electoral Institute (INE) has released a uniform security protocol to protect candidates, but Animal Politico, a socialist online publication, claims that the strategy “does not cover the vast majority of victims” who are local government officials.

According to the paper, approximately 77% of political victims in Mexico are candidates running for city or state government. However, the past three presidential administrations have prioritized federal law enforcement over “strengthening local institutions,” such as cracking down on corruption among local police.

Hugs Not Bullets

Animal Politico suggested that local economic and social change must occur “in parallel” with INE security protocols to prevent organized crime from infiltrating local law enforcement.

Critics have lambasted Claudia Sheinbaum, one of the presidential candidates running in June, for endorsing López Obrador’s “hugs, not bullets” strategy to ending the so-called drug war. Supporters of the method claim it is an attempt to “moralize” the federal security force, while analysts argue the tactic has contributed to an increase in violence in Mexico.

Sheinbaum is rebranding “hugs, not bullets” as a socioeconomic reform strategy as she faces increased criticism over the spike in political assassinations. “Of course, it’s not about hugging criminals; no one has ever said that,” Sheinbaum said at a recent rally, adding that her security program will prioritize economic growth to keep Mexican kids out of organized crime.

Despite López Obrador’s history of violence, he remains widely popular, and Sheinbaum, whom The New York Times refers to as his “protégée,” leads opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez by 30 points, according to one recent poll.

Continue Reading

Volunteering at Soi Dog

Download Our App

Trending

Exit mobile version