China-Based Hackers Hit With Sanctions and Indictments Over Cyber Attacks
Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:30s - Published
China-Based Hackers Hit With Sanctions and Indictments Over Cyber Attacks
China-Based Hackers , Hit With Sanctions and Indictments , Over Cyber Attacks.
ABC reports that the United States has
sanctioned hackers based in China over
alleged attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department,
a state-sponsored front company has provided
cover for multiple cyber attacks on U.S. infrastructure.
.
Sanctions by the U.S. and the United Kingdom have
targeted representatives of Wuhan Xiaoruizhi
Science and Technology Company Ltd.
(Wuhan XRZ).
The U.S. Treasury Department alleges
that Wuhan XRZ acts as a China-based
Ministry of State Security (MSS) front company.
.
ABC reports that the allegations include malicious cyber operations that include the 2020 spear phishing operation against the U.S. Naval Academy.
.
ABC reports that the allegations include malicious cyber operations that include the 2020 spear phishing operation against the U.S. Naval Academy.
.
On March 25, the U.S. Justice Department indicted seven individuals on charges stemming from their alleged involvement with these malicious operations.
On March 25, the U.S. Justice Department indicted seven individuals on charges stemming from their alleged involvement with these malicious operations.
The Justice Department will not
tolerate efforts by the Chinese
government to intimidate Americans
who serve the public, silence the
dissidents who are protected
by American laws, or steal
from American businesses, Merrick Garland, Attorney General statement, via ABC.
This case serves as a reminder
of the ends to which the Chinese
government is willing to go to
target and intimidate its critics,
including launching malicious cyber
operations aimed at threatening
the national security of the
United States and our allies, Merrick Garland, Attorney General statement, via ABC.
ABC reports that court documents show
that the hackers targeted politicians and
other prominent officials with "tracking links.".
The Conspirators used this method
to enable more direct and sophisticated
targeting of recipients' home routers
and other electronic devices,
including those of high-ranking U.S.
government officials and politicians
and election campaign staff from
both major U.S. political parties, Court documents, via ABC.
The Conspirators used this method
to enable more direct and sophisticated
targeting of recipients' home routers
and other electronic devices,
including those of high-ranking U.S.
government officials and politicians
and election campaign staff from
both major U.S. political parties, Court documents, via ABC
Families of 737 MAX , Crash Victims Seek Justice.
'Newsweek' reports that families who lost loved
ones in two 2019 Boeing 737 Max crashes are waiting for a
decision from the United States Justice Department (DOJ).
'Newsweek' reports that families who lost loved
ones in two 2019 Boeing 737 Max crashes are waiting for a
decision from the United States Justice Department (DOJ).
The families hope that the DOJ will allow Boeing to be prosecuted in connection with the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia, which claimed the lives of 346 people.
The families hope that the DOJ will allow Boeing to be prosecuted in connection with the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia, which claimed the lives of 346 people.
Ike Riffel, who lost his sons, Melvin and Bennet, in the Ethiopia
crash, fears that Boeing will be offered a deferred prosecution
agreement (DPA) or be allowed to skip trial.
Ike Riffel, who lost his sons, Melvin and Bennet, in the Ethiopia
crash, fears that Boeing will be offered a deferred prosecution
agreement (DPA) or be allowed to skip trial.
In 2021, the DOJ charged Boeing
with fraud for misleading
regulators regarding the 737 MAX.
However, prosecutors went on to accept
an agreement that could see felony charges
against Boeing dropped in three years.
'Newsweek' reports that the DOJ reopened the
possibility of prosecuting Boeing in May,
claiming the company breached the original 2021 deal.
Now, the DOJ has until July 7
to determine whether it will
file charges against Boeing.
Families of those who died in the two Boeing crashes
have pushed for high-ranking Boeing officials to be
prosecuted and the company to be fined $24 billion.
We want to find
some meaning in
what happened
to our loved ones. , Ike Riffel, father of two Boeing 737 crash victims, via 'Newsweek'.
If we can make aviation
safer so this doesn't
happen again, then
we have had some
victories out of this, Ike Riffel, father of two Boeing 737 crash victims, via 'Newsweek'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Julian Assange , Reaches Plea Deal With , US Government.
'The Independent' reports that Wikileaks
founder Julian Assange has been released
from Belmarsh prison as part of a plea deal
with the United States Justice Department.
Assange will be flown out of the U.K. as part
of the deal before he makes a guilty plea deal
that could end the years-long legal battle.
On June 24, Assange boarded a flight at Stansted airport
ahead of a scheduled appearance later this week in the
Mariana Islands, a Western Pacific U.S. commonwealth.
The U.S. government has charged the
Wikileaks founder with conspiracy to obtain
and disclose national defense secrets.
The charges stem from one of the largest leaks of
classified information in U.S. history, disclosing tens of
thousands of reports regarding the war in Afghanistan.
The disclosure, which occurred between 2009 and
2011, included unfiltered diplomatic cables that
potentially endangered the safety of confidential sources. .
The leak also included significant
activity reports related to the war in Iraq
and information regarding Guantanamo Bay.
According to the latest DOJ filing, Assange is expected
to plead guilty and be sentenced to 62 months of time
already served, thus avoiding U.S. imprisonment. .
This is the result of a global campaign
that spanned grass-roots organizers,
press freedom campaigners,
legislators and leaders from
across the political spectrum,
all the way to the United Nations, Wikileaks statement, via X.
After more than five years in
a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours
a day, he will soon reunite with his
wife Stella Assange, and their children,
who have only known their
father from behind bars, Wikileaks statement, via X
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
DOJ Files Lawsuit , Against Adobe.
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit
against Adobe on June 17, TechCrunch reports.
The DOJ alleges that Adobe is deceptive because
it conceals early-termination fees and makes it difficult for customers to cancel subscriptions.
Adobe has harmed consumers by
enrolling them in its default, most
lucrative subscription plan without
clearly disclosing important plan terms, DOJ, via lawsuit.
The DOJ claims that Adobe pushes subscribers to choose its "annual paid monthly" plan and uses costly early-termination fees as a "powerful retention tool" to trap customers.
During enrollment, Adobe hides
material terms of its APM plan in fine
print and behind option textboxes and
hyperlinks, proving disclosures that are
designed to go unnoticed and that
most consumers never see, DOJ, via lawsuit.
Adobe then deters cancellations
by employing an onerous and
complicated cancellation process, DOJ, via lawsuit.
Adobe disagrees with the allegations.
Subscription services are convenient,
flexible and cost effective to allow
users to choose the plan that best fits
their needs, timeline and budget, Dana Rao, Adobe’s General Counsel and Chief Trust Officer, via statement.
Our priority is to always ensure our
customers have a positive experience. , Dana Rao, Adobe’s General Counsel and Chief Trust Officer, via statement.
We are transparent with the terms
and conditions of our subscription
agreements and have a simple
cancellation process, Dana Rao, Adobe’s General Counsel and Chief Trust Officer, via statement.
The U.S. government maintains that Adobe
has violated consumer protection laws and is
seeking "injunctive relief, civil penalties,
equitable monetary relief, as well as other relief.”
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Merrick Garland , Held in Contempt of Congress.
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress on June 12, BBC reports.
The resolution was passed by a 216-207 vote.
Only one Republican,
David Joyce, voted in opposition. .
As a former prosecutor, I cannot in good
conscience support a resolution that
would further politicize our judicial
system to score political points, Rep. David Joyce, via statement.
Garland is held in contempt of Congress
for refusing to provide interview tapes with President Biden that were recorded during the Justice Department's classified document probe. .
Following the contempt vote, Garland said
House Republicans have "turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon.".
Today’s vote disregards the
constitutional separation of powers,
the Justice Department’s need to
protect its investigations, and the
substantial amount of information we
have provided to the Committees. , Merrick Garland, via statement.
Garland is now the third U.S. attorney
general in American history to be held in contempt of Congress, BBC reports. .
In an opinion piece published in the 'Washington Post' on June 11, Garland said that "the Justice Department is under attack like never before.".
He pointed to a rise in "conspiracy theories, falsehoods, violence and threats of violence towards department officials by Republican critics.".
The short-term political benefits of
those tactics will never make up for
the long-term cost to our country. , Merrick Garland, via the 'Washington Post'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
US Tech Firm to Pay $38,000 in Penalties , After Posting Job Ad for ‘Whites Only’.
In March 2023, Virginia tech firm Arthur Grand Technologies posted a discriminating job ad on Indeed.com, 'The Guardian' reports. .
The ad read, "Only U.S. Born Citizens [white] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas.".
"[Don't share with candidates]," it added.
The ad quickly found attention on
social media and via numerous news outlets.
Within two months of being posted, the Department of Justice's civil rights division launched an investigation into the company. .
On May 23, Arthur Grand Technologies
agreed to pay over $38,000 in penalties.
$7,500 will go to the U.S. Treasury,
and $31,000 will be awarded to those
who filed discrimination complaints.
$7,500 will go to the U.S. Treasury,
and $31,000 will be awarded to those
who filed discrimination complaints.
The company will also be required to
"train its workers on the Immigration and Nationality Act," 'The Guardian' reports. .
Arthur Grand CEO Sheik Rahmathullah "vehemently denies any guilt or wrongdoing in relation to the discriminatory job posting," instead blaming a disgruntled employee.
Upon discovering this, we took
immediate and decisive action to
ensure that this type of incident
will never happen again, including
the immediate termination of
the responsible employee, Arthur Grand CEO Sheik Rahmathullah, via statement
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
The Houthis have reported that all casualties in Hodeida from a recent U.S.-UK assault were civilians and have vowed a "painful response" to Americans. The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Eisenhower, now in the Red Sea and past its 200-day deployment mark, faces relentless Houthi attacks. The Red Sea, carrying around 20% of the world's maritime trade, is a key route to Europe via the Suez Canal, though less critical to America. Despite the U.S. carrier's presence, the waters remain extremely dangerous
#YemenConflict #HouthiRebels #USNavy #USSCarrierEisenhower #RedSea #MilitaryTensions #MaritimeSecurity #MiddleEastCrisis #CivilianCasualties #USUKAssault #SuezCanal #GlobalTradeRoutes #NavalWarfare #GeopoliticalConflict #InternationalRelations
~HT.178~PR.152~GR.121~
Supreme Court Upholds Gun Ban , for People Charged With Domestic Violence.
On June 21, the Supreme Court upheld a law that keeps people with domestic violence restraining orders against them from owning firearms, NBC News reports. .
The vote was 8-1. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only one who dissented. .
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote
the Supreme Court's majority opinion,
stating that since America was founded.
"our nation's firearm laws have included
provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.".
The provision in the latest case "fits comfortably within this tradition," Roberts wrote. .
Attorney General Merrick Garland
applauded the ruling, .
saying that it "protects victims by
keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.".
Erich Pratt, senior VP of Gun Owners of America, said that while the man who brought the case to the Supreme Court,
Zackey Rahimi, is a "dangerous individual,".
the decision "will disarm others who have never actually committed any domestic violence."
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Supreme Court Sides
With Biden Administration , in Social Media Case.
Attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, and other right-wing individuals, .
Attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, and other right-wing individuals, .
previously brought a lawsuit against the government, alleging that it had influenced what social media companies allow on their sites.
In particular, plaintiffs in the case of Murthy v. Missouri questioned whether the Biden administration violated free speech protections amid the pandemic when social networks were instructed to remove COVID misinformation.
In particular, plaintiffs in the case of Murthy v. Missouri questioned whether the Biden administration violated free speech protections amid the pandemic when social networks were instructed to remove COVID misinformation.
On July 4, 2023, Louisiana Judge Terry Doughty
agreed with the plaintiffs and restricted members of the Biden administration from interacting with social media companies in an attempt to moderate their content.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck
down the lower court's ruling by a vote of
6-3 on June 26, 'The Guardian' reports. .
The plaintiffs, without any
concrete link between their injuries
and the defendants’ conduct, , Justice Amy Coney Barrett, via majority opinion.
... ask us to conduct a review of the
years-long communications between dozens
of federal officials, across different agencies,
with different social-media platforms,
about different topics, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, via majority opinion.
This court’s standing doctrine
prevents us from ‘exercis[ing such]
general legal oversight’ of the
other branches of government, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, via majority opinion.
Ultimately, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that the lower court "glossed over complexities in the evidence" and
"also erred by treating the defendants, plaintiffs
and platforms each as a unified whole.".
Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas
and Neil Gorsuch dissented.
Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas
and Neil Gorsuch dissented.
For months, high-ranking government officials
placed unrelenting pressure on Facebook to
suppress Americans’ free speech, Justice Samuel Alito, via dissenting opinion.
The Court, however, shirks that duty and thus
permits the successful campaign of coercion in
this case to stand as an attractive model for
future officials who want to control what
the people say, hear, and think, Justice Samuel Alito, via dissenting opinion
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
China accuses the the US and the UK of "political manoeuvring" in order to "once again hype up the so-called cyberattacks by China" after the US, Britain and New Zealand said Beijing-backed cyber..
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