Malaysian police have apprehended a heavily armed Israeli national who investigators believe might be a Mossad hitman and a member of a larger spy ring.
The suspect recently arrived in the country on a French passport and claims he had come to murder a fellow Israeli in a family dispute. The arrest was announced by Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain during a press conference on Friday. The 36-year-old suspect entered Malaysia on March 12, and was staying at a hotel in the country’s capital of Kuala Lumpur at the time of his arrest. “During questioning, the suspect produced another passport which was issued by Israel. The six guns were found in a bag in his hotel room,” Husain said. The suspect reportedly told police he had come to the country to find and kill a fellow Israeli national, citing a “family issue” as his motive. However, Husain noted that the man refused to divulge information about his job, and said investigators could not rule out that the suspect was linked to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. “We don’t fully believe what this suspect is telling us, maybe he has another agenda because he has been here since March 12. We found that the weapons were bought using cryptocurrency,” the official said. Police are now investigating how exactly the arsenal, which included various types of pistols, had been smuggled into the country. The police also seized some 200 rounds of ammunition, while three of the guns were loaded, the official noted. The investigation also believes the suspected hitman likely had accomplices in the country and presumably was a member of a larger group. “We have not identified the others. We will also check the authenticity of his passport with the French embassy,” the inspector-general said. Thus far, neither France nor Israel has made any public remarks on the affair.
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Police in China are stepping up spot searches of people’s phones for apps enabling them to bypass the Great Firewall of government internet censorship, residents told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews. A resident of the southwestern province of Sichuan who gave only the surname Huang for fear of reprisals said he had recently been stopped on the subway in the provincial capital, Chengdu. “This happened to me in Chengdu,” Huang said. “A police officer stopped me on the subway and wanted to check my phone, but I didn't allow him to.” “I told him he had no law enforcement powers and he let it go,” he said. Chinese authorities have stepped up spot checking operations on the streets and on public transport in the years since the “white paper” protest movement of 2022, which the government blamed on infiltration by “foreign forces,” and have been forcing people to download an “anti-fraud” app that monitors their phone usage, according to recent interviews. Huang said he has also seen police checking people’s phones on the streets of Shanghai and Beijing.
He said anyone who gets hauled in to “drink tea” with the feared state security police will have their phone checked as a matter of routine, meaning that people need to delete such software or reset to factory settings to avoid discovery. He said that while some uncensored content occasionally gets through, there isn’t as much as before the current crackdown. According to Huang, the current crackdown was sparked by the “white paper” protests, after which the authorities have targeted university students to crack down on people going “over the wall” to get content that hasn’t been censored by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
‘You have to be especially careful’ A mobile phone repair specialist in the southern province of Guangdong who declined to be named for fear of reprisals said the police-approved “anti-fraud” app can also detect the presence of circumvention tools on any phone where it has been installed. “As long as your phone has the anti-fraud app installed, they will know what you are doing,” she said. “You have to be especially careful now if you want to get around the Wall.” A screenshot provided by a resident of the central province of Hubei showed an SMS alert from the provincial police department warning them that circumvention software had been detected on their phone, in violation of the Online Security Law The user was ordered to cease and desist or report to the local police station, on pain of further “enforcement measures,” according to the text message. According to the X citizen journalist account “Mr Li is not your teacher,” a student at the School of Electronic Information and Computer Engineering at Sichuan’s Institute of Industrial Technology was recently disciplined for “ignoring online security regulations” and using software to bypass the Great Firewall on many occasions between Feb. 29 and March 11, according to a photo of the school’s disciplinary announcement. They had accessed content on overseas websites and reposted it to two WeChat groups, which “violates the school’s student regulations,” the notice said. The student was given a warning under the college’s disciplinary code, it said. Last month, China’s state security police started combing through the account’s follower list and putting pressure on people living in China to unfollow it, the journalist reported. China’s Cyberspace Administration has also been stepping up its campaign to remove unapproved content from Chinese social media platforms, reporting that it revoked the licenses of more than 10,000 websites in 2023, and hauled in more than 10,000 “for interviews.” The websites were being targeted for “spreading false information, incitement of confrontation and other harmful content,” state news agency Xinhua reported on Jan. 31. Tokyo has been expanding its security ties with multiple Southeast Asian countries ahead of a Japan-ASEAN summit that analysts see as a forum to offset China's aggressive behavior in the region.
Japan is scheduled to host the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo from Saturday to Monday, marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation. Japan and 10 ASEAN countries seek to expand ties at a time when "the free and open international order based on the rule of law is under serious challenge," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday. Kishida said challenges in the Indo-Pacific include "attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force" in the East and South China seas and "North Korea's increasing nuclear missile activities." Saying that ASEAN is "the key for the realization of Japan's vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida added that the economic prosperity of ASEAN's 10 members "can only be achieved if the peace and stability of the region are protected." Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said on Thursday that "China is glad to see relevant countries and regional organizations develop friendly and cooperative relations." He continued: "But we hope that such relations would not target a third party and should contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity." While China will not be at the summit, analysts said it is likely to figure prominently in the talks. "Japan regards China's regional hegemonic ambitions as a grave threat to its security and has actively worked to upgrade security partnerships … to contain China in line with the U.S.-backed free and open Indo-Pacific," Jeff Kingston, professor of history and Asian studies at Temple University, Japan Campus, told VOA in an email. In Japan, 76% of adults see China as a bigger threat than North Korea's nuclear weapons, according to a survey that the Pew Research Center conducted from June to September and released on December 5. Just as the Philippines and Vietnam have maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea, Tokyo has a long-standing territorial dispute with Beijing over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, known in China as the Diaoyu Islands. The Japanese Foreign Ministry expressed "serious concern" on Wednesday about clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, supporting the Philippines' "long-standing objections to unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities" in the area. In the run-up to the summit, Japan has held meetings with several Southeast Asian countries to broaden their security ties. On December 7, Japanese Ambassador Atsushi Ueno met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh and discussed forging closer security ties, including organizing joint naval exercises and army working group meetings. Kishida held talks with Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong on November 27 in Tokyo and, in upgrading their ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," agreed to expand defense exchanges and transfers of defense equipment. The rise of private military companies (PMCs) has transformed the landscape of modern warfare and security operations. One of the most prominent and influential PMCs is G4S, a global leader in providing security and related services. This essay explores the history and evolution of G4S, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping the PMC industry.
Early Beginnings: G4S traces its roots back to 1901 when Marius Hogrefe established a small Danish company called København Frederiksberg Nattevagt (Copenhagen Frederiksberg Night Watch). The company primarily focused on offering night watchmen services. Over time, the firm expanded its offerings and established a reputation for reliable and professional security services. Expansion and Diversification: In the 20th century, København Frederiksberg Nattevagt underwent significant changes and growth. In 1968, it merged with Falck, a Danish firm specializing in emergency services, to form Falck Group. The new entity expanded its operations globally and became a multinational corporation providing security, ambulance, and other emergency services. Creation of G4S: In 2004, Falck Group's security division merged with Securicor, a British security services company, giving birth to Group 4 Securicor. This merger was a significant milestone in the company's history and marked its entry into the global security market on a larger scale. The name G4S was adopted in 2005 to reflect the combined strength and reach of the two organizations. Global Expansion and Diversification: Under the banner of G4S, the company embarked on an aggressive expansion strategy, acquiring several prominent security firms worldwide. These acquisitions enabled G4S to establish a vast international presence and diversify its services beyond traditional security. The company ventured into areas such as prison management, transportation and logistics security, event management, and technology-enabled security solutions. Role in the PMC Industry: G4S's role in the PMC industry cannot be overstated. The company played a significant part in shaping the evolution of PMCs by professionalizing the sector and setting industry standards. G4S demonstrated that private entities could deliver high-quality security services, often on par with government agencies, thereby challenging traditional notions of state monopoly on security. Controversies and Challenges: G4S's journey has not been without its share of controversies and challenges. One of the most notable incidents occurred during the 2012 London Olympics when G4S failed to fulfill its contractual obligations to provide security personnel, resulting in the British military being deployed to fill the gap. This incident shed light on the potential risks associated with outsourcing critical security functions to private companies. Adapting to Changing Dynamics: In recent years, G4S has adapted to changing global dynamics and emerging security threats. The company has focused on integrating technology into its service offerings, leveraging innovations like AI-powered surveillance systems, biometrics, and data analytics. By embracing technological advancements, G4S has positioned itself as a leader in providing advanced security solutions to meet the evolving needs of clients. The history of G4S reflects the evolution of private military companies and their impact on modern security operations. From its humble beginnings as a night watchmen service to becoming a global industry leader, G4S has reshaped the landscape of security services. Despite facing challenges and controversies, G4S has consistently demonstrated its ability to adapt and innovate, ensuring its relevance in an ever-changing world. As the PMC industry continues to evolve, G4S is likely to play a pivotal role in shaping its future. A user on the gaming website GTAForums has posted nearly 100 clips of test footage from the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, marking one of the largest leaks in video game industry history. The leak was confirmed by GTA’s developer, Rockstar Games. The user who released the footage over the weekend goes by the handle ‘teapotuberhacker’ and claims to have also been behind last week’s Uber hack, which took down several of the service’s internal systems. In his post on GTAForums, the hacker shared a link to a 3GB file containing 90 clips of GTA 6 test footage and claimed they are considering leaking more data “soon.” Rockstar Games wrote in a Twitter post that the company “suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorized third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto.”
The developer expressed disappointment that details about the game were revealed, but stressed it would not disrupt the development process, which will “continue as planned.” The released test footage appears to match early reports about the game. It includes the series’ first playable female character and is set in the Miami-esque Vice City which featured in previous titles. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who was one of the first to confirm the leaks were genuine, described it as “one of the biggest leaks in video game history and a nightmare for Rockstar Games.” The videos have already garnered millions of views after spreading on social media, showing very early in-game footage full of unfinished textures and models, placeholder text, and debug code playing out in real-time. Some of the more complete videos show full scenes from the game, including one where playable characters rob a diner and hold up patrons at gunpoint. The hacker said the leak had gone “unexpectedly viral” and updated his forum post to include details on how Rockstar or Take2 employees can reach him, as he is “looking to negotiate a deal”, apparently regarding other potential disclosures. While the game is believed to have been in development since 2014, it’s unclear how old the footage is. Some video game outlets suggest that most of the clips can’t be older than two years as they appear to be running on the latest graphics cards from Nvidia. Grand Theft Auto 6 is reportedly at least two years away from an official release. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used mobile location data to track people’s movements on a much larger scale than previously known, according to new documents unearthed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
It’s no secret that U.S. government agencies have been obtaining and using location data collected by Americans’ smartphones. In early 2020, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bought access to millions of smartphone users’ location data to track undocumented immigrants and suspected tax dodgers. However, new documents obtained by the ACLU through an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit now reveal the extent of this warrantless data collection. The 6,000-plus records reviewed by the civil rights organization contained approximately 336,000 location points across North America obtained from people’s phones. They also reveal that in just three days in 2018, CBP obtained records containing around 113,654 location points in the southwestern United States — more than 26 location points per minute. The bulk of the data that CBP obtained came from its contract with Venntel, a location data broker that aggregates and sells information quietly siphoned from smartphone apps. By purchasing this data from data brokers, officials are sidestepping the legal process government officials would typically need to go through in order to access cell phone data. Documents also detail the government agencies’ efforts to rationalize their actions. For example, cell phone location data is characterized as containing no personally identifying information (PII) in the records obtained by ACLU, despite enabling officials to track specific individuals or everyone in a particular area. Similarly, the records also claim that this data is “100 percent opt-in” and that cell phone users “voluntarily” share the location information. But many don’t realize that apps installed on their phones are collecting GPS information, let alone share that data with the government. The ACLU says these documents are further proof that Congress needs to pass the bipartisan Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act, proposed by by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul (R-KY), which would require the government to secure a court order before obtaining Americans’ data, such as location information from our smartphones, from data brokers. Shreya Tewari, the Brennan Fellow for ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said: “Legislation like the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act would end agencies’ warrantless access to this data and head off their flimsy justifications for obtaining it without judicial oversight in the first place.” Spokespeople for Venntel and Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the report. |
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