Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Going incognito with VPNs in the age of surveillance
A look at why the market for Virtual Private Networks has expanded, enabling users to spread and access information.
Virtual Private Networks first came into use in 1996 and are among the most enduring innovations in online browsing with popularity on the rise around the world.
VPNs were originally developed as tools for corporations and governments to connect their offices in different countries, to make it easier for people to work together.
But as surveillance and control of the web have increased, a market has emerged and expanded - for people to work around internet blocks and to hide their location online.
Six In The Morning Wednesday 31 July 2019
North Korea fires two ballistic missiles as South Korea bristles
Two projectiles flew about 250km as Pyongyang intensifies pressure on the US to start up new denuclearisation talks.
North Korea conducted its second weapons test in less than a week on Wednesday, firing two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast in a move observers say could be aimed at boosting pressure on the United States to set up new denuclearisation talks.
The projectiles were launched early from the Hodo Peninsula in South Hamgyong province on North Korea's east coast, according to South Korea's military's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
'A cop said I was famous': China accuses foreigners in Hong Kong of being 'agents'
Chinese state media and pro-Beijing lawmakers post images of westerners to stoke suspicions of ‘external forces’
Westerners living in Hong Kong are being targeted online by China’s state-owned media and local pro-Beijing politicians who have accused them of stoking demonstrations that have now run into their eighth week.
Images showing foreign workers at the site of protests are being circulated, sometimes alongside speculative text questioning why they are there.
Some images have been circulated so widely that one foreign worker and long-term Hong Kong resident said he was now recognised in the street, including by police. “I now sometimes have to pose for CIA selfies with protesters,” he said, referring to a post which asked if he was a member of US intelligence.
Chicago shooting deaths: Outcry as anti-gun violence mothers shot dead while campaigning
Police hunting for suspect in 'senseless' murders
Andrew BuncombeSeattle
Two women who campaigned against Chicago’s infamous gun violence have themselves been shot and killed on a street corner where activists frequently stood to keep watch.
The anti-gun violence group Mothers Against Senseless Killings (MASK) confirmed Chantell Grant and Andrea Stoudemire were killed after a blue SUV pulled up to the corner, and someone in the vehicle opened fired into the crowd.
“People are tired of being afraid. We’re sick of being afraid. We live in these communities and then we somehow are penalised and punished for living here. If you’re poor, you’re poor,” said MASK founder Tamar Manasseh.
Vilification and the language of villainy
US and Iran, short memories
Western media have demonised Iran for 40 years, especially in the US. A selective memory of recent history greatly helps the tone and content of that demonisation.
by Serge Halimi & Pierre Rimbert
Imagine an Iranian drone had been shot down over Florida or just off its coast. Rather than arguing about its exact position, we would surely be shocked at its presence 11,000km from Iran. But on 20 June, Iran downed a US drone that had come close to its territory (according to the Pentagon) or violated its airspace (according to Tehran), and almost nobody asked if the US military presence in the Persian Gulf was justified.
Gregory Shupak, a media expert at the University of Guelph-Humber in Canada, warns that in the current escalation between the US and Iran, ‘presenting Iran as a threat, nuclear or otherwise, over and over again, carries the clear message that it must be confronted ... It’s much more accurate to say that the US is a threat to Iran than the opposite; after all, it’s the US government that is destroying Iran’s economy through sanctions that limit Iranians’ access to food and medicine, while surrounding Iran with military bases and land, sea and air forces. Iran has done nothing remotely comparable to the US’ (1).
The Brazilian justice minister's dubious deportation decree
Justice Minister Sergio Moro wants Brazil to deport "dangerous foreigners." Observers believe that the threat is aimed at the US journalist Glenn Greenwald, whose Intercept has aggressively reported on Moro's conduct.
On Friday, Justice Minister Sergio Moro issued a decree, provocatively titled No. 666, that would expedite the deportation of noncitizens whom the government alleges pose a threat to Brazil — or even bar them from entering the country at all. Many observers call the timing curious.
"Nothing has happened in Brazil that would warrant such a decree," Tania Maria de Oliveira, of the ABJD jurist association, told DW.
Kyoto Animation confirms it received novel from writer with same name, address as arson suspect
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24
The July 18 arson attack on Kyoto Animation’s Fushimi studio has resulted in the deaths of 35 employees who were in the building at the time the arsonist struck. Though the building was compliant with all local fire codes, such regulations are largely designed as precautions for accidental fires, not the sort of pre-meditated attack that was carried out on the anime production company.
Based on security camera footage and witness reports, investigators believe that the suspect, 41-year-old Shinji Aoba, purchased two 20-liter canisters of gasoline at a gas station, the wheeled them to the studio on a hand cart before igniting them inside the building, and also spraying the flame accelerant directly on victims.
The pre-meditated nature of the attack suggests a grudge against the company and/or its employees, and as Aoba was taken into custody by police he was heard to have shouted “They ripped me off” and “They stole my novel, so I set the fire.” Following the attack, Kyoto Animation CEO Hideaki Hatta said: “I have no idea what he’s talking about,” and that he had never had any written or spoken communication with Aoba.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Six In The Morning Tuesday 30 July 2019
Brain drain claimed 1.7 million youths. So this country is scrapping its income tax
Updated 0658 GMT (1458 HKT) July 30, 2019
Being young and Polish has never been this lucrative.
A new law that comes into effect in Poland this week will scrap income tax for roughly 2 million young workers.
It's an attempt by the government to stop the dramatic brain drain Poland has experienced since it joined the European Union 15 years ago.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the tax exemption will bring new opportunities for young people "so they match those available in the West."
More Afghan civilians killed by government and Nato than Taliban
UN figures for first half of 2019 blame 717 deaths on pro-Kabul forces and 531 on militants
More Afghan civilians were killed by Afghan and Nato forces than by the Taliban and other militants in the first half of 2019, according to UN figures, suggesting that similar findings for the first quarter of the year were not a blip.
Most of the civilian casualties were apparently inflicted during Afghan and Nato operations against insurgents, such as airstrikes and night raids on militant hideouts. Insurgents often hide among civilians.
The report by the UN mission in Afghanistan said 403 civilians were killed by Afghan forces in the first six months of the year and another 314 by international forces, a total of 717. In the same period 531 were killed by the Taliban, an Islamic State affiliate and other militants.
NASA DISCOVERS PLANET UNLIKE ANY IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
New planet is part of ‘a true Disneyland’ for researchers looking for alien worlds, scientists say
The mysterious planets, part of the TOI-270 system, are "missing link" worlds and could be a huge gift to researchers looking for alien worlds, they said.
The three planets orbit a star that is only 73 light years away. It makes them among the closest exoplanets ever found, as well as being among the smallest.
They were discovered by researchers using Nasa's Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which was shot into space in 2018 and has been scanning the universe for stars and planets that could support alien life.
Conflict over resources: 164 activists killed last year
Over 160 people were killed for trying to protect the environment in 2018, says NGO Global Witness. While the Philippines tops the list with 30 deaths, the number of killed activists nearly quintupled in Guatemala.
164 people lost their lives worldwide last year as a result of conflicts in the agricultural industry, timber industry and mining sector, a study conducted by the NGO Global Witness revealed on Tuesday.
It said that much of the persecution of environmental activists is being driven by demand for the land and raw materials needed for products we consume every day, including food, mobile phones and jewelry.
Accused 9/11 mastermind open to testimony against Saudi Arabia
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed open to testifying in victims' lawsuit if US decides not to seek the death penalty against him.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused al-Qaeda mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, has indicated a willingness to cooperate in a lawsuit filed by victims seeking damages from Saudi Arabia, if the United States decides not to seek the death penalty against him.
Mohammed's offer was disclosed late on Friday in a letter filed in the US District Court in Manhattan by lawyers representing individuals and businesses seeking billions of dollars in damages, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters news agency reported on Monday.
At least 57 dead in Brazil prison riot
JULY 29, 2019
At least 57 prisoners were killed by other inmates during clashes between organized crime groups at the Altamira prison in northern Brazil on Monday, according to prison officials.
Para state prison authorities said a fight erupted around 7 a.m., between the Rio de Janeiro-based Comando Vermelho and a local criminal group known as Comando Classe A.
“Leaders of the [Comando Classe A] set fire to a cell belonging to one of the prison’s pavilions, where members of the [Comando Vermelho] were located,” the statement read.
Monday, July 29, 2019
Korean Dogs: Friend or Food
The dog meat industry and animal rights activists face off as South Korea considers banning killing dogs for meat.
In South Korea, dog meat has been on the menu for centuries, with about 2 million dogs believed to be eaten every year.
But strict government regulations and a growing animal rights movement are cracking down on the industry.
Today, consumption is declining, especially among younger generations who see dogs as pets, not food.
But dog farmers argue there's no difference between raising dogs and raising cows, pigs or chickens. And that the ancient cultural practice has health benefits.
Six in The Morning Monday 29 July 2019
Hong Kong protests: China condemns 'horrendous incidents'
China has condemned the recent anti-government protests in Hong Kong as "horrendous incidents" that have caused "serious damage to the rule of law".
"We hope that... people will stand firm in defence of the rule of law," a spokesman for the government's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said.
Hong Kong has seen eight consecutive weekends of anti-government and pro-democracy protests.
There were violent clashes over the weekend between police and protesters.
In a rare statement the spokesman condemned "the evil and criminal acts committed by the radical elements" in Hong Kong.
'People are dying': how the climate crisis has sparked an exodus to the US
As part of the Running Dry series, the Guardian looks at how drought and famine are forcing Guatemalan families to choose between starvation and migration
by Nina Lakhani in Camotán
Mon 29 Jul 2019 07.00 BST
At sunrise, the misty fields around the village of Guior are already dotted with men, women and children sowing maize after an overnight rainstorm.
After several years of drought, the downpour brought some hope of relief to the subsistence farmers in this part of eastern Guatemala.
But as Esteban Gutiérrez, 30, takes a break from his work, he explains why he is still willing to incur crippling debts – and risk his life – to migrate to the United States.
Russia's Alexei Navalny may have been poisoned: doctor
A Russian doctor has said the opposition leader's symptoms suggest that he might have been targeted with a "toxic agent." Alexei Navalny is serving a month-long jail sentence for urging an unauthorized protest.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's personal doctor, Anastasiya Vasilyeva, said Monday that an unidentified poison may have caused his illness.
"Some toxic agent may be the reason for Alexei Navalny's 'illness,'" said Vasilyeva.
Navalny was rushed to the hospital on Sunday for what authorities described as an "allergic reaction"while serving a 30-day jail sentence.
Vasilyeva complained that she wasn't given access to Navalny to examine him, saying hospital workers behaved strangely when she approached them.
'Brownface' ad sparks anger in Singapore
An advertisement featuring an actor of Chinese origin with his skin darkened to portray different races has sparked anger in multi-ethnic Singapore, prompting an apology from the country's state-owned broadcaster.
Race is a sensitive issue in Singapore, which is home to ethnic Chinese, ethnic Indians and Muslim Malays, as well as a large number of expatriates from all over the world.
The ad, part of a government-initiated campaign for cashless transactions in the tech-savvy city-state, featured actor Dennis Chew from broadcaster Mediacorp as four characters.
Ethics report accuses UNRWA leadership of abuse of power
UNRWA chief Pierre Krahenbuhl rejects characterisation of senior team as UN investigates.
by Ian Williams
A confidential internal report from the UN's Palestinian refugee agency's ethics office has detailed alleged abuses of authority among the organisation's senior management team.
With input from dozens of current and former staff, the 10-page document cites "credible and corroborated reports" that members of an "inner circle" at the top of UNRWA have engaged in "abuses of authority for personal gain, to suppress legitimate dissent and to otherwise achieve their personal objectives".
The report alleges that the "inner circle" is made up of Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl, Deputy Commissioner-General Sandra Mitchell - who resigned from her post in late July - Chief of Staff Hakam Shahwan - who left the agency in early July - and Senior Adviser to the Commissioner-General Maria Mohammedi.
S Korean cities suspend exchange programs with Japan
Several South Korean cities have canceled exchange programs with Japanese municipalities amid heightened tensions as Tokyo-Seoul ties have fallen to their lowest point in years due to disputes over wartime history and trade policy.
Busan, which is South Korea's second-biggest city, said Sunday it will suspend administrative exchanges with Japan including its officials' visits to the neighboring country until the bilateral relationship improves.
Although the port city has not disclosed all of the programs it will suspend, it cited as an example the signing of an accord with Nagasaki Prefecture on goodwill exchanges. Busan, connected to Fukuoka city in southwestern Japan by high-speed boats, is known for its active exchanges with Japan.
Sunday, July 28, 2019
#VazaJato: The dirty dealings of Brazil's Operation Car Wash
A news website feels the heat after alleging foul play in Brazil's anti-corruption probe. Plus, incognito with VPNs.
Notes on a scandal: Operation Car Wash
Last month, a Brazilian online news outlet - The Intercept Brasil - began publishing a series of exposes about the wheeling and dealing of the minister of justice, Sergio Moro.
His work on Operation Car Wash - an investigation into the biggest case of political corruption in the country's history - and his depiction in the Brazilian news media as an anti-corruption crusader - helped Moro get his current job.
Now, the news outlets that helped create him are having some serious second thoughts. And the journalists at The Intercept are starting to feel the heat from the
Six In The Morning Sunday 28 July 2019
Ship's flag can help its owner keep costs down. But for the crew, it can be a nightmare
Updated 0614 GMT (1414 HKT) July 28, 2019
A British-flagged ship owned by a Swedish company was seized by Iran last week. Caught in the middle are 23 seamen who have nothing to do with any of the three countries.
The current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has put a spotlight on the murky world of international shipping, where shipowners can register and re-register their vessels within minutes, turning their crews into pawns in a game of diplomatic chess.
"If you've got a credit card, and you've got 15 minutes, you can re-register your ship under any flag you want," said Michael Roe, a professor of maritime and logistics policy at the University of Plymouth.
'No difference': Hong Kong police likened to thugs after Yuen Long violence
Images circulate online comparing gang attacks to police baton charge as fresh protests begin on Sunday
Hong Kong police have come under criticism for charging protesters in a mass transit station in Yuen Long, where some were resting or preparing to leave after clashes with police on Saturday.
In scenes that protesters and critics said were reminiscent of an attack on commuters by suspected triad gangs last week, police fired tear gas and rushed into the station shortly before 10pm. The team, a special tactical unit, pepper sprayed and beat people with batons, causing panic. Some protesters attempted to fight back with fire extinguishers. Bloodied gauze and drops of blood could be seen on the station floor.
The criticism comes as the city prepared on Sunday for its third consecutive day of mass civil dissent, following Saturday’s rally in Yuen Long and an 11-hour-sit-in at the Hong Kong airport on Friday.
Human body ‘close to thermal limits’ due to extreme heatwaves caused by climate change, scientist says
Swathes of land could soon become uninhabitable amid catastrophic weather changes
Phoebe WestonScience Correspondent
Extreme global temperatures are pushing the human body “close to thermal limits”, according to a climate scientist.
Record-breaking heat has swept through Europe this week with temperatures topping 40C in a number of countries.
However, in places such as South Asia and the Persian Gulf, people are already enduring temperatures reaching up to 54C.
The Huawei DilemmaResistance to Chinese Mobile Provider Grows Among Conservatives
In Germany, the debate is growing in conservative political circles as to whether it should prohibit Chinese network equipment provider Huawei from helping to build the country's 5G network. But at the moment, Berlin doesn't really have any other choice.
When Germany's economics minister traveled to Shanghai in mid-June, he had more than just a visit with his Chinese counterpart on the agenda. An appointment he originally intended to keep secret was of equal importance.
At the urging of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, Peter Altmaier of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party met company CEO Ren Zhengfei for breakfast in a luxury hotel. In other words, a man whose life work is considered by United States President Donald Trump to be a threat to national security. The Chinese company also presents an economic threat to the U.S., given that Huawei recently surpassed Apple in global smartphone sales.
Mexico, Honduras agree to create 20,000 jobs and stem migration
A scheme to create 20,000 jobs in Honduras has been agreed between the country's president and Mexico's leader in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants toward the United States.
Mexico, which is a stepping stone to the US for many from Central America seeking to escape violence and poverty, has seen a wave of migrants sweep through in the past few months, causing tensions with Washington.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met his Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez in the Mexican state of Veracruz on Saturday to sign an agreement to extend a development program to Honduras, which includes a tree-planting scheme already active in Mexico.
'Born to be wild': Kenya's female biker gang
The group recently completed a 270km (170-mile) ride from the capital, Nairobi, south to Loitokitok town. Their black leather boots, guards, jackets and helmets are the only protection from the notoriously dangerous red-dirt roads.
Some residents of the town, which is on the border with Tanzania, did a double take, but these women are used to faces of surprise.
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