Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on U.S., Honduras, Taiwan, CCP, Albania, North Macedonia, Germany, disease control
News (1)
Reuters: U.S. pressuring Honduras to stop severing ties with Taiwan
Reporter : Guan Shuping / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4244058 / Image : The Taiwanese flag and the Honduras flag outside the Taiwanese embassy in Honduras. (Reuters file photo)
Honduras, Taiwan's diplomatic ally, announced that it will seek to establish diplomatic relations with CCP China. Reuters quoted sources on 18 March 2023 as saying that the United States is trying to persuade Honduras not to implement the plan to establish diplomatic relations with CCP China. The U.S. hopes that Honduras has not yet formally signed an agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, and there may still be room for change.
Reuters reported that Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced on Twitter on the 14th that she had instructed to seek the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations with CCP China, and the diplomatic pressure of the United States on Honduras not to do so is still ongoing. "We really don't know if it will be days, weeks or months (Honduras establishes diplomatic relations with China)?" a U.S. government official told Reuters. "Is this a negotiating technique? We cannot say for sure." Yes, but we will continue to persuade."
Both U.S. and Taiwanese officials said it was not surprising that Castro announced she would establish diplomatic relations with CCP China because of her stance in the presidential election campaign, but the timing of the announcement caught people off guard. The report mentioned Panama's experience of breaking off diplomatic relations with Taiwan. At that time, the US ambassador to Panama, John Feeley, was notified an hour before the Panamanian government announced the severance of diplomatic relations.
In another unusual turn of events, two Taiwan diplomatic sources revealed that the Honduran ambassador to Taiwan, Harold Burgos, had talks with officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 15th after Castro announced that she wanted to establish diplomatic relations with CCP China. In contrast, when Nicaragua cuts diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2021, the Nicaragua ambassador refused to talk to Taiwan.
Reuters could not confirm the outcome of the meeting, but Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly stated that it told Burgos that Honduras should "carefully consider not falling into China's trap and making the wrong decision that would damage the long-term friendship between Taiwan and Honduras."
Former and current U.S. officials have pointed out that many countries that have turned to China have not received the economic benefits they had hoped for. Perry said, "Countries should know that there will be no benefits of sending money to their door, free of charge," and reiterated the point that the U.S. government has continued to advocate, "China's promises are not in the form of words."
News (2)
All walks of life in the United States have taken action to consolidate Taiwan's diplomatic relations, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked them all: Do your best
Reporter : Yang Chengyu / Image : U.S. Secretary of State Blinken. (Reuters file photo)
President Xiomara Castro of Honduras said on the 15th of this month that she has assigned Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina to handle the establishment of diplomatic relations with CCP China. Recently, the U.S. federal senators and representatives and the executive branch have spoken out one after another; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said on the 17th that "Taiwan can make many contributions." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on 18 March 2023 that it is grateful to the U.S. executive branch and friends in Congress for their active voice at this important moment. It also emphasizes again that the Chinese government is still working hard to maintain the friendship between Taiwan and Honduras. It will try its best to win, but it will never compete with CCP China for money.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that since the President of Honduras Xiomara Castro recently announced her intention to develop formal relations with China, the US executive branch and more than 20 federal senators and representatives have made intensive voices to remind the Honduran government not to make wrong judgments and reiterated firm support for Taiwan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that in terms of the executive branch, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an exclusive interview with the media on the 17th that the United States has long supported Taiwan, and participating in world affairs is in the interests of the people, and Taiwan can make many contributions to international institutions. The Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT/T) also issued a statement on 16 March 2023, stating that the Honduras government should understand that many promises made by China have been bounced; A reliable partner, the United States encourages all countries to expand their engagement with Taiwan and to continue to stand on the side of good governance, transparency, and the rule of law.
In addition, in Congress, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed statistics, there are Federal Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Menendez and Republican Chief Representative Jim Risch, Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Group Tim Kaine and Republican Chief Representative Marco Rubio, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Mark Green, and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Western Hemisphere Group Maria Salazar, Elvira Salazar and other more than 20 congressional leaders and heavyweight lawmakers on diplomatic issues in both houses tweeted and reaffirmed the firm support of the U.S. Congress for Taiwan, and called on the Honduras government not to believe CCP China's empty promises.
The Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely thanks the US executive branch and friends in Congress for actively speaking out at this important moment, and once again emphasized that the Republic of Chinae government is still working hard to maintain the friendship between Taiwan and Honduras, and we will do our best to win it, but we will never compete with CCP China for money; the Honduras government is reminded it is plagued by debt problems. Do not drink poison to quench thirst. The cases of too many countries have proved that falling into CCP's debt trap will only bring disaster to the country and its people.
News (3)
Honduras plans to turn to CCP China, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken stands in solidarity with Taiwan
In the context of Honduras' threat to establish diplomatic relations with CCP China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed solidarity with Taiwan on 17 March, saying that Taiwan can "provide a lot of help" to the world .
"I think it's in the interests of many people to be able to participate in world affairs. Taiwan has a lot to offer, such as those with extraordinary talents in international institutions who have a wealth of resources, experience and expertise," Blinken told AFP in Niger.
"Countries have to decide whether or how they themselves benefit from this," Blinken added, repeating that the United States had expressed "support for the people of Taiwan" but also stood by its own "one China" policy.
"Countries must make their own sovereign decisions based on foreign policy. We respect them," Blinken said.
News (4) to (7) / Reporter : Yang Chengyu / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4243428
News (4)
Make a fortune along the Belt and Road? China's "veteran" allies slapped face: The benefits are zero
Image : Prime Minister Rama of Albania. (European News Agency file photo)
President Xiomara Castro of Honduras has assigned Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina to handle the establishment of diplomatic relations with CCP China. Reina admitted on the 15th that this decision was due to Honduras's rising debt and investment needs. The Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Taiwan will never compete with CCP China for money, and reminded Honduras not to "drink poison to quench thirst" and instead fall into CCP's debt trap. As for whether joining China's "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI) is an economic panacea, Albania, as the first wave to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1949, has a very clear answer.
Albania established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in November 1949, becoming its tenth diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of China. Albania signed a cooperation agreement under the framework of China's BRI in 2017, and is also a member of the "China-Central and Eastern European Countries Cooperation" mechanism (CCEC, formerly known as 17+1). After "17+1" was the first to withdraw from Lithuania in May 2021, and Latvia and Estonia in August 2022, only "14+1" remains.
News (5)
The benefits of BRI for Albania are zero
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama accepted an exclusive interview with Nikkei Asia when he visited Japan in late February. In an exclusive interview, Rama bluntly stated that the "14+1" framework, which China regards as the cornerstone of the BRI's influence, "has not brought any benefits to Albania", and pointed out that in terms of economic results, he personally "would say yes zero". However, he will still let Albania stay in this mechanism as a channel to maintain communication with China. "It is very important to have more dialogues with countries at this time."
According to the "Foreign Policy" article "Albania will become a new battlefield for the Belt and Road Initiative", although most countries in the Balkans are eager for the RMB from China, Albania is an outlier and selectively deals with China. Among the 120 energy and infrastructure cooperation projects related to China in the Balkans with a total value of more than 32 billion U.S. Dollars, Albania has not exchanged huge loans from China for development opportunities in principle.
News (6)
BRI as a "debt trap": The example of Montenegro
China's "Belt and Road" initiative (BRI) is often regarded as a "debt trap", and the representative work in the Balkans is in Montenegro, Albania's northern neighbour. According to foreign media reports, Montenegro signed a contract with CCP China in 2014 to build a 163-km expressway with a loan of about US$1 billion. China even regards it as a "Masterpiece of the Belt and Road Initiative." However, when Montenegro has just started to repay the loan in 2021, its finances were immediately dragged down, and it was finally rescued by the European Union. After experiencing disputes such as poor engineering quality, schedule delays, and contract black boxes, the expressway was finally opened to traffic for 41 km in July 2022. The remaining 122 kilometers section is still undecided.
News (7)
The BRI fails to complete North Macedonia's infrastructure construction
In addition, according to a report by META, an independent news media in North Macedonia, the country built a 57-km expressway with a loan from China through the BRI. After nine years and two major delays, the construction has not yet been completed. The National Auditor of North Macedonia also questioned the effectiveness of the project. After entering the North Macedonian market through the BRI project, "Sinohydro" took root locally and competed for bids for projects at low prices, including investment projects supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This move is also considered to have affected local enterprises.
News (8)
In Honduras' diplomatic efforts, Wu Zhaoxie explained the Republic of China's bottom line in one sentence
Reporter : Wu Shuwei / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4242655 / Image : Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie said that the situation in Honduras is working hard, and our country has never given up on everything that can be worked hard, but "we will not bid money with China's diplomacy." (file photo)
Honduras, a friendly state of the Republic of China, plans to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on the grounds that Taiwan is unwilling to increase financial aid. Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie pointed out in the Legislative Yuan today that the situation in Honduras is working hard. The Republic of China has never given up on all things that can be worked hard but there are some things that must be made very clear, "We will not bid money with China, that kind of diplomacy".
The Legislative Yuan will continue to question Premier Chen Chien-jen's policy policy and policy report today. Democratic Progressive Party legislator Zhao Tianlin was concerned about diplomatic relations with Honduras during his questioning, and pointed out that U.S. President Joe Biden’s special adviser on American affairs, Chris Dodd, will travel to Panama and Honduras from 17 to 21 March 2023. Whether it will touch the issue of assisting Taiwan to consolidate diplomatic relations, and whether the ruling party will win Paraguay's general election in April will affect diplomatic relations.
Wu Zhaoxie said that Taiwan is working hard on the situation in Honduras. The Republic of China has never given up on everything that can be done but there are some things that must be made very clear. "We will not bid money with China. We will defend ourselves. The interests of the country.” The diplomatic relations with Paraguay are still quite stable at present. Paraguay will have an upcoming election, and the Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also closely observing it. Apart from Paraguay’s other diplomatic relations, whether it is diplomacy or economic and trade, they are continuing to strengthen.
Zhao Tianlin asked Wu, "Did U.S. Special Envoy Dodd's visit make a final effort to consolidate Taiwan's diplomatic relations?" Wu Zhaoxie said that there is no way to explain this for the United States but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has seen that the U.S. government is indeed assisting Taiwan and hopes to stabilize diplomatic relations. "There are also other countries that are helping us."
News (9)
CCP's tactics, Hard hand against soft hand
Reporter : Zou Jingwen / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1572640 / On 14 March, President Castro announced on Twitter that she would seek to establish diplomatic relations with China. (Reuters file photo)
The Chinese Communist Party likes to engage in second-hand tactics. It often advertises "soft hands" and "hard hands," and even boasts that "soft hands are softer, and hard hands are harder." For materialists, they have always been self-righteous for a long time, always thinking: a handful of feed, a whip, this is a super-perfect disposal, and all livestock will be obediently entered into the pen. The problem is that in a democratic country like Taiwan, everyone is a master who can think, not an animal to be manipulated. Therefore, seeing through Beijing's Taiwan-related actions, it has repeatedly used a "hard hand" to fight a "soft hand". It is back to offset by itself, all for nothing.
The latest case is the diplomatic incident in Honduras. On 14 March, the president of Honduras, Castro, took the initiative to tweet and announced that she would seek to establish diplomatic relations with CCP China. It was originally limited to the diplomatic dispute between Taiwan and Honduras. It is the wolf-like nature and irresistible. On the 15th, she came out to lie and said, "The fact that 181 countries in the world have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the "one China" principle fully proves that this is in line with the general trend of historical development, realizing China's central role."
CCP China's eradication of Honduras' diplomatic recognition of the "Republic of China" is a hard move, but why do it at this time? Is the timing right? If you are facing a beast, you really don’t need to think too much about whether the timing is good or not; if the target is not, you must have the ability to truly "modernize". In addition to the most basic timing issues, it also includes precise decision-making and organizational coordination efficiency.
How is the recent climate in China? It is very clear that after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, coupled with the gradual unblocking of the epidemic, Beijing has accelerated the process of "democratic consultation" with Taiwan on the two-system Taiwan plan since this year. Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Song Tao's "communications" and "dialogues" with people from all walks of life in Taiwan have become the main theme of the other side's decision to revise. In line with this high-level concept, in the past period of time, China has also arranged a series of "unbundling" packages in actual operation. For example, at the end of January, Taiwan's Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor and other 63 Taiwanese companies were reopened to export their products to China. In February, they voluntarily requested Taiwan to restart 16 direct flights, and announced on 15 March that they will resume imports of chilled white hairtail and frozen jack mackerel from Taiwan. Although it is self-directed, self-acted, self-collected and self-released, its intentions to create "Spring Blossoms" are deep and dazzling.
At a time when the people of Taiwan are very likely to be lucky with China due to dazzled eyes, the basin of ice water in Honduras is suddenly poured from the CCP Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In contrast to the so-called "Global Civilization Initiative" proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the "Communist Party of China and World Political Party High Level Dialogue" on the same day, he boasted that "don't impose your own values and models on others, don't engage in ideological confrontation, and build a global civilization. Dialogue Network," he's a "fucking multiverse."
This dismantling work from Honduras can not only wake up the dreamer in one fell swoop, but also introduce another layer of drama within a drama. China thought that "benefiting" the people of Taiwan could be divided into attacking the Democratic Progressive Party government in Taiwan. Unexpectedly, Biden sent the President's special envoy Todd to Honduras to strengthen the commitment of the United States. No matter what the final result is, the United States is clearly helping Taiwan's DPP government to consolidate diplomatic relations. Isn't it showing it to everyone? And the "suspicious beauty theory" made in China, didn't it also break the merits by the way? This double reaction force is the spillover effect of China's hard hand against soft hand. The time has come when clarity will replace ambiguity.
News (10)
German ministerial officials visit Taiwan on 21 March 2023 and will sign a Taiwan-Germany science and technology cooperation agreement
Image : German Federal Minister of Education and Research Stark-Watersinger is expected to visit Taiwan next week. (Reuters file photo)
German Federal Minister of Education and Research Stark-Wattsinger is expected to visit Taiwan next week. It is understood that she will call on the heads of Taiwan's National Science Council, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and sign the "Taiwan-Germany Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement."
The British "Financial Times" reported that German Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger is expected to visit Taiwan on the 21st. This will be the first German ministerial official to visit Taiwan in 26 years.
It is understood that Wu Zhengzhong, chairman of the National Science Council, visited Stark-Wattsinger in Berlin in November last year and strongly invited him to visit Taiwan; Stark-Watersinger promised that the trip will take place this year, and will lead a delegation on the 21st to 22nd. Taiwan, to witness the signing of the "Taiwan-Germany Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement" (STA).
Stark-Wattsinger's main purpose of this trip is to deepen Taiwan-Germany cooperation in technology, education, and talent cultivation, and will touch on semiconductor issues; Stark-Wattsinger will also meet with Minister of Education Pan Wenzhong in addition to meeting with Wu Zhengzhong, Minister of Digital Development Tang Feng.
News (11)
Trump's post mentioned "arrested on Tuesday" and the spokesman clarified that he will go to Texas next weekend
Reporter : Li Chengyu / Editor : Li Qian / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/03/18/a103671687.html / Image : Former U.S. President Trump. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
U.S. media reported that former President Trump may be indicted as soon as next week. Trump later posted that he was "arrested next Tuesday." His spokesperson later stated that Trump was only emphasizing his innocence and that he will attend the Texas rally next weekend.
On Friday (18 March 2023), Trump posted on his self-created social platform "TRUTH Social", saying that according to the "illegal leak" of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, without any evidence, only based on an old, debunked "fairy tale" of the leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested next Tuesday.
"Protest, take back America!" he wrote.
In a statement that day, Trump's spokesman clarified that he had not been notified about the arrests, other than "leaks" to NBC and other news outlets by the Justice Department and the district attorney's office.
The spokesperson added that President Trump's posts are simply emphasizing his innocence and the weaponization of an unjust system, and he will attend a large rally in Texas next weekend.
A day earlier, NBC quoted "five senior officials familiar with the matter" as saying local, state and federal law enforcement and security agencies were preparing for the possibility of Trump being indicted as early as next week. The lawsuit revolves around what is known as the "porn star hush money" case.
The lawsuit against Trump has been pushed again after he announced that he will run for president again in 2024. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and called it a witch hunt against him to keep him from running.
The news that he may be indicted next week has aroused public concern. Musk, the world's richest man, said in a tweet that Trump would win a "landslide victory" in the 2024 election if he is really prosecuted.
News (12)
Trump may be arrested on Tuesday. McCarthy responded strongly: Here we go again... I will give instructions
Editor : Zhongkang / https://www.aboluowang.com/2023/0319/1879134.html
Former US President Trump revealed on social media on 18 March 2023 that he may be arrested next Tuesday. McCarthy, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, responded strongly to this.
According to the US "Capitol Hill" report on March 18, U.S. House Speaker McCarthy tweeted on the 18th, "Again, a radical District Attorney abused his power. He let violent criminals go unpunished, but sought political revenge on Trump."
"I will direct the relevant committees to immediately investigate whether federal funds were used to subvert our democracy through politically motivated prosecutions to interfere in elections," McCarthy said.
The report pointed out that some other Republican lawmakers also joined McCarthy in siding with Trump, denouncing the investigation of Trump as politically motivated. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted that if Trump had been indicted and done nothing wrong, he would have had a bigger win in the general election. She also warned that any Republican who supports a "witch hunt" against Trump will face consequences.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also said they made something up and they never did that to anyone else because they hated and feared Trump.
According to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on the 18th, five senior officials familiar with the situation revealed that former U.S. President Trump may be indicted as early as next week, and local state and federal law enforcement and security agencies are preparing for this. Former U.S. President Trump posted on social media on the 18th that he expected to be arrested next Tuesday and called on supporters to "protest" and "take our country back."
At the same time, he accused the Manhattan District Attorney's office of being "corrupt and highly politicized" and said, "Without any evidence of a crime, based on an old and totally disproved (as confirmed by many other prosecutors) fairy tale , the leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States, will be arrested next Tuesday." He also wrote, "Protest and take our country back!"
The officials who broke the news said that law enforcement agencies are conducting an initial security assessment and discussing potential security plans in and around Manhattan Criminal Court in preparation for Trump's allegations that he allegedly paid hush money to American adult film actor Daniels, NBC reported earlier, and went to New York to face the charges.
Regarding the dispute between Trump and Daniels, according to previous U.S. media reports, Daniels previously identified that Trump had an extramarital affair with her in 2006. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump’s lawyer paid her US$130,000, hush money as a reward for not exposing the extramarital affair. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and said he never suggested that Cohen, who was his personal lawyer at the time, pay Daniels hush money.
News (13)
U.S. opposes CCP's "peaceful" proposal
Reporter : Li Zhaoxi / Editor : Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/03/18/a103671487.html / Image : John Kirby, White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
As Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping prepares to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the White House said on Friday (17 March 2023) that it opposed Beijing's proposed "peace" agreement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China and the Kremlin confirmed reports on the 17th that Xi Jinping will visit Russia from the 20 to 23 March. This is the first meeting between the two leaders since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. It is expected that the conversation will include the ongoing Ukraine war.
The meeting coincided with a week after the CCP "brokered" the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator of the White House National Security Council, believes that the CCP's ceasefire proposal will not be as positive as it seems.
Kirby said in a media conference call on the 17th that the ceasefire actually recognizes Russia's achievements and recognizes that Russian troops continue to occupy Ukraine's sovereign territory, and that this will once again violate the "United Nations Charter."
He stressed that the ceasefire would also provide an opportunity for Russia to further consolidate its positions in Ukraine and to rebuild and renew their forces in preparation for more effective attacks against Ukraine in the future.
"We don't think it's a step towards a just and lasting peace, and as we've always talked about, a just and lasting, sustainable peace has to be a non-unilateral one," Kirby said, and that has to fully include Ukraine views and firmly respect Ukraine's sovereignty.
"We all want to see the war end and we remain committed to that goal, but, as I said, it must end in a just way that respects Ukraine's privileges and fully respects Ukraine's sovereignty," he added, "while a ceasefire, at this point in time, sounds good, but we don't think it will have that effect."
Ukrainian analysts warn against falling into potential pitfalls ahead of Xi-Putin meeting. “We need to realize that this kind of peace talks is a trap for Ukraine and its diplomatic corps,” said Yurii Poita, head of the Asia division of the new Kiev-based geopolitical research network.
"In this case, these peace talks will not be peace-oriented," Ukrainian analyst Nataliia Butyrska said. Xi Jinping's visit to Russia reflects not the CCP's desire for peace, but its desire to play an important role in possible conflict resolution.
Butyrska added that CCP does not clearly distinguish between who is the aggressor and who is the victim. Not distinguishing this will affect objectivity when a country wishes to mediate, or at least seek to help parties, "in my view, China (the Communist Party) seeks to freeze the conflict".
Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that the CCP’s peace plan is a “fig leaf” that creates the visual effect that CCP China has a peace plan that both sides of the war recognize and are ready to explore. opportunity, and then it was "killed by the hostile West".
Hours after the announcement of the Xi-President meeting schedule, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of war crimes. Although Putin may not be actually arrested, the Chinese Communist Party's desire to use the trip to make a splash has almost been dashed. Now that Putin is officially a war crimes suspect, CCP's desire to be seen as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine may come under harsher criticism.
News (14)
Cybersecurity report: TikTok also collects non-user data
Reporters : Alison Lee, Li Mei and Wang Yanqiao / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/03/18/a103671567.html
The safety risks of the overseas version of the app "TikTok", an app controlled by the CCP, has attracted much attention and has been banned by many countries. On 18 March, a report from a cybersecurity company shows that "TikTok" collects user and non-user data, and collects personal data without consent.
The report of Feroot, a network security company newly obtained by the American media, pointed out that TikTok, whose parent company is in China, improperly collected information online.
In addition to app users, Tiktok also collects non-user information through tracking codes called "pixels", including user names, passwords, and credit card information.
The ABC News report mentioned, "TikTok uses TikTok pixels or tracking codes, which are now tracked on various websites where you appear."
Although Microsoft, Facebook, and Google all use tracking codes, this report pointed out that before the user presses "agree", the data has been collected by TikTok.
The Feroot report notes that TikTok sends data across the globe, including to China and Russia.
The Biden administration is pushing for a ban on TikTok, proposing that its parent company ByteDance will sell TikTok to an American company to avoid being banned.
TikTok CEO Zhou Shouzi will appear at a congressional hearing this week.
News (15)
ByteDance is suspected of spying on American journalists, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI are investigating
Editor : He Yating / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/03/18/a103671637.html / Image : On 16 September 2020, a woman passed by the ByteDance headquarters in Beijing. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)
ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, a popular short video sharing platform in Europe and the United States, is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI for allegedly using TikTok to spy on American journalists.
A few days ago, a number of American media including the business magazine "Forbes" disclosed to the outside world that unnamed people familiar with the matter revealed that the Criminal Division of the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia are investigating ByteDance.
According to a report by Forbes, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a subpoena to ByteDance, requesting relevant information. In addition, the FBI has been conducting interviews on related surveillance incidents.
In October last year, "Forbes" reported that ByteDance employees checked the account information of TikTok users, trying to find the sources of internal speeches and business documents disclosed by American media reporters. IP addresses and other data of some contacts.
On 22 December 2023, ByteDance admitted that some of the company's employees improperly accessed the TikTok user data of some American journalists that summer. "Forbes" reporter Emily Baker-White said that the IP addresses of herself and two colleagues have been tracked by ByteDance.
The British "Financial Times" reported on 17 March that its reporter, Cristina Criddle, was also one of the targets of ByteDance's surveillance.
A spokesman for ByteDance interpreted the above actions as "personal actions" of employees and claimed that the relevant personnel had been fired.
At present, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand, and India have ordered the ban on the use of TikTok on government equipment. A number of cross-party members of the U.S. Senate recently introduced a bill to prevent TikTok from endangering U.S. national security. If passed, the bill would pave the way for a nationwide ban on TikTok by the U.S. government. The White House expressed support for the bill.
News (16)
Worries of sudden death caused by sequelae of the covid epidemic in China, many city schools suspend long-distance running sessions
Reporter : Lan Caixiang / Editor : Fan Ming / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/03/19/a103671957.html / Image : Since the outbreak of the epidemic in China in December 2022, many young and middle-aged people have also died one after another. (Pixabay)
With the date of the high school entrance examination approaching, many places in mainland China have announced that high school students will be promoted to the unified high school examination, and sports endurance events will be exempted. According to the analysis of medical professionals, this is done to prevent sudden cardiopulmonary death after being infected by the covid virus.
Since March, middle schools in many provinces and cities in mainland China have announced that this year's senior high school entrance examination program will change endurance sports to exempt or optional.
On 8 March, the Education Bureau of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province issued an adjustment plan, adjusting the 1,000-m long-distance race for boys and the 800-m long-distance race for girls to "run or not".
On 10 and 14 March, the cities of Hengyang and Changsha in Hunan Province successively announced that the long-distance running events in the high school entrance examination will be canceled, and the men's 1000-meter and women's 800-meter endurance runs will be included in the total score with a full score of 15 points. At the same time, the scoring standard for 1-minute rope skipping will be reduced.
On 15 March, Chengdu, Sichuan Province announced that men's and women's long-distance running will be exempted from the test in 2023, and all candidates for this individual event will be awarded full marks.
In addition, the cities of Nanchang, Ji'an in Jiangxi Province, and Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province have also announced that long-distance running events will be suspended this year.
In this regard, Hua Yinghui, chief physician of the Sports Medicine Department of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, explained that after some students were infected with the epidemic, their cardiopulmonary function has not yet fully recovered, but they may not necessarily feel obvious.
Hua Yinghui said that endurance sports have higher requirements on cardiopulmonary function, explosive power, and durability. Sudden death and other emergencies are more likely to occur after strenuous exercise. Based on this consideration, many high school entrance examinations have canceled endurance events. .
In the announcements issued by various places, it is emphasized that some students in the third grade of junior high school are affected by the infection of the new crown virus, and they still have symptoms of discomfort during daily exercise, which indirectly proves the above statement.
In the past three years, mainland China has dealt with the epidemic, from extreme dynamic clearing measures to the sudden release of epidemic control without warning, coupled with doubts about the effectiveness of domestic vaccines, it is still difficult for the Chinese people to escape the shadow of the covid virus.
News (17)
"Zombie virus" is here! The doctor warns everyone to be careful: Human beings have never encountered
Editor : Zhuang Yating / https://news.tvbs.com.tw/life/2072202
Climate change has caused global temperatures to rise, and ancient viruses that modern humans have never encountered may be awakened and surfaced on the earth. In this regard, Ooi Hean, a thoracic and critical care specialist, posted an article to remind everyone that the "zombie virus" is coming, and everyone should be careful, and expose relevant foreign research.
Ooi pointed out on Facebook on the 18th that the ancient frozen ground has gradually lost its "permafrost" sign due to rising temperatures. More and more viruses that modern humans have never encountered will appear on the earth. These viruses were once frozen 27,000 to 48,500 years or so. He pointed out that a group of European researchers discovered and revived 13 prehistoric viruses while excavating the permafrost in Siberia. The researchers called these viruses "zombie viruses" and further discovered that these zombie viruses are still infectious after resurrection. Everyone began to worry that there would be bigger problems in subsequent infections.
Ooi Hean revealed that the zombie viruses observed in this study can only infect amoebas, but in environments such as permafrost, there are indeed viruses that can infect humans. He added that some research teams have discovered viruses or bacteria that can infect humans in the permafrost, including the 1918 Spanish flu virus strain found in the female corpse dug up by scientists in the permafrost of Alaska in 1997; in 2012, scientists confirmed that in Genetic remnants of the smallpox virus were found in a 300-year-old Siberian female mummy.
Image : Ooi Hean posted a reminder that the "zombie virus" is coming. (Picture/review of Ooi Hean's Facebook page)
Since the human immune system has never encountered these zombie viruses, Ooi quoted experts as saying, "The probability of triggering the next pandemic should not be zero." Therefore, he reminded, "Everyone should be careful of zombie viruses." , should be regarded as a future risk. He admitted that they may appear in our generation, or they may appear in the next generation. "As long as human beings continue to heat the earth, the permafrost continues to melt, and zombie viruses appear, it is possible to exist everywhere."
News (18) to (20) / Reporter : Fang Xiao / Editor : Sun Yun / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/3/19/n13953388.htm
News (18)
International experts trace the origin of SARS-CoV-2, new data point to Wuhan animal market
Image :The picture is a schematic diagram. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Some international experts have found that SARS-CoV-2 (covi, covid virus, novel coronavirus) is more likely to have originated from animals in the animal market in Wuhan by analyzing the data released and withdrawn by the CCP. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticized the CCP for concealing data.
News (19)
Scientists: SARS-CoV-2 may have originated from raccoon dogs in Wuhan animal market
Not long ago, the China CDC once uploaded the sample data of the covi collected in the Huanan Market in Wuhan in January 2020 to the Global Influenza Sharing Database (Gisaid). China CDC later deleted the data it released.
According to the French "Le Monde" report, Florence Débarre, a biologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), discovered the genetic data released by the China CDC on Gisaid on 4 March 2023. A few days later, she realized its importance, and immediately shared her findings with a team of virologists who had analyzed the evidence that SARS-CoV-2 originated from animals in Wuhan animal markets, and told several media outlets about their findings.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on 17 March 2023, "These data could and should have been shared three years ago."
He said, "These data do not provide a clear answer to how the covid pandemic originated but each piece of data is crucial for us to get closer to this answer." He criticized China for not sharing genetic information earlier.
These samples were collected in early 2020 on the surface of the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, where the first human case of covid was detected in late 2019.
These genetic sequences were recently uploaded to the world's largest public virus database by researchers at the China CDC, Tedros said.
These genetic sequences were then deleted but before it was deleted, a French biologist stumbled upon the information and shared it with a group of scientists outside China who were studying the origin of covi.
Scientists from several countries downloaded and analyzed the later-deleted data, according to the United Nations website. They reportedly found molecular evidence of animals sold at the market, including raccoon dogs, which are susceptible to infection with the covid virus.
Voice of America reported on 18 March 2023 that international experts said genetic material collected near the Wuhan market where the first human case of covid was found showed that the DNA of raccoon dogs was mixed with the covid virus, which seems to suggest that the pandemic may have originated in animals.
According to the scientists, the data showed that some covi-positive samples collected from a stall known to be involved in the wildlife trade also contained genes from raccoon dogs, suggesting that the animals may have been infected with the virus. Their analysis was first reported by The Atlantic magazine.
Stephen Goldstein, a virologist at the University of Utah, helped analyze the data. He said his group presented its findings this week to the WHO advisory panel tasked with investigating the origins of covid.
News (20)
Experts: These findings are significant, although still uncertain
Ray Yip, an epidemiologist and founding member of the U.S. CDC office in China, said the findings were significant, although they were still uncertain.
"The market environment sampling data released by the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is by far the strongest evidence supporting the origin of the virus in animals," Ye Lei told The Associated Press in an email. Ye Lei himself was not involved in the new analysis.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, cautioned that the analysis did not find the covid virus in any animals, nor conclusive evidence that any animals infected humans.
"This really provides clues to help us understand what might be going on," she said. The international team of scientists also told WHO that they found DNA from other animals and raccoon dogs in samples from the seafood market, she added.
"There is molecular evidence that these animals were sold in markets in South China, which is new information," Van Kerlhoff said.
The genetic code of SARS-CoV-2 is strikingly similar to that of bat coronaviruses, and many scientists suspect that the covid virus jumped into humans directly from bats or through intermediate animals such as pangolins, ferrets or raccoon dogs.
Efforts to determine the origins of the covid pandemic have been complicated by factors including a massive surge in human infections in the first two years of the pandemic and growing political disputes.
It took virus experts more than a decade to determine the animal origin of SARS. SARS virus is a related virus.
Mark Woolhouse, an infectious disease expert at the University of Edinburgh, said it was crucial to understand how the raccoon dog's genetic sequence matched the known historical evolution of the covid virus. If the raccoon dogs are shown to have covid, and the viruses are shown to have an earlier origin than the ones that infect people, "that's probably ample evidence that we can expect this to be a spillover event that happened in animal markets."
The outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, has caused severe global social and economic disruption and is considered the most severe crisis humanity has faced since World War II and plunged the global economy into the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. In the early days of the crisis, many educational institutions and public areas were partially or completely closed, and many events were canceled or postponed. The spread of the epidemic has had a huge impact on global aviation, tourism, entertainment, sports, oil markets, financial markets, etc., and it will continue for many years after the economic restart.
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