Google: Chinese cyber espionage targeting Southeast Asian diplomats
Today's news: In Aceh two men jailed for homosexual relations were whipped 76 times. “Peace be with you all" is the theme chosen by Pope Leo XIV for 2026 World Peace Day. Israeli drones kill six Syrian soldiers on the outskirts of Damascus. At least 30 people died in Jammu after a landslide hit a route used by Hindu pilgrims.
CHINA
Earlier this year, Southeast Asian diplomats were targeted in a cyber espionage campaign, likely carried out in support of operations aligned with Chinese strategic interests. Google reported the attacks, claiming social engineering and malware were used, disguised as software updates attributed to the pro-Beijing group UNC6384.
INDONESIA
Two men were publicly flogged 76 times yesterday, after they were found "guilty" of homosexual relations in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, where Sharia, Islamic law, is enforced. The two were among a dozen people convicted of various crimes and flogged in public in Banda Aceh. The initial sentences of 80 lashes were reduced by four, reflecting the number of months they spent in prison.
VATICAN - ASIA
Pope Leo XIV chose Peace be with you all as the theme for World Peace Day, 1 January 2026. According to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the message is an invitation to "reject the logic of violence and war" in favour of a “unarmed and disarming" choice capable of "resolving conflicts, opening hearts, and generating mutual trust, empathy, and hope.” Peace, the pontiff warns, means choosing disarmament, not simply the absence of conflict.
ISRAEL – SYRIA – GAZA
Israeli drones struck and killed six Syrian soldiers just outside Damascus, while the two countries are engaged in US-mediated talks to ease tensions in southern Syria and open the door to broader relations. In Israel, up to 350,000 people (according to some estimates) took to the streets in Tel Aviv and across the country in a day of mobilisation for the release of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. Protesters blocked highways, rallied at the homes of government ministers, and held a sit-in outside Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's office. Finally, the team of UN investigators called upon to shed light on Jewish settler violence and the transfers of weapons to Israel used in Gaza are unable to complete their work due to a lack of funding.
INDIA
Heavy rains triggered a landslide that hit a route popular with Hindu pilgrims in Jammu, northern India, killing at least 30 people, Asian News International (ANI) reported, echoing warnings issued by Indian authorities, who urged people to stay indoors overnight. More rain and thunderstorms, with strong gusts of wind, are expected in the mountainous region of Ladakh, as well as in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
RUSSIA – IRAN
Iran's Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Djalali, said his country hopes to receive gas from Russia via Azerbaijan shortly. "[A]lmost all issues have been resolved," he said, and the focus is on "finding a common ground" with Gazprom regarding fuel prices. Negotiations began in 2023 with great expectations.
ARMENIA
A court has extended the pre-trial detention of members of the "Holy Struggle" movement for another three months. The group is accused of plotting a coup, starting with bishops Bagrat Galstanyan and Mikael Ajapahyan, who, along with other associates, including former Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) lawmaker David Galstyan, have been detained since the end of June.
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08/10/2020 09:11
