Robust Democratic Institutions an ‘Antidote’ Against Beijing’s Infiltration: Expert
Australia’s democratic institutions have proven to be an “antidote” to Beijing’s extensive infiltration operations and a case study for countries on how to expose and repel the communist regime’s United Front Work Department. In 2014, Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s declared the influence activities of the United Front one of the regime’s “magic weapons.” A new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found Australia’s free press, intelligence services, political will, along with lively public debate, worked in concert to expose and negate Xi’s “magic weapons.” Amy Searight, author of the report, says Australia is targeted as part of a grander scheme to undermine the United States’ regional dominance in the Pacific. As one of the United States’ closest allies, driving a wedge in the U.S.-Australia alliance would…
LONDON鈥擯olice have seized 118 stolen bicycles at a single address in north London, an unusually large haul even in a city where bike theft is endemic.
The bicycles are worth an estimated total of more than 30,000 pounds ($39,000), the Metropolitan Police said, adding that two men aged 21 and 60 had been arrested at the address on suspicion of possession of criminal property.
The investigation was launched after 11 people reported finding bicycles that had been stolen from them on sale on social media.
Police said they were working to reunite the bicycles with their rightful owners.
Cycling was already popular in London before the coronavirus lockdown, for sport and recreation and as a means of commuting to work, but the city is now experiencing a cycling boom as residents seek to avoid public transport.
By Estelle Shirbon
Focus News: Police Seize Over 100 Suspected Stolen Bikes at London Address
Trump Orders Ban on Transactions With TikTok, WeChat Parent Companies
President Donald Trump on Thursday issued executive orders to ban transactions with popular video sharing app TikTok and social media app WeChat in 45 days. The executive orders also ban transactions with the two social media applications’ parent companies, Chinese-owned ByteDance and Tencent Holdings. The executive order for TikTok said that “any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States” would be prohibited “with ByteDance Ltd. (a.k.a. Zìjié Tiàodòng), Beijing, China, or its subsidiaries,” in 45 days after the order, which is after Sept. 20. The executive order for WeChat said that “any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States” would be prohibited with its parent company “Tencent…
