This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claims thousands of iPhones belonging to the country’s diplomats have suffered a massive hacking attack. The FSB said in a statement on June 1 that hackers allegedly targeted the iPhones of diplomats working at Russian embassies and consulates in countries that are members of NATO, former Soviet republics, as well as in China, Israel, and Syria. The statement did not give any details or evidence of the alleged cyberattack, just saying that an “unknown” app that targets vulnerable parts of the iOS operational system was used by the hackers. “The information obtained by Russian special services indicates close cooperation between the U.S. company Apple with the national security community, namely with the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), and confirms that the declared policy of providing confidentiality for the personal data of the users of Apple devices does not correspond to the reality,” the FSB statement said, without giving any information to back up the allegation. Apple denied the allegation, saying in a statement quoted by Reuters that it has “never worked with any government to insert a backdoor into any Apple product and never will.” The NSA declined to comment, according to the news agency. The FSB statement was issued a few hours before the Moscow-based antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab said an undisclosed number of its employees’ iPhones were hacked using sophisticated malware. Kaspersky said the “extremely complex, professionally targeted cyberattack” delivered an invisible message that exploited vulnerabilities in the iOS operating system and that information from the phone was then transmitted to remote servers. Kaspersky said the hacking campaign targeted the company’s “top and middle-management.” Kaspersky also issued a technical report saying it noticed “suspicious activity that originated from several iOS-based phones”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a speech on Friday slamming Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as a “strategic failure.” During a visit to Helsinki, Finland, Blinken mocked Russia’s military capabilities, which have been on full display since the nation invaded Ukraine in February last year. “Third, President Putin spent two decades trying to build Russia’s military into a modern force, with cutting-edge weaponry, streamlined command, and well-trained, well-equipped soldiers.  The Kremlin often claimed it had the second-strongest military in the world, and many believed it.  Today, many see Russia’s military as the second-strongest in Ukraine,” Blinken said, prompting laughter from the audience. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken today completely made a mockery of the Russian military, saying: “The Kremlin often claimed that it had the second strongest military in the world and many believed it. Today, many see Russia’s military as the second strongest in Ukraine.… pic.twitter.com/qWjxrV8gVC — Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) June 2, 2023 “Its equipment, technology, leadership, troops, strategy, tactics, and morale, a case study in failure – even as Moscow inflicts devastating, indiscriminate, and gratuitous damage on Ukraine and Ukrainians,” he added. Blinken asserted Russia is “significantly worse off today than it was before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – militarily, economically, geopolitically.” “Where Putin aimed to project strength, he’s revealed weakness.  Where he sought to divide, he’s united.  What he tried to prevent, he’s precipitated.  That outcome is no accident. It’s the direct result of the courage and solidarity of the Ukrainian people and the deliberate, decisive, swift action that we and our partners have taken to support Ukraine,” Blinken continued. READ MORE: Video: Russia issues arrest warrant for GOP senator Biden’s secretary of state addressed the possibility of a ceasefire, saying on the surface it “sounds sensible,” but argued a ceasefire “simply freezes

Xi Jinping Please Follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble, Gab TV, GETTR, Truth Social According to an official with the Treasury Department, the U.S. is lacking effective tools to prevent rampant intellectual property theft and espionage being executed by the Chinese. According to Assistant Secretary to the Treasury, Paul Rosen, despite IP theft and the U.S. being engaged in an ongoing tech competition with China, Washington has not yet developed the necessary tools to prevent the continuous transfer of sensitive technologies to Beijing. “We currently assess we don’t have an effective tool to target the money and sophistication with know-how that goes into these sensitive and most critical technologies into countries of concern,” Rosen said during a late May hearing of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. “We risk leaving a gap in terms of some of our national security concerns,” he added. Rosen noted that the Biden administration would prioritize IP and tech interests over economic development if necessary as it is “zealously” committed to defending U.S. security. ‘NO AD’ subscription for CDM!  Sign up here and support real investigative journalism and help save the republic!‘ “The United States will secure our interests an those of our allies and partners,” Rosen continued. “We will not compromise on national security concerns, even when they force trade-offs with economic interests, he concluded. Expert testimony last year before Congress claimed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is actively engaging in anti-free market and anti-competitive practices on an international level. The testimony noted that the U.S. lacks sufficient non-security tools to protect its interests. Rosen’s remarks confirm the expert testimony. Jamie Dimon Visits China – Commits To Doing Business With Beijing “Absolutely Intolerable” – China Rebuffs U.S. Support For Taiwan The post Treasury Official: U.S. Lacks Tools To Stop China’s Theft Of American Tech And IP appeared