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Patrick Vallance erklärt, dass die Regierung mit chinesischen Beamten zusammenarbeitet, um Beiträge auf Alibaba nach der Biobank-Datenpanne von letzter Woche zu entfernen. Seit der letzte Woche gemeldeten Datenpanne gab es weitere Einträge vertraulicher Gesundheitsakten von britischen Freiwilligen auf der chinesischen Website Alibaba, und die Regierung stellt sich auf weitere Lecks ein, wie der Wissenschaftsminister mitteilte. In einer Debatte im House of Lords über den versuchten Verkauf von Daten von 500.000 UK Biobank-Freiwilligen erklärte Patrick Vallance, dass die Regierung mit chinesischen Beamten zusammengearbeitet habe, um zusätzliche Beiträge auf dem Online-Marktplatz zu entfernen.

Meta, which owns Facebook, acquired Manus in December 2025 for more than US$2 billion in a bid to boost its capabilities in AI agents.

Around one in three workers in China are now in flexible jobs, led by a younger generation seeking greater autonomy despite the trade-offs. The second of this two-part series focuses on people drawn to this way of working, rather than those pushed into such roles.

• The Philippines formally protested on Monday what Manila characterized as 'provocative and illegal' Chinese Coast Guard operations near Second Thomas Shoal, accusing Beijing of obstructing Philippine supply missions. • Philippine Defense Secretary stated that Chinese vessels used water cannons against Filipino boats, damaging equipment and endangering personnel conducting routine resupply operations to occupied Philippine outposts. • The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command reaffirmed commitment to freedom of navigation operations, with Pentagon officials stating they will continue sending naval assets through disputed waters to assert international law compliance.

• Brazil has suspended a $4 billion Chinese investment in Amazon infrastructure projects following international pressure over deforestation and environmental protection commitments. • President Lula cited insufficient environmental safeguards and lack of transparency in project oversight as the primary reasons for the suspension announced Friday. • Environmental groups and US officials praised the decision, though economic analysts warn the suspension could strain Brazil-China relations and impact Latin American development patterns.

• The Trump administration pledges a crackdown on Chinese companies exploiting American-made AI models, focusing on national security risks. • Officials singled out China for foreign tech firms' unauthorized use of US AI technologies, vowing stricter enforcement measures. • The initiative aims to protect US intellectual property and prevent adversarial nations from leveraging American innovations in AI development.

Technology minister tells Commons ‘de-identified’ information from UK Biobank advertised for sale on AlibabaUK politics live – latest updatesThe confidential health records of half a million British volunteers have been offered for sale on Chinese website Alibaba, the UK government has confirmed.The data, belonging to participants in the UK Biobank project, was found for sale on three separate listings last week. The records have now been removed and it is not believed any sales were made. Continue reading...

Britain’s cybersecurity agency says companies must step up vigilance to prevent espionage attacksBusiness live – latest updatesBritish businesses are being urged to step up their vigilance against a China-linked hacking ploy that uses everyday devices for espionage.The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and agencies in nine other countries have warned of persistent attempts by Beijing-backed groups to hack equipment such as wifi routers to launch cyber-attacks. Continue reading...

• The US and Japan signed an upgraded defense agreement Friday expanding joint military operations, technology sharing, and coordinated response protocols to counter Chinese military activities in the Indo-Pacific region. • The agreement authorizes increased US military presence in Japan, including enhanced surveillance capabilities and expedited weapons deployments, representing the most significant defense treaty expansion since 2015. • Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the alliance upgrade as destabilizing and counterproductive to regional peace, while Taiwan and South Korea welcomed the commitment to deterring further territorial aggression.

Exclusive: Victoria and Albert Museum has deleted maps and images deemed sensitive by Beijing censors from exhibition publicationsOne of the UK’s leading museums has accepted demands by a Chinese firm that publishes its catalogues to remove images that fall foul of the country’s censorship laws.The Victoria and Albert Museum has agreed to requests by the Chinese printing company it uses to delete maps and images from at least two recent exhibition catalogues, according to documents released to the Guardian under freedom of information. Continue reading...

Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Beijing has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with critics accusing her of being too close to ChinaIn a rare meeting with Taiwan’s opposition leader, China’s president, Xi Jinping, declared that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were Chinese and wanted peace.The meeting in Beijing between Xi and Cheng Li-wun, the chair of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT), is the first such contact in a decade. The visit has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with Cheng’s critics accusing her of being too close to China, a country that many in Taiwan see as a threat. Continue reading...

• The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on April 8, 2026, targeting 12 Chinese companies accused of supplying dual-use technology to Russia's defense sector amid the Ukraine conflict. • Key firms include Shenzhen-based tech exporters providing drone components and microelectronics, with transactions totaling over $500 million since 2024, per Treasury documents. • These measures aim to disrupt Russia's war machine, as Washington claims Beijing's indirect support prolongs the invasion; experts warn of escalating US-China tensions.

• OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google's Alphabet began sharing information via the Frontier Model Forum to detect Chinese firms' adversarial distillation of US AI models, violating terms of service. • US officials estimate this unauthorized copying costs Silicon Valley labs billions in annual profits, with OpenAI accusing DeepSeek of free-riding on American innovations. • The rare cooperation highlights national security risks and competitive threats in the global AI race, as imitation models undercut prices and siphon customers.

• The EU imposed sanctions on three Chinese technology firms and one individual on April 6, accusing them of conducting sophisticated espionage operations targeting European telecommunications infrastructure and government networks. • The targeted companies are suspected of exploiting vulnerabilities in 5G networks; the EU cited evidence of stolen intellectual property and unauthorized access to classified communications. • EU officials stated the move signals zero tolerance for state-sponsored cyber operations; Chinese officials denied accusations and called the sanctions "groundless and provocative."

Prime minister brings forward trip to Singapore in scramble for petrol supplies; former soldier charged with five war crime murders. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe prime minister has spoken to Chinese premier, Li Qiang, over the phone to discuss energy security, as the government moves to secure fuel supplies with nations across Asia.Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday he would be flying to Singapore this week to lock in fuel imports. Continue reading...

• The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on April 4, 2026, targeting 12 Chinese companies accused of supplying missile components to Taiwan's military in violation of export controls. • Sanctions freeze $2.1 billion in US-based assets and ban future transactions, following intelligence reports of shipments totaling 500 tons of avionics parts since January. • The move heightens US-China tensions, with Beijing calling it 'economic blackmail' that threatens South China Sea stability and global semiconductor supply chains.

• Treasury Department imposed sanctions on April 1 against firms linked to hacks on Australian and Japanese defense networks, stealing terabytes of data. • Targets include Huawei subsidiary and two state-backed hackers, freezing $1.2 billion in US assets. • Action escalates tech war, with FBI reporting 40% rise in state-sponsored attacks on US firms.

Jack Karlson’s rallying cry of ‘democracy manifest’ added to national collection of sound recordings that hold historical, cultural and aesthetic significanceGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThirty-five years ago, when Jack Karlson was hauled into a police car outside a Chinese restaurant in Queensland, he couldn’t have known his bombastic speech would be watched by millions around the world, become a meme and now, be preserved for ever in Australia’s National Film and Sound Archive.Karlson’s declaration – “Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest! … What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?” – is one of nine pieces of audio that have been added to the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection this year, along with a pedestrian crossing signal and Missy Higgins’ 2004 hit Scar. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Indonesia reports growing number of attempts by Chinese nationals to organise boat journeys, as Australian authorities refuse to reveal detailsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has refused to reveal how many Chinese nationals have arrived in Australia by boat since 2024, saying that disclosing the figure may harm relations with other countries.However, reports by Indonesian police show that there has been a consistent trend of Chinese nationals attempting to reach Australia through Indonesia as an alternative to “zouxian”, or “walking the line” – the illegal migration route from Mexico to the US through the Darian Gap. Continue reading...

• The House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection held a hearing last week assessing national security threats from PRC-linked AI, robotics, and autonomous sensing technologies entering US markets. • Witnesses highlighted companies like DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics, urging investments in US alternatives to protect critical infrastructure and supply chains. • Subcommittee Chair emphasized: 'Invest in trusted American alternatives, strengthen cybersecurity practices, and prevent federal funds from supporting platforms that put American data at risk.'

• Researchers created pure hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite) by compressing organized graphite at 20 gigapascals and 1,300-1,900°C for 10 hours, confirmed via structural analyses and simulations. • The material, rarer than cubic diamond, was identified in Arizona's Barringer Crater meteorite and offers superior hardness for tools and electronics. • Study provides definitive evidence of hexagonal diamond's existence, countering past skepticism about meteorite samples.