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Russia warns Moldova over Transnistria troops | Europe | News and current affairs from around the continent | DW

September 4, 2022/in Mobile Security

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week warned Moldova not toendanger Russian troops stationed in Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway region in the country’s east, saying doing so could spark military confrontation.

In a television interview with a Russia station this Thursday, Lavrov said “any action that would threaten the security of our troops would be considered under international law as an attack on Russia.”

Several hours earlier, Lavrov had accused Moldova’s pro-European President Maia Sandu of blocking talks to resolve the Transnistria conflict. “Transnistria and Russia support direct dialogue, but judging by statements made by President Maia Sandu and her team, they do not want such dialogue, as they are being directed by the US and EU to reject talks,” Lavrov said. “Apparently, they are seeking a non-diplomatic solution to the Transnistria problem.”

Sergey Lavrov warned Moldova a military confrontation could be on the cards

Disingenious reasoning

Several days earlier, Transnistria’s separatist leader Vadim Krasnoselsky had sent a letter to President Sandu requesting talks over a peaceful political solution to the Transnistria conflict. Moldova, however, only communicates with Transnistria’s pro-Russian breakaway government through its bureau of reintegration, a governmental body headed by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrian.

In the television interview, Lavrov also said Russia would defend Russian speakers in Moldova, reminding viewers that apart from Transnistria, the region of Gagauzia was also seeking special recognition in the country. He said he hoped “Molvoda’s leadership would end the Western-dictated geopolitical games and instead think about the interests of the people, living side by side.” In July this year, Lavrov already accused Moldova of working to “annul everything Russian, just like in Ukraine.”

That same month, Moldova and Ukraine were granted EU candidate status.

Moldova’s firm stance

Moldova’s bureau of reintegration was quick to respond to Lavrov’s comments. In a public statement, it said the country was committed to a peaceful resolution of the Transnistria conflict.

This, it added, entails “identifying a sustainable and…

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President Tsai inaugurates new Ministry of Digital Affairs

August 27, 2022/in Internet Security

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) The Ministry of Digital Affairs, which has been given a broad mandate for overseeing the development of digital infrastructure and cybersecurity in Taiwan, was inaugurated at a ceremony in Taipei Saturday by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

At a plaque unveiling ceremony, Tsai said the opening of the ministry was a milestone in turning Taiwan into a smart, resilient island to better vitalize businesses and cope with national security threats.

While it is still unclear what specific projects will be overseen by the new ministry, Tsai named data integration, telecommunication, digital technology, cyber security, internet development, talent cultivation, and innovation as some of the policy areas the ministry would be responsible for.

The ministry is expected to provide digital solutions to support small and medium-sized enterprises — which make up 90 percent of Taiwan’s businesses — and improve cyber security capacity in response to “omnipresent threats” in the rapidly evolving digital world, according to Tsai.

The new ministry is headed by Audrey Tang (唐鳳), who had served as minister without portfolio in charge of digital affairs under the Tsai administration since October 2016.

In accordance with the Organization Act for the Ministry of Digital Affairs, which was enacted by the Legislature in December last year, the ministry’s personnel size is capped at 598, including 300 positions for those from outside the civil service.

Some opposition lawmakers, including Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Tsai Pi-ru (蔡壁如), have questioned whether the latter openings would risk nepotism or the hiring of partisan “keyboard warriors” tasked with manipulating public opinion in favor of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

In response, Tang said the hiring setup would give the ministry greater flexibility to recruit top private sector talent.

Tang also sought to assuage fears the new ministry could develop into an “autocratic digital big brother” involved in digital surveillance, saying that “industrial regulations and licensing are both outside the ministry’s purview.”

In a joint statement issued by the Open Culture Foundation in July, civil society groups…

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Home Affairs likens critical infrastructure protections to insurance and crime-fighting

December 8, 2020/in Computer Security

The federal government in November published an exposure draft on the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020, which seeks to amend the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI) to implement “an enhanced framework to uplift the security and resilience of Australia’s critical infrastructure”.

If passed, SOCI would create a new class of regulated entities known as “systems of national significance“, which Secretary for the Department of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo has labelled the most profoundly important segments of national infrastructure: Gas, water, power, and banking.

It would create mandatory reporting loops between the sector and the Australian Cyber Security Centre, allowing the responsible minister to designate a sector as being so sensitive that the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) would be on the network and perform monitoring.

But not everyone, Pezzullo noted, would get that ASD-level protection under SOCI as the economy is just too large.

Facing the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on Friday, Pezzullo was asked if looking after the “top tier” would result in the needs of the “middle tier” being neglected. He was also asked to expand on what the government’s view of its responsibility is.

“There are two strands here. It’s like general crime. Governments frame insurance markets — people take out insurance — but they also fight crime,” he said.

“Right down to the household level, you’re expected as part of your household insurance to secure your property with alarms and locks et cetera — and that affects the premium, but that doesn’t prevent the police — in fact, the police actively go after the criminals who might be doing break-and-enter. Cyber is no different.”

The element that’s missing, he said, continuing the insurance metaphor, is what the cost is, in an actuarial sense, that both households and firms would be willing to bear in order to provide a certain level of protection.

“Then the government strikes at the attacker, or strikes at…

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