The campaign started in early August and accelerated in September.

Ottawa:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several other Canadian MPs have been targeted by a ‘Spamouflage’ campaign connected to China, Canada-based CTV News reported.

Under this campaign, a bot network leaves thousands of comments on their social media accounts, making nefarious claims.

However, despite the situation, the Canadian government is not acting steadfastly enough to take any further action over this ‘Spamouflage’ campaign, as per CTV News.

According to a statement from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the federal government’s ‘Rapid Response Mechanism’ (RRM) detected the campaign, which it says traces back to the People’s Republic of China.

The campaign started in early August and “accelerated in scale” over the long weekend in September. It targeted MPs across the country and across the political spectrum, posting comments in both English and French on their Facebook and X accounts, CTV News reported.

The deluge of posts claimed a critic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Canada had accused the targeted MPs of criminal and ethical violations, including the “likely use” of deep fake videos, according to the Canadian government’s RRM.

Those targeted also included Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and several cabinet ministers, but none of what GAC observed poses a risk to their safety, the department said.

Liberal MP Omar Alghabra told reporters that he was notified by the government that he was one of the MPs who was targeted.

The former Transport Minister said that he received an email that reassured him there was “no direct threat,” but beyond that, he had little information about how that assessment was reached, CTV News reported.

Mr Alghabra said he did receive repetitive social media messages from different names and different handles directing his followers to see what an individual in Vancouver was saying about him, that he was “corrupt, and involved in a corruption.”

“It was repeatedly posted… It clearly looked like spam, it looked like spam to me at the time. And now I know that it was orchestrated,” CTV News quoted Alghabra as saying.

“Spamouflage is a tactic that uses networks of new or hijacked social media accounts to post and amplify propaganda messages across multiple platforms,” according to the Canadian government.

The team that monitors online spaces for foreign state-sponsored disinformation said the goal of this campaign was likely to discredit and denigrate MPs through what – to the average user – would appear to be organic posts, alleging impropriety by using a popular Chinese-speaking figure and silence criticism of the CCP by pushing MPs to distance themselves from the critic, while discouraging other communities online from engaging with this individual, CTV News reported.

Speaking to reporters, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said Canada’s cybersecurity experts are working to determine the full extent to which Canadian government officials may have been targeted.

The same bot networks have also been used in the past to spread disinformation, and the GAC said after reaching out to Meta and ‘X’ to make the platforms aware of the most recent activity, much of it is in the process of being removed.

In August, the same foreign interference monitoring system revealed it had detected an “information operation” targeting Conservative MP Michael Chong on Chinese instant messaging platform WeChat.

In a statement to CTV News, Mr Chong said the current Liberal government – which created the RRM – has not done enough to protect Canadians on Canadian soil from “threats of authoritarian governments.”

“From foreign police stations illegally operating here to interference in our elections, these foreign interference threats have disproportionately targeted diaspora communities. It’s time the Trudeau government put the safety and security of Canadians first,” CTV News quoted the Conservative foreign affairs critic.

Meanwhile, affected parliamentarians have been offered a briefing with federal officials on their findings, and all MPs have been made aware of the campaign, and provided advice on protecting themselves.

GAC has stated that it will continue to monitor the issue for future cases as these kinds of campaigns can undermine Canada’s democracy and discourage MPs and members of diaspora communities from speaking out.

However, Monday’s release offers no indication the Canadian government plans to take any further action over this ‘Spamouflage’ campaign, noting a public inquiry into foreign interference by China and other state actors, is underway, CTV News reported.

The military has offered money, confidentiality to anyone with information regarding hostages.

The Israeli military began offering cash and protection for anyone who shares accurate information on the whereabouts of hostages held by militant group Hamas.

Gazans found the leaflets on the streets across Gaza on Tuesday after they’ve been dropped from Israeli aircraft, the latest in a slew of steps by Israel to locate some of the people Hamas is holding captive.

“If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area,” read the leaflets, written in Arabic and shared by the Israel Defense Forces. 

“The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality,” they said.

More than two weeks after Hamas attacked and killed around 1,400 Israelis, there are growing calls inside the country to rethink the scope of a ground invasion that had been expected any day. The fate of the hostages – estimated at around 200 including perhaps several dozen who are dead – is one of the main concerns that have so far held back the land incursion.

Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, has so far released four hostages, including two elderly people that were set free on Monday through Qatar’s mediation.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The girl, looking visibly scared, was sitting inside her home – a thatched hut.

Bhopal/Satna:

A month ago, heartbreaking visuals from Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain shocked the entire country. A girl, half-naked and bleeding, was seen roaming the streets knocking on many doors, pleading for help on September 25. For two hours, she passed by over 500 houses, eateries and a toll booth but no one helped her until a temple priest saw her, took her to a hospital and called the police.

She spent several days in the hospital fighting for her life, her story made headlines for several weeks, and the state government made big promises but the promises are yet to turn into action. Now, she is home and her health has improved but the wounds from hollow promises are fresh.

NDTV team reached the girl’s village near Satna to see her condition. The girl, looking visibly scared, was sitting inside her home – a thatched hut.

“No one from the district came to help me here, I graze goats. I did not get any help from the Sarpanch, no one came,” said the survivor’s grandfather.

The girl who was discharged from the hospital only 12 days ago (October 12), now walks a distance of 300 meters every day to fetch water from a hand pump with her aunt.

The family claims the village has two handpumps – one for the upper caste and one for the lower caste community.

“We are from the lower caste, that’s why nobody came to help us,” said her brother.

The victim belongs to the Scheduled Caste – Dohar – community, her brother said that is why the Sarpanch – who is a Rajput – and the administration did not help them. There are about 700 voters in the village, half of whom are from the upper caste, and half are Dalit.

The man who raped her – an auto driver who allegedly picked up the 15-year-old survivor from the railway station – was caught soon after the horrifying video went viral. The CCTV footage showed the girl, draped in rags, going door-to-door, seeking assistance.

Commenting on the incident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier said, “The accused has injured the soul of Madhya Pradesh, she is the daughter of the state, and we will take care of her in every way”.

When NDTV tried to ask Mr Chouhan the status of the benefits that the survivor should get, his reply was a ‘namaskar’.

The survivor’s neighbours say the biggest help they received after returning home was Rs 1,500 from a BJP candidate, Surendra Singh Garewar.

“Till now no one has helped then. She is buying medicines from the hospital. She did not get any benefit from the government or administration,” said a neighbour.

The family claimed that the only help they got from the government was a social justice pension of Rs 600 per month.

Statistics show that crimes against Dalits in Madhya Pradesh are higher than the national average. 50,900 incidents of crime against Scheduled Castes were reported in the country in 2021.

In Madhya Pradesh, this figure was 7,211. The crime rate against Scheduled Castes in the country in 2021 was 25.3 per cent, while in Madhya Pradesh it was 63.6%.

The H-1B visa program has long been a pivotal aspect of immigration in the United States, particularly for skilled professionals and international students.

The Biden administration recently unveiled a set of changes to the H-1B program, aimed at improving its integrity and flexibility while addressing the evolving needs of the American workforce. US-based author Soundarya Balasubramani decodes the proposed changes in the H-1B visa process.

No More Multiple Entries
One of the most significant changes involves the elimination of multiple entries by employers on behalf of the same employee. In 2023, over half of the approximately 800,000 H-1B registrations were multiple entries, artificially inflating the chances of some applicants. To combat this, an employee can only be registered once, and employers will now be required to submit passport information for each employee. This allows the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to ensure a fair and equitable selection process. Attempts to bypass this rule will lead to denials or revocations.

No Need For “Employer-Employee” Relationship
The previous requirement for an “employer-employee” relationship, imposed in 2010, has been a significant hurdle for founders looking to secure H-1B visas through their own companies. The new rule eliminates this requirement, making it easier for entrepreneurs to utilize the H-1B program to build and grow their businesses, even if they own more than 50% of the company.

Job Offer Can Be Remote
In a nod to the post-pandemic world, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledges that a bona fide job offer can now include telework, remote work, or other off-site work within the United States. This change aligns with the widespread adoption of remote work arrangements.

Automatic “Cap-Gap” Extension
A substantial victory for international students is the extension of the “cap-gap” provision. Under the previous system, F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) could only be extended until October 1st. However, with the proposed rule, students can extend it until April 1st of the following year or until they receive their H-1B visa, whichever comes first.

Increased Site Visits
To combat fraud, particularly in the IT consulting sector, USCIS will conduct more and stricter site visits. Inspectors may visit unannounced, interview officials, review records, and speak with employees. These measures aim to ensure that employers comply with the H-1B program requirements.

Stricter Definition Of “Specialty Occupation”
Another notable change is the stricter definition of a “specialty occupation.” Under the new rule, there must be a direct relationship between the required degree field and the position’s duties. This change could potentially lead to more Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials for deserving candidates.

Public Comment Period
The proposed changes to the H-1B program have not been set in stone. The Department of Homeland Security has initiated a “public comment period” that runs until December 22nd, 2023, allowing individuals to provide feedback and input. This presents an opportunity for immigrants, employers, and other stakeholders to shape the final regulations.

The move represents a significant step in modernizing and adapting the system to the needs of today’s workforce. While some changes may face criticism, they also address long-standing issues and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs, students, and skilled professionals. It’s important to note that these proposed changes are not final.

The rule is currently open for public comment until December 22, 2023. After this period, the Department of Homeland Security will review the feedback and aim to publish a final rule, expected in 2024. This is a pivotal moment for anyone interested in the H-1B program to make their voices heard and contribute to the reform efforts.