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Hacker claims to have stolen 1 billion records of Chinese citizens from police

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  • If true, it would be one of the biggest data breaches in history.
  • Anonymous internet user offers to sell more than 23 TB of data for $200,000.
  • Claim of hack comes as China has vows to improve protection of online user data privacy.

SHANGHAI: A hacker has claimed to have procured a trove of personal information from the Shanghai police on one billion Chinese citizens, which tech experts say, if true, would be one of the biggest data breaches in history.

The anonymous internet user, identified as “ChinaDan”, posted on the hacker forum Breach Forums last week offering to sell more than 23 terabytes (TB) of data for 10 bitcoin, equivalent to about $200,000.

“In 2022, the Shanghai National Police (SHGA) database was leaked. This database contains many TB of data and information on Billions of Chinese citizens,” the post said.

“Databases contain information on 1 Billion Chinese national residents and several billion case records, including name, address, birthplace, national ID number, mobile number, all crime/case details.”

Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of the post.

The Shanghai government and police department did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.

Reuters was also unable to reach the self-proclaimed hacker, ChinaDan, but the post was widely discussed on China’s Weibo and WeChat social media platforms over the weekend with many users worried it could be real.

The hashtag “data leak” was blocked on Weibo by Sunday afternoon.

Kendra Schaefer, head of tech policy research at Beijing-based consultancy Trivium China, said in a post on Twitter it was “hard to parse truth from rumour mill”.

If the material the hacker claimed to have come from the Ministry of Public Security, it would be bad for “a number of reasons”, Schaefer said.

“Most obviously it would be among the biggest and worst breaches in history,” she said.

Zhao Changpeng, CEO of Binance, said on Monday the cryptocurrency exchange had stepped up user verification processes after the exchange’s threat intelligence detected the sale of records belonging to 1 billion residents of an Asian country on the dark web.

He said on Twitter that a leak could have happened due to “a bug in an Elastic Search deployment by a (government) agency”, without saying if he was referring to the Shanghai police case.

He posted again on Twitter later in the day, saying: “apparently, this exploit happened because the gov developer wrote a tech blog on CSDN and accidentally included the credentials”, referring to the China Software Developer Network.

Software company Elastic said it was incorrect to cite it as the source of the breach. The Shanghai government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

The claim of a hack comes as China has vowed to improve the protection of online user data privacy, instructing its tech giants to ensure safer storage after public complaints about mismanagement and misuse.

Last year, China passed new laws governing how personal information and data generated within its borders should be handled.

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China and Pakistan will travel to Pamir-Hindu Kush-Karakoram together on scientific trips.

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BEIJING: With assistance from the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences (CPJRC), Northwest University (NWU) and Karakoram International University (KIU) want to carry out collaborative scientific expeditions in the Pamir-Hindu Kush-Karakoram region.

According to the recently signed partnership agreement between the two universities, they will work together on research projects, develop talent, and train teachers primarily in the areas of cultural heritage conservation and geological catastrophe prevention and control.

According to CEN, they also talked about expanding the options for Pakistani students to pursue postdoctoral and academic degrees at NWU.

“There is a strong need for external cooperation in geological disaster and cultural heritage preservation due to complex geological conditions, frequent disasters, and unique cultural heritage in the region where KIU is located,” stated KIU Vice Chancellor Engr. Prof. Dr. Attaullah Shah.

In addition to KIU’s distinct characteristics, NWU has an edge in areas such ecological environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and control, etc., according to NWU President Sun Qingwei.

China-Pakistan cooperation in earth science is constantly evolving. A DoU to jointly develop the Karakoram Observation and Research Station (KORS) on Natural Hazards was recently inked in February between KIU and CPJRC.

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Unveiling of the PSL X trophy in the Arabian Sea

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With the stunning introduction of its historic 10th edition trophy, Luminara, in Karachi’s coastal waters, the HBL Pakistan Super League has created history.
This extraordinary action, which represents creativity, tenacity, genius, and the essence of Pakistan’s top T20 league, is a new turning point in the league’s history.
The PCB released a video showing Colombian cliff-diving sensation Orlando Duque, aided by the Pakistan Navy, plunging into the Arabian Sea to retrieve the PSL X trophy, “Luminara,” which is picked up by former captain Sarfraz Ahmed and PSL CEO Salman Naseer on the Karachi shores.
Made from a single sheet of solid silver that has been expertly machined to create its elaborate stone settings, Luminara is a stunning work of art. The trophy, which weighs 10 kg and is embellished with 22,850 high-luster zircon stones, is a reflection of the HBL PSL’s competitive prowess, passion, and exceptional stars.
The Latin words “lumens,” which means “light,” and “luminare,” which means “torch,” are the sources of the name Luminara, which means illumination. It represents the league’s ten-year history of setting the standard for entertainment and cricket excellence.
With the assistance of the Pakistan Navy, a professional diver unearthed a treasure box from the deep sea during the revealing, which took place in the open waters of the Arabian Sea. The prized trophy was then presented to HBL PSL stakeholders in Karachi. The story describes an amazing performance that embodies the league’s richness, development, and unflinching attitude. Cricket players, franchise representatives, and HBL and PCB officials all witnessed this extraordinary spectacle, which increased the anticipation for HBL PSL X.
In his remarks on the momentous occasion, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi stated that the league’s dedication to innovation and quality is demonstrated by the introduction of “Luminara” at sea. “This trophy symbolizes the league’s illuminating history and its promising future as we commemorate ten years of the HBL PSL,” he continued.
“The HBL Pakistan Super League has always been about pushing boundaries, both on and off the field,” stated Salman Naseer, CEO of the HBL PSL. The HBL PSL has been a rich source of skill, tenacity, and sportsmanship, just like the sea is full of secrets and depth. This special reveal demonstrates the intense enthusiasm that our players and supporters have for the game.
The 10th edition of HBL PSL is set to take place in four cities – Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi from 11 April to 18 May. The opening match will be played between the defending champions Islamabad United (IU) and Lahore Qalandars (LQ) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

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The policy of repatriation is enforced by Pakistan, and the deadline for Afghan citizen card holders to leave the country is set for 18 days.

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It is only 18 days left until the deadline that the government has set for the departure of unlawful foreign nationals and holders of Afghan Citizen Cards. The deadline is rapidly approaching.

It is expected that the foreign nationals who are illegally residing in the country would face severe consequences if they do not leave the country by the 31st of March.

Considering that there are just 18 days left, the deadline for their departure is drawing near almost immediately. A guarantee has been provided by the government that there will be no instances of cruelty during the process of evacuation.

As an additional point of interest, the government has announced that preparations have been taken to provide food and medical services for individuals who are departing the nation.

It was highlighted by the government that foreign nationals who wish to remain in Pakistan must complete the legal conditions in order to obtain permission to do so.

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