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China Denies Link to Espionage Group Accused of Attacking Singapore Critical Infrastructure

People are silhouetted against the sky during their visit at Qianmen Street in Beijing, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
People are silhouetted against the sky during their visit at Qianmen Street in Beijing, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
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China Denies Link to Espionage Group Accused of Attacking Singapore Critical Infrastructure

People are silhouetted against the sky during their visit at Qianmen Street in Beijing, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
People are silhouetted against the sky during their visit at Qianmen Street in Beijing, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

The Chinese embassy in Singapore refuted claims that an espionage group accused of performing cyberattacks on Singapore's critical infrastructure was linked to China.

In a Facebook post published over the weekend, the Chinese embassy said such claims were "groundless smears and accusations".

"The embassy would like to reiterate that China is firmly against and cracks down all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with law. China does not encourage, support or condone hacking activities," it wrote on Saturday, according to Reuters.

Last Friday, a Singapore minister said the espionage group UNC3886 was "going after high value strategic threat targets, vital infrastructure that delivers essential services" but did not give details of the attacks.

The minister did not link the group to China but Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant has described UNC3886 as a "China-nexus espionage group" that has attacked defense, technology and telecommunications organizations in the United States and Asia.

Beijing routinely denies any allegations of cyberespionage, and says it opposes all forms of cyberattacks and is in fact a victim of such threats.

Singapore's critical infrastructure sectors include energy, water, banking, finance, healthcare, transport, government, communication, media, as well as security and emergency services, according to the country's cyber agency.

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World

UK's Starmer Welcomes Trump Move to Drop Greenland Tariff Threat

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he hosts a reception to celebrate Hanukkah at Downing Street in London, Britain December 16, 2025. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he hosts a reception to celebrate Hanukkah at Downing Street in London, Britain December 16, 2025. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS
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UK's Starmer Welcomes Trump Move to Drop Greenland Tariff Threat

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he hosts a reception to celebrate Hanukkah at Downing Street in London, Britain December 16, 2025. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he hosts a reception to celebrate Hanukkah at Downing Street in London, Britain December 16, 2025. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his ​Danish counterpart on Thursday that US President Donald Trump's decision not to pursue tariffs on European countries who opposed his plans to take control of Greenland was a pragmatic and common sense step.

Trump abruptly stepped back on ‌Wednesday from ‌threats to impose tariffs ‌as ⁠leverage ​to ‌seize Greenland, ruled out the use of force and suggested a deal was in sight to end a dispute over the Danish territory.

"In terms of recent developments and the withdrawal of the threat of ⁠tariffs, I see that as a reflection of ‌pragmatism, common sense and sticking ‍to our values ‍and our principles," Starmer told Mette ‍Frederiksen.

Frederiksen said Britain was one of Denmark's oldest and most important allies and partners and thanked Starmer for his support.

"I like the ​British way of doing things... You have a cup of tea and ⁠then you think a bit about everything, you get the facts on the table, and then you find a way forward, and that's exactly what we're doing now," she told Starmer at the start of their meeting at Chequers, the British prime minister's country residence.

"I think we've got to get by with ‌a little help from our friends."

World

Iran Guards Chief Says 'Finger on Trigger', Warns US against 'Miscalculations'

Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Mohammad Pakpour (Archive - Reuters)
Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Mohammad Pakpour (Archive - Reuters)
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Iran Guards Chief Says 'Finger on Trigger', Warns US against 'Miscalculations'

Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Mohammad Pakpour (Archive - Reuters)
Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Mohammad Pakpour (Archive - Reuters)

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Thursday warned Israel and the US against "miscalculations" in the wake of mass protests, saying the force had its "finger on the trigger".

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against the Iranian republic after Washington backed and joined Israel's 12-day war in June.

A fortnight of protests starting in late December shook the clerical leadership under supreme leader Ali Khamenei, but the movement has petered out in the face of a crackdown that activists say has left thousands dead.

Guards commander General Mohammad Pakpour warned Israel and the United States "to avoid any miscalculations, by learning from historical experiences and what they learned in the 12-day imposed war, so that they do not face a more painful and regrettable fate".

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and dear Iran have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders and measures of the supreme commander-in-chief -- a leader dearer than their own lives," he said, referring to Khamenei.

His comments came in a written statement quoted by state television marking the national day in Iran to celebrate the Guards, a force whose mission is to protect the 1979 Iranian revolution from internal and external threats.

Activists accuse the Guards of playing a frontline role in the deadly crackdown on protests. The group is sanctioned as a terrorist entity by countries including Australia, Canada and the United States and campaigners have long urged similar moves from the EU and UK.

Pakpour took over as Guards commander last year after his predecessor Hossein Salami was one of several key military figures killed in an Israeli strike during the 12-day war, losses which revealed Israel's deep intelligence penetration of Iran.

Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities on Wednesday said 3,117 people were killed.

The statement from the Iranian republic's foundation for martyrs and veterans sought to draw a distinction between "martyrs", who it said were members of security forces and innocent bystanders, and what it described as "rioters" backed by the US. 

Of its toll of 3,117, it said 2,427 people were martyrs. 

However, rights groups say the heavy toll was caused by security forces firing directly on protesters and that the actual number of those killed could be far higher and even extend to over 20,000. 

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said "the future for the Iranian people can only be in a regime change", adding that the Iranian “regime is in quite a fragile situation". 

World

Merz Warns Great Power Politics Makes World 'a Dangerous Place'

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
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Merz Warns Great Power Politics Makes World 'a Dangerous Place'

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Thursday that the international order is "unravelling at a breathtaking pace" and that "a world where only power counts is a dangerous place".

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Merz pointed to Russia's war in Ukraine, a rising China and a United States that is "radically reshaping its foreign and security policy".

"A world where only power counts is a dangerous place," he said. "First for small states and for the middle powers, ultimately for the great ones."

The conservative leader of the top EU economy said Germany went down this road "to its bitter end" during the 20th century, reported AFP.

"It pulled the world into a black abyss," he said.

"So let us bear in mind: our greatest strength remains the ability to build partnerships and alliances among equals based on mutual trust and respect."

Merz called Russia's invasion of Ukraine "the most drastic expression" so far of a global "new era". He added that China, "with strategic foresight, has worked its way into the ranks of the great powers".

"The United States' global pole position is being challenged," Merz said, with Washington responding by "radically reshaping its foreign and security policy".

"We have entered a time of great power politics. The international order of the past three decades anchored in international law has always been imperfect. Today, its very foundations have been shaken."

He said Europe's power rested on three pillars.

"First we must invest massively in our ability to defend ourselves, and we are doing this," he said.

"Second, we must rapidly make our economies competitive, and we are doing this. Third, we must stand closer together among Europeans and among like-minded partners. We are doing this."