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SYDNEY — The Australian government will introduce legislation Wednesday that will make it a criminal offense to create and share deepfake pornographic images of people without their consent. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said sharing such images is a damaging and deeply distressing form of abuse. A deepfake is an image or video in which a person's face or body has been altered to make it appear they are doing or saying something that never happened. Deepfake pornography overwhelmingly affects women and girls.  Increasingly, it is being generated by artificial intelligence. The Australian government said it will not tolerate such “insidious criminal behavior.”  Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said it’s a crime that can “inflict deep, long-lasting harm on victims.” New laws being introduced Wednesday in Federal Parliament in Canberra create a new criminal offense that will ban the creation or sharing of digitally altered sexually explicit images without consent. Offenders could be sent to prison for up to seven years. Katina Michael is an honorary professor at the Faculty of Business and Law in the School of Business at the University of Wollongong. She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that technology, including artificial intelligence, can help detect deepfake material. “In essence, what we can do is detect deepfake videos," she said. "They are literally special effects videos where the images have been manipulated frame-by-frame and, so, we can run videos through analyzers and digital platform providers can do that, social media providers can do that." She said while artificial intelligence facilitates the creation of deepfake pornography, it can also can be used as a deterrent. Often celebrities are the victims of digitally altered material, but it is a crime that has affected many other people. Earlier this year, fake images of the American singer Taylor Swift flooded the internet, with one sexually explicit image of the singer reportedly being viewed almost 50 million times. The new legislation in Australia will only apply to deepfake sexual material depicting adults, with child abuse material continuing to be dealt with under dedicated and separate laws. In April, Britain said it would bring in similar legislation to ban deepfake pornography. In Australia, the new deepfake laws are part of a range of measures aimed at reducing violence against women and addressing the role that technology, including social media, plays in propagating degrading and misogynistic attitudes.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Seoul, South Korea — Nearly 50 deals and agreements have been signed during South Korea's first summit with leaders from 48 African countries to cooperate in areas such as mining, energy and manufacturing, South Korea's industry ministry said Wednesday. Hyosung Corp, a South Korean conglomerate, signed a contract to supply electric transformers to Mozambique worth $30 million, the ministry said in a statement The industry ministry also signed agreements to cooperate on critical minerals with Madagascar and Tanzania in order to secure supplies for industries such as batteries, it said.  The 47 agreements with 23 African countries were made during the summit as Asia's fourth-largest economy seeks to tap the minerals and the vast export market in Africa. "Despite its enormous potential, Africa still accounts for only 1-2% of South Korea's trade and investment," South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told a gathering of about 200 political and industry leaders from African countries and South Korea at a business summit Wednesday. "My hope is that mutually beneficial resource cooperation will be expanded," Yoon said. Yoon pledged on Tuesday that South Korea would increase development aid for Africa to $10 billion over the next six years, and said will offer $14 billion in export financing to promote trade and investment for South Korean companies in Africa.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Taipei, Taiwan — China hardened its position on contentious security issues in the Indo-Pacific region at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last weekend, as Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun criticized some external forces for offering military support to Taiwan while accusing the Philippines of endangering stability in the South China Sea.  While Dong said Beijing had exercised constraint in response to what it described as “infringements and provocations” carried out by a certain country, without directly naming the Philippines, delegates from some countries say his speech was “full of veiled threats.”  “There were a number of threats to the region in his speech, including warning that ‘Taiwan separatists’ would be nailed to the pillar of shame in history and that countries interfering with Beijing’s efforts to reunify with Taiwan would face self-destruction,” said Jennifer Parker, a defense expert at the Australian National University and a delegate at the Shangri-La Dialogue.  In addition to threats about Taiwan, Parker said Dong’s speech also reflects Beijing’s disregard for the Philippines’ agency in the two countries’ ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea. “There was a clear level of disrespect towards the Philippines [in Dong’s speech,]” she told VOA by phone.  During his 40-minute-long keynote address, Dong accused some external forces, an indirect mention of the United States, of “undermining” the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and bringing “unstable factors to regional peace and development.” Some Shangri-La delegates from the Philippines said some Southeast Asian countries view China’s attempt to “speak on behalf of ASEAN” as a “blatant attempt to hijack ASEAN.”  “China’s use of ‘ASEAN centrality’ argument rings hollow because it is not a member of ASEAN but it also claims to speak on behalf of ASEAN,” Justin Baquisal, a Manila-based geopolitical analyst and a delegate at the Shangri-La Dialogue, told VOA in a written response.  During the question-and-answer session of his speech, Dong refused to address questions about China’s stance on the war in Ukraine and spent almost 10 minutes reiterating Beijing’s warning toward Taiwan’s new government under President Lai Ching-te, whom the Chinese government views as a separatist. Parker in Australia said while previous Chinese defense ministers tried to ensure their speeches resonated to some level with the audience during Shangri-La Dialogues, Dong Jun didn’t seem to care how his speech was received. “I interpret the message from his speech as ‘we don’t care about what you think,’” she told VOA. Washington’s commitment to regional partnership  Compared to the blunt warning reflected in Dong’s speech, some analysts say United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue was well-received by representatives from several countries.  During his 30-minute address, Austin said like-minded countries across the Indo-Pacific region have deepened engagements and delivered results that benefited people over the last three years.  “A new model of convergence in this region is not a single alliance or coalition, [but] a set of overlapping and complementary initiatives and institutions, propelled by both a shared vision and a shared sense of mutual obligation,” he told a room of hundreds of international delegates.  He highlighted 13 different agreements or initiatives Washington has rolled out with allies in the region, including South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and India, while emphasizing that the U.S. is “deeply committed to the Indo-Pacific.”  “The United States and this region are more secure and more prosperous when we work together,” Austin said, adding that Washington is “all in” and “not going anywhere.”  Parker says the focus on partnership in Austin’s speech is viewed positively by some countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including traditional allies like Japan and Australia.  “Australia featured heavily in the speech, both through referencing to Richard Marles and through referencing of our partnership several times,” she told VOA, adding that Austin’s speech would play well with other allies such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.  While the U.S. Defense Secretary reaffirmed Washington’s support for Manila, Baquisal thinks his speech was “too plain to please anybody.”  His speech "was too weak to deter China, who was notably more bellicose toward the Philippines in its language during the Shangri-La Dialogue, and too strong for the comfort of some Southeast Asian states in attendance, who prefer that both the U.S. and China not go into a war of words in the summit,” he told VOA.  Security environment in Indo-Pacific may deteriorate   Despite Washington and Beijing’s attempt to de-escalate tension between them through the talks between Austin and Dong, some regional analysts say their respective speeches show the two superpowers still hold “very different views.”  Dong and Austin "met but didn’t have a meaningful dialogue, [so] other countries will have to accept that the U.S.-China rivalry is a long-term trend and they need to figure out how to navigate in this environment,” Bich Tran, a postdoctoral fellow at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore and a Shangri-La Dialogue delegate, told VOA in a written response.  Parker from Australia said there are no signs that tensions in the Indo-Pacific region are easing following an eventful weekend in Singapore. “I didn’t get any sentiment from Dong’s speech that China is keen to resolve any of these issues, [and] I think the current trajectory in the region will continue,” she told VOA.  In her view, the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region will “continue to deteriorate” in the near future, judging from the recent Chinese military exercise around Taiwan and Beijing’s sharp language towards the Philippines.  “It’ll be difficult for regional countries who are economically dependent on China to [adjust to this dynamic,]” Parker said.   

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

President Joe Biden says he’s restricting asylum to help “gain control” of the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexico’s newly elected president faces a long list of challenges, including persistent cartel violence, a deeply divided country, and cash-straitened social programs. This week marks the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations in China. Veterans are in France to attend the 80th anniversary on Thursday of the D-Day landings, which will be marked with several ceremonies attended by world leaders

Hong Kong — Hong Kong police arrested four people and detained five others Tuesday as authorities sought to stamp out commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in mainland China on its 35th anniversary.  Police were out in force patrolling Hong Kong’s Victoria Park, where an annual candlelight vigil had been held until recent years. As police patrolled the area, including the two closest subway stations, they did not hesitate to take away people who were publicly marking the anniversary. Police late Tuesday said they made four arrests, including a 68-year-old woman who was chanting slogans, and suspected to have committed offenses "in connection with seditious intention," which carries a sentence of up to seven years in jail under a new domestic security law - known locally as Article 23. Videos from local media showed a woman shouting "The people will not forget." Three other people were arrested, including a 24-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman for allegedly attacking police officers and disorderly conduct, and a 23-year-old man on assault charges for allegedly attacking two security guards. Police told VOA the two men arrested were a Swiss and a Japanese national. Five other people were taken in for questioning over suspicion of disrupting public peace, but have been released, police said. Officers led away an elderly man who had held up two handwritten posters listing democracy movements in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan alongside a poem commemorating June 4. The police action came even though he folded his papers after being warned he would be arrested for “disorderly conduct,” according to a French news agency reporter who tweeted about the incident. Police told VOA they could not immediately provide information about this case, but he was reportedly released later. Separately, diplomats from Western countries were seen walking outside the park on Tuesday evening, followed by throngs of press, according to Hong Kong Free Press. Ahead of the anniversary, police detained performance artist Sanmu Chen in Causeway Bay, the busy Hong Kong shopping district where the park is located. Before officers approached him, Chen wrote the Chinese characters “8964,” which refer to the date of the crackdown, with his finger in the air. He also mimed the Chinese traditional tomb sweeping ritual of pouring wine onto the ground to mourn the dead, according to local media Hong Kong Free Press. He was released the same night, Hong Kong police told VOA. Local media reported several other people, including an activist who shouted, "People will not forget," were also taken away, while police searched and questioned a woman whose phone flashlight was turned on. In the past week, eight people were arrested for allegedly posting “seditious” messages, reports say. For years, the vigil in Victoria Park drew thousands of participants. At its height, 500,000 people gathered in remembrance of the crackdown, making Hong Kong the only place in China where June 4 commemorations could be held. For a time, it was also the world’s largest commemorative Tiananmen Square event. The vigils, however, disappeared after Beijing imposed its 2020 national security law on Hong Kong in response to widespread and sometimes violent 2019 protests over a later-rescinded extradition bill. The measure would have allowed authorities to send suspected financial criminals to the mainland for trial. The 2020 law criminalizes secession, subversion, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism. While the government credits it with restoring order, critics say it has curtailed Hong Kong’s freedoms, including the right to hold events like the vigil, that last major one of which was held in 2019. 2024 law Planners of past vigils tell VOA that authorities remain worried large-scale events could still be used as a platform for broader protest. The government appears to have confirmed those concerns with this year’s passage of Article 23, a domestic security measure that expands on the national security law, criminalizing and expanding penalties for offenses including sedition, secession and subversion. Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said “different people may use different excuses to hide their intentions.” “It’s important we all bear that in mind, to be on guard all the time against attempts to cause trouble to Hong Kong, particularly disturbing public peace,” he said. One-time vigil organizer Richard Tsoi, a member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said Article 23 makes even small commemorations riskier. “Now with Article 23, the penalty is higher … so the risk is higher,” said Tsoi, who served eight months in prison after defying the government’s ban on holding the vigil in 2020. The group disbanded the following year. Some people, however, are commemorating privately. One activist posted a picture online of a wooden cross, flowers and a card with the words “People Will Not Forget” positioned by what appears to be Victoria Harbor. So far, no one has been arrested for posting images, but local media reported a former district councilor's display of candles in his shop was removed after a visit by plainclothes police officers. The Tiananmen Square crackdown occurred when government troops fired on student-led pro-democracy protesters on June 4, 1989. Hundreds, possibly thousands, died. At the park, one elderly man said there was no need to commemorate June 4. “It was a tragedy, but it’s over; just let it go. Now the mainland and Hong Kong are doing so well. I hope they don’t organize any more protests; it was terrible for Hong Kong’s economy,” said the man. He declined to reveal his name because he considers the topic sensitive. “Wherever you live, you hope it is peaceful and stable.” Asked if he was worried about the loss of Hong Kong’s freedom of expression, he said, “Everyone’s definition of freedom is different. You think freedom is like this. I think freedom is like that.... I need stability so that the economy is good and people can make a living.” Farther away, a young mother described fond memories of participating in one of the vigils as a teenager. “It was very peaceful. It was to let us remember what happened,” said April, using a pseudonym to protect her privacy. She now feels “helpless” about what had become of her beloved Hong Kong and “confused” about the events of the 2019 protests: who was in the wrong — violent protesters or police — and whether foreign influence was involved. “I try not to think about it,” she said. “I used to support fighting for justice, but now I think I should just shut my mouth.” Silence and lack of commemorations could mean future generations won’t know about Tiananmen — or at least not as much, Tsoi said. Since the end of the vigils, no place, not even democratic Taiwan, has been able to replace Hong Kong’s role in commemorating the crackdown. “If this continues, people will forget this incident, the related history and the truth, especially the new generation,” he said, adding that Hong Kong textbooks have heavily redacted accounts of that historic event, and books on the topic have been removed from libraries and most bookstore shelves. “I think the 1989 movement and June 4th is a major incident in ... China’s modern history, which still affects today. There are still many unanswered questions, such as why the government decided at the time to clear the square, and how many people died,” Tsoi said. “Such a major incident shouldn’t be forgotten; it should be examined.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday expressed support for anyone reflects on the events of that one day in June of 1989. "As Beijing attempts to suppress the memory of June 4, the United States stands in solidarity with those who continue the struggle for human rights and individual freedom," he said. Staff at the U.S. consulate and European Union office in Hong Kong lined windowsills with candles, which were visible after dusk.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Tuesday said it could not agree to a peace deal without a clear Israeli position on a permanent cease-fire and complete withdrawal from Gaza. The decision followed Israeli leaders’ pledge to continue military operations until Hamas is destroyed, despite a cease-fire proposal announced by President Joe Biden days earlier. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has the story.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Trenton, New Jersey — Representative Andy Kim won the Democratic Senate primary in the U.S. state of New Jersey on Tuesday, putting him in a strong position for the general election in the blue-leaning state. The win comes a day after Democratic Senator Bob Menendez filed to run as an independent amid his federal corruption trial.  Kim, a three-term congressman who launched his campaign after charges against Menendez were announced last year, rose to the top in the state's dominant political party over a relatively short period. A former Obama national security official, he defeated an incumbent Republican in a 2018 House race and won a court ruling that toppled a unique-to-New Jersey system widely viewed as giving political bosses influence over who wins primaries.  "Our win today is a stunning victory for a people-powered movement that mobilized against corruption and stood up to the machine politics of New Jersey," Kim said in a statement.  Kim's victory comes after a bruising start to the primary, when a battle between him and New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy began to take shape. Murphy, a first-time candidate and the spouse of Governor Phil Murphy, bowed out of the contest, saying she did not want to engage in a negative campaign against a fellow Democrat. On Tuesday, Kim defeated labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina and longtime grassroots organizer Lawrence Hamm, who remained on the ballot.  Menendez, a three-term incumbent senator, declined this year to seek re-election as a Democrat but filed Monday in Trenton to run as an independent. He has said he hopes to be cleared of the charges this summer.  Democrats' tight hold on control of the Senate means they can hardly afford a competitive race in a state widely viewed as safe for the party. It's unclear how the trial of Menendez will end and how his candidacy could affect the race. Republicans are eager to exploit his run as a wedge to divide the Democratic vote.