The data is collected from gaming, weather and shopping apps, The Wall Street Journal reports
by the El Reportero‘s wire services
The Trump administration has reportedly acquired access to a commercial database that tracks the movements of millions of cellphones in the US. The data is being used for immigration and border enforcement, according to sources and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
The data is reportedly collected from apps for gaming, weather and shopping that ask users to grant them location access. The Journal’s Friday report said the Department of Homeland Security uses the information to detect undocumented immigrants and people who may be entering the US illegally.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly uses the data to identify and arrest immigrants, while US Customs and Border Protection reportedly taps the data to spot phone activity in remote places like the deserts near the Mexican border.
Neither the White House, the Department of Justice nor ICE immediately responded to requests for comment.
Pangolins, potential carrier of coronavirus, Chinese scientists say
Pangolins, much coveted for its supposed therapeutic benefits, could be the exact animal that developed the deadly coronavirus 2019-nCoV and transmitted it to humans, Chinese scientists informed on Friday, although other intermediaries were not ruled out.
A team from South China Agricultural University and the Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory announced at a press briefing that they analyzed about 1,000 metagenome samples and discovered the pathogen in 70% of those belonging to those species.
After isolating and identifying the virus, the researchers found that the genetic sequence is 99 percent identical to the strain that currently affects humans.
However, they warned about the possible existence of other intermediate host that ‘bridges’ people and bats -the origin of 2019-nCoV- and recalled the case of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) started in Asia 17 years ago.
‘SARS, for instance, apart from civet cat, other carnivores could spread the microorganism,’ university professor Shen Yongyi explained.
Based on the results, the academic redoubled the call to the public to stay away from wild animals and trusted that the discovery would help clear up as soon as possible the unknowns surrounding the origin of the virus.
Lavrov’s visit confirms strengthening of Mexico-Russia ties
he quick but fruitful visit that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov paid to Mexico confirms the strengthening of bilateral relations.
It can be appreciated in the scope of the agreements reached during the Russian foreign minister’s first visit to Mexico since 2010, thus ratifying the solid and diversified foreign policy of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
The talks, although held at closed doors and without much media coverage, show the two governments’ interest in keeping a dynamic and open dialogue on bilateral and global issues, as well as on promoting economic relations and cooperation in several sectors.
