News
Was He Operating Undercover for China? Here’s What He Revealed.
Australia’s attention was drawn to a man named Di Sanh “Sunny” Duong, who seemed to attract suspicion due to his Chinese heritage and potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party. His confident demeanor and connections to political figures raised eyebrows, leading to his eventual arrest under Australia’s foreign interference laws in 2020.
Who was the suspect?
Originally from Vietnam, Duong immigrated to Australia and became a successful businessman in the tombstone industry. Despite integrating into Australian society and participating in community organizations, his affiliations with the Chinese government raised suspicions.
During his trial, the prosecution portrayed Duong as a calculated individual with ties to Beijing, using his interactions with government officials to potentially further Chinese interests. However, Duong’s defense argued that he was merely a talkative individual prone to exaggeration rather than a foreign agent.
What was the verdict?
Despite Duong’s claims of innocence, the jury found him guilty of planning acts of foreign interference. His sentencing to nearly three years in prison marked the culmination of a legal battle that shed light on the complexities of espionage and foreign relations.
News
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.