Hacked Material Shows Russia’s Propaganda Agreement With China: Report

Documents that were discovered in hacked emails from a Russian media broadcaster reveal that Russia and China have signed agreements to cooperate at coordinating propaganda that counters information in the free Western world.

The Intercept noted that a prime example can be seen in China’s quick adoption of Russia’s debunked claim that the U.S. was funding bioweapons programs in Ukraine.

“Documents found in a trove of hacked emails from Russia state broadcaster VGTRK show that China and Russia have pledged to join forces in media content by inking cooperation agreements at the ministerial level,” the report said. The hack happened shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The agreement was reportedly inked in July 2021 between the two countries, which both have state-controlled news organizations. An independent Russian-speaking news organization reported in 2020 “the existence of such propaganda agreements,” the report said.

“This is a master document of cooperation on media between the countries,” said David Bandurski, director of China Media Project, an independent organization that researches Chinese-language media. “The document allows us to see the process behind the scenes of how cooperation is planned and discussed by these particular ministries.”

The agreements show that the two countries have pledged to promote each other to domestic audiences and to audiences overseas.

“What possible real interest can Russian audiences have in a photography exhibition to celebrate the CCP’s centennial?” said Bandurski. “What the Chinese government seems to be doing here is throwing a bunch of external propaganda products onto a giant wish list, hoping that Russia will help it tell its story.”

The report says that China has the upper hand in the deal, a Russian source told the publication.

“The Chinese control all the big projects,” the source told The Intercept. “So far, they haven’t even figured out some basic issues like broadcasting our channels on Chinese cable.”

Idaho Murders Suspect Believes He Will Be Exonerated During Court Proceedings: Report

The Idaho murders suspect is expected to waive his right to have his upcoming extradition hearing in front of a judge, according to a new report.

It has been more than a month since Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, were murdered in their home on November 13.

A SWAT team arrested the suspect, who The Daily Wire is not naming in keeping with a policy to deprive mass killers of the notoriety they often crave, on Friday some 2,400 miles from the crime scene in the Pocono Mountains in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

The attorney for the suspect told TMZ that his client believes that he will be exonerated, meaning he will likely enter a not guilty plea when he goes in front of a judge.

The suspect and his parents are reportedly shocked by his arrest, the report said. The suspect told his attorney that he was not on the run and that he and his father drove the white Hyundai that officials were looking for from Washington to Pennsylvania a couple of weeks ago, a plan that they had long had.

Heavy.com reported that the suspect, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, had conducted a survey seeking to “understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime,” the suspect wrote.

The suspect asked criminals to share the “thoughts and feelings” they had throughout the experience of committing the crime.

The survey asked criminals if they prepared before they carried out their crimes, how far they traveled to commit their crimes, and what steps they took to select their victim or target.

The report also noted that the suspect at one point had worked in “part-time security for the Pleasant Valley School District in Pennsylvania.”

“These murders have shaken our community, and no arrest will ever bring back these young students,” Moscow Police Chief James Fry said at a press conference on Friday. “However, we do believe justice will be found through the criminal process.”