NEW YORK — Iran is ramping up online activity that appears intended to influence the upcoming U.S. election, in one case targeting a presidential campaign with an email phishing attack, Microsoft said Friday. Iranian actors also have spent recent months creating fake news sites and impersonating activists, laying the groundwork to stoke division and potentially sway American voters this fall, especially in swing states, the technology giant found. The findings in Microsoft’s newest threat intelligence report show how Iran, which has been active in recent U.S. campaign cycles, is evolving its tactics for another election that’s likely to have global implications. The report goes a step beyond anything U.S. intelligence officials have disclosed, giving specific examples of Iranian groups and the actions they have taken so far. Iran’s United Nations mission denied it had plans to interfere or launch cyberattacks in the U.S. presidential election. The report doesn’t specify Iran’s intentions besides sowing chaos in the United States, though U.S. officials have previously hinted that Iran particularly opposes former President Donald Trump. U.S. officials also have expressed alarm about Tehran’s efforts to seek retaliation for a 2020 strike on an Iranian general that was ordered by Trump. This week, the Justice Department unsealed criminal charges against a Pakistani man with ties to Iran who’s alleged to have hatched assassination plots targeting multiple officials, potentially including Trump. The report also reveals how Russia and China are exploiting U.S. political polarization to advance their own divisive messaging in a consequential election year. Microsoft’s report identified four examples of recent Iranian activity that the company expects to increase as November’s election draws closer. First, a group linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in June targeted a high-ranking U.S. presidential campaign official with a phishing email, a form of cyberattack often used to gather sensitive information, according to the report, which didn’t identify which campaign was targeted. The group concealed the email’s origins by sending it from the hacked email account of a former senior adviser, Microsoft said. Days later, the Iranian group tried to log into an account that belonged to a former presidential candidate but wasn’t successful, Microsoft’s report said. The company notified those who were targeted. In a separate example, an Iranian group has been creating websites that pose as U.S.-based news sites targeted to voters on opposite sides of the political spectrum, the report said. One fake news site that lends itself to a left-leaning audience insults Trump by calling him “raving mad” and suggests he uses drugs, the report said. Another site meant to appeal to Republican readers centers on LGBTQ issues and gender-affirming surgery. A third example Microsoft cited found that Iranian groups are impersonating U.S. activists, potentially laying the groundwork for influence operations closer to the election. Finally, another Iranian group in May compromised an account owned by a government employee in a swing state, the report said. It was unclear whether that cyberattack was related to election interference efforts. Iran’s U.N. mission sent The Associated Press an emailed statement: “Iran has been the victim of numerous offensive cyber operations targeting its infrastructure, public service centers, and industries. Iran’s cyber capabilities are defensive and proportionate to the threats it faces. Iran has neither the intention nor plans to launch cyber attacks. The U.S. presidential election is an internal matter in which Iran does not interfere.” The Microsoft report said that as Iran escalates its cyber influence, Russia-linked actors also have pivoted their influence campaigns to focus on the U.S. election, while actors linked to the Chinese Communist Party have taken advantage of pro-Palestinian university protests and other current events in the U.S. to try to raise U.S. political tensions. Microsoft said it has continued to monitor how foreign foes are using generative AI technology. The increasingly cheap and easy-to-access tools can generate lifelike fake images, photos and videos in seconds, prompting concern among some experts that they will be weaponized to mislead voters this election cycle. While many countries have experimented with AI in their influence operations, the company said, those efforts haven’t had much impact so far. The report said as a result, some actors have “pivoted back to techniques that have proven effective in the past — simple digital manipulations, mischaracterization of content, and use of trusted labels or logos atop false information.” Microsoft’s report aligns with recent warnings from U.S. intelligence officials, who say America’s adversaries appear determined to seed the internet with false and incendiary claims ahead of November’s vote. Top intelligence officials said last month that Russia continues to pose the greatest threat when it comes to election disinformation, while there are indications that Iran is expanding its efforts and China is proceeding cautiously when it comes to 2024. Iran’s efforts seem aimed at undermining candidates seen as being more likely to increase tension with Tehran, the officials said. That’s a description that fits Trump, whose administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of the top Iranian general. The influence efforts also coincide with a time of high tensions between Iran and Israel, whose military the U.S. strongly supports. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said last month that the Iranian government has covertly supported American protests over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Groups linked to Iran have posed as online activists, encouraged protests and provided financial support to some protest groups, Haines said. America’s foes, Iran among them, have a long history of seeking to influence U.S. elections. In 2020, groups linked to Iran sent emails to Democratic voters in an apparent effort to intimidate them into voting for Trump, intelligence officials said.

Los automovilistas en el este de Las Vegas podrán disfrutar de un viaje más ágil tras la finalización del proyecto de intersección entre la U.S. Highway 95 y Charleston Boulevard. El proyecto de $99 millones, que duró dos años, amplió las rampas de la autopista y agregó carriles auxiliares, requiriendo la ampliación de tres puentes. Además, se mejoraron los rampas y se ampliaron aceras. El proyecto, una colaboración entre Las Vegas, el condado de Clark y NDOT, también incluyó elementos artísticos y mejoras en la iluminación. La finalización facilitará el acceso a la clínica de salud mental de UNLV y reducirá los problemas de tráfico en la zona.

El 10 de septiembre, los candidatos presidenciales de EE.UU., Kamala Harris y Donald Trump, se enfrentarán en un esperado debate televisivo que podría influir en el resultado de las elecciones de noviembre. A menos de noventa días para los comicios, las encuestas muestran un empate entre ambos candidatos. Trump, que anteriormente solo había acordado debatir en Fox News el 4 de septiembre, ha propuesto ahora tres debates, incluyendo uno con ABC el 10 de septiembre y otro con NBC el 25 de septiembre. Kamala Harris expresó su entusiasmo en redes sociales por el debate del 10 de septiembre, mientras que las encuestas recientes sugieren que ella ha superado a Trump por cinco puntos porcentuales.

Un estudio reciente de la Universidad de California, Los Ángeles, revela las dificultades que enfrentan los latinos en los Estados Unidos al completar formularios del censo que requieren identificación racial. El informe del Instituto Latino de Política Pública muestra que las categorías actuales, especialmente la de “hispano”, no reflejan adecuadamente la diversidad dentro de la comunidad latina. La investigación indica que los métodos utilizados por la Oficina de Administración y Presupuesto (OMB) no capturan con precisión las experiencias de los latinos, particularmente los afrolatinos. Cecilia Nuñez, coautora del estudio, argumenta que las omisiones en las categorías raciales afectan el desarrollo de políticas y la asignación de recursos, subrayando la importancia de datos precisos para abordar inequidades sistémicas. El informe sugiere que el censo debería ofrecer opciones más detalladas y flexibles para reflejar mejor las identidades latinas diversas. En 2020, el gobierno de EE.UU. modificó la forma en que clasifica la raza y etnia, permitiendo seleccionar múltiples categorías, como “negro” e “hispano”, en un intento de mejorar la precisión. Sin embargo, aún persiste confusión entre muchos hispanos, que tienden a marcar “otra raza” o no responder.

A pesar de las críticas del expresidente Donald Trump y de su compañero de fórmula JD Vance al gobernador de Minnesota, Tim Walz, sobre su manejo de la violencia tras la muerte de George Floyd, Trump había elogiado su respuesta en una llamada del 1 de junio de 2020. Según una grabación obtenida por Associated Press, Trump calificó el control de la situación en Minneapolis como “increíble” y elogió la rapidez de la intervención. La grabación cobra relevancia ahora que Walz ha sido elegido como compañero de fórmula de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris en la carrera presidencial contra Trump y Vance.

Washington — President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he was not confident about a peaceful transfer of power in the United States if Republican Donald Trump loses the Nov. 5 presidential election.”If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all,” Biden said in an interview with CBS News when asked whether he thought there would be a peaceful transfer of power after the vote. “He means what he says. We don’t take him seriously. He means it. All this stuff about if we lose there’d be a bloodbath,” Biden added. During a March campaign appearance in Ohio, Trump warned of a “bloodbath” if he fails win the election. At the time Trump was discussing the need to protect the U.S. auto industry from overseas competition, and Trump later said he was referring to the auto industry when he used the term. Trump has falsely claimed he won the 2020 election against Biden and was criminally charged in Washington and Georgia with illegally trying to overturn the results. Biden dropped out of the campaign last month after fellow Democrats called for him to step aside following a poor debate performance against Trump that raised questions about the Democratic president’s age and health. Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, has since captured the Democratic nomination and is running against Trump.

Hoy, la senadora Jacky Rosen realizó una parada de campaña en Las Vegas con veteranos locales para destacar su historial en la mejora de los beneficios para los veteranos en el Senado. Rosen, acompañada por la organización nacional VoteVets, discutió el papel crucial de los veteranos de Nevada en las próximas elecciones. Entre sus logros se incluye la creación del primer Centro de Alcance para Negocios de Veteranos en Nevada, la inclusión de un nuevo hospital VA en Reno en el presupuesto del presidente Biden y la aprobación de la Ley PACT para ofrecer beneficios de salud a veteranos expuestos a sustancias tóxicas. Rosen subrayó: “Cuidar la salud y el bienestar de los veteranos de Nevada es una prioridad personal para mí”.

La Oficina del Fiscal General de Arizona firmó un acuerdo de cooperación con una de las acusadas en el caso de los electores falsos. La exabogada de Trump y figura conservadora Jenna Ellis firmó el acuerdo el lunes por la mañana. Según el comunicado, “El Estado ha acordado retirar los cargos contra la Sra. Ellis a cambio de su cooperación con la fiscalía.” Ellis, quien se declaró inocente de cargos como fraude, falsificación y conspiración, proporcionará información crucial para el caso. El Fiscal General Kris Mayes destacó que la colaboración de Ellis ayudará a probar el caso en tribunal y subrayó que la democracia estadounidense no debe ser socavada. Los casos de los otros 17 acusados continúan.

Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen held a campaign stop with local veterans in Las Vegas to highlight her record of working to strengthen their benefits in the Senate. Rosen and the Nevada veterans were joined by VoteVets, a national veterans advocacy organization, to discuss the important role Nevada veterans will play in this election. Rosen’s accomplishments for Nevada veterans include securing Nevada’s first dedicated Veterans Business Outreach Center, successfully pushing President Biden to include a new Reno VA hospital in his budget, and helping pass the PACT Act to deliver health care benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. “Senator Jacky Rosen has consistently prioritized veterans’ issues, working to enhance healthcare access, job opportunities, and benefits for those who served,” said Travis Tazelaar, VoteVets Political Director. “Her re-election is vital for continuing this progress and upholding democratic values. We urge veterans, military families, and democracy supporters to support her campaign and ensure her continued presence in the Senate.” “As a mother, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and one of the thousands of Nevada veterans who has directly benefited from the PACT Act, I will proudly cast my vote for Jacky Rosen this November,” said Air Force veteran and PACT Act recipient Aliciana Graham. “Jacky helped pass the PACT Act to right the wrongs in the system, expanding and extending critical health care coverage for myself and over 1 million veterans nationwide who have been exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and toxic substances during their service. Nevada veterans need a Senator who listens, carries their concerns back to Washington, and delivers real results. Jacky has proven she’s that leader time and time again.” “Looking out for the health, well-being, and economic security of Nevada’s veterans is personal and a top priority of mine,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “I’m proud of my record of helping bring a new VA hospital to Reno, securing our state’s first dedicated outreach center to help veteran business owners and entrepreneurs, and expanding health care benefits to thousands of Nevada veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.”

Horas después de que la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris anunciara al gobernador de Minnesota, Tim Walz, como su compañero de fórmula en su candidatura presidencial, ambos se encuentran en este momento en un mitin en Filadelfia. Este evento es el primero de varios que la campaña de Harris ha programado en estados clave. El miércoles, se dirigirán a Eau Claire, Wisconsin, para otro mitin de campaña. El mitin en Filadelfia marca la primera aparición pública de Walz tras ser nombrado en la fórmula de Harris. Walz expresó en X que unirse a Harris es “el honor de una vida” y se mostró decidido a ganar la elección.