August 2015 Intelligence News

Report: US Preparing Sanctions Over Alleged Chinese Cybertheft VOA 31 Aug 2015 -- Obama administration preparing “unprecedented” economic sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals who benefit from the cybertheft of valuable U.S. trade secrets.
I advised Snowden to go to Russia instead of LatAm: Assange Press TV 31 Aug 2015 -- WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange says he advised US National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden to seek asylum in Russia instead of Latin America.
Yemeni forces bring down Saudi spy drone intact in Jizan Press TV 31 Aug 2015 -- Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah forces and allied army units have successfully captured a reconnaissance drone in territories south of Saudi Arabia.
Iran Sentences 2 on Spy Charges VOA 30 Aug 2015 -- Iran's Revolutionary Court sentenced two people to 10 years in prison Sunday for spying, but did not identify the suspects or their nationalities.
NSA Phone Surveillance Ruling Reversed VOA 28 Aug 2015 -- A U.S. appeals court has reversed a ruling that said the National Security Agency's program to collect phone records from millions of Americans in an effort to locate terrorist plots was illegals
US court upholds NSA collection of phone records Press TV 28 Aug 2015 -- A US federal appeals court has reversed a lower judge’s order to stop the National Security Agency (NSA) from collecting the phone records of Americans under a widespread spying program that has raised privacy concerns.
Shocker: US Forces Only Captured 3 of the 116 Gitmo Detainees Sputnik 26 Aug 2015 -- New review by the Guardian reveals that an overwhelming majority of those so-called “worst of the worst terrorists” were captured by non-US forces for questionable purposes.
Tokyo: Obama Expressed 'Regret' For Spying Scandal in Japan VOA 26 Aug 2015 -- Japan says U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed regret over the alleged U.S. surveillance of senior Japanese officials.
Obama apologizes to Japan’s Abe over spying: Spokesman Press TV 26 Aug 2015 -- A Japanese government spokesman says US President Barack Obama made an apology to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over Washington’s spying on Tokyo.
Yemeni forces down UAE spy drone in southern Yemen: Media reports Press TV 25 Aug 2015 -- Yemeni forces shoot down a spy drone belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Mukayris region in southern Yemen.
Wanted For Terrorism, Commander Of Iran's Quds Force Is Actually Kind And Emotional, Brother Says RFE/RL 25 Aug 2015 -- Qassem Soleimani, a top military commander in Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, is a wanted man.
New and Unique: Russia to Unveil Latest Drone at MAKS-2015 Sputnik 24 Aug 2015 -- It is reported that the new Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ZALA 421-16E5 has been developed using unique technologies that will provide with higher quality abilities to perform tasks.
‘Spy’Jailing Stirs Fears of Russian Interference in Baltics VOA 21 Aug 2015 -- The sentencing by Russia this week of an Estonian security official to 15 years in jail for alleged spying is the latest incident amid growing tension between Moscow and the Baltic states.
Troopers receive new Raven UAS camera upgrade Army News 21 Aug 2015 -- Selected units received an upgrade to their Raven unmanned aerial systems during an initiative here last week.
Is Lockheed Building a Stealthy New U-2 Spy Plane? Sputnik 20 Aug 2015 -- A stealth version of the U-2 would allow the US to more securely conduct surveillance operations during time of peace and war.
Wall Street Journal Denies Iranian Charges That Reporter Spied RFE/RL 20 Aug 2015 -- The Wall Street Journal denied Iranian state media accusations that one of the newspaper's senior reporters spied and conspired against Iran's government.
Conviction of Estonian Internal Security Service Employee in Russia US Dept. of State 19 Aug 2015
Russia Sentences Estonia 'Spy' to 15 Years in Prison VOA 19 Aug 2015 -- Russia sentenced an Estonian security officer to 15 years in prison for spying in the latest in a series of politically charged trials.
Russia Sentences Snatched Estonian Security Officer To 15 Years RFE/RL 19 Aug 2015 -- A Russian court has convicted of espionage an Estonian security officer who Tallinn and Brussels say was abducted in Estonia.
Estonia Condemns Sentencing of National in Russia, Demands Release Sputnik 19 Aug 2015 -- Estonia condemns the sentencing of one of its nationals in Russia and demands his immediate release.
Meet Putin's Hostages RFE/RL 19 Aug 2015 -- Meet Vladimir Putin's hostages, two men and a woman who have become victims of the Kremlin leader's jihad against international rules, norms, and law.
US Officials: Edward Snowden Has Almost Lost Chance for Plea Deal Sputnik 19 Aug 2015 -- Despite earlier hopes that the US Justice Department would strike a plea deal with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, that likelihood is dwindling.
Hamas captures Mossad’s dolphin spying off Gaza Press TV 19 Aug 2015 -- Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has captured a dolphin with “spying equipment” off the shore of the Gaza Strip.
US intrudes on China’s anti-graft drive People's Daily 18 Aug 2015 -- It seems that the esteemed NYT has mistaken Chinese police officers as "special agents" in charge of national security.
State Department: Up to 305 Clinton Emails May Have Classified Data VOA 17 Aug 2015 -- A report filed with a U.S. federal judge says a review of the emails of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton has found that as many as 305 of them could contain classified information.
US Military to Increase Drone Flights Globally VOA 17 Aug 2015 -- The number of unmanned drone flights the United States operates around the globe will be increased by 50 percent.
US to sharply increase drone flights by 2019: Report Press TV 17 Aug 2015 -- The United States plans to expand the number of drone flights over the next four years in an effort to gain greater firepower and more intelligence in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, South China, and North Africa, a report says.
Obama Warns China on Agents in US Pressuring Fugitives to Return VOA 17 Aug 2015 -- The United States is holding firm in its insistence that Chinese agents sent to covertly round up and pressure Chinese fugitives to head back home must stop.
On Eve of Obama-Xi Summit, Nations Clash Over Fate of High-Profile Defector Sputnik 17 Aug 2015 -- The brother of a former high-ranking Chinese government official is believed to be in hiding in the United States.
Washington warns China over covert agents operating on US soil Press TV 17 Aug 2015 -- The administration of President Barack Obama has warned China about Chinese agents it claims are operating secretly in the United States to hunt down and repatriate fugitives--some of whom wanted in China.
Ex-KGB Agent Leaves Canada For Russia To Avoid Deportation RFE/RL 17 Aug 2015 -- A former KGB agent who spent six years living in a church in Canada to avoid deportation to Russia has left Canada, his lawyer says.
New York Times: AT&T Helped NSA Spy on Emails, Phone Calls VOA 15 Aug 2015 -- U.S. telecommunications giant AT&T gave valuable assistance to the National Security Agency's program to spy on domestic Internet and telephone traffic, according to The New York Times.
Pakistani Minister steps down after claims of ISI plot Press TV 15 Aug 2015 -- Pakistani Environment Minister Mushahid Ullah Khan has stepped down following an interview, in which he claimed former intelligence chief Zaheer-ul-Islam had connections with anti-government protests last year.
25 years on the hunt AFNS 14 Aug 2015 -- The 55th Wing's personnel and its RC-135V/W Rivet Joint hit 25 years of continuous deployment to U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility Aug. 9.
Sorties across the stratosphere AFNS 14 Aug 2015 -- The enemy should fear what it can’t see. At high altitudes toward the edge of space, the U-2S is invisible to the naked eye, transmitting critical intelligence to the warfighters below.
Army Threatens Permanent Solitary Confinement for Manning Sputnik 14 Aug 2015 -- Pending a conclusion by the disciplinary board, Manning could serve the remainder of her sentence in solitary confinement because of minor infractions.
Kerry: Chinese, Russians 'Very Likely' Reading My Emails VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said it is "very likely" his emails are read by the Chinese and Russians, both of whom have been accused of recent cyberattacks on U.S. government targets.
Hamas announces capturing of Israeli drone Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has announced it has successfully captured an Israeli drone that is now operational for use by its military wing.
New home-developed UAV, weaponry to be shown at defense exhibit CNA 12 Aug 2015 -- The military will showcase an array of locally developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and various kinds of weaponry, including missile and rocket systems.
Britain Dismisses Extradition Bid for Rwandan Spy Chief VOA 10 Aug 2015 -- A court in Britain has dropped a controversial extradition case against Rwanda's intelligence chief, who is wanted in Spain for war crimes.
Report: China Hacked Emails of US Officials VOA 10 Aug 2015 -- A U.S. media outlet is reporting that Chinese hackers have been accessing the private emails of top U.S. administration officials since at least 2010.
Lawyer for Washington Post Reporter Expects Iran Trial Verdict Soon VOA 10 Aug 2015 -- A lawyer for Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian said a verdict in his espionage trial in Iran could come within a week.
U.S. Journalist Back In Court In Iran On Spy Charges RFE/RL 10 Aug 2015 -- A Washington Post journalist accused of espionage is back in court in Tehran for the fourth hearing of his case.
Sweden's Standoff With Ecuador Over Assange Interview 'Bizarre' - WikiLeaks Sputnik 10 Aug 2015 -- WikiLeaks spokesman claims that Sweden’s standoff with Ecuador over the interrogation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is "bizarre" in light of revelations that London permitted Stockholm to question others on its soil.
Japan Expresses 'Serious Concern' Over US Spying Reports VOA 05 Aug 2015 -- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed 'serious concern' over allegations the United States spied on senior Japanese government and business officials.

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