September 2015 Intelligence News

CIA officers pulled from Beijing after OMP hack attack Press TV 30 Sep 2015 -- The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) pulled a number of officers from the American Embassy in Beijing as a precautionary measure following the cyber theft of millions of government employees' personal data, says a report.
Two Japanese men held in China on spying charges: Reports Press TV 30 Sep 2015 -- Newly released reports say two Japanese men have been detained in China on charges of spying and have been held in custody for several months.
Report: CIA Agents Pulled From China After Data Breach VOA 30 Sep 2015 -- An undisclosed number of CIA officers have been pulled from China in the wake of massive cybertheft earlier this year that exposed the personal data of more than 21 million U.S. government workers, The Washington Post reported, citing current and former U.S. officials.
Romania Denies Complicity With CIA-Led Secret Detention Program Sputnik 29 Sep 2015 -- The Romanian government has agreed to co-operate with a European Parliament investigation into the CIA-led extraordinary rendition and secret detention program and its serious human rights violations, despite denying complicity.
Iraq PM defends anti-Daesh cooperation plan Press TV 28 Sep 2015 -- Iraq's Premier Haider al-Abadi has come out in support of Baghdad's intelligence-sharing deal with Iran, Russia, and Syria for battling the Daesh Takfiri group.
Global Hawk maintainers deliver ISR capability to warfighters AFNS 28 Sep 2015 -- The hard work of crew chiefs, avionics and ground communication specialists, who quietly work on a modern-day weapon system, enables a capability important to every deployed service member, and the way they go about it is nothing short of special.
Sloppiness, Not Moles, Led to KGB's Exposure of CIA Agents During Cold War Sputnik 28 Sep 2015 -- In a recent article for Salon, Cold War historian Jonathan Haslam explained why CIA agents abroad kept getting exposed by their Soviet counterparts. The historian explained that it was the Soviets' methodical approach to human intelligence, not massive infiltration, which gave the KGB the ability to quickly and methodically root out US agents.
Iraq May Share Intelligence on ISIL Against US Wishes Sputnik 28 Sep 2015 -- The Iraqi government, backed by the United Stated for years, is now taking another independent geopolitical step towards its neighbors, Iran and Syria, as well as Russia – it's going to share intelligence without Washington's approval.
Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia join hands in campaign against Daesh IRNA 27 Sep 2015 -- Spokesman of Iraqi government said on Sunday that the government has increased level of cooperation with Iran, Syria, and Russia in regional campaign against the Daesh terrorist group.
Iraq, Russia, Iran, Syria forming joint center to fight Daesh Press TV 27 Sep 2015 -- Iraq says it is cooperating with Iran, Russia, and Syria to form an information center to fight against the Daesh terrorist group, which has been wreaking havoc on the Arab country since 2014.
Iraq Cooperating With Russia, Iran, Syria On Security Issues RFE/RL 27 Sep 2015 -- Iraq has announced an agreement on 'security and intelligence cooperation' with Russia, Iran, and Syria to counter the threat from the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq to Share Intelligence on Islamic State VOA 27 Sep 2015 -- Iraq says it will share military intelligence and security information with Syria, Iran and Russia to fight Islamic State.
Karma Police spying on the whole internet: Snowden Press TV 27 Sep 2015 -- Documents recently leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden have revealed that Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) mapped "every visible user on the internet," in an operation code-named Karma Police.
Operations against ISIL pass one year mark UK MOD 26 Sep 2015 -- The UK will extend its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance commitment to Coalition operations in Iraq and Syria.
Estonian Kohver Thanks Supporters After Exchange With Russian Spy RFE/RL 26 Sep 2015 -- Estonian security officer Eston Kohver, imprisoned by Moscow on espionage charges, is back home after being exchanged for jailed Russian spy Aleksei Dressen.
Swapped Estonian Officer Accused of Espionage May Continue Security Service Sputnik 26 Sep 2015 -- Earlier in the day, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that Kohver, sentenced to 15 years in Russia for espionage, was swapped for former Estonian security officer Alexei Dressen serving a sentence for confidential data transfer to Russia.
Russia Swaps Estonian Intelligence Officer for Ex-Security Official Sputnik 26 Sep 2015 -- Estonian intelligence officer Eston Kohver, convicted for espionage in Russia, was exchanged on Saturday for a former Estonian security officer, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement.
Rogers Discusses NSA Reorganization, National Security Threats AFPS 25 Sep 2015 -- Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, previewed an upcoming NSA reorganization and discussed a range of national security threats with members of a Senate panel here yesterday.
China behind cybertheft in US: NSA chief Press TV 25 Sep 2015 -- Director of the US National Security Agency (NSA) Michael S. Rogers has accused Chinese officials of having a hand in the theft of commercial data in the US.
US, China Agree to Refrain From Cyber Theft, Economic Espionage Sputnik 25 Sep 2015 -- The United States and China agreed not to engage in cyber-related theft of intellectual property or economic espionage, the White House said in a press release on Friday.
Finnish Espionage: Cabinet Security Chief to Probe Phone Tapping Claims Sputnik 25 Sep 2015 -- Reports by the Swedish-language daily Hufvudstadsbladet suggested that former Defense Minister Carl Haglund and senior National Coalition MP Ilkka Kanerva may have been targets of phone espionage.
NSA, Mossad Bugged Iran Nuclear Talks but Tehran 'Was Ready for it' Sputnik 24 Sep 2015 -- The NSA intercepted and spied on all telephone calls and correspondence, as well bugged the hotel rooms of all 143 members of the Iranian delegation, including then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during the 62nd UN General Assembly in New York in 2007, NBC reported.
German Intelligence Deletes NSA Spying Lists 'By Mistake' Sputnik 24 Sep 2015 -- The German Intelligence agency BND deleted the lists of the US National Security Agency's (NSA) surveillance targets in Europe, reportedly by mistake, despite an order not to do so imposed by an investigative parliamentary commission, Die Zeit newspaper reported on Thursday, citing a German intelligence official.
China Jails US Businesswoman on Suspicion of Spying VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping U.S. Visit comes days after Chinese authorities formally arrested and jailed a U.S. businesswoman from Houston on suspicion of spying and stealing state secrets. Her husband has been left wondering when he'll next see the woman he married in 2002.
Supreme Leader Revives Feared Intelligence Unit Of Iran's IRGC RFE/RL 23 Sep 2015 -- Iran witnessed a surge in the operations of alternative intelligence bodies under former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, whose attempts at reforms were blocked by hard-liners.
'Unsafe' encounter between US spy plane, Chinese jet Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- A Chinese interceptor jet nearly collided with an American spy plane over the Yellow Sea.
Pentagon Officials: Chinese Jet, US Spy Plane Narrowly Avoid Collision Sputnik 22 Sep 2015 -- A Chinese jet made a dangerous aerial intercept near a US spy plane over the Yellow Sea earlier this month, almost causing the two aircraft to collide, two Pentagon officials said.
NSA to snoop on Iranian president at UN meeting: NBC News report Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) is most likely to spy on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his delegation during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this week, according to a new report.
Pentagon Officials: Chinese Jet, US Spy Plane Narrowly Avoid Collision Sputnik 22 Sep 2015 -- A Chinese jet made a dangerous aerial intercept near a US spy plane over the Yellow Sea earlier this month, almost causing the two aircraft to collide, two Pentagon officials said.
US Continues to Snub Poland Over CIA Secret Prison Probe Sputnik 22 Sep 2015 -- The US Department of Justice (DOJ) declined 'four successive requests for legal assistance' in its investigation into the US Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) secret prisons, citing a bilateral agreement preventing cooperation where it could conflict with national security interests, according to the Polish prosecutor's spokesman.
Xi: Cybertheft of Commercial Secrets Should be Punished VOA 22 Sep 2015 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, who begins a U.S. visit Tuesday, said his government takes cybersecurity seriously, and that cyber criminals, including hackers stealing commercial secrets, should be punished according to the law and international conventions.
Russian Intelligence Officer Jailed For 'High Treason' RFE/RL 21 Sep 2015 -- A Moscow court has sentenced a former intelligence officer to 14 years in prison on high-treason charges.
Russia's Last Soviet Spy Plane Still Flying High Sputnik 21 Sep 2015 -- The Soviet-made M-55 Geophysica reconnaissance plane has often been compared to the infamous US Lockheed U-2 spy aircraft in terms of technical characteristics; it has undergone several makeovers and may soon be replaced with a drone, the Russian media reported.
Russian Hacking Network Found Spying On U.S., Europe For Years RFE/RL 18 Sep 2015 -- Russia has been cyberspying extensively on the United States and countries throughout Europe and Asia for seven years, Finnish data security firm F-Secure said in a report published September 17.
Senate Investigates False Intel Reports on US Success in Anti-ISIL Fight Sputnik 16 Sep 2015 -- Last week, 50 intelligence analysts came forward accusing top officials within the US Department of Defense of misrepresenting their intelligence reports on the seriousness of the threat posed by ISIL and al-Qaeda's Syrian offshoot, Al Nusra.
Chinese-born Professor Faults US Authorities for Arrest VOA 13 Sep 2015 -- A Chinese-born physics professor, set to be cleared of U.S. charges that he sent sensitive technology to China, is faulting American law enforcement authorities for his ordeal because of their lack of understanding of 'routine' scientific research.
US Army plans to set up new units to boost aerial spy force: Report Sputnik 13 Sep 2015 -- The US Army is planning to establish new units to expand its aerial intelligence missions around the world, according to a report.
Ice Spy: US Builds Up Arctic Intelligence Network Sputnik 12 Sep 2015 -- The United States seems to have finally understood that it is losing something in the Arctic; but instead of mobilizing its resources for the development of the region, it has opted to build up its spy network there to watch and listen to what the others are doing, especially Russia.
U.S. Intelligence Chiefs Say Iraq, Syria May Not Survive As States RFE/RL 11 Sep 2015 -- U.S. intelligence chiefs have repeated their assessment that Iraq and Syria may have been permanently fractured by war and sectarian strife and may not survive as nation-states.
Pentagon Intel Chief Predicts Breakup of Iraq and Syria Sputnik 11 Sep 2015 -- Vincent Stewart, director of the US Defense Intelligence Agency, told a conference that he found it difficult to envisage the countries emerging intact from the wars they endure.
British Military to Buy Solar-Powered Drones Flying on Edge of Space Sputnik 10 Sep 2015 -- Britain's Ministry of Defense (MoD) will acquire three solar-powered drones that can fly on the edge of space for up to three months, the drone's manufacturer said on Wednesday.
Retired CIA Directors Stand Behind US Torture Program in New Book Sputnik 09 Sep 2015 -- Former senior CIA officials, including three agency directors, have published a book in which they defend their torture of al-Qaeda prisoners.
Russia, China Developing the World's First Drone-Carrying Missile Sputnik 09 Sep 2015 -- A multiple rocket launcher jointly being developed by Russia and China will feature the world's first ever missile capable of hauling a drone.
Russian-American Pleads Guilty To Microelectronics Smuggling Charges RFE/RL 10 Sep 2015 -- A Russian-American businessman has pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling sophisticated microelectronics from the United States to Moscow for use by Russian military and intelligence agencies.
US building spy network in Arctic to counter Russia, China Press TV 08 Sep 2015 -- US intelligence agencies plan to research potential threats in the Arctic for the first time since the Cold War.
NATO Spy Plane Roamed Skies Over Siberia Sputnik 07 Sep 2015 -- During the past several days, a US observation plane has been flying over Russian skies, taking photos of military installations and equipment.
Swiss parliament backs Israeli drone deal worth $256mn Press TV 07 Sep 2015 -- Switzerland's parliament has endorsed a plan by the government to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the Israeli regime.
Crime and Espionage Becoming Tangled Online VOA 05 Sep 2015 -- To say that 2015 has so far been seen new heights of corporate and government computer attacks, as well as an escalation in the sheer daring of those hacks, is to risk understatement.
New RAF intelligence aircraft arrives in UK seven months early UK MOD 04 Sep 2015 -- As part of its Airseeker Programme, the second signals intelligence aircraft has been delivered to the RAF, seven months early, the MOD has announced.
Snowden: Clinton Knows She Exposed Sensitive Intelligence Sputnik 04 Sep 2015 -- NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has opened up about his thoughts on the Hillary Clinton email scandal.
Pentagon: US ships are spying on Russia Press TV 03 Sep 2015 -- A senior Pentagon official has confirmed that the US ‘oceanographic ships,’ which are operating in waters off the coast of Russia, are actually gathering intelligence on the country.
DoD Team Surveys Charleston Site for Guantanamo Prisoner Transfer AFPS 02 Sep 2015 -- A Defense Department assessment team is surveying Joint Base Charleston’s Navy Consolidated Brig in South Carolina as a potential prison to house detainees.
OPM Awards Contract to Protect Data Theft Victims AFPS 02 Sep 2015 -- U.S. Office of Personnel Management officials recently awarded to ID Experts a contract encompassing a comprehensive suite of identity theft and credit monitoring services for compromised victims.
DPRK drone crosses inter-Korean border during S. Korea-DPRK talks People's Daily 02 Sep 2015 -- A drone from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) flew across the inter-Korean border during S. Korea-DPRK high-level talks.
Guantanamo inmates must remain locked up indefinitely: Pentagon chief Press TV 01 Sep 2015 -- US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said about half the detainees at the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba need to be imprisoned "indefinitely" and cannot be released to other nations.
State Department Releases More Clinton Emails VOA 01 Sep 2015 -- The State Department has released another 7,000 pages of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's emails, sent and received when she was secretary of state.
Former PLA officer gets four years for setting up spy ring CNA 01 Sep 2015 -- A former People's Liberation Army (PLA) officer was given a prison term of four years for violation of the National Security Act Tuesday.

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