February 2016 Intelligence News

EC Unveils Legal Safeguards for Europeans After Spying Scandal Sputnik 29 Feb 2016 -- The European Commission published a variety of arrangements aimed at intencifying data protection and privacy rules, after dialogue with Washington.
Putin Instructs FSB to Halt Attempts of Splitting Society During Elections Sputnik 26 Feb 2016 -- Russian President said that FSB must halt all attempts directed at splitting society or using nationalist, xenophobic, or radical slogans during parliamentary elections later in the year.
Russian Security Service Worked in 2015 Amid Increasing Pressure on Moscow Sputnik 26 Feb 2016 -- Russian security service personnel worked in conditions of increasing political, economic, military and informational pressure on Russia in 2015, Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov said Friday.
Over 400 Foreign Intelligence Agents` Activities Thwarted in Russia in 2015 Sputnik 26 Feb 2016 -- The activities of over 400 foreign intelligence agents and staff were foiled in 2015, including 23 who were held criminally liable for their actions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.
Apple Vs. FBI Pits Personal Against National Security VOA 25 Feb 2016 -- In defying the U.S. government's demands to help it break into a locked iPhone, Apple Inc. and its chief executive have added another chapter to the tech company's lore. The move has amplified its role, not only as an innovator of computing and communications, but also as a global guardian of privacy and security – and created a complicated challenge.
Estonia Jails Three Men For Spying For Russia RFE/RL 23 Feb 2016 -- Estonian authorities say they have jailed three men convicted of spying for Russia.
Italy calls in US envoy over NSA tapping of Berlusconi's phone calls Press TV 23 Feb 2016 -- Italy has summoned the US ambassador to Rome in the wake of reports that the US National Security Agency (NSA) tapped the telephones of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his aides.
NSA eavesdropped on Netanyahu, Berlusconi: WikiLeaks Press TV 23 Feb 2016 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) tapped a phone conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi, the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks has revealed.
New documents expose widespread US espionage on Merkel Press TV 23 Feb 2016 -- A German newspaper has cited new classified documents by the online whistleblower WikiLeaks showing that the United States spied extensively on German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
US spied on Ban to protect its oil firms: WikiLeaks Press TV 23 Feb 2016 -- The US National Security Agency has spied on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's private meetings to save American oil companies, WikiLeaks new release says.
Saudi Arabia puts 32 Shias on trial over 'spying for Iran' Press TV 22 Feb 2016 -- A group of 32 Shia Muslims, including an Iranian national, has been put on trial in Saudi Arabia over charges of spying for Iran.
US Intelligence Collection 'Improves,' More Spies Needed to Fight Daesh Sputnik 22 Feb 2016 -- According to CIA Deputy Director David Cohen, the US needs to recruit additional spies to compensate for the lack of US ground troops in Syria.
Daesh has used, can make chemical weapons: CIA director Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- The Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group has used chemical weapons in its attacks and is capable of making small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas, says the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director.
CIA: Islamic State Has Chemical Weapons VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- The director of the Central Intelligence Agency said Islamic State fighters in Syria have used chemical weapons.
US Intel Chief Concerned About Beijing's South China Sea Militarization VOA 11 Feb 2016 -- U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper has told a Senate committee that he expects China to continue building on artificial islands to sustain its 'exorbitant' territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.
DoD Releases Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Request for Fiscal Year 2017 DoD 09 Feb 2016 -- The Department of Defense released today the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) top line budget request for fiscal year 2017. The total, which includes both the base budget and Overseas Contingency Operations funding, is $16.8 billion.
US spy chief warns of new Cold War between US, Russia Press TV 09 Feb 2016 -- The US intelligence chief has warned that tensions between the United States and Russia are spiraling into a new Cold War.
U.S. Intelligence Chief: IS, 'Assertive' Russia Among Unprecedented Challenges RFE/RL 09 Feb 2016 -- U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper says that Russia remains intent on pursuing an 'assertive foreign policy' in 2016, including hampering Ukraine's Western aspirations.
Norway Afraid of Russia's Intel Gathering More Than of Any Other State Sputnik 09 Feb 2016 -- Head of the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) Benedicte Bjornland claimed Tuesday that Russian intelligence gathering could inflict more harm on Norwegian interests than the activities of any other country.
US Spy Chief: N. Korea Has Restarted Plutonium Reactor VOA 09 Feb 2016 -- North Korea could start gathering plutonium from a restarted reactor "within weeks," providing Pyongyang with more fuel for nuclear weapons, the top. U.S. intelligence official warned lawmakers.
Poland's Controversial Law Expanding Surveillance Powers Comes Into Force Sputnik 07 Feb 2016 -- Poland's controversial new law expanding government surveillance powers comes into force on Sunday after being signed by Polish President Andrzej Duda earlier this week.
Pentagon Releases Photos of Prisoner Abuse from Iraq, Afghanistan VOA 05 Feb 2016 -- The Pentagon has released nearly 200 pictures previously withheld from the public that document prisoner abuse in some Iraq and Afghanistan detention centers from 2001 to 2009.
Pentagon releases detainee abuse photos Press TV 05 Feb 2016 -- The US Defense Department has released a series of photographs, showing injuries inflicted on detainees by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
US, UK spy agencies eying 'reciprocal' online data sharing Press TV 05 Feb 2016 -- The US and the UK are discussing a deal that will allow their spy agencies to ask Internet companies in each others' countries to turn over online records and emails from people under investigation, officials say.
New Snowden Docs Reveal GCHQ's Metadata Collection Details Sputnik 05 Feb 2016 -- Currently wanted by the US government for revealing the extent of the NSA domestic and global spying apparatus, whistleblower Edward Snowden's latest leak reveals that Britain's GCHQ also collected enormous amounts of metadata.
WikiLeaks founder criticizes UK for his 'unlawful detention' Press TV 05 Feb 2016 -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been hold-up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, urges British and Swedish authorities to allow him walk free from the 'arbitrary detention'.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the UK, UN panel finds UN News 05 Feb 2016 -- The founder of the WikiLeaks website, which published confidential diplomatic information, has been arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the United Kingdom since his arrest in London in December 2010, as a result of the legal action against him by both Governments, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said today.
WikiLeaks Founder Assange Calls UN Ruling 'Vindication' VOA 05 Feb 2016 -- A U.N. panel's finding that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained is a 'vindication,' said the WikiLeaks founder Friday from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been living to avoid extradition.
Classified Information Found in Personal Emails of Powell, Aides to Rice VOA 04 Feb 2016 -- The U.S. State Department has determined that emails containing classified information were sent to the personal email accounts of former Secretary of State Colin Powell and aides to his successor, Condoleezza Rice.
UN panel concludes Assange detention illegal: Sweden Press TV 04 Feb 2016 -- Sweden says a ruling by a United Nations panel has described the detention of the founder of whistleblower website WikiLeaks in the Ecuadorian embassy in London as 'illegal.'
Pakistan and Afghan Intelligence Chiefs Hold Talks VOA 04 Feb 2016 -- Afghanistan's spy chief visited Pakistan Thursday for bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterparts on building mutual trust for effective intelligence sharing and counterterrorism cooperation.
Intelligence windfall for U.S. from brother of ex-Chinese official:report CNA 05 Feb 2016 -- A Chinese defector has been reportedly revealed some of the innermost secrets of the Chinese government and military, including details of its nuclear command and control system, according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon, citing American intelligence officials.
Turkey's Intelligence Overhaul Replaces Diplomats With Spies Sputnik 03 Feb 2016 -- Turkey's National Intelligence Agency is expanding at the same time as its Foreign Ministry is closing down certain embassies and recalling diplomats, Al-Monitor reported.
Intel paints battlefield picture from windowless room AFNS 02 Feb 2016 -- In a windowless room, illuminated only by the light of computer screens, intelligence Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron paint a picture of the battlespace clear as day.
Uganda Explains Arrest of Former Intelligence Chief VOA 01 Feb 2016 -- The government of Uganda says the country's former intelligence chief, General David Sejusa, who has called President Yoweri Museveni a dictator, was arrested Sunday in Kampala by the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) following a 2½-hour search of his home by the military.

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