October 2016 Intelligence News

Letter to FBI Director Comey from Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid 30 October 2016 -- "... it has become clear that you possess explosive information about close ties and coordination between Donald Trump, his top advisors, and the Russian government - a foreign interest openly hostile to the United States, which Trump praises at every opportunity. The public has a right to know this information. I wrote to you months ago calling for this information to be released to the public. "
Department of Defense Releases Budget Figure for 2016 Military Intelligence Program (MIP) DoD 28 Oct 2016 -- The Department of Defense released today the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) appropriated top line budget for FY 2016. The total MIP budget, which included both the base budget and Overseas Contingency Operations appropriations, was $17.7B billion.
China Calls Reports of Allegedly Stealing Pentagon's Secrets 'Irresponsible' Sputnik 28 Oct 2016 -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang dismissed on Friday media reports alleging Chinese spies have stolen Pentagon secret plans for a possible conflict with China, calling them irresponsible.
India 'to expel Pakistani diplomat over spying' Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- India has declared a Pakistani diplomat persona non grata for "espionage activities" and said it will expel him from the country, as tensions are already running high between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Pakistani Embassy Official Tied to Delhi Spy Ring, Declared 'Persona Non Grata' Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Delhi police claim that Pakistani Embassy official Mehmood Akhtar was the kingpin of a spy ring and recruited Indians who came seeking visas to travel to Pakistan.
Indian Police Arrest Alleged Pakistani Spies for Leaking Defense Information Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Indian police arrested in New Delhi two Pakistani men on suspicion of espionage and leaking confidential documents related to India's defense sector, local media reported on Thursday.
India Expels Pakistani Staffer on Spying Charges VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- India has expelled a staffer of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, accusing him of running a spy racket that accessed sensitive information about Indian security operations.
Former Russian Defense Ministry Official Sentenced For Treason RFE/RL 27 Oct 2016 -- A Moscow court has sentenced a former Defense Ministry official to 12 years in prison for treason, the latest in a string of treason cases heard by Russian courts.
Four Nations Call for Access to Encrypted Data VOA 21 Oct 2016 -- Anti-terror prosecutors from four nations say they need greater access to encrypted data on smartphones and computers in the fight against terrorism.
German parliament approves espionage law, prompts protest Press TV 21 Oct 2016 -- Germany's parliament has approved a controversial law that Berlin says will tighten oversight of the BND spy agency amid criticism that the legislation violates the right to privacy.
New German Intel Law 'Legalizes Spying on Population' Sputnik 21 Oct 2016 -- The German Bundestag passed new legislation providing for the biggest reform of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) in history. According to the new law, German Intelligence is supposed to be under a greater control but at the same time receive more powers that might enable it to spy on European governments and NGOs.
German Parliament Passes Law Limiting Intel Agency's Spy Powers Sputnik 21 Oct 2016 -- Germany's parliament Friday (October 21) passed new legislation giving it greater scrutiny over the work of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) following the revelations that it had secretly colluded with the US National Security Agency (NSA) in snooping on European politicians and companies.
NSA Contractor Stole 500Mln Pages of US Secrets Over 20 Years Sputnik 21 Oct 2016 -- The US Department of Justice stated in a court filing that Harold Martin III, a former National Security Agency contractor stole half-a-billion pages of US government records over 20 years, including details of secret military activities.
NSA contractor accused of largest data theft in history Press TV 21 Oct 2016 -- US government prosecutors say they would prosecute a former contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA) who is accused of stealing a "breathtaking" amount of classified information, the largest data theft the United States has ever seen.
Assange's London Embassy Asylum Nearing Its End? VOA 19 Oct 2016 -- Ecuador's decision to temporarily cut Julian Assange's internet access is a sign that the WikiLeaks founder could be overstaying his welcome at the country's London embassy – or so some in Britain hope.
Ecuador Cuts Wikileaks Head's Web Access Over Election Meddling RFE/RL 18 Oct 2016 -- Ecuador's government said it temporarily restricted internet access for Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, because it opposed the group's meddling in the U.S. election.
Ecuador Says It Restricted Assange's Internet Link VOA 18 Oct 2016 -- Ecuador's government admitted Tuesday that it had "temporarily restricted" WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's internet access at its London embassy after the site published documents from Hillary Clinton's U.S. presidential campaign.
US Denies Role in Severing Assange's Internet Link VOA 18 Oct 2016 -- The U.S. State Department has denied any role in disconnecting the internet link of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Retired US General Pleads Guilty in Classified Leak Case VOA 17 Oct 2016 -- A retired U.S. Marine general who at one time was the nation's second highest-ranking military officer, pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he lied to investigators about leaking classified information.
Assange's internet link cut off intentionally: WikiLeaks Press TV 17 Oct 2016 -- WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange's internet connection has been "intentionally" cut off, the anti-secrecy website says, reassuring his followers that "appropriate" contingency plans are in place.
WikiLeaks: Julian Assange's Internet Connection 'Severed by State Party' Sputnik 17 Oct 2016 -- The Internet connection of WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange has been "intentionally severed by a state party," the organization has claimed. The incident comes as WikiLeaks continues to release leaked documents relating to US Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Danish Intelligence Reports Ex-Chief to Police for Revealing Secret Info Sputnik 11 Oct 2016 -- The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) has accused former director Jakob Scharf for revealing confidential information to the public and filed charges against him on Tuesday.
Ukraine Detains Alleged Russian Spy RFE/RL 10 Oct 2016 -- Ukrainian authorities say a Ukrainian citizen with permanent residence in Russia has been detained in the northwestern city of Rivne.
Reports that Yahoo aided US e-mail surveillance draw concern of UN human rights expert UN News 07 Oct 2016 -- The top United Nations expert of free expression said today that reports that Yahoo complied with United States intelligence demands by searching the e-mails of hundreds of millions of customers "raise serious human rights concerns."
US judge orders top CIA officials to testify over torture program Press TV 06 Oct 2016 -- A US federal judge has ordered former high-ranking CIA officials to testify in a lawsuit against the psychologists who designed the spy agency's torture techniques after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Brooklyn Resident and Two Russian Nationals Arrested in Connection with Scheme to Illegally Export Controlled Technology to Russia US Dept. of Justice 06 Oct 2016 -- Defendants Used Brooklyn-Based Front Companies to Procure Sophisticated Military and Satellite Technology on Behalf of Russian End-Users
Maryland Man Charged With Removal of Classified Materials and Theft of Government Property US Department of Justice 05 Oct 2016 -- A criminal complaint has been filed charging Harold Thomas Martin III, 51, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, with theft of government property and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials by a government employee or contractor.
Second Snowden? Feds Arrest NSA Contractor For Stealing Classified Data Sputnik 05 Oct 2016 -- According to the New York Times, the contractor, who worked for the same company as Edward Snowden, was arrested for stealing highly-classified 'source codes' developed by the NSA to hack foreign government systems.
FBI Arrests NSA Contractor for Allegedly Stealing Computer Codes VOA 05 Oct 2016 -- A National Security Agency contractor has been arrested and is being investigated for taking "highly classified" information, according to a statement by the Department of Justice.
Yahoo secretly scanned users' emails for US intelligence agencies Press TV 05 Oct 2016 -- A report says the US Internet giant Yahoo scanned hundreds of millions of users' emails in 2015 at the request of US intelligence agencies.
Yahoo Denies Accusations of Scanning Users Emails at Request of US Intelligence Sputnik 05 Oct 2016 -- Reports on Yahoo scanning all customers' emails for information at the request of US intelligence agencies are false, a Yahoo statement obtained by Sputnik on Wednesday said.
Secret Yahoo Program Gave US Spy Agencies Access to Millions of Email Accounts Sputnik 04 Oct 2016 -- Under the auspices of a classified government directive, Yahoo Inc. built a secret custom software program designed to scan all of its user's incoming emails for a unique piece of information supplied directly by the National Security Agency or the FBI.

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