December 2016 Intelligence News

Portugal set to extradite CIA operative to Italy Press TV 31 Dec 2016 -- Portugal is poised to hand over to Italy Sabrina de Sousa, a former US spy convicted of the abduction of an Egyptian cleric.
FBI, DHS release report on alleged Russian hacking of election Press TV 30 Dec 2016 -- US intelligence services have released an analysis detailing how federal investigators believe the Russian government was behind hacks of the 2016 US election.
Trump Seeks Full Report from US Intelligence Agencies on Russian Allegations Sputnik 30 Dec 2016 -- Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said that Donald Trump will personally hear assessments from across the US intelligence community on the allegations of Russian interference in the American elections.
Trump to Meet With Intelligence Officials to Clarify Russian Spying Accusations Sputnik 30 Dec 2016 -- "In the interest of our country and its great people," Trump promised to meet with members of the FBI, DHS, and other intelligence agencies "to be updated on the facts of this situation," according to a statement from the transition team.
JSTARS Recap program takes next step with RFP release AFNS 29 Dec 2016 -- The Air Force is well on its way to replacing a critical airborne battle management command and control weapon system with the Dec. 28, 2016, release of the development request for proposal, or RFP, for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or JSTARS Recapitalization program.
Law to prevent spying by retired military personnel passes 1st reading CNA 29 Dec 2016 -- A draft amendment to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Veterans Assistance Act, which is aimed at preventing Taiwanese retired military personnel from spying for foreign nations, passed its first reading in the Legislature on Thursday.
Obama Set To Release Report To Congress On Alleged Russian Hacking Sputnik 29 Dec 2016 -- President Barack Obama said his administration will provide lawmakers a detailed analysis regarding allegations of Russian "efforts to interfere in our election" in addition to accusations of "malicious cyberactivity."
US Imposes Sanctions on Russia for Alleged Hacking of Election Sputnik 29 Dec 2016 -- Despite a glaring lack of evidence to support allegations that Russia interfered in the US presidential election, the White House has announced that they will be imposing sanctions on the nation.
Obama Hits Russia With New Sanctions for Election Hacking VOA 29 Dec 2016 -- President Barack Obama on Thursday hit Russia with new sanctions over its computer hacking and interference in the November presidential election and other Russian actions, including harassing U.S. diplomats in Moscow.
Press Call on the Administration Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment The White House 29 Dec 2016
Statement by the President on Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment The White House 29 Dec 2016 -- "Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election. These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior."
FACT SHEET: Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment The White House 29 Dec 2016 -- "Today, President Obama authorized a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election in 2016. Russia's cyber activities were intended to influence the election, erode faith in U.S. democratic institutions, sow doubt about the integrity of our electoral process, and undermine confidence in the institutions of the U.S. government. These actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
Department of State Actions in Response to Russian Harassment US Dept. of State 29 Dec 2016 -- The State Department today declared persona non grata 35 Russian officials operating in the United States who were acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic or consular status.
Obama Set To Release Report To Congress On Alleged Russian Hacking Sputnik 29 Dec 2016 -- President Barack Obama said his administration will provide lawmakers a detailed analysis regarding allegations of Russian "efforts to interfere in our election" in addition to accusations of "malicious cyberactivity."
US Intel Images Suggest Another N. Korean Missile Launch Site VOA 28 Dec 2016 -- New reviews of satellite images suggest North Korea may possess another missile launching site at a village once suspected of having nuclear facilities.
Israeli reporter offers proof of Mossad killing Tunisian drone expert Press TV 26 Dec 2016 -- An Israeli investigative reporter has offered proof that a Tunisian drone expert who worked for the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas was killed by Mossad.
UK councils abused laws to spy on Brits for 5 years: Report Press TV 26 Dec 2016 -- Councils across the UK have abused a law to carry out an extensive spying program on unsuspecting citizens a period of five years, a new report shows.
UK Local Authorities Revealed Spying on Citizens for 5 Years Sputnik 26 Dec 2016 -- UK local authorities have been spying on public via listening devices, cameras and private detectives for five years, media reported.
Snowden's intelligence leaks largest in US history: Congress Press TV 23 Dec 2016 -- US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden "has had and continues to have contact" with Russian intelligence services and his leaks were the largest public release of top-secret materials in US history, according to a newly declassified congressional report.
Intel Committee Releases Declassified Snowden Report US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 22 Dec 2016 -- The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence today released a declassified version of its investigative report on Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who fled to China and then Russia after stealing an estimated 1.5 million classified documents.
U.S. Lawmakers: Snowden In Contact With Russian Security Agencies RFE/RL 22 Dec 2016 -- Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have accused the fugitive national security contractor Edward Snowden of communicating with Russian security agencies while he is exiled in Moscow.
Congressional Report Aiming to Smear Snowden, Surprisingly Exonerates Him Sputnik 22 Dec 2016 -- A Congressional report aimed at smearing Edward Snowden has surprisingly exonerated him, and the whistleblower took to Twitter on Thursday to brilliantly explain the details.
Declassified US House Report Claims Snowden in Contact With Russian Intel Sputnik 22 Dec 2016 -- The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said in a declassified report on Thursday that former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden is in contact with Russia's intelligence services.
EU's top court rules UK's mass snooping of Brits illegal Press TV 22 Dec 2016 -- The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled as illegal the UK government's plan to conduct an indiscriminate mass gathering of data on British citizens.
Russian hacking serious issue but no select committee needed to probe it: McConnell Press TV 20 Dec 2016 -- US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said there is no need to form a Senate select committee to investigate the alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
Republican Senate Leader Rebuffs Call For Special Russian Hacking Probe RFE/RL 20 Dec 2016 -- The top Republican in the U.S. Senate has again rejected calls for a special congressional committee to investigate alleged Russian computer hacking during the U.S. presidential election.
FBI did not notify Podesta of Russian hacking before WikiLeaks entered the game Press TV 18 Dec 2016 -- John Podesta, the campaign chairman of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, says he was never notified by the FBI of the Russian hacking until shortly after the WikiLeaks started releasing his emails.
Key U.S. Senator Calls For Single Committee To Probe Russian Hacking RFE/RL 18 Dec 2016 -- An influential Republican senator has called for a single, unified committee to investigate the depth of possible Russian hacking during the U.S. election campaign.
Washington Lacks Consensus on Russian Hacking VOA 18 Dec 2016 -- Washington continues to speak with a cacophony of voices on Russian meddling in last month's U.S. presidential election, displaying a lack of consensus during the ongoing presidential transition period that could impact how America ultimately responds to the cyberattacks.
US electors won't get intelligence briefing on Russian 'hack': Report Press TV 17 Dec 2016 -- US Electoral College electors will not receive an intelligence briefing about alleged Russian interference in the November 8 presidential election, a new report says.
FBI now backs CIA assessment on Russia election hack: Report Press TV 17 Dec 2016 -- The FBI finally agrees with a CIA assessment that Russia deliberately intervened in the US presidential election through cyber operations to help Donald Trump win the White House.
Nunes Statement on Cyber-Attack Investigations US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 16 Dec 2016 -- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes released the following statement today on the continuing investigations into cyber-attacks during the U.S. presidential campaign:
US will retaliate against Russia over election meddling: Obama Press TV 16 Dec 2016 -- US President Barack Obama has vowed to retaliate against Russia for its alleged meddling in America's election process, dramatically upping the ante in a dispute between Washington and Moscow.
Give proof or end hacking accusations, Russia tells US Press TV 16 Dec 2016 -- Russia has rejected allegations by the United States government that Russia interfered in the recent presidential race in the US.
White House backs claim Putin directed US election hack Press TV 16 Dec 2016 -- The White House has suggested President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in a covert Russian mission to intervene in the 2016 US presidential election.
Russia Challenges U.S. To Prove It Meddled In Election RFE/RL 16 Dec 2016 -- The Kremlin is challenging the United States to prove allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election, saying that Washington should provide evidence or stay silent.
US Senate to Probe Allegations of Russia Hacking in Presidential Election Sputnik 16 Dec 2016 -- The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will investigate charges that the Russian government sought to help President-elect Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, according to committee Chairman Senator Richard Burr.
Obama: Told Russia to 'Cut It Out' on Hacking, Didn't See Further Tampering VOA 16 Dec 2016 -- President Barack Obama says after U.S. officials realized Russia had hacked the Democratic National Committee email system, he told Russian President Vladimir Putin to "cut it out" during a G-20 meeting in China in September.
Retired Russian Military Officer Sentenced To 12 Years For Treason RFE/RL 16 Dec 2016 -- A Moscow court has sentenced a retired military officer to 12 years in prison after convicting him of treason, a charge that is usually linked to alleged espionage.
White House Suggests Putin Authorized Cyberattacks to Impact US Presidential Election VOA 15 Dec 2016 -- The White House pointedly suggested Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorized cyberattacks to impact the U.S. presidential election even as President-elect Donald Trump complained about attempts to undermine his victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump knew about Russia hacks: White House Press TV 15 Dec 2016 -- US President-elect Donald Trump knew well before the November 8 presidential election that Russia was behind hacking attacks against some Democratic organizations, according to the White House.
Putin 'personally involved' in US election hack, NBC News claims Press TV 15 Dec 2016 -- President Vladimir Putin was "personally involved" in a covert Russian effort to intervene in the 2016 US presidential election, NBC News has claimed, citing two unnamed American intelligence officials.
Russia Dismisses Report Putin Was Involved In U.S. Election Meddling RFE/RL 15 Dec 2016 -- Russian officials have dismissed an NBC News report that said U.S. intelligence officials believe with a "high level of confidence" that President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in Russian efforts to interfere in the U.S. Presidential election.
U.S. Republican Senator Graham Says Russia Hacked His Campaign RFE/RL 15 Dec 2016 -- A senior U.S. Republican senator took issue with President-elect Donald Trump on Russian interference in the U.S. elections and disclosed that Moscow had hacked his campaign.
Attempts to Claim Putin Personally Involved in US Elections Foolish - Lavrov Sputnik 15 Dec 2016 -- Journalists' attempts to claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally interfered in the US presidential election are "foolish and pointless," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday when asked to comment respective NBC channel statement
Reports Claiming Putin Interfered in US Election 'Funny Nonsense' - Kremlin Sputnik 15 Dec 2016 -- The Kremlin considers media reports claiming Russian President Vladimir Putin personally interfered in the US presidential election "funny nonsense," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
Intelligence department solves Marine Corps biggest problems USMC News 15 Dec 2016 -- Marines with Headquarters Marine Corps Intelligence department gave a live demonstration of new technologies Dec. 9, as part of the Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Enterprise Accelerator program.
Former CIA Head Hayden Urges Trump to Be More Open to Intelligence Community VOA 14 Dec 2016 -- Former CIA Director Michael Hayden added his voice Wednesday to growing calls for President-elect Donald Trump to be more open to the intelligence community and to embrace findings that may be at odds with his personal beliefs.
Secretary of the Navy releases new Operations Security (OPSEC) Guidance NNS 14 Dec 2016 -- The Secretary of the Navy just issued ALNAV 072/16 to accompany the Department's new Operations Security (OPSEC) policy which was released 5 May 2016. The ALNAV is intended to spread the broad-reaching implications of the new policy to the widest possible operational audience, and communicated the provisions to personnel outside the traditional information warfare community.
US Senate panel to hold hearing on Russia hacking in January Press TV 13 Dec 2016 -- A panel in the US Senate is set to hold a hearing on allegations of Russian hacking in favor of GOP candidate Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.
Top spy agency does not endorse CIA analysis on Russia hacks Press TV 13 Dec 2016 -- The office overseeing all 17 US spy agencies has not embraced a CIA assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election to help Republican Donald Trump win the race.
U.S. Electors Demand Briefing On Russian-Meddling Claim Before Voting RFE/RL 13 Dec 2016 -- Some of the U.S. electors who are charged with determining the next president in a vote next week have called for a briefing to detail evidence behind a finding that Russia intervened to help Donald Trump win the November 8 popular vote.
Calls for Probes Into Apparent Russian Cyber Meddling in US Election Cross Party Lines VOA 13 Dec 2016 -- After years of political acrimony, some top U.S. Republican congressional leaders and President Barack Obama have finally agreed on how to approach a burgeoning issue confronting Washington: apparent Russian cyber meddling to influence the U.S. presidential election.
S.Korea Requests More US Surveillance Assets to Tackle N.Korean Threats Sputnik 12 Dec 2016 -- The South Korean Defense Ministry said in a parliamentary report that it had significantly increased the monitoring of Pyongyang's suspicious activities and asked for US assistance on the issue, according to local media.
Iran Army drills unveils hand-launched drone Press TV 13 Dec 2016 -- The Iranian Army has unveiled a hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle during its military drills underway in the country's strategic southeastern areas.
Pakistan Names New ISI Head RFE/RL 12 Dec 2016 -- Pakistan has named a new head of its military Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI).
CIA torture report to be sent to Obama's archive Press TV 13 Dec 2016 -- US President Barack Obama will send to his presidential archive a comprehensive Senate report on the Central Intelligence Agency's use of torture.
Trump Fires New Broadside at CIA Conclusion Russia Helped Him Win Election VOA 12 Dec 2016 -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump fired a new broadside Monday against the Central Intelligence Agency conclusion that Russia interfered in the presidential election to help him win, questioning why the claim wasn't made before last month's voting.
Distrust growing between Trump, US intelligence agencies Press TV 11 Dec 2016 -- US intelligence officials have expressed mounting concern and confusion about how to proceed in President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration because of its open hostility to the function and role of spy agencies.
Trump: I Don't Need Daily Briefings, My Cabinet is On Top of Things Sputnik 11 Dec 2016 -- US President-elect Donald Trump, who has courted controversy by eschewing the traditional daily intelligence and national security briefings offered to presidents and presidents-elect, has said he doesn't need them because he's "a smart person."
Obama orders probe into Russia role in Trump election Press TV 10 Dec 2016 -- US President Barack Obama has ordered American intelligence agencies to investigate Russian cyber attacks as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded that Russia moved deliberately to help elect Donald Trump as president, not just to undermine the US political process more generally.
CIA Reportedly Concluded Russian Hackers' Goal Was To Elect Trump RFE/RL 10 Dec 2016 -- The CIA has concluded that Russia intervened in the election last month to help U.S. President-elect Donald Trump win the White House, The Washington Post has reported.
US Intelligence Agencies Suspect Russia of Hacking Into Republican Party Servers Sputnik 10 Dec 2016 -- US intelligence agencies suspect that the Russian government was involved in the hacking of the Republican National Committee's (RNC) computer systems without further publication of the stolen data, The New York Times reported, citing sources.
Reports: CIA Believes Russia Helped Trump Win White House VOA 10 Dec 2016 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered the intelligence community to conduct a full review of "hacking-related activity aimed at disrupting the 2016 U.S. presidential election."
Obama orders full review of 2016 election hacking Press TV 09 Dec 2016 -- US President Barack Obama has ordered a full review of alleged hacking by the Russians into the 2016 election, says the White House.
Alleged Russian Cyberattacks Review to Look at Full US Election Cycle Sputnik 09 Dec 2016 -- According to a White House deputy press secretary, US President Barack Obama's directive to conduct a full review of alleged Russian cyber interference will include the 2008 presidential election.
Obama Orders Review of US Election Hacking VOA 09 Dec 2016 -- President Barack Obama has ordered the intelligence community to conduct a "full review" of "hacking-related activity aimed at disrupting the 2016 U.S. presidential election."
Russia fueling 'unprecedented' terror threat against UK: MI6 chief Press TV 08 Dec 2016 -- The head of UK's MI6 spy agency Alex Younger says that Russia is the main contributor to an "unprecedented" terrorism threat Britain currently faces.
Nowhere to Hide: US, UK Spy on Flight Phone Calls Sputnik 08 Dec 2016 -- US and British spy agencies have been spying on air passengers using their mobile phones, according to a new report, which cites leaked documents from whistleblower Edward Snowden.
British Spy Chief Accuses Russia of Seeking to Undermine Western Security, Politics VOA 08 Dec 2016 -- Britain and Western nations are facing grave threats to their security and political systems from the hostile propaganda output and cyber attacks by rival states, the head of Britain's espionage service MI6 warned Thursday. Alex Younger, in his first major public speech as "C," the designation given the head of the Secret Intelligence Service, singled out Russia for its high-tech subversion.
UK, US Intel Services Spied on Cellular Activity Onboard Air France Planes Sputnik 07 Dec 2016 -- Classified documents made public by US National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that NSA and the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) developed and used special programs for monitoring Internet communications onboard French aircraft, including Air France, French media reported.
Qasemi: Politically-motivated moves not to benefit any country IRNA 07 Dec 2016 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi dismissed Saudi Arabia's recent spying allegations against Iran as "politically-motivated and unfounded".
Iran rejects Saudi fake espionage allegation ISNA 07 Dec 2016 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi dismissed Saudi Arabia's recent spying allegations against Iran as "politically-motivated and unfounded".
Saudi Court Sentences 15 To Death For Spying For Iran RFE/RL 06 Dec 2016 -- A Saudi court has sentenced 15 people to death for spying for the kingdom's archrival Iran, in a move that is likely to heighten regional tensions.
'Sky Turk': First Turkish Spy Satellite Blast Off From French Guiana Sputnik 05 Dec 2016 -- Turkey's first first high-definition reconnaissance satellite was launched on Monday from the Kourou space center in French Guiana, Turkey's NTV television reported.
Will South Korea-Japan Intelligence Deal Change Status Quo? VOA 03 Dec 2016 -- An intelligence-sharing deal between South Korea and Japan allows the two countries to bypass the United States as they work together to combat the growing threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
Investigative Chief Alleges Ukrainian Lawmaker May Have Spied For Russia RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- The head of investigations in Ukraine's Security Services (SBU) has charged that Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Onyshchenko may have been spying for Russia.
WikiLeaks Releases Info on German Inquiry Into BND Surveillance, Work With NSA Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- WikiLeaks released on Thursday 90 gigabyte of information on German parliamentary inquiry into surveillance of the country's foreign intelligence agency Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) and its cooperation with the US National Security Agency (NSA).

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