February 2017 Intelligence News

Lithuania Jails Russian, Ex-Officer For Spying For Russia RFE/RL 28 Feb 2017 -- A court in Lithuania has sentenced a Russian citizen and a former Lithuanian military officer to prison on charges of spying for Russia.
China Successfully Tests Wing Loong II Drone Sputnik 28 Feb 2017 -- China has successfully tested a Wing Loong II multitask unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), local media reported Tuesday.
Intelligence source talks about 3 major security cases IRNA 26 Feb 2017 -- An informed intelligence official on Sunday shed light on a number of certain security cases such as the arrest of several terrorist groups on Revolution Day, Iran-US prisoner swap in 2016 and hunting the terrorist ring leader Abdolmalik Rigi in 2010.
German BND spied on major media for almost two decades: German weekly Press TV 25 Feb 2017 -- Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has reportedly been spying on global media's journalists for nearly two decades, a leading German weekly magazine reveals.
Turkey urges expats in Germany to spy for Erdogan: Report Press TV 24 Feb 2017 -- Turkey's government has reportedly asked teachers and parents of Turkish origin in Germany to collect information on any criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in German schools.
Media Leaks Indicate Intelligence Bureaucracy Operates in So-called 'Deep State' VOA 24 Feb 2017 -- The White House has denied media reports that a so-called "deep state" of the United States government is withholding information from President Donald Trump in an effort to undermine his administration.
German Spy Agencies Ready to Thwart Attempts to 'Interfere' in German Elections Sputnik 19 Feb 2017 -- German spy agencies are ready to thwart attempts to manipulate data during the general elections, chancellor's chief of staff Peter Altmaier promised to the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
German Spy Scandal Triggered by Broken Connection Between Gov't, Intel Agencies Sputnik 19 Feb 2017 -- On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was invited to the Bundestag parliamentary committee to testify on the NSA and BND espionage scandal that shocked German residents in 2015. During her speech Merkel stuck to her old position, saying that she knew nothing about the spying activities of German intelligence.
Meeting of Federal Security Service Board President of Russia 16 Feb 2017 -- Vladimir Putin took part in an annual expanded meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Board to discuss the FSB's results for 2016 and the priority tasks for ensuring Russia's national security.
US agencies withhold sensitive intelligence from Trump: Report Press TV 16 Feb 2017 -- A report has revealed that US intelligence agencies have withheld sensitive intelligence from President Donald Trump, fearing it could be leaked or compromised.
US Intelligence Withholding Sensitive Information From Trump for Fears of Leaks Sputnik 16 Feb 2017 -- US intelligence officers are holding back sensitive information from US President Donald Trump because they are concerned the information may be leaked or compromised, the Wall Street Journal reported citing current and former officials familiar with the situation.
Estonia Refutes Reports of Espionage on US Administration Officials Sputnik 16 Feb 2017 -- Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas on Thursday commented on media reports of a Baltic state spying on Washington, saying that Estonia has not been gathering intelligence data on US President Donald Trump's officials.
NAVSTA Mayport Named East Coast Base for MQ-4C Triton UAS NNS 15 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. Navy has selected Naval Station (NS) Mayport in Florida as the East Coast Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), Feb. 15, 2017.
Trump blames intelligence leaks by NSA, FBI for Flynn's resignation Press TV 15 Feb 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has blamed leaks by US intelligence agencies, including the FBI and NSA, for the resignation of his national security adviser Michael Flynn.
NSA Top Secrets Theft Suspect Harold Martin Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Sputnik 15 Feb 2017 -- Former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Harold Martin pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to stealing 50 terabytes of top secret intelligence in a federal court in Baltimore, Maryland.
US spots Russian intelligence-gathering ship off East Coast: Officials Press TV 14 Feb 2017 -- American officials say a Russian intelligence-gathering ship has been spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States, the first such operation since President Donald Trump took office, according to a report.
US National Security Adviser Flynn resigns over Russia contacts Press TV 14 Feb 2017 -- US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has resigned over allegations that he had contacts with Russia.
White House Aide Flynn Resigns Amid Questions About Talks With Russian Envoy RFE/RL 14 Feb 2017 -- The White House has announced that National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned amid reports he misled top officials from President Donald Trump's team about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States.
Michael Flynn Leaves Post of Trump's National Security Adviser Sputnik 14 Feb 2017 -- Michael Flynn has resigned from the post of US President Donald Trump's National Security adviser, the White House announced on Monday.
Flying High: Task Force Southwest Marines test new drone capabilities USMC News 13 Feb 2017 -- Throughout Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the armed services used unmanned aerial equipment to capture imagery of battlespaces, execute reconnaissance and conduct airstrikes on enemy targets. These devices proved indispensable in their abilities to move quickly and clandestinely.
Iran sentences man to 10 years in jail for espionage Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- Iran has sentenced a 62-year-old man to a 10-year prison term on the charge of plotting against national security through acts of espionage, an Iranian judiciary official in the northeastern city of Mashhad says.
US Investigators Allegedly Corroborate Some Statements From Trump Dossier Sputnik 11 Feb 2017 -- US investigators have allegedly corroborated some of the provisions, included in the compromising 35-page dossier on US President Donald Trump, however the White House has refuted the allegations, the CNN broadcaster reported citing multiple intelligence officials.
Self-developed intelligence program strengthens coalition fight against ISIL AFNS 11 Feb 2017 -- As the air war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant expands, so does the amount of data and information collected: swathes of terrain, patterns of life, historical data and real-time discovery.
CIA chief Pompeo visits Turkey to seek better bilateral relations Press TV 10 Feb 2017 -- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo is paying an official visit to Turkey to explore avenues for an improvement in relations between Washington and Ankara, which soured under the administration of former US President Barack Obama.
London's Spy Industry Thrives in Private Sector VOA 10 Feb 2017 -- Private intelligence companies are part of a booming business in London and the British government complains it is having trouble retaining talented agents who are being drawn by high salaries and more growth opportunities in a blossoming industry estimated to be worth $19 billion.
US Allies Worry About Joint Intel Operations Under President Trump VOA 10 Feb 2017 -- Some U.S. allies are increasingly uneasy about the future of joint intelligence endeavors with Washington as they try to figure out just how much President Donald Trump plans to shake up the existing order.
CIA Chief's Ankara Visit Sparks Hope of Reset in Bilateral Relations VOA 09 Feb 2017 -- Ankara rolled out the red carpet Thursday for U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo, who met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
Wife Says Sweden-Based Researcher Sentenced To Death In Iran On Spy Charges RFE/RL 06 Feb 2017 -- The wife of a Swedish-based academic and researcher says Iran has sentenced her husband to death on espionage-related charges.
Lawmakers, activists decry CIA No. 2's link to black site prison torture Press TV 05 Feb 2017 -- Donald Trump's selection of an officer, linked to CIA's notorious torture of terror suspects in overseas black site prisons, as the spy agency's deputy chief has sparked opposition by Democratic lawmakers and human rights activists.
British Defense Minister Accuses Kremlin Of 'Weaponizing Misinformation' RFE/RL 04 Feb 2017 -- Britain's defense minister says Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to undermine the West by spreading lies and hacking critical infrastructure.
New CIA deputy director once ran 'black site' prison Press TV 03 Feb 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has named Gina Haspel, a veteran CIA clandestine service officer who once ran a "black site" prison, deputy director of the spy agency.
U.S. Treasury Eases License Sanctions On Russia's FSB RFE/RL 02 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. Treasury Department has eased some financial sanctions imposed on Russia's lead domestic security agency, a move experts said appeared to be aimed at helping U.S. technology companies.
US Treasury Eases Some Restrictions on Russian Security Agency VOA 02 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that it is easing some restrictions on business transactions with Russia's Security Service (FSB), despite cyber-sanctions put in place by former President Barack Obama.
Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015 Blocking the Property of certain Persons Engagin in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities - General License No. 1 Authorizing certain Transactions with the Federal Security Service Office of Foreign Assets Control - Dept. of the Treasury 02 Feb 2017
John McCain Calls Trump Easing of Sanctions on Russia's FSB 'Technical Fix' Sputnik 02 Feb 2017 -- The announcement the Trump administration will relax certain sanctions against Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) appears to be a "technical fix" rather than a change in US policy toward Russia, US Senator John McCain told reporters.
DoD Investigation Clears Central Command Intelligence Leaders AFPS 02 Feb 2017 -- An exhaustive Defense Department Inspector General investigation into allegations that U.S. Central Command officials falsified or distorted intelligence found nothing to support such allegations, according to a DoD IG report issued yesterday.
Germany Refuses to Share Intelligence With Turkey, Fearing Its Use Against Kurds Sputnik 02 Feb 2017 -- The German Defense Ministry has announced that it will decline to share recently-collected intelligence with Turkey, for fear that Ankara will use the information in its military campaign against the Kurds.
Russian cybersecurity experts arrested in 'US-linked' treason case Press TV 01 Feb 2017 -- Two senior Russian cyber security officials along with a top anti-hacking expert have been arrested in a US-linked treason case.
Russian Lawyer Says FSB Officers, Kaspersky Manager Charged With Treason RFE/RL 01 Feb 2017 -- А Russian lawyer has confirmed the arrests of two Federal Security Service (FSB) officers and a manager at a Russian cybersecurity company on treason charges, and that they are suspected of passing classified information to U.S. intelligence.

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