January 2018 Intelligence News

FBI Statement on HPSCI Memo FBI 31 Jan 2018 -- "With regard to the House Intelligence Committee's memorandum, the FBI was provided a limited opportunity to review this memo the day before the committee voted to release it. As expressed during our initial review, we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo's accuracy."
Iran blasts US spy chief's meddling remarks IRNA 31 Jan 2018 -- Spokesman for Iranian Foreign Ministry described the anti-Iran charges made by the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as 'inexcusable and inappropriate'.
CIA Boss Claims Russia Poised to Meddle in Yet Another US Election Sputnik 30 Jan 2018 -- Despite the fact that the ongoing US investigation into the alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign has failed to produce any tangible results, a top American intelligence official now says that Moscow "will continue" to try and influence elections in the United States.
CIA Chief Says Russia Will Try To Meddle In Midterm Elections RFE/RL 30 Jan 2018 -- CIA Director Mike Pompeo has said Russia will target U.S. midterm elections in November as part of the Kremlin's efforts to influence domestic politics across the West.
Russia to 'target' US midterm polls: CIA chief Press TV 30 Jan 2018 -- The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to "target" the midterm congressional elections that will be held later this year, says CIA Director Mike Pompeo, repeating claims that Moscow seeks to interfere in other countries' political affairs.
UK Intelligence Furious After Williamson's Remark About Russian Threat - Reports Sputnik 28 Jan 2018 -- UK intelligence community was "furious" due to recent statements of Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson, who assumed that a Russian attack on the nation's critical infrastructure could kill thousands, The Times reported Sunday, citing its sources.
Convicted Chinese spy loses appeal against extended detention CNA 26 Jan 2018 -- A convicted Chinese spy's appeal against his extended detention was rejected Friday by Taiwan's Supreme Court.
WikiLeaks founder Assange asks UK court to lift arrest warrant Press TV 26 Jan 2018 -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been living in Ecuador's embassy in London for five years, has asked a court to remove the arrest warrant hanging over him.
China to fly new member of Wing Loong UAS family in 2018 People's Daily 25 Jan 2018 -- China will launch the Wing Loong ID in 2018, the latest model of the domestically-developed Wing Loong UAS family, with a series for a new model also underway, its developer AVIC has announced.
Russian Website Under Fire After Investigation Of FSB Chief RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- A Russian news site has come under fire from authorities - and, according to the editor-in-chief, its own investors - after it published an investigation into possible undeclared real estate secretly held by the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
U.K. Freezes Assets Of Two Suspects In 2006 Litvinenko Killing RFE/RL 23 Jan 2018 -- The United Kingdom has frozen the assets of two Russians accused of carrying out the 2006 killing in London of former Federal Security Service officer Aleksandr Litvinenko.
Trump Signs Bill to Reauthorize Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Sputnik 20 Jan 2018 -- US President Donald Trump said in a statement he has signed a bill that reauthorizes a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) but stressed it was not the same law abused during the election.
Egypt: Sisi fires spy chief in surprise decree Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has fired the country's head of the intelligence in an unexpected move as presidential elections draw nearer.
US House Intelligence Committee Plans Release of Testimony on Trump Dossier Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee plans to release a transcript of Glenn Simpson's testimony regarding a salacious but unverified dossier on President Donald Trump, tied to an ongoing probe of Trump campaign alleged collusion with Russia, US Congressman Mike Conaway told reporters Thursday.
US Senate Reauthorizes FISA Surveillance Program Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- The bill will extend the existing surveillance programs for foreigners for six years with minimal changes.
US Officials Praise Renewal of Foreign Surveillance Program VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- U.S. intelligence officials are praising lawmakers for finally reauthorizing a surveillance program that privacy advocates have criticized heavily, saying it fails to protect the rights of ordinary citizens.
Senate advances bill to renew NSA spying program Press TV 17 Jan 2018 -- The US Senate has advanced a bill to extend the controversial surveillance program by the National Security Agency for another six years.
Ex-CIA officer arrested for retaining secret info on spy network in China Press TV 17 Jan 2018 -- A former CIA officer has been arrested on charges of unlawfully retaining highly-classified information about a US spy network in China, according to the Justice Department.
Invisible Man: Nabbed CIA Agent Kept Low Profile While in Hong Kong Sputnik 17 Jan 2018 -- A former CIA staffer currently in US custody for allegedly keeping highly classified data reportedly stayed off the radar as a Hong Kong resident, leaving essentially no digital footprint.
Former CIA Officer Arrested for Retaining Classified Information US Dept. of Justice 16 Jan 2018 -- Jerry Chun Shing Lee, aka Zhen Cheng Li, 53, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was arrested last night on charges of unlawful retention of national defense information.
Germany Conducts Raids In Iranian Spy Probe RFE/RL 16 Jan 2018 -- The federal prosecutor's office in Germany says police have conducted a series searches across the country in connection with investigations into 10 suspected Iranian spies.
US Spy Satellite Heads for Orbit to Replenish Fleet Sputnik 13 Jan 2018 -- The launch of a US spy satellite looked good atop the fiery plume of a Delta IV rocket launched from the state of California's Vandenberg Air Force base, with officials hoping to avoid a repeat of Sunday's failed attempt to place another spy satellite in space, according to webcast by United Launch Alliance rocket company.
Espionage Fears Spur US Army Base to Replace Chinese Security Cameras Sputnik 12 Jan 2018 -- A US Army base in Missouri has removed all of its Chinese-made cameras following concerns that the devices were being used by China to conduct surveillance on the US military.
Ecuador grants citizenship to WikiLeaks founder Assange Press TV 11 Jan 2018 -- Ecuador has granted citizenship to the founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, who has been holed up at the embassy of the South American country in the UK for five and a half years.
Ecuador Confirms Granting Naturalization to Wikileaks Founder Assange Sputnik 11 Jan 2018 -- On January 10, the El Comercio news outlet published the number of an identity document, registered in the Ecuadorian Civil Registration System under Assange's name.
US House of Representatives Passes Bill Renewing FISA Surveillance Program Sputnik 11 Jan 2018 -- The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday that will renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) program. The final vote was 256 to 164.
US House Approves Renewal of Anti-terror Surveillance Law VOA 11 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to renew a key surveillance law the U.S. uses to thwart foreign terrorists plotting attacks against Americans.
Germany Summons Iran Envoy To Warn Against Spying On Israel RFE/RL 10 Jan 2018 -- Germany has summoned Iran's ambassador in Berlin to warn Tehran against spying on individuals and groups with close ties to Israel, saying such acts violate German law.
US Denies Pakistani Claims of Suspension of Military or Intel Cooperation VOA 09 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is denying Pakistan's claims it has suspended military or intelligence cooperation with the United States.
CIA Director Believes DPRK Could Threaten US Cities in a Few Months Sputnik 07 Jan 2018 -- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo speaking at the Face the Nation show on the CBS television network on Sunday expressed his views on perils originating from Pyongyang, Russia's alleged attempts to meddle in 2018 US elections and protests in Iran.
UK Intelligence Services Reportedly Rehire Ex-Officers to Address Terror Threat Sputnik 07 Jan 2018 -- The UK intelligence services rehire its employees, who have been dismissed over staff reduction, in an effort to curb the terror threat in the country, local media reported.

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