April 2018 Intelligence News

Two Jordanians on Trial in Saudi Arabia Over Spying for Mossad - Reports Sputnik 30 Apr 2018 -- The charges brought by Saudi authorities against the two men also include a planned terrorist attack during the annual hajj pilgrimage four years ago, according to media reports.
Ex-CIA Chief Defends Clapper, Blasts Trump's 'Boundless Hypocrisy' Sputnik 29 Apr 2018 -- Former head of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan unleashed a barrage of criticism upon US President Donald Trump over the latter's unfavorable remarks about former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
UK freezes assets of North Korean spies Press TV 29 Apr 2018 -- The UK government has frozen the assets of an alleged North Korean father-and-son spying duo, who are also accused of raising funds for Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
US intelligence doubles down on tracking North Korea: Report Press TV 29 Apr 2018 -- The US intelligence community has doubled down on tracking North Korean activities ahead of a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, according to a report.
U.S. House panel says "no evidence" of Trump campaign collusion with Russia People's Daily 28 Apr 2018 -- U.S. Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee on Friday concluded that they find "no evidence" of collusion between Russia and the Donald Trump campaign during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, evoking hails from the president and bitter criticism from Democrats.
US House Report Accuses Russia of Election Meddling, Finds No Proof Sputnik 28 Apr 2018 -- The US House Intelligence Committee on Friday released its final report on its yearlong Russia investigation, accusing Moscow of interference in the 2016 US election but concluding that the Kremlin did not collude with President Donald Trump's campaign team.
US House panel finds no collusion between Trump campaign, Kremlin Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- The House Intelligence Committee has officially announced the end of its Russia investigation, revealing in a final report that there was "no evidence" regarding alleged collusion between Russia and US President Donald Trump's campaign in the 2016 presidential election.
E-Mails Show Lawyer Veselnitskaya In Close Communication With Top Russian Officials RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- Newly released e-mails from a Russian lawyer involved in a U.S. money-laundering case showed the lawyer had close contact with officials from the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office, even as she portrayed herself as a private citizen.
Trump Did Not Collude With Russia, U.S. House Report Concludes, While Democrats Dissent RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- The lead Intelligence Committee for the U.S. House of Representatives released its final report into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election, concluding that President Donald Trump's campaign did not collude with Russia.
Trump: House Report Proves 'No Collusion' VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has commended the release of a report by the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee, saying it proves there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.
Intel Committee Publishes Russia Report US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 27 Apr 2018 -- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes issued the following statement today:
Ex-CIA Director Calls House Committee Report 'Incomplete, Deeply Flawed' Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- The House Intelligence Committee report on Russian activities during the 2016 election is partisan, incomplete and deeply flawed, and the work by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is not, Former CIA Director John Brennan said in a statement on Friday.
'Total Witch Hunt!' Trump Reacts to Declassified House Intel Report Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Earlier, the US House Intelligence Committee revealed its final findings on alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election campaign and accusations of collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and the Kremlin.
House Intel Panel Finds No Collusion Between Trump Campaign and Kremlin Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Democrats in the US House of Representatives will continue to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election despite the House Intelligence Committee report released on Friday, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
Chinese American scientist clears her name after false charges of espionage People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- Three and a half years after her wrongful arrest, Sherry Chen, a Chinese-American scientist who is the"victim of gross injustice," has finally restored her name and received compensation.
Newly-Declassified Records Confirm CIA Director Haspel Supervised Torture Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Newly declassified records confirm allegations that newly appointed CIA Director Gina Haspel supervised the torture of a detainee and ordered the destruction of video evidence, the US National Security Archive at George Washington University said in a press release.
UK to Deploy Over 190 Servicemen for Decontamination in Salisbury - Military Sputnik 23 Apr 2018 -- UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has pledged to deploy 192 service personnel to assist in decontaminating potentially affected sites in the UK town of Salisbury after the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, the Defense Ministry said Monday.
CIA releases memo clearing Gina Haspel in torture tape destruction Press TV 21 Apr 2018 -- The Central Intelligence Agency has declassified an internal memo clearing US President Donald Trump's choice to head the spy agency of wrongdoing for the destruction of videotapes depicting the waterboarding of terrorism suspects in 2005.
'Acted Appropriately': CIA Memo Says Haspel Was Right to Destroy Torture Tapes Sputnik 21 Apr 2018 -- The Central Intelligence Agency has declassified a memo relating to Gina Haspel's record amid evidence that the intelligence officer approved of and then covered up the use of torture techniques against terror suspects in the mid-2000s.
Chemical watchdog confirms UK findings on Salisbury nerve agent UN News 18 Apr 2018 -- A technical team sent by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the United Kingdom has identified toxic agents consistent with the UK's initial investigation, the top United Nations disarmament official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Not So Fast: US F-35 Deal With Taiwan Iced Over Fears of Chinese Spies on Island Sputnik 18 Apr 2018 -- The US government's reluctance to sell high-end short-takeoff and vertical landing F-35B aircraft to Taiwan is turning into a major disappointment for defense officials on the island - and the Chinese spies living there - according to a new report.
Britain Launches 7 Probes into Impartiality of Russian Broadcaster RT VOA 18 Apr 2018 -- Britain's broadcast regulator has opened seven investigations into Russian state-owned RT television channel, citing an increase in potential violations of impartiality rules since the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter.
OPCW Head Rejects Russian Claim About Presence Of Second Nerve Agent In Salisbury RFE/RL 18 Apr 2018 -- The head of the global chemical-weapons watchdog has rejected Russian claims that traces of a second nerve agent were discovered in the English city where a former Russian spy and his daughter were poisoned last month.
US Navy: China Exploiting Academia, US Contractors to Steal Technology Sputnik 18 Apr 2018 -- As the Chinese armed forces continue modernizing at an unprecedented clip, a top US military official has accused Beijing of stealing US technology "in just about every domain" by taking advantage of defense contractors' vulnerabilities and embedding assets in academia.
G7 Ministers Call For Russia's 'Full Disclosure' On Spy Poisoning In Britain RFE/RL 16 Apr 2018 -- The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized countries have called on Russia to provide "full and complete disclosure" about the poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Britain last month.
Russia Blocks Popular Telegram Messaging App VOA 16 Apr 2018 -- Russia began implementing a ban on popular instant messaging service Telegram after the app refused to provide encrypted messages to Russia's security services.
Russian Regulator Orders Internet Providers To Block Telegram App RFE/RL 16 Apr 2018 -- State communications regulator Roskomnadzor has begun blocking access to Telegram, seeking to bar Russians from using the popular app whose self-exiled CEO has defied demands to let the Federal Security Service (FSB) read users' messages.
Ex-Spy Sergei Skripal Recovering, Not in Critical Condition - Hospital Sputnik 16 Apr 2018 -- In March, Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in the UK city of Salisbury. About a month later, the hospital announced that the ex-spy was no longer in a critical condition.
China Launches Website Encouraging Users to Report Foreign Spies Sputnik 16 Apr 2018 -- Having amplified its clampdown on foreign espionage, China has set up a new website in English and Mandarin in order to expose those who jeopardize national security or try to "overthrow the socialist system."
Activists Cry Foul As Russian Court Orders Telegram App Blocked RFE/RL 13 Apr 2018 -- A Moscow court has issued an order to block access to Telegram, ruling in favor of the state and against the defiant self-exiled Russian entrepreneur who created the popular messaging app.
Britain says Russia spied on Skripals for five years before attack Press TV 13 Apr 2018 -- Britain says Russian intelligence agencies were spying on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, for at least five years before poisoning them in a nerve agent attack.
Britain Says Russia Spied On Skripals For Years Before Poisoning RFE/RL 13 Apr 2018 -- Russian intelligence agencies had been spying on Sergei and Yulia Skripal for at least five years before they were poisoned with a nerve agent, Britain's National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill said on April 13.
UK Spy Agency Says it Shut Down Daesh Cyber Networks Sputnik 13 Apr 2018 -- British intelligence officers say their cyber campaign against Daesh has made it "almost impossible" for the jihadist group to operate online by blunting their communications, according the head of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Jeremy Fleming.
Russian Court To Hear Request To Block Telegram RFE/RL 12 Apr 2018 -- A Russian court says it will begin considering this week a request by state media regulator Roskomnadzor to block the messaging app Telegram.
OPCW's poisoning report may be part of UK agenda to discredit Russia: Zakharova Press TV 12 Apr 2018 -- Moscow has cast doubt on authenticity of a report by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the poisoning of a Soviet-era spy in the UK, saying it may be part of Britain's agenda to harm Russia's reputation.
OPCW Confirms Skripals Poisoned With Novichok - Reports Sputnik 12 Apr 2018 -- As London continue to accuse Moscow of orchestrating the poisoning of a former Russian spy despite the lack of evidence to back up this claim, with the UK and a number of other states expelling Russian diplomats over the matter, the OPCW moves in to deliver a verdict of its own.
Labs Confirm Nerve Agent Used on Russian Ex-Spy, Daughter VOA 12 Apr 2018 -- Four laboratories linked to the international chemical weapons watchdog have confirmed Britain's findings that a nerve agent was used last month to poison a former Russian spy and his daughter.
Scientist Finds No Toxins In Remains Of Russian Tycoon Who Died In Britain RFE/RL 11 Apr 2018 -- A scientist has said she found no plant toxins in the stomach of a Russian mafia whistle-blower who died suddenly in Britain in 2012, challenging earlier evidence that he may have been poisoned by a deadly plant that can cause cardiac arrest.
Poisoned ex-spy's daughter released from UK hospital Press TV 10 Apr 2018 -- Former Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal's daughter, Yulia, has been released from the hospital after surviving a poisoning attack in Salisbury last month.
Poison Victim Yulia Skripal Discharged From U.K. Hospital RFE/RL 10 Apr 2018 -- Yulia Skripal, the poisoned daughter of a Russian former spy, has been discharged from a hospital in the English city of Salisbury.
Poisoned Daughter of Ex-Russian Spy Released from British Hospital VOA 10 Apr 2018 -- Yulia Skripal has been released from a British hospital after she and her father – former Russian spy Sergei Skripal – were poisoned last month.
Skripal case attack on Russia's international role: Moscow's UN envoy Press TV 09 Apr 2018 -- Moscow's envoy to the United Nations has slammed the anti-Russia claims in the Skripal poisoning case as an "attack" against his country's role on the international stage, especially its Syria peace efforts.
UK considering sending Skripal, his daughter to US: Report Press TV 08 Apr 2018 -- The UK is considering the option of sending poisoned Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia to the United States with new identities.
Report: Britain Considering Giving Skripals 'New Identities' RFE/RL 08 Apr 2018 -- Britain's Sunday Times newspaper is reporting that the country is considering offering Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter new identities and a new life in the United States to protect them from further attempts on their life.
UK MI-6 Discussed With FBI Skripals' Moving to US Under New Identities - Reports Sputnik 08 Apr 2018 -- Yulia and Sergei Skripal have reportedly been conscious for several days, while British intelligence is hoping for their assistance in the investigation of the poisoning case as soon as possible.
Johnson Calls Corbyn 'Kremlin's Useful Idiot' Due to Stance on Skripal Case Sputnik 08 Apr 2018 -- UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called Sunday UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn a "Kremlin's useful idiot," commenting on his position in regards to the recent poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, as Corbyn had expressed doubts about Russia's responsibility for the incident.e
Russian Envoy Requests Meeting with Boris Johnson Over Spy Case RFE/RL 07 Apr 2018 -- Russia's embassy in London has requested a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury, saying its dealings with Britain over the issue had been "utterly unsatisfactory."
Russia Denies Report Nerve Agent Used Against Ex-Spy Came From Volga Lab RFE/RL 07 Apr 2018 -- Russian officials are denying a British newspaper report that the nerve agent used against a former Russian spy in England came from a closed military facility on the Volga River.
Chemical-Weapons Watchdog Conducts Inspection In Russia RFE/RL 06 Apr 2018 -- Specialists from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) carried out an inspection at an undisclosed location in Russia last week, the Russian Defense Ministry's official publication has said.
OPCW Carries Out Inspection in Russia Sputnik 06 Apr 2018 -- The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has conducted an inspection in Russia, the Defense Ministry has said.
Israeli Intel Chief Claims He is 100% Sure Iran Hasn't Abandoned Nuke Bomb Plans Sputnik 06 Apr 2018 -- Israel has repeatedly voiced concerns over Iran's nuclear deal, warning about its grave consequences. Now warnings about a "terrible mistake" have come from Mossad's boss, who calls to change or scrap the plan.
Ex-spy Sergei Skripal out of critical condition: hospital Press TV 06 Apr 2018 -- Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, who the UK says was probably poisoned by Russians, has come out of critical care.
UK playing with fire in Russian double-agent case: UN envoy Press TV 06 Apr 2018 -- Russia has warned Britain that it "will be sorry" for falsely accusing Moscow of carrying out a chemical attack against a former double-agent.
Ex-Spy Skripal 'Improving Rapidly' After Nerve-Agent Poisoning RFE/RL 06 Apr 2018 -- Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal is no longer in critical condition and is "improving rapidly" just over one month after being exposed to a potent nerve agent, hospital staff in England say.
Sergei Skripal Out of Critical Condition, Responding to Treatment - Hospital Sputnik 06 Apr 2018 -- A Salisbury Hospital official has confirmed that the ex-spy, who was poisoned in a chemical attack in southern England last month, is recovering.
As Security Council debates Salisbury chemical attack, Russia calls accusation absurd; UK stands by charge UN News 05 Apr 2018 -- During a heated debate in the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, Russia again rejected allegations levelled by the United Kingdom that Moscow was behind a deadly nerve-agent attack in the English city of Salisbury on 4 March.
Yulia Skripal Says Strength 'Growing Daily,' Doesn't Reply To Russian Embassy Offer RFE/RL 05 Apr 2018 -- London's Metropolitan Police Service has issued a statement on behalf of Yulia Skripal, who fell ill last month in Britain after exposure to a nerve agent, quoting her as saying her strength "is growing daily" and that the entire poisoning incident has been "somewhat disorientating."
Russia Takes Skripal Poisoning Case Before UN Security Council RFE/RL 05 Apr 2018 -- Russia takes its case before the UN Security Council on April 5, calling for an international investigation into the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain one day after losing a bid to be part of a joint investigation by the global chemical weapons watchdog.
Poisoned Daughter of Russian Ex-Spy Says She Is Recovering Quickly VOA 05 Apr 2018 -- The poisoned daughter of a former Russian spy attacked with a nerve agent in Britain says she is recovering quickly.
British Left to Defend Poison Allegations After Missteps VOA 05 Apr 2018 -- Sixty U.S. diplomats expelled by the Kremlin in the escalating dispute over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain were seen leaving the U.S. embassy in Moscow Thursday.
Germany - MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) DSCA 05 Apr 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Germany of MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for an estimated cost of $2.50 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Apr. 4, 2018.
DHS acknowledges unauthorized spying devices in DC Press TV 04 Apr 2018 -- The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged for the first time that unauthorized spying devices are being used in Washington, DC.
Russia urges UN Security Council meeting on British accusation about poisoning attack Press TV 04 Apr 2018 -- Russia has called on the United Nations Security Council to hold a meeting to discuss Britain's accusation that Russia was involved in the poisoning last month in Britain of a former Russian spy, an incident which has badly affected ties between Moscow and the West.
Russia Loses Vote By Chemical-Weapons Watchdog Over New U.K. Poisoning Probe RFE/RL 04 Apr 2018 -- Russia has lost a vote by the global chemical weapons watchdog for a new joint investigation, including Russian participation, into a nerve-agent attack against a former Russian spy in England, a diplomatic source has told Reuters.
US Confident in UK's Assessment of Salisbury Attack After Defense Lab Report Sputnik 04 Apr 2018 -- The US is fully confident in the United Kingdom's assessment of the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, after the announcement by the UK government's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down, a US Department of State official told Sputnik on Wednesday.
OPCW to Receive Results of Sample Analysis in Skripal Case by Next Week Sputnik 04 Apr 2018 -- Ahmet Uzumcu, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said Wednesday that the results of the sample analyses of the substance used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom, were expected to be received by early next week.
Russia's Offer for Joint Probe Into Skripal Case 'Perverse' - UK OPCW Delegation Sputnik 04 Apr 2018 -- The UK delegation to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons called the Wednesday Russia's proposal for a joint investigation into the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom "perverse."
Russia Responds to Hungary Over Skripal Case: One Diplomat Expelled Sputnik 04 Apr 2018 -- Hungary is among the countries that have decided to join the UK in expelling Russian diplomats, hence why Moscow reserved the right to respond to Hungary's actions over the Skripal poisoning.
Russia Expels One Belgian Diplomat in Response Over Skripal Case Sputnik 04 Apr 2018 -- Moscow's reciprocal move comes after a number of European countries, as well as the US, Canada and Australia decided to remove Russian diplomatic staff in solidarity with the UK, which groundlessly blamed the poisoning of ex-Russian intelligence officer Skripal on Russia.
Putin Says Hopes Watchdog Will Help Defuse Diplomatic Row Over Poisonings RFE/RL 04 Apr 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he hopes a meeting of the global chemical weapons watchdog on April 4 will help to defuse a major diplomatic row that arose over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England.
McMaster: We have failed to impose sufficient costs on Russia Press TV 04 Apr 2018 -- Outgoing US national security adviser H.R. McMaster has criticized President Donald Trump's policy on Russia, saying Washington has "failed to impose sufficient costs," on Moscow.
Outgoing U.S. Security Adviser: West Has 'Failed To Impose Sufficient Costs' On Russia RFE/RL 04 Apr 2018 -- Outgoing White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster has called for stronger measures against Russian "threats" and "provocations," arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin is mistaken in thinking the West will not push back against the Kremlin's "hybrid warfare."
British Lab Not Identified 'Precise Source' Of Nerve Agent, But Attack Likely By 'State Actor' RFE/RL 03 Apr 2018 -- The chief executive of Britain's Porton Down defense laboratory says his scientists have not verified the "precise source" of the nerve agent used to poison the former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter -- explaining that it was not the task of his laboratory to do so.
Chemical Weapons Watchdog To Discuss Skripal Poisoning Case RFE/RL 03 Apr 2018 -- The international chemical weapons watchdog is set to meet on April 4 to discuss Britain's allegations against Russia over the poisoning of an ex-Russian double agent in England last month.
Russian Foreign Minister: U.K., U.S. Spreading 'Lies And Disinformation' RFE/RL 02 Apr 2018 -- Russia's top diplomat has accused the United States and Britain of spreading "lies and disinformation" about the nerve-agent poisoning of an ex-Russian double agent in England last month.
Russian Foreign Ministry Releases 13 Questions Addressed to OPCW on Skripal Case Sputnik 01 Apr 2018 -- Earlier, Moscow had sent the two sets of questions regarding the "fabricated" Skripal case to the authorities of the United Kingdom and France

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