August 2018 Intelligence News

China Using Fake LinkedIn Accounts to Recruit Americans as Spies - Reports Sputnik 31 Aug 2018 -- Chinese spy agencies are using fake Linkedin accounts to recruit Americans with access to government and commercial secrets, a senior US intelligence official said in an interview.
Iran arrests tens of spies from government organizations ISNA 29 Aug 2018 -- Tens of spies have been identified and arrested throughout various government organizations, says Iran's intelligence minister.
Iran intelligence minister says tens of spies arrested from government organizations Press TV 29 Aug 2018 -- Tens of spies have been identified and arrested throughout various government organizations, says Iran's intelligence minister.
Iran Arrested 'Tens Of Spies' In Government Bodies, Minister Says RFE/RL 29 Aug 2018 -- Security forces have arrested "tens of spies" working in Iran's governmental bodies as part of a crackdown on espionage and dual nationals, the country's intelligence minister has said.
Telegram CEO Defends New Privacy Policy, Says User Data Still Safe RFE/RL 28 Aug 2018 -- The founder of Telegram defended the company's new privacy policy, insisting it would not result in turning over users' data to Russian intelligence agencies but would also discourage extremists from using the secure-messaging app.
Lithuania Not to Appeal European Court Ruling Over US CIA Prisons - Official Sputnik 23 Aug 2018 -- Lithuania decided not to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that the Baltic country hosted a secret CIA jail, where the agency held and interrogated terrorism suspects, the press service of Lithuania's representative at the court said in a statement on Thursday.
Former German Spy Chief Warns of Perils of Intel Sharing With Austria VOA 23 Aug 2018 -- A former German intelligence chief says NATO secrets aren't safe to share with Austria, adding his alarm to growing concern among Western intelligence agencies about close ties between senior Austrian ministers and Russia.
Aide Of Ukrainian Prime Minister Goes On Trial As Alleged Russian Spy RFE/RL 22 Aug 2018 -- An aide to Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman who is charged with spying for Russia went on trial on August 22.
US Judge Denies Bond to Iranian Man Accused of Spying for Tehran VOA 22 Aug 2018 -- A U.S. judge has denied bond to an Iranian-born U.S. resident accused of involvement in a conspiracy to spy for Tehran on Iranian opposition activists and Israeli and Jewish groups in the United States.
Global Hawk makes historic first landing at Red Flag-Alaska AFNS 21 Aug 2018 -- An RQ-4 Global Hawk, assigned to Beale Air Force Base, California, landed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, for Red Flag-Alaska 18-3, Aug. 16.
Two Individuals Charged for Acting as Illegal Agents of the Government of Iran US Dept. of Justice 20 Aug 2018 -- An indictment was returned today charging Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, 38, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, and Majid Ghorbani, 59, an Iranian citizen and resident of California, with allegedly acting on behalf of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran by conducting covert surveillance of Israeli and Jewish facilities in the United States, and collecting identifying information about American citizens and U.S. nationals who are members of the group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
Syria's military intelligence officer assassinated: Report Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- A Syrian military intelligence officer has reportedly been assassinated in the west-central Hama Province, the second such killing in two weeks blamed on Israel's Mossad spy agency.
Brennan Threatens to Sue Trump to Stop Revoking Security Clearances VOA 19 Aug 2018 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan is threatening to sue President Donald Trump to stop him from stripping security clearances from other officials who criticize him.
Accused Russian Agent Seeks To Raise Funds Online For Legal Defense RFE/RL 18 Aug 2018 -- A Russian woman who has been charged in Washington with acting as an unregistered agent for the Russian government has launched an online fundraising campaign to pay for her legal defense.
Former CIA Chief: My Security Revocation is Trump Attempt to Silence Critics VOA 16 Aug 2018 -- Former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan says he believes President Donald Trump revoked his security clearance because he wants to "silence others who might dare to challenge him."
Ex-CIA Director Brennan Calls Trump's Denial of Collision With Russia 'Hogwash' Sputnik 16 Aug 2018 -- US President Donald Trump's claims that he did not collude with Russia are false, John Brennan said on Thursday, just one day after Trump revoked the ex-spy chief's security clearance.
Trump Strips Ex-CIA Chief's Security Clearance, Threatens Other Critics RFE/RL 16 Aug 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan and threatened to do the same to other former top national-security officials in what opponents said was an unprecedented act of retribution against vocal critics of his presidency.
Trump Revokes Ex-CIA Director's Security Clearance VOA 16 Aug 2018 -- The security clearance of a former Central Intelligence Agency director was revoked Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said in a statement that John Brennan has been sowing "division and chaos" about his administration.
Trump pulls ex-CIA chief's security clearance Press TV 15 Aug 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has pulled the security clearance of one of his harshest critics, former CIA Director John Brennan.
Trump Revokes Security Clearance of ex-CIA Director John Brennan - White House Sputnik 15 Aug 2018 -- White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Wednesday that US President Donald Trump is revoking the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan.
The ART of training the total force AFNS 13 Aug 2018 -- Intelligence analysts sit in front of computer monitors, closely watching images of an ongoing mission, but they are feeling stressed. The reason for this stress could vary, from work to personal issues. Whatever the reason, the analysts may not be performing to their maximum capability, until they are suddenly interrupted with a simple question, "How are you doing today?"
Cables detail CIA waterboarding at secret prison run by Gina Haspel Press TV 11 Aug 2018 -- Newly-declassified documents have exposed a previously unknown level of brutality at a US torture site in Thailand operated by current CIA Director Gina Haspel.
'This is China, Leave Immediately': PLA Sends US Spy Plane Stern Warning Sputnik 10 Aug 2018 -- A US Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane flying over the contested Spratly Islands refused to alter its flight course after receiving six separate warnings from the People's Liberation Army telling it to leave the area at once.
New US sanctions not based on evidence Press TV 09 Aug 2018 -- Russia says a round of new sanctions imposed on Moscow by the United States over the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK are not based on evidence and are "draconian."
Kremlin Rejects US Claims of Skripal Case Links, Calls Sanctions 'Unacceptable' Sputnik 09 Aug 2018 -- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has addressed the most recent round of sanctions introduced by the US against Moscow.
Russia Denounces US 'Novichok' Sanctions VOA 09 Aug 2018 -- Faced with a new round of U.S.-sanctions over alleged chemical weapons use, Russia denounced the move as an "illegal" gesture that defied attempts by President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin aimed at improving relations during a recent summit.
U.S. To Impose New Sanctions On Russia Over Skripal Attack RFE/RL 09 Aug 2018 -- The United States has said it will hit Russia with new sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow for the March nerve-agent poisoning in Britain of a former Russian spy and his daughter.
Previewing the Imposition of Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Sanctions on Russia US Dept. of State 08 Aug 2018 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Officials
Imposition of Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act Sanctions on Russia US Dept. of State 08 Aug 2018
US imposes sanctions on Russia over nerve agent attack in UK Press TV 08 Aug 2018 -- The United States has imposed new sanctions on Russia over Moscow's alleged role in poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.
U.S. To Impose New Sanctions On Russia Over Skripal Attack RFE/RL 08 Aug 2018 -- The United States has said it will hit Russia with new sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow for the March nerve-agent poisoning in Britain of a former Russian spy and his daughter.
US Imposing Sanctions on Russia Over Skripal Poisoning - State Department Sputnik 08 Aug 2018 -- The US State Department announced Wednesday that it would be imposing sanctions against Russia regarding the poisoning of Yulia and Sergei Skripal in the UK earlier this year.
UK Def Sec Accuses Russia of 'Malign Behavior,' Hints at Skripal Poisoning Link Sputnik 08 Aug 2018 -- Gavin Williamson has been accusing Russian of many things, including the poisoning incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury despite any tangible proof of Moscow involvement in either one.
US Slaps New Sanctions on Russia Over Ex-Russian Spy Poisoning in Britain VOA 08 Aug 2018 -- The United States is imposing tough new sanctions on Russia after determining Moscow was responsible for poisoning a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain in March.
Mossad behind Syrian scientist's assassination: Intelligence official Press TV 07 Aug 2018 -- Israel's Mossad spy agency was behind a car bomb blast that killed a Syrian scientist over the weekend, several media reports have suggested.
Innovative 1st RS training provides RQ-4 student pilots valuable flying experience AFNS 07 Aug 2018 -- Becoming an RQ-4 Global Hawk pilot requires specific training, which is unique to remotely piloted aircraft. This training means new pilots not coming from previous manned platforms often have limited experience in the cockpit of an aircraft. The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is aiming to increase their level of experience with their new, innovative Aviation Fundamentals Training program funded through the Squadron Innovation Fund.
Britain 'Ready To Ask' Russia To Extradite Suspects In Skripal Poisonings RFE/RL 07 Aug 2018 -- Britain is preparing to ask Russia to extradite two men it suspects carried out a nerve-agent attack on a former Russian spy in the city of Salisbury, The Guardian newspaper has reported.
OPCW Accepts UK Request to Confirm Identity of Nerve Agent in Amesbury Incident Sputnik 07 Aug 2018 -- UK authorities on Tuesday invited Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) experts to come back to the country in order to independently confirm the identity of the nerve agent used in the Amesbury poisoning. The OPCW later accepted the request.
Hackers use UK airwoman's dating profile to steal F-35 secrets Press TV 06 Aug 2018 -- The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) says hackers have been able to steal sensitive information about its fleet of stealthy F-35 fighter jets after successfully infiltrating an airwoman's dating account.
Honey Pot: RAF Staffer Leaks F-35 Secrets on Tinder - Report Sputnik 05 Aug 2018 -- A perpetrator hacked a female RAF staffer's dating app profile, using her online presence to sweet-talk a male Royal Air Force employee and stealing secret information about the US fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter just weeks after the first four jets entered service, according to a report by Mail Online.
Air Force charts course for next generation ISR dominance AFNS 02 Aug 2018 -- Today the Air Force released the Next Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Dominance Flight Plan, an encompassing strategy about how the service maintains and enhances decisive advantage amidst the reemergence of great power competition and rapid technological change in the digital era.
Rim of the Pacific Exercise Features Last Flight for RQ-7B Shadow AFPS 02 Aug 2018 -- After years of service to the armed services, the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial system was retired after its final flight during the culmination event for the Rim of the Pacific exercise at Pyramid Rock Beach here July 29.

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