December 2019 Intelligence News

Anti-infiltration bill passes legislature amid protests CNA 31 Dec 2019 -- An anti-infiltration bill which criminalizes political activities backed by hostile foreign forces such as China, was pushed through the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-controlled legislature Tuesday, despite protests from the opposition that the bill could be used to suppress those who hold different political views to the government.
Taiwan's 'anti-infiltration bill' signals DPP hostility to cross-Straits ties Global Times 31 Dec 2019 -- The island of Taiwan's "anti-infiltration bill," which was passed on Tuesday by Taiwan legislative authority, is a move of "green terror" by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and will hurt the interests of Taiwan people, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Tuesday, adding that the bill is a bid to score political brownie points.
Taiwan Passes Law Banning Political Infiltration by Foreign Powers Radio Free Asia 31 Dec 2019 -- Taiwan on Tuesday passed an anti-infiltration law in a bid to counter Chinese interference in its democratic process ahead of a general election next month.
Chinese FM reminds overseas nationals to abide by local laws Global Times 31 Dec 2019 -- Confirming the arrest of a 27-year-old Chinese national in the US for allegedly breaking into a naval airbase in Key West, Florida, and taking pictures with his mobile phone, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the Chinese embassy in the US is closely following up on the case with the US government.
US Top Security Officials Tried Convincing Trump to Not Freeze Ukraine Aid - Reports Sputnik 30 Dec 2019 -- The opposition of top security officials of the United States to President Donald Trump's demand that military help for Ukraine be put on hold, allegedly in order to lever Kiev's contribution in his own election campaign, was stronger than previously thought, The New York Times said on Monday.
Victim calls self-proclaimed spy Wang Liqiang a born liar, regrets not exposing him Global Times 29 Dec 2019 -- Wang Liqiang, the self-proclaimed Chinese spy who defected to Australia, seems to have become an abandoned card after being used by Western media, yet some politicians on the island of Taiwan have ignored the facts and are mixing up black and white and using him as an anti-mainland chip.
Chinese Citizen Detained over Allegedly Taking Pictures of Naval Base in Florida - Reports Sputnik 29 Dec 2019 -- The US authorities accused him of entering the Naval Air Station base with the aim of taking pictures of defence facilities.
US firm accuses China of stealing data of Israel's Iron Dome missile system Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- A US company has accused China of stealing technical data for the so-called Iron Dome missile system from Israeli computers.
Iran is Mossad's top priority: Spy agency chief Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- The Israeli spy agency, Mossad, says that Iran is its number one priority, citing Tehran's nuclear and missile defense programs.
Taiwan slams China over criticism of anti-infiltration bill CNA 25 Dec 2019 -- Taipei berated Beijing Wednesday for its criticism of a proposed anti-infiltration bill that Taiwan's ruling party has vowed to push through the Legislature before the end of the year.
Taiwan Charges Military Colonel With Spying, Developing Intelligence Network for Beijing Sputnik 24 Dec 2019 -- A retired Taiwanese air force colonel was charged by the New Taipei City District Prosecutor's office Tuesday for spying and assisting in the development of an intelligence network for Beijing in Taiwan.
IWTC Virginia Beach Delivers First IS25 Operations Intelligence "C" School Sailors to Fleet NNS 23 Dec 2019 -- Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach graduated seven intelligence specialists (IS), Dec. 18, from the first convening of the Operational Intelligence Analyst "C" school (OPINTEL C) course, culminating over a year of curriculum development, testing, and piloting of the new Block 2 course, supporting the chief of naval operations' Sailor 2025 initiative and related Ready, Relevant Learning (RRL) continuum.
Popular chat app is UAE government spy tool: NY Times Press TV 23 Dec 2019 -- American intelligence assessment and a New York Times investigation have revealed that the government of the United Arab Emirates uses the popular messaging application, ToTok, as a spying tool.
'White House ordered freeze on Ukraine aid 90 mins after Trump call to Zelensky' Press TV 22 Dec 2019 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to freeze $391 million of military aid to Ukraine less than two hours after the controversial phone call in which Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former vice president Joe Biden, according to newly released internal emails.
US Navy Bans Chinese App TikTok Over Cybersecurity Concerns - Report Sputnik 22 Dec 2019 -- The Pentagon did not elaborate what cybersecurity threats the Chinese video sharing app presents. The US Navy follows in the footsteps of the US Army, after it also banned the use of Tiktok.
Facebook Shuts Down Network Of Accounts Linked To Georgia's Ruling Party RFE/RL 21 Dec 2019 -- Facebook said it has removed a network of social-media accounts linked to the Georgian Dream Party that promoted its policies and criticized the opposition.
Russia Names Suspect Behind Moscow Shooting, Says Death Toll Now Two RFE/RL 20 Dec 2019 -- Russian investigators have identified a man who opened fire on the Moscow headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) as Yevgeny Minyurov, a 39-year-old former security guard.
Phones of Pakistani officials hacked by Israeli spyware: Guardian Press TV 20 Dec 2019 -- An Israeli spyware company has reportedly targeted smart phones of at least two dozen senior Pakistani officials earlier this year, amid speculations that Tel Aviv has been playing a role in an escalation of conflict between nuclear-armed rivals, India and Pakistan.
Indian Intelligence Agencies Busted Major Espionage Racket Targeting Indian Navy Sputnik 20 Dec 2019 -- Earlier this month, India's Junior Minister for Defence Shripad Naik revealed that Pakistan is using its intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to honey-trap officials in the Indian Armed forces.
Indian Intelligence Reveals Pakistan's Terror Groups Can Target Prime Minister Modi Sputnik 20 Dec 2019 -- The intelligence agencies have also noted that the recent passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (12 December), the Ayodhya verdict (9 November) the abrogation of Kashmir's special status (5 August), and the February air strikes inside Pakistan have added fresh dimensions to the threat scenario.
Canadian Supreme Court Rules Russian Intel Officers' Son Entitled to Citizenship - Filing Sputnik 20 Dec 2019 -- The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday that Alexander Vavilov, the son of Russian parents deported from the United States for espionage, can keep his previously revoked Canadian citizenship, according to a court document.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Unaware of Woman Detained for Trespassing on Trump's Residence Sputnik 19 Dec 2019 -- Beijing has no information as to whether the woman detained in the United States for trespassing onto the territory of President Donald Trump's residence is a Chinese citizen, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said at a briefing on Thursday.
Statement to the Media by Garry Reid, Director for Intelligence (Counterintelligence, Law Enforcement, and Security) on the Vetting and Security Review DoD 19 Dec 2019 -- On Dec. 10, 2019, the Deputy Secretary of Defense tasked the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)) to: A. Take immediate steps to strengthen personnel vetting for international military students (IMS); and B. To complete a review within 10 days of policies and procedures for screening foreign students and granting them access to our bases. These efforts will seek to more closely align IMS vetting procedures with those we apply to U.S. personnel. Today, I'd like to provide an update of our review process and give you an idea of the way forward.
DOD Official Updates Progress on Enhanced Vetting of International Military Students DoD News 19 Dec 2019 -- New foreign military student vetting procedures have been put into place, a senior defense official announced at the Pentagon.
Deadly Shootout Near FSB Headquarters in Moscow: Everything We Know So Far Sputnik 19 Dec 2019 -- The attack left the area around the intelligence service's headquarters on lockdown.
One Officer Killed, Suspected Gunman Dead After Shooting in Moscow - Federal Security Service Sputnik 19 Dec 2019 -- A criminal case has been opened into an attempt to kill law enforcement agents, the Russian Investigative Committee said.
Moscow: Officer killed in lone wolf 'terror attack' on security agency building Press TV 19 Dec 2019 -- An unknown assailant has attacked the headquarters of Russia's domestic security agency in Moscow, killing one of its officers and two other people, in what the agency has billed a "terrorist" incident.
'FSB Member Killed, Five Wounded' In Moscow Shooting RFE/RL 19 Dec 2019 -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says one of its members was killed and five were wounded by an unidentified shooter who opened fire outside its headquarters in central Moscow on December 19.
Bulgarian Poison Probe Focuses On Russian Spy Chief Suspected In Novichok Attack On Skripals RFE/RL 19 Dec 2019 -- Bulgarian officials say an investigation into the attempted assassination of an arms maker is focusing on five suspected Russian agents -- including a Russian military intelligence general alleged to have commanded a team accused in the 2018 Novichok attack in Britain against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.
Bangladesh Arrests Policeman, Charges Him with Spying for India Sputnik 18 Dec 2019 -- Last week, two prominent Bangladeshi ministers called off a visit to India amid the agitations over an amended citizenship law. Various Indian states have been witnessing massive protests against the law claiming it discriminates against citizens over their religious identity. The Indian government denies the allegations.
U.S. Senators Request Intelligence Review On Not Extending Nuclear Arms Treaty With Russia RFE/RL 17 Dec 2019 -- Three U.S. senators have asked Joseph Maguire, the acting director of National Intelligence, to conduct an impact assessment of how Russia and China would react if Washington withdraws from the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with Russia.
Chairman Nadler Files Judiciary Committee Impeachment Report Ahead of House Vote on Impeachment Articles U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary 16 Dec 2019 -- House Judiciary Committee produces report of the evidentiary and legal basis for charging President Trump with two articles of impeachment for committing 'high Crimes and Misdemeanors'
Schumer Proposes Senate Subpoena 4 White House Officials for Impeachment Trial VOA 16 Dec 2019 -- With the U.S. House of Representatives expected to impeach President Donald Trump this week, the top Democrat in the Senate is calling for the chamber that will conduct the impeachment trial to hear from four key Trump administration witnesses.
US House Judiciary Committee report: Trump 'betrayed the nation' Press TV 16 Dec 2019 -- The US House Judiciary Committee has released its report explaining the impeachment charges against Donald Trump, arguing just days before a final vote in the Democratic-held House of Representatives that the US president "betrayed the nation by abusing his high office."
House Judiciary Committee Releases Full Impeachment Report Sputnik 16 Dec 2019 -- The House Judiciary Committee has over the past few weeks been looking into the constitutional grounds for Trump's impeachment – an ongoing partisan effort by Democrats. The Committee earlier kicked off a series of public hearings, after the Republicans had called for the process to be more transparent.
Successful Deployment of India's Spy Satellite's Hi-Tech Antenna in Orbit Sputnik 16 Dec 2019 -- Besides the main RISAT-2BR1 satellite, on 11 December, the ISRO's PSLV-C48 carried nine international satellites – six from the US and one each from Israel, Italy and Japan. The advance antenna is meant to increase the capacity of the satellite.
China protests diplomats' expulsion Global Times 16 Dec 2019 -- China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday slammed the US for wrongly accusing and expelling two Chinese diplomats for allegedly spying in the US, and urged the US to reverse the decision and protect their legitimate rights and interests, while Chinese experts suggested the authorities consider countermeasures to limit US diplomats in China if necessary.
China lodges representations with US over expelling diplomats Press TV 16 Dec 2019 -- Beijing says it has lodged "stern representations" with the United States over the expelling of two Chinese officials accused of breaching security at a sensitive military base in Virginia, calling the expulsions a "mistake."
China Calls US Expulsions a 'Mistake' VOA 16 Dec 2019 -- China on Monday urged the United States to correct its "mistake" of expelling Chinese officials.
AFRL completes initial Ultra LEAP flight tests US Air Force 15 Dec 2019 -- The Air Force Research Laboratory's Center for Rapid Innovation has successfully completed initial flight tests for a revolutionary Unmanned Aerial System with a customizable suite of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools that supports extended missions.
Germany's Top Diplomat Contradicts Putin, Says Russia Never Asked To Extradite Chechen Fighter RFE/RL 15 Dec 2019 -- Germany's top diplomat denied Moscow requested the extradition of an ethnic Chechen before he was murdered in Berlin, contradicting a statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US Secretly Expels Chinese Diplomats for Intruding on Military Base – Reports Sputnik 15 Dec 2019 -- The United States has expelled two Chinese diplomats for allegedly driving unannounced into a sensitive military base near Norfolk in the US state of Virginia, The New York Times reported Sunday.
White House restricts officials who can listen to Trump's calls with foreign leaders Press TV 14 Dec 2019 -- US President Donald Trump's senior aides have further restricted the number of administration officials allowed to listen to his phone calls with foreign leaders following the Ukraine scandal, according to US media reports.
White House Reportedly Limits Access to Trump's Foreign Leader Calls in Wake of Ukraine Scandal Sputnik 14 Dec 2019 -- On 13 December the US House Judiciary Committee voted to advance two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, effectively paving the way for a vote among all members of the House of Representatives next week.
US Navy Left With Two Global Hawk Spy Drones After Takeoff Mishap Causes Millions in Damage Sputnik 13 Dec 2019 -- A hugely expensive spy drone flown by the US Navy struck an object during takeoff late last month, which the service said caused millions in damage. Between the November incident, a June shootdown by Iran and a 2012 crash, the Navy may only have two of the machines left.
New law stiffens jail terms for spying CNA 13 Dec 2019 -- The Legislative Yuan passed an amendment Friday that increases jail terms for Taiwanese caught spying and expands the scope of counterintelligence provisions to bolster Taiwan's security against espionage and infiltration activities.
Artificial Intelligence to be Used for Charting, Intel Collection DoD News 13 Dec 2019 -- Nautical, terrain and aeronautical charting is vital to the Defense Department mission. This job, along with collecting intelligence, falls to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Retaining Classified National Defense Information Regarding U.S. Military Programs US Dept. of Justice 13 Dec 2019 -- A Sharon, Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty today to willfully retaining national defense information. Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin, 66, an Egyptian-born nationalized U.S. citizen, admitted to removing classified national defense information from his workplace at a defense contractor without authorization and keeping it unsecured within his home.
Russia Expels Two Germans From Embassy In Diplomatic Tit-For-Tat RFE/RL 12 Dec 2019 -- Russia has announced the expulsion of two German diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to a similar move by Berlin last week.
German Embassy Employees Declared Personae Non Grata, Ordered to Leave Russia Within 7 Days Sputnik 12 Dec 2019 -- Russia has declared two employees of the German Embassy personae non grata, following a similar move by the country, and they should leave Russia within seven days, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Indian Couple Convicted in Germany for Spying on Kashmiris and Sikhs Sputnik 12 Dec 2019 -- Germany has the third-highest Sikh population in Europe after the UK and Italy. Germans with Indian backgrounds includes Indian expatriates there, as well as German citizens of Indian-origin or descent. The Indian government suspects that some Sikhs in the diaspora have been supporting anti-Indian activities in Europe.
Unusual Alliance Seeks Reforms in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance VOA 12 Dec 2019 -- In 2013, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced legislation to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law that authorizes the FBI to undertake secret electronic surveillance of terror suspects and foreign spies.
Israeli Satellite Intel Co Unveils Alleged 'Iranian' Weapons Tunnel in Syria Near Iraqi Border Sputnik 11 Dec 2019 -- In recent years, Israel has repeatedly accused Iran of deploying forces and weapons in Syria as part of a proxy war against Tel Aviv, and has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against alleged 'Iranian' or 'Iran-backed' forces in the war-torn country. Tehran says its assistance has been limited to helping Damascus in its fight against terrorism.
In Lavish Wedding Photos, Clues To An Alleged Russian Cyberthief's FSB Family Ties RFE/RL 11 Dec 2019 -- He's been named by the United States and Britain as being the leader of a Russian gang that committed some of the largest cyberthefts in history, an organization known as Evil Corp.
Ex-US officials helped UAE build secret spy unit: Probe Press TV 11 Dec 2019 -- A group of former US National Security Agency (NSA) operatives and other elite intelligence veterans helped the United Arab Emirates construct secret internet-surveillance apparatus, a Reuters investigation reveals.
FBI Russia Probe Report Exposes Deep Fissures in Trump Administration VOA 11 Dec 2019 -- The release of a long-awaited report on the FBI's investigation of President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign has exposed deep fissures within the administration over the origins of the probe, pitting Trump and Attorney General William Barr against FBI Director Christopher Wray and the Justice Department's watchdog.
Justice Department Inspector General Testifying on Russia Probe VOA 11 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. Justice Department's inspector general is testifying Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his report that found no evidence of political bias in the FBI's launching of its investigation into Russian election interference.
Transcript of Speaker Pelosi, Committee Chairs Announcing Articles of Impeachment Nancy Pelosi - Speaker of the House 10 Dec 2019 -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary Jerry Nadler, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Richard Neal, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee Maxine Waters and Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Carolyn Maloney to announce articles of impeachment of President Trump.
Democrats Charge Trump with Abuse of Office, Obstruction VOA 10 Dec 2019 -- Leading House Democrats unveiled two articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, accusing him of abusing his office for personal political gain and obstructing the congressional impeachment inquiry.
House Democrats Unveil Formal Impeachment Charges Against Trump RFE/RL 10 Dec 2019 -- Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Trump Maintains He 'Did Nothing Wrong' After Democrats Announce Two Impeachment Counts VOA 10 Dec 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is declaring he cannot imagine Democrats will vote to impeach him "because we did nothing wrong."
US House Democrats unveil Trump impeachment charges Press TV 10 Dec 2019 -- The long-anticipated formal impeachment against US President Donald Trump has been announced by the Democrat-led House of Representatives.
US House Judiciary chief: Trump conduct 'clearly impeachable' Press TV 10 Dec 2019 -- US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler has said President Donald Trump's conduct is "clearly impeachable" and described him as a threat to the country's elections and system of government.
British intelligence monitored Trump's family as early as 2007 Press TV 10 Dec 2019 -- It is being reported that the former MI6 officer who compiled a dossier on Donald Trump was in fact a personal friend of Trump's daughter, Ivanka.
FBI not motivated by political bias in Trump probe: Watchdog report Press TV 10 Dec 2019 -- FBI agents were not motivated by political bias in probing associates of the Trump 2016 campaign, says the US Justice Department inspector general.
Trump Slams FBI Director After Release of Watchdog Report on Russia Probe VOA 10 Dec 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday, one day after the U.S. Justice Department's independent inspector general said it did not uncover any evidence of political partisanship when the FBI started investigating communications between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia in 2016.
Statement from Vice President Mike Pence on Horowitz Report The White House 09 Dec 2019
Putin Says Berlin Murder Victim Was Among Organizers Of Moscow Metro Blast RFE/RL 10 Dec 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said the ethnic Chechen Georgian national murdered in Berlin this summer had been behind a Moscow metro blast.
Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on the Inspector General's Report of the Review of Four FISA Applications and Other Aspects of the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane Investigation US Dept. of Justice 09 Dec 2019 -- Attorney General William P. Barr issued the following statement:
IG Report: FBI Was Justified in Opening Russia Probe VOA 09 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. Justice Department's inspector general says in a new report the FBI was justified in opening an investigation in 2016 into suspected ties between U.S. President Donald Trump's election campaign and Russia, saying officials had enough evidence to authorize an inquiry.
Pakistan's Spy Agency Using Honey Trap to Target Indian Army Officers: Minister Sputnik 09 Dec 2019 -- The issue of honey-trapping by foreign intelligence agencies has been gaining credence in India, with the Indian Army issuing an advisory asking its personnel to be cautious and avoid strangers posing as women of foreign origin or spiritual gurus (leader).
Britain's Spies Probe Russian Election Meddling VOA 09 Dec 2019 -- Britain's cybersecurity agency is investigating whether state-sponsored Russian hackers were behind the leaks of British government documents used by opposition politicians to embarrass Boris Johnson's ruling Conservative Party ahead of Thursday's general election.
Pentagon's Concern About Rising Support for Russia Among US Troops 'Runs Deep' - Report Sputnik 09 Dec 2019 -- The trend is not limited to the US - in February polling revealed the average German holds Russia and China in higher regard than the US, with which their government is allied.
House Judiciary Committee Releases Staff Report on Constitutional Grounds for Impeachment U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary 07 Dec 2019 -- Today, the House Judiciary Committee released a report by the majority staff entitled "Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment." The report details the history, purpose and meaning of the Constitution's Impeachment Clause. It addresses legal questions about the impeachment process and rebuts false claims about impeachment.
Democrats Continue Work on Impeachment Probe VOA 07 Dec 2019 -- U.S. Democratic lawmakers met privately Saturday to work on the investigation into President Donald Trump, inching closer to an impeachment vote, possibly before the Christmas holiday recess.
US House Judiciary report laying out grounds for impeachment Press TV 07 Dec 2019 -- The US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee's Democratic lawmakers have released a 55-page report detailing offenses that could warrant impeachment against President Donald Trump.
White House Says It Won't Participate In Next Round Of Impeachment Hearings RFE/RL 07 Dec 2019 -- The White House says it will not take part in the next impeachment hearing by the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.
Pentagon Concerned Russia Cultivating Sympathy Among US Troops VOA 07 Dec 2019 -- Russian efforts to weaken the West through a relentless campaign of information warfare may be starting to pay off, cracking a key bastion of the U.S. line of defense: the military.
Trump Denies Reports That He Uses Personal Cell Phone for Calls Despite 'Security Warnings' Sputnik 07 Dec 2019 -- US President Donald Trump has refuted reports of using a personal mobile phone, despite the alleged threat of confidential conversations and messages being intercepted by foreign intelligence agencies.
NATO-Linked Report Says Social-Media Platforms Failing On Manipulation RFE/RL 06 Dec 2019 -- A NATO-linked report says the world's largest social-media companies are failing at regulating their platforms to combat the manipulation of information.
Russia Gives Bulgarian Diplomat 24 Hours To Leave In Tit-For-Tat Move RFE/RL 05 Dec 2019 -- Russia says it is expelling a Bulgarian diplomat five weeks after Sofia declined a visa to the incoming Russian defense attache amid an espionage scandal.
Russia Notifies Bulgarian Ambassador it is Declaring a Bulgarian Embassy Advisor Persona Non Grata Sputnik 05 Dec 2019 -- In October, a Russian diplomat was expelled from Bulgaria over allegedly spying for Moscow and collecting classified data.
Russia Considers Claims of Being Uncooperative on Berlin Murder Probe Baseless - Lavrov Sputnik 05 Dec 2019 -- Russia considers claims on its lack of cooperation on the investigation into a killing of a Georgian national in Germany baseless, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.
Chinese Telecoms Companies Confirm Mandatory Facial Recognition For New Numbers Radio Free Asia 05 Dec 2019 -- Telecoms service providers in mainland China have confirmed to RFA that mandatory facial scans are now being implemented for any new customers, or people applying for a new phone number, after a new set of regulations came into effect at the beginning of this month.
U.S. Sanctions, Indicts Hackers With Alleged Russian Intelligence Ties RFE/RL 05 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. Justice Department on December 5 announced computer hacking and bank fraud charges against Russian national Maksim Yakubets, the alleged leader of a cybercriminal organization that has illicitly earned more than $100 million since 2016.
Reward Offer for Information on Russian Cybercriminal Maksim Yakubets US Dept. of State 05 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. Department of State's Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Russian cybercriminal Maksim Yakubets.
Treasury Sanctions Evil Corp, the Russia-Based Cybercriminal Group Behind Dridex Malware US Treasury 05 Dec 2019 -- Today the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action against Evil Corp, the Russia-based cybercriminal organization responsible for the development and distribution of the Dridex malware.
US, UK Officials Announce Charges Against 2 Russian Hackers VOA 05 Dec 2019 -- U.S. and British law enforcement officials announced charges against two notorious Russian hackers, accusing them of engaging in a decade-long crime spree that resulted in tens of millions of dollars in losses to victims around the world.
Retired military officer and his father indicted on spying charges CNA 04 Dec 2019 -- Retired Army Lt. Col. Cheng Chih-wen (鄭智文) and his father, Cheng Chao-ming (鄭昭明), chairman of the Taiwan Labor Party, were indicted Tuesday for spying and trying to recruit military personnel to work for China in violation of the National Security Act.
Russia responds to Germany's 'groundless' expulsion of diplomats Press TV 04 Dec 2019 -- Moscow says the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Germany over the allegation of killing a Georgian man in Berlin is "groundless" and "unfriendly."
Germany Expels Two Russians From Embassy In Berlin, Moscow Threatens Retaliation RFE/RL 04 Dec 2019 -- Germany has expelled two Russian diplomats and its federal prosecutors have taken over the case of the slaying of an ethnic Chechen Georgian national in Berlin amid allegations of Russian involvement.
This is What We Know About the Georgian Murdered in Berlin and His Alleged Assassin Sputnik 04 Dec 2019 -- The killing of Georgian national Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in the centre of Berlin has set off a diplomatic row between Russia and Germany.
Moscow Vows Retaliation After Berlin Expells 2 Embassy Employees Over Murder of Georgian National Sputnik 04 Dec 2019 -- German media has reported that the national chief public prosecutor suspects Russian intelligence agencies of having ordered the killing of a former Chechen military commander. The Kremlin has described the allegations as baseless.
Russia, US Spar Over Former Marine Detained on Espionage Charges VOA 04 Dec 2019 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry has accused a former U.S. Marine currently facing charges of espionage of faking health problems and lying about his poor treatment while in custody – comments the U.S. Embassy in Moscow called "pulp fiction."
Chinese netizens accuse the West of double standards in application of facial recognition Global Times 04 Dec 2019 -- If the US wants to adopt the technology for its citizens' security, why did the Western media say China did so to monitor its people and collect their personal information? Some Chinese people asked a similar question online following the US Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) recent proposal to scan the faces of all travelers coming in and out of the US.
US House Intel Committee Approves Impeachment Inquiry Report Sputnik 04 Dec 2019 -- With a party-line vote, the US House Intelligence Committee has approved Chairman Adam Schiff's impeachment report, formally moving inquiry proceedings to the next step.
U.S. Senate Hearing Exposes Partisan Differences Over New Russia Sanctions RFE/RL 04 Dec 2019 -- A hearing in the Senate to discuss U.S. foreign policy towards Russia exposed partisan disagreements over whether to impose new sanctions on a rival power accused of "malign" actions, including interference in foreign elections.
US Lawmakers Formally Accuse Trump of Misconduct, Obstruction VOA 03 Dec 2019 -- Lawmakers are formally accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of misconduct and obstruction, based on a months-long effort by him "to use the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election."
Impeachment Report Summary: Panels Find 'Significant Misconduct' by Trump VOA 03 Dec 2019 -- The House Intelligence Committee's impeachment inquiry report is 300 pages long, but the report includes a single page executive summary that concisely sums up the Democrats' case against President Donald Trump.
House Intelligence Committee Releases Impeachment Report VOA 03 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. House Intelligence Committee has publicly released Tuesday a report on its findings and recommendations in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
What Happens Next with the US House Impeachment Inquiry VOA 03 Dec 2019 -- After two weeks of public hearings on U.S. President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are moving closer to formally impeaching the president on yet-to-be determined charges.
House Intelligence Committee Concludes Trump Abused Power Of Office RFE/RL 03 Dec 2019 -- The Democrat-led House Intelligence Committee has concluded that President Donald Trump abused his power of office by pressuring a foreign government to investigate his political opponent.
Law Professors Called For Next Phase Of Trump Impeachment Hearing RFE/RL 03 Dec 2019 -- The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has named the four witnesses who will testify this week at a public hearing in the impeachment probe of President Donald Trump as a new phase starts in the proceedings.
House Intel Report: Trump Obstructed Impeachment Inquiry, Intimidated Witnesses Sputnik 03 Dec 2019 -- The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has released its report on what it calls US President Donald Trump's "months-long effort" to use his powers of the office "to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 [presidential] election."
House Intelligence Committee Releases Draft Report As Part of Impeachment Inquiry US HPSCI 03 Dec 2019 -- Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released the draft report – "The Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report" – to all Members and the public. The Committee will vote tonight to issue the report, before the Chairman of the Committee transmits it and any accompanying materials to the House Judiciary Committee consistent with H.Res. 660.
Germany Suspects 'Russia Link' To Ethnic Chechen's Killing In Berlin RFE/RL 03 Dec 2019 -- German federal prosecutors are preparing to take over the case related to the slaying of an ethnic Chechen Georgian national in Berlin this summer, according to media reports, amid suspicions that Russian intelligence was involved in the killing.
China Rolls Out Mandatory Facial Recognition For New Mobile Phone Accounts Radio Free Asia 03 Dec 2019 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party has rolled out plans to require all new smartphone owners to register with facial recognition scans.
Chinese Citizens Express Concern Over the Abuse of Facial Recognition Technology VOA 03 Dec 2019 -- Starting this month, China has made it mandatory that new mobile phone users will have to have their faces scanned before completing their real-name registration with telecom operators.
Ex-defense chief calls for swift passage of anti-infiltration law CNA 02 Dec 2019 -- A former defense minister of Taiwan on Monday called on lawmakers to swiftly pass an anti-infiltration law to prevent Chinese interference in the nation's politics.
Pompeo warns Europe against allowing 'Chinese tech giants' build 5G networks Press TV 02 Dec 2019 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned against European states allowing companies with Chinese links from constructing 5G networks across the continent.
FBI Declares Russian Software FaceApp a Counterintelligence Threat Sputnik 03 Dec 2019 -- The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) treats any Russian-developed mobile application, including a popular FaceApp software, as a counterintelligence threat, FBI Assistant Director Jill Tyson said in a letter.
Tsai authority exploits 'China spy' farce Global Times 01 Dec 2019 -- The Tsai Ing-wen administration attempted to manipulate the Chinese spy farce to affect the Taiwan regional 2020 election, Deputy Secretary-General of the Nationalist Party of China (or Kuomintang) Tsai Cheng-Yuan said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times on Sunday amid the Western media's continuous hyping of the Wang Liqiang spy story.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry issues announcement on Iran International TV ISNA 01 Dec 2019 -- Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced that it considers actions by Iran International TV and its staff as cooperation with Iran's foes in terrorist acts.
Airbus Fires 16 Employees Over Accusations of Obtaining German Army Docs - Report Sputnik 01 Dec 2019 -- German prosecutors in September opened an investigation into suspected internal espionage by Airbus employees over two arms projects, Bild newspaper reported.

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