November 2020 Intelligence News

Iran's Security Apparatus Under Fire After Top Nuclear Scientist Assassinated RFE/RL 30 Nov 2020 -- The attack that targeted Iran's top nuclear scientist took place in broad daylight not far from the capital, Tehran.
Minister: Intelligence Ministry has many clues about Fakhrizadeh assassination IRNA 30 Nov 2020 -- Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said on Monday that intelligence and security forces have started identifying the ostentatious terrorist elements behind the assassination of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and have gained many clues.
Many leads found on assassination of Iran nuclear scientist: Intelligence minister Press TV 30 Nov 2020 -- Iran's Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi says the country's security forces have found a lot of new leads on the recent assassination of senior Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
Iran Security Chief Says They Know Who Plotted Top Nuclear Scientist's Murder Sputnik 30 Nov 2020 -- Iran has identified the mastermind behind last week's assassination of the country's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council said on Monday.
Japanese Universities' Ties to China's Military-Linked Schools Sparks Concern Radio Free Asia 30 Nov 2020 -- Dozens of Japanese universities continue to have research ties with seven higher education institutions with ties to China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), Japan's Kyodo News reported.
Czech President's Call For List Of Russian Spies Triggers Security Concerns RFE/RL 30 Nov 2020 -- Czech President Milos Zeman has reportedly demanded a list of all Russian spies active in the Czech Republic, which security experts say could endanger secret sources of the Czech counterintelligence service.
EU Mulls Sanctions On State Actors For Spreading Disinformation RFE/RL 30 Nov 2020 -- The European Commission (EC) will propose for the first time that the European Union impose sanctions on "foreign actors" from states such as Russia or China spreading disinformation as it pushes for a tougher oversight mechanism for online platforms, according to a draft document seen by RFE/RL.
Former Trump Campaign Aide Sues Over Surveillance During Probe Of Russian Election Meddling RFE/RL 29 Nov 2020 -- A former associate of President Donald Trump's election campaign who was the target of a secret surveillance warrant during the FBI's Russia investigation has filed a lawsuit saying he was the victim of illegal spying.
Video: Iran swaps Israel's spy for three nationals jailed abroad Press TV 26 Nov 2020 -- Iran has released an Australian-British citizen, who was serving a prison sentence for spying for Israel, to secure the release of three Iranians jailed abroad on false charges.
British-Australian Academic Accused of Spying by Iran Freed in Reported Prisoner Swap Deal VOA 26 Nov 2020 -- A British-Australian academic has been released from prison in Iran after more than two years. Kylie-Moore Gilbert was convicted on espionage charges, which she has always denied.
Swedish Opposition Demands Answers About Alleged US Espionage Against Country Sputnik 26 Nov 2020 -- According to a whistleblower report, the US intelligence service NSA, with the help of its Danish counterpart, spied on targets in several countries, including Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
CIA Officer Killed in Somalia Last Weekend - Reports Sputnik 26 Nov 2020 -- A Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer has died from an injury sustained during a mission in Somalia last weekend, The New York Times reported, citing a former senior US administration official familiar with the matter.
Dem leaders condemn Trump's pardon of Flynn as 'abuse of power' Press TV 26 Nov 2020 -- Democratic leaders have laid into President Donald Trump for pardoning his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, condemning his decision to do so as a "brazen" abuse of power.
Trump announces pardon for Flynn, former security adviser who lied to FBI Global Times 26 Nov 2020 -- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he has pardoned Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Beijing confirms jail sentence for Taiwanese professor CNA 25 Nov 2020 -- A retired university professor who was arrested shortly after visiting China in August 2018 has been sentenced to four years in prison on national security charges, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) said Wednesday.
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grant of Clemency for General Michael T. Flynn The White House 25 Nov 2020
Trump pardons Michael Flynn weeks before his tenure ends Press TV 25 Nov 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has pardoned his first national security adviser, who was charged after the so-called Russia probe.
Trump Pardons Ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn Sputnik 25 Nov 2020 -- Media reports indicated earlier that Trump told his confidants about pardoning his ex-aide during what is presumed to be the US president's final weeks in office.
Trump Pardons Former National Security Adviser Flynn RFE/RL 25 Nov 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI over his contacts with Russians.
New Zealand Charges Serviceman With Espionage in Historic Case, Defenсe Force Says Sputnik 25 Nov 2020 -- New Zealand has pressed various charges, including of espionage, against an unidentified soldier in what has become the first indictment of a serviceman for spying in the country's history, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said in a statement released on Wednesday.
White House Reportedly Gives Biden Access to President's Daily Intelligence Briefings Sputnik 24 Nov 2020 -- The Biden-Harris transition team earlier complained that they were not receiving daily intelligence reports, with transition aide Jen Psaki saying they want access so that they can "prepare to govern".
Russian Influence Peddlers Carving Out New Audiences on Fringes VOA 24 Nov 2020 -- After four years of warnings and preparations, the 2020 presidential election did not see a repeat of 2016, when intelligence officials concluded Russia meddled using a combination of cyberattacks and influence operations.
MOFA declines to comment on reports of U.S. intelligence official visit CNA 24 Nov 2020 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday again declined to comment on reports about a visit to Taiwan by a senior U.S. military intelligence official, who apparently wrapped up a three-day visit to the country on Tuesday night.
US navy admiral visits Taiwan, deepening divide with China Press TV 23 Nov 2020 -- A senior US naval official, with responsibility for military intelligence in the Asia Pacific, has made an undercover visit to Taiwan in an apparent last-ditch effort by the outgoing administration of President Donald Trump to strengthen relations with the self-ruled island -- a move which is certain to outrage China.
US Navy Rear Admiral Reportedly Makes Unannounced Visit to Taiwan Sputnik 23 Nov 2020 -- According to Reuters, US Rear Admiral Michael Studeman paid an unannounced visit to Taiwan in a move that is thought be some to likely prompt criticism from Beijing. The Pentagon reportedly has declined to comment.
Senior U.S. intelligence official visit draws information blackout CNA 22 Nov 2020 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday said it had no comment on a reported visit made by a senior U.S. military intelligence official to Taiwan.
US clears way for convicted Israeli spy to move to Israel Press TV 22 Nov 2020 -- Former US Navy Intelligence officer and convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard has been cleared to travel to Israel despite his life-imprisonment sentence back in 1986 amid welcoming statement by top Israeli officials.
Panama Court Orders Retrial of Ex-President on Charges of Espionage Sputnik 21 Nov 2020 -- An appeals court in Panama has ordered a retrial of former President Ricardo Martinelli for accusations of spying on political rivals during his presidency, the country's prosecutor said.
Russian Sentenced To 13 Years For Trying To Pass Classified Materials To CIA RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- A Russian man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempting to hand classified material to U.S. intelligence.
Russia Sentences Man Convicted of Spying for US to 13 Years in Prison VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- A Russian court has sentenced a man convicted of spying for the United States to 13 years in prison, Russia's Federal Security Service said in a statement Friday.
New UK National Cyber Force to Combine Assets From Multiple Agencies, Ministry of Defence Says Sputnik 19 Nov 2020 -- The United Kingdom's proposed new National Cyber Force (NCF) will bring together assets and personnel from multiple intelligence agencies, including MI6, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release on Thursday.
Former U.S. Army Green Beret Pleads Guilty To Spying For Russia RFE/RL 19 Nov 2020 -- A former officer in the U.S. Army's elite Green Berets has pleaded guilty to spying for Russia, the Justice Department says.
Former Army Green Beret Pleads Guilty to Russian Espionage Conspiracy US Dept. of Justice 18 Nov 2020 -- A former Army Green Beret pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Russian intelligence operatives to provide them with United States national defense information.
Former US Army Officer Pleads Guilty of Spying for Russia VOA 18 Nov 2020 -- A former U.S. Army Special Forces officer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of providing sensitive military information to Russian intelligence agents.
Former Raytheon Engineer Sentenced for Exporting Sensitive Military Related Technology to China US Dept. of Justice 18 Nov 2020 -- Today, Wei Sun, 49, a Chinese national and naturalized citizen of the United States, was sentenced to 38 months in prison by District Court Judge Rosemary Marquez. Sun previously pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
US Reports 'Substantial Progress' in Countering Chinese Security Threat VOA 17 Nov 2020 -- The Justice Department is touting the success of its "China Initiative," saying it has achieved "substantial progress" in disrupting and deterring Chinese efforts to subvert U.S. economic and national security.
The China Initiative: Year-in-Review (2019-20) US Dept. of Justice 16 Nov 2020 -- On the two-year anniversary of the Attorney General's China Initiative, the Department continues its significant focus on the Initiative's goals and announced substantial progress during the past year in disrupting and deterring the wide range of national security threats posed by the policies and practices of the People's Republic of China (PRC) government.
US Spied on Scandinavian Countries, Defence Industries, Report Says Sputnik 16 Nov 2020 -- Ministries and defence companies such as Terma and Saab were targets of US espionage, according to a whistleblower report.
Fifth Phoenix aircraft arrives at the AGS Main Operating Base NATO 12 Nov 2020 -- On 12 November 2020 the fifth and last NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft arrived at the AGS Main Operating Base in Sigonella, Italy. The arrival of the RQ-4D aircraft at its home base in Europe represents a new milestone in the NATO AGS Programme, completing the NATO AGS fleet.
University Researcher Pleads Guilty to Lying on Grant Applications to Develop Scientific Expertise for China US Dept. of Justice 12 Nov 2020 -- A rheumatology professor and researcher with strong ties to China pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal authorities as part of an immunology research fraud scheme.
Spying for Hire: US Using Civilian Contractor Planes to Monitor Seas Off Chinese Coast- Think Tank Sputnik 12 Nov 2020 -- Where it was previously known to be flying spy planes near China disguised as civilian aircraft, now the US military has been revealed to be contracting civilian firms to fly spy missions for them in the region. The US has dispatched three such planes to the western Pacific in recent months, according to a new think tank report.
Russian Foreign Intelligence's Service Chief Reveals Who is Its 'Main Opponents' Sputnik 03 Nov 2020 -- The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) considers the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States to be its main opponent, SVR Director Sergey Naryshkin has said in an interview with Sputnik.
Whistle-Blower Snowden Applies For Russian Citizenship RFE/RL 02 Nov 2020 -- Whistle-blower Edward Snowden announced on November 2 that he is applying for Russian citizenship but will keep his U.S. nationality.
US Whistleblower Edward Snowden Wants to Apply for Russian Citizenship Sputnik 02 Nov 2020 -- US whistleblower Edward Snowden, who used to work for the National Security Agency (NSA) and fled to Russia after leaking information on surveillance programmes, said he would like to apply for dual US-Russian citizenship.
Snowden to Apply for Citizenship in Russia VOA 02 Nov 2020 -- Former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden said on Twitter Monday that he and his wife are applying for Russian citizenship, in addition to their American citizenship.
Woman falls for foreign spy, sentenced to prison with her accomplice husband Global Times 02 Nov 2020 -- China has unveiled a number of espionage cases to raise people's awareness amid the sixth anniversary of the enactment of China's counter-espionage law. One of these is related to the family of a civil servant that was upturned by a lover who turned out to be a spy.
Man turns to espionage after failed attempt to found his own 'nation' Global Times 02 Nov 2020 -- On the sixth anniversary of the implementation of China's counter-espionage law, China's national security departments have revealed the ridiculous case of a man who was recruited to spy for foreign intelligence agencies after his nonsensical attempt to found his own "party" and "nation," thepaper.cn reported Sunday.

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