February 2021 Intelligence News

Chinese Businessman Charged With Conspiring To Steal Trade Secrets US Dept. of Justice 26 Feb 2021 -- WASHINGTON – Chi Lung Winsman Ng, aka Winsman Ng, 64, a Chinese businessman residing in Hong Kong, was indicted yesterday for conspiring to steal General Electric's (GE) trade secrets involving the company's silicon carbide MOSFET technology worth millions of dollars.
The Government of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Completely Rejects the Assessment in the Report Submitted to US' Congress Regarding Murder of Saudi Citizen Jamal Khashoggi SPA 26 Feb 2021 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has followed the report submitted to the United States' Congress regarding the heinous murder of Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi.
Saudi Arabia 'Completely Rejects' US Khashoggi Report Assessment Sputnik 26 Feb 2021 -- A US intelligence report blaming Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for ordering the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) earlier on Friday.
Accountability for the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi US Dept. of State 26 Feb 2021 -- In October 2018, the world was horrified by the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
US Intelligence Report Singles Out Saudi Crown Prince in Khashoggi Killing VOA 26 Feb 2021 -- The U.S. released a declassified intelligence report Friday that assessed that Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the grisly murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Turkey, adding it is "highly unlikely" it would have been done without the prince's approval.
ODNI Releases Assessment on the Saudi Government's Role in Killing of Jamal Khashoggi Director of National Intelligence 26 Feb 2021 -- Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines today submitted to Congress an Intelligence Community assessment regarding the Saudi Government's role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
"Assessing the Saudi Government's Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi" Director of National Intelligence 26 Feb 2021 -- Consistent with Sections 1277 and 5714 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92) and with the commitment made during her January 19, 2021 nomination hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines today declassified an Intelligence Community assessment regarding the Saudi Government's role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
Biden Administration Declassifies Intel Report on Killing of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi Sputnik 26 Feb 2021 -- While the report alleges that Mohammed bin Salman "broadly supported using violent measures if necessary to silence" Khashoggi, Riyadh has repeatedly denied the royal family's involvement in the journalist's killing, branding it a "rogue operation".
Former Air Force Contractor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Taking 2,500 Pages of Classified Information US Dept. of Justice 25 Feb 2021 -- A former contractor with the U.S. Air Force pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio today to illegally taking approximately 2,500 pages of classified documents.
German Man Charged With Spying At Bundestag For Russia RFE/RL 25 Feb 2021 -- German prosecutors say they have filed espionage charges against a German man suspected of passing the floor plan for the parliament building in Berlin to Russian intelligence services.
German National Charged With Passing Secret Information to Russia From Bundestag, Prosecutors Say Sputnik 25 Feb 2021 -- The suspect is alleged to have collected secret data from the parliament building and passed it on to a Russian intelligence operative attached to the Russian Embassy in Berlin.
CIA Created Task Force to Investigate Acoustic Attacks on US Intelligence Officers, Reports Say Sputnik 25 Feb 2021 -- The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has created a task force to investigate the suspected mysterious acoustic attacks on US intelligence officers, CNN broadcaster reported.
Biden Nominee To Head CIA Sees Russia As Potent Threat RFE/RL 25 Feb 2021 -- U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee to run the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has told lawmakers that the "biggest geopolitical test" the United States faces comes from China but said Russia remains a familiar threat.
$2.3 Billion Awarded to USS Pueblo Crew, But How to Collect From North Korea? VOA 25 Feb 2021 -- More than 50 years ago, North Korea captured the USS Pueblo and subjected the spy ship's crew to "barbarity" for almost a year, treatment that "required medical and/or psychiatric intervention" for the men upon their release in December 1968.
US Court Orders N. Korea to Pay $2.3 Billion to Crew Members of USS Pueblo VOA 25 Feb 2021 -- The former crew of a U.S. intelligence ship seized by North Korea in 1968 are entitled to more than $2.3 billion in damages from Pyongyang for "the pain and suffering" they suffered during 11 months of captivity, a federal judge has ruled.
Did Intelligence Failure Lead to US Capitol Attack? VOA 24 Feb 2021 -- The first in a series of congressional hearings on the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack has sparked a debate over whether intelligence breakdowns left the building vulnerable to what some officials and lawmakers have termed a "planned and coordinated" insurrection by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Federal Security Service Board meeting President of Russia 24 Feb 2021 -- This year, the meeting of the Federal Security Service Board, which usually meets in an expanded format, is being held in a restricted format. But this does not downplay its importance. Unfortunately, we have to comply with the current epidemiological restrictions.
Putin warns of Western attempts to 'shackle' Russia Press TV 24 Feb 2021 -- President Vladimir Putin has warned of attempts by the West to 'shackle' Russia, calling on the Federal Security Services (FSB) to be on guard against Western threats.
CIA Chief Nominee Warns of 'Adversarial, Predatory' China VOA 24 Feb 2021 -- The United States must train its spies and intelligence analysts on the rising threat from China, U.S. President Joe Biden's pick to lead the country's premier spy agency told lawmakers Wednesday, calling competition from Beijing "the biggest geopolitical test that we face."
Former Security Officials Cite Intelligence Failure on Capitol Riot VOA 23 Feb 2021 -- Former officials responsible for securing the U.S. Capitol testified Tuesday before Congress for the first time since the January 6 attack on the complex, blaming deficient intelligence for the failure to prevent what they characterized as a "planned and coordinated" insurrection by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
US Security Officials Blame Intelligence for Failure to Prepare for Capitol Assault Sputnik 23 Feb 2021 -- US security officials told a Senate panel on Tuesday that an assault on the Capitol caught them off guard as there was no intelligence to predict it and all preparations were made for a different scenario.
US security officials blame 'poor intelligence' for deadly Capitol riot Press TV 23 Feb 2021 -- Senior law enforcement officials in charge of security for the US Capitol, testifying publicly for the first time since the January 6 insurrection, have blamed poor intelligence and each other for failing to pre-empt the deadly riot.
IARPA Program Driving New Capabilities to Capture Clearer Images of Satellites Orbiting (Very) High Above Earth Director of National Intelligence 19 Feb 2021 -- The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) is developing new scientific approaches to take high-definition-like pictures of geosynchronous satellites from the ground. The goal is to better account for the behavior and movement of these high orbiting objects in space.
Taiwan names new defense, intelligence, China affairs heads (update) CNA 19 Feb 2021 -- Taiwan's Presidential Office on Friday announced a reshuffle of three Cabinet-level officials, replacing the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, the National Security Bureau and the Mainland Affairs Council.
Taiwan reshuffles top defense, intelligence, China affairs officials CNA 19 Feb 2021 -- Taiwan's Presidential Office on Friday announced a reshuffle of three Cabinet-level officials, replacing the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, the National Security Bureau and the Mainland Affairs Council.
Retired military officials indicted for alleged spying for China CNA 20 Feb 2021 -- Four former officials of the Military Intelligence Bureau were indicted on Saturday for alleged violation of the National Security Act and the National Intelligence Service Law by passing confidential intelligence to China after their retirement.
Russian Political Researcher Arrested On High Treason Charge RFE/RL 20 Feb 2021 -- A Russian political researcher has been arrested in Moscow on a charge of high treason.
Federal Charges Against Stanford University Researcher Expanded US Dept. of Justice 19 Feb 2021 -- Grand Jury Adds Obstruction, Alteration of Records, and False Statements to Visa Fraud Charges Against Visiting Researcher Alleged to Be Member of China's People's Liberation Army
Biden administration files appeal for Assange's extradition Press TV 12 Feb 2021 -- A US Justice Department official has said the administration of President Joe Biden has appealed a British judge's ruling against the extradition of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks – an international, non-profit whistle-blowing organization that was created in Iceland in 2006.
US Has Ongoing Concerns Over China's Activities With Confucius Institutes - State Department Sputnik 11 Feb 2021 -- The Biden administration shares the concerns of its predecessors regarding China's activities involving Confucius institutes in the United States, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a press briefing.
MI6 recruiting 'foreign born' officers as part of 'diversity' drive Press TV 10 Feb 2021 -- The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS – better known as MI6) is on a new recruitment drive and for the first time in its 111-year history it is reportedly prepared to accept foreign-born British nationals at officer level.
Biden administration to press on with extradition of WikiLeaks' Assange Press TV 10 Feb 2021 -- The US Justice Department says the administration of newly-elected US President Joe Biden has decided to seek the extradition of WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange from the United Kingdom, despite calls to drop the espionage charges against him.
Chinese FM confirms arrest of Australian national Cheng Lei on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas Global Times 08 Feb 2021 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday the arrest on Friday of Australian national Cheng Lei on suspicion of illegally supplying Chinese state secrets overseas, adding that an investigation into the case is underway.
Australian Journalist Arrested in China on Suspicion of Espionage, Foreign Department Says Sputnik 08 Feb 2021 -- Australian national Cheng Lei, who was detained in August last year by Chinese authorities, has been formally arrested on suspicion of spying, Australia's Foreign Department said on Monday.
China Charges Chinese-Australian Journalist with Supplying State Secrets VOA 08 Feb 2021 -- Australia's foreign minister says an Australian television journalist who has been detained in China since last August has been formally arrested.
Yemeni criminal court tries six people for spying for Britain, acts of sabotage Press TV 08 Feb 2021 -- A criminal court in Yemen has put on trial six people on charges of spying for the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) as well as perpetrating various acts of sabotage in the war-torn Arab country.
UAE hired US intelligence hackers to spy on 'enemies': NY Times Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- A group of hackers, who once worked for US intelligence agencies, helped the United Arab Emirates (UAE) spy on its neighbor Qatar and other countries, the New York Times reports.
Biden bars 'erratic' Trump from receiving intelligence briefings Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- US President Joe Biden has banned "erratic" Donald Trump, who skipped his inauguration, from receiving classified intelligence.
Britain Expels Three Purported Chinese Spies Who Pretended to Be Journos, Report Says Sputnik 05 Feb 2021 -- The Chinese nationals arrived in the UK last year, allegedly using employment at three different media outlets as a cloak for some other activities to be conducted on British soil.
Bangladesh secretly purchased mass surveillance equipment from Israel: Report Press TV 03 Feb 2021 -- Bangladesh has reportedly purchased mass surveillance equipment from Israel to spy on its own people, even though the country claims to have no official relations with the Tel Aviv regime.
Hospital Researcher Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Steal Trade Secrets, Sell Them in China US Dept. of Justice 01 Feb 2021 -- A former Dublin, Ohio, woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 30 months in prison for conspiring to steal exosome-related trade secrets concerning the research, identification and treatment of a range of pediatric medical conditions.
White House Says Reviewing Whether Trump Will Have Access to Classified Briefings Sputnik 01 Feb 2021 -- The White House is reviewing whether former President Donald Trump should have access to the US president's intelligence briefings amid concerns he may misuse it, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday.

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