February 2022 Intelligence News

U.S. Expels 12 Russian UN Diplomats As Debate Opens On Resolution To 'Deplore' Russia's Invasion RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- Twelve members of Russia's diplomatic mission to the United Nations have been ordered to leave the United States by March 7, accusing them of being "intelligence operatives" engaged in espionage.
US to Expel 12 Russian Diplomats at UN Mission for Spying VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- The United States said Monday that it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats based at Moscow's U.N. mission in New York for engaging in espionage activities.
North Korea Says Test on Sunday Was a Prelude to Spy Satellite VOA 27 Feb 2022 -- North Korea says its Sunday test was part of developing a reconnaissance satellite, calling it of "great significance" but providing little detail on what kind of delivery rocket it involved.
US House panel probes Trump's handling of classified documents Press TV 25 Feb 2022 -- A US House panel is probing former President Donald Trump's handling of White House documents with some reports that Trump might have ripped up some classified documents.
China urges U.S. to immediately cease malicious cyber activities People's Daily 25 Feb 2022 -- China on Thursday urged the United States to offer an explanation for and put an immediate end to its malicious cyber activities, vowing to take necessary measures to safeguard its cybersecurity and its own interests.
Lebanese security forces detain 'veteran, dangerous' Israeli spy, report says Press TV 24 Feb 2022 -- Lebanon's security forces have arrested a Lebanese man on charges of spying for Israel's Mossad spy agency and collaboration with the regime's authorities through gathering intelligence and involvement in targeted killing operations.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen Delivers Remarks on Countering Nation-State Threats US Dept. of Justice 23 Feb 2022
Trump took classified material from White House to Florida: US National Archives Press TV 19 Feb 2022 -- The US National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has confirmed that former president Donald Trump stored classified documents at his Florida villa after he left office.
Wife of Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related Offense US Dept. of Justice 18 Feb 2022 -- A Maryland woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships. Her husband pleaded guilty to the same offense on Monday, Feb. 14.
Trial Begins In Germany Of Russian Charged With Passing Rocket Intelligence RFE/RL 18 Feb 2022 -- A 30-year-old Russian man charged with espionage for allegedly passing information about a European rocket to Russian intelligence went on trial in Germany on February 17.
Cabinet approves bill to toughen penalties for economic espionage CNA 17 Feb 2022 -- The Cabinet on Thursday approved draft amendments to the National Security Act to make economic espionage a crime punishable by a jail term of up to 12 years and a fine of NT$100 million (US$3.59 million).
Taiwan to change law to prevent 'economic espionage' by China Radio Free Asia 17 Feb 2022 -- The democratic island of Taiwan on Thursday laid out plans to defend its semiconductor industry from "economic espionage," boosting penalties for anyone leaking its cutting-edge technologies to China or other hostile countries.
Individual Pleads Guilty to Acting Within the United States on Behalf of Russian Government US Dept. of Justice 16 Feb 2022 -- A Mexican national, who was residing in Singapore, pleaded guilty yesterday to acting within the United States on behalf of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General.
Ex-legislative aide gets 10-month jail term in national security case CNA 16 Feb 2022 -- The Taiwan Supreme Court has upheld a decision by a lower court sentencing former legislative aide Chen Wei-jen (陳惟仁) to 10 months imprisonment for national security offenses by developing a spy network for China, according to court documents released Wednesday.
Russia Fine-Tuning Info Ops as Tensions With Ukraine Rise VOA 15 Feb 2022 -- Russia's effort to encircle Ukraine with more than 150,000 troops has been accompanied by a shift in its information operations, including a noted increase in ongoing campaigns targeting audiences in the United States, according to a senior U.S. Homeland Security official.
Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related Offense US Dept. of Justice 14 Feb 2022 -- A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to communicate restricted data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships to a person he believed was a representative of a foreign nation.
Ex-US Navy Engineer Pleads Guilty to Trying to Sell Submarine Secrets, Faces Life Sentence Sputnik 14 Feb 2022 -- Former US Navy engineer Jonathan Toebbe pleaded guilty on Monday to trying to sell classified information regarding nuclear submarines and may possibly face a sentence of life in prison, a court filing revealed.
'No Secrecy About This': Sudan Junta Leader Burhan Admits Security Cooperation With Israel Sputnik 14 Feb 2022 -- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two allies of the ousted Sudanese military dictatorship, have long favored stability in Khartoum for political and economic reasons. However, both monarchies unexpectedly came out against the October 25 military coup.
Sudan's military leader lauds intelligence ties with Israel Press TV 13 Feb 2022 -- Sudan's military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has praised intelligence cooperation between the African country and the Israeli regime, which has seen officials from the two former adversaries exchange meetings in unannounced trips.
CIA spying on unwitting Americans in secret program: Senators Press TV 11 Feb 2022 -- Two members of the Intelligence Committee of the United States Senate, namely Ron Wyden and Martin Heinrich, say that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has a secret program that collects information about unwitting Americans, seriously undermining their privacy.
Possible classified material found in Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort: Report Press TV 10 Feb 2022 -- The possible classified material was discovered among more than a dozen boxes of presidential records from former US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in January, according to a report.
Armenia Detains 19 People Suspected Of Being In Spy Ring That Used A Dating Service RFE/RL 10 Feb 2022 -- Armenia Detains 19 People Suspected Of Being In Spy Ring That Used A Dating Service RFE/RL 10 Feb 2022 -- The National Security Service of Armenia (HAAT) has detained 19 people suspected of being members of an "espionage network" in the South Caucasus nation.
Federal Indictment Charges PRC-Based Telecommunications Company with Conspiring with Former Motorola Solutions Employees to Steal Technology US Dept. of Justice 07 Feb 2022 -- A federal indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Illinois, charging a telecommunications company with conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets. The indictment alleges that a telecommunications company conspired with former employees of Chicago-based Motorola Solutions Inc. to steal digital mobile radio (DMR) technology developed by Motorola.
U.S. Tech Companies Say Hackers Behind 'Persistent Threats' To Ukrainian Organizations RFE/RL 04 Feb 2022 -- A hacking team that Ukraine says is controlled by Russian intelligence has targeted a wide range of organizations in the country, according to cybersecurity research by two U.S. technology companies.
Danish Court Finds Three Iranians Guilty Of Spying For Saudi Arabia RFE/RL 04 Feb 2022 -- A Danish court has found three members of an Iranian separatist group guilty of promoting terrorism in Iran and gathering information for an unnamed Saudi intelligence agency.
Botswana Government Waters Down Phone Tapping Bill After Public Outcry VOA 04 Feb 2022 -- Following public outrage, Botswana's government has revised a controversial spy bill which would have allowed investigators to intercept private communications without a court order. Under the revised bill, tapping private conversations now becomes an offense.
US diplomats, spies may have been hit by electromagnetic energy: Report Press TV 03 Feb 2022 -- Electromagnetic energy pulses and ultrasound might have hit the American diplomats and spies who suffered from a mysterious illness known as Havana Syndrome, a US intelligence report says.
Statement from DNI Haines and DCIA Burns Director of National Intelligence 02 Feb 2022 -- "We continue to pursue complementary efforts to get to the bottom of Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs)—and to deliver access to world-class care for those affected. We are making progress in both areas."
Energy Weapon Only 'Plausible' Explanation for Some Cases of Havana Syndrome VOA 02 Feb 2022 -- U.S. intelligence agencies may have ruled out the idea that a rash of mysterious illnesses plaguing American diplomats and other officials is part of a sustained campaign by one of Washington's adversaries, but they now say that in a small number of cases the only likely explanation is the use of some sort of weapon.
Whistleblower: Israeli spyware firm offered US mobile security company 'bags of cash' Press TV 02 Feb 2022 -- A whistleblower says the infamous Israeli spyware firm NSO Group offered a US-based mobile security company "bags of cash" in exchange for access to global cellular networks.
Russia Ramping Up Disinformation Regarding Ukraine, Say Western Officials VOA 02 Feb 2022 -- The Kremlin is ramping up a disinformation offensive aimed at demoralizing Ukraine and Western powers, using Russian state-owned broadcasters and trolls on social media platforms to portray the West as the aggressor and the government in Kyiv as a puppet of NATO, say Western officials and information war experts.

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