July 2023 Intelligence News

Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board's Review of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act The White House 31 Jul 2023
How Serbia Became Blanketed In Chinese-Made Surveillance Cameras RFE/RL 30 Jul 2023 -- Only 2,700 people live in central Osecina, a small town in western Serbia whose downtown consists of two simple intersections.
Lawyer: Trump Could Have Destroyed Evidence but Did Not VOA 30 Jul 2023 -- A lawyer for former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday rebuffed new criminal charges that he obstructed justice, saying that Trump could have destroyed security camera footage at his Florida estate if he had wanted to but did not and, instead, turned over the video to government investigators.
US, Australia Agree to Create Joint Intelligence Center by 2024 Sputnik 29 Jul 2023 -- The governments of the United States and Australia said on Saturday they had agreed to create a joint intelligence center by 2024 to enhance defense cooperation between the two nations.
Information manipulation in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: EU lists seven individuals and five entities EC/CEU 28 Jul 2023 -- Today the Council decided to impose restrictive measures against seven Russian individuals and five entities responsible for conducting a digital information manipulation campaign called 'RRN' (Recent Reliable News), aimed at distorting information and disseminating propaganda in support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Brazil Rejects U.S. Request To Extradite Alleged Russian Spy Sergei Cherkasov RFE/RL 28 Jul 2023 -- Brazilian authorities said they have rejected a request by the United States to extradite Sergei Cherkasov, who Washington alleges collected information on the war in Ukraine while posing as a graduate school student.
FBI Warns About China Theft of US AI Technology VOA 28 Jul 2023 -- China is pilfering U.S.-developed artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance its own aspirations and to conduct foreign influence operations, senior FBI officials said Friday.
Trump faces more charges in classified documents case People's Daily 28 Jul 2023 -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday faced new charges in the classified documents case, reported U.S. media.
US Report: Chinese Support Is 'Critical' to Russia's War Effort VOA 28 Jul 2023 -- A declassified report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released Thursday says that support from China is "critical" to Russia's ability to continue waging its war against Ukraine.
Himes Statement on ODNI Report Regarding Chinese Support to Russia HPSCI - Democrats 27 Jul 2023 -- Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released an unclassified assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on the support provided by the People's Republic of China to Russia in their war against Ukraine.
US intel report claims China giving economic lifeline to Russia amid sanctions Press TV 27 Jul 2023 -- A declassified US intelligence report claims China's economic ties with Russia have helped limit the effect of anti-Mocow sanctions imposed by the West over Russia's military operation in Ukraine.
US intelligence: Beijing has increased Russia support Radio Free Asia 27 Jul 2023 -- Beijing has become "an even more critical economic partner" for Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine, a new report by the U.S. intelligence community says, with China buying more Russian oil and gas than before and helping the country skirt U.S. sanctions.
New Charges Added to Trump Mar-a-Lago Case as Special Counsel Names Third Defendant Sputnik 27 Jul 2023 -- Former US President Donald Trump and two others are facing new charges as part of US special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the mishandling of classified documents at the former president's Florida residence.
Sweden accuses Russia of spreading 'disinformation' over Qur'an desecration Press TV 27 Jul 2023 -- Sweden has accused Russia of running a disinformation campaign to damage the image of the Nordic country over the recent acts of desecration against the Holy Book of the Qur'an in the capital city of Stockholm.
Increased spread of disinformation directed towards Sweden Government Offices of Sweden 26 Jul 2023 -- Today, Wednesday 26 July, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin held a press briefing on recent influence campaigns against Sweden. Mikael Östlund, Head of Communications at the Psychological Defence Agency (MPF), also took part.
CIA, Western agencies snooping via Apple devices, warns Russian official Press TV 25 Jul 2023 -- The speaker of the upper chamber of Russian parliament, Valentina Matvienko, has suggested that officials should never use Apple devices at work due to the threat of surveillance by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other Western spy networks.
Chinese Spy Ships Monitor Australia War Games VOA 25 Jul 2023 -- Chinese surveillance ships are moving in to monitor the largest ever military drills involving the US and Australia. Defense officials expect the high-tech spy ships to remain outside Australia's territorial waters during "Talisman Sabre."
Beijing Concerned About US Push to Bolster Spying Efforts in China Sputnik 24 Jul 2023 -- China is alarmed by US intelligence chief William Burns' admission that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is actively rebuilding spy networks in China, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday.
China vows to take 'all necessary measures' against US spies Press TV 24 Jul 2023 -- China says it will "take all necessary measures to safeguard national security" against US spy networks after a recent confession by the CIA chief that its agents were currently active in the Asia-Pacific country.
Taiwan arrests five on China spying charges Radio Free Asia 24 Jul 2023 -- Taiwanese authorities have arrested a top diabolo coach and four military veterans on suspicion of recruiting spies for China.
Iranian Intelligence Uncovers Massive Terror Network Plotting Attacks Across Country Sputnik 24 Jul 2023 -- Iran has battled against domestic terrorism ever since its creation, foiling plots by domestic and foreign adversaries aimed at overthrowing the Islamic Republican form of government established in 1979.
Taiwan investigates suspected online leak of classified documents CNA 21 Jul 2023 -- Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB) said Friday it was investigating a suspected leak of classified government documents on the internet reported by Reuters earlier in the day.
Retired navy officer gets 5-month prison sentence over China links CNA 21 Jul 2023 -- The Kaohsiung District Court on Friday sentenced retired Navy Major General Hsia Fu-hsiang (夏復翔) to five months in prison Friday in connection with a Chinese attempt to cultivate intelligence assets in Taiwan.
5 suspects detained over alleged espionage for China CNA 20 Jul 2023 -- A total of five people, including a diabolo instructor Lu Chi-hsien (魯紀賢), were detained and held incommunicado Thursday on suspicion of recruiting military officers to collect military intelligence for China.
A look at how Beijing influences Chinese media, diaspora in Malaysia Radio Free Asia 19 Jul 2023 -- Xiaoling bristles when asked about alleged detention camps where Uyghurs have been forcibly confined by China's government.
ODNI Releases the Intelligence Community Data Strategy for 2023-2025 Director of National Intelligence 18 Jul 2023 -- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) today released the Intelligence Community (IC) Data Strategy for 2023-2025. The strategy provides focus areas and actions for all 18 IC elements to accelerate their adoption of common services and efforts to make data more interoperable, discoverable, and artificial intelligence-ready for both people and machines.
Russia: FSB foils Ukraine's plot to murder RT's Chief Editor Press TV 15 Jul 2023 -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has foiled a plot laid out by Ukraine's intelligence agency to target Russia Today (RT) International News TV Channel's Chief Editor Margarita Simonyan.
Russian Special Services Thwart Ukrainian Plot to Kill Rossiya Segodnya Editor-in-Chief Simonyan Sputnik 15 Jul 2023 -- This is the second time in a year that Simonyan has been targeted. In April 2022, the FSB detained members of a neo-Nazi terror cell plotting to kill about half a dozen major Russian media and television personalities.
Suspected Russian Intelligence Operative Extradited from Estonia to Face Charges Related to Providing American-Made Electronics and Ammunition to Russian Military US Dept. of Justice 14 Jul 2023 -- A Russian citizen with alleged ties to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) will be arraigned today on an indictment charging him with conspiracy and other charges related to a global procurement and money laundering network on behalf of the Russian government.
Russian Spy Chief Confirms Call With CIA Counterpart, Says They Discussed Ukraine RFE/RL 13 Jul 2023 -- Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said that he and CIA counterpart William Burns had discussed Ukraine in a phone call last month, TASS said on July 12.
US Reconnaissance Planes Violated N. Korea's Airspace Over 30 Times in July Sputnik 13 Jul 2023 -- US reconnaissance planes violated the airspace over North Korea's exclusive economic water zone more than 30 times from July 2-10, Pyongyang-run news agency reported on Thursday.
Trump Seeks Delay in Classified Documents Trial VOA 11 Jul 2023 -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump is asking a federal judge to delay his trial on a 37-count indictment that alleges he illegally took classified documents with him to his oceanside Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida when his presidency ended and then conspired with an aide, Walt Nauta, to keep government investigators from retrieving them.
Australian Lawmakers Probe Foreign Interference on Social Media VOA 11 Jul 2023 -- The world's biggest social media platforms are facing an Australian Senate inquiry Tuesday to explain how they're tackling the threat of foreign interference. The domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, has said that espionage and foreign interference are now the main security threats to Australia, ahead of terrorism.
Co-Director of Think Tank Indicted for Acting as Unregistered Foreign Agent, Trafficking in Arms, Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, and Making False Statements to Federal Agents US Dept. of Justice 10 Jul 2023 -- A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who serves as the co-director of a Maryland-based think tank was indicted today for allegedly engaging in multiple international criminal schemes. According to court documents, Gal Luft, 57, is charged in an eight-count indictment with offenses related to willfully failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), arms trafficking, Iranian sanctions violations and making false statements to federal agents. Luft was arrested on Feb. 17 in the Republic of Cyprus based on the charges in the indictment. Luft subsequently fled after being released on bail while extradition proceedings were pending and remains a fugitive.
Fact Sheet on DOD 2023 Security Review: Findings and Recommendations DOD 05 Jul 2023
Secretary of Defense Memorandum on Security Review Follow-on Actions DOD 05 Jul 2023
Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing on the Findings and Recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of Department of Defense Security Programs, Policies, and Procedures DoD 05 Jul 2023
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Approves Findings, Recommendations on 45-day Security Review DoD 05 Jul 2023-- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has completed his review of the findings and recommendations of the comprehensive review of Department of Defense security programs, policies, and procedures that he directed the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (USD(I&S)), in coordination with the DoD Chief Information Officer and the Director, Administration and Management, to conduct.
Austin Directs DOD Components to Reinforce Classified Safeguards Following Security Review DoD News 05 Jul 2023 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has tasked Defense Department components with implementing a series of recommendations aimed at improving classified information safeguards. This action follows the Pentagon's review of departmentwide security programs and policies undertaken after the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information discovered online in the spring.
Pentagon to Enhance Security for Classified Intelligence VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- The U.S. Defense Department will not order a sweeping overhaul of its security procedures following a review of the leak of hundreds of classified documents earlier this year on a social media platform popular with gamers.
Pentagon Says Identified Areas to Improve Security Posture in Light of Teixeira Leak Sputnik 05 Jul 2023 -- The US Department of Defense (DoD) said on Wednesday that following a 45-day review it has found several areas where the department should improve its security posture and accountability measures in light of the Jack Teixeira leakage incident.
MAC urged to raise China travel advisory due to new spying laws CNA 05 Jul 2023 -- The opposition Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) on Wednesday urged Taiwan's government to upgrade a travel advisory for China, Hong Kong, and Macau after Beijing recently adopted two laws on foreign relations and counter-espionage activities.
Turkey says uncovers, disrupts 'ghost' Mossad spy network in Istanbul Press TV 03 Jul 2023 -- Turkish authorities say they have uncovered and disrupted a vast "ghost" Mossad spy network centered in Istanbul, following months of surveillance.
FBI Turning to Social Media to Track Traitors VOA 01 Jul 2023 -- If you logged onto social media over the past few months, you may have seen it - a video of the Russian Embassy on a gray, overcast day in Washington with the sounds of passing cars and buses in the background.
Latest in Ukraine: CIA Director Held Secret Meetings in Ukraine in June VOA 01 Jul 2023 -- CIA Director William Burns made a secret visit to Ukraine in June. Burns met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and intelligence officials to discuss Ukraine's counteroffensive strategy. Reports of the secret meetings emerged Friday. The clandestine discussions are reported to have occurred before Russian mercenary leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin's thwarted rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian defense establishment.
Report: CIA Chief Made Secret Trip to Ukraine to Discuss Battle Plans, Ceasefire Talks Sputnik 01 Jul 2023 -- The head of the CIA in a secret trip to Ukraine reportedly held talks with officials on an ambitious strategy to retake territory from Russia and open ceasefire talks with Moscow by year-end.

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