November 2023 Intelligence News

British Documentary Alleges China Influences Universities, Spies on Hong Kongers in UK VOA 30 Nov 2023 -- A BBC Channel 4 documentary, "Secrets and Power: China in the UK," claims the Chinese government is interfering with academic freedom and spying on Hong Kong activists in the United Kingdom.
India forms high-level panel to probe security concerns raised by U.S. People's Daily 30 Nov 2023 -- India's foreign ministry Wednesday said it has set up a high-level committee to look into the security concerns raised by the United States on a nexus between organized criminals, gun runners and terrorists.
US claims it foiled alleged Indian plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Press TV 30 Nov 2023 -- The United States has said it foiled an alleged Indian plot to assassinate an American-Canadian citizen in New York who advocated establishing a sovereign state for Sikhs in northern India.
U.S. Attorney Announces Charges In Connection With Foiled Plot To Assassinate U.S. Citizen In New York City U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York 29 Nov 2023 -- Indian Government Employee Directed a Plot From India to Murder U.S.-Based Leader of Sikh Separatist Movement
US Alleges Indian Government Officer Directed Assassination Plot VOA 29 Nov 2023 -- A man who claimed to be a "senior field officer" for an Indian intelligence agency has been accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of orchestrating a foiled assassination plot against an American citizen who is the leader of Sikh separatist movement.
Revealed: The Kremlin-Connected Russians Employed By Europe's Top Security Body RFE/RL 29 Nov 2023 -- Just two days before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko addressed the lower chamber of parliament on what would become the Kremlin's initial steps to annex territory in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
CIA Director in Doha to Talk Israel-Hamas and Hostages VOA 28 Nov 2023 -- U.S. President Joe Biden has dispatched one of his most trusted, and potentially influential, officials to the Middle East in the hopes of turning a tenuous truce between Israel and Hamas into something more.
US, Israeli spy chiefs discussing 'next phase' of Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Qatar: Report Press TV 28 Nov 2023 -- Spy chiefs of the United States and Israel are discussing the "next phase" of the current ceasefire between Tel Aviv and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Qatar, as the truce in the besieged Gaza Strip has already been extended for a brief period.
Resistance operation exposed Israeli spy network inside Iran: Islamic Jihad Press TV 29 Nov 2023 -- The Islamic Jihad has said the operation staged by the Gaza Strip's resistance movements against the occupied territories last month led to the exposure of the Israeli regime's espionage network inside Iran.
Officials Confirm Wife Of Ukrainian Military Intelligence Chief Budanov, Others Poisoned RFE/RL 28 Nov 2023 -- Ukrainian officials have confirmed reports that Marianna Budanova, the wife of the chief of the country's military intelligence service, had been poisoned with "heavy metals" and is in hospital for treatment, in what appears to represent the most serious targeting of a family member of Ukraine's leadership since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Mailing channels should be strictly prevented being used to carry out activities that compromise national security: ministry Global Times 29 Nov 2023 -- In 2022, China's express delivery volume reached 110.58 billion units, with international express delivery volume exceeding 2 billion units and while the flow of each express package reflects the Chinese people's pursuit of a better life and releases strong development momentum, each delivery is also closely tied to national security, China's Ministry of State Security said in an article released on Wednesday, noting that it is necessary to strictly prevent criminals using mailing channels to carry out activities that could compromise national security.
10 indicted in Taiwan on charges of spying for China CNA 27 Nov 2023 -- The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted 10 people Monday, including several active duty military personnel, for allegedly spying for China, with five facing more serious charges continuing to be held in custody.
Foreign spy conducts cyberattacks against China's defense, high-tech firm by recruiting Chinese developer Global Times 27 Nov 2023 -- China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) disclosed a new case on Monday of foreign espionage activities involving the recruitment of a Chinese software developer who provided "technical services." This spy agency used "poisoned" software to conduct cyberattacks and steal secrets from dozens of China's defense and high-tech enterprises.
Rumor on mass Indian worker influx China's 'cognitive warfare': Source CNA 26 Nov 2023 -- A recent rumor claiming that the Taiwanese government is to introduce as many as 100,000 migrant workers from India is part of China's cognitive warfare, a national security source said Saturday.
12.5-year sentence upheld for retired lieutenant who ran China spy ring CNA 24 Nov 2023 -- Taiwan's Supreme Court upheld a combined 12.5-year sentence conviction Thursday for a retired Army lieutenant, who developed a Chinese spy network for over 20 years and ran an underground money exchange service.
Activists call for probe into China's 'consular volunteers' network Radio Free Asia 24 Nov 2023 -- The Chinese Communist Party is running a global network of "consular volunteers" through its embassies and consulates who form part of its "United Front" influence and enforcement operations on foreign soil, according to a new report, prompting calls for democratic governments to investigate.
Chinese Embassy in Belgium calls for end to spreading China-related lies and rumors Global Times 23 Nov 2023 -- A spokesperson for the Embassy of China in Belgium on Wednesday expressed strong discontent over the disinformation about China's consular assistance volunteer service by individual media and "non-governmental organization," urging relevant parties to stop spreading disinformation.
India Alleged to Have Plotted Assassination on US Soil VOA 22 Nov 2023 -- An alleged plot by Indian government agents to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil is a serious issue that Washington has raised with New Delhi, U.S. officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Turkey's intelligence organization foils Mossad attempt to kidnap Palestinian Iron Dome hacker Press TV 22 Nov 2023 -- Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has rescued a renowned Palestinian hacker from the Israeli Mossad spy agency seeking to kidnap or possibly kill him.
Russian Propaganda Presents Fringe Views in US as Mainstream VOA 22 Nov 2023 -- From headlines taken out of context to the framing of fringe figures as representative of wider American views, Russian state-run outlets are cherry-picking U.S. content to back up Kremlin narratives.
Estonia and United States sign an agreement on the protection of classified information Estonia MFA 21 Nov 2023 -- Yesterday 20 November, Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk and Michael Laychak, Director of the Defense Technology Security Administration at the Department of Defense, signed the agreement on classified information between the two countries at the Estonian embassy in Washington.
Diabolo instructor accused of spying for China indicted CNA 17 Nov 2023 -- The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office on Friday indicted a diabolo instructor and nine others allegedly involved in a NT$5.7 million (US$179,000) Chinese espionage operation targeting Taiwanese military personnel.
US Seeks to Preempt Russian Influence Operation Targeting Latin America VOA 17 Nov 2023 -- The Spanish-language article with a Moscow dateline and a provocative headline first appeared in early August, suggesting a heist of sorts was underway in Ukraine.
UK universities get China-linked funding, risking national security: report Radio Free Asia 17 Nov 2023 -- British universities have received huge amounts of Chinese funding over the past five years that was linked to the Chinese military, a recent think tank report reveals.
Australian Intelligence Report Identifies China as Major Backer of Cyber Crime VOA 15 Nov 2023 -- Australia's digital spy agency has identified China as the major backer of serious hacking against Australian companies and critical infrastructure.
Influential German Journalist Received Money From Russia, Investigation Claims RFE/RL 15 Nov 2023 -- Influential German broadcaster and author Hubert Seipel, who interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin and wrote two books about him, received 600,000 euros ($646,000) from companies associated with oligarch Aleksei Mordashov, who is close to Putin and is on the Western sanctions list, a joint journalistic investigation has found.
US Calling on Israel to Speed Up Gaza Operation Behind Closed Doors - Russia's Intel Service Sputnik 13 Nov 2023 -- The United States is calling on Israel to accelerate its operation in the Gaza Strip behind closed doors as it may negatively affect President Joe Biden's reelection bid in case of prolongation, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Monday.
US secretly pushing Israel to speed up Gaza war: Russian intelligence Press TV 13 Nov 2023 -- Russian intelligence authorities say the United States is pressing the Israeli regime behind closed doors to "speed up the operations" in Gaza in order to avoid the impacts of a prolongation of the conflict on President Joe Biden's 2024 re-election bid.
China to boost security intelligence cooperation with Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand Global Times 13 Nov 2023 -- China has exchanged views and reached broad consensus with Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand on deepening security intelligence cooperation after China's Minister of State Security Chen Yixin made visits at the invitation of the three countries and held talks with senior officials from November 2 to Saturday.
Activists Condemn Australia for Prosecuting Afghan War Crimes Whistleblower VOA 12 Nov 2023 -- Civil society groups are calling on Australia to halt the prosecution of a man who leaked classified documents detailing allegations of Australian special forces committing war crimes in Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan Opens Secret KGB Archives Amid Moves Toward Decolonization In Central Asia RFE/RL 12 Nov 2023 -- November is an official month of remembrance in Kazakhstan for the victims of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's decades of deadly repression against perceived opposition and what were called "enemies" of the U.S.S.R.
Report: Senior Ukrainian Military Officer With Intelligence Ties 'Coordinated' Nord Stream Sabotage RFE/RL 12 Nov 2023 -- A decorated officer in the Ukrainian military with "deep ties" to the country's intelligence services "played a central role" and was the "coordinator" of the attack last year on the Nord Stream natural-gas pipeline, The Washington Post reported on November 11.
Ukrainian Military Officer Accused of Attack on Nord Stream Gas Pipeline VOA 12 Nov 2023 -- A Ukrainian military officer allegedly coordinated last year's attack on the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline, according to The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources in Ukraine and Europe.
Ukraine officer led Nord Stream sabotage operation: Investigation Press TV 12 Nov 2023 -- A Special Operations Forces officer of Ukraine led the Nord Stream gas pipelines blast in the Baltic Sea in September 2022, a joint investigation by two international newspapers says.
Washington Post Calls Ukrainian Colonel Chervinsky 'Coordinator' of Nord Stream Attacks Sputnik 11 Nov 2023 -- Ukrainian colonel Roman Chervinsky was the alleged coordinator of the attack on the Nord Sream pipelines, the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing Ukrainian and European Officials as well as other people familiar with details of the operation.
Former Army colonel impeached for accepting Chinese bribes CNA 10 Nov 2023 -- Taiwan's top government watchdog on Friday impeached former Army colonel Hsiang Te-en (向德恩) for accepting bribes from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) following a unanimous vote a day earlier.
Former Latvian Interior Minister Sentenced To Prison In Russia Spying Case RFE/RL 10 Nov 2023 -- The Riga City Court on November 9 sentenced Janis Adamsons, a former interior minister and an ex-lawmaker from the opposition Social Democratic Saskana (Harmony) party, to 8 1/2 years in prison after finding him guilty of spying for Russia.
Hackers Linked To Russian Intelligence Blamed For 2022 Ukraine Grid Disruption RFE/RL 09 Nov 2023 -- Hackers affiliated with Russia's military intelligence agency penetrated and disrupted parts of Ukraine's electricity grid late last year using sophisticated new hacking tools, a new report said.
Espionage case disclosed where young man became civil servant under instruction of foreign spy Global Times 08 Nov 2023 -- China's national security authorities recently disclosed an espionage case in which a young man became a civil servant under the instruction of a foreign spy, as reported by Shanghai Media Group on Tuesday.
The Kremlin's Efforts to Covertly Spread Disinformation in Latin America US Dept. of State 07 Nov 2023 -- The Russian government is currently financing an on-going, well-funded disinformation campaign across Latin America. The Kremlin's campaign plans to leverage developed media contacts in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, among other countries in Latin America, in order to carry out an information manipulation campaign designed to surreptitiously exploit the openness of Latin America's media and information environment.
China's national security authorities reveal new espionage case involving immigration documents Global Times 07 Nov 2023 -- China's national security authorities have disclosed a new espionage case in which a man, while processing immigration for his entire family, provided materials to foreign entities, 14 of which were classified as intelligence according to Chinese law. He was sentenced to six years in prison at the first trial.
Former Chinese state company executive gets 6 years for 'spying' Radio Free Asia 07 Nov 2023 -- A Chinese court on Tuesday handed down a six-year jail term to a former state-owned enterprise employee for handing "corporate intelligence" to foreign intelligence agencies.
New Hong Kong law to extend reach of 'espionage' crimes overseas Radio Free Asia 06 Nov 2023 -- Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang has warned that the city will enact more sweeping security laws to 'prevent espionage' that will likely apply to anyone, anywhere in the world, amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 protest movement.
Intelligence Official Underscores Importance of Partnerships DoD News 01 Nov 2023 -- The United States' ability to rely on a growing network of allies and partners is key to maintaining its advantage in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, a senior defense intelligence official said today.
U.K. MPs propose mandatory training to prevent Chinese spies Radio Free Asia 01 Nov 2023 -- A group of British lawmakers has proposed mandatory security training for all members of parliament and parliamentary personnel in order to prevent "foreign interference."
US Intelligence Agency Optimistic It Can Gauge China's 'Will to Fight' VOA 01 Nov 2023 -- A top U.S. intelligence official is confident his agency will not fall victim to the same mistakes that allowed the United States to misjudge the military will of allies and adversaries in recent years.

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