April 2024 Intelligence News

China views European spying allegations as a 'serious problem' Radio Free Asia 29 Apr 2024 -- China's responses to allegations of spying in Germany and the United Kingdom suggest that the ruling Communist Party has plenty to lose from closer public scrutiny of its overseas influence operations, analysts told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews.
ODNI Releases 11th Annual Intelligence Community Transparency Report Director of National Intelligence 30 Apr 2024 -- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) today released the Annual Statistical Transparency Report (ASTR) Regarding the Intelligence Community's (IC) Use of National Security Surveillance Authorities for Calendar Year 2023.
Former Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Attempted Espionage US Dept. of Justice 30 Apr 2024 -- John Murray Rowe Jr., 65, of Lead, South Dakota, pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government and three counts of willful communication of national defense information.
Suspected Mossad Agent Arrested In Malaysia Sputnik 30 Apr 2024 -- Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country and has been a steadfast supporter of Palestine. It has no formal relations with Israel and in December, the country banned all Israeli ships from docking at Malaysian ports.
Russia's Navalny did not die on Putin's order: US intelligence Press TV 29 Apr 2024 -- Russia's opposition figure Alexei Navalny did not die upon an order by President Vladimir Putin, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing US intelligence officials familiar with the matter.
Former NSA Employee Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Prison for Attempted Espionage US Dept. of Justice 29 Apr 2024 -- Jareh Sebastian Dalke, 32, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced today to 262 months in prison for attempted espionage in connections with his efforts to transmit classified National Defense Information (NDI) to an agent of the Russian Federation.
Israeli plane arrives in Riyadh in possible prelude to normalization talks: Report IRNA 28 Apr 2024 -- An Israeli plane, having Mossad's officials on board, has landed in Riyadh, a move likely in line with the normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime.
Israeli plane previously used by Mossad officials lands in Riyadh: Report Press TV 27 Apr 2024 -- A private plane, previously used by officials with the Israeli regime's Mossad spy agency, reportedly lands in the Saudi capital amid the likelihood of resumption of normalization talks between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
Hacker Group Claims It Penetrated Belarusian KGB Network RFE/RL 26 Apr 2024 -- A group known as Cyberpartisans claims it has infiltrated the network of Belarus's main security agency and accessed the personnel files of thousands of employees.
Alleged Chinese spy 'held key roles' in overseas democracy groups Radio Free Asia 26 Apr 2024 -- A European parliamentary aide arrested in Germany for spying for China was a familiar presence in the overseas pro-democracy movement, had visited the Dalai Lama, and was well-placed to convey sensitive information back to Beijing, activists told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews.
British officials charge 2 with spying for China VOA 26 Apr 2024 -- British officials formally charged two men Friday with spying on behalf of China in the latest in a series of European arrests of suspected Chinese intelligence agents.
Lithuania expresses strong protest to Belarus over disinformation spread Lithuania MFA 26 Apr 2024 -- On 26 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania summoned Yaroslav Khmyl, chargé d'affaires ad interim of Belarus, and handed him a diplomatic note, expressing a strong protest over the statements made on 25 April 2024 by Belarus' KGB chief Ivan Tertel, about alleged threats to Belarus rising from Lithuania
Chinese National Arrested in United States for Alleged Scheme to Illegally Export Semiconductor Manufacturing Machine US Dept. of Justice 25 Apr 2024 -- An indictment was unsealed today charging two Chinese nationals, Han Li, also known as Anson Li, 44, and Lin Chen, 64, with crimes related to a conspiracy to illegally export U.S. technology, including a machine manufactured by a California-based company that is used to process silicon wafer microchips, to prohibited end users in China, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Chen was arrested in Chicago yesterday.
INTERVIEW: Examining fake news sites generating Chinese propaganda Radio Free Asia 24 Apr 2024 -- Japan's "Ginza Daily," Italy's "Milano Moda Weekly," South Korea's "Incheon Focus," France's "Friendly Paris" and Ecuador's "Iguazu."
Chinese spy' hype in UK and Germany aimed at souring atmosphere of cooperation: FM spokesperson Global Times 23 Apr 2024 -- In response to accusations over "Chinese spies" by the UK and Germany on Monday and Tuesday, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the so-called "Chinese spy threat theory" is not new in Europe, every time before or after China-Europe high-level interactions in recent years, there would be such a hype, with a clear intention of smearing and hitting China and souring the atmosphere of China-EU cooperation.
German prosecutors accuse aide to European lawmaker of spying for China VOA 23 Apr 2024 -- German prosecutors said Tuesday that an aide to a German lawmaker in the European Parliament had been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
Israeli military intelligence chief resigns in connection with October Hamas attack VOA 22 Apr 2024 -- Israel's military announced Monday the resignation of the head of its intelligence directorate in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Israel's military spy chief resigns over Oct. 7 failures Press TV 22 Apr 2024 -- The spy chief of Israel's military has resigned after accepting responsibility for the failure to stop Hamas's unprecedented attack of October 7 last year.
Israeli Intelligence Chief Resigns Over Failure to Prevent Hamas October Attack - IDF Sputnik 22 Apr 2024 -- The head of the Israeli Directorate of Military Intelligence, Aharon Haliva, on Monday announced his resignation because of the reconnaissance department's failure to prevent the attack of Palestinian movement Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
Zionist military intelligence chief resigns amid tensions with Iran IRNA 22 Apr 2024 -- Major-General Aharon Haliva, head of the Zionist military intelligence, has announced his resignation, according to local media.
Bill Signed: H.R. 7888 The White House 20 Apr 2024
Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the Senate's Vote on the Reauthorization and Reform of FISA Section 702 The White House 20 Apr 2024
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Senate's Vote on the Reauthorization and Reform of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702 US Dept. of Justice 20 Apr 2024 -- The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Senate's vote on the reauthorization and reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702:
US Senate reauthorizes surveillance bill despite intense debate over privacy concerns Press TV 20 Apr 2024 -- The US Senate has approved the extension of a controversial surveillance program, narrowly avoiding the program's midnight expiration.
Biden Renews US Surveillance Law That Allows Spying on Foreigners Abroad Sputnik 20 Apr 2024 -- US President Joe Biden signed a bill on Saturday that extends authorization of a key US foreign surveillance program for another two years, the White House said.
CIA director: Ukraine could lose war against Russia without US aid VOA 18 Apr 2024 -- The director of the CIA warned Thursday there is a "real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024," in its war against Russia.
Burkina Faso expels French diplomats for 'subversive activities' VOA 18 Apr 2024 -- Burkina Faso's military junta has expelled three French diplomats for "subversive activities," according to a government statement Thursday.
Burkina Faso orders three French diplomats to leave country over 'subversive activities' Press TV 18 Apr 2024 -- Burkina Faso has ordered three French diplomats to leave the coup-hit country within two days over "subversive activities", a year after the junta ruling the African nation cut off ties with France, the landlocked country's former colonial ruler.
Report: China is exporting digital control methods Radio Free Asia 17 Apr 2024 -- China's government has turned the country's tech companies like Huawei and ZTE into its "proxies" and uses their dominant market share in developing countries around the Indo-Pacific region to export its authoritarian model of the internet, according to a new report.
Securing Election Infrastructure Against the Tactics of Foreign Malign Influence Operations CISA/FBI/ODNI 17 Apr 2024
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to Expand Collaboration on Countering Foreign State Information Manipulation US Dept. of State 17 Apr 2024
The United States of America and Italy Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Expand Collaboration on Countering Foreign State Information Manipulation US Dept. of State 17 Apr 2024 -- Today, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Italy's Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Italy on countering foreign state information manipulation.
Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the Upcoming Vote on Reauthorization and Reform of FISA Section 702 The White House 17 Apr 2024
China's spy agency encourages people to see spies everywhere Radio Free Asia 16 Apr 2024 -- China's top spy agency is cranking up its propaganda campaign warning of foreign "spies" to mark National Security Education Day, in a bid to get more people to inform on each other and steer clear of anything linked to the West, analysts said this week.
Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the House's Bipartisan Vote to Reauthorize of FISA Section 702 The White House 15 Apr 2024
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Prison for Torture and Illegally Exporting Weapons Parts and Related Services to Iraq US Dept. of Justice 15 Apr 2024 -- A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 70 years in prison for torturing an Estonian citizen in 2015 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and for the illegal export of weapons parts and related services.
Multidimensional competition: China's national security authorities disclose 'new areas' in theft of state secrets, espionage targeting China Global Times 14 Apr 2024
China releases 10 typical anti-spy cases in past decade to welcome national security education day Global Times 14 Apr 2024 -- Including the case of the two Canadian Michaels, 10 typical spy cases were disclosed in a special documentary film published by China's Ministry of State Security on Sunday to mark the ninth National Security Education Day that falls on April 15, through which various despicable methods of infiltration, theft and incitement by foreign spy and intelligence agencies are exposed, and awareness of anti-espionage is expected to be firmly established among the people.
Former Ukrainian security officer wounded in Moscow, accuses Kiev of assassination attempt People's Daily 13 Apr 2024 -- Former Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) employee Vasily Prozorov, who had been injured in a car explosion in the north of Moscow, accused Kiev of plotting the attack, local media reported on Friday.
US House passes controversial surveillance bill to renew spy program Press TV 13 Apr 2024 -- The US House of Representatives has voted in favor of a bill to renew the authority of a controversial surveillance program aimed at monitoring the electronic activities of individuals from other countries.
Under Investigation Across Europe, Pro-Kremlin Voice Of Europe Has Deep Balkan Ties RFE/RL 13 Apr 2024 -- Dragan Stanojevic has never hidden his pro-Russian ties, support, or actions.
Defense Intelligence Officials Underscore Need for Key Authorities to Counter Evolving Threats DoD News 12 Apr 2024 -- Defense intelligence officials underscored this week the critical role authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act serve in defending against foreign adversaries amid an increasingly challenging national security landscape.
Belgium investigates alleged Russian interference in EU elections VOA 12 Apr 2024 -- Belgium authorities are investigating suspected Russian interference in upcoming European parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Friday, after claims that lawmakers were paid to promote Kremlin propaganda.
Covering China brings surveillance, harassment, report finds VOA 11 Apr 2024 -- Reporting conditions in China have improved since the global pandemic but foreign journalists still face obstacles including visa problems, surveillance and harassment, according to a new survey.
How Russia's disinformation campaign seeps into US views VOA 11 Apr 2024 -- On a near daily basis, Scott Cullinane talks with members of Congress about Russia's war in Ukraine. As a lobbyist for the nonprofit Razom, part of his job is to convince them of Ukraine's need for greater U.S. support to survive.
Top Cyber Official Credits Foreign Surveillance Tool With Keeping Americans Safe DoD News 10 Apr 2024 -- The Defense Department's top cyber official credited a key provision of the amended Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act with keeping Americans and the DOD safe from foreign adversaries during testimony at a Senate Armed Services Committee posture hearing today.
China's Ministry of State Security reveals new case on leaking counter-espionage info Global Times 10 Apr 2024 -- China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) disclosed a new case on Wednesday concerning the manager of an express delivery company who was detained and fined for leaking counter-espionage case information.
'Mushroom Websites' Spread A Deluge Of Disinformation In Bulgaria RFE/RL 06 Apr 2024 -- When Poland recently hosted NATO military exercises, disinformation operatives sprang to action in Bulgaria, especially fertile ground for Kremlin-friendly narratives.
Leading Kazakh Sinologist Jailed On Treason Charge Released On Parole RFE/RL 05 Apr 2024 -- A leading Kazakh sinologist and former senior government adviser, Konstantin Syroyezhkin, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on high-treason charges in 2019, has been released on parole five years early.
Finland and United States sign a Memorandum of Understanding on countering foreign state information manipulation Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland 04 Apr 2024 -- At the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 4 April 2024, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on countering foreign state information manipulation. With the MoU, Finland and the United States reaffirm their shared understanding of the importance of countering information manipulation and of the key best practices.
Report: US officials had sudden symptoms before Harris' Hanoi visit Radio Free Asia 03 Apr 2024 -- Close to a dozen U.S. officials suffered from unexplained symptoms just before Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to Hanoi in 2021, according to a CBS News investigation into a string of incidents around the world that's become known as "Havana Syndrome."

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