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10:00 AM ET, Thursday, August 17, 2023

The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here's a look at today's headlines, broken down by region of the world:  

The Americas

Blinken Spoke with Paul Whelan, Detained in Russia on Spying Charges.  According to a source, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday was able to speak by phone to former US Marine Paul Whelan, who is currently detained in a Russian prison on espionage charges. CNN reported that Blinken told Whelan to "keep the faith and we’re doing everything we can to bring you home as soon as possible.” This is the second conversation over the phone between the two men. Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 and in 2020 sentenced to 16 years in prison, has been designated by the US as "wrongfully detained.” CNN Reuters

Haitian Gang Chief Promises to Fight if International Forces Commit Abuses.  Former police officer and gang leader Jimmy Chérizier vowed Wednesday that he would counter any international armed force sent to Haiti if it engaged in abusive behavior and called on Haitians to rally against the government. He asked “the population to rise up,” and explained that he would welcome a foreign force if it were to detain corrupt politicians and police, including Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been in power since the July 2022 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Chérizier, who leads the G9 gang and was sanctioned by the UN for human rights abuses and for threatening the security of Haiti, said that “if the foreign force comes to help and provide security for life to start over again, we will also applaud.” However, despite Prime Minister Henry pushing for an international force to support police and dissolve gangs, Haitians such as Chérizier are hesitant to trust the UN due to the actions of past peacekeepers, who allegedly committed sexual abuses and in 2010 mistakenly contaminated water sources with cholera, leading to a widespread cholera epidemic in the country that reportedly killed 10,000 Haitains. The UN had no comment on Chérizier’s statement. Associated Press 

Western Europe

Sweden Raises Terrorist Threat Level After Koran Burnings.  Sweden’s security service has raised its terrorist alert level in response to threats related to recent burnings of the Koran which have caused outrage among Muslims.  Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for “severe punishment” for those responsible for the Koran burnings and characterized the relationship between Sweden and the Muslim world as “battle mode”.  Sweden’s SAPO service has raised the terrorist alert level from a 3 to a 4, on a scale of 1-5 and says that Sweden has gone from a “legitimate target for terrorist attacks to being considered a prioritized target", according to SAPO head Charlotte von Essen.  Reuters

EU Redirecting $147 Million Planned for Russia, Belarus to Ukraine, Moldova.  The EU has decided to redirect $147 million from projects intended for Russia and Belarus to programs focused on strengthening ties between Ukraine and Moldova. The European Commission said in a statement Wednesday, “the decision to cancel the originally envisaged cooperation with Russia and Belarus … is the result of the brutal war of Russia against Ukraine.” The funding, which was part of Interreg, a program that centers on boosting interregional cooperation, will go towards supporting health services, education, research projects, and the development of cross-border transport links.  Washington Post

NATO Chief Says Putin Underestimated Alliance.  NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has underestimated the military alliance, and pledged support for Ukraine until it “it wins the war.” Stoltenberg made the comments while speaking at a conference in Norway, where he asserted that “NATO’s role is to support Ukrainians.” Al Jazeera Deutsche Welle

BAE Systems Buys Ball Corp’s Aerospace Arm for $5.5 Billion.  Britain’s largest defense company BAE Systems on Thursday agreed to acquire the aerospace assets of U.S. contractor Ball Corp for around $5.5 billion in cash.  Ball’s aerospace operations include the production of spacecraft and national defense hardware like sensors and antennas.  The deal is set to close in the first half of 2024 and is part of BAE expansion amid increased demand for military equipment due to heightened geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty.  Reuters SpaceNews

Central and Eastern Europe

NATO Official Walks Backs Comments Suggesting Ukraine Cede Land to Join Alliance.  Senior NATO official Stian Jenssen on Wednesday retracted a previous, contentious statement that Ukraine should cede land to Russia in order to join the military alliance.  Jenssen said on Tuesday that she thought “a solution could be for Ukraine to give up territory and get NATO membership in return.” Within hours of the comment, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky, said, “Trading territory for a NATO umbrella? It is ridiculous.” A spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, added that the idea of exchanging land for NATO membership “completely unacceptable.” In an interview with the Norwegian newspaper VG, Jenssen walked back on her remarks, saying, “I shouldn’t have said it that way. It was a mistake . . . It is completely Ukraine’s independent right to decide.”  A NATO spokesperson later added that “we fully support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity . . . it is up to Ukraine to decide when and on what terms to achieve peace.”  Washington Post CNBC Politico 

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Accuses Moscow of Coercion in Africa. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymytro Kuleba says Moscow is using Wagner Group and propaganda to try and exert control over African countries.  Kuleba’s comments came during an interview with AFP this week where he said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “concerns” over food security in Africa were hypocritical, given Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal.  On the Ukraine war Kuleba added that Ukraine would liberate all of its territory currently occupied by Russian forces, no matter how long it takes.  Deutsche Welle 

Asia and Oceania

Pakistani Mob Attacks Churches and Homes after Blasphemy Accusations.  Police and community leaders reported Wednesday that a crowd of Muslims attacked a Christian community, damaging several churches and setting scores of homes on fire in eastern Pakistan’s Faisalabad district.  The incident followed accusations that two residents of the community were guilty of blasphemy and desecrating the Koran. The attack took place in Jaranwala, where police spokesman Naveed Ahmad said the two accused Christians and their families had to flee, while the government was forced to deploy both police and the army. According to Punjab's caretaker information minister, Amir Mir, over 100 people were arrested and those “who attacked the churches are being identified through video footage." In Pakistan, blasphemy is punishable by death, and furious crowds often lynch accused people. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan warned that "the frequency and scale of such attacks — which are systematic, violent and often uncontainable — appear to have increased in the last several years." US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington was "deeply concerned” about the violence. Reuters Associated Press Reuters 

India and China Pledge Calm Along Disputed Border Territory. The Chinese and Indian Defense Ministries on Tuesday issued identical statements pledging “to maintain the peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas,” in an apparent attempt to ease tensions and bloodshed along their disputed border. The 19th round of talks held on Sunday and Monday engendered a “positive, constructive and in-depth discussion” focused on settling problems related to the Line of Actual Control, which divides Chinese and Indian-held territories, and both sides reportedly “agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner.” On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin applauded the discussions and emphasized the two nations’ dedication to “maintain the momentum of communication and dialogue through military and diplomatic channels.” Since 1962, India and China have had several wars, firefights, and skirmishes about territory. Associated Press 

Singapore Arrests Ten in Money Laundering Probe.  Singapore police announced on Wednesday that ten foreigners have been arrested after authorities conducted simultaneous raids on Tuesday. The ten suspects have been charged with money laundering and forgery offenses involving S$1 billion ($737 million) in cash, properties, luxury cars, and other assets. Prohibition of disposal orders were also issued against 94 properties and 50 vehicles worth a total of more than S$815 million. The foreigners, aged between 31- 44 with nationalities including Chinese, Turkish, Cypriot, Cambodian, and Ni-Vanuatu. Reuters

Middle East and Northern Africa

Israel Says U.S. Approved Arrow-3 Missile Defense System Sale to Germany.  Israeli officials say the U.S. has approved a $3.5 billion sale of Israel’s Arrow-3 missile defense system to Germany.  Israel’s Defense Ministry said Germany and Israel will first sign a Letter of Commitment, with a $600 million initial payment, to start the project, with delivery planned in 2025 and full deployment set for 2030.  The deal would be Israel’s largest defense sale.  Arrow-3 provides advanced missile defenses and uses a detachable warhead designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside of Earth’s atmosphere.  Moshe Patel, head of the Israeli Missile Defence Organisation, told reporters that the system will help Berlin develop a “full architecture” to protect its entire territory.  Boaz Levy, CEO of main contractor Israel Aerospace Industries, added that the system is “mobile” and that “you can shift it according to threats."  News of the deal comes amid heightened tensions with Russia over the Ukraine war, which has revealed the shortage of ground-based air defense systems in many Western countries.  CNN Defense News Deutsche Welle Reuters 

Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Gunman in West Bank Raid.  Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian fighter during a raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian gunman Mustafa Qonboa was killed by Israeli forces after his house was blown up during the raid.  Relatives of Qonboa said he was a senior operative with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement.  The Israeli military said that soldiers returned fire after coming under attack during an operation to arrest suspected members of the Islamic Jihad faction. The Palestinian Health Ministry said one of its staff was wounded by Israeli gunfire in the fighting.  Israel’s military says one of its soldiers was wounded in the incident and that its forces seized a dozen bombs and numerous firearms.  Reuters

Iranian Foreign Minister Visiting Saudi Arabia.  Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahisn is visiting Saudi Arabia on Thursday.  His visit follows Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s trip to Tehran in June.  Both trips come after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to a China-brokered rapprochement deal in March to reestablish relations.  Reuters 

Sub Saharan Africa

ECOWAS Military Chiefs Meet to finalize Military Plans for Niger.  Military leaders from West African states began two days of talks in Ghana’s capital of Accra to discuss the situation in Niger.  ECOWAS officials say the talks were meant “to finalize plans for the deployment of the Standby Force."  The talks come as junta leaders in Niger failed to respond to a deadline to restore constitutional order in the country.  Junta leaders also announced plans to try deposed president President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason, a charge that if convicted could carry the death penalty.  ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah says that West African military forces are ready if called upon and that constitutional order will be restored in Niger “by all means available”.  Reuters   Deutsche Welle 

BRICS to Meet in South Africa.  BRIC leaders are expected to meet in South Africa between August 22-24, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin will reportedly not attend the meeting, but Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to be there. There are few details as to what the BRIC leaders will be discussing, however, expansion, and countering global western dominance is expected to be key areas of the meetings focus. South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor stated last week that BRICs nations wanted to show "global leadership in addressing the needs ... of the majority of the world, namely ... development and inclusion of the Global South in multilateral systems”.  The statement came after China’s Foreign Ministry stated it “supports progress in expanding membership, and welcomes more like-minded partners to join the 'BRICS family' at an early date". Reuters

UN and Allies Step Up Appeals for Peace at Four Month Mark of Sudan’s War.  Twenty UN agencies and international organizations on Tuesday called for peace in Sudan, where the conflict between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has reached its four-month mark. Since the war erupted in April, an estimated 4,000 people have been killed, said Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office. More than 4.3 million people have been displaced, and the UN humanitarian aid coordinator said its appeal for $2.57 billion to address the crisis has received only $651 million. Heads of the organizations urged the international community to aid the nation, saying in a joint statement, “for four gruesome months, the people of Sudan have been engulfed in a war that is destroying their lives and their homeland and violating their basic human rights . . . People are dying because they cannot access health care services and medicine . . . children are wasting away for lack of food and nutrition.”  Associated Press  CNN

Cyber and Tech

Intelligence Community IG Reports ‘Offensive, Derogatory’ Messages on IC Network.  A report by the Intelligence Community (IC) inspector general disclosed that messaging apps used on the IC “Intelink” network are littered with user posts reflecting “transphobia, hate speech and misogynistic discussions.”  The inspector general received submissions indicating that IC users “engaged in inappropriate political and social commentary, and used derogatory and offensive language while communicating with each other.”  The IG report questioned, however, whether a contractor employed by the FBI had permission to monitor and investigate the messages, and recommended that the bureau review the contractor’s security clearance.  Systemic misuse of messaging tools, the IG stated, was outside the scope of its investigation, but the information it received is said to confirm reports that surfaced last year about offensive content regularly appearing on Intelink.  Washington Post

Cybercrime Plagues Latin America as Online Usage Grows, Data Left Unprotected.  Across Latin America, online scams and cyberattacks have reached an “all-time high,” according to the Tenable cybersecurity company.  The Brazilian Public Security Yearbook reported last month that online fraud in Brazil jumped 65 percent last year to over 200,000 incidents.   The increase in cybercrime is explained in part by the region’s expanding adoption of online tools and services, which was accelerated when consumers turned to mobile banking and shopping during the COVID pandemic.  In 2022, according to the International Telecommunication Union, nearly 78 percent of Latin American and Caribbean populations used the Internet, up from about 75 percent in 2021.  Kerry-Ann Barrett, a cybersecurity expert with the Organization of American States, explained that "the increasing reliance on new technology has made it easier for cybercriminals to attack more frequently" and with growing sophistication.  Barrett noted the cybercrime costs are in the billions for the region overall.  Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are among the world’s 10 top countries with the highest cybercrime risks.  The Tenable firm noted that the region had the world’s highest proportion of unprotected data in 2022.  Six of every 10 attacks in the region involved ransomware in 2022, including an attack on Costa Rica's finance ministry by Russian hackers, who demanded $10 million.  Reuters

Researchers Report ‘Global’ Cyberattacks on LinkedIn Accounts.  LinkedIn users around the world have been targeted by cybercriminals attempting to seize control of accounts and extort payments.  Researchers at Cyberint report that hacking intrusions have caused some targets to pay ransoms to avoid permanent deletion of their accounts.  Numerous user pleas for assistance have appeared on LinkedIn’s help page, with complaints of slow responses by LinkedIn.  The large scale of the problem, according to Cyberint, is demonstrated by Google Trends data indicating queries on “LinkedIn account hacked” and “LinkedIn account recovery” have increased by a stunning 5,000 percent. Researchers believe the sheer number of complaints points to a comprehensive and targeted campaign.  At present, the attackers’ motives are unknown, although hacked professional accounts could be used by threat actors in social engineering campaigns, blackmail, and data gathering.  In addition, Cyberint noted that “hacked accounts could be used to spread malicious content, erase years of contributions, or send damaging messages to connections, severely damaging an individual’s reputation.”  Cybernews previously reported on the leak of an archive containing data claimed to have been scraped from 500 million LinkedIn profiles.  CyberNews BleepingComputer

Hackers Increasingly Hiding in Online Service Infrastructure To Deploy Malware.  A new peril in ongoing threats against online services and tools is emerging as threat actors find ways to burrow into the infrastructure of popular applications.  Recorded Future’s Insikt Group has found that at least one-quarter of over 400 malware families deployed over the last two years have intruded on the infrastructure of Internet services, making it easier to mask their presence in normal traffic, evade protective monitoring, and identify targets.  Insikt Group categorized how and what types of malware most frequently abuse Internet services such as email, messaging, photo-sharing and file storage and transfer.  This methodical approach to documenting intrusions, according to Insikt threat analyst Ferdinand Vögele, helps in determining “which services to flag or block, developing detection strategies, proactively identifying services susceptible to abuse, and employing advanced behavioral detections, all while balancing an organization’s security and operational requirements.” With such insights, cybersecurity teams are better equipped to understand how Internet services are abused within their environments, enabling “a more refined and proactive approach to detections.”  Cloud storage platforms, analysts report, are the most abused legitimate services, along with messaging apps, email services and social media.  CyberScoop

Vietnam Announces Draft Rules To Block Offending Users from Accessing Internet.  Vietnam has drawn up draft regulations that expand on existing rules restricting “illegal” Internet content by blocking users themselves who share outlawed information.  Vietnamese authorities propose to work with Internet service providers (ISP’s) to suspend users who post “law-breaking information.”  The government already mandates that social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook remove content deemed unacceptable to authorities.  The new rules that would remove offending individuals from online access could come into effect this year.  Vietnam already has blocked nearly 1,000 websites, including outlets like the BBC, from domestic audiences.   Dhevy Sivaprakasam, a senior counsel with Internet advocate “Access Now,” described the proposed rules as “egregious,” and added that the move “is very overbroad and is almost unnecessary because of the number of other regulations in place already where they can censor content."  The draft requires "more precise enforcement" against offenders, especially those on social media livestreams.  Nikkei Asia

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