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10:00 AM ET, Wednesday, August 2, 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:  

In the Americas

Trump Indicted Over Bid to Overturn 2020 Election.  Donald Trump was indicted on Tuesday on four counts in connection to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.  The indictment charges Trump with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. with false claims to discount election results; conspiracy and attempted obstruction of official proceedings to certify Joe Biden’s election victory; and conspiracy against rights through alleged attempted intimidation of voters.  The indictment also mentions Trump’s alleged efforts to certify fraudulent electors.  Prosecutors say that when they were rejected, Trump then incited his supporters to try and stop certification of the election.  Trump is the only person charged and is the only defendant in the indictment, but it also names six anonymous co-conspirators.  The latest criminal indictment is the third for Trump and is part of investigations led by special prosecutor Jack Smith into the January 6 Capitol attack.  Trump dismissed the indictment as “fake” and called it an act of “prosecutorial misconduct” and “election interference.”  Reuters NPR Wall Street Journal New York Times Al Jazeera

U.S. Formally Invites Chinese Foreign Minister to Washington.  The State Department said Tuesday that the United States has formally invited China’s newly reappointed Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Washington D.C. This comes after Wang’s predecessor was abruptly removed. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller says that the invitation to D.C. was extended Monday during a meeting between U.S. Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Yang Tao, Director of North American and Oceania Affairs at China's Foreign Ministry. Miller did not say whether or not the invitation was accepted but said that Washington expected Wang to do so. “We certainly expect that it is something that they would accept and is a trip that we expect to happen, but we have not yet scheduled a date," Miller said. A spokesperson from the Chinese embassy said that “concerning the high-level exchanges, both sides have maintained necessary communication”, they also noted that the “consultation" with Kritenbrink was “candid, in-depth, and constructive”. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Qin, the former Foreign Minister, on June 18 the first visit by a Secretary of State in five years. Blinken also met with Wang on the sidelines of a meeting in Jakarta amid Qin’s absence. Reuters

Colombia Prepares for Ceasefire with ELN Rebels.  The government of Colombia is expected to reach a ceasefire with the National Liberation Army (ELN), South America’s largest remaining rebel group. A number of peace deals in the past have fallen apart and this year alone has seen more than 56 massacres and attacks continue to rise in the countryside. Coordinator for the peace, post conflict and post-war research program at the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation (PARES) stated that the deal “is a victory in the peace process … it is rare to win amidst a series of setbacks [including] the murders of social leaders, massacres, and other factors that have not favored government policy”.  The ceasefire is expected to last 180 days and may be extended by a new multilateral verification mechanism made up of Colombian security forces, ELN members, religious representatives, and officials from both the UN and Colombian government. ELN made a public statement that they were ceasing “offensive operations” in the regions the group controls. However, critics say that the deal is not set in stone as talks with the rebel group have collapsed a total of seven times since ELN was established in 1964. Al Jazeera 

Bahamas to Provide Security Forces to Haiti, Joining with Kenya. The Bahamas Foreign Ministry announced that they support and will commit additional troops to Kenya’s effort to lead a multinational force in Haiti once it is authorized by the UN Security Council.  In the statement, The Bahamas added that they look forward to collaborating with Kenya, the US, Canada, and other allies to help provide assistance to the island nation. Reuters 

Western Europe

European Countries Begin Evacuations from Niger.  European countries have started evacuating their nationals from Niger following the military coup in the West African country last week.  France, Italy and Spain have announced evacuations from the international airport in Niger’s capital Niamey.  The U.S. has yet to issue an evacuation order, but some Americans are getting on European flights.  The French Foreign Ministry said the first two French evacuation flights brought 350 people to Paris and that two more flights are scheduled for Wednesday.  The Italian government said one of its evacuation flights got about 100 people out of Niger, including around 20 Americans.  Germany has encouraged its nationals to get on French evacuation flights.  European countries have yet to order the withdrawal of their military missions from Niger.  German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he spoke with the German commander at the Niamey air base, who said there are currently no threats to foreign troops and that the Nigerien military has promised continued coordination and supplies.  Tensions are high amid indications that Niger’s neighbors could militarily intervene against the junta.   Associated Press France 24 Deutsche Welle

Central and Eastern Europe

Russia Launches Strikes Across Ukraine, Hitting Kyiv and Odesa Grain Silo.  Russia continued drone strikes across Ukraine targeting the capital city of Kyiv and the southern port city of Odessa in the early hours of Wednesday. In Kyiv, anti-aircraft units reportedly destroyed 23 drones, with debris falling in three districts. Mayor Vitali Klitschko and military officials reported no injuries. In the central Solomianskyi district, falling debris damaged a non-residential building, and in the west’s Svyatoshyn district a tree caught fire. The chief of Kyiv's military administration, Serhiy Popko, said debris also fell in a playground in Holosiivskyi district, and ignited a non-residential building. Russia also attacked grain ports in Odessa, including a silo in the inland port of Izmail across the Danube River from Romania, which experienced “serious” damage according to a local source. President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Russian terrorists have once again attacked ports, grain, global food security." Odessa region governor Oleh Kiper said there were no casualties, but footage from the scene showed emergency services fighting to put out a fire in a high-rise. A Ukrainian military spokesperson accused Moscow of “trying to cut Ukraine out of the future grain agreement and, most importantly, to strategically displace our country from the global food market.”   Reuters Al Jazeera Reuters  

Romanian President Calls Russian Assaults on Danube “War Crimes.”  Romanian President Klaus Iohannis called Russia’s recurrent strikes on Ukraine’s Danube infrastructure close to Romania, “unacceptable,” following Moscow’s attacks against significant ports and a grain silo in Odessa. Iohannis wrote, “Russia’s continued attacks against the Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on Danube, in the proximity of Romania, are unacceptable. These are war crimes and they further affect UA’s capacity to transfer their food products towards those in need in the world.”  Al Jazeera 

Asia and Oceania

Taiwan Boosting Counter-Espionage Measures to Counter Suspected Chinese Spying.  The Taiwanese military pledged Wednesday to heighten counter-espionage activities as officials investigate multiple serving and former military officials who are suspected of spying for China. A Reuters investigation found that Beijing in recent years has organized an espionage campaign to target Taiwan’s civilian and military leadership. Taiwan’s defense ministry says “the national forces will continue to boost counter-espionage education and raise awareness” as they face “infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party.” China's Taiwan Affairs Office has not yet responded to requests for comments. In the past ten years, at least 21 Taiwanese officers have been accused of spying for China.  Reuters 

Taiwan VP Transiting Through New York, San Francisco on Latin America Trip. The Taiwanese presidential office said Wednesday that Vice President William Lai will travel through New York and San Francisco on his Latin America trip, where he will visit Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president, Santiago Peña Palacios. He will stop in New York on his way to Paraguay on August 12th, and in San Francisco on his way back home on the 16th. At a news conference, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yui said that this trip “should not create discomfort for other parties or become an excuse to deepen conflict," as China has strongly opposed past international visits by Taiwanese leaders. The US envoy in Taipei explained that the stops were routine and urged Beijing not to take “provocative” action in retaliation. China has in the past staged war games around Taiwan in response to political trips.  Reuters Wall Street Journal

North Korea Responds to UN Request on Status of U.S. Soldiers.   The Pentagon said Tuesday that North Korea has given a very brief, unsubstantial response to a UN inquiry about US soldier Travis King, who on July 18th sprinted over the border with South Korea and was detained immediately. Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told a press conference that North Korea did not offer details on the situation, and only acknowledged the UN Command’s inquiry for info; Ryder said, "I can confirm that the DPRK has responded to United Nations Command, but I don't have any substantial progress to read out.”  South China Morning Post Reuters  

North Korea Criticizes U.S. Envoy for North Korea Human Rights.  On Tuesday North Korea sharply denounced the newly appointed U.S. special envoy on human rights in North Korea, Julie Turner, describing her as a “wicked” person. Turner is the former director of the State Department’s Office of East Asia and the Pacific in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. She was nominated by U.S. President Joe Biden in January and confirmed by the Senate last week.  A North Korean spokesperson said Turner had earned “notoriety” for “mudslinging” over human rights issues and “spitting out coarse invective” against North Korea. They also said that the appointment of “such a wicked woman” emphasizes the United States’ hostile policy toward Pyongyang and warned of a “retaliatory action of justice”. Reuters

Middle East and Northern Africa

Iran's Navy Unveils Vessels with 600-Kilometer-Range Missiles. Iran’s navy unveiled new vessels equipped with missiles with a stated range of 600 kilometers.  Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported on the vessels, which were announced during a military exercise off of Abu Musa island, one of three Gulf islands under Iranian control but also claimed by the UAE.  Tasnim did not give further details on the vessels, but cited an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander who emphasized the need to protect the Gulf islands.  The announcement about the vessels comes amid renewed tensions over the island and after the U.S. deployed more air and naval assets to the region following Iranian attempts to seize commercial vessels.  Reuters 

Sub Saharan Africa

Niger Reopens Borders with Multiple Neighbors.  Niger reopened its borders with several neighboring countries a week after a military coup that resulted in President Mohamed Bazoum being removed from power. A spokesperson from the junta announced on state television that “the land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya and Chad are re-opened from August 1, 2023." Niger’s significant entryways for commerce and trade are closed due to sanctions placed by the surrounding regional bloc, and the reopened borders are primarily located in remote desert zones.  Reuters Jerusalem Post 

West African Defense Ministers to Discuss Niger Coup.  ECOWAS, the West African regional economic bloc released a statement Tuesday that the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff (CCDS) from each of the member countries are scheduled to meet in Nigeria’s capital from August 2nd - 4th to discuss the coup in Niger.  Reuters  ECOWAS

Ethiopian Military Clashes With Amhara Militia. Ethiopian troops clashed with members of the Fano militia in the country’s Amhara region on Tuesday.  The clashes occurred near the town of Debre Tabor and outside the town of Kobo and injured around a dozen people, according to local medical workers and residents.  Fano fought with Ethiopian forces against Tigray in the recent civil war.  Relations between the Ethiopian federal government and Amhara have deteriorated since the end of the war in November over perceived disregard by the National government for Amhara’s security.  A diplomatic source said the violence started when Ethiopian soldiers attempted to force Fano fighters out of Kobo and other nearby areas.  Fano responded by seizing the holy town of Lalibela.  Ethiopian state media later quoted an Ethiopian military commander who said that Fano is “disturbing the country’s peace” and mentioned other attacks by the militia without elaborating.  Fano fighters have participated in protests in Amhara against an order by the national government that Ethiopia’s regional security forces must join the police or national army, which the opposition said was an attempt to weaken Amhara.  Reuters 

Senegal Suspends Access to TikTok.  Senegal suspended access to social media platform TikTok on Wednesday.  The Senegalese communications minister said access was restricted since TikTok is “the social network favored by people with bad intentions to spread hateful and subversive messages threatening the stability of the country.”  The move on TikTok came after Senegal restricted use of mobile internet services on Monday.  The curbing of communications access comes amid protests in response to charges brought against a top opposition leader.  Reuters 

Cyber and Tech

U.S. Quantum Talent Shortage Represents National Security Vulnerability.  The continued development of Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) faces a critical obstacle in the U.S. – a talent deficit that could undermine the nation’s competitiveness. That is the conclusion reached by Sam Howell, a researcher with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), in an article published by Foreign Policy.  Compounding the skills gap, according to Howell, is the fact the Biden administration lacks a credible plan to fill key vacancies.  This situation persists despite the administration identifying leadership in quantum as one of its highest priorities.  As Howell notes, every industry relying on processing power – agriculture, financial services, health care, defense, among others – could be transformed by anticipated advances in quantum technology.  Although all of these sectors can be regarded as elements of national power and security, none may be as important as QIST’s possibilities for next-generation defense technologies including navigation systems, weapons targeting, reconnaissance, and penetration of encrypted data and systems.  Howell observes that “the first country to scale and commercialize quantum technologies” could “threaten previously unreachable parts of adversaries’ corporate, military, and government infrastructure at unprecedented speed.”  The competition with China is particularly intense.  Although the U.S. maintains leads in quantum computing and sensing, China has reportedly pulled ahead in quantum communications.  The well-known U.S. decline in STEM education and talent will not be easy to overcome, but Howell argues that the U.S. could advance in quantum fields through “international collaboration, concerted efforts to retain foreign-born workers, and initiatives to reskill workers in other adjacent technology industries.”  Other ongoing and possible remedies include capitalizing on the CHIPS and Science Act mandate for the National Science Foundation to evaluate the QIST workforce, integrate quantum into STEM curricula, and establish a “Next Generation Quantum Leaders Pilot Program.”  Howell goes on to urge the administration to create cross-training and reciprocal research programs with QIST centers in allied and partner countries.  He also calls on Congress to reauthorize key National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) programs that are scheduled to expire in September 2023.  These programs have been vital in channeling funding to QIST research efforts and promoting quantum career paths.  Foreign Policy

British Intelligence Community Seeks Relief from ‘Burdensome’ Surveillance Laws.  Proposals put forward by UK intelligence agencies aim to reduce obstacles to GCHQ, MI6, and MI5 using certain types of data.  The sought-after changes would ease safeguards that are in place to protect personal privacy and prevent misuse of sensitive information.  A recent review of surveillance authorities have surfaced intelligence agency arguments for reducing safeguards on their use of large information holdings, or bulk personal datasets (BPD’s).  BPD’s contain potentially sensitive information covering enormous groups of people, most of whom are unlikely to be of interest to intelligence and security components.  Nevertheless, British agencies have ramped up use of AI-powered systems to analyze these vast and growing quantities of data holdings.  The agencies argue these datasets help identify potential terrorists and future informants.  In opposition to intelligence proposals, privacy advocates argue that emerging AI capabilities require stronger rather than weaker regulation.  The Guardian

Italian Cyber Agency Reports ‘Pro-Russian’ Denial-of-Service Cyberattacks on Banks.  The Italian National Cybersecurity Agency (INCA) announced Tuesday that “pro-Russian” hackers launched distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against the websites of at least five banks.  Some banking services were temporarily shut down.  An INCA spokesperson told Reuters that impacted banks include Intesa Sanpaolo, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and BPER Banca along with FinecoBank and Banca Popolare di Sondrio.  The agency described the DDoS attacks as being carried out by “pro-Russian ... groups against national institutional subjects."  One of the affected banks said that their website was taken down by heavy traffic for a short time, although the bank’s mobile app operated normally.  Italy’s cyber agency said it provided swift assistance to the firms targeted by attacks from activists in the Noname057(16) group.  Reuters

Italian Organizations Among Latest Targets of New Malware Downloader.  Several phishing campaigns employing a new malware strain have been directed at Italian organizations, researchers report.  A “sophisticated downloader” dubbed WikiLoader, Proofpoint researchers say, has the primary purpose of installing malicious payloads on targeted devices.  Since last December at least eight malware distribution campaigns using WikiLoader have been carried out by hacking groups identified as TA544 and TA551.  Researchers say WikiLoader probably was developed for rent by cybercriminals.  Threat actors posing as an Italian courier service in February sent emails with malicious Microsoft Excel attachments.  If opened, the attachments would download the Ursnif malware onto the target devices.  Another WikiLoader attack in Italy was observed in July, Proofpoint said.  The cybersecurity firm has seen WikiLoader used only to deliver the Ursnif payload although the downloader could be used to deliver other types of malwares.  Proofpoint noted the rapid development cycle of the downloader and projected that “threat actors are attempting to make the loader more complicated, and the payload more difficult to retrieve.”  TheRecord CyberNews

Apple Removes Generative AI Apps from China Store as New AI Rules Approach.  As China readies a new regulation governing generative AI applications, Apple has removed more than 100 ChatGPT-like apps from its China store.  An app developed by iFlyTek that was just launched last week was removed along with the popular ChatGAi Plus, an app that offers chatbot, translation, and writing services.  Apple informed developers that the removed apps “include content that is illegal in China.”  China last month announced the world’s earliest and most detailed regulation on generative AI models.  Seven Chinese regulators were involved in the development of the regulation, including the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).  The AI rules go into effect on August 15 and apply to all generative AI services, including those handling text, pictures, audio and video. Tools offered to the general public must “adhere to core socialist values” and not generate false information or content that endangers national security.  Some app vendors also will need to pass CAC security assessments with the CAC.  The new regulation also requires companies to avoid discriminatory content in the design of algorithms and training data used to build generative AI products.  Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on these developments.  South China Morning Post

US Considers New DOD Program to Enhance Performance of Missiles.  The US military is considering a plan to upgrade the type of chemicals that are used to propel missiles, in a bid to make current weapons fly farther.  US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say the goals of the program are to increase the range of the weapons with an eye towards potential conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific region, where US forces are at a disadvantage in terms of distance.  Last week the Senate announced plans to earmark $13 million in initial funding, a figure that some say could dramatically grow if the program is approved. The initial funds would be used to establish a new office of energetics in the Pentagon.  Reuters

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