Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Welcome! Log in to stay connected and make the most of your experience.

Input clean

[rebelmouse-image 60323886 expand=1 dam=1 alt="OSR banner" site_id=26883708 is_animated_gif="false" original_size="1000x220" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/60323886/origin.png%22%2C%20%22thumbnails%22%3A%20%7B%22origin%22%3A%20%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/60323886/origin.png%22%2C%20%22700x1245%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D700%26height%3D1245%26coordinates%3D438%252C0%252C438%252C0%22%2C%20%221000x750%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1000%26height%3D750%26coordinates%3D353%252C0%252C353%252C0%22%2C%20%221200x400%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D170%252C0%252C170%252C0%22%2C%20%22210x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D210%22%2C%20%221200x600%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D280%252C0%252C280%252C0%22%2C%20%221200x800%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D800%26coordinates%3D335%252C0%252C335%252C0%22%2C%20%22300x300%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D300%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D390%252C0%252C390%252C0%22%2C%20%22600x300%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D280%252C0%252C280%252C0%22%2C%20%22600x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%22%2C%20%22600x400%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D335%252C0%252C335%252C0%22%2C%20%2235x35%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D35%26height%3D35%22%2C%20%22750x1000%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D750%26height%3D1000%26coordinates%3D417%252C0%252C418%252C0%22%2C%20%22600x600%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D390%252C0%252C390%252C0%22%2C%20%22980x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D980%22%2C%20%22600x200%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D600%26height%3D200%26coordinates%3D170%252C0%252C170%252C0%22%2C%20%221245x700%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D304%252C0%252C304%252C0%22%2C%20%221500x2000%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D1500%26height%3D2000%26coordinates%3D417%252C0%252C418%252C0%22%2C%20%22300x%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D300%22%2C%20%222000x1500%22%3A%20%22https%3A//rebelmouse.thecipherbrief.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy82MDMyMzg4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTgwNzYxNDQ4OX0.1gEV77I0VNIGhfMuzIWULyPcbwHRsD2wYLxm6pOF4pA/image.png%3Fwidth%3D2000%26height%3D1500%26coordinates%3D353%252C0%252C353%252C0%22%7D%2C%20%22manual_image_crops%22%3A%20%7B%229x16%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%22700x1245%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20124%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20438%7D%2C%20%22600x300%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%22600x300%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20440%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20280%7D%2C%20%223x1%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221200x400%22%2C%20%22600x200%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20660%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20170%7D%2C%20%223x2%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221200x800%22%2C%20%22600x400%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20330%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20335%7D%2C%20%221x1%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%22600x600%22%2C%20%22300x300%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20390%7D%2C%20%223x4%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221500x2000%22%2C%20%22750x1000%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20165%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20417%7D%2C%20%2216x9%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221245x700%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20392%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20304%7D%2C%20%224x3%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%222000x1500%22%2C%20%221000x750%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20294%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20353%7D%2C%20%222x1%22%3A%20%7B%22sizes%22%3A%20%5B%221200x600%22%2C%20%22600x300%22%5D%2C%20%22top%22%3A%200%2C%20%22height%22%3A%20220%2C%20%22width%22%3A%20440%2C%20%22left%22%3A%20280%7D%7D%7D" caption="" photo_credit="" title=""]

Friday, April 14, 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

Air National Guard Member Arrested Over U.S. Intelligence Leaks. On Thursday, the FBI arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman who served in the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, in connection with the leak of dozens of highly classified documents. He faces charges related to the “unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information”, and could face charges under the Espionage Act. He is expected to appear in federal court Friday. Mr. Teixeira’s motive for the leaks remains unknown; those who knew him online claim he was not politically-motivated or a whistleblower. He has a rank of airman first class and is a junior Air Force communications specialist, according to his service record; why he had access to the leaked documents also remains unclear. The bulk of the more than 60 documents that have been made public so far appear to originate from the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Central Intelligence Agency’s Operations Center. Both the U.S. and allies continue to assess the impact of the leaked documents on the war in Ukraine and relations between Washington and its partners. CNN Reuters Wall Street Journal Al Jazeera New York Times 

Arrest of Teixeira Came After NY Times Identified Him. The FBI did not arrest 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, who is accused of leaking highly classified documents, until media outlets such as The Washington Post revealed numerous details about the then-still-anonymous leaker on Wednesday night, and after The New York Times named Teixeira in its reporting on Thursday.  A trail of digital evidence led to the Times’ identification, including an online gaming profile in Teixeira’s name that connected him to photographs of the location where some of the leaked documents were photographed. According to the Times’ investigation, Airman Teixeira began sharing descriptions of classified information in the Discord group that he administered in at least October. As news began to spread after the documents started to appear on a variety of social media platforms, Airman Teixeira started closing down various online accounts and said goodbye to online friends. New York Times Washington Post

Mexico, U.S. to Combat Arms Trafficking and Fentanyl. Mexico and the U.S. announced on Thursday that the two countries had reached a deal to work together to combat  they will increase cooperation against fentanyl trafficking, and will also enhance their joint efforts against Mexico’s Sinaloa and CJNG drug cartels and their supply chains, to try and reduce consumption of the opioid. Both countries have in recent weeks also asked China to help curb the shipment of precursor chemicals that originate there to thwart production of the drug. The White House also said it plans to use more sanctions to obstruct drug traffickers’ access to the U.S. financial system. Reuters 

Western Europe

Norway Expels 15 Russian Diplomats On Suspicion of Spying.  Norway on Thursday declared 15 Russian officials persona non grata for allegedly spying under diplomatic cover.  Norwegian authorities said they had monitored the officials “over time” before ordering them to leave.  Norway’s PST security police later said the diplomats worked for Russia’s GRU, FSB and SVR intelligence services and sought to recruit sources, conduct signals intelligence and acquire advanced technology.  Announcing the expulsions, Norwegian foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said that Norway wants to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia but will not allow its embassy to be used to conduct “covert intelligence activities.”  Russian state media said Moscow is preparing an “appropriate response.”  Al Jazeera BBC Reuters RFE/RL Associated Press 

Massive Protests Persist Across France Over Pension Reforms. On Thursday, 380,000 people demonstrated against pension reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron, including 42,000 protesters in Paris.  Tensions remain high and sporadic violence has occurred in some locations.  In Paris, protesters attacked the headquarters of luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and marched on the Champs-Elysees with smoke bombs. The proposed reforms would raise France’s retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, a move Macron pushed through parliament without a vote, incensing both lawmakers and the populace. France’s Constitutional Council, which reviews legislation to ensure it conforms to the French Constitution, will rule on the legislation later today. Unlike the US Supreme Court, the council is not the court of last appeal, and none of its nine members are judges. Some legal experts anticipate that the council will strike down some minor measures, but not the entire law, in part because it does not want to play the role of a political arbiter. Opposition to the pension law reportedly remains strong; surveys consistently indicate that about two-thirds of French people oppose it. Wall Street Journal Associated Press New York Times

Italy Pledges Investment and Aid for Tunisia in Hopes of Slowing Migration. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced during a meeting with Tunisian foreign minister Nabil Ammar, that Italy plans to invest in the country and provide aid in attempts to slow migration. According to The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Tunisia is experiencing one of the worst economic crises it has experienced, which has forced thousands to flee into Italy and other European countries. In the announcement, Tajani also said that Italy will help negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. Tunisia attempted to negotiate a $1.9 billion loan agreement with the IMF last year, but talks were halted as a result of political tensions and hesitations from Tunisian President Kais Saied to implement reforms.  Associated Press 


Central and Eastern Europe

Russian Special Forces Devastated by Ukraine War.  Documents from the U.S. intelligence leak say that Russia’s “spetsnaz” special forces have been gutted in the Ukraine war and may take years to recover.  The documents do not specify how many spetsnaz troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine, but intelligence intercepts and satellite imagery of their bases suggest some brigades have been almost entirely wiped out.  Analysts attributed this development to Russia's over-reliance on the spetsnaz forces, which have been deployed as part of front-line infantry formations in Ukraine.  The commando units are usually used for stealth, high-risk missions, but at the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, they were reportedly thrown into direct combat.  According to assessments in the leaked documents, the spetsnaz losses diminished Russia’s ability to conduct clandestine operations in Ukraine, and will continue to impact Russian military, intelligence and unconventional warfare operations in the future.  Al Jazeera Washington Post

Ukraine Claims U.S. Leaks have No ‘Operational Significance,’ Won’t Affect Upcoming Offensive. A senior Ukrainian official said the leak of classified U.S. intelligence assessments on Ukraine “have no operational significance” and would have no impact on the country’s offensive against Russia in the coming weeks. However, only 60 of potentially hundreds of documents have become public; it remains unclear whether the remaining, undisclosed documents contain more damaging information, and also whether Moscow already has access to them. After the existence of the leak became publicly known last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered new, unspecified measures to protect Ukraine’s military secrets. The upcoming offensive will aim to break through defensive lines that the Russian military has consistently reinforced over the last several months, potentially including the band of territory along Ukraine’s south coast that connects Crimea with the Russian mainland. An advisor to President Zelensky said the timing of the offensive will depend on both personnel and equipment being ready; he also said that Ukraine needs more air-defense systems and modern fighter jets to protect its airspace. Wall Street Journal

Ukraine Units Conduct Orderly Withdrawal from Bakhmut Positions. Ukrainian officials report that Russian forces are continuing their relentless assault on Bakhmut and other areas of the eastern front.  Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Russia has redirected troops to Bakhmut, using mostly professional units and “a significant amount of artillery and aviation” for “40 to 50 storming operations and 500 shelling episodes” every day in the embattled city.  The British Ministry of Defense added that Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut have made some withdrawals due to the attacks and supply issues.  Ukrainian troops are reportedly facing pressure to resupply its troops in the area but have made orderly withdrawals.  Russia is attempting to claim its first significant battlefield victory in 8 months as it continues its assault on Bakhmut using Wagner troops supported by Russian military airborne infantry units.  Elsewhere, Russian shelling struck the southern city of Kherson, killing two people.  Reuters U.K. Ministry of Defense Twitter

Ukraine, Moldova, Romania Sign Cooperation Accord. Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova announced on Thursday that the three countries have signed a cooperation agreement following trilateral meetings known as The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest, Romania. The foreign and defense ministers from the neighboring countries, as well as other government officials and international partners, met to discuss the Ukraine war and its impact on the region. In the announcement, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu called Russia the most serious threat to NATO and the Black Sea region. Specific details about the agreement were not provided, but it reportedly aims to increase political, economic, and security cooperation between the three nations.  Associated Press RFE/RL

Ukraine Says it is Essential to Begin Reconstruction in 2023.  Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday thanked the U.S. for its continued support and emphasized that it is critical to begin reconstruction efforts this year, adding that Kyiv has identified a $14 billion funding gap for this year.  Shmyhal reiterated support for reconstruction and other aid for Ukraine “is not charity” but an “investment in democracy and global security,” adding that Kyiv has made significant anti-corruption reforms to ensure funds are properly used.  His comments came in Washington during a joint press conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who praised these reforms but warned that U.S. and E.U. support will last through this year, after which other partners would need to help provide aid as needed.  Reuters U.S. Department of the Treasury

Ukraine Bans Sports Teams from Competitions Including Russia, Belarus.  Ukraine’s Sports Ministry on Friday banned its national sports teams from competing in all sports events that include Russian and Belarusian athletes.  The ban, which covers Olympic, non-Olympic and Paralympic events, came after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would allow competitors from Russia and Belarus to participate as neutrals.  Some Ukrainian athletes opposed the move, saying that Russia and Belarus will be free to push their propaganda and false narratives at international sporting events without Ukrainian representation.  Al Jazeera Reuters

Russia May Allow Prisoner Exchange for Gershkovich After Verdict. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkhov told the state news agency TASS on Thursday that Russia would consider the possibility of a prisoner exchange for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich only after a court renders a verdict on an espionage allegation against him. He also said that any talks of a prisoner swap for Mr. Gershkovich, as well as Paul Whelan, both of whom the U.S. has designated as being wrongfully detained, would use a “special channel” that Moscow and Washington have used previously, and that there would be no need for a third party to be involved. It is unclear who Russia might want in exchange for Mr. Gershkovich or Mr. Whelan, but U.S. officials said earlier this week that they have a “significant offer on the table” for a swap for Mr. Whelan. The U.S. continues to press Russia to allow American Embassy officials to visit Mr. Gershkovich. Wall Street Journal 

Russia’s Navalny Reportedly Suffering from Unidentified Illness. Alexei Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader currently being held in prison, may be sick with a slow acting poison, according to his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh. Navalny reportedly experienced severe stomach pain and an ambulance was called to check on him. According to Yarmysh, Navalny has not been able to eat the prison food as it was making his stomach pain worse, and as of Monday he is no longer allowed to purchase alternative food or receive packages with food. Yamysh added that there is no definitive proof that he is being poisoned, but he has never experienced such illness, and it is not out of the question due to previous poisonings.  CNN Reuters The Guardian

Asia

North Korea Confirms Test of New ICBM.  North Korea on Friday confirmed that it tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile that uses solid-fuel on Thursday.  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test and reportedly said the new Hwasong-18 ICBM would make enemies “experience a clearer security crisis, and constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror into them.”  South Korea says North Korea is still developing the missile and will likely conduct more test launches in the near-term.  Experts say that this solid-fuel missile — the first from Pyongyang — marks a major step forward in the country’s missile program; other North Korean missiles use liquid-fuel, which are more time-consuming and dangerous to operate and easier to track.  Reuters Al Jazeera CNN Associated Press 

China Claims It Will Not Sell Weapons to Any Country for Ukraine War.  Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang said Friday that Beijing will not sell weapons to any party in the Ukraine war and will regulate the export of dual use and military items to ensure they do not make it to the battlefield in Ukraine.  Qin’s comments, which came during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, appeared to address Western concerns that China is transferring arms to Russia for use in the conflict.  Despite China’s close ties with Russia, it has maintained a neutral position on the war and has said it supports a peaceful resolution to the conflict.  Despite the reassurance from Qin, Baerbock countered that China has yet to condemn Russia for its invasion.  And Qin’s calls for peace in Ukraine were juxtaposed by his later comments blaming Taiwan for the escalating tensions, dismissing Baerbock’s remarks that Europe would not accept a change in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by saying the issue is “China’s internal affair.”  Associated Press RFE/RL Reuters

Taiwan’s Tsai Vows to Keep Fortifying Island Following Chinese Drills.  Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday affirmed that she will keep strengthening Taiwan’s military amid escalating tensions with China.  In later remarks, Tsai noted that Taiwan will never “escalate conflict nor provoke disputes” but that it will defend its sovereignty and democracy.  Her comments came in meetings with Taiwanese forces, including fighter pilots who scrambled to counter recent Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, which followed Tsai’s visit to the U.S.   Reuters 

Chinese Military Considering Using ChatGPT.  The Chinese military’s official newspaper, the PLA Daily, released an article on Thursday saying that the Chinese military is looking into using OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT.  While the artificial intelligence tool is officially banned in China, the article notes that the “human-like” software can be used for several military applications, including data analysis, military planning and battlefield reporting, as well as public opinion analysis and propaganda for cognitive warfare.  The article also raises the limits of military use for AI, noting that it depends on trained data, which can be targeted and corrupted, and that it does not trump human creativity.  South China Morning Post

U.S. Lawmaker Sanctioned By China for Taiwan Visit.  China on Thursday sanctioned U.S. Representative Michael McCaul for his recent visit to Taiwan.  McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the trip April 6 to April 8 to discuss U.S. weapons sales.  The Chinese foreign ministry said the sanctions against McCaul include asset freezes and visa bans, as well as restrictions on Chinese entities from interacting with him.  McCaul said the sanctions are a “badge of honor” and that nothing will deter him or the U.S. from supporting Taiwan.  Associated Press Axios Reuters

Middle East and Northern Africa

Jordan Endorses Joint Arab Peace Plan to Cease Syrian Hostilities. According to a source who spoke to Reuters, Jordan is preparing to push a joint Arab peace plan to end the Syrian conflict, ahead of Friday’s meeting to discuss Syria’s readmission into the Arab league. The plan is set to be discussed at a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with the foreign ministers of Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries present. The official reported that Jordan prepares to propose creating an Arab group that would engage with the Syrian government on a comprehensive plan to end the conflict, along with a detailed road map on how Syria can be readmitted into the Arab league.  Reuters 

U.S. Penalizes Entities Rooted in Turkey for Aiding Russia in War. The US has announced sanctions on at least four Turkey-based entities that are accused of violating US export controls and assisting in Russia’ war in Ukraine. The entities sanctioned include an electronics company and technology trader that allegedly helped to transfer dual use goods that were part of the US Treasury’s global sanctions package.   Reuters 

Sub Saharan Africa

Sudanese Army Cautions Risk of Conflict Due to Paramilitary Unit Mobilization. On Thursday, Sudan’s army warned of a growing risk of confrontation following the mobilization of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which poses a potential complication to efforts to restore civilian rule in the country. The RSF has a history of violence and human rights abuses and operates under its own chain of command; it emerged from the janjaweed militias that carried out Khartoum’s campaign in Darfur. It joined with the Sudanese military to overthrow former president Oman Hassan al-Bashir in a coup in 2019, and then for another coup in 2021. Western ambassadors from Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States said they were “deeply concerned” by the escalation, which could derail ongoing negotiations. Previous disagreements between RSF leadership and the military have already delayed the signing of an internationally backed agreement with political parties for a two-year, civilian-led transition to free elections. The central dispute remains over the leadership of the military in the interim period before integration. The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum advised American citizens against traveling to northern Sudan, and it is prohibiting government staff from going beyond the Khartoum metropolitan area until next Thursday. Reuters Associated Press 

Kenyan Opposition Alliance Prepared to Negotiate with Government, Protests Will Restart After Ramadan. Kenya’s political opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on Thursday that anti-government protests would restart after the holy month of Ramadan, which is due to end today, despite a previous agreement on talks with the ruling party. The opposition has increasingly accused the government as not being committed and serious about the talks and prefers to keep pressure on the government by holding protests alongside its discussions. The opposition has scheduled a rally for Sunday. Previous demonstrations occurred twice a week and resulted in the deaths of four protesters and the shutdown of businesses in Nairobi’s central business district. The demonstrations were aimed at urging the government to reinstate subsidies to bring down the cost of living and to revisit the results of the 2022 general election. Associated Press Reuters

Cyber & Tech

Hackers Claim Access to Western Digital Systems, Reportedly Holding Data Hostage. Hackers who reportedly breached Western Digital’s networks claim to have stolen around 10 terabytes of data, including customer information. The hackers are pushing for a ransom “of a minimum 8 figures” in exchange for not publishing that data. Western Digital disclosed a “network security incident” on April 3, and although the company admitted that hackers had exfiltrated data, it provided few details about what exactly the hackers stole. According to TechCrunch, which claims to be in contact with at least one of the hackers, they are able to digitally sign files to impersonate Western Digital, have a myriad of phone numbers and email addresses belonging to company executives, and have access to internal email and files.  The hackers are reportedly ready to start publishing the stolen data on the website of ransomware gang Alphv if Western Digital does not respond. A Western Digital spokesperson said the company declined to comment or answer questions about the hackers claims.  The Verge TechCrunch

Amazon Enters the Generative AI Race with ‘Bedrock’. On Wednesday, AWS unveiled Amazon Bedrock, which provides a way to build generative AI-powered apps via pretrained models from startups (and OpenAI competitors) including Anthropic, Stability AI, and AI21 Labs. With Bedrock, AWS customers will be able to leverage AI models from different providers, including AWS, via an API. AWS Customers will be able to use Bedrock to write, summarize text, classify images, build chatbots, and more. Additionally, users will be able to customize how the models work based on input, which could potentially address a crucial privacy concern for businesses entering sensitive or proprietary data. AWS has yet to announce formal pricing but emphasized that Bedrock is aimed at large customers building “enterprise-scale” AI apps. Amazon said C3.ai, Pegasystems, Accenture, and Deloitte are some early businesses that will try Bedrock. TechCrunch Engadget

New Ethical Hacker Advocacy Group Working to Protect Security Researchers.  A new advocacy group has emerged to work on behalf of security researchers engaged in white-hat hacking.  The industry-led Hacking Policy Council says it will focus on protecting these ethical hackers from potential criminal prosecution to ensure their work on finding cyber vulnerabilities.  The council will also reportedly work to improve policy on cyber vulnerability disclosures.   The council says it will first work on advocating for changes to the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act; the council views the measure, which calls for reporting of cyber vulnerabilities within 24 hours, as weak since it does not distinguish between good-faith hackers and criminals, and it does not require the vulnerability to be patched before being announced.  Separately, a new legal defense fund for security researchers has also launched.  The Security Research Legal Defense Fund will provide financial support for ethical hackers facing legal threats.  CyberScoop SC Magazine

Hackers Exploiting Weak Passwords to Breach Cloud Systems.  Google Cloud on Thursday released a report detailing attacks against its clients, which concludes that most incidents involve weak passwords.  The report says that nearly half of attacks against Google Cloud customers exploit weak identity verification practices.  Exploitation of application program interfaces (APIs) are the next major venue for attacks, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the company’s reported incidents.  These methods are increasingly more popular than targeting underlying weaknesses in source code or zero-days and allow threat actors to maintain persistent access on cloud environments without being detected.  CyberScoop

U.S. State Department Deploying Tech Diplomats.  The U.S. State Department is working to deploy a technology-focused diplomat to all 168 U.S. embassies overseas by the end of 2024.  The plan is part of U.S. efforts to bolster cybersecurity of allies and better incorporate cyber and tech perspectives when addressing issues across the board.  Announcing the initiative, Nate Fick, the U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, added that the State Department will build up the tech expertise for this plan by increasing training on technology issues for U.S. diplomats.  CyberScoop Federal News Network

U.S. State Department Deployed Cyber Envoys to Balkans.  The U.S. State Department is working to help European countries to counter disinformation campaigns from Russia, China and other adversaries.  As part of this, the department deployed a special envoy to the Balkans this week to help the region identify and take down Russian and Chinese disinformation sites.  The action marks a contrast to past attempts to disprove narratives from adversaries and moves towards directly targeting machinery and infrastructure used to transmit such disinformation.  Wall Street Journal

Navy Cyber Advisor Says Cyber Strategy May Be Released in May.  Chris Clearly, the Navy’s principal cyber advisor, says the service may release its anticipated cyber strategy in May.  The strategy, which was scheduled to be released in March, is still under review by the Pentagon.  Cleary said the new strategy will cover expected issues like zero trust and workforce deployment, but he added that it will also include other issues like securing defense-critical infrastructure.  Breaking Defense

Pentagon Requests $75 Million for Quantum for Military Use.  The Pentagon is reportedly requesting $75 million for fiscal 2024 to accelerate quantum research for military purposes, as well as bolster supply chains for emerging quantum technologies; $45 million will go towards maturing and training quantum tools already in service, and the other $30 million will go towards researching for critical components for the quantum supply chain.  U.S. military officials say they are hopeful of incorporating quantum to enhance functions like navigation, electronic warfare and intelligence collection.  DefenseScoop

Lack of Confidence in First Responder Digital Network.  U.S. Senator Ron Wyden released a letter on Wednesday saying there is a lack of confidence in the security of the FirstNet cellular network used by first responders and the military.  The letter cites an unidentified CISA expert who told Wyden that the main issue is that results of cybersecurity audits conducted against the government-only network have not been released.  The letter argues that FirstNet should share such audits to CISA, NSA and Congress.  The FirstNet Authority maintains that it prioritizes cybersecurity and “goes well beyond standard commercial network security measures.”  CISA, NSA, the FCC, White House and OMB did not comment on the matter.  Reuters

U.S. Senator Urges Investigation On Russian Use of American Surveillance Technology.  Senator Ron Wyden is also calling on the Biden administration to investigate Russia’s alleged use of U.S. technology to conduct facial recognition as part of surveillance and efforts to curb dissent.  His comments came in response to a Reuters report last month on the matter, which found that Russian surveillance and facial technology used in arrests of protesters used chips from U.S. firms like Nvidia and Intel.  Both companies have said they comply with relevant export controls on Russia, but note that they cannot always track or know how their products are used.  Reuters

Experts Ask Pentagon to Expand Defense Innovation Unit Role.  Defense experts on the Atlantic Council’s Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption are calling for the Pentagon to expand its Defense Innovation Unit to make it easier for the Pentagon to integrate commercial technology.  The group says the DIU should have more funding and tighter relationships with relevant acquisition offices to facilitate access to commercially available weapons and dual use technology.  Recommendations to boost the DIU are among 10 proposals from the group; other proposals include establishing a new $250 million fund to accelerate buying of successful technology and basing acquisition practices on successes from the Space Development Agency.  C4ISRNET

Former FTC Commission Advisors Urge Better Control of AI.  Two former Federal Trade Commission advisors – Amba Kak and Sarah Myers West – wrote in a report from the AI Now research institute that U.S. regulators should greatly increase efforts to address concerns linked to artificial intelligence.  The two argue that regulators should “swiftly” make use of tools they already have, such as antitrust powers, to mitigate risks from the ongoing AI boom.  The report specifically highlights issues with the dominance of tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon over AI, which will disadvantage competitors.  It also calls for greater burden on AI developers to ensure their products are safe, rather than leaving it up to consumers – a recurring position in the Biden administration regarding space.  Washington Post

Chinese Fusion Reactor Sets Record For Maintaining Ultra-Hot Plasma.  Chinese researchers on Wednesday claim to have set a world record for generating and sustaining extremely hot, highly confined plasma.  The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reportedly generated and sustained the plasma for 403 seconds, well over the previous record of 101 seconds.  The success in creating this “artificial sun” is a major breakthrough for China in its pursuit of high-efficiency, low-cost thermonuclear fusion reactors.  South China Morning Post

Hyundai Suffers Data Breach, Impacts Italian and French Clients.  Hyundai says it has suffered a data breach that exposed information of Italian and French customers.  The breach reportedly compromised email addresses, telephone numbers, physical addresses, and vehicle chassis numbers.  However, the threat actor did not steal financial data or formal identification.  While it is unclear how many customers were impacted or how long the breach lasted, Hyundai said it is investigating the incident.  BleepingComputer

Read deeply-experienced, expert-driven national security news, analysis and opinion inThe Cipher Brief

Report for Friday, April 14, 2023

OSR banner

Friday, April 14, 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

Air National Guard Member Arrested Over U.S. Intelligence Leaks. On Thursday, the FBI arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman who served in the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, in connection with the leak of dozens of highly classified documents. He faces charges related to the “unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information”, and could face charges under the Espionage Act. He is expected to appear in federal court Friday. Mr. Teixeira’s motive for the leaks remains unknown; those who knew him online claim he was not politically-motivated or a whistleblower. He has a rank of airman first class and is a junior Air Force communications specialist, according to his service record; why he had access to the leaked documents also remains unclear. The bulk of the more than 60 documents that have been made public so far appear to originate from the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Central Intelligence Agency’s Operations Center. Both the U.S. and allies continue to assess the impact of the leaked documents on the war in Ukraine and relations between Washington and its partners. CNN Reuters Wall Street Journal Al Jazeera New York Times 

Arrest of Teixeira Came After NY Times Identified Him. The FBI did not arrest 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, who is accused of leaking highly classified documents, until media outlets such as The Washington Post revealed numerous details about the then-still-anonymous leaker on Wednesday night, and after The New York Times named Teixeira in its reporting on Thursday.  A trail of digital evidence led to the Times’ identification, including an online gaming profile in Teixeira’s name that connected him to photographs of the location where some of the leaked documents were photographed. According to the Times’ investigation, Airman Teixeira began sharing descriptions of classified information in the Discord group that he administered in at least October. As news began to spread after the documents started to appear on a variety of social media platforms, Airman Teixeira started closing down various online accounts and said goodbye to online friends. New York Times Washington Post

Mexico, U.S. to Combat Arms Trafficking and Fentanyl. Mexico and the U.S. announced on Thursday that the two countries had reached a deal to work together to combat  they will increase cooperation against fentanyl trafficking, and will also enhance their joint efforts against Mexico’s Sinaloa and CJNG drug cartels and their supply chains, to try and reduce consumption of the opioid. Both countries have in recent weeks also asked China to help curb the shipment of precursor chemicals that originate there to thwart production of the drug. The White House also said it plans to use more sanctions to obstruct drug traffickers’ access to the U.S. financial system. Reuters 

Western Europe

Norway Expels 15 Russian Diplomats On Suspicion of Spying.  Norway on Thursday declared 15 Russian officials persona non grata for allegedly spying under diplomatic cover.  Norwegian authorities said they had monitored the officials “over time” before ordering them to leave.  Norway’s PST security police later said the diplomats worked for Russia’s GRU, FSB and SVR intelligence services and sought to recruit sources, conduct signals intelligence and acquire advanced technology.  Announcing the expulsions, Norwegian foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said that Norway wants to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia but will not allow its embassy to be used to conduct “covert intelligence activities.”  Russian state media said Moscow is preparing an “appropriate response.”  Al Jazeera BBC Reuters RFE/RL Associated Press 

Massive Protests Persist Across France Over Pension Reforms. On Thursday, 380,000 people demonstrated against pension reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron, including 42,000 protesters in Paris.  Tensions remain high and sporadic violence has occurred in some locations.  In Paris, protesters attacked the headquarters of luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and marched on the Champs-Elysees with smoke bombs. The proposed reforms would raise France’s retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, a move Macron pushed through parliament without a vote, incensing both lawmakers and the populace. France’s Constitutional Council, which reviews legislation to ensure it conforms to the French Constitution, will rule on the legislation later today. Unlike the US Supreme Court, the council is not the court of last appeal, and none of its nine members are judges. Some legal experts anticipate that the council will strike down some minor measures, but not the entire law, in part because it does not want to play the role of a political arbiter. Opposition to the pension law reportedly remains strong; surveys consistently indicate that about two-thirds of French people oppose it. Wall Street Journal Associated Press New York Times

Italy Pledges Investment and Aid for Tunisia in Hopes of Slowing Migration. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced during a meeting with Tunisian foreign minister Nabil Ammar, that Italy plans to invest in the country and provide aid in attempts to slow migration. According to The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Tunisia is experiencing one of the worst economic crises it has experienced, which has forced thousands to flee into Italy and other European countries. In the announcement, Tajani also said that Italy will help negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. Tunisia attempted to negotiate a $1.9 billion loan agreement with the IMF last year, but talks were halted as a result of political tensions and hesitations from Tunisian President Kais Saied to implement reforms.  Associated Press 


Central and Eastern Europe

Russian Special Forces Devastated by Ukraine War.  Documents from the U.S. intelligence leak say that Russia’s “spetsnaz” special forces have been gutted in the Ukraine war and may take years to recover.  The documents do not specify how many spetsnaz troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine, but intelligence intercepts and satellite imagery of their bases suggest some brigades have been almost entirely wiped out.  Analysts attributed this development to Russia's over-reliance on the spetsnaz forces, which have been deployed as part of front-line infantry formations in Ukraine.  The commando units are usually used for stealth, high-risk missions, but at the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, they were reportedly thrown into direct combat.  According to assessments in the leaked documents, the spetsnaz losses diminished Russia’s ability to conduct clandestine operations in Ukraine, and will continue to impact Russian military, intelligence and unconventional warfare operations in the future.  Al Jazeera Washington Post

Ukraine Claims U.S. Leaks have No ‘Operational Significance,’ Won’t Affect Upcoming Offensive. A senior Ukrainian official said the leak of classified U.S. intelligence assessments on Ukraine “have no operational significance” and would have no impact on the country’s offensive against Russia in the coming weeks. However, only 60 of potentially hundreds of documents have become public; it remains unclear whether the remaining, undisclosed documents contain more damaging information, and also whether Moscow already has access to them. After the existence of the leak became publicly known last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered new, unspecified measures to protect Ukraine’s military secrets. The upcoming offensive will aim to break through defensive lines that the Russian military has consistently reinforced over the last several months, potentially including the band of territory along Ukraine’s south coast that connects Crimea with the Russian mainland. An advisor to President Zelensky said the timing of the offensive will depend on both personnel and equipment being ready; he also said that Ukraine needs more air-defense systems and modern fighter jets to protect its airspace. Wall Street Journal

Ukraine Units Conduct Orderly Withdrawal from Bakhmut Positions. Ukrainian officials report that Russian forces are continuing their relentless assault on Bakhmut and other areas of the eastern front.  Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Russia has redirected troops to Bakhmut, using mostly professional units and “a significant amount of artillery and aviation” for “40 to 50 storming operations and 500 shelling episodes” every day in the embattled city.  The British Ministry of Defense added that Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut have made some withdrawals due to the attacks and supply issues.  Ukrainian troops are reportedly facing pressure to resupply its troops in the area but have made orderly withdrawals.  Russia is attempting to claim its first significant battlefield victory in 8 months as it continues its assault on Bakhmut using Wagner troops supported by Russian military airborne infantry units.  Elsewhere, Russian shelling struck the southern city of Kherson, killing two people.  Reuters U.K. Ministry of Defense Twitter

Ukraine, Moldova, Romania Sign Cooperation Accord. Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova announced on Thursday that the three countries have signed a cooperation agreement following trilateral meetings known as The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest, Romania. The foreign and defense ministers from the neighboring countries, as well as other government officials and international partners, met to discuss the Ukraine war and its impact on the region. In the announcement, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu called Russia the most serious threat to NATO and the Black Sea region. Specific details about the agreement were not provided, but it reportedly aims to increase political, economic, and security cooperation between the three nations.  Associated Press RFE/RL

Ukraine Says it is Essential to Begin Reconstruction in 2023.  Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday thanked the U.S. for its continued support and emphasized that it is critical to begin reconstruction efforts this year, adding that Kyiv has identified a $14 billion funding gap for this year.  Shmyhal reiterated support for reconstruction and other aid for Ukraine “is not charity” but an “investment in democracy and global security,” adding that Kyiv has made significant anti-corruption reforms to ensure funds are properly used.  His comments came in Washington during a joint press conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who praised these reforms but warned that U.S. and E.U. support will last through this year, after which other partners would need to help provide aid as needed.  Reuters U.S. Department of the Treasury

Ukraine Bans Sports Teams from Competitions Including Russia, Belarus.  Ukraine’s Sports Ministry on Friday banned its national sports teams from competing in all sports events that include Russian and Belarusian athletes.  The ban, which covers Olympic, non-Olympic and Paralympic events, came after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would allow competitors from Russia and Belarus to participate as neutrals.  Some Ukrainian athletes opposed the move, saying that Russia and Belarus will be free to push their propaganda and false narratives at international sporting events without Ukrainian representation.  Al Jazeera Reuters

Russia May Allow Prisoner Exchange for Gershkovich After Verdict. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkhov told the state news agency TASS on Thursday that Russia would consider the possibility of a prisoner exchange for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich only after a court renders a verdict on an espionage allegation against him. He also said that any talks of a prisoner swap for Mr. Gershkovich, as well as Paul Whelan, both of whom the U.S. has designated as being wrongfully detained, would use a “special channel” that Moscow and Washington have used previously, and that there would be no need for a third party to be involved. It is unclear who Russia might want in exchange for Mr. Gershkovich or Mr. Whelan, but U.S. officials said earlier this week that they have a “significant offer on the table” for a swap for Mr. Whelan. The U.S. continues to press Russia to allow American Embassy officials to visit Mr. Gershkovich. Wall Street Journal 

Russia’s Navalny Reportedly Suffering from Unidentified Illness. Alexei Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader currently being held in prison, may be sick with a slow acting poison, according to his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh. Navalny reportedly experienced severe stomach pain and an ambulance was called to check on him. According to Yarmysh, Navalny has not been able to eat the prison food as it was making his stomach pain worse, and as of Monday he is no longer allowed to purchase alternative food or receive packages with food. Yamysh added that there is no definitive proof that he is being poisoned, but he has never experienced such illness, and it is not out of the question due to previous poisonings.  CNN Reuters The Guardian

Asia

North Korea Confirms Test of New ICBM.  North Korea on Friday confirmed that it tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile that uses solid-fuel on Thursday.  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test and reportedly said the new Hwasong-18 ICBM would make enemies “experience a clearer security crisis, and constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror into them.”  South Korea says North Korea is still developing the missile and will likely conduct more test launches in the near-term.  Experts say that this solid-fuel missile — the first from Pyongyang — marks a major step forward in the country’s missile program; other North Korean missiles use liquid-fuel, which are more time-consuming and dangerous to operate and easier to track.  Reuters Al Jazeera CNN Associated Press 

China Claims It Will Not Sell Weapons to Any Country for Ukraine War.  Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang said Friday that Beijing will not sell weapons to any party in the Ukraine war and will regulate the export of dual use and military items to ensure they do not make it to the battlefield in Ukraine.  Qin’s comments, which came during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, appeared to address Western concerns that China is transferring arms to Russia for use in the conflict.  Despite China’s close ties with Russia, it has maintained a neutral position on the war and has said it supports a peaceful resolution to the conflict.  Despite the reassurance from Qin, Baerbock countered that China has yet to condemn Russia for its invasion.  And Qin’s calls for peace in Ukraine were juxtaposed by his later comments blaming Taiwan for the escalating tensions, dismissing Baerbock’s remarks that Europe would not accept a change in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by saying the issue is “China’s internal affair.”  Associated Press RFE/RL Reuters

Taiwan’s Tsai Vows to Keep Fortifying Island Following Chinese Drills.  Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday affirmed that she will keep strengthening Taiwan’s military amid escalating tensions with China.  In later remarks, Tsai noted that Taiwan will never “escalate conflict nor provoke disputes” but that it will defend its sovereignty and democracy.  Her comments came in meetings with Taiwanese forces, including fighter pilots who scrambled to counter recent Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, which followed Tsai’s visit to the U.S.   Reuters 

Chinese Military Considering Using ChatGPT.  The Chinese military’s official newspaper, the PLA Daily, released an article on Thursday saying that the Chinese military is looking into using OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT.  While the artificial intelligence tool is officially banned in China, the article notes that the “human-like” software can be used for several military applications, including data analysis, military planning and battlefield reporting, as well as public opinion analysis and propaganda for cognitive warfare.  The article also raises the limits of military use for AI, noting that it depends on trained data, which can be targeted and corrupted, and that it does not trump human creativity.  South China Morning Post

U.S. Lawmaker Sanctioned By China for Taiwan Visit.  China on Thursday sanctioned U.S. Representative Michael McCaul for his recent visit to Taiwan.  McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the trip April 6 to April 8 to discuss U.S. weapons sales.  The Chinese foreign ministry said the sanctions against McCaul include asset freezes and visa bans, as well as restrictions on Chinese entities from interacting with him.  McCaul said the sanctions are a “badge of honor” and that nothing will deter him or the U.S. from supporting Taiwan.  Associated Press Axios Reuters

Middle East and Northern Africa

Jordan Endorses Joint Arab Peace Plan to Cease Syrian Hostilities. According to a source who spoke to Reuters, Jordan is preparing to push a joint Arab peace plan to end the Syrian conflict, ahead of Friday’s meeting to discuss Syria’s readmission into the Arab league. The plan is set to be discussed at a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with the foreign ministers of Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries present. The official reported that Jordan prepares to propose creating an Arab group that would engage with the Syrian government on a comprehensive plan to end the conflict, along with a detailed road map on how Syria can be readmitted into the Arab league.  Reuters 

U.S. Penalizes Entities Rooted in Turkey for Aiding Russia in War. The US has announced sanctions on at least four Turkey-based entities that are accused of violating US export controls and assisting in Russia’ war in Ukraine. The entities sanctioned include an electronics company and technology trader that allegedly helped to transfer dual use goods that were part of the US Treasury’s global sanctions package.   Reuters 

Sub Saharan Africa

Sudanese Army Cautions Risk of Conflict Due to Paramilitary Unit Mobilization. On Thursday, Sudan’s army warned of a growing risk of confrontation following the mobilization of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which poses a potential complication to efforts to restore civilian rule in the country. The RSF has a history of violence and human rights abuses and operates under its own chain of command; it emerged from the janjaweed militias that carried out Khartoum’s campaign in Darfur. It joined with the Sudanese military to overthrow former president Oman Hassan al-Bashir in a coup in 2019, and then for another coup in 2021. Western ambassadors from Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States said they were “deeply concerned” by the escalation, which could derail ongoing negotiations. Previous disagreements between RSF leadership and the military have already delayed the signing of an internationally backed agreement with political parties for a two-year, civilian-led transition to free elections. The central dispute remains over the leadership of the military in the interim period before integration. The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum advised American citizens against traveling to northern Sudan, and it is prohibiting government staff from going beyond the Khartoum metropolitan area until next Thursday. Reuters Associated Press 

Kenyan Opposition Alliance Prepared to Negotiate with Government, Protests Will Restart After Ramadan. Kenya’s political opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said on Thursday that anti-government protests would restart after the holy month of Ramadan, which is due to end today, despite a previous agreement on talks with the ruling party. The opposition has increasingly accused the government as not being committed and serious about the talks and prefers to keep pressure on the government by holding protests alongside its discussions. The opposition has scheduled a rally for Sunday. Previous demonstrations occurred twice a week and resulted in the deaths of four protesters and the shutdown of businesses in Nairobi’s central business district. The demonstrations were aimed at urging the government to reinstate subsidies to bring down the cost of living and to revisit the results of the 2022 general election. Associated Press Reuters

Cyber & Tech

Hackers Claim Access to Western Digital Systems, Reportedly Holding Data Hostage. Hackers who reportedly breached Western Digital’s networks claim to have stolen around 10 terabytes of data, including customer information. The hackers are pushing for a ransom “of a minimum 8 figures” in exchange for not publishing that data. Western Digital disclosed a “network security incident” on April 3, and although the company admitted that hackers had exfiltrated data, it provided few details about what exactly the hackers stole. According to TechCrunch, which claims to be in contact with at least one of the hackers, they are able to digitally sign files to impersonate Western Digital, have a myriad of phone numbers and email addresses belonging to company executives, and have access to internal email and files.  The hackers are reportedly ready to start publishing the stolen data on the website of ransomware gang Alphv if Western Digital does not respond. A Western Digital spokesperson said the company declined to comment or answer questions about the hackers claims.  The Verge TechCrunch

Amazon Enters the Generative AI Race with ‘Bedrock’. On Wednesday, AWS unveiled Amazon Bedrock, which provides a way to build generative AI-powered apps via pretrained models from startups (and OpenAI competitors) including Anthropic, Stability AI, and AI21 Labs. With Bedrock, AWS customers will be able to leverage AI models from different providers, including AWS, via an API. AWS Customers will be able to use Bedrock to write, summarize text, classify images, build chatbots, and more. Additionally, users will be able to customize how the models work based on input, which could potentially address a crucial privacy concern for businesses entering sensitive or proprietary data. AWS has yet to announce formal pricing but emphasized that Bedrock is aimed at large customers building “enterprise-scale” AI apps. Amazon said C3.ai, Pegasystems, Accenture, and Deloitte are some early businesses that will try Bedrock. TechCrunch Engadget

New Ethical Hacker Advocacy Group Working to Protect Security Researchers.  A new advocacy group has emerged to work on behalf of security researchers engaged in white-hat hacking.  The industry-led Hacking Policy Council says it will focus on protecting these ethical hackers from potential criminal prosecution to ensure their work on finding cyber vulnerabilities.  The council will also reportedly work to improve policy on cyber vulnerability disclosures.   The council says it will first work on advocating for changes to the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act; the council views the measure, which calls for reporting of cyber vulnerabilities within 24 hours, as weak since it does not distinguish between good-faith hackers and criminals, and it does not require the vulnerability to be patched before being announced.  Separately, a new legal defense fund for security researchers has also launched.  The Security Research Legal Defense Fund will provide financial support for ethical hackers facing legal threats.  CyberScoop SC Magazine

Hackers Exploiting Weak Passwords to Breach Cloud Systems.  Google Cloud on Thursday released a report detailing attacks against its clients, which concludes that most incidents involve weak passwords.  The report says that nearly half of attacks against Google Cloud customers exploit weak identity verification practices.  Exploitation of application program interfaces (APIs) are the next major venue for attacks, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the company’s reported incidents.  These methods are increasingly more popular than targeting underlying weaknesses in source code or zero-days and allow threat actors to maintain persistent access on cloud environments without being detected.  CyberScoop

U.S. State Department Deploying Tech Diplomats.  The U.S. State Department is working to deploy a technology-focused diplomat to all 168 U.S. embassies overseas by the end of 2024.  The plan is part of U.S. efforts to bolster cybersecurity of allies and better incorporate cyber and tech perspectives when addressing issues across the board.  Announcing the initiative, Nate Fick, the U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, added that the State Department will build up the tech expertise for this plan by increasing training on technology issues for U.S. diplomats.  CyberScoop Federal News Network

U.S. State Department Deployed Cyber Envoys to Balkans.  The U.S. State Department is working to help European countries to counter disinformation campaigns from Russia, China and other adversaries.  As part of this, the department deployed a special envoy to the Balkans this week to help the region identify and take down Russian and Chinese disinformation sites.  The action marks a contrast to past attempts to disprove narratives from adversaries and moves towards directly targeting machinery and infrastructure used to transmit such disinformation.  Wall Street Journal

Navy Cyber Advisor Says Cyber Strategy May Be Released in May.  Chris Clearly, the Navy’s principal cyber advisor, says the service may release its anticipated cyber strategy in May.  The strategy, which was scheduled to be released in March, is still under review by the Pentagon.  Cleary said the new strategy will cover expected issues like zero trust and workforce deployment, but he added that it will also include other issues like securing defense-critical infrastructure.  Breaking Defense

Pentagon Requests $75 Million for Quantum for Military Use.  The Pentagon is reportedly requesting $75 million for fiscal 2024 to accelerate quantum research for military purposes, as well as bolster supply chains for emerging quantum technologies; $45 million will go towards maturing and training quantum tools already in service, and the other $30 million will go towards researching for critical components for the quantum supply chain.  U.S. military officials say they are hopeful of incorporating quantum to enhance functions like navigation, electronic warfare and intelligence collection.  DefenseScoop

Lack of Confidence in First Responder Digital Network.  U.S. Senator Ron Wyden released a letter on Wednesday saying there is a lack of confidence in the security of the FirstNet cellular network used by first responders and the military.  The letter cites an unidentified CISA expert who told Wyden that the main issue is that results of cybersecurity audits conducted against the government-only network have not been released.  The letter argues that FirstNet should share such audits to CISA, NSA and Congress.  The FirstNet Authority maintains that it prioritizes cybersecurity and “goes well beyond standard commercial network security measures.”  CISA, NSA, the FCC, White House and OMB did not comment on the matter.  Reuters

U.S. Senator Urges Investigation On Russian Use of American Surveillance Technology.  Senator Ron Wyden is also calling on the Biden administration to investigate Russia’s alleged use of U.S. technology to conduct facial recognition as part of surveillance and efforts to curb dissent.  His comments came in response to a Reuters report last month on the matter, which found that Russian surveillance and facial technology used in arrests of protesters used chips from U.S. firms like Nvidia and Intel.  Both companies have said they comply with relevant export controls on Russia, but note that they cannot always track or know how their products are used.  Reuters

Experts Ask Pentagon to Expand Defense Innovation Unit Role.  Defense experts on the Atlantic Council’s Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption are calling for the Pentagon to expand its Defense Innovation Unit to make it easier for the Pentagon to integrate commercial technology.  The group says the DIU should have more funding and tighter relationships with relevant acquisition offices to facilitate access to commercially available weapons and dual use technology.  Recommendations to boost the DIU are among 10 proposals from the group; other proposals include establishing a new $250 million fund to accelerate buying of successful technology and basing acquisition practices on successes from the Space Development Agency.  C4ISRNET

Former FTC Commission Advisors Urge Better Control of AI.  Two former Federal Trade Commission advisors – Amba Kak and Sarah Myers West – wrote in a report from the AI Now research institute that U.S. regulators should greatly increase efforts to address concerns linked to artificial intelligence.  The two argue that regulators should “swiftly” make use of tools they already have, such as antitrust powers, to mitigate risks from the ongoing AI boom.  The report specifically highlights issues with the dominance of tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon over AI, which will disadvantage competitors.  It also calls for greater burden on AI developers to ensure their products are safe, rather than leaving it up to consumers – a recurring position in the Biden administration regarding space.  Washington Post

Chinese Fusion Reactor Sets Record For Maintaining Ultra-Hot Plasma.  Chinese researchers on Wednesday claim to have set a world record for generating and sustaining extremely hot, highly confined plasma.  The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reportedly generated and sustained the plasma for 403 seconds, well over the previous record of 101 seconds.  The success in creating this “artificial sun” is a major breakthrough for China in its pursuit of high-efficiency, low-cost thermonuclear fusion reactors.  South China Morning Post

Hyundai Suffers Data Breach, Impacts Italian and French Clients.  Hyundai says it has suffered a data breach that exposed information of Italian and French customers.  The breach reportedly compromised email addresses, telephone numbers, physical addresses, and vehicle chassis numbers.  However, the threat actor did not steal financial data or formal identification.  While it is unclear how many customers were impacted or how long the breach lasted, Hyundai said it is investigating the incident.  BleepingComputer

Read deeply-experienced, expert-driven national security news, analysis and opinion inThe Cipher Brief