Daily Intel Brief

North Korea's possible nuclear test puts IAEA on notice, Israel warns of an uptick of airstrikes against Syria over weapon smuggling to Hezbollah, and South Africa's intelligence lacks...

Counterterrorism

Sandton terror threat: Counter-terrorism expert says South Africa’s intelligence machinery lacks ‘credibility’

A counter-terrorism expert, Jasmine Opperman said the law enforcement and counter-terrorism machinery in South Africa lacks credibility, in the wake of a terror alert message issued by the US Embassy on its website. Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika…

Myanmar Junta Falsely Claims Deadly Concert Bombing Was 'Just a Rumor

On October 23, Myanmar’s military bombed an outdoor concert in A Nan Pa, a village in the country’s northernmost Kachin State. Witnesses said the military dropped several bombs without warning. The concert had been organized to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the…

Military & Defense

Don’t let Russia win, NATO chief warns US

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has a message for U.S. Republicans making election promises to slash Ukraine’s support: That will only empower China. Stoltenberg pushed his point in an expansive interview with POLITICO this week, in which the military…

World ‘holding breath’ over possible N Korea nuclear test: IAEA

The world is holding its breath over the possibility North Korea might carry out a nuclear bomb test, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said. Officials in the United States and South Korea have…

Cybersecurity

iOS Bug Lets Apps Record Siri Conversations

For anyone who thought their conversations with Siri were sacred and keyboard dictation recordings were secure, a new analysis found a flaw in the iOS Bluetooth that could allow someone to grab audio from both. The find is from researcher Guilherme Rambo…

New York Post 'Hacked' in Tweets Calling for Assassination of Biden, Lawmakers

The New York Post said Thursday it had been "hacked" by an employee after the tabloid newspaper's Twitter account posted a series of antagonistic messages, including a call for the assassination of US President Joe Biden. The rogue tweets were removed late Thursday…

Counterintelligence & Espionage

Ex-defence chief Lord West demands inquiry into 'what the bloody hell is going on' after ex-RAF Top Guns were revealed to be making a killing training China's fighter pilots

A furious former defence chief is today demanding to know 'what the bloody hell is going on' after it was revealed ex-RAF pilots were making a financial killing passing on their skills to Chinese fighter aces. Admiral Lord Alan West has demanded an official inquiry into…

Americans should be ready — and watching — for Russian meddling in the midterms and beyond

The midterms are less than two weeks away and in addition to Chinese influence operations, Russia is unlikely to sit this one out, either. Considering the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats against the West, it is unlikely that Moscow will waive an opportunity to…

Transnational Organized Crime

Israel warns Syria of uptick in air strikes unless it stops smuggling weapons to Hezbollah

Israel has reportedly warned Syria that it will increase airstrikes on the country if it does not stop collaborating with Iran to smuggle weapons to the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, the Times of Israel (TOI) reported on Thursday. It has not been confirmed when or how Israel…

Eleven people arrested in Washington and California in connection with cartel connected drug trafficking schemes

Three significant drug trafficking groups responsible for trafficking more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills are facing federal charges tonight, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Two indictments charging a total of eleven…