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☆ US Secret Service ends White House cocaine probe, no video, fingerprints, DNA available
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Secret Service said on Thursday it had concluded its investigation into cocaine found at the White House and said it had been unable to identify a suspect. The cocaine was found "inside a receptacle used to temporarily store electronic and personal devices prior to entering the West Wing," the Secret Service said, confirming earlier Reuters reporting. "Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered," the Secret Service said. "At this time, the Secret Service's investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence." Reporting by Paul Grant and Rami Ayyub; editing by Tim Ahmann, Heather Timmons and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Paul Grant, Rami Ayyub, Tim Ahmann, Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Secret, White, Service, Thomson

The White House is seen on June 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a "small amount" of a "white, powdery substance" discovered in a "work area in the West Wing" on Sunday, a Secret Service official said. The Secret Service is testing the substance, which they determined was "non-hazardous," and said in a statement they are investigating the matter. "On Sunday evening, the White House complex went into a precautionary closure as officers from the Secret Service Uniformed Division investigated an unknown item found inside a work area," said Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service. The White House declined to comment.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, —, Anthony Guglielmi, Joe Biden, Camp David Organizations: WASHINGTON, Service, D.C, Secret Service Uniformed Division, Secret, DC Fire Department, White, Camp Locations: Washington , DC, WASHINGTON — The, Washington

Chinese officials have repeatedly said they want those sanctions, imposed in 2018, dropped to facilitate discussions. This scuppered planned talks between theatre-level commands, regular defence policy co-ordination and military maritime consultations, which included operational safety issues. Diplomats and Chinese analysts say military attaches at embassies Beijing and Washington are still able to meet officials - an important element of routine communication. Senior Chinese military intelligence officials also participated in a secret meeting of regional spies in Singapore earlier this month - a session that included U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. The official said some lower-level interactions with the Chinese military had continued.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, Li, Nancy Pelosi's, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Austin, Zhou Bo, Yang Tao, Admiral John Aquilino, General Lin Xiangyang, Greg Torode, Tian, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Gerry Doyle Organizations: . Defence, China's Defence, Taiwan, Pentagon, Diplomats, National Intelligence, PLA, Beijing's Tsinghua University . Senior, Reuters, U.S, Pacific Command, Eastern Theatre, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, East Asia, China, United States, Beijing, Singapore, U.S, Taiwan, Washington, Hong Kong

☆ Someone brought a severed pig's head to the Miami courthouse where Trump is due to appear on Espionage Act charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Edith Honan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump critics and the MAGA faithful gathered in Miami ahead of the former president's arraignment. "I am here expressing my joy, because in the end the system works," Estrada told the Miami Herald. Osmany Estrada holds the pig's head near a group wearing 'Blacks for Trump 2020' shirts. A Trump impersonator outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse. Win McNamee/Getty ImagesA supporter of former President Donald Trump pulls a trailer around outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. courthouse in Miami.

Persons: MAGA, Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Osmany Estrada, " Estrada, Estrada, Giorgio Viera, Getty Images Trump, Wilkie, Ferguson Jr, Waltine Nauda, Domenic Santana, Win McNamee, Donald Trump, Scott Olson, Stormy Daniels, Joe Biden Organizations: Trump, Service, Miami Herald, Blacks, Getty Images, Federal, White House, Politico, Miami, Miami Police Department, United States, Getty, Manhattan, Attorney's, Prosecutors, Washington Post Locations: Miami, Lago, Cuban, Mar, Florida, Fulton County , Georgia

☆ Trump pleaded not guilty in federal court for his blockbuster Mar-a-Lago documents case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | Insider Staff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in court after surrendering to US Marshals Tuesday. He's the first ex-president to be charged in federal court — and now the first to enter a plea. Trump entered the custody of the US Marshals Service and was arrested on Tuesday ahead of his historical court appearance at an arraignment in Miami federal court. On Friday, the court unsealed a 38-count indictment against Trump and Waltine Nauta, one of his personal aides. Win McNamee/Getty ImagesTrump held on to sensitive national security documents, prosecutors sayThis is the second pending criminal case against Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, He's, —, Jack Smith, Trump, Jonathan Goodman, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Waltine, Prosecutors, Goodman, Win McNamee, Stormy Daniels, Smith, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden, Bragg, Smith's, Jose Luis Magana, Aileen Cannon, Cannon, She'll, James, John Rowley Organizations: US, Prosecutors, FBI, Service, US Marshals Service, Justice, Trump, National Archives, Getty, Manhattan District, AP, Republican Locations: Miami, North Carolina, Mar, United States

☆ Trump kept 8 documents so sensitive even their access codes are secret, indictment shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Sam Fellman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some 31 classified documents are at the epicenter of the Trump indictment. We can glean a lot about what Trump kept from the prosecutor's descriptions and the classification marks. There are 31 classified documents recovered by FBI agents that are at the epicenter of the case. But right after the TOP SECRET classification level, two other access codes were redacted by prosecutors. Federal prosecutors listed 31 highly sensitive documents they recovered via an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago in August, 2022.

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump didn't, wasn't Organizations: Service, FBI, Trump, Records, US, of Justice, Prosecutors, Mar, Justice Locations: Lago, Florida

“As president, I could have declassified, but now I can’t,” Trump says, according to the transcript. CNN obtained the transcript of a portion of the meeting where Trump is discussing a classified Pentagon document about attacking Iran. The transcript of the audio recording suggests that Trump is showing the document he’s discussing to those in the room. Look, look at this,” Trump says at one point, according to the transcript. Look, look at this.”“Secret” and “confidential” are two levels of classification for sensitive government documents.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Trump, Trump, Jack Smith’s, he’s, Trump’s, Mark Meadows, Margo Martin, CNN Trump, Mark Milley, Susan Glasser, Milley, –, Smith, General Merrick Garland Organizations: CNN, “, Mar, White, Publicly, Trump, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Yorker, Defense Department, Justice Department Locations: Iran, Florida, Bedminster , New Jersey

☆ Republican primary candidates tap-dance around second Trump indictment charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For his rivals, though, the campaign has been frozen in place, with Trump again seizing the spotlight and relegating them to supporting roles. So when word of the indictment broke, DeSantis sprinted to Trump’s corner – along with the loyalists he is ultimately hoping will break for him. Look, look at this.”Among the 2024 field, DeSantis and longshot primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy emerged overnight as Trump’s most ardent defenders. Ahead of a new ad launch, its first of the 2024 primary, a senior adviser to the group said the new indictment furthered Christie’s political case against Trump. “While Donald Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the ongoing criminal proceedings will be a major distraction,” Hutchinson said.

Persons: Donald Trump –, –, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Justice “ weaponized ”, Joe Biden, Donald, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Clinton, Hunter, Biden, Trump’s, Attorney Alvin Bragg, ” Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, ”, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, “ We’re, ” Pence, “, Pence, General Merrick Garland, Nikki Haley, ” Haley, Haley, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, demurred, ” Scott, Chris Christie, ” Christie, Colin Reed, Asa Hutchinson, Donald Trump, ” Hutchinson Organizations: CNN, Trump, Florida Gov, Department, Justice, Republican, Republican Party, Manhattan, Attorney, Justice Department, FBI, United Nations, South Carolina Gov, Fox, Department of Justice, Former New Jersey Gov, “, GOP, Arkansas Gov Locations: Florida, Iowa’s, New York City, “, South Florida, Iran, ”, South Carolina, Arkansas

☆ Cuba gives China permission to build spying facility on island, US intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Cuba has agreed to allow China to build a spying facility on the island that could allow the Chinese to eavesdrop on electronic communications across the southeastern US, a source familiar with the intelligence told CNN. It would not be the first time China has attempted to spy on the US’ electronic communications, known as signals intelligence. In that case, the US took steps to protect sensitive sites and censor intelligence signals before shooting down the balloon. But it is unclear what the US can do to stop the construction of a Chinese spying facility in Cuba. But last week, China’s defense chief refused a meeting request by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and warned the US to stop operating near Chinese waters and airspace.

Persons: Biden, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, ”, Obama, – Organizations: CNN, Street Journal, CIA, US, Defense, “, Trump Locations: Cuba, China, Beijing, Cuban, Washington ,, Chinese, South China, Singapore, Havana

☆ World's spy chiefs meet in secret conclave in Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Senior officials from about two dozen of the world's major intelligence agencies held a secret meeting on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore this weekend, five people told Reuters. A spokesperson for the Singapore Ministry of Defence said that while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue, "participants including senior officials from intelligence agencies also take the opportunity to meet their counterparts." The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operate what is called the Five Eyes network to gather and share a broad range of intelligence, and their intelligence officials meet frequently. Ukraine's deputy defence minister, Volodymr V. Havrylov, was at the Shangri-La Dialogue but said he did not attend the intelligence meeting. Haines was among the official U.S. delegates to the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Persons: National Intelligence Avril Haines, Samant Goel, Volodymr, Anthony Albanese, Defense Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, Haines, William Burns, Biden Organizations: Reuters, National Intelligence, Research, Singapore Ministry of Defence, U.S, Embassy, New Zealand, Australian, Defense, Chinese Defence, CIA Locations: Singapore, U.S, China, United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New, Ukraine, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Beijing

SINGAPORE, June 4 (Reuters) - Senior officials from about two dozen of the world's major intelligence agencies held a secret meeting on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore this weekend, five people told Reuters. "Participants have found such meetings held on the sidelines of the (dialogue) beneficial." The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operate what is called the Five Eyes network to gather and share a broad range of intelligence, and their intelligence officials meet frequently. Ukraine's deputy defence minister, Volodymr V. Havrylov, was at the Shangri-La Dialogue but said he did not attend the intelligence meeting. Haines was among the official U.S. delegates to the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Persons: National Intelligence Avril Haines, Samant Goel, Volodymr, Anthony Albanese, Defense Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, Haines, William Burns, Biden, Xinghui Kok, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Greg Torode, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, National Intelligence, Research, Singapore Ministry of Defence, U.S, Embassy, New Zealand, Australian, Defense, Chinese Defence, CIA, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, U.S, China, United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New, Ukraine, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Beijing

SINGAPORE, June 4 (Reuters) - Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu told Asia's top security summit on Sunday that conflict with the United States would be an "unbearable disaster" but that his country sought dialogue over confrontation. "It is undeniable that a severe conflict or confrontation between China and the U.S. will be an unbearable disaster for the world." China's military criticised the United States and Canada for "deliberately provoking risk" after their warships staged a rare joint sailing through the sensitive strait. Canadian defence minister Anita Anand said that Canada would continue to sail where international law allows, including the Strait, and that "actors in this region must engage responsibly”. In his speech, Li said China would not allow such freedom-of-navigation patrols by the United States and its allies to be "a pretext to exercise hegemony of navigation."

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, Joe Biden's, Anita Anand, Richard Marles, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Cui Tiankai, Chong Ja Ian, ”, Chen Lin, Greg Torode, Xinghui, Ben Blanchard, Kanupriya Kapoor, Gerry Doyle, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Chinese Defence, U.S, National Defence, People's Liberation Army, U.S . Navy, Pacific Command, Defense, Reuters, National University of Singapore, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, United States, Singapore, China, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, South, Chinese, Taiwan Straits, Canada, Britain ., Russia, Xinghui Kok, Taipei

☆ At Guantánamo’s Court Like No Other, Progress Is Frustrated by State Secrets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Carol Rosenberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More than 20 years have elapsed since the attacks in Bali and Jakarta killed more than 200 people, seven of them Americans. The three men have been in U.S. custody for nearly two decades, starting in C.I.A. But the lawyers and judge are still trying to figure out what portions of the proceedings are supposed to be secret. Secrecy permeates the proceedings like no other American court. It is enough time for prosecutors to signal to a court security officer, who is schooled in C.I.A.

☆ Early Asos and Boohoo investor leads $10 million round in discount fashion marketplace startup Secret Sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

UK-based fashion marketplace startup Secret Sales has raised a $10 million Series B round. Clothing marketplace startup Secret Sales has raised $10 million in a round led by an early backer of fashion giants Asos and Boohoo despite a cooldown in investor interest in the sector. Some fast fashion retailers are under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority for supposedly greenwashing how eco-friendly their fashion lines and manufacturing efforts have been. This allows brands to connect to Secret Sales in under two weeks, while legacy outlets take up to eight weeks, Griffin added. Secret Sales' "model is not just a small niche of a market, it's a vast market, and it scales potentially globally," said Iain McDonald, founder of Belerion Capital Group.

☆ 'You can put Big Mac Sauce on everything': McDonald's is finally selling Mac sauce on the side, but it won't be here for long
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Big Mac sauce is now available for 50 cents à la carte at McDonald's. "Mac sauce. Special sauce. "Whatever you call it, fans have been asking for an extra side of our famous Big Mac sauce for years. McDonald's fans only have about 10 days to capitalize off the offer, as the app states that the sauce is only available through May 10.

WASHINGTON, April 19 (Reuters) - A 21-year-old member of the U.S. Air National Guard who is facing criminal charges for leaking top-secret military intelligence records online will remain in jail for now, according to court filings. It remains to be seen whether Teixeira will opt to challenge the government's detention request or not. Teixeira appeared very briefly in court on Wednesday, wearing an orange jumpsuit, where the judge accepted his request to waive his right to a preliminary hearing. Legal experts expect he will likely face more charges down the road as additional evidence is presented over time to a grand jury. Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The chart showed that Serbia declined to provide training to Ukrainian forces, but had committed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already. It also said Serbia had the political will and military ability to provide weapons to Ukraine in the future. The Pentagon also did not immediately respond to Reuters questions about the document's reference to Serbia and has previously declined to comment on any of the leaked documents. Vucic's government has professed neutrality in the Ukraine war, despite the country's deep historic, economic and cultural ties with Russia. "We didn't export any weapons or ammunition to Russia or Ukraine," he said during a March 5 visit to Qatar.

☆ WSJ reporter's detention will deter others from 'setting foot' in Russia, Blinken says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday Russia's detention of Evan Gershkovich and denial of consular access to the Wall Street Journal reporter sends a message that people around the world should "beware of even setting foot" in Russia. Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich appears in an undated handout image taken in an unknown location. The Wall Street Journal/Handout via REUTERSAsked about the case at a news conference, Blinken said Moscow's actions would "do even more damage to Russia's standing around the world." "I think it sends a very strong message to people around the world to beware of even setting foot there lest they be arbitrarily detained," Blinken said. Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Blinken's remarks.

☆ Factbox: What is known about latest leak of U.S. secrets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here is what we know and do not know about what appears to be the gravest leak of U.S. secrets in years:ARE THE DOCUMENTS REAL? Materials marked that way would have been seen by thousands of people with security clearances. But because not all of the documents are marked FVEY, U.S. officials believe whoever leaked them could be American. - China: Predictions about how China would respond to Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, along with details about British plans in the Indo-Pacific region. - South America: Information about Brazilian officials' plan to visit Moscow in April to discuss a Ukraine mediation scheme.

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday determined that Russia has "wrongfully detained" American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, effectively saying that espionage charges are bogus and that the case is political. The Wall Street Journal has denied Gershkovich was spying. The Wall Street Journal's publisher and editor in chief said the "wrongfully detained" designation "will unlock additional resources and attention at the highest levels of the U.S. government in securing his release." Legislation passed by Congress in 2020 lists 11 criteria to help determine if a U.S. citizen is "wrongfully detained." The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans.

U.S. officials have said some giving battlefield casualty estimates from Ukraine appeared to have been altered to understate Russian losses. Ukraine said its president and top security officials met on Friday to discuss ways to prevent leaks. The Pentagon said that over the weekend, U.S. officials spoke with allies and had notified the relevant congressional committee about the leak. Some of the most sensitive information is purportedly related to Ukraine's military capabilities and shortcomings. Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, played down the lasting impact of the leak.

☆ Ukraine seeks to prevent military leaks after NATO assistance plans reportedly appear on social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

"The participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defence forces of Ukraine," it said. One document posted on social media said 16,000 to 17,500 Russian forces had been killed since the invasion. The Ukrainian military said it was holding on in the city but the situation was difficult. Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov has said Ukraine will have to pull back if the route for getting supplies in and wounded out is threatened. Eastern Military Command spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters Ukraine controlled the situation in Bakhmut and understood Russian intentions.

[1/2] Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich appears in this handout picture taken in Moscow, Russia, 2019. The Moscow Times/Handout via REUTERSBRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) - The United States is working through the process to determine whether Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention by Russia is "wrongful", U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, adding it would soon be completed. The Wall Street Journal has denied Gershkovich was spying. Legislation passed by Congress in 2020 lists 11 criteria to help determine whether a U.S. citizen is "wrongfully detained." The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans.

☆ Analysis: Russia's arrest of reporter deepens Biden's detainee challenge
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/4] Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich, detained on suspicion of espionage, leaves a court building in Moscow, Russia March 30, 2023. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a news briefing on Thursday the Whelan and Gershkovich cases should not be compared. Russia's security service has, without providing evidence, accused Gershkovich of gathering information classified as a state secret about a military factory. Biden on Friday called on Russia to release Gershkovich. The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans.

☆ Blinken, Lavrov hold call over detained Wall Street Journal reporter
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 2 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday it was unacceptable for Washington to politicise the case of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained and accused of spying in Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov told Blinken in a phone call that Gershkovich's fate would be determined by a court. He reiterated Russia's assertion, for which it has not publicly stated any evidence, that the journalist was caught "red-handed" last week. The conversation was initiated by Blinken, the Russian side said. The Wall Street Journal has vehemently denied that Gershkovich was spying.

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