The filings come at a time of increased tension between the United States and China, and increased scrutiny over possible economic espionage by Chinese citizens working in the U.S.

WION Dispatch: FBI accuses Chinese Consulate in San Francisco of harboring fugitive

The domestic intelligence and security service of the United States FBI is leading an inquiry into the Twitter hacking of major companies and individuals, as more Washington lawmakers raised alarms about the breach of high-profile accounts on the social media platform.

FBI probes mega Twitter hack

The FBI has revealed that Chinese spies are blackmailing dissenters living abroad, in an effort to force their return to China. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more about Operation Fox Hunt.

Gravitas: How Chinese spies are targeting dissidents abroad

Wray said that China accounted for nearly half of the 5,000 ongoing counter-intelligence cases being pursued by the FBI

FBI Chief: China pressuring US media for positive coverage of Anti-COVID efforts

The FBI has concluded the investigation on Tuesday on the noose found in the garage stalls of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and said that the rope was no evidence of racist hate crime but an object that had been there for months.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nascar-community-comes-together-for-bubba-wallace-as-fbi-investigates-noose-307830">NASCAR community comes together for Bubba Wallace as FBI investigates noose</a>

NASCAR released a statement which said: "The FBI has completed its investigation at Talladega Superspeedway and determined that Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime."

NASCAR said Sunday night that a noose was found in the garage stall of black driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, and they have launched a probe of the "heinous" act.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/outrage-as-noose-found-in-garage-of-black-nascar-driver-307621" hreflang="en">Outrage as noose found in garage of black NASCAR driver</a>

NASCAR released a statement, which read: "Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 teams. We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act."&nbsp;

Wallace took to Twitter to condemn this "despicable act of racism" against him. He wrote: "The despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism."

Northern District of Alabama Attorney Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. made a statement and announced that there will be no charges. The statement said: "The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week."

"The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019."

"Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week."

The FBI has concluded the investigation on Tuesday on the noose found in the garage stalls of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and said that the rope was no evidence of racist hate crime but an object that had been there for months.

The FBI has concluded the investigation on Tuesday on the noose found in the garage stalls of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and said that the rope was no evidence of racist hate crime but an object that had been there for months. Also read: NASCAR community comes together for Bubba Wallace as FBI investigates noose NASCAR released a statement which said: "The FBI has completed its investigation at Talladega Superspeedway and determined that Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime." NASCAR said Sunday night that a noose was found in the garage stall of black driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, and they have launched a probe of the "heinous" act. Also read: Outrage as noose found in garage of black NASCAR driver NASCAR released a statement, which read: "Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 teams. We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act." Wallace took to Twitter to condemn this "despicable act of racism" against him. He wrote: "The despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism." Northern District of Alabama Attorney Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. made a statement and announced that there will be no charges. The statement said: "The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week." "The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019." "Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week."

'Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime as per FBI investigation': NASCAR

The FBI is probing several Mexican and European companies allegedly involved in trading Venezuelan oil as it gathers information for a US Treasury Department inquiry into possible sanctions busting, according to four people familiar with the matter.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told reporters late last month the State and Treasury departments were investigating whether several firms were violating sanctions imposed on Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA since January 2019.

The sanctions are part of a campaign by Washington to strangle the revenues of President Nicolas Maduro, which has failed to break his grip on power. US officials say privately that is a source of frustration for President Donald Trump, whose administration has tightened the implementation of sanctions in recent months.

Three of the people who provided information to the FBI - who asked for anonymity to discuss the matter - said the agency was investigating three Mexican companies: Libre Abordo, Schlager Business Group, and Grupo Jomadi Logistics &amp; Cargo.

Reuters could find no record of Venezuelan oil purchases by those companies prior to sanctions.&nbsp;

The three people also said the FBI was gathering information on two Europe-based oil trading companies that do have a track record of dealing in Venezuelan oil or selling fuel to PDVSA: Elemento Ltd and Swissoil Trading SA.

One of the sources familiar with the matter in Washington said any action against the Mexican and European companies could be postponed or cancelled if the firms had already halted trade with Venezuela.

The three others said the probe by the Treasury and the State departments could potentially lead to action in the coming weeks if they discovered a violation of sanctions.

A spokesman for the US Department of Justice, which handles media enquiries for the FBI, declined to comment, as did a State Department spokesperson. The Treasury Department did not reply to a request for comment.

Emails and phone calls seeking comment from Swissoil went unanswered. Emails sent to an address on Jomadi's website bounced back.

Law firm Holman, Fenwick &amp; Willan (HFW), representing Elemento, said in a letter to Reuters after this story was published on May 13 that its client "is not aware of any investigations into it or its business" by the FBI, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or any other body.

"Our client does not currently trade oil of Venezuela origin or sell fuel to PDVSA," it said, adding that Elemento does not have any intention of doing so in the future. "Our client goes to great lengths to ensure that its business activities comply with applicable rules, regulations and sanctions, including obtaining legal advice."

Elemento and its lawyers did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication of the May 13 story.

In a lawsuit in January 2020 in a British court, Tansy Shiptrade Inc alleged Elemento had used its name without permission to load a cargo of about 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude in December 2019, according to a judge's ruling refusing Elemento’s request to be allowed to sell the oil.

The judgement said Elemento had admitted using Tansy's name to receive the cargo but that Elemento had said it had permission to do so and had asserted that Swissoil had acted as its agent in the trade.

According to the judge's ruling, Richard Rothenberg, Elemento's chief financial officer, said in an affidavit that between 2016 and 2019 the firm carried out Venezuela-related trades as part of an agreement with US-based Castleton Commodities International (CCI).

While CCI ceased its involvement due to US sanctions imposed on Venezuela in early 2019, Elemento did 13 more trades on its own after that date, Rothenberg said, according to the ruling. He did not provide dates for the trades.

Reuters was unable to immediately reach Rothenberg for comment. CCI said Elemento was its counterparty on petroleum trades until early 2019, but the US commodities firm said it ceased its trading participation before the January 2019 sanctions on PDVSA. 
Reuters could not establish subsequent trading in Venezuelan oil by Elemento and Swissoil following the disputed cargo, aboard Liberia-flagged tanker Respect. &nbsp; &nbsp;

OIL FOR FOOD

Libre Abordo and its affiliate Schlager said in a statement to Reuters, citing legal experts they hired, that two contracts they signed in June 2019 with Venezuela's Corporation for Foreign Trade (Corpovex) to provide food and water trucks in exchange for Venezuelan crude - known as an oil-for-food agreement - were permitted under the sanctions as long as no cash payment reached Maduro's government.

"Neither Libre Abordo nor shipping companies hired to move PDVSA's hydrocarbons are the subject of sanctions," read the statement.

The firms declined to identify the legal experts but provided Reuters with their interpretation of Venezuela sanctions, which the companies said they sent to several shipping firms and other partners.

The undated memorandum said the oil-for-food deal did not contravene US measures because Corpovex was not specifically named on the Treasury Department's list of sanctioned people and entities, unlike PDVSA, and because there were exceptions under the sanctions for humanitarian goods.

Neither Corpovex, PDVSA nor Venezuela's trade ministry responded to requests for comment. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
VENEZUELA RELIANT ON SWAP DEALS

The two small Mexican companies have emerged as the largest middlemen for Venezuelan oil in recent months, according to internal PDVSA export documents, reviewed by Reuters.&nbsp;

OPEC member Venezuela has come to rely on trading oil and gold to pay for essential imports using complicated swap agreements because Washington's sanctions bar Maduro's government from using the US financial system.

The PDVSA export documents show that Libre Abordo and Schlager have quickly ramped up trading of Venezuelan oil since receiving a first cargo in December, after a second wave of US sanctions in August 2019 barred non-US oil companies from doing business with PDVSA.

These secondary sanctions blocked the US property of anyone worldwide "materially assisting" Venezuela's government, including PDVSA and other governmental bodies - though it did not specifically name Corpovex. While the measures permitted shipments of food, clothing and medicines, none of the Venezuela-related executive orders issued by Trump specifically allowed oil-for-food agreements.

Whether that ambiguity potentially has created a loophole for companies is a matter of disagreement, some experts said.

Richard Nephew, a senior researcher at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy and a former State Department official dealing with sanctions policy toward Iran, said that while food deals were permitted under sanctions there was no special dispensation for them to be paid for in oil and the involvement of PDVSA could still prompt Treasury to take action.

However, Peter Harrell, an expert on sanctions at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), said that in oil-for-food swaps the companies ultimately supplying the food could be protected from sanctions provided they had no role in physically receiving, transporting or selling the oil.

Harrell added that some US policymakers might be reluctant to impose sanctions on companies involved in a deal to supply basic goods to a nation suffering a humanitarian crisis.&nbsp;

"Policymakers will be concerned that sanctioning an oil for food barter would play into a...narrative that US sanctions are causing humanitarian challenges in Venezuela," Harrell said. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
DECISIONS ON SANCTIONS

The third Mexican company, Grupo Jomadi, held talks with PDVSA to swap 5 million barrels of Venezuelan crude for imports of gasoline, according to an unsigned contract dated in March reviewed by Reuters. Venezuela's refineries have long been crippled by outages, and the country has suffered dire shortages of fuels since the sanctions were imposed.

Two sources told Reuters that Jomadi may have reached an agreement on the swap deal as a crude cargo that departed from Venezuela in April appeared to form part of it, according to the initial information collected by US authorities. Neither Jomadi nor PDVSA responded to requests for comment.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm if the swap deal took place.

While the FBI's principal focus is on domestic intelligence and security, its agents also carry out overseas investigations to aid decisions on sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which often also seeks input from the State and Commerce departments, US embassies and the intelligence community.

Libre Abordo and Schlager's oil-for-food deals with Venezuela obliged them to deliver 1,000 water trucks and 210,000 tonnes of corn to the country, the companies said. While some of the trucks have been delivered, the firms said they have not so far supplied any of the food as low oil prices have affected the original delivery schedule.

In exchange, they have so far received more than 26 million barrels of Venezuelan oil for resale, according to PDVSA's export documents.

In just four months, Libre Abordo and Schlager increased their intake of PDVSA's oil from less than 3% to 39% of the Venezuelan company's total exports, which averaged 850,000 barrels per day in April.

The agreements threw a lifeline to Maduro, whose administration is struggling to afford imports of everything from food to medicine and industrial equipment.

The FBI is probing several Mexican and European companies allegedly involved in trading Venezuelan oil as it gathers information for a US Treasury Department inquiry into possible sanctions busting, according to four people familiar with the matter.

The FBI is probing several Mexican and European companies allegedly involved in trading Venezuelan oil as it gathers information for a US Treasury Department inquiry into possible sanctions busting, according to four people familiar with the matter. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told reporters late last month the State and Treasury departments were investigating whether several firms were violating sanctions imposed on Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA since January 2019. The sanctions are part of a campaign by Washington to strangle the revenues of President Nicolas Maduro, which has failed to break his grip on power. US officials say privately that is a source of frustration for President Donald Trump, whose administration has tightened the implementation of sanctions in recent months. Three of the people who provided information to the FBI - who asked for anonymity to discuss the matter - said the agency was investigating three Mexican companies: Libre Abordo, Schlager Business Group, and Grupo Jomadi Logistics & Cargo. Reuters could find no record of Venezuelan oil purchases by those companies prior to sanctions. The three people also said the FBI was gathering information on two Europe-based oil trading companies that do have a track record of dealing in Venezuelan oil or selling fuel to PDVSA: Elemento Ltd and Swissoil Trading SA. One of the sources familiar with the matter in Washington said any action against the Mexican and European companies could be postponed or cancelled if the firms had already halted trade with Venezuela. The three others said the probe by the Treasury and the State departments could potentially lead to action in the coming weeks if they discovered a violation of sanctions. A spokesman for the US Department of Justice, which handles media enquiries for the FBI, declined to comment, as did a State Department spokesperson. The Treasury Department did not reply to a request for comment. Emails and phone calls seeking comment from Swissoil went unanswered. Emails sent to an address on Jomadi's website bounced back. Law firm Holman, Fenwick & Willan (HFW), representing Elemento, said in a letter to Reuters after this story was published on May 13 that its client "is not aware of any investigations into it or its business" by the FBI, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or any other body. "Our client does not currently trade oil of Venezuela origin or sell fuel to PDVSA," it said, adding that Elemento does not have any intention of doing so in the future. "Our client goes to great lengths to ensure that its business activities comply with applicable rules, regulations and sanctions, including obtaining legal advice." Elemento and its lawyers did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication of the May 13 story. In a lawsuit in January 2020 in a British court, Tansy Shiptrade Inc alleged Elemento had used its name without permission to load a cargo of about 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude in December 2019, according to a judge's ruling refusing Elemento’s request to be allowed to sell the oil. The judgement said Elemento had admitted using Tansy's name to receive the cargo but that Elemento had said it had permission to do so and had asserted that Swissoil had acted as its agent in the trade. According to the judge's ruling, Richard Rothenberg, Elemento's chief financial officer, said in an affidavit that between 2016 and 2019 the firm carried out Venezuela-related trades as part of an agreement with US-based Castleton Commodities International (CCI). While CCI ceased its involvement due to US sanctions imposed on Venezuela in early 2019, Elemento did 13 more trades on its own after that date, Rothenberg said, according to the ruling. He did not provide dates for the trades. Reuters was unable to immediately reach Rothenberg for comment. CCI said Elemento was its counterparty on petroleum trades until early 2019, but the US commodities firm said it ceased its trading participation before the January 2019 sanctions on PDVSA. Reuters could not establish subsequent trading in Venezuelan oil by Elemento and Swissoil following the disputed cargo, aboard Liberia-flagged tanker Respect. OIL FOR FOOD Libre Abordo and its affiliate Schlager said in a statement to Reuters, citing legal experts they hired, that two contracts they signed in June 2019 with Venezuela's Corporation for Foreign Trade (Corpovex) to provide food and water trucks in exchange for Venezuelan crude - known as an oil-for-food agreement - were permitted under the sanctions as long as no cash payment reached Maduro's government. "Neither Libre Abordo nor shipping companies hired to move PDVSA's hydrocarbons are the subject of sanctions," read the statement. The firms declined to identify the legal experts but provided Reuters with their interpretation of Venezuela sanctions, which the companies said they sent to several shipping firms and other partners. The undated memorandum said the oil-for-food deal did not contravene US measures because Corpovex was not specifically named on the Treasury Department's list of sanctioned people and entities, unlike PDVSA, and because there were exceptions under the sanctions for humanitarian goods. Neither Corpovex, PDVSA nor Venezuela's trade ministry responded to requests for comment. VENEZUELA RELIANT ON SWAP DEALS The two small Mexican companies have emerged as the largest middlemen for Venezuelan oil in recent months, according to internal PDVSA export documents, reviewed by Reuters. OPEC member Venezuela has come to rely on trading oil and gold to pay for essential imports using complicated swap agreements because Washington's sanctions bar Maduro's government from using the US financial system. The PDVSA export documents show that Libre Abordo and Schlager have quickly ramped up trading of Venezuelan oil since receiving a first cargo in December, after a second wave of US sanctions in August 2019 barred non-US oil companies from doing business with PDVSA. These secondary sanctions blocked the US property of anyone worldwide "materially assisting" Venezuela's government, including PDVSA and other governmental bodies - though it did not specifically name Corpovex. While the measures permitted shipments of food, clothing and medicines, none of the Venezuela-related executive orders issued by Trump specifically allowed oil-for-food agreements. Whether that ambiguity potentially has created a loophole for companies is a matter of disagreement, some experts said. Richard Nephew, a senior researcher at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy and a former State Department official dealing with sanctions policy toward Iran, said that while food deals were permitted under sanctions there was no special dispensation for them to be paid for in oil and the involvement of PDVSA could still prompt Treasury to take action. However, Peter Harrell, an expert on sanctions at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), said that in oil-for-food swaps the companies ultimately supplying the food could be protected from sanctions provided they had no role in physically receiving, transporting or selling the oil. Harrell added that some US policymakers might be reluctant to impose sanctions on companies involved in a deal to supply basic goods to a nation suffering a humanitarian crisis. "Policymakers will be concerned that sanctioning an oil for food barter would play into a...narrative that US sanctions are causing humanitarian challenges in Venezuela," Harrell said. DECISIONS ON SANCTIONS The third Mexican company, Grupo Jomadi, held talks with PDVSA to swap 5 million barrels of Venezuelan crude for imports of gasoline, according to an unsigned contract dated in March reviewed by Reuters. Venezuela's refineries have long been crippled by outages, and the country has suffered dire shortages of fuels since the sanctions were imposed. Two sources told Reuters that Jomadi may have reached an agreement on the swap deal as a crude cargo that departed from Venezuela in April appeared to form part of it, according to the initial information collected by US authorities. Neither Jomadi nor PDVSA responded to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to independently confirm if the swap deal took place. While the FBI's principal focus is on domestic intelligence and security, its agents also carry out overseas investigations to aid decisions on sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which often also seeks input from the State and Commerce departments, US embassies and the intelligence community. Libre Abordo and Schlager's oil-for-food deals with Venezuela obliged them to deliver 1,000 water trucks and 210,000 tonnes of corn to the country, the companies said. While some of the trucks have been delivered, the firms said they have not so far supplied any of the food as low oil prices have affected the original delivery schedule. In exchange, they have so far received more than 26 million barrels of Venezuelan oil for resale, according to PDVSA's export documents. In just four months, Libre Abordo and Schlager increased their intake of PDVSA's oil from less than 3% to 39% of the Venezuelan company's total exports, which averaged 850,000 barrels per day in April. The agreements threw a lifeline to Maduro, whose administration is struggling to afford imports of everything from food to medicine and industrial equipment.

FBI probes Mexican, European firms over Venezuela oil trading

FBI arrested a NASA researcher who allegedly failed to disclose his ties to Chinese entities. According to the US Justice Department, this happened during the course of securing funding for a NASA research project.

FBI Arrests Two Chinese researchers working in US in a week

FBI arrests NASA researcher for not 'disclosing' ties with China

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

However,&nbsp;Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah's name was disclosed by mistake.

In a response to a lawsuit by families of 9/11 victims, an FBI official accidentally revealed the name of the Saudi official in a declaration by him. The lawsuit was by the families of the victims, who have accused Saudi Arabia's government of involvement in the attacks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-enforce-24-hour-curfew-during-the-five-day-eid-al-fitr-holiday-298476">Also read:&nbsp;Saudi Arabia to enforce 24-hour curfew during the five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday</a>

The accidental revelation&nbsp;was spotted by&nbsp;Michael Isikoff, the chief investigative journalist at Yahoo News.

"When I noticed that the declaration included this information, I contacted the FBI for comment. Because I knew that the justice department and the Trump administration had been going to extraordinary length to keep all of this under wraps," he said.

"In fact, both Attorney General William Barr and the Acting Director of the National Intelligence Richard Grennell had filed motions with the court saying that any information relating to the Saudi embassy official and all internal FBI documents about this matter were so sensitive; they were state secrets, that means if revealed they could cause damage to the national security," he added.

The declaration was made by&nbsp;Jill Sanborn, the assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division.

When requested to depose the person under oath, Sanborn's declaration said that it involved "any and all records referring to or relating to Jarrah". This was the point where it was accidentally revealed that the "third person" was&nbsp;Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah.

However, all other background and investigative reports conducted by the FBI remain sealed.

This accidental slip-up has, however, revived the questions about Saudi government's involvement in the attacks. "This shows there is a complete government cover-up of the Saudi involvement," Brett Eagleson, a spokesman for the families, told Yahoo news. "This is a giant screw-up."

Officials notified the court and withdrew the FBI's declaration from the public docket. Following that, the docket now reads:&nbsp; "The document was incorrectly filed in this case."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. However, Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah's name was disclosed by mistake. In a response to a lawsuit by families of 9/11 victims, an FBI official accidentally revealed the name of the Saudi official in a declaration by him. The lawsuit was by the families of the victims, who have accused Saudi Arabia's government of involvement in the attacks. Also read: Saudi Arabia to enforce 24-hour curfew during the five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday The accidental revelation was spotted by Michael Isikoff, the chief investigative journalist at Yahoo News. "When I noticed that the declaration included this information, I contacted the FBI for comment. Because I knew that the justice department and the Trump administration had been going to extraordinary length to keep all of this under wraps," he said. "In fact, both Attorney General William Barr and the Acting Director of the National Intelligence Richard Grennell had filed motions with the court saying that any information relating to the Saudi embassy official and all internal FBI documents about this matter were so sensitive; they were state secrets, that means if revealed they could cause damage to the national security," he added. The declaration was made by Jill Sanborn, the assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division. When requested to depose the person under oath, Sanborn's declaration said that it involved "any and all records referring to or relating to Jarrah". This was the point where it was accidentally revealed that the "third person" was Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah. However, all other background and investigative reports conducted by the FBI remain sealed. This accidental slip-up has, however, revived the questions about Saudi government's involvement in the attacks. "This shows there is a complete government cover-up of the Saudi involvement," Brett Eagleson, a spokesman for the families, told Yahoo news. "This is a giant screw-up." Officials notified the court and withdrew the FBI's declaration from the public docket. Following that, the docket now reads: "The document was incorrectly filed in this case."

FBI accidentally reveals Saudi official link to 9/11 attacks

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security are preparing to issue a warning that China’s most skilled hackers and spies are working to steal American research over COVID-19 vaccine.

US likely to accuse China of vaccine data theft

The US Justice Department has dropped charges against Donald Trump's former aide Michael Flynn, despite his two affirmations of guilty plea.

The department said in a filing Flynn's December 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI in an interview over his Russia contacts was moot because the lies were not significant.

It said the FBI's original probe of him had no "legitimate investigative basis."

Interestingly, the decision by the Justice Department was led by Trump's&nbsp;close ally Attorney General Bill Barr.

It sparked accusations that Barr was undermining longstanding department policies barring interference in cases involving political cronies.

In response to the announcement, Flynn tweeted a video of his grandson reciting the US Pledge of Allegiance with the caption: "and JUSTICE for ALL".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My grandson Travis...“and JUSTICE for ALL” ⚖️❤️🙏🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/IuOGugjOC3">pic.twitter.com/IuOGugjOC3</a>
— General Flynn (@GenFlynn) <a href="https://twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/1258495318490054661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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On Thursday,&nbsp;Trump said he was "very happy for General Flynn".

Flynn was Trump's first national security adviser,&nbsp;who was fired three years ago due and convicted during the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference.

He had pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

The US Justice Department has dropped charges against Donald Trump's former aide Michael Flynn, despite his two affirmations of guilty plea. The department said in a filing Flynn's December 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI in an interview over his Russia contacts was moot because the lies were not significant.

The US Justice Department has dropped charges against Donald Trump's former aide Michael Flynn, despite his two affirmations of guilty plea. The department said in a filing Flynn's December 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI in an interview over his Russia contacts was moot because the lies were not significant. It said the FBI's original probe of him had no "legitimate investigative basis." Interestingly, the decision by the Justice Department was led by Trump's close ally Attorney General Bill Barr. It sparked accusations that Barr was undermining longstanding department policies barring interference in cases involving political cronies. In response to the announcement, Flynn tweeted a video of his grandson reciting the US Pledge of Allegiance with the caption: "and JUSTICE for ALL". My grandson Travis...“and JUSTICE for ALL” ⚖️❤️🙏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/IuOGugjOC3 — General Flynn (@GenFlynn) May 7, 2020 × On Thursday, Trump said he was "very happy for General Flynn". Flynn was Trump's first national security adviser, who was fired three years ago due and convicted during the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference. He had pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

Charges dropped against Trump's ex-adviser, despite twice guilty affirmations

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said on Thursday his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was tormented by "dirty cops" as part of the probe into whether Russia helped Trump win the White House in 2016.

The president's comments in the Oval Office, latest in a string of remarks about Flynn, may suggest that the retired general could be in line for a presidential pardon.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/has-the-us-china-cold-war-now-begun-295905" hreflang="en">Has the US-China cold war now begun?</a>

Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements in a charge brought by then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller. He is now insisting he did not lie and wants to back out of the plea.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-dogs-are-being-trained-to-sniff-out-covid-19-cases-295837" hreflang="en">US: Dogs are being trained to 'sniff out' COVID-19 cases</a>

Internal FBI documents turned over by the Justice Department on Wednesday showed FBI officials debated whether and when to warn Flynn that he could face criminal charges as they prepared for a January 2017 interview with him in the Russia probe.

Trump blamed Flynn's predicament on "dirty cops" and said the documents show Flynn is a victim.

“He’s in the process of being exonerated. If you look at those notes from yesterday, that was total exoneration," Trump said.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was tormented by "dirty cops" as part of the probe into whether Russia helped Trump win the White House in 2016.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was tormented by "dirty cops" as part of the probe into whether Russia helped Trump win the White House in 2016. The president's comments in the Oval Office, latest in a string of remarks about Flynn, may suggest that the retired general could be in line for a presidential pardon. Also read: Has the US-China cold war now begun? Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements in a charge brought by then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller. He is now insisting he did not lie and wants to back out of the plea. Also read: US: Dogs are being trained to 'sniff out' COVID-19 cases Internal FBI documents turned over by the Justice Department on Wednesday showed FBI officials debated whether and when to warn Flynn that he could face criminal charges as they prepared for a January 2017 interview with him in the Russia probe. Trump blamed Flynn's predicament on "dirty cops" and said the documents show Flynn is a victim. “He’s in the process of being exonerated. If you look at those notes from yesterday, that was total exoneration," Trump said.

Trump says his former national security adviser Flynn was tormented by dirty cops

A senior cybersecurity official with the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Thursday that foreign government hackers have broken into companies conducting research into treatments for COVID-19.

The bureau had recently seen state-backed hackers poking around a series of healthcare and research institutions.

"We certainly have seen reconnaissance activity, and some intrusions, into some of those institutions, especially those that have publicly identified themselves as working on COVID-related research," FBI Deputy Assistant Director Tonya Ugoretz told participants in an online panel discussion hosted by the Aspen Institute.

State-backed hackers had often targetted biopharmaceutical industry but it has certainly heightened during this crisis.

The FBI has so far not commented on this.

 
&nbsp;

A senior cybersecurity official with the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Thursday that foreign government hackers have broken into companies conducting research into treatments for COVID-19.

A senior cybersecurity official with the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Thursday that foreign government hackers have broken into companies conducting research into treatments for COVID-19. The bureau had recently seen state-backed hackers poking around a series of healthcare and research institutions. "We certainly have seen reconnaissance activity, and some intrusions, into some of those institutions, especially those that have publicly identified themselves as working on COVID-related research," FBI Deputy Assistant Director Tonya Ugoretz told participants in an online panel discussion hosted by the Aspen Institute. State-backed hackers had often targetted biopharmaceutical industry but it has certainly heightened during this crisis. The FBI has so far not commented on this.

Foreign hackers are targetting COVID-19 research, claims FBI official

Video conferencing app Zoom, whose popularity skyrocketed due to the global lockdown amid coronavirus pandemic, is under scrutiny after concerns were raised over its&nbsp;data privacy and security practices.

New York's attorney general has written to the California-based firm&nbsp;raising concerns over its ability to cope with the rise in users.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dethroning-whatsapp-tiktok-video-conferencing-app-zoom-tops-download-charts-289800">Dethroning, Whatsapp, TikTok video conferencing app Zoom tops download charts</a>

The investigation comes after the FBI's Boston office warned on Monday that it had "received multiple reports of conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language."

Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX has also banned its employees from using the app, citing "significant privacy and security concerns,"&nbsp;

According to a report, the app which has more than&nbsp;200 million daily video users, is the new target for online hackers who are hijacking meetings, interrupting educational sessions and&nbsp;posting white supremacist messages. This is called ''Zoombombing.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/zoom-pulls-in-more-than-200-million-daily-video-users-during-worldwide-lockdowns-290157">Zoom pulls in more than 200 million daily video users during worldwide lockdowns</a>

These hackers are also sharing leaking sensitive consumer data and sending pornographic content to its users.

Social media users who experienced this hacking used&nbsp;the hashtag #zoombombed to warn&nbsp;others&nbsp;users.

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Our video call was just attacked by someone who kept sharing pornography + switching between different user accounts so we could not block them. Stay tuned for next steps. And I am sorry to everyone who experienced. We shut down as soon as we could.
— Jessica Lessin (@Jessicalessin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jessicalessin/status/1241087064134660096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Previously, an ex-NSA hacker now a principal security researcher Patrick Wardle had discovered two security bugs in the app which can easily take control over a computer and warned its users of misuse.

While one bug can allow the attacker to inject malicious code into the Zoom installer that would allow them to access the person’s setup, the other bug could control the user's webcam and microphone.

Another crucial security flaw of the app includes no end-to-end encryption. This encryption ensures that&nbsp;no-one other than participants can see a meeting.

The FBI warned people that should not make meetings or classrooms public when they are being hosted on Zoom. Such chats can be restricted either by requiring a password or using the waiting room feature to only let in approved people.

It also alerted people not to post a link to a given chat on any public platform. Instead, those links should be sent directly to the people involved.

The federal law enforcement agency also&nbsp;asked&nbsp;people to ensure that their screen-sharing options are set to ''host only'', meaning that anyone who does manage to join the chat would not be able to show images or other distressing things to anyone else in the conversation.

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Video conferencing app Zoom, whose popularity skyrocketed due to the global lockdown amid coronavirus pandemic, is under scrutiny after concerns were raised over its data privacy and security practices.

Video conferencing app Zoom, whose popularity skyrocketed due to the global lockdown amid coronavirus pandemic, is under scrutiny after concerns were raised over its data privacy and security practices. New York's attorney general has written to the California-based firm raising concerns over its ability to cope with the rise in users. Also read: Dethroning, Whatsapp, TikTok video conferencing app Zoom tops download charts The investigation comes after the FBI's Boston office warned on Monday that it had "received multiple reports of conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language." Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX has also banned its employees from using the app, citing "significant privacy and security concerns," According to a report, the app which has more than 200 million daily video users, is the new target for online hackers who are hijacking meetings, interrupting educational sessions and posting white supremacist messages. This is called ''Zoombombing.'' Zoom pulls in more than 200 million daily video users during worldwide lockdowns These hackers are also sharing leaking sensitive consumer data and sending pornographic content to its users. Social media users who experienced this hacking used the hashtag #zoombombed to warn others users. Our video call was just attacked by someone who kept sharing pornography + switching between different user accounts so we could not block them. Stay tuned for next steps. And I am sorry to everyone who experienced. We shut down as soon as we could. — Jessica Lessin (@Jessicalessin) March 20, 2020 × Previously, an ex-NSA hacker now a principal security researcher Patrick Wardle had discovered two security bugs in the app which can easily take control over a computer and warned its users of misuse. While one bug can allow the attacker to inject malicious code into the Zoom installer that would allow them to access the person’s setup, the other bug could control the user's webcam and microphone. Another crucial security flaw of the app includes no end-to-end encryption. This encryption ensures that no-one other than participants can see a meeting. The FBI warned people that should not make meetings or classrooms public when they are being hosted on Zoom. Such chats can be restricted either by requiring a password or using the waiting room feature to only let in approved people. It also alerted people not to post a link to a given chat on any public platform. Instead, those links should be sent directly to the people involved. The federal law enforcement agency also asked people to ensure that their screen-sharing options are set to ''host only'', meaning that anyone who does manage to join the chat would not be able to show images or other distressing things to anyone else in the conversation.

Why are concerns being raised on Zoom app's safety and security?

March 14 in history: Patent for cotton gin, first gold record awarded and more

US officials on Wednesday stepped up warnings about the potential security risks from the fast-growing, Chinese-owned TikTok as a lawmaker unveiled legislation to ban the social media app from government devices.

At a Senate hearing, officials from the FBI, the Justice Department and Homeland Security said the video-sharing app could become another tool exploited by Chinese intelligence services.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tiktok-received-more-numbers-than-facebook-ever-did-sheryl-sandberg-283417">TikTok received more numbers than Facebook ever did, says&nbsp;Sheryl Sandberg</a>

Senator Josh Hawley, who convened the hearing, said he was introducing a bill to ban TikTok from all US government devices, calling it "a major security risk for the American people."

TikTok, which is especially popular with teens, is believed to have been the most downloaded app worldwide last year, but US officials have expressed concern over its connections with the government in Beijing.

"TikTok is one example of an application where the average citizen doesn't understand the implications of what's behind it," Clyde Wallace, an official in the FBI's cyber division, told the hearing.

"It's basically controlled by a state-sponsored actor."

While the various data points collected by TikTok may not seem sensitive, Wallace said the information may be aggregated and "used for many purposes."

In his written testimony, Wallace said Chinese-owned social media applications may collect personal data including biometrics, contact lists, location data and bank and credit card details.

"Any and all data can be transferred to other locations and associated entities to include the Chinese parent company," he said.

Bryan Ware, a cybersecurity official at the Department of Homeland Security, echoed those fears, saying that TikTok data could become part of a large database exploited by China.

"China has amazing programs in collection of data and developing artificial intelligence and analytics against that data for purposes that we don't fully know... and that should give us great concern," Ware said.

"There's certainly no place for applications like TikTok on government devices and government networks."

Adam Hickey, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's security division, said the aggregation of data from TikTok "makes it easier for intelligence services to either recruit or hack into systems used by government employees."

Samm Sacks, a cybersecurity fellow at the New America Foundation specializing in China, said Chinese regulations may enable the government to "essentially require anything that they want of these companies" even if some privately push back at the requests.

TikTok has said its operations were not influenced by the Beijing authorities. 
&nbsp;

US officials on Wednesday stepped up warnings about the potential security risks from the fast-growing, Chinese-owned TikTok as a lawmaker unveiled legislation to ban the social media app from government devices.

US officials on Wednesday stepped up warnings about the potential security risks from the fast-growing, Chinese-owned TikTok as a lawmaker unveiled legislation to ban the social media app from government devices. At a Senate hearing, officials from the FBI, the Justice Department and Homeland Security said the video-sharing app could become another tool exploited by Chinese intelligence services. Also read: TikTok received more numbers than Facebook ever did, says Sheryl Sandberg Senator Josh Hawley, who convened the hearing, said he was introducing a bill to ban TikTok from all US government devices, calling it "a major security risk for the American people." TikTok, which is especially popular with teens, is believed to have been the most downloaded app worldwide last year, but US officials have expressed concern over its connections with the government in Beijing. "TikTok is one example of an application where the average citizen doesn't understand the implications of what's behind it," Clyde Wallace, an official in the FBI's cyber division, told the hearing. "It's basically controlled by a state-sponsored actor." While the various data points collected by TikTok may not seem sensitive, Wallace said the information may be aggregated and "used for many purposes." In his written testimony, Wallace said Chinese-owned social media applications may collect personal data including biometrics, contact lists, location data and bank and credit card details. "Any and all data can be transferred to other locations and associated entities to include the Chinese parent company," he said. Bryan Ware, a cybersecurity official at the Department of Homeland Security, echoed those fears, saying that TikTok data could become part of a large database exploited by China. "China has amazing programs in collection of data and developing artificial intelligence and analytics against that data for purposes that we don't fully know... and that should give us great concern," Ware said. "There's certainly no place for applications like TikTok on government devices and government networks." Adam Hickey, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's security division, said the aggregation of data from TikTok "makes it easier for intelligence services to either recruit or hack into systems used by government employees." Samm Sacks, a cybersecurity fellow at the New America Foundation specializing in China, said Chinese regulations may enable the government to "essentially require anything that they want of these companies" even if some privately push back at the requests. TikTok has said its operations were not influenced by the Beijing authorities.

US lawmakers propose ban on TikTok citing Chinese government ties

US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/michael-bloomberg-and-donald-trump-two-men-to-watch-in-us-election-280746">Donald Trump</a> on Friday said he has "the legal right" to interfere in criminal cases, capping a tumultuous week that raised questions about whether he is eroding the independence of the US&nbsp;legal system.

Trump's criticism of the judge, jury and prosecutors in the criminal case of his longtime adviser Roger Stone prompted an unusual rebuke from Attorney General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-attorney-general-william-barr-refuses-to-testify-before-house-judiciary-committee-on-mueller-report-215205">William Barr</a>, his top law enforcement official, and spurred new demands for investigation from the Democrats who unsuccessfully tried to remove the Republican president from office.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/michael-bloomberg-and-donald-trump-two-men-to-watch-in-us-election-280746">Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump: Two men to watch in US election</a>

It was the latest in a string of aggressive actions by Trump since the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of impeachment charges last week.

Trump has transferred or fired government officials who testified about his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a potential political rival in November's presidential election.

He also dropped his nomination of former US&nbsp;Attorney Jessie Liu, who oversaw the Stone case, for another government post in the Treasury Department.

Sources close to the president said Trump has a greater sense of freedom following his Senate acquittal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-takes-impeachment-victory-lap-over-vicious-democrats-279141">Donald Trump takes impeachment victory lap over 'vicious' Democrats</a>

"You have to remember, he's not 'of' government. He gets frustrated when people tell him something can't get done. He's like: 'Just get it done,'" said one administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Barr has privately told Trump for "some time" that his public statements were making it hard for him to run the Justice Department effectively, according to a source familiar with the matter.

He went public on Thursday, telling ABC News that Trump's attacks made it "impossible" for him to do his job. "It's time to stop the tweeting," he said.

Trump "has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case," Barr added.

The president responded on Friday morning.&nbsp;

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“The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case.” A.G. Barr This doesn’t mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1228311415192215553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Administration officials said Barr did not clear his remarks with Trump. They said Trump shrugged them off when told about them by aides.

Trump's insistence that he has the right to interfere in criminal cases runs counter to the practice of previous US&nbsp;presidents, who have generally kept an arms-length distance from the Justice Department since the Watergate scandal of the 1970s that led then-President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-behaviour-worse-than-nixon-head-of-impeachment-probe-263752">Richard Nixon</a> to resign from office.

"Trump goes farther than Nixon, though. He's proud to openly corrupt the justice system and use it to target his enemies and protect his friends," Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said in a prepared statement.

Also read: Trump's behaviour worse than Nixon: Head of impeachment probe

Trump's running commentary on the Stone case calls into question whether Barr can oversee US&nbsp;law enforcement in an independent manner, said Bruce Green, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches at Fordham School of Law.

"Given the sequence of events, it's doubtful that Barr's effort to distance himself from the president's tweets will be enough of a cure," Green told Reuters.

Barr has been an outspoken defender of the president and has aggressively sought to implement his agenda, frequently drawing charges from Democrats and former Justice Department officials that he is politicizing the rule of law.

The Justice Department on Tuesday asked for a lighter sentence for Stone, scaling back prosecutors' initial request that he serve 7 to 9 years after being found guilty of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. That prompted all four prosecutors to resign from the case in apparent protest.

On Friday, Barr appointed an outside prosecutor to review the criminal case against Michael Flynn, another former Trump adviser who awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.

Barr has also ordered an investigation into the Obama administration's activities in 2016 as it examined possible ties between Moscow and the Trump campaign, and has gone after states and cities that have adopted "sanctuary" policies to protect unauthorized immigrants from deportation.

Barr's Justice Department sought to quash the whistleblower complaint about Trump's effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, which led to the president's impeachment.

He confirmed earlier this week that the department is taking evidence from Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who has been seeking information in Ukraine about Biden.

Democrats who control the House of Representatives called for Barr to testify next month over the matter and asked the department's watchdog to investigate but have little other recourse.

Like Barr, Trump's Republican allies in Congress have said they wish he would be less outspoken on Twitter, even as they have consistently defended his actions.

The Senate on Thursday sought to impose some restrictions on Trump, voting to limit his ability to wage war with Iran and questioning whether one of his nominees is qualified to serve on the board of the Federal Reserve.

Meanwhile, the president has moved to rebuild his staff with those he sees as loyalists, including former communication director Hope Hicks, who worked closely with Trump in his business before serving as his 2016 campaign press secretary.

He also rehired his former personal assistant Johnny McEntee to lead his personnel office, who sources say will be tasked with ensuring that new hires are loyal to the president.

Trump is about to launch a week of re-election activities, starting with a fundraising dinner on Saturday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

On Sunday, he will seek to appeal to blue-collar voters by attending the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, where he will be named the grand marshal, the first president to have that distinction.

On Tuesday he goes on a three-day swing through California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he has "the legal right" to interfere in criminal cases, capping a tumultuous week that raised questions about whether he is eroding the independence of the US legal system.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he has "the legal right" to interfere in criminal cases, capping a tumultuous week that raised questions about whether he is eroding the independence of the US legal system. Trump's criticism of the judge, jury and prosecutors in the criminal case of his longtime adviser Roger Stone prompted an unusual rebuke from Attorney General William Barr, his top law enforcement official, and spurred new demands for investigation from the Democrats who unsuccessfully tried to remove the Republican president from office. Also read: Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump: Two men to watch in US election It was the latest in a string of aggressive actions by Trump since the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of impeachment charges last week. Trump has transferred or fired government officials who testified about his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a potential political rival in November's presidential election. He also dropped his nomination of former US Attorney Jessie Liu, who oversaw the Stone case, for another government post in the Treasury Department. Sources close to the president said Trump has a greater sense of freedom following his Senate acquittal. Also read: Donald Trump takes impeachment victory lap over 'vicious' Democrats "You have to remember, he's not 'of' government. He gets frustrated when people tell him something can't get done. He's like: 'Just get it done,'" said one administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Barr has privately told Trump for "some time" that his public statements were making it hard for him to run the Justice Department effectively, according to a source familiar with the matter. He went public on Thursday, telling ABC News that Trump's attacks made it "impossible" for him to do his job. "It's time to stop the tweeting," he said. Trump "has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case," Barr added. The president responded on Friday morning. “The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case.” A.G. Barr This doesn’t mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2020 × Administration officials said Barr did not clear his remarks with Trump. They said Trump shrugged them off when told about them by aides. Trump's insistence that he has the right to interfere in criminal cases runs counter to the practice of previous US presidents, who have generally kept an arms-length distance from the Justice Department since the Watergate scandal of the 1970s that led then-President Richard Nixon to resign from office. "Trump goes farther than Nixon, though. He's proud to openly corrupt the justice system and use it to target his enemies and protect his friends," Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said in a prepared statement. Also read: Trump's behaviour worse than Nixon: Head of impeachment probe Trump's running commentary on the Stone case calls into question whether Barr can oversee US law enforcement in an independent manner, said Bruce Green, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches at Fordham School of Law. "Given the sequence of events, it's doubtful that Barr's effort to distance himself from the president's tweets will be enough of a cure," Green told Reuters. Barr has been an outspoken defender of the president and has aggressively sought to implement his agenda, frequently drawing charges from Democrats and former Justice Department officials that he is politicizing the rule of law. The Justice Department on Tuesday asked for a lighter sentence for Stone, scaling back prosecutors' initial request that he serve 7 to 9 years after being found guilty of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. That prompted all four prosecutors to resign from the case in apparent protest. On Friday, Barr appointed an outside prosecutor to review the criminal case against Michael Flynn, another former Trump adviser who awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI. Barr has also ordered an investigation into the Obama administration's activities in 2016 as it examined possible ties between Moscow and the Trump campaign, and has gone after states and cities that have adopted "sanctuary" policies to protect unauthorized immigrants from deportation. Barr's Justice Department sought to quash the whistleblower complaint about Trump's effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, which led to the president's impeachment. He confirmed earlier this week that the department is taking evidence from Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who has been seeking information in Ukraine about Biden. Democrats who control the House of Representatives called for Barr to testify next month over the matter and asked the department's watchdog to investigate but have little other recourse. Like Barr, Trump's Republican allies in Congress have said they wish he would be less outspoken on Twitter, even as they have consistently defended his actions. The Senate on Thursday sought to impose some restrictions on Trump, voting to limit his ability to wage war with Iran and questioning whether one of his nominees is qualified to serve on the board of the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, the president has moved to rebuild his staff with those he sees as loyalists, including former communication director Hope Hicks, who worked closely with Trump in his business before serving as his 2016 campaign press secretary. He also rehired his former personal assistant Johnny McEntee to lead his personnel office, who sources say will be tasked with ensuring that new hires are loyal to the president. Trump is about to launch a week of re-election activities, starting with a fundraising dinner on Saturday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. On Sunday, he will seek to appeal to blue-collar voters by attending the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, where he will be named the grand marshal, the first president to have that distinction. On Tuesday he goes on a three-day swing through California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado.

Emboldened, Donald Trump defends right to interfere in criminal cases

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-provided-zero-cooperation-in-epstein-probe-us-prosecutor-276984">Prince Andrew</a> is vexed and baffled over the FBI allegations of ''<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-provided-zero-cooperation-in-epstein-probe-us-prosecutor-276984">zero co-operation'</a>' in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-opens-epstein-linked-rape-abuse-probe-245196">Epstein</a> sex trafficking probe.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/prince-harry-and-meghan-markles-possible-move-might-affect-canadian-taxpayers-273290">Duke of York </a>claimed that he had not received any request by the investigation agency.

''The Duke is happy to talk but he hasn't been approached by the FBI,'' said a source close to the British royal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-provided-zero-cooperation-in-epstein-probe-us-prosecutor-276984">Prince Andrew provided 'zero cooperation' in Epstein probe: US prosecutor</a>

''The allegations are not true at all. The prince is willing to provide complete assistance to the FBI but it hasn't approached him yet. He is vexed about the way his reputation was&nbsp;being maligned and baffled as to why this was said in New York. It appears that people are jumping to conclusions,'' he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-provided-zero-cooperation-in-epstein-probe-us-prosecutor-276984">Geoffrey Berman</a>, the US prosecutor in charge of the case had accused the prince&nbsp;of providing ''zero cooperation'' in the probe on Monday.

''Till date, he has provided zero co-operation,'' the investigator had said.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/jeffrey-epstein-how-the-man-with-famous-friends-fell-apart-242546">Jeffrey Epstein: How the man with famous friends fell apart</a>

The prince had said that if required, he was ''willing to co-operate with law enforcement agencies with their investigation''.

A 17-year-old girl procured by Epstein had said that she was forced to be intimate with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-may-loose-armed-protection-in-major-downgrade-of-security-274825">Prince Andrew</a>.

Andrew, 59, had met Epstein in 1999 and said that he did not regret his friendship with the US financier who was arrested in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution.

The Duke of York had to step down from his royal duties after being heavily criticized for his friendship with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-opens-epstein-linked-rape-abuse-probe-245196">Epstein</a>.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-opens-epstein-linked-rape-abuse-probe-245196">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, 66, was a convicted sex offender who killed himself in a jail cell in August during the trail in which sex traffickking and conspiracy charges were being investigated against him. 
&nbsp;

Prince Andrew is vexed and baffled over the FBI allegations of ''zero co-operation'' in the Epstein sex trafficking probe. The Duke of York claimed that he had not received any request by the investigation agency.

Prince Andrew is vexed and baffled over the FBI allegations of ''zero co-operation'' in the Epstein sex trafficking probe. The Duke of York claimed that he had not received any request by the investigation agency. ''The Duke is happy to talk but he hasn't been approached by the FBI,'' said a source close to the British royal. Also read: Prince Andrew provided 'zero cooperation' in Epstein probe: US prosecutor ''The allegations are not true at all. The prince is willing to provide complete assistance to the FBI but it hasn't approached him yet. He is vexed about the way his reputation was being maligned and baffled as to why this was said in New York. It appears that people are jumping to conclusions,'' he added. Geoffrey Berman, the US prosecutor in charge of the case had accused the prince of providing ''zero cooperation'' in the probe on Monday. ''Till date, he has provided zero co-operation,'' the investigator had said. Also see: Jeffrey Epstein: How the man with famous friends fell apart The prince had said that if required, he was ''willing to co-operate with law enforcement agencies with their investigation''. A 17-year-old girl procured by Epstein had said that she was forced to be intimate with Prince Andrew. Andrew, 59, had met Epstein in 1999 and said that he did not regret his friendship with the US financier who was arrested in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution. The Duke of York had to step down from his royal duties after being heavily criticized for his friendship with Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein, 66, was a convicted sex offender who killed himself in a jail cell in August during the trail in which sex traffickking and conspiracy charges were being investigated against him.

Prince Andrew 'vexed' over FBI's allegation of 'zero cooperation'

Britain's Prince Andrew has provided "zero cooperation" to the FBI investigation into the activities and death of Jeffrey Epstein, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman said on January 27. The FBI requested an interview with Andrew, who socialized with Epstein, Berman publicly confirmed at a news conference of a group which supports victims of abuse but did not say when the request was made. Watch report:

FBI receives 'zero cooperation' from Prince Andrew in Epstein probe

The FBI is investigating British socialite <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/whos-who-in-the-jeffrey-epstein-sex-scandal-242638">Ghislaine Maxwell</a> and several other people linked to US&nbsp;financier <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/jeffrey-epstein-how-the-man-with-famous-friends-fell-apart-242546">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, who killed himself while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.

They said a principal focus of the FBI's investigation is Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein, and other "people who facilitated" Epstein's allegedly illegal behavior.

Maxwell has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing. Her lawyers did not respond to a request for comment.

The FBI also is following up on many leads received from women who contacted a hotline the agency set up at its New York field office in the wake of Epstein's arrest in July, the sources said.

One of the sources said the probe remains at an early stage.

The sources declined to give further details or identify the people they are looking at apart from Maxwell. However, they said the FBI has no current plans to interview <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-epstein-accuser-calls-on-prince-andrew-to-talk-to-us-authorities-263156">Britain's Prince Andrew</a>, a friend of Epstein's who stepped down from his public duties in November because of what he called his "ill-judged" association with the well-connected money manager.

A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment.

A representative for the British royal family said that whether the agency interviewed Andrew was "a matter for the FBI."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/psychologist-approved-jeffreys-epsteins-removal-from-suicide-watch-245240">Epstein’s suicide</a> in August, at age 66, came a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005. Prosecutors said he recruited girls to give him massages, which became sexual in nature.

He had pleaded not guilty.

Following Epstein's arrest, the FBI urged anyone who had been victimized by Epstein or had additional information to call the agency's hotline.

US&nbsp;Attorney General William Barr vowed to carry on the case against anyone who was complicit with the financier.

"Any co-conspirators should not rest easy," he said in August.

The sources said they had received numerous tips from the hotline, which they are looking into.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-victims-express-outrage-over-sex-trafficker-jeffrey-epsteins-death-us-lawmakers-push-for-investigation-for-any-foul-play-242305">Virginia Giuffre</a>, one of Epstein's alleged victims, has said in a civil lawsuit that Maxwell recruited her into Epstein's circle, where she claims Epstein forced her to have sex with him and friends including Andrew.

Maxwell has called Giuffre's allegations lies. Giuffre in response filed a defamation suit against Maxwell in 2015.

Giuffre repeated the claims about the prince in a BBC interview that aired this month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-prince-andrew-denies-having-sex-with-epstein-accuser-262718">Andrew</a>, 59, also categorically denies the accusations and has said he has no recollection of meeting Giuffre, who was previously named Virginia Roberts.

The two law enforcement sources said the FBI's principal focus is on people who facilitated Epstein and that Andrew does not fit into that category. They did not rule out the possibility that the FBI would seek to interview Andrew at a later date.

The FBI is investigating British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and several other people linked to US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.

The FBI is investigating British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and several other people linked to US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. They said a principal focus of the FBI's investigation is Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein, and other "people who facilitated" Epstein's allegedly illegal behavior. Maxwell has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing. Her lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. The FBI also is following up on many leads received from women who contacted a hotline the agency set up at its New York field office in the wake of Epstein's arrest in July, the sources said. One of the sources said the probe remains at an early stage. The sources declined to give further details or identify the people they are looking at apart from Maxwell. However, they said the FBI has no current plans to interview Britain's Prince Andrew, a friend of Epstein's who stepped down from his public duties in November because of what he called his "ill-judged" association with the well-connected money manager. A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment. A representative for the British royal family said that whether the agency interviewed Andrew was "a matter for the FBI." Epstein’s suicide in August, at age 66, came a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005. Prosecutors said he recruited girls to give him massages, which became sexual in nature. He had pleaded not guilty. Following Epstein's arrest, the FBI urged anyone who had been victimized by Epstein or had additional information to call the agency's hotline. US Attorney General William Barr vowed to carry on the case against anyone who was complicit with the financier. "Any co-conspirators should not rest easy," he said in August. The sources said they had received numerous tips from the hotline, which they are looking into. Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's alleged victims, has said in a civil lawsuit that Maxwell recruited her into Epstein's circle, where she claims Epstein forced her to have sex with him and friends including Andrew. Maxwell has called Giuffre's allegations lies. Giuffre in response filed a defamation suit against Maxwell in 2015. Giuffre repeated the claims about the prince in a BBC interview that aired this month. Andrew, 59, also categorically denies the accusations and has said he has no recollection of meeting Giuffre, who was previously named Virginia Roberts. The two law enforcement sources said the FBI's principal focus is on people who facilitated Epstein and that Andrew does not fit into that category. They did not rule out the possibility that the FBI would seek to interview Andrew at a later date.

FBI investigates Briton, others for Epstein links: Sources

After being convicted by the United States for being a Russian agent interfering with its internal affairs. Maria Butina has got a new job.&nbsp;

She will be hosting a show for Russia's state-owned network RT.

In a promotional video, Butina can be seen wearing a t-shirt with the words 'foreign agent' written on it.

Butina will be hosting a show called "wonderful Russia bu-bu-bu" where bu roughly translates to blah in English.

Interestingly, the title appears to parody a catchphrase used by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who talks of the “wonderful Russia of the future” when president Vladimir Putin is no longer in power.

Butina- a gun-rights activist was convicted of conspiring to act as an agent for a foreign state in the US She was deported to Russia earlier this year.

She was imprisoned for more than 15 months in the US.

However, upon reaching Russia, Butina said that she was forced into confessing that she was a spy.

31-year-old Butina had pleaded guilty in a US Court to conspiring to act as an agent for Russia by infiltrating a gun-rights group and influencing republicans during the 2016 presidential election.

After being convicted by the United States for being a Russian agent interfering with its internal affairs. Maria Butina has got a new job. She will be hosting a show for Russia's state-owned network RT.

After being convicted by the United States for being a Russian agent interfering with its internal affairs. Maria Butina has got a new job. She will be hosting a show for Russia's state-owned network RT. In a promotional video, Butina can be seen wearing a t-shirt with the words 'foreign agent' written on it. Butina will be hosting a show called "wonderful Russia bu-bu-bu" where bu roughly translates to blah in English. Interestingly, the title appears to parody a catchphrase used by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who talks of the “wonderful Russia of the future” when president Vladimir Putin is no longer in power. Butina- a gun-rights activist was convicted of conspiring to act as an agent for a foreign state in the US She was deported to Russia earlier this year. She was imprisoned for more than 15 months in the US. However, upon reaching Russia, Butina said that she was forced into confessing that she was a spy. 31-year-old Butina had pleaded guilty in a US Court to conspiring to act as an agent for Russia by infiltrating a gun-rights group and influencing republicans during the 2016 presidential election.

Maria Butina: Russian agent deported from US, will host TV show

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-has-everything-to-lose-donald-trump-after-north-koreas-significant-test-267034">Donald Trump</a> renewed his war against his own security establishment Tuesday with a broadside against the "attitude" of FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Trump accused Wray of downplaying the findings of a report issued Monday into the FBI's opening of an investigation into Russian interference during Trump's victorious 2016 election campaign.

"With that kind of attitude, he will never be able to fix the FBI, which is badly broken," Trump tweeted.

The report by the Justice Department inspector general found there had been numerous procedural errors but said there was no political bias against Trump by law enforcement. Wray said the investigation had been underpinned by "adequate factual predication."

This starkly contradicts Trump's claims that the investigation,&nbsp;which grew into a sprawling probe of multi-pronged Kremlin interference operations and Trump's business links with Russia,&nbsp;was an "attempted coup."

Ignoring the report's finding that there was no political motivation, Trump is instead focusing on the many procedural mistakes highlighted by the inspector general.

"I don’t know what report current Director of the FBI Christopher Wray was reading, but it sure wasn't the one given to me," Trump tweeted.

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I don’t know what report current Director of the FBI Christopher Wray was reading, but it sure wasn’t the one given to me. With that kind of attitude, he will never be able to fix the FBI, which is badly broken despite having some of the greatest men &amp; women working there!
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-tells-jewish-americans-he-is-israels-best-friend-266897">Trump has been at odds</a> with much of the national security establishment since he took office and claims, without providing evidence, that a "deep state" is working against him.

His attack on Wray and attempt to use the inspector general report as fuel for continued accusations of a "coup" come as the lower house of Congress is poised to impeach him on accusations that he tried to force Ukraine into embarrassing a political opponent back home.

Wray took over at the FBI in 2017, replacing an acting director who had held the position since Trump's firing of director James Comey in May that year, just as the Russia probe gathered steam.

President Donald Trump renewed his war against his own security establishment Tuesday with a broadside against the "attitude" of FBI Director Christopher Wray. Trump accused Wray of downplaying the findings of a report issued Monday into the FBI's opening of an investigation into Russian interference during Trump's victorious 2016 election campaign.

President Donald Trump renewed his war against his own security establishment Tuesday with a broadside against the "attitude" of FBI Director Christopher Wray. Trump accused Wray of downplaying the findings of a report issued Monday into the FBI's opening of an investigation into Russian interference during Trump's victorious 2016 election campaign. "With that kind of attitude, he will never be able to fix the FBI, which is badly broken," Trump tweeted. The report by the Justice Department inspector general found there had been numerous procedural errors but said there was no political bias against Trump by law enforcement. Wray said the investigation had been underpinned by "adequate factual predication." This starkly contradicts Trump's claims that the investigation, which grew into a sprawling probe of multi-pronged Kremlin interference operations and Trump's business links with Russia, was an "attempted coup." Ignoring the report's finding that there was no political motivation, Trump is instead focusing on the many procedural mistakes highlighted by the inspector general. "I don’t know what report current Director of the FBI Christopher Wray was reading, but it sure wasn't the one given to me," Trump tweeted. I don’t know what report current Director of the FBI Christopher Wray was reading, but it sure wasn’t the one given to me. With that kind of attitude, he will never be able to fix the FBI, which is badly broken despite having some of the greatest men & women working there! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2019 × Trump has been at odds with much of the national security establishment since he took office and claims, without providing evidence, that a "deep state" is working against him. His attack on Wray and attempt to use the inspector general report as fuel for continued accusations of a "coup" come as the lower house of Congress is poised to impeach him on accusations that he tried to force Ukraine into embarrassing a political opponent back home. Wray took over at the FBI in 2017, replacing an acting director who had held the position since Trump's firing of director James Comey in May that year, just as the Russia probe gathered steam.

Donald Trump launches broadside against his FBI director

Florida Naval Base shooting accused photograph released by FBI. Gunman identified as a Saudi airman.

Florida Naval Base shooting accused photograph released

The Federal Bureau of Investigation considers any mobile app developed in Russia to be a "potential counterintelligence threat," it said on Monday, responding to a US&nbsp;lawmaker's query about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senator-schumer-asks-fbi-ftc-to-probe-russias-faceapp-over-security-concerns-236825">face-editing photo app FaceApp</a>.

The viral smartphone app saw a surge in popularity this year due to a filter that ages photos of users' faces.

Concerns about its Russian provenance prompted the Democratic National Committee to warn the party's 2020 presidential candidates against using it, as well as a call from Democratic US&nbsp;Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer for the&nbsp;FBI&nbsp;and the Federal Trade Commission to conduct national security reviews.

There is no evidence that FaceApp provides user data to the Russian government. But the&nbsp;FBI, in a letter responding to Schumer, said Moscow's ability to access communications directly via internet service providers makes any app built there risky.

Russia's intelligence services maintain "robust cyber exploitation capabilities," the&nbsp;FBI&nbsp;said, and are able under local laws to "remotely access all communications and servers on Russian networks without making a request to ISPs."

FaceApp, which launched in 2017, was developed by Wireless Lab, a company based in St. Petersburg. Its chief executive officer, Yaroslav Goncharov, used to be an executive at Yandex, widely known as "Russia's Google."

The company has denied selling or sharing user data with third parties, adding that user data is never transferred to Russia and most images are deleted from its servers within 48 hours of submission.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation considers any mobile app developed in Russia to be a "potential counterintelligence threat," it said on Monday, responding to a US lawmaker's query about face-editing photo app FaceApp.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation considers any mobile app developed in Russia to be a "potential counterintelligence threat," it said on Monday, responding to a US lawmaker's query about face-editing photo app FaceApp. The viral smartphone app saw a surge in popularity this year due to a filter that ages photos of users' faces. Concerns about its Russian provenance prompted the Democratic National Committee to warn the party's 2020 presidential candidates against using it, as well as a call from Democratic US Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer for the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission to conduct national security reviews. There is no evidence that FaceApp provides user data to the Russian government. But the FBI, in a letter responding to Schumer, said Moscow's ability to access communications directly via internet service providers makes any app built there risky. Russia's intelligence services maintain "robust cyber exploitation capabilities," the FBI said, and are able under local laws to "remotely access all communications and servers on Russian networks without making a request to ISPs." FaceApp, which launched in 2017, was developed by Wireless Lab, a company based in St. Petersburg. Its chief executive officer, Yaroslav Goncharov, used to be an executive at Yandex, widely known as "Russia's Google." The company has denied selling or sharing user data with third parties, adding that user data is never transferred to Russia and most images are deleted from its servers within 48 hours of submission.

Russian FaceApp is 'potential counterintelligence threat': FBI

A jury convicted US President Donald Trump's adviser Roger Stone on Friday, finding the long-time Republican operative and self-proclaimed "dirty trickster" guilty on seven criminal counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering.

The verdict, in a trial arising from investigations of Russian interference in the 2016 US election, is not only a blow to Stone but renews scrutiny on then-candidate Trump's activities at a time when he faces an impeachment inquiry that could derail his presidency.

The 67-year-old veteran Republican political operative - a self-described “dirty trickster” and “agent provocateur” - was charged earlier this year with obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Stone's colorful trial in federal court in Washington was as much about the rough-and-tumble world of politics, as it was about hair-splitting legal arguments, such as whether Stone truly lied about WikiLeaks since that website was never explicitly mentioned in the intelligence committee's publicly-stated parameters of its probe.

The trial featured multiple references to "The Godfather Part II," a Bernie Sanders impression, and testimony by political heavyweights including former Trump campaign CEO Steve Bannon and former Trump campaign deputy Rick Gates, each of whom said they believed Stone had inside information about when WikiLeaks might release more damaging emails about then-Republican candidate Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

Prosecutors accused Stone of telling lawmakers five different lies related to WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, which in 2016 dumped a series of damaging emails about Clinton that US intelligence officials and Special Counsel Robert Mueller later concluded had been stolen by Russian hackers.

Some of those lies relate to the existence of certain texts or emails, while others pertain to Stone's conversations with Trump campaign officials and a supposed "intermediary" with WikiLeaks in early August 2016 whom Stone identified to lawmakers as being comedian Randy Credico.

Prosecutors said Stone did not actually start talking to Credico about WikiLeaks until later that month, and the actual person to whom he was referring in testimony as an "intermediary" was conservative author Jerome Corsi whom Stone dispatched in an email to "Get to Assange!" and get the emails.

Corsi was not called as a witness in the trial.

Stone, a close Trump ally who famously has the face of former president Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was also accused of tampering with a witness, Credico, when Credico was summoned to testify before Congress and speak with the FBI.

Both Stone and Credico, who took the stand in the case, have since said that Credico did not act as a WikiLeaks backchannel.

In emails and texts, the jury saw messages that Stone had sent Credico that included comments like "Prepare to die," "You're a rat. A stoolie," and "Stonewall it. Plead the Fifth. Anything to save the plan," in a reference to a famous Nixon Watergate quote.

He also repeatedly urged Credico to "do a Frank Pentangeli" - a reference to a "Godfather II" character who recants his congressional testimony against a mobster amid intimidation.

A lawyer for Stone dismissed the Pentangeli reference, saying Credico had done impressions of the character in the past, and said the "odious language" they used was just part of how they interacted.

A jury convicted US President Donald Trump's adviser Roger Stone on Friday, finding the long-time Republican operative and self-proclaimed "dirty trickster" guilty on seven criminal counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering.

A jury convicted US President Donald Trump's adviser Roger Stone on Friday, finding the long-time Republican operative and self-proclaimed "dirty trickster" guilty on seven criminal counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. The verdict, in a trial arising from investigations of Russian interference in the 2016 US election, is not only a blow to Stone but renews scrutiny on then-candidate Trump's activities at a time when he faces an impeachment inquiry that could derail his presidency. The 67-year-old veteran Republican political operative - a self-described “dirty trickster” and “agent provocateur” - was charged earlier this year with obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Stone's colorful trial in federal court in Washington was as much about the rough-and-tumble world of politics, as it was about hair-splitting legal arguments, such as whether Stone truly lied about WikiLeaks since that website was never explicitly mentioned in the intelligence committee's publicly-stated parameters of its probe. The trial featured multiple references to "The Godfather Part II," a Bernie Sanders impression, and testimony by political heavyweights including former Trump campaign CEO Steve Bannon and former Trump campaign deputy Rick Gates, each of whom said they believed Stone had inside information about when WikiLeaks might release more damaging emails about then-Republican candidate Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Prosecutors accused Stone of telling lawmakers five different lies related to WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, which in 2016 dumped a series of damaging emails about Clinton that US intelligence officials and Special Counsel Robert Mueller later concluded had been stolen by Russian hackers. Some of those lies relate to the existence of certain texts or emails, while others pertain to Stone's conversations with Trump campaign officials and a supposed "intermediary" with WikiLeaks in early August 2016 whom Stone identified to lawmakers as being comedian Randy Credico. Prosecutors said Stone did not actually start talking to Credico about WikiLeaks until later that month, and the actual person to whom he was referring in testimony as an "intermediary" was conservative author Jerome Corsi whom Stone dispatched in an email to "Get to Assange!" and get the emails. Corsi was not called as a witness in the trial. Stone, a close Trump ally who famously has the face of former president Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was also accused of tampering with a witness, Credico, when Credico was summoned to testify before Congress and speak with the FBI. Both Stone and Credico, who took the stand in the case, have since said that Credico did not act as a WikiLeaks backchannel. In emails and texts, the jury saw messages that Stone had sent Credico that included comments like "Prepare to die," "You're a rat. A stoolie," and "Stonewall it. Plead the Fifth. Anything to save the plan," in a reference to a famous Nixon Watergate quote. He also repeatedly urged Credico to "do a Frank Pentangeli" - a reference to a "Godfather II" character who recants his congressional testimony against a mobster amid intimidation. A lawyer for Stone dismissed the Pentangeli reference, saying Credico had done impressions of the character in the past, and said the "odious language" they used was just part of how they interacted.

Trump adviser Roger Stone found guilty of lying to Congress, obstruction, witness tampering

Hate crimes reported to the US <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-former-fbi-agent-still-missing-denies-report-of-criminal-case-261200">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a> fell slightly in 2018 from the previous year, according to an annual report released by the FBI on Tuesday.

A total of 7,120 hate crimes were reported to the FBI by law enforcement agencies around the country last year, down from 7,175 in 2017, the FBI said.

It said 59.6 per cent of the reported hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias.

Religious bias accounted for 18.7 per cent, sexual orientation 16.7 per cent, gender identity 2.2 per cent, disability 2.1 per cent, and gender 0.7 per cent.

The FBI said 5,566 hate crimes were classified as crimes against persons while 2,641 were considered crimes against property such as vandalism or theft.

Of the crimes against persons, 46 per cent involved intimidation, 34 per cent were for simple assault and 18.4 per cent were for aggravated assault.

There were 24 murders and 22 rapes reported as hate crimes. The 24 murders included 11 worshipers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who were slain by an anti-Semitic gunman in October of last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-director-warns-facebook-could-become-platform-of-child-pornographers-253798">The FBI</a> said the hate crimes involved 6,266 "known offenders," of which 53.6 were white and 24 per cent African-American.

African-Americans were the leading target of crimes based on race, comprising 47.1 per cent of the 5,155 victims of hate crimes based on race, ethnicity or ancestry, the FBI said.

Jews were the most-targeted group by religion comprising 56.9 per cent of the victims of anti-religious hate crimes, it said.

The FBI did not provide any explanation for the slight decrease in reported hate crimes last year.

The law enforcement agency defines hate crimes as criminal offence motivated by bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.

Hate crimes reported to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation fell slightly in 2018 from the previous year, according to an annual report released by the FBI on Tuesday.

Hate crimes reported to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation fell slightly in 2018 from the previous year, according to an annual report released by the FBI on Tuesday. A total of 7,120 hate crimes were reported to the FBI by law enforcement agencies around the country last year, down from 7,175 in 2017, the FBI said. It said 59.6 per cent of the reported hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias. Religious bias accounted for 18.7 per cent, sexual orientation 16.7 per cent, gender identity 2.2 per cent, disability 2.1 per cent, and gender 0.7 per cent. The FBI said 5,566 hate crimes were classified as crimes against persons while 2,641 were considered crimes against property such as vandalism or theft. Of the crimes against persons, 46 per cent involved intimidation, 34 per cent were for simple assault and 18.4 per cent were for aggravated assault. There were 24 murders and 22 rapes reported as hate crimes. The 24 murders included 11 worshipers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who were slain by an anti-Semitic gunman in October of last year. The FBI said the hate crimes involved 6,266 "known offenders," of which 53.6 were white and 24 per cent African-American. African-Americans were the leading target of crimes based on race, comprising 47.1 per cent of the 5,155 victims of hate crimes based on race, ethnicity or ancestry, the FBI said. Jews were the most-targeted group by religion comprising 56.9 per cent of the victims of anti-religious hate crimes, it said. The FBI did not provide any explanation for the slight decrease in reported hate crimes last year. The law enforcement agency defines hate crimes as criminal offence motivated by bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.

Reported hate crimes down slightly in United States in 2018: FBI

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that the whereabouts of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, missing since visiting Iran's Kish Island in 2007, remains unknown, and it denied a report that Tehran had opened a criminal case against him.

Levinson disappeared while on a trip to the island in the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied knowledge of his disappearance or of his whereabouts.

"Levinson has a judicial case in our country as he is missing ... This is based on humanitarian issues," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in remarks carried on state television.

Mousavi was commenting on a Western media report that Iran had told the United Nations that Levinson was the subject of an ongoing criminal case.

In 2016, during President Barack Obama's administration, senior US&nbsp;officials said they believed Levinson had died in captivity. But in January, a State Department spokesman said that was inaccurate and called on Iran to locate Levinson and return him home to his family.

The tension between Iran and the United States has risen significantly since US&nbsp;President Donald Trump withdrew from an international nuclear deal with Tehran last year and reimposed US&nbsp;sanctions that had been lifted after the 2015 accord.

Several Americans have been detained in Iran in recent years, and Trump warned in 2017 that Tehran would face "new and serious consequences" unless all unjustly held US&nbsp;citizens were freed.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that the whereabouts of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, missing since visiting Iran's Kish Island in 2007, remains unknown, and it denied a report that Tehran had opened a criminal case against him.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that the whereabouts of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, missing since visiting Iran's Kish Island in 2007, remains unknown, and it denied a report that Tehran had opened a criminal case against him. Levinson disappeared while on a trip to the island in the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied knowledge of his disappearance or of his whereabouts. "Levinson has a judicial case in our country as he is missing ... This is based on humanitarian issues," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in remarks carried on state television. Mousavi was commenting on a Western media report that Iran had told the United Nations that Levinson was the subject of an ongoing criminal case. In 2016, during President Barack Obama's administration, senior US officials said they believed Levinson had died in captivity. But in January, a State Department spokesman said that was inaccurate and called on Iran to locate Levinson and return him home to his family. The tension between Iran and the United States has risen significantly since US President Donald Trump withdrew from an international nuclear deal with Tehran last year and reimposed US sanctions that had been lifted after the 2015 accord. Several Americans have been detained in Iran in recent years, and Trump warned in 2017 that Tehran would face "new and serious consequences" unless all unjustly held US citizens were freed.

Iran says former FBI agent still missing, denies report of criminal case

Ethnically&nbsp;and&nbsp;racially&nbsp;driven&nbsp;terrorism&nbsp;rose&nbsp;alarmingly&nbsp;in&nbsp;2018&nbsp;both worldwide and in the United&nbsp;States, and groups&nbsp;have often mimicked the tactics of armed Islamist militants to radicalise and recruit people, the&nbsp;US&nbsp;State&nbsp;Department said on Friday.

"Similar to Islamist&nbsp;terrorism&nbsp;this breed of&nbsp;terrorism&nbsp;is inspired by hateful, supremacist and intolerant ideology," Nathan Sales, the&nbsp;State&nbsp;Department's counterterrorism&nbsp;coordinator, told a briefing, adding that the&nbsp;2018&nbsp;attack by a gunman who killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh was an example of the rising trend.

"Make no mistake we will confront all forms of&nbsp;terrorism&nbsp;no matter what ideology inspires it," Sales said.

He added that white supremacist and other&nbsp;racially&nbsp;motivated&nbsp;terror organisations were copying strategies from armed Islamist groups.

"They are in a sense learning from their jihadist predecessors in terms of their ability to raise money and move money, in terms of their ability to radicalise and recruit."

Mass shootings that killed dozens of people this year in the United&nbsp;States have fueled a long-running debate over gun control.

In August, a suspected white nationalist shot dead 22 people at a Walmart store in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/el-paso-shooting-shooter-says-he-was-targeting-mexicans-242003">El Paso</a>, Texas, shortly after posting an anti-Hispanic manifesto online.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said after the shooting that Americans “must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy” and blamed the internet and violent video games for fostering violence but some Democrats and El Paso residents said Trump's own rhetoric about an immigrant “<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-orders-immigration-sweep-targeting-2000-families-report-229375">invasion</a>” had contributed to racial division.

Asked if any neo-Nazi or white supremacist groups&nbsp;inside the United&nbsp;States had been identified as terrorist organisations, Sales said&nbsp;State&nbsp;Department deferred to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security when it comes to combating domestic&nbsp;terrorism&nbsp;threats.

But he added that the&nbsp;State&nbsp;Department was working with technology companies to develop positive narratives against hateful messages and international partners to mobilize action against these networks.

Ethnically and racially driven terrorism rose alarmingly in 2018 both worldwide and in the United States, and groups have often mimicked the tactics of armed Islamist militants to radicalise and recruit people, the US State Department said on Friday.

Ethnically and racially driven terrorism rose alarmingly in 2018 both worldwide and in the United States, and groups have often mimicked the tactics of armed Islamist militants to radicalise and recruit people, the US State Department said on Friday. "Similar to Islamist terrorism this breed of terrorism is inspired by hateful, supremacist and intolerant ideology," Nathan Sales, the State Department's counterterrorism coordinator, told a briefing, adding that the 2018 attack by a gunman who killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh was an example of the rising trend. "Make no mistake we will confront all forms of terrorism no matter what ideology inspires it," Sales said. He added that white supremacist and other racially motivated terror organisations were copying strategies from armed Islamist groups. "They are in a sense learning from their jihadist predecessors in terms of their ability to raise money and move money, in terms of their ability to radicalise and recruit." Mass shootings that killed dozens of people this year in the United States have fueled a long-running debate over gun control. In August, a suspected white nationalist shot dead 22 people at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, shortly after posting an anti-Hispanic manifesto online. US President Donald Trump said after the shooting that Americans “must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy” and blamed the internet and violent video games for fostering violence but some Democrats and El Paso residents said Trump's own rhetoric about an immigrant “invasion” had contributed to racial division. Asked if any neo-Nazi or white supremacist groups inside the United States had been identified as terrorist organisations, Sales said State Department deferred to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security when it comes to combating domestic terrorism threats. But he added that the State Department was working with technology companies to develop positive narratives against hateful messages and international partners to mobilize action against these networks.

Racially and ethnically motivated terrorism rose alarmingly in 2018: US State Department

The Canadian attorney general has filed affidavits asserting that information identifying Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou's electronic devices was not shared with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during her December 2018 arrest in Vancouver, court documents showed on Thursday.

Meng, 47, is charged in the United States with bank fraud and she is accused of misleading HSBC Holdings PLC&nbsp;about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business in Iran, which is under US sanctions. Meng has said she is innocent and is fighting extradition.

In early October Meng and her lawyers asserted that members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had illegally shared sensitive identifying information about her electronic devices with the FBI.

"The applicant's allegation that the information was shared by the RCMP with the FBI is unfounded," lawyers for Canada's attorney general said in court documents released to media on Thursday.

Huawei was not available for immediate comment.

Canada's attorney general filed eight affidavits this month stating that members of the FBI and RCMP were discussing what information would be necessary in the case of a mutual legal assistance treaty request is made by the United States, which is made by one country to another when requiring the exchange of information to enforce laws.

The RCMP did not share the information, the affidavits written by past and present members of the police force stated.

The lawyers for Canada's attorney general added in their letter that the information being gathered but not shared showed a "good faith attempt" by the RCMP "to ensure that any sharing would be done in accordance with the law."

Meng and her lawyers returned to a British Columbia court this month, requesting additional documents pertaining to Meng's arrest at the Vancouver International Airport at the request of the United States on Dec. 1, 2018.

Meng's argument is part of a broader strategy to prove that her arrest was illegal and violated her rights according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

If Canadian officials abused their authority, her lawyers say, the extradition proceedings should be halted. The official extradition trial will begin in January 2020.

"In any event, the allegations could not result in the most drastic of remedies, a stay of proceedings," the lawyers for the Canadian attorney general said.

The Canadian attorney general has filed affidavits asserting that information identifying Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou's electronic devices was not shared with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during her December 2018 arrest in Vancouver, court documents showed on Thursday.

The Canadian attorney general has filed affidavits asserting that information identifying Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou's electronic devices was not shared with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during her December 2018 arrest in Vancouver, court documents showed on Thursday. Meng, 47, is charged in the United States with bank fraud and she is accused of misleading HSBC Holdings PLC about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business in Iran, which is under US sanctions. Meng has said she is innocent and is fighting extradition. In early October Meng and her lawyers asserted that members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had illegally shared sensitive identifying information about her electronic devices with the FBI. "The applicant's allegation that the information was shared by the RCMP with the FBI is unfounded," lawyers for Canada's attorney general said in court documents released to media on Thursday. Huawei was not available for immediate comment. Canada's attorney general filed eight affidavits this month stating that members of the FBI and RCMP were discussing what information would be necessary in the case of a mutual legal assistance treaty request is made by the United States, which is made by one country to another when requiring the exchange of information to enforce laws. The RCMP did not share the information, the affidavits written by past and present members of the police force stated. The lawyers for Canada's attorney general added in their letter that the information being gathered but not shared showed a "good faith attempt" by the RCMP "to ensure that any sharing would be done in accordance with the law." Meng and her lawyers returned to a British Columbia court this month, requesting additional documents pertaining to Meng's arrest at the Vancouver International Airport at the request of the United States on Dec. 1, 2018. Meng's argument is part of a broader strategy to prove that her arrest was illegal and violated her rights according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If Canadian officials abused their authority, her lawyers say, the extradition proceedings should be halted. The official extradition trial will begin in January 2020. "In any event, the allegations could not result in the most drastic of remedies, a stay of proceedings," the lawyers for the Canadian attorney general said.

Canada denies sharing Huawei CFO Meng's devices details with FBI: Report

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday that Facebook's proposed move to encrypt its popular messaging program would turn the platform into a "dream come true for predators and child pornographers."

Wray, addressing a crowd of law enforcement and child protection officials at the Department of Justice in Washington, said that Facebook's plan would produce "a lawless space created not by the American people or their representatives but by the owners of one big company."

Facebook intends to add encryption of wide swathes of communications on its platform.

His speech, which came ahead of an address on the same topic by Attorney General William Barr, ratchets up the pressure on Facebook as the US and allied governments renew their push to weaken the digital protections around the messages billions of people exchange each day.

Wray's speech is part of a renewed push by the American, Australian, and British governments to force tech companies to help them circumvent the encryption that helps keeps digital communications secure.

Debates over encryption have been rumbling for more than 25 years, but officials' anxiety has increased as major tech companies move toward automatically encrypting the messages on their platforms and the data held on their phones.

In the past, officials have cited the threat of terrorism to buttress their campaigns again encryption. But as the Islamic State and other extremist groups fade from the headlines, governments are trying a different tack, invoking the threat of child abuse to argue for "lawful access" to these devices.

Facebook's privacy-focused move, announced by founder Mark Zuckerberg earlier this year, is causing particular consternation because the platform is the source of millions of tips to authorities about child abuse images every year.

Zuckerberg, speaking on the company's weekly internal Q&amp;A livestream, defended the decision, saying he was "optimistic" that Facebook would be able to identify predators even in encrypted systems using the same tools it used to fight election interference.

"We're going to lose the ability to find those kids who need to be rescued," Wray said. "We're going to lose the ability to find the bad guys."

However, many of those outside the law enforcement have applauded Facebook's push for privacy and security. Academics, experts, and privacy groups have long worried that circumventing the protections around private communications would open dangerous vulnerabilities that could make the entire internet less safe - and leave billions of users exposed to abusive surveillance.

Wray steered clear of making any specific proposal, saying that "companies themselves are best placed" to offer a way for law enforcement to get around encryption.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday that Facebook's proposed move to encrypt its popular messaging program would turn the platform into a "dream come true for predators and child pornographers.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday that Facebook's proposed move to encrypt its popular messaging program would turn the platform into a "dream come true for predators and child pornographers." Wray, addressing a crowd of law enforcement and child protection officials at the Department of Justice in Washington, said that Facebook's plan would produce "a lawless space created not by the American people or their representatives but by the owners of one big company." Facebook intends to add encryption of wide swathes of communications on its platform. His speech, which came ahead of an address on the same topic by Attorney General William Barr, ratchets up the pressure on Facebook as the US and allied governments renew their push to weaken the digital protections around the messages billions of people exchange each day. Wray's speech is part of a renewed push by the American, Australian, and British governments to force tech companies to help them circumvent the encryption that helps keeps digital communications secure. Debates over encryption have been rumbling for more than 25 years, but officials' anxiety has increased as major tech companies move toward automatically encrypting the messages on their platforms and the data held on their phones. In the past, officials have cited the threat of terrorism to buttress their campaigns again encryption. But as the Islamic State and other extremist groups fade from the headlines, governments are trying a different tack, invoking the threat of child abuse to argue for "lawful access" to these devices. Facebook's privacy-focused move, announced by founder Mark Zuckerberg earlier this year, is causing particular consternation because the platform is the source of millions of tips to authorities about child abuse images every year. Zuckerberg, speaking on the company's weekly internal Q&A livestream, defended the decision, saying he was "optimistic" that Facebook would be able to identify predators even in encrypted systems using the same tools it used to fight election interference. "We're going to lose the ability to find those kids who need to be rescued," Wray said. "We're going to lose the ability to find the bad guys." However, many of those outside the law enforcement have applauded Facebook's push for privacy and security. Academics, experts, and privacy groups have long worried that circumventing the protections around private communications would open dangerous vulnerabilities that could make the entire internet less safe - and leave billions of users exposed to abusive surveillance. Wray steered clear of making any specific proposal, saying that "companies themselves are best placed" to offer a way for law enforcement to get around encryption.

FBI director warns Facebook could become platform of 'child pornographers'

Qatar will inaugurate the third of its eight World Cup stadiums when the Education City ground hosts the Club World Cup semi-final tie on December 18, FIFA said on Monday.

The 40,000-seat venue seven kilometres (four miles) outside central Doha will also host the third-place play-off and the final of the tournament which gets underway on December 11.

The inaugural game will see Liverpool, as European champions, face either CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey, Al Sadd of Qatar or minnows Hienghene Sport of New Caledonia who are Oceania champions.

The 2022 hosts have so far inaugurated the newly-built al-Janoub stadium in May, as well as the Khalifa International stadium which opened in 1976 and was relaunched in 2017 after a full refurbishment.

"With all three venues located a maximum of 12 kilometres from central Doha, the FIFA Club World Cup 2019 will provide a glimpse of Qatar's compact nature ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022," FIFA said in a statement.

"Taking place around the same time of the year and with matches kicking off from 17:00 local time, this year's tournament will also give teams and fans alike the chance to experience Qatar's mild winter."

Average temperatures are expected to range between 15 and 24 Celsius, it added.

Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary-general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said following Al-Janoub's opening in May that two further new stadiums would be ready "by the end of this year (or) first-quarter" 2020.

The exact date would depend on the timing of events to launch the two venues, he added.

"By 2021 all our stadiums will be ready," he said.

Qatar will inaugurate the third of its eight World Cup stadiums when the Education City ground hosts the Club World Cup semi-final tie on December 18, FIFA said on Monday.

Qatar will inaugurate the third of its eight World Cup stadiums when the Education City ground hosts the Club World Cup semi-final tie on December 18, FIFA said on Monday. The 40,000-seat venue seven kilometres (four miles) outside central Doha will also host the third-place play-off and the final of the tournament which gets underway on December 11. The inaugural game will see Liverpool, as European champions, face either CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey, Al Sadd of Qatar or minnows Hienghene Sport of New Caledonia who are Oceania champions. The 2022 hosts have so far inaugurated the newly-built al-Janoub stadium in May, as well as the Khalifa International stadium which opened in 1976 and was relaunched in 2017 after a full refurbishment. "With all three venues located a maximum of 12 kilometres from central Doha, the FIFA Club World Cup 2019 will provide a glimpse of Qatar's compact nature ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022," FIFA said in a statement. "Taking place around the same time of the year and with matches kicking off from 17:00 local time, this year's tournament will also give teams and fans alike the chance to experience Qatar's mild winter." Average temperatures are expected to range between 15 and 24 Celsius, it added. Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary-general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said following Al-Janoub's opening in May that two further new stadiums would be ready "by the end of this year (or) first-quarter" 2020. The exact date would depend on the timing of events to launch the two venues, he added. "By 2021 all our stadiums will be ready," he said.

Qatar to inaugurate new 2022 stadium during Club World Cup

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