All posts tagged: spooks

Russian spooks hack Wi-Fi routers to spy on West – POLITICO

Russian spooks hack Wi-Fi routers to spy on West – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Officials believe the hacking group used the stolen data to conduct cyberattacks, information sabotage and intelligence gathering and focused on military, government and critical infrastructure targets. “The Russians tried their best to cover all vulnerable routers, while redirecting requests only to domains they were interested in. For example, *.gov.ua, or with names corresponding to Microsoft Outlook, military systems,” said a law enforcement official taking part in the joint operation, granted anonymity to disclose more details. Ukraine’s SBU said “the Russian special services paid special attention to information exchanged between employees and servicemen of state bodies, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and enterprises of the defense-industrial complex.” Agencies tied the campaign to hacking group Fancy Bear (also known as APT28 and Forest Blizzard), which has previously been identified by Western officials as part of the Russian military intelligence service GRU. Hackers exploited weaknesses in routers since at least 2024, including in popular TP-Link routers. By hacking the routers, they were able to snoop on data exchanges from mobile devices and laptops and bypass encryption protocols, …

UK’s Reeves spooks MPs with hunt for defense cash – POLITICO

UK’s Reeves spooks MPs with hunt for defense cash – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

However, it is not clear which element of the welfare budget might be singled out. Keir Starmer’s government was forced into a major climbdown last year after facing a revolt over plans to reduce the cost of disability benefits, and is currently attempting to draw up alternative reforms. The investment plan is now effectively “on hold” until the Treasury finds new sources of revenue, two people working on the DIP said. No. 10 Downing Street and the U.K. Treasury declined to comment. The defense industry has been warning for months of the damage caused to businesses by the failure to publish the DIP, which was originally scheduled for last fall. Asked about it Monday, Defence Secretary John Healey failed to give assurances that the document would be published before the pre-election “purdah” period, meaning it would not come until May. Separately, Starmer has stressed that the U.K. needs to go “faster” on overall defense spending, raising the expectation that Reeves will need to hunt for additional billions during this parliament. John Bew, an academic and …

Spooks and Marvel legends confirmed for new adaptation of classic story

Spooks and Marvel legends confirmed for new adaptation of classic story

Published by Daniella Wilson

Classic adventure story Treasure Island will be reimagined as a “high-stakes coming-of-age” series for a “new generation”, with David Oyelowo (Spooks) and Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter) set to star. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary novel, the upcoming adaptation will chart “the transformation of teenager Jim Hawkins from sheltered boy to emboldened young pirate”. Jim will be played by rising star Tom Sweet, who you may have spotted as a young Pip in Steven Knight’s Great Expectations, with Oyelowo taking on the role of the “charming [yet] terrifying” veteran pirate Long John Silver. Mission: Impossible and rumoured Avengers: Doomsday cast member Atwell co-stars as Jim’s mother, Bess, whose “clever and decisive actions leave him holding valuable knowledge that puts both of their lives in danger”. Rounding out the Treasure Island cast is Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) as duplicitous British agent Aaron Graham and Tomer Capone (The Boys) as jaded seaman Billy Bones. David Oyelowo will play Long John Silver in Treasure Island. Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic The synopsis teases: “Jim has to grow up fast as …

Iran reopens airspace after hours-long shutdown spooks airlines

Iran reopens airspace after hours-long shutdown spooks airlines

Published by Sam Flores

Security forces are seen during a pro-government rally on Jan. 12, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Getty Images | Getty Images News | Getty Images Iran reopened its airspace early Thursday after a temporary closure that barred most incoming and outgoing flights for several hours amid concerns the U.S. could carry out military strikes, raising risks for airlines. The restriction, which ended at 3:30 a.m UTC, or 10:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, was in place for 5 hours. Live data from flight tracker FlightRadar24 showed most aircraft still skirting Iranian airspace as of 4 a.m. UTC, though some domestic carriers had begun resuming flights. The initial order exempted international flights to and from Tehran, provided they received prior approval from Iran’s civil aviation authority. The airspace closure comes as tensions escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened intervention following a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran. Trump has publicly said he would “come to the rescue” of Iranian protestors if the violent crackdown continued. The U.S. has begun relocating some personnel and equipment from American military …

The ‘Sell America’ market returns after DOJ’s criminal probe of the Fed spooks investors

The ‘Sell America’ market returns after DOJ’s criminal probe of the Fed spooks investors

Published by Sam Flores

When investors around the world woke up Monday to news that the U.S. Justice Department had subpoenaed the Federal Reserve in a criminal investigation, it rekindled fears about whether America was still the gold standard for investment. The result was a return of what is dubbed a “Sell America” market, which first emerged last April after President Donald Trump’s surprise tariff announcement. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the criminal probe was an intimidation tactic by the Trump administration because the president was frustrated by the central bank’s independent decisions on interest rates and its refusal to comply with Trump’s demands for ultra-low rates. Powell’s statement immediately set off alarms for investors and trading desks around the globe. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq opened slightly lower before ending the day slightly higher. The yields on U.S. government bonds soared to the highest levels since September 2025, a sign of worry in the markets that a less independent Federal Reserve might not be able to control inflation. Yields for the 10-year Treasury, which mortgage rates closely track, …