US slams ‘smear campaign' as pro-Iran hackers threaten to release Trump material
The US warned of continued Iranian cyberattacks after American strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities and the threats they could pose to services, economic systems and companies.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the threat to expose emails about the president is 'nothing more than digital propaganda' meant to damage Mr Trump and other federal officials.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is among the figures whose emails are reported to be involved (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
'A hostile foreign adversary is threatening to illegally exploit purportedly stolen and unverified material in an effort to distract, discredit and divide,' CISA spokeswoman Marci McCarthy wrote in a social media post.
'These criminals will be found, and they will be brought to justice.'
Reuters reported that it contacted the alleged hackers online, and they told the news organisation that they had a large cache of emails from Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles, other senior advisers and porn actress Stormy Daniels, to whom a hush money payment led to Mr Trump's criminal conviction.
Federal prosecutors charged three Iranians last year on allegations of hacking into Mr Trump's presidential campaign. Hackers also targeted the campaign of Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and unsuccessfully tried to leak material supposedly taken from Mr Trump to Democrats and members of the media.
Stormy Daniels (Alamy/PA)
The threat to release more hacked emails was reported on the day that CISA, the FBI and the National Security Agency issued a public bulletin warning that hacking groups supportive of Tehran may attack US interests despite a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
The hackers, authorities warned, could seek to disrupt or disable critical infrastructure systems such as utilities, transportation and economic hubs. They also could target defence contractors or other American companies with ties to Israel, the agencies said.
The bulletin outlined recommendations, including the use of regular software updates and strong password management systems to shore up digital defences.
Hackers backing Tehran have targeted US banks, defence contractors and energy companies after American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, but so far have not caused widespread disruptions.
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Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Potential job losses in Leitrim if heavy tariffs imposed on alcohol says councillor
An escalation of tariffs on alcohol products produced in Ireland could severely impact producers in counties like Leitrim, Donegal, and Sligo where multiple distilleries are operating. The EU and the United States are currently in talks in relation to trade and tariffs. The talks are due to conclude before next Wednesday, July 9, at which point the US president Donald Trump, had threatened tariffs of 50pc will be imposed if agreement is not reached. Earlier this year, large rate tariffs were paused for 90 days but there is currently a 10pc tariff on EU goods going into the United States. Leitrim Councillor Enda McGloin said the potential tariffs on alcohol would not only impact the sale of the products but also affect the growth and expansion of businesses. He said distilleries such as Drumshanbo Gun Power Gin in Co Leitrim need their product to be exempt from the tariffs or there is a risk of job losses. 'At Drumshanbo Gun Power Gin, 35% to 40% of product produced is currently going to the United States. 'My concern is if the trade agreement was to fall away and the American government proceed to impose a very serious level of tariffs on whiskey or other spirits produced here. 'Another concern is that in order to have a negative impact against Donegal Trump and the Republican party, that the EU would target Bourbon. 'This would trigger further reprisals which could then impact the sale of Irish Whiskey, French wines and numerous other goods. ADVERTISEMENT 'That would trigger a trade war which could add tariffs of up to 25% to 30% or more and that would have a dramatic impact on the future growth of enterprises here. 'It would also have a negative impact on long term growth and it may even result in job layoffs as there is a significant amount of people employed in the sector. 'Any sort of a scenario where the drinks industry within the European Union is targeted, it transfers itself down to the ground here in Leitrim and the Northwest,' said Cllr McGloin. Cllr McGloin added that Tánaiste Simon Harris has been in negotiations with Europe and it is hoped there will be no reprisals against Bourbon. 'He is hopeful that a coercive trade agreement between the European Union and the United States could be reached and would negate the need for any major tariffs. "We have to see what the outcome will be on the talks. "The drinks industry has asked the Irish government to support non retaliatory tariffs against Bourbon and the government has agreed on that and have let their views known to the European Union. "We have support in countries like France, Holland and other major producers in the EU. "I am glad to see the Minister for Trade clearly supporting Irish Whiskey and drinks companies in this difficult time and I hope this will pay dividends during the negotiations,' said Cllr McGloin. Despite the uncertainty, the distillery in Drumshanbo is operating at full production and is planning a €1.6 million expansion. Cllr McGloin believes a successful agreement could unlock major opportunities for the Northwest. 'If we can get over this and successfully agree, we could be in a position of a positive outcome. 'We could see dramatic growth and locally, long term strategic growth in the Drumshanbo production facility which could mean more jobs and more opportunities for the county and also for the Northwest,' said Cllr McGloin.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
North Korea ‘offers 30,000 MORE troops' for Putin's meatgrinder war after tyrant Kim Jong-un wept over soldiers' coffins
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The document adds Russian Ministry of Defence is "capable of providing needed equipment, weapons and ammunition' with the aim of 'further integration to Russian combat units.' Ukrainian intelligence also reported that Russian military aircraft are being modified to carry thousands of military personnel. Last week, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) told a closed-door parliamentary committee meeting that a dispatch of those 6,000 additional military personnel will likely come as early as July or August, North Korea has begun recruiting soldiers to be sent to Russia , according to Lee Seong Kweun, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. He told reporters the NIS noted that North Korea's dispatch of combat troops last year came about one month after Shoigu visited North Korea and signed an agreement with Pyongyang officials. Most read in The US Sun In return for North Korea's supply of troops and weapons, Russia is believed to have given North Korea military and economic assistance. South Korea, the US and their allies are concerned that Russia could even transfer sensitive technologies that can enhance North Korea's nuclear program. Watch moment North Korean quadbike troops WIPED OUT as Putin sends waves into meatgrinder to retake Kursk from Ukraine In April, Kim Jong-un confirmed for the first time that North Korean troops were sent to fight alongside the Russians against Ukraine . Pyongyang's state TV and Kim's propaganda machine KCNA reported that North Korean soldiers made an "important contribution" to help the Russians flush out Kyiv's troops from Kursk. It said Kim deployed "sub-units of our armed forces" to Russia as part of a treaty with Moscow. The troops "participated in the operations for liberating the Kursk areas," the report added. North Korea "regards it as an honor to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation," KCNA said. Just two days ago, Kim draped flags over at least six coffins, and could be seen resting his hands on them in reflection. Watching the scenes back, the dictator's eyes shone with emotion. Other members of the audience - which reportedly included North Korean and Russian soldiers - were also visibly moved. Kim hosted a ceremony which remembered the soldiers taken out by Zelensky's brave army - and things got emotional for the tyrant. Thousands of North Koreans stood to attention in the vast auditorium, with Kim in the front row. Images of Kim draping the North Korean flag over soldiers' coffins were broadcast on a giant screen at the front while a huge orchestra played emotional music. 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Footage emerged recently of Kim Jong-un's fighters being sent to jog through snowy no-man's-land and fatally soak up Ukrainian ammo. 12 One of the men was found with documents giving him a fake identity Credit: East2West 12 The Russian-issued false document claimed that the man was from a remote region of Siberia Credit: East2West 12 A captured North Korean soldier said he thought he was sent for training 12 The prisoners of war are being given medical treatment while undergoing questioning from the Secret Service Credit: Getty
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Government pushing for key sectors to be exempt from Donald Trump's planned 10pc tariffs
It is now exactly a week to the July 9 deadline set by US president Donald Trump, after which he has threatened to slap a 50pc tariff on imports from the EU. Mr Burke said the Government does want a trade deal to be in place by July 9, rather than the deadline being extended, because 'we don't want any uncertainty to continue'. He has also pointed out that there is another deadline – of July 14 – when the European Commission has threatened to hit back with tariffs on some US imports. It is now expected that a headline or framework deal will be agreed by the deadline, with talks continuing afterwards about the precise details. Mr Trump's administration seems to be insisting on a 10pc baseline tariff, and the focus for Ireland and other EU states is to get a zero-for-zero exemption for some sectors. 'We're very keen to get a carve-out in key sectors that are centrally important to the Irish economy and indeed the European economy,' Mr Burke told a press conference in Dublin. 'We have aircraft leasing here, which is a significant component of the global marketplace. About 65pc of all aircraft leased is through Ireland. 'We have a very important life sciences sector, which is again key to, and strategic, to the resilience of Europe. So we're looking at key sectors like that, to see if we can get a landing zone on those areas.' The minister said he is 'hopeful rather than confident' about a positive outcome, and pointed out that July 9 is the deadline set by Mr Trump for the conclusion of talks on trade deals with a number of countries. He said this posed a 'huge challenge' to the US administration itself, 'in terms of the bandwidth, to be dealing with so many moving parts'. Asked if a baseline 10pc tariff and carve-outs for key sectors would now represent a "win' for Ireland, given Mr Trump's threat to impose 50pc levies, Mr Burke said he didn't see any tariff as a win. 'What it would mean for our agri-food sector is 10pc on top of existing tariffs in many of those key areas. We need to see what a new 10pc would mean – if your margin is 6pc, 7pc, 8pc, where does a 10pc tariff leave you? It is a huge concern still. 'Tariffs are bad. They constrain supply, cause supply-chain shortages and, in essence, make goods more expensive for consumers in both countries. That's not a good position to be in.' The Enterprise Minister said the US negotiators seem to want a quota system, so that America is able to export a certain amount of their key products to Europe, such as cars and beef. He also indicated that final arrangements will not be put in place by July 9. 'There's a lot of concerns in relation to how much of an actual trade deal it is,' he said. 'It's more of a framework for the establishment of further negotiations.' Mr Burke said the agri-food and drinks sectors were very much on his mind as the trade talks continue. 'Distilleries are going through a huge amount of uncertainty. Right now they have a huge amount of premium product in the US, and margins are significantly under pressure. That's a big concern to the government and we're working through our partners in Europe in connection with them, particularly in relation to counter measures.' The EU is being represented at the talks by Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, who is due to meet tomorrow with his US counterparts Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer. He will then brief EU governments on Friday.
