Domestic extremists have been developing plans to attack the U.S. electric sector, according to an intelligence bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security released on Tuesday. The report, issued by DHS’ Office of Intelligence and Analysis to law enforcement agencies and utility operators, stated that extremists “have developed credible, specific plans to attack electricity infrastructure since at least 2020.” The report warned that extremists “adhering to a range of ideologies will likely continue to plot and encourage physical attacks against electrical infrastructure.”

The bulletin noted that without significant technical knowledge or insider assistance, attackers would be unlikely to produce widespread, multi-state outages, but attacks could still cause physical damage and put people and operations at risk. Some domestic extremists reportedly believe that the largely remote and dispersed nature of the electric grid would allow time to conduct an attack while evading detection by law enforcement. The DHS intelligence bulletin said that extremists’ use of encrypted messaging platforms and simple tactics such as firearms and explosives will likely make these attacks difficult to detect. “These perceptions are likely reinforced by the attack against a Metcalf, California electric substation in April 2013, when unidentified individuals targeted the site with rifle rounds and escaped before law enforcement could respond, nearly disabling power to the surrounding area,” the memo said.

The bulletin listed several past incidents of concern that informed the intelligence assessment. As of December 2020, law enforcement was reportedly investigating the suspected plans of white supremacists to attack power stations in the southeastern U.S. as part of an effort to “wreak havoc” in the event that they disagreed with the outcome of the November 2020 election. DHS also mentioned four suspected extremists who were charged in October 2020 with conspiracy to damage transformers in Idaho and the arrest in May 2020 of three alleged militia extremists tied to the Boogaloo movement who were charged in a conspiracy to attack an electrical substation in Las Vegas. 

Additionally, DHS noted that there have been online attempts over the last year to inspire individuals with little or no training to target electricity infrastructure. It cited a video and manifesto released by a racially-motivated extremist group in June 2021 on an encrypted messaging channel that called for “lone wolf” attacks against targets including the electric grid and power plants. Associated Press, CNN, The Daily Beast, The Hill  

Oath Keepers leader pleads not guilty to seditious conspiracy charge: Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the right-wing Oath Keepers, and nine of his co-defendants pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges that they planned and participated in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Nine of the 10 defendants who appeared virtually before Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. were already facing previous charges stemming from their alleged participation in the riot before the indictment accusing them of seditious conspiracy was brought against them earlier this month. Another man, Edward Vallejo, who was recently ordered detained pending trial, was not present for Tuesday’s arraignment. Rhodes remains detained as a Texas judge considers whether to grant his request for pretrial release. The 11 defendants are now set to stand trial in July. 

Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors said they are seeking a prison term of four years and three months for Nicholas Languerand, who has pleaded guilty to a felony charge after throwing objects at police during the Capitol riot and boasting about it on social media. He is expected to be sentenced today. CBS News, The Hill, Reuters
Related:
Politico: Judge Presses Ahead with April Trial for Several Oath Keepers
Reuters: U.S. Congress’ Hearings on Capitol Riot Could Come by March

Two men arrested in UK as part of Texas synagogue hostage-taker investigation: Two men were reportedly arrested in Manchester in the UK on Wednesday as part of the investigation into the January 15 hostage incident at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. The men reportedly remain in custody for questioning. UK counterterrorism investigators have been helping U.S. authorities look into the incident, which is being treated by the FBI as a hate crime and an act of terrorism. The hostage taker, Malik Faisal Akram, had been known to UK security services and had been the subject of a brief investigation in 2020, a UK official said on Tuesday. The investigation was closed when authorities determined Akram to no longer be a threat. Akram died as police stormed the synagogue at the end of the hours-long hostage incident. British police had previously said they had arrested four people over the incident, including two teenagers in Manchester, one man in Birmingham, another man in Manchester. They have since been released without charge. BBC, CNN, Reuters 

State Department approves $2.5 billion in arms sales to Egypt: The State Department on Tuesday announced that it has approved $2.5 billion in proposed arms sales to Egypt. The agency approved a $2.2 billion sale to the Egyptian government for 12 C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft and related equipment, and a separate $355 million sale for three SPS-48 Land Based radars and equipment. According to a press release, the sale “will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East.” In September, the administration released $170 million in military aid to Egypt but put another $130 million on hold, conditioned on Egypt dropping prosecutions and charges against human rights activists and organizations. Congressional Democrats on Tuesday urged Secretary of State Blinken not to certify that Egypt has met those conditions, and called on the administration to reprogram the money, citing concerns over political prisoners and human rights abuses. State Department spokesperson Ned Price stated that the U.S. intends to make “additional progress in human rights” as a way to strengthen U.S.-Egypt relations. CNN, Defense News, The Hill 
Related:
Politico: Letter: House Democrats Call for End of U.S. Saudi Contract

Deputy AG says DOJ investigating fake Trump electors: Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said on Tuesday that the Department of Justice is investigating fake electors that supported former President Trump during the 2020 presidential election. False documents were reportedly sent to the National Archives in December alleging that electors for the Electoral College supported Trump in seven states that President Biden had won. The fake elector certificates were sent from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, Michigan, and New Mexico. Monaco did not go into further detail about the investigation, but said the department is “going to follow the facts and the law … to address conduct of any kind and at any level that is part of an assault on our democracy.” ​​Multiple officials, including Michigan’s attorney general, have called on the Justice Department to investigate the documents and take action if needed. The Hill 

Judge temporarily reinstates New York’s indoor mask mandate: An appeals judge restored New York’s mask mandate on Tuesday. The order requires masks in schools, health care facilities, homeless shelters, jails, public transportation, and in any indoor public area where vaccination is not required for entry. Appellate Division Justice Robert Miller issued a stay to retain the rule pending ongoing court procedures for the case, court documents showed. He offered no opinion on the mandate’s legality. Miller’s decision followed Assistant Attorney General Judith Vale’s argument against removing the mask mandate based on the Department of Health’s “ample statutory authority” to issue the order. Attorney General Letitia James said her office would continue defending the mandate in court. Governor Kathy Hochul also voiced approval of the decision. Another hearing about the stay is expected to take place on January 28. Earlier on Tuesday, some New York school districts made masks optional for students and teachers before the appeal was formally filed. State education officials told administrators they should continue enforcing the mask mandate. ABC News, Associated Press, The Hill 

Omicron appears to cause less severe disease, says CDC study: The Omicron variant is on average causing less severe disease than previous variants of the coronavirus, a new CDC study found. The report looked at the ratio of cases during three periods of the pandemic to emergency room visits and hospitalizations. “Despite Omicron seeing the highest reported numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations during the pandemic, disease severity indicators, including length of stay, ICU admission, and death, were lower than during previous pandemic peaks,” it stated. Among children under 18, lengths of hospital stay during Omicron were reportedly similar to previous periods, but ICU admissions were lower. The strain on health systems stemming from the large numbers of infections underscores the importance of hospital surge capacity and the ability to adequately staff health-care systems, the report said. CNN, Washington Post 

Biden administration withdraws workplace vaccine rule for large employers: The Biden administration is withdrawing its requirement that large employers mandate workers be vaccinated or regularly tested, the Labor Department said on Tuesday, citing the Supreme Court’s decision to block the rule earlier this month. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said that while it was withdrawing the emergency temporary standard, the rule would remain as a proposal for a permanent requirement. “OSHA continues to strongly encourage the vaccination of workers against the continuing dangers posed by COVID-19 in the workplace,” the agency said. The withdrawal of the emergency mandate will be effective today. NBC News, Reuters 

EU easing travel restrictions for vaccinated Europeans: The European Union announced on Tuesday that it will ease travel restrictions for vaccinated residents in the 27-nation bloc. According to the EU’s recommendation, residents with a COVID-19 digital certificate stating they are fully vaccinated, a certificate of their recent recovery from the coronavirus, or a negative test result within 72 hours will be able to move freely across the bloc. The EU also recommended additional restrictions for residents who are unvaccinated or have not recovered from COVID-19 and are coming from areas with a high rate of infections. The rules will take effect on February 1. New York Times, The Hill
Related:
Reuters: Netherlands to Further Ease COVID-19 Curbs Despite Record Infections

Expert panel in Israel recommends fourth vaccine dose for adults: An expert panel on Tuesday advised the Israeli government to begin offering a fourth vaccine dose to residents over the age of 18. The advisory committee cited research that shows a fourth dose provides three to five times the level of protection against serious disease and double the protection against infection compared to three doses. The recommendation still needs to be approved by the country’s Health Ministry director in order to go into effect. Israel is offering a second booster to residents over the age of 60 and those at high risk, and began offering third doses to the general population last summer. Associated Press, The Hill  
Related:
The Hill: Fauci: Omicron-Specific Vaccines ‘Prudent’ But May Be Unnecessary 

Migrant abuses continue in Libya alongside EU border training: A confidential European Union military report calls for continuing a EU program to train and equip Libya’s coast guard and navy despite concerns about their treatment of migrants and the lack of any central authority in the nation. The report was circulated to EU officials earlier this month and compiled by Italian navy Rear Adm. Stefano Turchetto, head of the EU arms embargo surveillance mission, or Operation Irini. The report acknowledges the “excessive use of force” by Libyan authorities, adding that EU training is “no longer fully followed.” It also notes that the “political stalemate” in Libya has hindered Europe’s training program, making it difficult to enforce “proper behavioral standards [that are] compliant with human rights, especially when dealing with irregular migrants.” EU spokesman Peter Stano confirmed that the training program “remains firm on the table to increase the capacity of the Libyan authorities to save lives at sea.” The European Commission and the EU’s External Action Service declined to comment on the report. Associated Press 

Video shows adult migrants released for transport across U.S.: Dozens of adult migrants were moved from a makeshift processing center in Texas to a local airport for flights to various U.S. cities, according to video footage taken Tuesday. The migrants said they were being moved to Atlanta, Houston, and Miami. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that she was “not sure” about the operation, but said that “we continue to be under Title 42,” which allows the government to deny people entry to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. “Migrants who cannot be expelled under Title 42 are placed into immigration proceedings, and one of those avenues could be placement in an alternative-to-detention program in the interior of the United States,” she said. “Sometimes, that means moving migrants to other parts of the United States to move to different detention facilities, where they wait for next steps in the immigration process, such as a court hearing, and are required to check in with a local [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] office.” Fox News, New York Post 

39 missing after suspected smuggling boat capsizes off Florida coast: Thirty-nine people have been missing for three days after a suspected smuggling boat capsized off the coast of Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Authorities were alerted Tuesday after a man was found clinging to a vessel about 45 miles away from Fort Pierce Inlet, the Coast Guard’s 7th District said in a statement. The man told the Coast Guard that he and 39 others were on a boat that had run into severe weather, which caused the boat to sink, after starting the trip from Bimini, in the Bahamas, on Saturday. The man said that no one on board had been wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard said they are actively searching for the 39 other people on board and that the incident was part of a suspected human smuggling case. Associated Press, The Hill 

UN says more than 50 million people affected by urban conflicts: More than 50 million people are affected by conflict in urban areas—including Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and Yemen—where they face a much higher risk of being killed or injured, the United Nations chief said on Tuesday. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in urban settings during conflicts, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that civilians may be attacked if they are mistaken for combatants. Guterres warned that the risk of harm to civilians “rises when combatants move among them and put military facilities and equipment near civilian infrastructure,” and urged combatants not to use explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas He also said urban warfare has contributed to record numbers of refugees and internally displaced people, in addition to putting civilians at risk of sieges and blockades that have led to starvation. Associated Press  

U.S. bank freezes accounts of Afghanistan’s U.S. embassy: Diplomats of the former Afghan government who have kept their jobs in the U.S. since the Taliban seized power in August 2021 have reportedly had their official bank accounts suspended. Citibank reportedly suspended the accounts of the embassy in Washington and two Afghan consulates in the U.S. over a month ago. About 90 Afghan diplomats remain in four diplomatic posts in the U.S. The suspension of their official bank accounts has negatively impacted the embassy’s financial transactions, including salaries, rent, and health care insurance payments, the Afghan diplomats said. A State Department spokesperson said that “there has been no change in the accreditation status of Afghan mission members,” but declined to comment on the account suspensions. Voice of America 
Related:
Associated Press: Afghan Talks Focus on Aid, Women’s Rights As Hunger Grows 

Biden says no American forces moving into Ukraine, warns of sanctions if Moscow invades: President Biden on Tuesday said that there will be no American forces moving into Ukraine and that he would consider personally sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with other Russian targets for punishment, if Putin decides to invade Ukraine. “If he were to move in with all those forces, it’d be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world,” Biden said. In response, Moscow warned today that imposing sanctions on Putin personally would not hurt him but would be “politically destructive.” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg similarly said on Tuesday that the alliance would not be sending combat troops to Ukraine. “But we need to be sure that there is no misunderstanding about our readiness, our commitment to protect and defend all allies, especially in the eastern part of the alliance,” he added. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was watching NATO troop movements “with profound concern.” Earlier on Tuesday, the Biden administration announced that it was working with gas and crude oil suppliers from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia to bolster supplies to Europe to blunt the threat that Russia could cut off fuel shipments over escalating tensions.

Also on Tuesday, a U.S. plane carrying military equipment and munitions landed in Kyiv, the third shipment of a $200 million security package to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Belgium and Ukraine to meet with senior Ukrainian officials to reinforce U.S. support for Ukrainian sovereignty. “The additional troop deployments the President is considering [in Eastern Europe] would send a strong signal of support to our Allies and deterrence to Moscow. Such a deployment would, of course, be about deterrence, not war, which would require Congressional authorization,” Meeks said.

Today, Russia held military drills and deployed more forces and fighter jets to Belarus for exercises next month. The drills come as the Kremlin is expected to meet with officials from France, Germany, and Ukraine for “Normandy format” talks in Paris. The Normandy talks to end the war in eastern Ukraine between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists have met for years without significant progress, but today’s talks may be seen as a positive sign of diplomacy. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, called the talks “a strong signal towards achieving peace in eastern Ukraine.” CNN, Military Times, New York Times, Reuters, The Hill 
Related:
Associated Press: What Are U.S. Options for Sanctions Against Putin?
Reuters: Finland Enhances Military Readiness As Tension Rises Over Ukraine  
The Hill: Putin, Macron to Hold Call on Friday Amid Rising Russia-Ukraine Tensions 

North Korean internet downed by suspected cyber attacks: North Korea’s internet appears to have been hit by a second wave of outages in as many weeks, possibly caused by a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, researchers said on Wednesday. The latest incident took place for about six hours on Wednesday morning local time, and came a day after North Korea conducted its fifth missile test this month. Cybersecurity experts said that at the height of the suspected attack, all internet traffic to and from North Korea was taken down. Hours later, servers that handle email were accessible, but some individual web servers of institutions such as the Air Koryo airline, North Korea’s ministry of foreign affairs, and Naenara, which is the official portal for the North Korean government, continued to experience stress and downtime. A similar incident reportedly took place on January 14. Business Insider, Reuters

Frenchman gets 8 years in prison in Iran, denies spy charges: A Frenchman with dual Iranian citizenship detained in Iran was sentenced on Tuesday to eight years in prison for espionage and eight months for anti-government propaganda. 36-year-old Benjamin Brière was arrested in May 2020 after flying a drone near the Iran-Turkmenistan border and questioning Iran’s obligatory Islamic headscarf for women on social media. Brière began a hunger strike on December 25 to protest mistreatment in the prison of the northeastern city of Mashhad where he is being held. The court hearing took place last Thursday, when Brière was charged for “cooperation with a foreign hostile nation against Islamic Republic of Iran.” Brière’s lawyer, Philippe Valent, said the charges are unfounded. France’s foreign ministry called Brière’s conviction “unacceptable” and said it had “no basis in fact.” Associated Press, BBC

Twitter sees record number of government demands to remove content: Twitter said on Tuesday that governments around the world made requests to remove content from a record number of user accounts between January and June last year. The platform said governments made 43,387 legal demands for the removal of content from 196,878 accounts in the six-month period. Ninety-five percent of these legal demands came from five countries, with the most coming from Japan, followed by Russia, Turkey, India, and South Korea. Twitter is blocked in several countries, including China and North Korea. Twitter said it “withheld” access to content or required accounts to take down posts in response to 54 percent of the demands. “This threat to privacy and freedom of expression is a deeply worrying trend that requires our full attention,” Twitter’s vice president of global public policy and philanthropy Sinead McSweeney said. Twitter’s report also showed that government requests to preserve account information fell four percent compared to the last six months of 2020. The United States accounted for 57 percent of preservation requests. Reuters, The Hill 
Related:
Associated Press: Two More Poles Identified as Victims of Hacking with Spyware  

Taiwan says government officials will boycott Beijing Olympics: Taiwan announced on Tuesday that it will not send government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said its athletes will still compete at the event, adding that the island’s Olympic committee will lead a delegation to China and handle matters related to the Olympics. Four Taiwanese athletes have already qualified to participate in the Games. The Council called on China not to use political factors to interfere with the competition. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday voiced his support for China. “Together we stand against the politicization of sport and demonstrative boycotts. We support the traditional Olympic values, above all, equality and fairness,” he said. The Hill, Associated Press

Burkina Faso junta to start reopening its air borders after coup: Burkina Faso’s army said on Tuesday that it will begin reopening its air borders following this week’s coup. Land borders remain open for the transport of essential goods, humanitarian supplies, and equipment, and other material for the defense and security forces, according to a statement signed by junta leader Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Meanwhile, hundreds of people marched through the country’s capital on Tuesday in support of the new leadership. Some demonstrators compared Col. Assimi Goita, Mali’s junta ruler who rose to power after a coup in August 2020, to Damiba, saying that military rule was the only way to pull both countries out of crisis. Others called to terminate ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc that sanctioned Mali for delaying elections and condemned the military takeover in Burkina Faso.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he stands by ECOWAS in condemning the coup and that his priority is seeing that President Roch Marc Christian Kabore is safe. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasan, said she “deeply deplores” the military takeover and called on the military to immediately release Kabore and other high-level officials who have been detained. Bloomberg, Associated Press