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Aldrich Ames, CIA officer convicted of spying for Moscow, dies at 84

Aldrich Ames, a former counterintelligence officer for the CIA who gained notoriety as a double agent for the Soviet Union and later Russia, has died. He was 84.

Ames, who was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland, died on Jan. 5, the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed to USA TODAY. The agency's inmate database did not list a cause or location of death.

Ames has been described as one of the most damaging spies in U.S. counterintelligence history. As a double agent, the FBI said Ames had compromised intelligence operations by leaking classified documents and the identities of CIA and FBI sources. Soviet authorities eventually executed some sources.

Former senior Central Intelligence Agency office Aldrich Hazen Ames is led from U.S. Federal Courthouse in Alexandria, Va. on Feb. 22, 1994, after being arraigned on charges of spying for the former Soviet Union. Ames' wife, Mari del Rosario Casas Ames, was also arraigned on the same charges. Ames and his wife were charged with spying for the former Soviet Union since 1985 and receiving more than 1.5 million USD. Aldrich Ames, a former counterintelligence officer for the CIA who gained notoriety as a double agent for the Soviet Union and later Russia, has died. He was 84. Look back at the case.

In this artist's sketch, former head of Soviet counter intelligence for the CIA Aldrich Hazen Ames (C), and his wife Maria del Rosario Ames (R), stand before the federal magistrate in Alexandria, Va. on Feb. 22, 1994 during their arraignment on charges of spying for the former Soviet Union and Russia. Aldrich Ames and his wife were accused of placing government secrets in

Accused CIA spy Aldrich Ames is driven from court March 1, 1994 after a magistrate ordered Ames and his wife Rosario held in jail without bond until trial.

US Marshals escort Aldrich Ames out of federal court on April 28, 1994 after he pleaded guilty to espionage and tax evasion charges and was sentenced to life in prison. Ames' wife Rosario Ames pleaded guilty to related, but lesser, espionage charges and will be sentenced on August 26.

James Woolsey (facing away from camera), on his last day as CIA director, testifies on Capitol Hill10 January before US Senators Bob Kerrey(L) D-Nebraska, Arlen Specter(C) R-Pennsylvania and Richard Lugar(L) R-Indiana, who are members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Woolsey told the committee that he could not assure the American people that the agency could avoid another spy scandal like the Aldrich Ames case.

Collection of letters from CIA former spy Aldrich Ames at the Rare Titanic Artifacts from Lifeboat No. 1 & Other Historic Autographs, Auction Sneak Peak at Lion Heart Autographs on Sept. 28, 2015 in New York City.

CIA double agent Aldrich Ames dies at 84

In February 1994, Ames was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of espionage. He later pleaded guilty to spying for Moscow and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

At the time of his arrest, the FBI said Ames was a 31-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency who was believed to have been spying for the Soviet Union and Russia since 1985. Federal authorities also accused Ames' wife, Rosario Ames, of aiding in his espionage activities.

Ames' espionage activities made him one of the highest-paid spies in history, according to the Center for Development of Security Excellence. He received a total of $4.6 million for his spying.

His case drew widespread scrutiny over the vulnerabilities within the CIA and shook confidence in federal agencies.

Ames' info compromised 'at least 100' US intelligence operations

Born in River Falls, Wisconsin, in 1941, Ames was the son of an alcoholic CIA officer. He later became a CIA case officer who specialized in Russian intelligence services, according to the FBI.

During his career, Ames worked in New York City and other countries, including Turkey, Mexico, and Italy. He was assigned to the CIA's Soviet/East European Division in 1985, where he "secretly volunteered to KGB officers at the USSR Embassy, Washington, D.C.," the FBI said.

The Center for Development of Security Excellence said Ames had been heavily in debt when he began selling classified information to the Soviet government.

"The information he provided led to the compromise of at least 100 U.S. intelligence operations and the execution of at least 10 U.S. sources," according to the center. "He ultimately gave the Soviet government the names of every American agent working in its country."

Hit men and CIA mind control:This group digs for truth behind US secrets

Federal authorities tipped off after agents disappeared at 'alarming rate'

The CIA and FBI were tipped off when they learned that agents were 'disappearing at an alarming rate," according to the Center for Development of Security Excellence. The FBI said it learned that Russian officials recruited by the United States were being arrested and executed.

"These human sources had provided critical intelligence information about the USSR, which was used by U.S. policy makers in determining U.S. foreign policy," the FBI said.

The FBI opened an investigation in May 1993 after reviewing information on "Ames's unexplained wealth," according to the agency. Following a 10-month investigation and searches of Ames' residence, the FBI discovered documents and other information that tied Ames to the Russian foreign intelligence service.

Ames was arrested by the FBI in Arlington, Virginia, in February 1994. He later confessed and pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit espionage and tax evasion in April 1994.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Aldrich Ames case: Former CIA officer who spied for Russia dies

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

January 07, 2026

Aldrich Ames, CIA officer convicted of spying for Moscow, dies at 84

Aldrich Ames, a former counterintelligence officer for the CIA who gained notoriety as a double agent for the Soviet Unio...

Power restored to thousands of Berlin households after attack on lines causes several-day outage

BERLIN (AP) — Power was being restored on Wednesday to thousands of households in Berlin that had been without electricity in freezing temperatures for four days following a suspected far-left attack on high-voltage lines, authorities said.

About 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses lost their supply on Saturday morning after a fire on a bridge that carries high-voltage cables over the Teltow Canal, in the southwest of the German capital, affecting an estimated 100,000 people.

Authorities were able gradually to reconnect many to the network, but several days of work were required to repair the damage. Some 25,500 households and 1,200 businesses were still without power on Tuesday, largely in the prosperous Zehlendorf district.

It was the longest blackout in the city since the end of World War II.

Berlin's power network operator said service was gradually being restored Wednesday to all remaining households, German news agency dpa reported.

Investigators have focused on a written claim of responsibility by a far-left group, headlined "Turning off the juice to the rulers," which said a gas-fired power plant in Berlin's Lichterfelde district had been "successfully sabotaged." It claimed that the aim of the action was to strike the fossil-fuel energy industry, not to cause power outages.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency said self-styled "Volcano Groups" have been carrying out attacks on infrastructure in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg since 2011. A 2024 attack on a pylon that supplies a Tesla factory near Berlin temporarily halted production.

On Tuesday, the German federal prosecutor's office said it was taking over the investigation, citing suspicions of anticonstitutional sabotage, membership in a terrorist organization and arson.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

January 07, 2026

Power restored to thousands of Berlin households after attack on lines causes several-day outage

BERLIN (AP) — Power was being restored on Wednesday to thousands of households in Berlin that had been without electricit...

Late Week Storm A Severe Weather Threat In South With Wind, Snow In Parts Of Midwest

A storm system later this week will bring a threat of severe weather to parts of the South, snow from the Rockies and parts of the Plains to the Great Lakes and strong winds through the Midwest and East this weekend.

This scenario will come in two rounds through Sunday. Let's first lay out the timing of this, then we'll go into the details on where the threat of severe weather, heavy rain, snow and wind are in play.

Forecast Timing

Wednesday night:Some thunderstorms may break out after midnight in parts of the Southern Plains from Oklahoma to northern Texas. Otherwise, areas of snow will blanket parts of the Rockies and Mountain West.

Thursday:Rain will spread as far north as the western Great Lakes. Thunderstorms may flare up from parts of Texas into the mid-Mississippi Valley. Some snow will continue in the Rockies, and rain could change to wet snow from parts of the Central Plains to Upper Michigan.

Friday:Snow may spread from the central and southern Rockies into parts of the Plains. Thunderstorms are expected to become more numerous in parts of the South, from eastern Texas to the Tennessee Valley. Some rain showers will spread as far north as upstate New York and New England.

Saturday:Snow is possible in parts of the western Great Lakes and upper Midwest, while more soaking rain spreads into the East as far north as parts of New England and upstate New York. Strong winds are possible in much of the Midwest and East. Thunderstorms will linger in parts of the Southeast and could develop as far north as the mid-Atlantic ahead of the cold front.

Sunday:Wind will likely be the biggest concern in the Midwest and East. Some showers may linger in eastern New England early in the morning. Wrap-around snow may linger from parts of the Great Lakes to the Appalachians, upstate New York and northern New England.

(MAPS:Daily US Forecast Rain, Snow Areas)

Potential Impacts

Severe Threat

For now, we expect the threat of strong thunderstorm winds, hail or tornadoes to be low both Wednesday night in the Plains and Thursday from Texas to the mid-Mississippi Valley.

The severe threat Friday in the lower Mississippi Valley may be a step higher, in the area shown in the map below.

That more elevated threat could last into Friday night or early Saturday in other parts of the Deep South and Tennessee Valley.

(MORE:What You Should Know About Severe Weather)

Snow, Heavy Rain

Given the lack of cold air in place, even for early January, this system doesn't look like a major snowmaker east of the Rockies. Generally light to moderate snowfall is expected in parts of the High Plains, upper Midwest and parts of the eastern Great Lakes and northern New England.

Locally heavy rain is most likely Friday into early Saturday in the Tennessee Valley, where local flash flooding is possible.

Wind, Colder Air

While strong wind gusts are possible in parts of the central and eastern U.S. Thursday and Friday, the biggest concern for high winds will be this weekend.

Saturday, strong winds with gusts occasionally over 40 mph, are possible throughout the Plains, Midwest, and increasingly the East as low pressure strengthens.

These strong winds will continue in the Midwest and East Sunday.

These wind gusts could be strong enough to down tree limbs and knock out power for some. In areas of snowfall, these winds could lead to reduced visibility and challenging driving conditions.

Some colder air will be dragged behind the storm into the Midwest, South and East, but it won't be bitterly cold, nor will it last long.

(MAPS:10-Day US Forecast Highs/Lows)

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

January 07, 2026

Late Week Storm A Severe Weather Threat In South With Wind, Snow In Parts Of Midwest

A storm system later this week will bring a threat of severe weather to parts of the South, snow from the Rockies and ...

Denmark and Greenland seek talks with Rubio after the White House says again it wants the island

Denmark and Greenland are seeking a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the Trump administration doubled down on its intention to take overthe strategic Arctic island, a Danish territory.

Tensions escalatedafter the White House said Tuesday that the "U.S. military is always an option," even as a series of European leaders rejected President Donald Trump's renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksenwarned earlier this week that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of the NATO military alliance. The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined her in a statement Tuesday reaffirming that the mineral-rich island "belongs to its people."

Their statement defended the sovereignty of Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark and thus part of NATO.

Trump has floated since his first term the idea of acquiring Greenland, arguing that the U.S. needs to control the world's largest island to ensure its own security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

This weekend'sU.S. military action in Venezuelahas heightened fears across Europe, and Trump and his advisers in recent days have reiterated the U.S. leader's desire to take over the island, which guards the Arctic andNorth Atlantic approaches to North America.

"It's so strategic right now," Trump told reporters Sunday.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, have requested the meeting with Rubio in the near future, according to a statement posted Tuesday to Greenland's government website. Previous requests for a sit-down were not successful, the statement said.

While most U.S. Republicans have supported Trump's statement, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, the Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group, blasted Trump's rhetoric in a statement Tuesday.

"When Denmark and Greenland make it clear that Greenland is not for sale, the United States must honor its treaty obligations and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," the statement said. "Any suggestion that our nation would subject a fellow NATO ally to coercion or external pressure undermines the very principles of self-determination that our Alliance exists to defend."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he spoke by phone Tuesday with Rubio, who dismissed the idea of a Venezuela-style operation in Greenland.

"In the United States, there is massive support for the country belonging to NATO – a membership that, from one day to the next, would be compromised by … any form of aggressiveness toward another member of NATO," Barrot told France Inter radio Wednesday.

Asked if he has a plan in case Trump does claim Greenland, Barrot said he won't engage in "fiction diplomacy."

Associated Press journalist Geir Moulson, in Berlin, contributed to this report.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

January 07, 2026

Denmark and Greenland seek talks with Rubio after the White House says again it wants the island

Denmark and Greenland are seeking a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the Trump administration doubl...

Netanyahu tries to calm tensions after Israeli bus runs over and kills ultra-Orthodox boy

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged calm after a bus driver ran over and killed a teenage boy Tuesday night during a protest in Jerusalem against a law seeking to draft the ultra-Orthodox community into Israel's military.

"I call for restraint to prevent the mood from becoming further inflamed so that, heaven forbid, we do not have additional tragedies," Netanyahu said in a statement early Wednesday, adding that the death would be thoroughly investigated.

The incident killed yeshiva student Yosef Eisenthal. Video from the protest obtained by The Associated Press showed a public bus dragging him for meters before running him over as onlookers jostled and screamed.

Police officers arrested and questioned the bus driver, who told investigators he was attacked by protesters before hitting the boy, Israel's police spokesperson said.

Protesters had been blocking the road and acting violently toward police officers, throwing eggs and other objects at them, the spokesperson said.

The violence reflected growing tensions between the Israeli authorities and the ultra-Orthodox, known as Haredim, as the government mulls plans to draft them into the military.

When Israel was founded in 1948, a small number of gifted ultra-Orthodox scholars were granted exemptions from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jews in the country. But with a push from politically powerful religious parties, those numbers have swelled over the decades.

There is support for rolling back the ultra-Orthodox exemption among many secular Israelis, especially those who have served multiple rounds of duty in the latestwar between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamasgroup in Gaza.

Measures to draft the ultra-Orthodox have been met with staunch opposition and occasional violence from religious protesters who claim serving in the military will destroy their way of life. The pushback has created a political problem for Netanyahu, who relies on the support of religious parties in the Israeli Parliament.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

January 07, 2026

Netanyahu tries to calm tensions after Israeli bus runs over and kills ultra-Orthodox boy

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged calm after a bus driver ran over and killed a teena...

Fire consumed their Altadena home. Now, a new life brings hope.

ALTADENA, California – Newlyweds Ryan and Jasmine Lovell were in Fiji on their honeymoon – enjoying a romantic seafood dinner and a personalized chef-decorated dessert to mark the occasion of new nuptials – when their phones started blowing up.

Frantic text messages, neighborhood alerts, sorrowful and devastating voicemails from family members. Something really bad was happening back home – and things seemed to be getting worse by the minute.

It was Jan. 7, 2025.

Fire was eating up the bone-dry hillsides of the Pacific Palisades, and Eaton, just at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Santa Ana winds were relentless, pushing and pushing the hungry embers.

TOP A firefighter sprays water on a burning home while battling the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. BOTTOM A property that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire nearly one year ago sits vacant on Dec. 18, 2025. The destructive and deadly wind-driven Eaton Fire ripped through Altadena, California, on Jan. 7, 2025, killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 structures. The fire is the fifth deadliest and the second most destructive wildfire in California history. Getty Images staff photographer Justin Sullivan revisited some of the locations he covered during the fire, nearly one year after it happened.