All articles from Mark Clayton

Whitey Bulger trial: 'Rifleman' Flemmi details murder after grisly murder

The graphic testimony by Stephen 'the Rifleman' Flemmi, Whitey Bulger's former partner in the Winter Hill Gang, may be the most important for prosecutors trying to build an iron-clad case.
Snowden leaks give new life to lawsuits challenging NSA surveillance programs

Documents Edward Snowden leaked about sweeping NSA surveillance programs have emboldened privacy advocates and government watchdog groups to file a new round of lawsuits challenging the programs' constitutionality.
Boston Marathon bombing: On first day in court, suspect to face public

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is appearing for the first time in court, where he is to be charged with 30 federal criminal counts, most of which authorize the death penalty.
Climate change: Obama announces new curbs on existing power plants (+video)

A feisty Obama – 'We don't have time for a meeting of the flat earth society' – cited a list of projects to address climate change, but the centerpiece is crimping smokestack emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Obama to unveil climate change plan with sweeping emissions cuts (+video)

President Obama is expected to announce Tuesday a comprehensive new plan to combat climate change that includes cutting greenhouse-gas emissions from existing coal-fired power plants – a move that could lead to a wave of plant closings.
When in doubt, NSA searches information on Americans (+video)

According to newly revealed secret documents, the NSA retains wide discretion over targeting individuals for surveillance – including, potentially, Americans. Civil libertarians say 'it confirms our worst fears.'
NSA cyber spying on China not a surprise, but it's not ho-hum, either (+video)

NSA chief says leaks about US cyber spying on China, and techniques for doing it, will impair intelligence-gathering. Others play that down, saying the more significant hit will be to relations with China and to US global work on behalf of a free and open Internet.
Edward Snowden: Whistle-blowing protections most likely won't help

While Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, and others portray him as a heroic whistle-blower, his decision to make top secret documents public severely limits his legal protections, analysts say.
Briefing NSA surveillance 101: What US intelligence agencies are doing, what they know

US intelligence agencies are gathering massive amounts of US telephone calling data and social media data on both foreigners and citizens. Here are seven questions and answers about what is known so far.
Presidential cyberwar directive gives Pentagon long-awaited marching orders (+video)

The 18-page, Top Secret 'Presidential Policy Directive 20' instructs the Pentagon to draw up a cyberwar target list and to protect US infrastructure from foreign cyberattack.
Obama pressured to confront China's Xi Jinping on cyber spying (+video)

When he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping this weekend, President Obama is expected to bring up electronic espionage, especially China's gathering of data from American companies.
Focus Bulger trial and the FBI: How have rules about informants changed?

James 'Whitey' Bulger is not the only one facing scrutiny as his trial begins Tuesday. So is the FBI, which infamously used Bulger as an informant for years. Today the FBI relies more heavily than ever on confidential informants, but under new rules.
Money-laundering scheme hid $6 billion for fraudsters like 'Joe Bogus'

US investigators shut down a vast cyber money-laundering scheme used by clients who sought complete anonymity, calling themselves things like 'Russia Hackers' and saying their address was '123 Fake Main Street.'
Chinese cyberattacks hit key US weapons systems. Are they still reliable?

A new report suggests that many advanced US weapons systems have been hacked, and experts say China was behind the cyberattacks. If there were a war with China, the weapons might not be reliable.
Focus Terrorist watch lists: Are they working as they should?

Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev was one of 875,000 names in a database the US uses to produce at least nine watch lists, but the naming didn't prevent the attack. Some security experts worry that data overload may be hindering US counterterrorism efforts.
How do you get $45 million from ATMs? Cyberthieves did it in 12 hours.

Most of a New York City 'casher' crew is under arrest, suspected of stealing $2.8 million from ATMs as part of a global cyberscheme that netted $45 million from tampered debit card accounts.
Twitter-hacking Syrian Electronic Army: How much state support does it have?

The Twitter hacks by the Syrian Electronic Army – the most recent hit The Guardian – reflect a shift toward disseminating propaganda and attacking Syria’s perceived enemies in the media.
Focus Was Shane Todd murdered over high-tech secrets?

Shane Todd, a US citizen working in Singapore, believed he had access to restricted tech. His death in 2012 was by suicide, say local authorities. But his family, suspecting murder, wants the FBI to take part in the investigation.
Better fuel economy matters to more US consumers, survey finds

US consumers appear to be latching onto the drive for fuel economy, with almost 3 in 5 saying it will be a 'very important' factor in the next vehicle they buy, a survey shows.
Boston Marathon bombing: Is American jihadism on the rise?(+video)

The Boston Marathon bombing suspects appear to be the latest American jihadis, responsible for a surge in homegrown terror plots and attacks. But their ranks are diminishing, say some experts.