Counterterrorism

Egypt court sentences 2 aged Islamist leaders to 15 years

An Egyptian court on Sunday sentenced two aged Islamist leaders to 15 years in prison for disseminating false news and inciting against state institutions. Along with Abdel-Monaem Abul Fetouh, a former presidential candidate and head of the Islamist Strong Egypt party…

‘Empress of terror’ who founded Japanese Red Army behind Lod airport massacre freed

Fusako Shigenobu, who co-founded the Japanese Red Army terrorist group that carried out a 1972 massacre at Israel’s main airport, was released from a Tokyo prison Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence, and apologized for hurting innocent people. Once described as…

Military & Defense

Ship expands Iran Revolutionary Guard’s reach to new waters

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is building a massive new support ship near the strategic Strait of Hormuz as it tries to expand its naval presence in waters vital to international energy supplies and beyond, satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press…

Rwanda and DRC tensions of 'grave concern', African Union leader says

Senegalese President Macky Sall, current chairman of the African Union (AU), said Sunday he was "gravely concerned" by the "rising tensions" between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), asking for calm from the two. "I am gravely concerned by the…

Cybersecurity

Hacked Brazil airport screens show porn to travelers

Brazil’s airport authority Infraero said Friday it has notified the Federal Police over an apparent hack into electronic displays at an airport in Rio de Janeiro. Instead of advertisements and flight information, travelers were shown pornographic movies…

BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware asks $5 million to unlock Austrian state

Austrian federal state Carinthia has been hit by the BlackCat ransomware gang, also known as ALPHV, who demanded a $5 million to unlock the encrypted computer systems. The attack occurred on Tuesday and has caused severe operational disruption of government…

Counterintelligence & Espionage

Japanese Universities Try to Prevent Espionage

Japan is asking its universities to better investigate their foreign students and professors. The request is part of an effort to prevent technology leaks to places like China. The issue is important for Japan’s national security and for protecting exchanges with the United States…

Spain set to strengthen oversight of secret services after NSO spying scandal

Spain will “strengthen judicial control” over its secret services in the wake of a scandal over the hacking of the mobile phones of top politicians with Israeli-produced spyware, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Thursday. The scandal broke in April when it emerged the…

Transnational Organized Crime

Why São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport Became Cocaine Dispatch Point to Europe and Africa

Cocaine seizures have jumped at the Guarulhos International Airport near São Paulo, Brazil, showing that neither COVID-19 nor international law enforcement cooperation have pushed traffickers away from South America’s busiest air hub. Brazil’s Federal Police seized 1,250…

California resident charged in human smuggling scheme

A 48-year-old Elk Grove, California man was arrested May 24, 2022, in Lacey, Washington, and was charged by criminal complaint with running a human smuggling scheme over the northern border with Canada and into Washington State, announced U.S. Attorney Nick…