Counterterrorism

Man Convicted of Terrorist Threats Gets Prison Sentence

Judge Thomas G. Power sentenced Jonathon Paul Stewart, 33, of Atlanta, Michigan to serve 5 to 20 years in prison following his conviction for making terrorist threats and malicious use of a telecommunication device, according to Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney Allen…

US 'Assessing Damage' After Iraq Rocket Attack

The U.S. Embassy and other parts of the Green Zone in Baghdad were attacked by "terrorist groups" Thursday, according to the embassy. "The U.S. Embassy compound was attacked this evening by terrorist groups attempting to undermine Iraq's security, sovereignty and…

Oath Keepers Founder Charged with Seditious Conspiracy in Capitol Riot

Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, and 10 other members or associates have been charged with seditious conspiracy in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, authorities said Thursday. Despite hundreds of charges already brought…

Military & Defense

Russia Threatens Military Deployment to Cuba and Venezuela as Diplomacy Stalls

Russia has refused to rule out a military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela if talks with the west on European security and Ukraine fail to go its way, while warning the latest discussions with Nato were hitting a dead end. In an apparent attempt to up the ante with the Biden…

Analysts: Burkina Faso Likely Averted Coup Linked to Military Infighting

Burkina Faso's military prosecutor this week said authorities had arrested eight soldiers for what local media reported was a plot to overthrow the state. Burkina Faso has been rattled by increasingly deadly Islamist militant attacks and widespread protests over insecurity…

Europe Faces Greatest Threat of War in 30 Years, Warns Polish Minister

Europe is closer to war than it has been for three decades, Poland’s foreign minister Zbigniew Rau has said. Mr Rau’s warning came on Thursday as diplomatic talks being held between Russia and the West over tensions in Ukraine failed to make progress. Russia is thought to…

Cybersecurity

New "Undetected" Backdoor Runs Across Three OS Platforms

Security experts are warning of new backdoor malware designed to work across Windows, Mac and Linux, some versions of which are currently undetected in Virus Total. Dubbed “SysJoker” by researchers at Intezer, the malware was discovered during an attack on a Linux web server…

Microsoft RDP Bug Enables Data Theft, Smart-Card Hijacking

Microsoft Windows systems going back to at least Windows Server 2012 R2 are affected by a vulnerability in the Remote Desktop Services protocol that gives attackers, connected to a remote system via RDP, a way to gain file system access on the machines of other connected…

Dozens of El Salvador Journalists, ‘Activists' Phones Hacked with Spyware, Report Finds

Dozens of journalists and human rights defenders in El Salvador had their cellphones repeatedly hacked with sophisticated spyware over the past year and a half, an internet watchdog said Wednesday. Reporting on its latest findings about use of the Israeli firm NSO…

Counterintelligence & Espionage

Denmark Accuses Russia, China, Iran of Espionage Threat

Denmark warned on Thursday of a rising espionage threat from Russia, China, Iran and others, including in the Arctic region where global powers are jostling for resources and sea routes. The Danish Security and Intelligence Service said there had been numerous examples…

Woman Jailed in Iran on Suspicion of Espionage Returns to UK: All You Need to Know About Aras Amiri

A London-based Iranian woman, who worked as an artistic affairs officer with the British Council, was acquitted of espionage charges by Iran’s Supreme Court on Wednesday and has now returned to the United Kingdom after spending more than three years in Elvin prison...

Britain's MI5 Spy Service Warns Lawmakers Over Chinese Agent of Influence

Britain's domestic spy service MI5 has warned lawmakers that the Chinese Communist Party has been employing a woman to exert improper influence over members of parliament. MI5 sent out an alert and picture of the woman named Christine Lee on Thursday alleging she…

Transnational Organized Crime

Coast Guard Repatriates 29 Haitians Following Illegal Voyage Interdiction Near Puerto Rico

The Coast Guard Cutter Reliance repatriated 29 Haitians to Cap-Haitien, Haiti Tuesday, following the interdiction of an illegal voyage in the Mona Passage near Puerto Rico. The interdiction is the result of ongoing local and federal multi-agency efforts in support of the…

UN: Piracy and Organized Crime Perpetuate Poverty in West Africa

The scourge of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has led to costs upwards of US$1.9 billion a year for the nearly two dozen West African states which line it, according to a recent discussion at the United Nations Security Council. Currently the gulf is the world's number one hotspot for…

NSW Police Arrest Four, Seize More Than $8M Cash as Part of Alleged International Money Laundering Operation

NSW Police have charged four people and made its largest single seizure of cash, as part of investigations into an alleged money laundering and drug syndicate operating out of Sydney with links to Asia. Police seized $7.8 million from a home at Rhodes in Sydney's…