Counterterrorism

US Sanctions Lebanese Tourism Company, Hezbollah Members for Ties to Terrorism

The Biden administration on Tuesday issued sanctions against a Lebanese travel company and three businessmen for financially supporting Hezbollah, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization based in Lebanon. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sanctions…

Iranian-Swedish Dissident Tried In Tehran For 'Terrorism'

The trial of Iranian-Swedish dissident Habib Chaab started in Tehran on Tuesday, state television showed, with charges including terrorism and "spreading corruption on earth" punishable by the death sentence. Chaab, in his late forties, has been held in Iran since late…

Al-Shabab Claims Deadly Bombing Near Somali Military Camp

At least four people were killed and 10 others wounded in Somalia's capital when a man in an explosive vest detonated at a teashop opposite a Somali military training camp on Tuesday, the Somali National News Agency reports. The teashop in Mogadishu is frequented by new…

Military & Defense

U.S. Warns Russia May Use Joint Military Exercises with Belarus to Attack Ukraine

The U.S. believes that Russia may use joint military exercises inside Belarus as cover for an invasion of Ukraine from the north, according to a senior State Department official. Why it matters: New deployments to the Belarus-Ukraine border in the coming weeks — in addition…

Sweden's Military is Stepping Up Its Preparedness in Response to Russian Activity that 'Deviates' from Normal

A top military chief in Sweden said Friday that there is increased Russian activity in the Baltic Sea which "deviates from the normal picture," leading the Scandinavian nation's military to raise its preparedness. "We have decided to reposition our troops. It does not have…

New Pentagon Charts Lay Out China's Growing Military Advantage Over Taiwan

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait intensified in 2021. China's military flights into Taiwan's air-defense identification zone more than doubled last year, and in the final days of December, Taipei and Beijing warned each other against crossing any red lines…

Cybersecurity

Data of Several Ukrainian Government Agencies is Wiped in Cyber Attack

Several Ukrainian government agencies had their data wiped in a cyberattack that was coordinated with another attack that defaced government agency websites in recent days, according to the Ukrainian government and other individuals familiar with the incident…

Gloucester Council Cyber Attack Linked to Russian Hackers

A cyber attack which has knocked out parts of a council website has been linked to the work of Russian hackers. Gloucester City Council became aware that its IT systems had been affected on 20 December last year. Since then, the council's online revenue and benefits, planning…

Europol Shuts Down Popular Cybercriminal VPN Service

Law enforcement authorities have acted against the criminal use of VPN services with the shutdown of VPNLab.net, which was used to support ransomware attacks and other crimes. The disruption took place in a coordinated operation on Jan. 17 across Germany, Canada…

Counterintelligence & Espionage

Israeli Police Under Fire Over Reported Use of Pegasus to Hack Israelis

Israel's parliament will seek an explanation from police over the force's reported use of a controversial hacking tool against citizens of the country, a senior legislator said on Tuesday. Without citing sources, the Calcalist financial daily said police have possessed the Pegasus…

New Chinese Threat Group Deals in Espionage and Theft

A new threat group linked to China, dubbed "Earth Lusca" by researchers at cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, is not only running cyberespionage campaigns against governments as seen in several other state-backed campaigns, but it is also seeking financial gain- with successful…

More Arrests of Officials in Denmark Espionage Investigation

An official at the highest level of the Denmark government has been charged with leaking state secrets. Claus Hjort Frederiksen, a former Defense Minister and now a opposition lawmaker, acknowledged that he is under investigation. Frederiksen, who previously served…

Transnational Organized Crime

7 UPS Employees Face Organized Crime Charges

Seven UPS employees have been charged with being involved in organized crime and concealing jewelry boxes during their shifts. According to court documents, an investigation was launched on Jan. 3 following suspicions that Adianez Herrera, Esther Gonzales, Yanelis…

Mexican Governor Says Predecessor Made Deals with Gangs

The governor of Mexico’s Morelos state claimed Monday his predecessor and the previous police chief negotiated with a drug gang. Gov. Cuauhtémoc Blanco had himself been forced to deny any drug links earlier this month after a 3-year-old photo surfaced showing him posing…

Texas Guardsman Shoots Suspected Smuggling Vehicle Near Border

A junior Texas National Guard soldier disabled a suspected smuggling vehicle with his M4 carbine in an effort to save his partner early Tuesday morning just south of Laredo, Texas, Army Times has learned. The two soldiers were assigned to Operation Lone Star, the state’s…