Counterterrorism

IS confirms leader Qurayshi's death and names successor

The Islamic State (IS) has named a new leader after confirming the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi. An audio message posted online said Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi was now "caliph", without providing any further details about his identity…

Leaders of truck convoy protests sought to overthrow government, national security adviser says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national security and intelligence adviser says the invocation of the federal Emergencies Act was necessary to end the trucker protests, whose leaders were bent on overthrowing the government. Jody Thomas, a former deputy minister at the…

Military & Defense

North Korea testing new intercontinental missile system, U.S. intel agencies believe

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that North Korea’s two recent short-range missile launches were designed to secretly test elements of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system in what a senior administration official called “a serious escalation.”…

Russians keep pressure on Mariupol after hospital attack

Civilians trapped inside Mariupol desperately scrounged for food and fuel as Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the port city Thursday amid international condemnation over an airstrike a day earlier that killed three people at a maternity hospital…

Cybersecurity

Ex-Canadian government official extradited to face charges over ransomware attacks

A former Canadian government official has been extradited to the United States to face criminal charges alleging he deployed ransomware known as "NetWalker" to target companies, municipalities, hospitals and law enforcement during…

Anonymous hacks Russian federal agency, releases 360,000 documents

The Ukrainian Anonymous hacker group hacked into Roskomnadzor, the Russian federal agency responsible for monitoring and censoring media, and released 360,000 files, the group announced on Twitter on Thursday…

Counterintelligence & Espionage

North Korea to launch "a lot" of spy satellites to monitor US and UK

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is preparing to launch a number of spy satellites into space to monitor the US and its allies including the UK. While observing the country's National Aerospace Development Administration, Kim said "a lot" of military…

U.S. Spy Chiefs Reject Russia’s Claims of Ukraine Bioweapons

Ukraine isn’t developing biological or nuclear weapons, and Russia’s claims that it’s doing so is probably a false narrative pushed to cover up moves it may make in its war on its neighbor, U.S. spy chief Avril Haines told senators on Thursday…

Transnational Organized Crime

US Border Patrol finds dozens of snakes and reptiles in man's outfit.

US Border Patrol agents found dozens of horned lizards and snakes hidden in a man's clothing as he crossed into the US from Mexico last month. The scaly discovery occurred at the San Ysidro border crossing near San Diego around 03:00 local time on 25 February…

Largest ‘Ghost Gun' Bust in NY History Nets 336 Counts Against Maryland ManA Maryland man is facing hundreds of weapons charges after what New York officials called the largest bust of "ghost guns" in the state's history -- parts enough for more than 70 illicit firearms…