November 2014 Security News

Egypt designates ISIL as 'terrorist' organization Iran Press TV 30 Nov 2014 -- The ISIL Takfiri group, which has long been committing heinous crimes in the Middle East, is branded as a "terrorist" organization by a court in Egypt.
28,000 birds slaughtered in Netherlands over bird flu Iran Press TV 30 Nov 2014 -- Some 28,000 birds have been culled at a poultry farm in the Netherlands following the discovery of a fresh outbreak of the bird flu.
Yet Another Bird Flu Outbreak in Netherlands, 28 Thousand Chickens Infected Sputnik 30 Nov 2014 -- About 28,000 birds were infected with avian influenza on a poultry farm at Zoeterwoude, according to the country's economic ministry.
Approximately 300 Germans Suspected of Having Links to IS: Justice Minister Sputnik 30 Nov 2014 -- At least 60 German citizens died while fighting for the IS, according to head of Germany's domestic security agency Hans-Georg Maassen.
Islamic State Support Network Uncovered in UK: Reports Sputnik 30 Nov 2014 -- A terrorist network has been uncovered in the United Kingdom, which has been helping the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, particularly supporting the IS executioner who allegedly killed American journalist James Foley, the Sunday Mirror reports.
Paris vows support for W Africa's fight against terrorism, ebola Iran Press TV 29 Nov 2014 -- French President Francois Hollande says France will support West African countries against terrorism as well as epidemics such as Ebola.
'The world is on the side of those who are involved in this fight' against Ebola – UN envoy UN News Centre 28 Nov 2014 -- The top United Nations officials leading the fight against Ebola have made an appeal for people who possess skills that are "quite rare" to join the global effort, such as those who can provide patient care, undertake contact tracing and analyze how the outbreak is evolving in remote areas of the virus-affected countries, saying that "deploying more people to the districts is our highest priority."
Ebola: UN health agency advises male survivors to abstain from sex for 3 months UN News Centre 28 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today warned that it is possible for the Ebola virus to be present in semen for 3 months after recovery, as the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said it plans to have 2,700 teams operating throughout villages in the remote forest areas of Guinea to educate villagers and monitor the epidemic at the community level.
Terrorism hits education, health in Kenya's marginalized Mandera IRIN 28 Nov 2014 -- People in northern Kenya's marginalized Mandera County face a devastating loss of basic services as teachers, healthcare workers and other state employees face calls to leave in the wake of a terrorist attack which claimed 28 bus passengers.
Mexican President Proposes Security Reforms in Wake of Students' Killings Sputnik 28 Nov 2014 -- Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto put forth a series of reforms to his country's security forces on Thursday, proposing the restructuring of municipal police organizations following the kidnapping and murder of 43 college students in the southwestern city of Iguala on September 26.
Children in Islamic State Propaganda Send Powerful Message VOA 28 Nov 2014 -- The so-called Islamic State militants appear to be recruiting and training children in Iraq.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 28 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Ebola Vaccine Seen as Safe in Initial Tests VOA 27 Nov 2014 -- Researchers say an experimental Ebola vaccine has caused no serious side effects and produced an immune response in all 20 healthy volunteers who received it in an early-stage clinical trial.
Mexican Leader Announces Nationwide Crime Crackdown VOA 27 Nov 2014 -- Mexico's president announced a nationwide anti-crime plan Thursday that would give Congress the power to dissolve local governments infiltrated by drug gangs and give state authorities control over often-corrupt municipal police.
Ebola: UN crisis response mission opens new office in Mali UN News Centre 26 Nov 2014 -- The newest outpost of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) became operational today, while a new head of its Guinea office was named and the World Health Organization reported that the number of cases had stabilized in Guinea, had stabilized or declined in Liberia but may still be on rise in Sierra Leone.
UN rights experts urge US President Obama to release report on CIA torture allegations UN News Centre 26 Nov 2014 -- The United States must rise to meet the high human rights standards it has set for itself and others around the world, a group of United Nations human rights experts urged today, as they called on President Obama to support "the fullest possible release" of a report detailing Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) interrogation practices.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 26 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Ebola: December 1 target for response may not be met in some areas of West Africa, UN reports UN News Centre 25 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today that while Ebola response targets for December 1 in West Africa may be reached in many places, they may not be met in some areas, and confirmed two new cases in Mali amid ramped up efforts to reduce the likelihood that additional cases will be imported from neighbouring Guinea.
USS Vandegrift-Coast Guard team Uncovers Illegal Cocaine Concealed in Fishing Vessel NNS 25 Nov 2014 -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) intercepted approximately 875 pounds of cocaine being smuggled aboard a fishing vessel while on patrol in international waters off the coast of Central America.
Two Americans Hit With IS-related Terrorism Charges VOA 25 Nov 2014 -- U.S. prosecutors announced terrorism charges against two Somali-American men Tuesday, after one traveled to Syria allegedly to join Islamic militants fighting there, and the other was stopped at the airport allegedly on his way there.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 25 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Top UN health officials take joint mission to Mali in support of Ebola response UN News Centre 24 Nov 2014 -- The Executive Director of Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Michel Sidibé and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, have visited Mali in a joint mission to support the country in its efforts to curb the spread of Ebola, as authorities there announced one new case and that two more suspected patients were being tested.
At UN meeting, prevention cited as key factor in fight against terrorism-related kidnapping UN News Centre 24 Nov 2014 -- The practice of kidnapping for ransom and hostage-taking continues to provide the world's terrorists with a reliable source of income to fund their operations, United Nations Member States were told today at a meeting jointly held by the UN's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in New York.
Southcom Reaffirms Partnerships in Transnational Crime Fight AFPS 24 Nov 2014 -- The commander of U.S. Southern Command visited Belize, Guatemala and Honduras last week to reaffirm the U.S. military's commitment to helping Central American nations combat transnational criminal organizations.
New bird flu strain in Europe threatens poultry sector, UN agency warns UN News Centre 24 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that a new bird flu strain detected in Europe poses a significant threat to the poultry sector, especially in low-resourced countries situated along the Black Sea and East Atlantic migratory routes of wild birds.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 24 Nov 2014 [PDF]
UK Official Claims 2,000 Britons Fight for Islamic State: Reports Sputnik 23 Nov 2014 -- Some 2,000 Britons have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight for the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, the Telegraph reported Sunday, citing UK Member of Parliament Khalid Mahmood.
Royal Navy warship in Caribbean drugs bust UK MOD 23 Nov 2014 -- HMS Argyll has dealt another blow to drug smugglers after seizing more than 850 kg of cocaine in a high speed midnight chase.
UN Ebola Response Team Establishing Office in Mali VOA 23 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) is establishing an office in Mali to help support the West African country's ongoing efforts to combat and contain the Ebola virus, according to Ari Gaitanis, head of the public information unit at the U.N.
UN chief condemns latest terrorist attack in Kenya UN News Centre 22 Nov 2014 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the brutal killing of 28 people on a bus in Mandera, Kenya in the latest spate of terrorist violence to afflict the East African nation.
House Panel: No Wrongdoing by US Military, CIA on Benghazi VOA 22 Nov 2014 -- A new congressional report concludes there was no wrongdoing by the U.S. military and the CIA in the response to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012.
Detainee Transfer Announced DoD 22 Nov 2014 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Muhammed Murdi Issa Al-Zahrani from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Germany reports second case of avian influenza Iran Press TV 22 Nov 2014 -- A new case of the H5N8 strain of bird flu, which is highly contagious among birds but has never been detected in humans, has been found in a wild goose in northern Germany.
Up to 300 Swedes join ISIL terrorists: Official Iran Press TV 22 Nov 2014 -- The Swedish security service, Säpo, says an estimated 250 to 300 Swedish citizens have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight for the Takfiri ISIL terrorist group and the number is growing rapidly.
Dutch culling 8,000 ducks to prevent bird flu outbreak Iran Press TV 22 Nov 2014 -- Health authorities in the Netherlands say they are in the process of culling 8,000 ducks in a bid to prevent the possible spread of bird flu as three farms have been infected by the viral disease.
550 Germans join ISIL terrorist group in Iraq, Syria: German minister Iran Press TV 22 Nov 2014 -- Germany's Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere says some 550 Germans have so far left the country to join the ISIL terrorist group in Syria and Iraq.
Mali Confirms New Ebola Case, Two More Suspected Cases Sputnik 22 Nov 2014 -- Mali has confirmed a new case of Ebola, while two more suspects are being tested for the deadly virus. Unnamed Malian medical officials reported a link between the new case and a nurse who died of the Ebola virus earlier this month.
Mali Confirms New Ebola Case VOA 22 Nov 2014 -- Mali has confirmed a new case of the Ebola virus and said two more patients are being tested for the disease.
France Struggles to Understand Converts to Radical Islam VOA 22 Nov 2014 -- In the Normandy town where he grew up, Maxime Hauchard was known as a nice young man who liked movies and tinkering with motorbikes. He converted to Islam, but apart from that, nobody remembers anything remarkable about him.
Ebola: Ban hopeful of outbreak's end by mid-2015; UN to set up response office in Mali UN News Centre 21 Nov 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that by continuing to scale up the global fight against Ebola, there is hope the outbreak could be contained by mid-2015, but he emphasized that results to date are still uneven, and announced that the Organization's top health officials will head to Mali, where the situation is still a cause of 'deep concern."
ISIL born out of wrong anti-Syria approaches: Assad Iran Press TV 21 Nov 2014 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Takfiri ISIL group was born out of wrong policies adopted by anti-Syria elements.
Cybercom Chief Details U.S. Cyber Threats, Trends AFPS 21 Nov 2014 -- Cyber threats are real, hurting the nation and its allies and partners, costing hundreds of billions, and potentially leading to a catastrophic failure if not addressed, Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers told a House panel yesterday.
China Foreign Ministry Urges US to Stop Accusing Beijing of Cyber Attacks Sputnik 21 Nov 2014 -- China's Foreign Ministry urged the United States Friday to stop accusing Beijing of cyberattacks.
WHO Declares End to Ebola Outbreak in DRC VOA 21 Nov 2014 -- The World Health Organization has declared an end to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 21 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Detainee Transfer Announced DoD 20 Nov 2014 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Hashim Bin Ali Bin Amor Sliti and Husayn Salim Muhammad Al-Mutari Yafai from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Slovakia.
Detainee Transfer Announced DoD 20 Nov 2014 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Salah Mohammed Salih Al-Dhabi, Abdel Ghaib Ahmad Hakim, and Abdul Khaled Al-Baydani from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Georgia.
Ban to take up fight against Ebola with heads of all UN organizations UN News Centre 20 Nov 2014 -- On the eve of a meeting of United Nations agency chiefs to discuss ways to jointly tackle the Ebola outbreak, the World Bank reported today Liberia's labour sector has suffered a huge blow since the start of the crisis, as a "massive effort" was underway in Mali to halt the spread of the re-emerged virus.
Bringing Ebola tests up to speed IRIN 20 Nov 2014 -- Ebola in West Africa is believed to have erupted almost a year ago in southern Guinea, but was confirmed by the French Pasteur Institute only in March 2014, by which time it had killed 60 people and was suspected to have crossed the border into Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Bird flu discovered at second Dutch farm Iran Press TV 20 Nov 2014 -- A second case of bird flu has been detected at a chicken farm in the Netherlands, Dutch authorities say.
New Bird Flu Outbreak Registered in Netherlands: Reports Sputnik 20 Nov 2014 -- Dutch State Secretary for Economic Affairs Sharon Dijksma announced that a new bird flu outbreak has been detected in the Netherlands.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 20 Nov 2014 [PDF]
At high-level debate, UN, Security Council renew pledge to counter foreign terrorist fighters UN News Centre 19 Nov 2014 -- As foreign fighters continue to flood the world's zones of conflict, exacerbating already tenuous security situations and further destabilizing States, the United Nations Security Council reiterated today its pledge to counter the global terrorist threat by adopting a statement reaffirming its commitment towards the preservation of international peace and security.
Turkey, US Struggle to Merge Interests in IS Fight VOA 19 Nov 2014 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Wednesday that Turkey will not open its bases to the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group until his demands are met.
Ebola Economic Toll Stirs W. Africa Food Security Concerns VOA 19 Nov 2014 -- The World Bank said Wednesday that it expects the Ebola outbreak will cost the sub-Saharan Africa economy about $3 billion to $4 billion, well below a previously outlined worst-case scenario of $32 billion. But some economists paint a gloomier picture, warning the disruption to regional markets and trading is considerable.
Nine Chinese aircraft finish Ebola rescue task People's Daily 19 Nov 2014 -- China's largest health rescue overseas has completed, with nine passenger planes and freighters uniting efforts in Ebola-hit countries, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
Egypt reports second bird flu death in days Iran Press TV 19 Nov 2014 -- An Egyptian woman has died of H5N1 bird flu after coming into contact with infected birds.
French citizens joining ISIL shows 82% rise: minister Iran Press TV 19 Nov 2014 -- The number of French nationals leaving the country to join the ISIL militant group in Syria and Iraq shows an 82 percent rise in 2014, almost doubling since the beginning of the year, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says.
World Bank Sees $3B-$4B Ebola Impact in Africa VOA 19 Nov 2014 -- A World Bank official says the Ebola epidemic will not be as costly to West Africa's economy as previously feared, thanks to effective containment efforts.
France Identifies 2nd French Citizen in IS Video VOA 19 Nov 2014 -- French officials have identified a second Frenchman among the militants in a video showing the severed head of an American aid worker and the beheadings of at least 18 Syrian soldiers.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 19 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Efforts by UN health agency under way to step up Ebola response in Mali UN News Centre 18 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations is intensifying its efforts to keep the Ebola outbreak from spreading in Mali by working to identify all chains of transmission and stepping up social mobilization campaigns to include a range of actors, from religious leaders to truck and bus drivers.
Questions over Mali's Ebola response IRIN 18 Nov 2014 -- The failure of a top Malian hospital to detect probable cases of Ebola has raised questions about whether the country's health system is sufficiently prepared to tackle the disease.
Outrage over UAE's new terror list IRIN 18 Nov 2014 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sparked anger and confusion by including several prominent Western Muslim charities and civil society groups in a new list of 'terrorist organizations' together with Al Qaeda, Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State.
Largest ever NATO cyber defence exercise gets underway NATO 18 Nov 2014 -- NATO launched its largest ever multinational cyber defence exercise, "Cyber Coalition 2014" on Tuesday (18 November).
Report: Terror Attacks, Deaths Rise Sharply in 2013 VOA 18 Nov 2014 -- The number of people killed in terrorist attacks jumped more than 60 percent from 2012 to 2013, due largely to unrest in the Middle East and Nigeria, a new report found.
Guinea Continues Probe Into Slayings of Ebola Health Workers VOA 18 Nov 2014 -- Guinea's Ministry of Justice said its investigation into the September killings of Ebola awareness health workers and a journalist in a southeastern village is moving swiftly, with a trial expected by year's end.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 18 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Russia Plays Big Role in Cyber Spying, Hacking VOA 17 Nov 2014 -- Even in these times of incessant cyber-attacks and Internet hacks, the news took many security analysts by surprise – and led to the doors of the Kremlin.
Kerry: IS Momentum 'Dissipated' by Coalition Attacks VOA 17 Nov 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq and Syria are losing momentum in the face of coalition airstrikes against them. The militants, who also are known as ISIL, have beheaded a fifth Westerner, and warned that a U.S. soldiers will meet a similar fate.
Ebola: DR Congo declares end to outbreak, as top footballers join global fight against virus UN News Centre 17 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations today praised the end of an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as some of the world's top football players, including Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Neymar Jr, announced they are joining the Organization's fight to help raise global awareness in the fight against the deadly virus.
Mali on High Alert as New Ebola Cases Confirmed VOA 17 Nov 2014 -- Mali is on high alert after authorities in Bamako confirmed the fifth case of Ebola in the country. Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita visited a treatment center Monday where the humanitarian medical group Doctors Without Borders is receiving patients.
China tackles Ebola in Liberia People's Daily 17 Nov 2014 -- China has dispatched more than 160 military medical workers to operate an Ebola treatment center in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia - the first time that China has consigned a large military medical group overseas.
Bird flu shutters N England farm Iran Press TV 17 Nov 2014 -- A duck-breeding farm in northern England has been closed off over an outbreak of bird flu.
Mali places 442 people under surveillance over Ebola fears Iran Press TV 17 Nov 2014 -- Mali has placed hundreds of people under surveillance over fear of being exposed to Ebola, as the country battles to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
IS Defector Claims Islamic State Has Sleeper Cells in Europe: Reports Sputnik 17 Nov 2014 -- On conditions of anonymity, a former Islamic State fighter revealed the existence of numerous terror cells in Europe ready to fulfill IS orders.
France: Frenchman Among IS Militants in Beheading Video VOA 17 Nov 2014 -- France said one of its citizens is among the Islamic State militants who participated in killing American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig.
Bird Flu Death in Egypt; Outbreak Hits Dutch Farm VOA 17 Nov 2014 -- A second woman in Egypt has died of bird flu. The woman, who died of the H5N1 virus after tending chickens at her home, was the second such fatality in Egypt this year.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 17 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Dutch poultry destroyed over bird flu traces Iran Press TV 16 Nov 2014 -- Dutch authorities say birds kept at a farm in the central village of Hekendorp are being destroyed following the discovery of bird flu.
Senior Kurdish Leader Claims Islamic State Army Numbers 200,000 Sputnik 16 Nov 2014 -- The chairman of the Luhansk People's Council said that Poroshenko's recent decree on the economic blockade of Donbas proved again that Ukraine's participation in the peace process was a 'cynical imitation and deception.'
Bird Flu Confirmed in Netherlands Sputnik 16 Nov 2014 -- A highly contagious strain of bird flu has been detected in a Dutch chicken farm, forcing the country's authorities to prohibit poultry and eggs supplies across the country, according to Reuters.
Obama Confirms Death of American by IS Group VOA 16 Nov 2014 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has confirmed the death of American hostage Abdul-Rahman Kassig, saying the aid worker was killed 'in an act of pure evil'' by Islamic State militants.
Graphic Video Shows Beheaded U.S. Aid Worker Kassig, 'Syrian' Captives RFE/RL 16 Nov 2014 -- A graphic video purportedly released by the militant Islamic State (IS) group shows that the Sunni extremist group has beheaded U.S. aid worker Peter Kassig, also known as Abdul Rahman Kassig, and more than a dozen men described as Syrian soldiers.
Liberia Sets December 25 Goal: No New Ebola Cases VOA 16 Nov 2014 -- The hardest hit of the West African nations facing the deadly Ebola outbreak, Liberia, has set a national goal of recording no new cases by Christmas, December 25.
Sierra Leone to Set Up Local Care Centers for Ebola Victims VOA 16 Nov 2014 -- The U.N. Children's Fund said it will open 10 new Ebola Community Care Centers this week in Sierra Leone, describing the move as part of an effort to bring Ebola treatment closer to where people live.
Cyber Defense a Cooperative Effort, Rogers Says AFPS 15 Nov 2014 -- 'Cyber blur' is an enormous challenge to those seeking to defend the nation's networks, Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers, the National Security Agency's director, said today.
DRC Declares Itself Ebola-Free, New Patient Headed for US VOA 15 Nov 2014 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo said Saturday it was free of Ebola, three months after the deadly virus appeared in the country, resulting in the deaths of nearly 50 people.
Amid signs of new Ebola cases, UN health official tells Liberians 'you must hunt the virus' UN News Centre 14 Nov 2014 -- A senior United Nations World Health Organization official warned reported that the number of Ebola cases in Liberia, which had recently shown some signs of decline, is starting to pick up again, most likely because "people are relaxing their guard."
UN: Islamic State Liable for 'Massive' War Crimes VOA 14 Nov 2014 -- U.N. investigators say Islamic State militants' extreme use of violence against civilians and captured soldiers in northeast Syria amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
WHO Sets Clinical Trial Criteria for Ebola Drugs VOA 14 Nov 2014 -- The World Health Organization has established criteria for conducting clinical trials on experimental drugs and other therapies for the treatment of Ebola. Members of WHO's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee on Ebola Experimental Interventions say great care must be taken to ensure the safety of a product before any testing is done on humans to evaluate its efficacy.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 14 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Defeating Ebola, 'a fearsome,' elusive enemy, requires scaling up response on the ground - UN UN News Centre 13 Nov 2014 -- There has been important progress made in the global fight against Ebola but a scaling-up in the overall response remains necessary if the deadly outbreak is to be fully stopped, top United Nations officials told the General Assembly today as they cautioned against complacency in tackling the disease.
Obama Administration Asks Congress for $6B to Fight Ebola in Africa VOA 13 Nov 2014 -- The administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Rajiv Shah and other senior U.S. officials testified before a congressional panel Thursday about the international reaction to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Shah called on Congress to approve President Obama's request for $6.2 billion in emergency funding to combat the deadly disease.
US Official Says Islamic State Overreaching on Finances VOA 13 Nov 2014 -- Islamic State terrorists have made unparalleled efforts to finance their activities without relying on donations, and some U.S. lawmakers are wondering whether efforts to cut off the group's funding are falling short.
US Strengthens Ties with EU to Combat Foreign Fighters VOA 13 Nov 2014 -- The United States and the European Union are strengthening ties in an effort to crack down on foreign fighters returning from Syria intent on carrying out terrorist attacks in their home countries.
Liberia halts emergency state over Ebola outbreak Iran Press TV 13 Nov 2014 -- Liberia has lifted a state of emergency declared three months ago in the West African country following the outbreak of Ebola.
Most Guantanamo Prisoners Have No Intention to Return to Battlefield Sputnik 13 Nov 2014 -- More than 90 percent of Guantanamo Bay detainees have no intention of returning to the battlefield, US Defense Secreatry Chuck Hagel said Thursday.
Liberia Lifts Ebola State of Emergency: President Sputnik 13 Nov 2014 -- Liberia's president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, announced on Thursday the end of the state of emergency in the country imposed amid the Ebola virus outbreak in August.
Islamic State Commander Threatening to Invade Russia Dead: Chechen Leader Sputnik 13 Nov 2014 -- A national of Chechen origin from the post-Soviet republic of Georgia, considered to be a senior commander of the Islamic State (IS), has been killed, the head of Russia's Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov wrote in his Instagram account Thursday.
Liberian President Ends State of Emergency VOA 13 Nov 2014 -- Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is ending the state of emergency she instituted because of the Ebola crisis.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 13 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Ebola: UN special envoy says combating stigma integral to overall crisis response UN News Centre 12 Nov 2014 -- The Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Ebola, Dr. David Nabarro, today made a passionate appeal to combat stigmatization surrounding the disease by calling for a global social media campaign to "express solidarity and to show we are anti-discrimination."
'Cyber Flag' Exercise Tests Mission Skills AFPS 12 Nov 2014 -- Joint and coalition cyberspace forces completed Cyber Flag 15-1, a cyberspace force-on-force training exercise fusing attack and defense across the full spectrum of military operations in a closed network environment, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nov. 7, U.S. Cyber Command officials reported today.
Ebola survivors work to improve response IRIN 12 Nov 2014 -- The Ebola epidemic has killed some 5,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but it has also left many survivors who are playing a key role in the Ebola response.
Ebola: Diagnostic capabilities need boosting IRIN 12 Nov 2014 -- Critical gaps in 'behind-the-scenes' infrastructure are hampering Ebola response times and containment efforts in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, aid agencies and health workers say.
Opium harvest in Afghanistan hits new high in 2014 – UN UN News Centre 12 Nov 2014 -- Opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan reached record levels this year, with the former increasing seven per cent to 224,000 hectares in 2014, and production levels potentially climbing as much as 17 per cent, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 12 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Stopping Ebola as fast as possible is 'number one priority' - UN envoy UN News Centre 11 Nov 2014 -- The number one priority is to stop Ebola as fast as possible and "get ahead of the virus," the chief of the United Nations emergency response mission said as the UN health agency today reported that efforts to contain the outbreak in West Africa are being hampered by cumbersome diagnostic tests.
Guantanamo hunger striker appeals treatment Iran Press TV 11 Nov 2014 -- A hunger striker at the Guantanamo Bay prison is appealing a US judge’s refusal to change the method of his force-feeding.
West Africa ‘on brink’ of major food crisis in wake of Ebola outbreak - UN expert UN News Centre 11 Nov 2014 -- As Ebola continues to ravage West Africa, leaving more than 4,000 people dead, the region is now on the brink of a major food crisis, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food has warned today.
Ebola is More Than Medical Challenge, Experts Say VOA 11 Nov 2014 -- South Africa knows all too well how it feels to watch a disease rampage through once-healthy communities, to watch the illness divide society and trigger shame, fear and panic, and to be shunned by the rest of the world.
Pakistan militants join ISIL terrorists Iran Press TV 11 Nov 2014 -- Militants in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal areas are joining the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group, Press TV reports.
Ebola: reported denial of medical care on ships from West Africa draws UN concern UN News Centre 10 Nov 2014 -- United Nations and other leading international transport, trade and tourism organizations today expressed concern about the report denial of medical care for ill seafarers on board ships that had previously called at ports in Ebola-affected countries.
In Afghanistan, UN crime chief pledges support to combat 'disastrous' drug trade, corruption UN News Centre 10 Nov 2014 -- Visiting Kabul over the weekend, the head of the United Nations agency combating all forms of criminal activity, met with newly-elected President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and pledged support to counter the harmful effects of illicit drugs, organized crime and corruption on Afghanistan and its people.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 10 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Obama Touts 'New Phase' in Fight Against IS Group VOA 09 Nov 2014 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says his decision to double the number of American forces in Iraq signals a new phase in the campaign to defeat radical Islamic militants who have seized large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria. Obama made the remarks in a rare Sunday appearance on a U.S. television news program.
Al-Qaeda-linked commander surrenders in Yemen Iran Press TV 09 Nov 2014 -- In Yemen, a commander of al-Qaeda-linked militants has turned himself in to members of the country's Shia Houthi movement's Ansarullah fighters.
Ebola: UN chief hails progress in fight against virus, urges intensified response UN News Centre 09 Nov 2014 -- The world is on the "right track" to defeating Ebola as the infection rate of the deadly virus shows some signs of slowing in West Africa's most affected areas, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today as he urged the international community to remain constant in fighting the disease until it is completely extinguished.
US Judge Dismisses Guantanamo Inmate's Plea to End Force Feeding RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2014 -- A federal judge in Washington D.C. has ruled against a Guantanamo inmate's request to change the manner in which detainees are being force-fed at the notorious US detention camp in the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the court said in a memorandum opinion.
Safe Burial Procedures Key to Reducing Ebola Spread VOA 07 Nov 2014 -- Safe burial procedures are considered key to reducing the transmission of Ebola in the three most heavily infected West African states. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has developed new burial protocols, which are in line with the cultural and religious beliefs of Ebola-infected communities in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
UN refines Ebola response amid efforts to bring outbreak under control by 1 December UN News Centre 07 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations health agency today announced a new burial protocol for Ebola victims aimed at reducing the risk of exposure to the disease for family members as they bury their loved ones in accordance with religious rites amid Organization-wide efforts to control the deadly outbreak by a 1 December deadline.
Efforts Underway to Stop Syria's Foreign Fighters From Bringing Violence Home VOA 07 Nov 2014 -- The United States and its partners are focusing their military might on stopping the spread of the group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and on disrupting IS operations in Syria. Behind the scenes, however, efforts also are underway to prevent the violence from spreading back to Europe and the United States.
US, Liberia Open 1st Ebola Treatment Unit for Health Workers VOA 07 Nov 2014 -- The U.S. and Liberian governments have opened a 25-bed Ebola treatment unit outside Monrovia to treat health workers infected with the virus. Providing high-quality care is considered key to recruiting local Liberian staff and persuading much-needed Western health workers to come battle the Ebola epidemic.
Russia hackers infiltrate software running vital US industries: Report Iran Press TV 07 Nov 2014 -- The US Department of Homeland Security says Russian hackers have infiltrated much of the critical infrastructure in the United States, according to a report.
Report Says Obama Wrote Iranian Leader About Fighting IS RFE/RL 07 Nov 2014 -- A report in 'The Wall Street Journal' newspaper says U.S. President Barack Obama secretly wrote to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in October about fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria.
German Intelligence Says Islamic State's Oil Power Overestimated: Reports RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2014 -- German intelligence estimates show that the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group's oil production capacity has sharply declined since August, leaving the group with much less economic power than previously assessed, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.
Islamic State May Be Preparing Lone Wolf Attacks in India: Reports RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2014 -- Indian intelligence agencies warned police to beef up security at foreign diplomatic missions in the country due to possible terrorist attacks orchestrated by the Islamic State (IS), The Times of India reported Friday.
UK Police Say Efforts to Combat Terrorism Impeded by Influx of Migrants RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2014 -- High immigration rates in the United Kingdom are impeding the efforts of local police to combat terrorism, that country's most senior police official reports.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 07 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Ebola: UN says experimental vaccine trials in West Africa could begin by January UN News Centre 06 Nov 2014 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today said the Ebola crisis response "needs to scale up, get better and perform faster," as the UN health agency reported that if judged safe, larger scale trials of an experimental vaccine could be taken to hard-hit West African countries as early as January 2015.
WH Won't Confirm or Deny Obama Sent Letter to Khamenei VOA 06 Nov 2014 -- The White House is not denying or confirming a newspaper report saying President Barack Obama sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the fight against the Islamic State.
US Targets Khorasan Group with Airstrikes VOA 06 Nov 2014 -- The American general leading the fight against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq says U.S. forces have carried out more strikes against a cell of al-Qaida militants known as the Khorasan group. The Pentagon has said the organization, which is also linked to another al-Qaida-affiliated group, the Nusra Front, was plotting attacks against Europe and the United States.
Airstrikes in Syria Target Khorasan Group Terrorist Network AFPS 06 Nov 2014 -- U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes last night against five Khorasan Group targets near Sarmada, Syria, U.S. Central Command officials reported today.
China plans 1,000 more staff to fight Ebola in Africa People's Daily 06 Nov 2014 -- China plans to send over 1,000 medical workers and experts to West Africa in the coming months in its latest bid to aid African countries' fight against the Ebola virus.
Kuwaiti Detainee Released After Nearly 13 Years at Guantanamo VOA 06 Nov 2014 -- A Kuwaiti prisoner was released from the U.S. naval base at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay on Wednesday, leaving nearly 150 detainees in the island's controversial military facility.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 06 Nov 2014 [PDF]
UN warns of economic hardship in Ebola-hit countries as World Bank agrees finance package UN News Centre 05 Nov 2014 -- As the United Nations warned today that the Ebola outbreak is deepening the socio-economic challenges faced by the hardest hit countries in West Africa, the World Bank's private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), announced a package of some $450 million in commercial financing that will enable trade, investment, and employment in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Detainee Transfer Announced DoD 05 Nov 2014 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Fouzi Khalid Abdullah Al Awda from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Kuwait.
Norwegian Security Service Predicts Terrorist Attack in Norway Within 12 Months RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2014 -- There has been a 'negative development' in the security situation in Norway, and terrorists could attempt to carry out an attack in the country within the next 12 months, the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) said Wednesday.
Ebola Poses Threat to Europe Until Epidemic Ends in West Africa: Public Health Agency RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2014 -- The danger of new Ebola cases in Europe will remain until the epidemic comes to an end in West Africa, Marc Sprenger, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), said Wednesday.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 05 Nov 2014 [PDF]
Ebola: UN envoy warns against letting guard down, 'even for a second' UN News Centre 04 Nov 2014 -- The UN envoy coordinating the global response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa said in the Liberian capital today that when national governments, partners and communities work together, "dramatic improvement" can be achieved, but cautioned against "even for a second [thinking] that everything is okay."
Aid agencies adapt to Ebola challenge IRIN 04 Nov 2014 -- From using Bitcoins to fundraise, to adopting new strategies to prevent malaria victims appearing to be Ebola cases, to working with new partners - aid agencies in West Africa are learning to adapt fast.
New Ebola Outbreak in Sierra Leone Aggravates Fears of Epidemic RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2014 -- A new Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, West Africa, may intensify the spread of the disease, aggravating fears of the epidemic's rise.
Amid Stigma, Guinea's Ebola Survivors Pitch In at ETUs VOA 04 Nov 2014 -- Guinean authorities say they are planning to move the country's main Ebola treatment center to a larger site. The center has been overwhelmed by new cases in the past month. VOA toured the center and met with a woman recently cured of Ebola who explained her ordeal.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 04 Nov 2014 [PDF]
UNICEF to boost staff in Ebola-hit countries; UN health chief deplores lagging vaccine research UN News Centre 03 Nov 2014 -- As the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced today that it plans to boost its staff in countries on the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the head of the UN World Health Organization attributed the lack of research into cures and vaccines for Ebola to the fact that the disease has historically been confined to poor African nations.
Health Experts Say Ebola Might Be Loosening Grip on Liberia VOA 03 Nov 2014 -- Liberian officials and the World Health Organization say the number of new Ebola cases in Liberia appears to be falling but that it's too soon to be sure. Liberia has been the hardest hit by this regional epidemic with approximately half the total cases and deaths.
Economist Optimistic About W. Africa's Post-Ebola Prospects VOA 03 Nov 2014 -- The chief economist of the African Development Bank says Ebola's effect on West African economies is 'astounding,' - but he is optimistic that Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will bounce back faster than some experts expect. He spoke from a conference in Ethiopia's capital.
US Diplomat: Foreign Aid, Awareness Help Slow Ebola Infection Rates VOA 03 Nov 2014 -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said there are positive signs emerging in the three hardest-hit West African countries that the Ebola epidemic is finally being contained.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 03 Nov 2014 [PDF]
UN Ebola mission chief reports mixed picture in Sierra Leone, as victims outpace beds in Port Loko UN News Centre 02 Nov 2014 -- Witnessing yet again the challenging dynamics of the Ebola outbreak unfolding in West Africa, the United Nations envoy coordinating the global response visited Sierra Leone today, where he reported efforts to halt the virus in former hotspot Kenema are starting to pay off, while some 200 kilometres away, Port Loko is now "getting slammed".
Citing progress in Guinea, UN Ebola response chief says disease 'still very much a crisis' UN News Centre 01 Nov 2014 -- Visiting Guéckédou, Guinea, where the unprecedented outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is believed to have started, the United Nations envoy coordinating the massive global crisis response said that while there are now "basically zero" cases in the town, the challenge will be to replicate the strategy to defeat the disease throughout the country and the wider region.
Cuban Doctors Help Fight Ebola in Liberia VOA 01 Nov 2014 -- Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf inaugurated Friday the first of 17 new Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) in Congotown, not far from the capital, Monrovia. The U.S.-financed ETUs were constructed by the military. During her speech at the unveiling, Sirleaf thanked international donors for their strong response to the worst ever outbreak of Ebola the world has seen.
China goes ahead with its anti-Ebola aid People's Daily 01 Nov 2014 -- China is delivering more supplies and pledges to the West African countries struggling to quench the Ebola outbreak.

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November 2014 Security News