July 2015 Security News

Ebola: UN emergency response mission winds down as WHO announces possible 'game changer' vaccine UN News 31 Jul 2015 -- Having achieved its "core objective" of scaling up global action to tackle the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response will officially wind down today, transferring its role to the World Health Organization (WHO), which just announced that an experimental vaccine being tested in Guinea appears to be highly effective and could be a "game changer."
Trial Of Russian Army Officer-Turned-Taliban Begins In U.S. RFE/RL 31 Jul 2015 -- A jury was selected July 30 in the case of a Russian military officer charged with leading a Taliban attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Thousands of unregistered children born in Liberia during Ebola crisis at risk of exploitation - UNICEF UN News 31 Jul 2015 -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned today that the more than 70,000 Liberian children whose births were not recorded during the Ebola outbreak may be unable to access basic health and social services, obtain identity documents, and risk the danger of being trafficked or illegally adopted.
WHO: Ebola Vaccine 'Promising' VOA 31 Jul 2015 -- Researchers said an experimental Ebola vaccine has shown to be 'highly effective' at preventing the deadly disease.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 31 Jul 2015 [PDF]
US Struggles to Align Focus on Fight Against IS VOA 30 Jul 2015 -- Turkey's move to join in the campaign against the group known as the Islamic State, while simultaneously bombing Kurdish fighters associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), is again highlighting a critical obstacle to U.S. efforts in the region.
1993 Bombay bombings convict hanged in India Press TV 30 Jul 2015 -- India has executed the only death row convict in the country's deadliest terror attack, the 1993 Bombay bombings, which killed a total of 257 people.
UN Emergency Response Mission Ends in Sierra Leone VOA 30 Jul 2015 -- It has been one year since the government of Sierra Leone declared the Ebola virus as a national emergency. In September 2014, the United Nations created a temporary system to meet the immediate needs in the fight against the deadly virus, which has killed more than 11,000 people across West Africa.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 30 Jul 2015 [PDF]
National Guard Cyber Capability Grows Nationwide AFPS 29 Jul 2015 -- Just as the National Guard provides warfighting forces for the Army and Air Force and help during state and federal emergencies, Guardsmen now are ramping up their role in the nation's escalating cybersecurity fight, according to the chief of the National Guard Bureau.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 29 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Senior Administration Officials On Counter-ISIL Coalition Efforts US Dept. of State 28 Jul 2015
Rogers: NSA, Cybercom Need Partners to Aid Cybersecurity AFPS 28 Jul 2015 -- U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency have capabilities critical to helping the nation's public- and private-sector entities during and even before a cyberattack, but both agencies need partners to do so, Navy Adm. Mike Rogers said recently.
Struggles Push IS to Look for Alliances VOA 28 Jul 2015 -- As the Islamic State militant group struggles to hold ground and seize more, it is trying to either forge alliances with other militant groups or defeat them. These shifting relationships are altering the battle lines in the Middle East.
Florida Man, Alleged IS Supporter, Charged in Bomb Plot VOA 28 Jul 2015 -- U.S. prosecutors on Tuesday charged a professed admirer of Islamic State with plotting to bury a bomb on a Florida beach and blow it up by remote control.
S.Korea declares de-facto end of MERS outbreak People's Daily 28 Jul 2015 -- South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday declared the de-facto end of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak as all MERS suspects were freed from quarantine amid no report of new infection case for more than three weeks.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 28 Jul 2015 [PDF]
AF's Task Force Cyber Secure develops partnerships with industry, academia AFNS 27 Jul 2015 -- Task Force Cyber Secure is midway through phase one of the four-phased chief of staff of the Air Force initiative to address challenges of the cyberspace domain within the Air Force.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 27 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Blast Kills 13 in Popular Mogadishu Hotel VOA 26 Jul 2015 -- At least 13 people were killed and 25 were wounded in Somalia's capital Sunday when a car bomb exploded outside a hotel that hosts the Chinese and Egyptian embassies.
Statement on Safety at Recruiting Centers DoD 24 Jul 2015
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 24 Jul 2015 [PDF]
FBI: Islamic State Bigger Threat Than al-Qaida VOA 23 Jul 2015 -- FBI Director James Comey says the Islamic State group's online attempts to recruit Americans pose a bigger terror threat to the U.S. than al-Qaida.
ISIL bigger threat to US than al-Qaeda: FBI chief Press TV 23 Jul 2015 -- The ISIL terrorist group's ability to inspire Americans through social media has made it a bigger threat to the United States than al-Qaeda, says the FBI director.
White House drafting plan to close Guantanamo Press TV 23 Jul 2015 -- The US administration is in the final stages of drafting a plan and sending it to Congress to close the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, a long-delayed promise by President Barack Obama.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 23 Jul 2015 [PDF]
In latest update, UN health agency reports no new Ebola cases in Liberia UN News 22 Jul 2015 -- No new cases of Ebola were reported in Liberia nor in recent hotspots in West Africa with half the 26 cases in this week's update from the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) coming from the capitals of Guinea and Sierra Leone, bringing the number of people who have died of the disease to 11,269.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 22 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Turkey Boosts Border Security After Suicide Attack VOA 21 Jul 2015 -- The Turkish government has announced it will step up border security following Monday's suicide bombing in the town of Suruc, on the border with Syria.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 21 Jul 2015 [PDF]
UN agency calls for $20 million to halt spread of 'highly virulent' avian flu in West Africa UN News 20 Jul 2015 -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that without timely intervention "to stop it in its tracks," outbreaks of the highly virulent avian flu virus H5N1, which has already spread to five West African countries in six months, will spread across the region and beyond.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 20 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Al-Qaeda militants claim killing of 14 Algerian soldiers Press TV 19 Jul 2015 -- The al-Qaeda militant group has claimed responsibility for the killing of 14 Algerian soldiers, after carrying out an attack against an army patrol in the southwest of the capital, Algiers.
Should the US Work With Iran to Fight IS? VOA 19 Jul 2015 -- World leaders reached a deal with Iran on July 14 to ease economic sanctions if Iran curbs its nuclear capabilities, and this has reopened the debate over whether the U.S. should work more closely with Iranian-backed militias, several dozen of which are now fighting against IS in Iraq.
Saudi Arabia Says It Stopped IS Attacks, Arrests 400 VOA 18 Jul 2015 -- Top Saudi Interior Ministry officials announced Saturday that the kingdom had arrested 431 people, mostly Saudis, suspected of belonging to Islamic State sleeper cells.
Carter Approves Force-Protection Steps in Wake of Chattanooga Shootings AFPS 17 Jul 2015 -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter approved immediate force-protection steps in the wake of yesterday's shooting incidents in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that left four Marines dead and a Navy sailor wounded, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said today.
Turkey Cracks Down on Islamic State Militants VOA 17 Jul 2015 -- Turkish security forces are engaging in what is being seen as an unprecedented crackdown on the Islamic State militant group – an indication that Ankara's policy towards the Islamic group has changed.
Statement by the President on the Shooting in Chattanooga, TN The White House 16 Jul 2015
A Statement from Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm. Robin R. Braun Regarding the Events at Navy Operational Support Center Chattanooga NNS 17 Jul 2015 -- The entire Navy Reserve Force extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the United States Marines who were tragically killed at Navy Operational Support Center Chattanooga. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the Navy Reserve Sailor who was critically wounded during yesterday's shooting.
Suspects slain in Bishkek anti-terror operation linked to ISIL Press TV 17 Jul 2015 -- Kyrgyz officials say the six suspects killed in a recent anti-terror operation in the capital, Bishkek, were linked to the Takfiri ISIL terrorist group.
Kyrgyzstan Claims Neutralized IS Members Planned Attacks RFE/RL 17 Jul 2015 -- Kyrgyz authorities say that alleged militants killed and detained in Bishkek on July 16 were members of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group receiving support from Syria.
FBI Following Up All Leads in Chattanooga VOA 17 Jul 2015 -- The FBI and other law enforcement have investigated 70 leads so far as they follow up on the shooting rampage in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
IS Claims Saudi Arabia Suicide Blast VOA 17 Jul 2015 -- The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a police checkpoint near Saudi Arabia's capital.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 17 Jul 2015 [PDF]
FBI Investigates Motive of Gunman Who Killed 4 Marines VOA 17 Jul 2015 -- The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agent in charge of the investigation of the shootings at two military facilities Thursday in Chattanooga, Tennessee, said the agency is investigating the shooter's motive.
Shootings in Tennessee Leave Four Marines Dead AFPS 16 Jul 2015 -- Four Marines were killed and another service member was wounded in two separate shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee, today, military officials confirmed.
President Expresses Nation's Sympathy to Victims' Families AFPS 16 Jul 2015 -- President Barack Obama today expressed his sympathy and that of the nation for the families of the four Marines shot to death this morning at military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter DoD 16 Jul 2015
SECNAV Statement on Shooting in Chattanooga, TN NNS 16 Jul 2015 -- Today, the Navy and Marine Corps team collectively mourn the loss of four heroes. The tragedy in Chattanooga is both devastating and senseless. On behalf of the entire Department of the Navy family, I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wounded in service to our nation during this incident.
ISIL affiliate claims attack on Egypt navy boat near Sinai Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- The Takfiri ISIL terror group has claimed responsibility for a missile attack which set fire to a vessel belonging to the Egyptian army off North Sinai in the Mediterranean.
IS Claims Missile Strike on Egyptian Navy Vessel VOA 16 Jul 2015 -- The Egyptian affiliate of the Islamic State says it has carried out a missile strike on an Egyptian navy vessel off North Sinai, the SITE intelligence group reports Thursday.
Kyrgyz Security Forces Kill Four Alleged Terrorists, Detain Five RFE/RL 16 Jul 2015 -- Kyrgyz security forces have killed four alleged terrorists and detained five others after a special operation in Bishkek.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 16 Jul 2015 [PDF]
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 15 Jul 2015 [PDF]
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 14 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Can WHO learn the lessons from Ebola? IRIN 13 Jul 2015 -- An independent panel described the response of the World Health Organization (WHO) to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as "delayed" and "inadequate," so what systemic changes need to be made to ensure future crises are handled better?
US 'Ready' to Help Mexico Recapture Drug Lord VOA 13 Jul 2015 -- U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the United States is concerned with drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's daring escape Saturday from a Mexican prison and said the U.S. 'stands ready' to cooperate in his swift recapture.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 13 Jul 2015 [PDF]
China Says Uyghurs Deported By Thailand Were To Join IS RFE/RL 12 Jul 2015 -- China's official news agency says 109 ethnic Uyghurs that were deported from Thailand to China had been on their way to Turkey, Syria, or Iraq to join the Islamic State militant group.
China Defends Return of Uighurs from Thailand VOA 12 Jul 2015 -- China says 109 ethnic Uighurs who were deported from Thailand last week were heading to Turkey, Syria or Iraq to join Islamic militants.
Mexico's top drug lord escapes again from maximum security prison Press TV 12 Jul 2015 -- Mexico's imprisoned top drug lord, Joaquin Guzman, has escaped from a maximum security prison in the country, making it the second time he breaks out of jail, despite Mexican authorities' vows that it would never happen again following his 2014 rearrest.
Tunisia says it kills senior leader of group linked to al-Qaeda Press TV 12 Jul 2015 -- Tunisian authorities say a senior leader of a group said to be affiliated to al-Qaeda militant group in the North African country was among a group of people killed earlier during an operation by security forces.
ISIL claims attack on Italy's consulate in Egypt Press TV 11 Jul 2015 -- The Takfiri ISIL terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on Italy's consulate in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo.
ISIL claims attack on Italy's consulate in Egypt Press TV 11 Jul 2015 -- The Takfiri ISIL terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on Italy's consulate in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo.
UN and regional leaders launch effort to put Ebola-affected West Africa on path to recovery UN News 10 Jul 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today focused world attention on the "final stretch" of the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, an epidemic that has killed more than 11,000 people, saying: "let us collectively take a deep breath and resolve to finish the job" and put the most affected countries on the path of recovery.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 10 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Some $3.2 billion needed for Ebola recovery efforts in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - UN UN News 09 Jul 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will call for continued solidarity with the three West African countries most impacted by the unprecedented Ebola outbreak at tomorrow's International Ebola Recovery Conference in New York, which will seek to raise $3.2 billion over the next two years so that Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone can begin to recover from the crisis.
Draft Cybersecurity Law Raises Concerns in China VOA 09 Jul 2015 -- China has published a draft cybersecurity law that consolidates Beijing's control over data, sparking concerns about speech, dissent and intellectual property rights.
Taking back the narrative from Islamic State IRIN 09 Jul 2015 -- As the so-called Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) has spread, part of its success has been its ability to dominate the message online, with slick propaganda helping it develop legions of fans across the globe. For now, ISIS is winning the messaging war.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 09 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Ebola cases evade detection due to ongoing lack of trust in communities – UN UN News 08 Jul 2015 -- The origin of the new cluster of Ebola cases is "not yet well understood," the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today about the outbreak in West Africa where a residual lack of trust in the response means that some cases still evade detection for too long, increasing the risk of further transmission.
Hackers take over Patriot missile battery in southern Turkey Press TV 08 Jul 2015 -- Unknown hackers have reportedly taken over the German-owned Patriot air and missile defense systems stationed in southern Turkey on the border with crisis-hit Syria, and given it unspecified commands.
'Morpho' Hacking Group Presents Major Corporate Security Threat VOA 08 Jul 2015 -- A previously unknown group of highly-trained hackers presents a major new digital security risk for corporations, according to a report released today by the web security firm Symantec.
Tunisia to Build Moat, Wall of Sand Against Terror VOA 08 Jul 2015 -- Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid says his country is starting to build a wall of sand along the border with neighboring Libya, along with a moat, to stop terrorists from infiltrating Tunisian territory. The Tunisian government has been taking preventive measures to try to stop a repeat of the terror attack which left 38 people dead – most of them foreign tourists – on June 26.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 08 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Dempsey: Risk Will be Part of Any Strategy Against ISIL AFPS 07 Jul 2015 -- In the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, there are risks if exercising patience, or in taking action, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee, and it is his job to assess those risks and provide the best military advice to U.S. civilian leaders.
Dempsey Describes ISIL Strategy, 'Uncertain' Global Security AFPS 07 Jul 2015 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told lawmakers today that embedding joint tactical air controllers with Iraqi forces would not be the silver bullet in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Carter: DoD, Global Coalition Seek ISIL's Lasting Defeat AFPS 07 Jul 2015 -- The Defense Department and a global coalition share the intent to deal the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant a lasting defeat, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said today.
Cyber Guard Exercise Points to Need for Persistent Training AFPS 07 Jul 2015 -- It's an axiom in the military that "you train like you fight." Another is "the battlefield is a bad place to meet an enemy for the first time."
After Ebola outbreak missteps, WHO must re-establish itself as 'guardian of global public health' - review panel UN News 07 Jul 2015 -- The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed the report issued today by a panel of experts tasked to look into the agency's response to the unprecedented 2014 Ebola outbreak, which said that WHO needs to re-establish its pre-eminence as the guardian of global public health and that this will require it to make significant changes throughout, with strong political and financial support from Member States.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 07 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Obama Discusses Anti-ISIL Strategy With National Security Team at Pentagon AFPS 06 Jul 2015 -- President Barack Obama discussed the strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant with civilian and military leaders of his national security team at the Pentagon today.
Obama: Fight Against Islamic State 'Will Not Be Quick' VOA 06 Jul 2015 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says the fight against Islamic State radicals will be long, hard-fought and require more than American military might to win.
Obama to Visit Pentagon to Refine Islamic State Strategy VOA 06 Jul 2015 -- U.S. President Barack Obama makes a rare visit to the Pentagon Monday to confer with national security advisers about refining their strategy to defeat Islamic State militants wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria.
IS Boosts Russian-Language Propaganda Efforts RFE/RL 06 Jul 2015 -- The militant group Islamic State (IS) has stepped up its Russian-language propaganda efforts, another sign that its Russian-speaking contingent is becoming more powerful.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 06 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Tunisian president declares state of emergency Press TV 04 Jul 2015 -- The Tunisian government has declared a state of emergency just over a week after a deadly terrorist attack near the country's coastal city of Sousse claimed the lives of dozens of people, mostly foreign tourists.
US drone strike kills senior ISIL leader: Pentagon Press TV 03 Jul 2015 -- The US military says it has taken out a senior ISIL leader, who has been in charge of moving militants and weapons from Libya to Syria.
Ebola: as virus resurfaces in Liberia, UNICEF teams and supplies arrive in affected areas UN News 03 Jul 2015 -- In a speedy response to Liberia's first confirmed cases of Ebola in more than three months, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has begun distributing emergency supplies in the affected communities including tents for isolating those under quarantine, hygiene kits and chlorine and buckets for handwashing stations.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 02 Jul 2015 [PDF]
Military, Federal, Private-Sector Partners Key to Cyber Guard 15 AFPS 01 Jul 2015 -- Cyberspace and critical infrastructure operators and experts from more than 100 organizations spanning government, academia, industry and the international coalition participated in the fourth annual Cyber Guard exercise, June 8-26.
UN Ebola response mission flags importance of staying vigilant as virus resurfaces in Liberia UN News 01 Jul 2015 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) today reported that Ebola had resurfaced in Liberia after a teenager who died earlier this week tested positive for the disease in the West African country that had been declared free of Ebola transmission just two months ago.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 01 Jul 2015 [PDF]

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July 2015 Security News